Razer Blackshark v2 vs Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset Comparison

A good pair of gaming headphones can significantly impact a gamer’s performance. Not only will they allow you to communicate with team members effectively, but they’ll also be comfortable, which is a necessary requirement for anyone looking to sink into several hours of play.

The market is awash with headphones, but not all are worth your money. Two that are very much worth your hard-earned cash are the Razer Blackshark v2 and Logitech G Pro X headphones, both of which are highly rated and come with plenty of welcome features that make them excellent options for all levels of gamers. read more

6 Essential Steps To Configure Your Mouse for Gaming

Properly setting up your mouse for gaming can make all the difference between being fragged and getting the frag. Even if you are more of an RPG or RTS fan, configuring your mouse correctly can make a big difference. First of all, if you don’t already have a mouse that is made specifically for gaming, then I would highly suggest you invest in one. Here is a solid list of a few of the best gaming mice out right now that are reasonably priced. Gaming mice are more comfortable, more precise, and more accurate than a regular mouse.

Mouse Sensitivity Setup

Setting up your mouse sensitivity is one of the most important things you need to do. The top of the line gaming mice today offer DPI in the 25K range or even higher. So, it might surprise you to learn that many of the pros play with relatively low sensitivities. Quite often, they will set the DPI mid to high and then lower the sensitivity, both in Windows and in any games they play. This is true for both FPS and RTS games alike. The reason for this is that after you get decent enough at a game, you generally know where the mouse/pointer should be on the screen. So, when you need to make a move, like aiming in an FPS game, you often don’t have to move the mouse that far. By having the sensitivity low, you can be much more precise when going for that head-shot you really want to get. One thing to watch out for is setting your DPI too high. Some mice are rated for high DPI, but mice can have “noisy” output when at max DPI. Getting the DPI/sensitivity correct will depend on your gaming mouse and your own personal preference. Overall, I definitely recommend getting used to a lower sensitivity.

Disable Mouse Acceleration

The next thing I suggest that you do is disable the mouse acceleration. You want the mouse movement to be as consistent as possible. By turning off mouse acceleration, you can be sure of this. Here is a guide on doing this.

Stick With Your Sensitivity

This is more of a general tip, however, one key thing is that after you get your mouse sensitivity setup and reasonably comfortable, you need to stick with it. If you are constantly changing it week after week, you are never going to give yourself a chance to really get used to it. All to often, I see someone changing their sensitivity often and then struggling with the game they are playing. If they would just stick with their settings for more than a week, they would really start to improve.

Install the Driver/Software

This is a pretty quick tip. Most gaming mice come with drivers and software packages. By installing these, you will be able to get the most out of your gaming mouse. The software will enable all kinds of customization options such as app/game specific settings, controlling lighting, and even using profiles from your favorite streamers or gamers.

Setup The Extra Buttons if They Are Available

Most gaming mice today come with a few extra buttons. For example, I am using the G502 Hero, and it comes with a few extra buttons that can be customized. By setting up a few of these buttons, it can save me from having to use the keyboard as much for certain actions. For example, I often use Discord when playing games. I like to have my mic setup as push-to-talk. By using one of my extra mouse buttons to talk, I don’t have to awkwardly hit a keyboard key for this action. This is one of those tips that can really be personalized to you.

Place Your Mousepad

This is another quick tip. However, you should make sure to setup your mousepad in a spot where you have plenty of room to move the mouse around. If you aren’t currently using a gaming mousepad, I would highly recommend picking up one of these. They are generally pretty inexpensive and without one, you won’t be getting the most out of your gaming mouse.

Do you have another tip for configuring a gaming mouse? Let me know in the comments!

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Best Laptop Cooling Pads for Gaming

If you play games with your laptop, investing in a laptop cooling pad is a great idea for many reasons. If you regularly work on the couch, or any other position where the laptop is on your lap, a laptop cooling pad can help you quite a bit as well. A laptop cooling pad can provide many benefits, let’s take at a few reasons why you would want to invest in a laptop cooling pad.

Benefits of a Laptop Cooling Pad

First of all, running intense games can generate heat, and a laptop won’t be nearly as good at dissipating heat as a desktop with a mid or full size case. In fact, many laptops draw in at least some air from the bottom. By using a cooling pad, it will give your laptop a good surface so these bottom vents aren’t blocked. The cooling pad itself will then generate even more airflow which will help keep your laptop cool. read more

6 Reasons Your Video Card Is Underperforming

Recently, I had to deal with an issue where a video card was underperforming. This was an odd issue and was really the first time I have seen this particular problem. I did quite a bit upfront research on this and it turns out there are multiple reasons why a video card may be running slow. Let’s get right into the causes and solutions for a video card that is not performing as expected.

Overheating Issue

This is one of the most common reasons why a video card may underperform. One last thing to check is if your video card is overheating. This is especially true if you have been using the same video card for awhile. After months or even years of use, the card gets dirty and dusty, and the thermal paste that helps dissipate the heat break down. Extreme overheating issues can cause blue screens and even damage to the card. However, even minor overheating can keep the card from running at maximum efficiency. If you believe this is the cause, cleaning the dust off your video card and reapplying thermal paste should help. As part of this, you may want to give your whole computer case a good cleaning if you can as that can make a big difference as well.

Driver Software Not Up To Date

Driver software for video cards is updated quite often. If your video card is underperforming, it is worth updating the driver software for your particular card. Even if this doesn’t fix the issue, having the latest drivers is beneficial for many reasons. I would recommend downloading the newest drivers directly from your video card manufacturer’s website. This is generally a pretty quick and easy task, so I would definitely try this first or second.

Video Card Clock Manually Set Below Standard

This is another not so obvious thing to look at. Nowadays, most video card driver software allows for you to lower the clock speeds below standard. Alternatively, the video card speeds can often be changed in the BIOS as well. So, one of the first things to look at is whether or not the clock has been manually lowered in the BIOS or in the video card driver software.

Video Card Not Seated or Plugged in Correctly

This is another simple thing to check. If your card isn’t seated correctly or if it isn’t getting enough power, it could cause issues. Try re-seating your card. Also, while you are in your case, check to make sure that all power connections are properly connected and secure. Before opening up your computer case, make sure to shut down your PC and unplug the main power for safety reasons.

BIOS is not up to date

Another reason why the video card may be underperforming is that your BIOS is not up to date. If you have gotten to this part of the guide and your video card is still slow, you can try updating the BIOS as this may help fix this issue. Also, keeping your BIOS up to date can also help to fix other issues such as compatibility problems.

Virus or Malware

One more thing to check for is a virus or malware. It is pretty unlikely that virus would directly target your video card. However, if you have a virus, your whole PC could be underperforming. So, running a virus and malware scan can help your performance in general. Checking for malware is something you will want to do regularly with or without any performance issues.

Overall, there are a number of reasons why a video card may be underperforming. By checking the possible issues above, you should be able to get your card running at top speeds again.

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5 Ways to Enhance Your Gaming Experience

For most, gaming is an enjoyable way to pass the time, relax, have fun, and even provide solace from life’s troubles and strife. And with the increasing number of game developers, there are now thousands of games to choose from. If online gaming is something you’re passionate about then no doubt you would want to get the best (gaming) experience possible.

Fortunately, there are ways you can make gaming more enjoyable without breaking the bank or even spending money at all. Little adjustments here and there may be all the difference you need. Here are some ways you can enhance your gaming experience: read more