I gave myself $100 — can I get a full ‘pro PC gamer’ set-up from Amazon without breaking budget?
For those who don’t already know, a massive spring sale is happening this week at Amazon, and as always, gaming peripherals are a real must-have on the retailer’s lists.
Mice, keyboards, headsets and other categories are always on sale during these events. So much so that I struggle to recommend products to our readers outside of big sales. It’s always better to wait, in general.
As a guide, I would consider a complete setup: a mouse, a keyboard, a mouse pad, a headset and maybe a controller. Depending on the type of games you play, a controller may not be necessary, but I tried to add one for good measure. I’m assuming you have your own PC and monitor here – those are going to be pretty hard to fit into a $100 budget, after all.
My budget gamer setup
My personal selection on Amazon relies heavily on the retailer’s big spring sale to get decent models from well-known brands on a budget. It’s possible to go lower than that, but you’ll usually get products from no-name brands that are of questionable quality.
Did I manage to fit everything into a $100 budget? Hmmm, not really. If you lose the controller and mousepad, this setup only costs $99.97. Obviously I would recommend some form of mouse pad!
If you’re on a budget, these are definitely good choices. I focused on getting a decent wireless mouse and headset, which is my personal preference. The Razer Orochi V2 is a solid choice that will suit most people, and the Logitech G435 is also very good value. I have tested several helmets from the brand and have always been impressed.
One area where I compromised is the keyboard. Instead of opting for a mechanical model (my preference), I opted for a cheaper membrane model. That said, the SteelSeries Apex 3 is a full-size RGB keyboard at a very reasonable price.
Honorable mentions
Do you have a little more money to spend? These are some alternative models that did not make my initial choice but which nevertheless carry heavy recommendations. In some cases, they’re a bit more expensive than the initial options, but in others, it’s simply a matter of preference.
For example, I personally prefer a wireless mouse, but the Logitech G502 is hands down one of the most budget-friendly wired gaming mice on the market today. The HyperX Cloud II is also an incredible wired headset. It’s a true classic, and I loved the previous model when I tested it a few years ago. Again, I like wireless, but you get really good value if you go with a wired model in this case.
The Keychron K2 keyboard is a must-buy if you have a little more money to spend, in my opinion. Unlike the previous pick above, this is a fully mechanical keyboard, and I’ve been seriously impressed with the Keychron models I’ve tried on my travels. It’s not a very “fun” brand, but Keychron makes some of the nicest keyboards you can find anywhere if you’re on a budget.
Finally, I also added a full-size RGB mouse pad and a Gamesir G7 SE: a controller from a brand we love here at TechRadar. Although it’s a relative newcomer to the scene, we still recommend Gamesir to those on a budget, especially when they’re on sale like today.
