Is someone you’re close with a major computer gamer, such as a partner, sibling, child or even a close friend? If you’re still thinking about holiday gift ideas for these kinds of close relations, one fantastic area to consider is the realm of computer accessories.
At Xidax, we’re here to not only offer a wide range of gaming laptops, gaming desktops and other setups, but also to assist you with selection of a variety of different important accessories that may play a major role in a gaming setup. If you’re not actually a gamer, but rather are looking for holiday gifts for someone close to you who is, here are some of your best options.
Before we dig into specific gift ideas, one vital theme we wanted to get out up front: It’s important that you check on the current gaming setup of the person you’re gifting to, ensuring that you don’t purchase any hardware that might be redundant.
For example, if they already have a gaming mouse, there’s no need to purchase a new one. While you may have to be a bit secretive about this if you plan to surprise them with a gift, it’s important to be sure that you’re getting them something that they’ll actually use.
With that in mind, on to some specific ideas!
Speaking of the gaming mouse, it’s a fantastic holiday gift idea in many settings due to its ease of use and how it can add a tangible feel to the gaming experience. While this is another item that you’ll want to check on prior to purchasing, we’ve got some great options at Xidax for both wired and wireless mice.
When selecting a mouse for someone in your life, that whole theme of research that we went over above is important. Gaming mice are not created equal, with a huge variety of features, buttons and options to choose from. A mouse that is perfect for one person may be quite terrible for another.
Some of the most important variables to consider here include things like mouse tracing speed, polling rate, the number of buttons and their placement, as well as ergonomic design. If you’re gifting for a left-handed person, for example, you’ll want to make sure to get a gaming mouse that is designed specifically for lefties.
A gaming keyboard can be an excellent gift idea for the same reasons as a gaming mouse, but there are some additional considerations to make. If you’re thinking about giving someone a gaming keyboard for the holidays, one thing that’s typically on everyone’s mind is how many keys can be pressed at once without causing damage or ghosting (meaning pressing more than one key at once).
Newer keyboards feature switches with an actuation point of 1.5mm or less, making them ideal for gamers who need to press multiple keys at once. Anything over this limit can cause ghosting, which will give the person you’re gifting a bad experience with their keyboard.
There are other features to consider when determining the best one for someone in your life, including backlighting, macros and even built-in audio ports. Once again, if it’s possible for you to get a look at their current or past keyboard setups for clues on the most optimal choice, do so.
While a gaming mouse and keyboard are important purchases, they may not be the best holiday gift for someone you’re close with who’s also heavily into computer gaming. After all, plenty of high-end gamers already have these items in their current setups.
The one thing that most gamers don’t have, however, is a good gaming headset. This is an important purchase for two main reasons: Firstly, because good audio quality is key for an immersive experience and secondly, because a headset will help to drown out any potential background noise that could be disruptive.
Once again, you have a huge variety of options to choose from when it comes to gaming headsets. The key is to select one that will be the best fit for the person you’re buying for. Things to consider include things like surround sound, microphone quality and even style.
Security has always been an important theme for gamers, especially those on the higher levels of the gaming or streaming world, and one potential gift idea is a security key. These physical devices feature two-factor authentication and are fantastic for the person you’re gifting due to their level of deterrence against hackers and various forms of unauthorized entry.
One thing to keep in mind here is that not every security key will work with every machine, so if you’re going to gift a security key, be sure to do your research first. While some popular brands include FIDO U2F and Yubico NFC, others may only work with Macs or Windows PCs.
In addition, many people who would benefit from one of these devices may already have one. If this is the case, be sure to check out the gift of a gaming mouse pad, as they can also provide benefits like improved tracking and comfort.
Computer gaming is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, and the people who partake in it come from all walks of life. This makes selecting a gift for them a daunting task, but with a little basic research and preparation, you can easily find the right gift.
For more on choosing the ideal holiday gift for the computer gamer in your life, or to learn about any of our gaming computers or workstation setups, speak to the pros at Xidax today.
