Putting together an unstoppable gaming PC doesn’t need to break the bank, no matter what you might hear from elitist gamers or accessory companies looking to make money.
The fact is that there are a ton of great PC gaming accessories and peripherals out there that will give you a premium gaming experience without emptying your wallet; after all, you’ve likely already spent a fair amount on the tower itself, so the last thing you want is to clear out your accounts on the rest of the setup, right?
With the right attitude, a £3000 loan could get you everything you need to build an excellent gaming PC and pick up a ton of great peripherals for it as well, so let’s take a look at the 8 best budget gaming PC accessories.
1. Roccat Magma
Retailing for just £45 (and sometimes less if you can spot a sale), the Roccat Magma is arguably the best budget gaming keyboard out there.
It doesn’t have mechanical switches, but the membrane board underneath the keys is surprisingly tactile and responsive, and the keyboard feels great to use.
It’s also got five-zone RGB lighting, so you can make your setup look magical while you’re proving your superiority online. In short, this is a great keyboard to pick up if money is an issue.
2. Logitech G203 Lightsync
Unless you’re absolutely desperate for a wireless gaming mouse, we’d recommend sticking to wired peripherals, as they’re often more responsive and less prone to randomly cutting out during gaming sessions.
As such, the Logitech G203 Lightsync mouse is, in our opinion, the last word when it comes to great budget gaming mice. It feels good to use, and it comes complete with Logitech’s Lightsync system, which means you can sync it with other Logitech devices.
The G203 only has six buttons, so if you’re an avid MMO or MOBA player, you might find it a little lacking. For most gamers, though, this will easily do the job.
3. iiyama G-Master Red Eagle
Many gamers consider 1440p to be the gold standard when it comes to resolution, but for our money, 1080p will work just as well, and for a budget gaming PC, a lower resolution is often better.
This is where the G-Master Red Eagle comes in. With a stunning 165Hz refresh rate and great colour reproduction, this monitor will more than suffice for your gaming needs.
It’s not going to match up to the best monitors in the world, but you’ll hardly notice while you’re happily gaming away, and the higher refresh rate will give you a crisp, clear gaming experience as well.
4. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X
SteelSeries makes excellent headsets, and although it’s at the bottom end of the company’s price range, the Arctis Nova 1X lives up to that reputation.
With great audio quality (especially considering the price) and an excellent fit, the Arctis Nova 1X should help you to hear gunshots coming from a mile away, and you can leave it on for lengthy sessions without starting to feel discomfort.
The mic is solid, too; it’s not going to work for podcast recordings or content creation, but it’s excellent as a communication mic for your teammates over Discord.
5. Logitech Z313
If you prefer to have an external speaker system rather than connecting a headset for your audio, then the Logitech Z313 set is the best budget option around.
Costing around £55, the set comes with two stereo speakers and a subwoofer, which is pretty much a must if you’re a gamer; once you’ve heard that bass boom, you won’t want to go back.
There’s also a handy volume control included so you can quickly adjust the volume of your speakers without using your system’s software mixer, which is ideal for late-night sessions.
6. Roccat Sense Core
A true gamer neglects their mousepad at their peril. If you’re looking for a great mousepad that won’t break the bank, Roccat’s Sense Core is the go-to option.
It’s a soft, tactile surface on which you can place your mouse, and if you want somewhere to rest your keyboard as well, the Sense Core comes in multiple sizes, including one that encapsulates both the mouse and the keyboard.
Naturally, you won’t find much in the way of bells and whistles here, but the Sense Core is a beautiful mousepad nevertheless, and it’ll fit nicely into any setup thanks to its clean aesthetic.
7. PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller
We know that using a controller for PC gaming will be anathema to some, but there are times when the keyboard and mouse just won’t cut it, and for those times, you need a great controller.
The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is technically designed for Xbox Series X|S, but the two ecosystems are often interchangeable in terms of peripherals, so you can use this controller with your PC as well.
It’s a nice, hefty-feeling controller that has a solid construction, and you’ll also find several extra controls that the standard Xbox pad doesn’t have.
8. Logitech C310
As an added bonus, here’s a webcam that you can use if you’re planning to get into the streaming or content creation business. It’s a nice, low-cost alternative to the many costly powerhouses out there.
Bear in mind that the C310 isn’t capable of full HD video; it supports 720p at 30fps only, so if you want a sharper and zippier image, you’ll need to upgrade.
However, as a basic option for getting started and building yourself a follower base, the C310 is a great little workhorse, and it won’t cost the earth either.
