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I didn't find much in that realm but I did find this program for xbox controllers which you can convert to one handed like this. It costs a pretty penny but it is definitely an option. I have the Logitech g600 which has 20 buttons and I use the third mouse button (ring finger) for jumping or crouching depending on the game, as it's very accessible. I'm sure you could easily use the 12 keys on the side as wasd and interactive buttons really easily. I would definitely recommend this mouse as I use it to multi task also. Best of luck friend.

Edit: i made a quick video (sorry phone quality) showing what i meant with the mous

I switched from a wireless Xbox 360 controller to a wireless DualShock 4.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the switch.

Initially it was fine, but towards the end I found that the wireless connection with the 360 controller started to become unreliable with it randomly dropping the connection, and the analog sticks started to drift rather than staying centered.

Using this Bluetooth adapter (which, incidentally, uses the same Broadcom controller as my MacBook Pro) since my PC does not have Bluetooth built in, and these DualShock 4 drivers has been a near-flawless experience.

The only current issue that I have, is that I need to remember to switch off the controller (hold down the PS button for 10s) before connecting a USB cable if I had been using it wirelessly and need to charge it, or else both the wireless and wired connections are active at the same time and inputs get doubled up.

I had previously preferred the asymmetrical design of the Xbox controllers, but I think Sony really did a good job with the DualShock 4 compared to previous DualShock controllers.

That said, I'm not sure that my aim is as good as with the 360 controller in FPS games, but it may also be that I've simply not used a controller with FPS/TPS games in some time now - I do tend to prefer a mouse for that.

And while the trigger design is now concave rather than convex, I still prefer using L1/R1 for aim/shoot rather than L2/R2. The nice thing is that you can simply remap them in the driver rather than needing a game-specific option - a surprising number of recent PC ports revert to locked-down "profiles" when using a controller rather than letting you remap the keys as you wish.

The d-pad is fine for games - better than an unmodified 360 controller, though it's really only good for cardinal directions - so it's great with platformers for example. I don't find that it "rolls" very well if you're playing a fighting game which requires quarter-circle or half-circle inputs though.

Having a trackpad on the controller is nice when using it with a PC, for those games which work with a controller but open up a launcher window that requires mouse input before starting for example.

The DS4 is a very lightweight controller, though I will say that the vibration is a bit weak. However setting it to 150% in the drivers seemed to fix that.

The battery life could be better, though I have not personally found it to be an issue as long as I remember to plug it in after I'm finished gaming. I think it helps that you can disable the "light bar" on the back when using it with a PC. And it works as a wired controller too, so it's not the end of the world if the battery runs down.

Strangely though, the driver reports 1-2ms polling when using the controller wirelessly, and 4ms when using it via a wired connection.


I do wish that the white controller was out before I bought mine though. For some inexplicable reason, they used glossy plastic surrounding the d-pad and face buttons which needs regular cleaning. I always wash my hands before using the PC out of habit, yet it still ends up looking grimy because of this.

So you're asking a few different questions here.

First off, yes wireless Xbox 360 controllers work with the PC, but you need a wireless receiver.

I use one and they work great. I regularly use it with my buddies because it supports up to 4 controllers and we play local games all the time.

Also, yes, you can connect your computer to your TV with an HDMI cable. Depending on the model of you computer, you should get sound too, just they way you with other devices. You might need to configure the TV a bit as far as adjusting the resolution and choosing at as a sound output, but if you're running Windows 10, most of this happens for you automatically now.

Alternatively, you could also get him a Steamlink

They mirror steam games (or whatever you want really) right onto the TV. You can plug controllers into them and play the games without moving your computer. You need a good wireless router to do this, or better yet a wired network. If your computer is already close to the TV, then I wouldn't bother doing this. This is a better option when the computer is in a den or office, and the TV is in a family room or basement.

Fear not, for you can still enjoy the wonders of surround sound with Hi-Fi headphones. Most "gaming" headsets use a built-in DAC (and BS marketing magic) to emulate surround sound over stereo. You can do the same thing using Razer Surround or similar software for free.

You'll have to decide between a closed or open earcup design. If you're not already familiar: a closed-back design will give you better noise isolation and more bass response, while an open-back design will give you a wider soundstage and better positional accuracy. 95% of headphones are closed-back, but there are some nice open-back options in your price range.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x ($100) are a decent option. They're durable, portable, closed-back headphones with a lot of bass response.

The Sennheiser HD 558 ($115) are a steal at that price. They're incredibly comfortable, open-back headphones with a very wide soundstage and warm signature. They'll do much better with surround software.

Both of those options have a relatively low impedance, so you shouldn't have to worry about amping (although they'll still benefit from it). If you're looking for a mic, the ModMic 4.0 is on MassDrop right now. It's a bit pricy, but I've heard great things about the sound quality. If you want something a bit cheaper, the Zalman Clip-On is always an easy option.

Edit:
This might be slightly skewed, because a brick sitting on my head would be more comfortable than the headband on my Q701s.

Here's my copy/pasted response to this sort of question. I do cover virtual surround sound in it. You can add it to any pair of headphones with an inexpensive sound card.

If you do want virtual surround sound, go look at Mad Lust Envy's thread over at Head Fi - he has reviewed a bunch of headphones with Dolby Headphone(virtual surround sound) in mind.

---

Get a pair of headphones and a mic.

If you want surround sound with your headphones, go for the Asus Xonar DG($24) as your sound card. It is very inexpensive and offers Dolby Headphone(ie, it allows you to have virtual surround sound on any pair of headphones - certain headphones work better with this than others, check out this thread at Head-Fi for a plethora of headphones reviewed with Dolby Headphone in mind).

As for the microphone, the common choice is the Zalman zm-mic1($9). Another great choice if you want a better microphone is the Antlion ModMic($33).

As for the headphones, this is a very personal thing. Do you want to be able to accurately pinpoint the location of footsteps in first person shooters? Go for something that is reviewed well by Mad Lust Envy in his thread. Good choices would be the Audio Technica ATH-AD700, the AKG K701/K702/Q701, the Sennheiser HD558/HD598. All of these are open headphones, which tend to be better if you want positional accuracy, but if you'd prefer a closed pair, the Beyerdynamic DT770/DT880/DT990 are rather good. Keep in mind that the Beyers and the AKGs should not be used without an external amp. The other ones should be fine to run off the sound card.

If you don't need pristine positional accuracy in first person shooters, you could go for a huge number of different headphones to suit your tastes. Here is a great thread on Head-Fi comparing many different headphones.

If you really want the AD700, this mic is highly recommended by others (I've no personal experience with it) and significantly cheaper than the modmic.

That would solve your problem with the AD700, but I haven't used others, so I can't comment. One word of note, I believe (and I'm not 100% sure about this, so do your own searching) the AD700s may need a real sound card (not integrated) to support the virtual surround sound feature, which is what everyone says makes them so good. Since that Siberian is USB, it is my understanding it doesn't need a sound card to produce the same virtual surround function. If what I've written is correct (and I'd appreciate it if someone could say one way or another definitively), then the Siberian would likely be the best gaming choice among those three if you're set against getting a dedicated sound card.

Just some thoughts from what I know. Good luck!

I bought this one, which is the official microsoft receiver, and its been great. it came in black, but it works and sits behind my computer so whatever.

I used the microsoft drivers for it as well. make sure you go here to get the driver for your correct OS. after installing the driver, go into device manager find the 360 controller for windows (it may show up as an unknown device at first) and "update" the driver by selecting that you would like to choose the drive form the list. find the wireless receiver in the list and you will be good to go. here is a good description within a forum post about getting it to work. let me know if you have any questions. i have it up and running on 64bit win 7 without any problems.

EDIT: I have also used this with 3 simultaneous controllers without issues, FYI.

Okay, so I have some experience with this. I gamed for years on a 60 hz 1080p monitor, then I got an Asus 24" 144 Hz monitor and started playing everything at 120 hz with 120 fps, and 2d Lightboost enabled. Wow. It was fantastic! The difference is nothing short of amazing. I was absolutely blown away by the sharpness of the textures while moving. NO BLUR! It made everything look like it was in ultra HD.

BUT... there are downsides. The first big one is that the colors look like absolute shit. I tried all sort of calibration options and icc profiles, but nothing could make it not look like complete ass. Viewing angle is also non-existant. The top of the screen is a different color than the bottom just because of the angle that you're looking. I decided the downsides were too much, so about a month ago I bought a QNIX 27" 1440p IPS panel in the hopes that I could overclock it. I'm very happy with it. I was able to overclock the panel to 120 hz with no problem, but backed it off to 110 hz just to be safe. Now I get to enjoy 1440p with IPS colors and viewing angle, PLUS 110 hz smoothness. It's not quite as smooth as Lightboost, but I think it's worth it. At this point, I would recommend the QNIX 1440p over the Asus 144 hz.

For more research, you should check out http://www.blurbusters.com They do a great job of explaining all the different things to look out for and what options are available.

Here is the Asus monitor I had.

Here is the QNIX monitor I have now.

EDIT: QNIX overclocking guide here.

> Get a good headset (I use the Logitech G930s, but just find something comfortable and decent quality)

I strongly recommend getting a nice pair of headphones and a separate mic instead of a headset. Gaming headsets tend to have poor sound and mic quality when compared to a dedicated pair of headphones and a mic.

For headphones, try /r/headphones. For the mic, you could just get a clip-on like this zalman or an antlion modmic, or you can get a full blown mic like a blue yeti or blue snowball.

Well, I personally usually use a controller when playing on the tv, but still play FPS and some other games with K/M from the couch.

Have a couch/chair with a decently-sized armrest? Put a fabric mouse pad over that thing. Bam, you now have a curved mouse-friendly and couch/chair-friendly mouse surface with an armrest. This may take a small amount of getting used to.

For keyboard, I'm comfortable enough just having it on my lap, but you could always spring for something like this, too.

Good luck!

I have the same headphones and this mic which I think is the same.

The headphones sound quality is fantastic and the positional audio is incredible. Their open nature isn't as good in public areas as it leaks more sound than most headphones and doesn't block out much but it's very comfortable and overall great.

My friend also has the same mic as I do and I've never noticed any quality issues speaking with him - including at higher volume levels. With the low price I'd recommend them for more casual use (i.e. they probably aren't as good for making videos).

Audio technica ATH M30 is a safe bet. They are like 40$ on amazon. BTW i wouldn't recommend a headset with a mic. Id honestly say get a nice headset and a nice mic. You dont need an expensive one but you can spend 50$ on a pair of headphones and 50$ on a mic and it will be much better than a 100$ headset. My personal setup is ATH M30 and a Blue Snowball The mic is ok but it picks up everything and the headphones are great.

Just as I said in the last headset thread.

Get a zalman clip on mid

And a pair of decent/good headphones. For FPS open back headpones are nice and will give a wide soundstage. Closed back will give better bass reproduction and a narrower soundstage but lots of people play with closed back headphones all the time.

I prefer Sennheiser but there's lots of good brands. Beyerdynamic, AudioTechnica makes some good cheap phones.

I've used 'gaming headphones' when I was first getting into gaming and they sound better than most run of the mill headphones, logitech around the back ones etc, but can't compare to my HD515, HD555's or HD598s. I will say that the clipon mic from the icemats is nice and I'm still using it today _- but the siberia has a retractable mic now so meh.

Icemat's (same design as the Siberia V2) hurt my ears if I wore them for a long time but gave me decent sounds but I would never buy them again considering for $90 I can get 515's or ATH-AD700's for $90 on amazon I would prefer those for sound and comfort.

TL;DR Gaming headsets are overpriced and not nearly as good in my opinion.

Sorry, it's over budget but here is my setup:

Headphones (Really quite amazing for the price):
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HARX700-Precision-Sound-Headphones/dp/B0013OWPV4

Clip on Mic:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

If you shop around, you may be able to find them cheaper. I wouldn't have bothered mentioning my setup knowing it's over budget but I researched and scrutinized for a solid month when I made these purchases and these seemed to be as good as it gets under $50

Edit:
Looks like there are cheaper mics with good ratings here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007792%204024&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=REVIEWS&PageSize=20

You can get a cheap usb condenser mic. Not ideal over a more expensive xlr mic setup (watch the video I linked at the end, it explains a lot there), but for just gaming it's better than pretty much any headset. If you don't have room on the desk, there's the Antlion Modmic. Overpriced for the sound quality imo, but it should still be better than most headsets. I'm not sure if the a40s have a detachable cable, but if they do you can also get the V-moda boompro. I've used mine for a few years before upgrading to the ATR2500, and it sounds almost as good as the standalone mic and I like the sound signature much more than the Antlion. The only downside being some hiss that the condenser doesn't have, and it needs power from one of the channels for the mic to work, so you need to adjust the center for the headphones. Ideally if you're just using voice chat in games and in programs like Teamspeak, Discord, Mumble or whatever, the most you should be spending is around $50.

Here's a video if you wanna take the plunge and get something more professional for voice overs some time in the future.

I'm assuming you already have Bluetooth in your pc? If so my vote would be got the PS4 controller. Using the touchpad as a mouse is why I use prefer it. It's not a mouse replacement, but for that handful of games that require a mouse to launch it's perfect. Just know that any console Bluetooth controller you use wont be compatible with every Bluetooth adapter out there, so there's no guarantee a DS4 or even DS3 will work with what you have, although if that happens the DS4 at least also works with a micro usb cable. If you go this route and end up needing an adapter I recommend the Kinivo BTD-400. Not as cheap as some but it works perfectly with my DS4 and Wii motes.

http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTD-400-Bluetooth-4-0-adapter/dp/B007Q45EF4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

> What controllers can be used with a PC?

Just about anything you want, with varying requirements as far as additional hardware/software beyond the controller.

Wired Xbox 360/Xbox One controllers plugged in via a USB cable will work by just plugging them right in, drivers should install and you should be good to go.

Wireless 360 controllers, or if you want to use an Xbox One controller wirelessly both need special dongles (360 dongle, Xbox One dongle), unless you get the Xbox One S controller which can connect via bluetooth.

PS3/PS4 controllers can work with either a USB cable or a bluetooth dongle, either way you'll need some additional software. Just Google "ps3/ps4 controller windows" and you'll find plenty of guides.

Similarly you can even use Wiimotes, Wii U Pro Controllers, and Switch Joycons, these also need software to be installed.

There's also the Steam controller which gives a very different experience to other controllers.

>Which one should I actually get?

I'd say just get whichever you find most comfortable to use, they've pretty much all got the same feature set so you shouldn't have any major issues.

>How do I know if a game is compatible with my controller?

If the game is on Steam, just look for the full or partial controller support icons on the store page. Otherwise, search for the game on the PC Gaming Wiki and look for controller support under "Input settings".

I had the Sennheiser 4.40BT, quite similar to the 4.50BTNC. I loved everything about them except for a weird background humming noise when they were connected via Bluetooth, when I connected via a 3.5mm cable they sounded fine. The humming wasn’t too loud, music would cover it up, but I would usually hear it when gaming, listening to podcasts/audiobooks or even when they weren’t playing any sound.

After my replacement pair had the same problem Sennheiser gave me an upgrade to the PXC 550. No humming, I love them and the active noise canceling is something I never knew I wanted. Just my two cents about Sennheiser headphones.

I hate wires, that’s why I went with Bluetooth, but I‘ve had my share of connection issues. If you’re willing to pay the premium for Bluetooth I say go for it, but be prepared to plug them in via a 3.5mm cable sometimes. Wireless headphones advertised as a “gaming headset” won’t use Bluetooth because you can’t send stereo sound and a mic simultaneously over it. I’m sure they’d have better connectivity over their proprietary wireless connection.

The reason I went with Sennheiser over a gaming headset was that I wanted my money going towards comfort, sound quality and build quality instead of gaming features I wasn’t going to use and marketing. Since I use them for non-gaming stuff all the time this makes the most sense for me. I use a V-Moda boom mic when I game. Wired with a mic, when gaming with a mic, wireless for everything else it works well for me.

Let me know if you have any questions. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to use wireless headphones from a audiophile brand for gaming.

I would reccomend an L-shaped desk. They're really great for that kind of stuff. IKEA has good desks. I have one that I bought at Office Max for about $100. I can also confidently reccomend this Walker Edison glass desk. It's good quality, and very strong. It doesn't have much storage though.

Walker Edison Soreno 3-Piece Corner Desk, Black with Black Glass by Walker Edison

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FB5LE8/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_3Rvftb0Y2P5P5

I just recently bought the Acer Predator XB271hu and after turning it on for the first time I did not notice any difference between the "feel" on it and the 60hz monitor I have sitting next to it that I've had for 5 years. It was very underwhelming at first, especially for the money I had just invested into it.

I suddenly remembered reading a post over at r/pcmasterrace for people to double check their monitor settings both on the monitor itself, and then also in the OS. Once I went into the OSD for the Predator, sure enough, it came out of the box set to 60hz! As soon as I told it to switch to 144hz it was like my eyes were opened and I almost shed a tear at how much better everything looked and felt!

I've also recently had 2 friends who just got 144hz monitors due to me regaling them about about the benefits for both gaming and general use. (one got the Dell S2716DG and the other got the Asus PG279Q) They both had the same experience as well. It's not really an issue, seeing as it's just a few button presses to correct it, just annoying when manufacturers don't send their monitors off at their ideal refresh rate.

Check out this mic for less than $10. I use it and it works great.

With that you could either use existing headphones/ear buds that you have or use the exta $45 to pick up a pair of new headphones, perhaps maybe the [Audio Technica ATH-M20] (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M20-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00012F7G4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376858154&sr=8-4&keywords=audio+technica+m30). I use the more expensive ATH-M50 version of the same headset and it works great. I haven't used the M20 personally but I'm sure there of good quality, or you could look into other options in your price range.

Also doing this give you the flexability of choosing the type of head phones you want. Like open, closed, or maybe even noise canceling ear buds.

If your main issue will be using a M/KB, you could go for one of the Logitech or Razer "Keypads". I've never used one, they seem awkward, but you'll get the functionality of the joystick for movement and a few rows of keys for binding.

You could probably move a keyboard out of the way and use one of these with a mouse and still achieve a pretty laid-back experience. (Though, as I'm sure others have already said, a proper M/KB setup will allow you to be comfortable and not hunched over your desk.)

Once you got used to controlling movement with a mouse after a while, I'd imagine you'd end up using WASD eventually.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G13-Programmable-Gameboard-Display/dp/B001NEK2GE

Here's a overview of one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu9w5lAlwsA

Get an XBOX 360 Gamepad, I am a PC-only gamer and don't own any consoles, but I have this gamepad.

They are the easiest to get working, are well-made, have the largest base of games that support it natively (including Arkham City), and if you've played much xbox you're probably already comfortable using it.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1342126535&sr=1-1&keywords=microsoft+360+gamepad+windows

Logan reviewed 2 headphones that are less than $50 each. Here is the video.

For the mic you can always just pick up the very popular Zalman clip-on mic or spend more money for a modmic.

Edit: This setup is more about audio quality than comfort now that I took a second to think about it. Sorry. I'll leave it up for people who likes options.

Edit 2: I have owned this headset and I can say they were very comfortable, and at the perfect price point for you OP.

HEY LOOK AT MY COMMENT! I have four 360 wireless controllers for my living room PC. It's super easy, just buy this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HZFCT2

No setup needed, just plug it in and make sure you have games that support it (like 80% do) and have fun.

Love the headphone mention. I use a desktop mic and other people use the add on mic as well to their headphones.

These Sennheiser 558's are almost always below 100$ and sound AMAZING. They're also really easy to drive/power

If you like want a nice mouse with great side buttons the Logitech G600 is the best of them all.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Gaming-Backlit-Programmable-Buttons/dp/B0086UK7IQ

If you want extremely low budget with good sound quality earbuds + mic, considering using Monoprice 108320 and a Zalman ZM-Mic1

pretty much the best sound quality with good mic you will get for under $18 - you can see the head-fi reviews here for the earbuds

although IMO earbuds are not a great choice for gaming and most people find over ear headphones much more comfortable

Those are two very different headsets. The pc 363d is a open back with a usb soundcard with dolby headphone support. What this means is that you will have sound leakage when using this headset but the upside is that you will get a more open soundstage and it will sound more like you're in a room with speakers around you. Add Dolby headphone and you'll have 7.1 surround sound.

The G4me Zero on the other hand, is a closed back headset. Compared to an open back, close back isolates sounds a lot better and as a result you won't get any sound leak. The downside is that you won't get a wide sound stage. The G4me Zerop also serves as an update to the pc350 with flashier design and better comfort in the ear pads.

If you want a Sennheiser headphone, I would suggest you purchase both the headphone and mic separately. Get the Sennheiser HD 558 (119.95), which uses the same driver as the pc 363d/360. pair it with the antlion modmic ($49.99) and you'll end up spending less than getting their gaming headset.

Thanks for the blunt breakdown. Really. I don't have any evidence to point to, but PC controllers used be like $20. I get that quality has improved, but $50 seems like a big jump. Anyway, I guess I'll go with this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QRKWKQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

That's what I want, yea?

I do recommend purchasing a mouse with the 12 thumb keys on the side of the mouse. It makes mapping keys a lot easier. It's super useful in just daily use as well.

I was informed by a gamer with one hand that it is possible to use a controller one handed, though I imagine it would take a while.

I would suggest an MMO mouse like a G600 and perhaps a controller in the other for movement entirely by thumb. Not sure if games have a problem with both inputs at once, but a steam controller in keyboard mode would probably get around that if they did.

Hope that helps :)

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Carcharias-Gaming-Headset-Black/dp/B001PTH0VW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1301801164&sr=8-7

i really like those for purely gaming. theyre comfy so you can wear them forever. they have decent positional sound and good sound quality and the microphone is good too.

http://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATH-AD700-Open-air-Audiophile-Headphones/dp/B000CMS0XU

• 
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Microphone-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_b
  
  
  the best headphones money can buy for a decent price plus a highly flexible/mobile/good microphone to just clip on when you need it.
  

Razer makes good mice, not headsets. Get a Sennheiser
Lower priced
Higher Priced

And just use this mic. It works great, and is very clear. I have never heard of pulsewave as a competitive brand, and that headset doesn't look as sturdy as most Sennheiser's.

Hey guys/gals. I'm looking at buying a 144hz monitor second hand. The guy claims to have this monitor

ASUS VG248QE 24-inch LED-lit Monitor 144Hz refresh rate 1ms pixel response time & 3D capable https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xcV1Cb02D9TZ8

My question is if the monitor says anywhere on it that its 144hz so I dont get ripped off. If so and anyone had a picture of it that would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.

I know you were looking for a cheap one, but I thought I'd mention this to you anyway. The Logitech G600 seems like a great MMO mouse from reviews I've seen and is on sale at Amazon right now. Link

EDIT: Found this as well, a bit cheaper, on sale, but I haven't heard of it before. Link

EDIT 2: Also this, not technically an MMO mouse but still 9 buttons and currently on sale for $40. Again, never heard of this mouse though. Link

Most people would recommend a Blue Snowball but I really like the concept of the Modmic. Honestly though, I used a three dollar desktop microphone I got from Microcenter and, while I wore the headphones to get rid of background noise, I was getting compliments on the microphone quality.

Edit: I forgot about the Zalman clip-on but that seems like such a pain.

>I've tried many different gaming headsets, from wireless ones to wired ones with built in sub woofers to 3D sound, etc... All in all they generally don't last long and are uncomfortable.

Same here. After going through about 20 "gaming headsets" that I hated. I found this guy, some redditor that makes headset reviews and put the ones that are good for gaming in a single page (he's got other pages for reviews if you check his sub)

I picked up the Philips SHP9500 for $70 based on this review and also a boom pro mic Id say this combo is amazing, and at the price range it's pretty hard to beat.

and yes the Sennheiser HD 598's are on his list of recommended, I personally wanted a cheaper solution first before I tried any other of his recommendations since I didn't know if I could trust his reviews.

Not sure how much you're willing so spend, but I have to suggest the AD-700 and this mic.

You can buy another cheapy gamer headset but you'll end up replacing it within a year. Invest in a solid pair and it will be much more comfortable and you'll be good for a long while.

I use this:

http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500P-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001U899HQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370380797&sr=8-3&keywords=datavac

Its not the cheapest method but I have had great luck with this thing so far.

This Zalman clip mic I've been using it for a few months now. Great value for less than $10, it will pick up things behind you including people in other rooms if loud enough, but not noise from my mx blue keyboard which is only like a foot away. The video review is a bit misleading on it's quality, the person is clearly speaking directly into the mic and not in the manner it would naturally be attached to headphones. So the quality can be that good, it just won't when used normally.

Yeah you're right. Here's one. Doesn't look quite as comfy as the Nostromo though. Seems like something like this would be awesome.

I also have computer desk next to tv, for when I want to ame with a mouse/keyboard. As far as couch navigation, I use Logitech K400r. Pin things you use regularly to the task bar, then it's just [win]+[1], [win]+[2], etc, to open them. Also, just press the win key and type stuff into the search bar to find easily. This is on Win 7 mind you. I haven't used 8 so I don't know if it translates.

Hey what's up, I didn't forget you!

Just picked up the package today, and it works great. Plugged it in, drivers installed automatically and it worked with Witcher 2 with no issues.

It was black, and came exactly like this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000HZFCT2/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0

Would definitely recommend it.

Nice writeup OP! For those looking to save a bit more.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TMZ1BK

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAG1ZG0

https://smile.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

with a zalman gives amazing sound/audio for under $100 for everything. i cant go back to "gaming" headsets.

I'd definitely suggest not paying 25 bucks for what is essentially just a basic Bluetooth adapter. Maybe pick up one of these like I did a while ago which does the exact same thing and is even smaller than what Microsoft is offering. There's a few in the 7 - 8 dollar range as well.

Works perfectly with Win10.

edit: my advice was not very good advice it seems.

IMO by far the best setup would be to have a desk mic and either speakers or headphones.

I got a Blue Snowball when my $20 Logitech USB mic broke after 10 years of service (dropped a box on it) and desk mics have always worked great for me, I simply can't imagine switching to any alternative. The Snowball is a bit on the big side though compared to the cheap-o Logitech mic I upgraded from.


I use speakers most of the time for VOIP chat so having a headset or clip on mic wasn't a consideration for me and the Snowball would be far better than any clip on mic. And for those times where someone has bad reverb (their mic picks up other people talking over VOIP) I'd put on my headphones or if I was doing some serious progression raiding and needed to hear instructions or on-the-fly raid calls without any potential hindrances. And for that I use a pair of old Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, there are better headphones out there now a days but mine work well enough and I don't use them enough to warrant replacing them.

Prior, I've tried many of these so called gaming headsets and many of them actually hurt my head after prolonged use, and I had to position the mic properly or I'd be hard to hear. And if I didn't want to wear the headset I'd have to have the damn thing around my neck which was a pain... in the neck so to say. Plus they've always been quite fragile in my use and would last maybe a year tops and they were overpriced so the prospect of having to replace them so often was less than favorable to me. I've had the same pair of headphones for no idea how long but over 5 years and they still work but headsets on the other hand might as well have been made out of glass.

Well that's a gaming headset and super cheap at that. Here's my combination of headphones and attachable mic.

This is about options though and is technically cheaper. You can use any headphones where you'd be able to stick the mics magnet attachment on the side. Someone also mentioned the V-MODA which is a cheaper attachable mic. A much more fault tolerant setup as well. I don't have to worry about breaking cheaply made plastic and throwing down full price to replace it.

Is there an official Microsoft wireless adapter or just third party ones?

Edit: Found this one that seems pretty good, but it is still 3rd party. I'll probably end up going with it, though. $19 isn't a bad deal.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Gaming-Headset-Surround/dp/B003VANOFY/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341198926&sr=1-2&keywords=g35+logitech

I got this exact model at best buy for 80$. Best headphones for that price I could find.

Can I connect my Nvidia Shield controller (2015 version)

https://www.amazon.com/NVIDIA-945-12570-2500-000-SHIELD-Controller/dp/B00LMRL00O

to laptop (DELL XPS 15) via Microsoft receiver

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

Along with connecting 3 Xbox 360 controllers to the same receiver at the same time. Any help would be, well, helpful

Thank you!

I play exclusively on pc, on TV, from my couch/lazy boy, with 360 controller, audio through 5.1 surround sound reciever.

It's not only possible, it's relatively easy. Hdmi (from pc) to audio reciever, then hdmi to TV. Done.

I don't ever use a mouse; I use this to navigate websites, desktop etc.. and 360 controller to game. (That keyboard is ~$25)

I use my 59" TV as a main monitor and a 24" monitor as my second monitor (usually for Pandora while I game)

Feel free to ask me any other questions.

Edit: it should also be noted, if your friend plays a lot of multiplayer first person shooters, he might wanna figure out a k&m setup as controller users get absolutely destroyed by k&m.

Surprisingly not. USB micro B is kinda shit and even if it is stable it is extremely prone to being hit just by using the controller.

In addition, latency is far lower over bluetooth, like 1-1.5 ms vs 10-15 ms.

Just make sure that the bluetooth antenna is not directly plugged into a USB port on the case. A USB extender cable made the connection go from requiring line of sight to being usable in another room 20 feet away.

The tiny dongles like this one I use are great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Q45EF4/ref=psdc_3015437011_t5_B009ZIILLI

Can I get your opinion on the Logitech G930?

I love the design, the fact that the mic is built in, and that it is wireless - which is a HUGE bonus to me.

I would recommend avoiding headsets personally. Grab a nice pair of quality headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700's for example, and basically any microphone. This is a very popular microphone, people usually clip it onto their headphone cord.

Have you considered the Logitech G13? It's expensive and you may not want to use any of the macro features (I certainly don't), but it's a good pad. It has a small footprint, which was why I wanted to replace my Wolfking. I mouse with my left hand and use this thing with my right, so the thumbstick is inaccessible, but I'm cool with it.

while I don't have a specific sub for you, I can highly recommend the following product: Metro Datavac

don't worry, it's not an affiliate link. It's way more economical then buying canned air, it's made in the USA, and it's got stellar reviews. I'm quite happy with mine.

EDIT: I should note that it is not a vacuum, despite the name. It blows air.

[This is the best investment I ever made as far as PC cleaning.] (http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500P-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001U899HQ/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1427598236&sr=8-32&keywords=canned+air) Three times a year and I'm good.

I don't have advice for wireless, but if you do end up going wired you can use something like this to add a mic to a good set of cans.

V-MODA BoomPro

Get a Zalman ZM-MIC1 clip-on mic and the Audio-technica ATH-AD700 headphones.

Audio-Technica is a brand dedicated exclusively to audio equipment, rather than gaming. I hope you see my point here.

The Zalman mic is just cheap and works well for gaming purposes.

I really like this Walker Edison 3 piece. It's tempered glass but feels pretty sturdy to me and it wasn't much trouble to put together.

Personal Favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Gigaware-33-119-Clip-On-Microphone/dp/B0017KTNSM

I have been using the same gigaware microphone since 2011. Best part? Easily accessible mute button.

High quality:
http://www.modmic.com/

Low quality, but easily replaceable if need be:
http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

You’ll need to go to /r/sffpc to get a recommendation for a case and probably a cpu cooler that will fit inside it and keep your machine cool but it’s definitley possible. You’ll probably be playing with your controller and have a something like this for navigation

I have a Cooler Master Scout II case for my 1070 Rig. It has a handle for easy transport. I just have a power and hdmi cable plugged in downstairs. I just take it down plug it in along with my 360 wireless controller dongle and wireless kb with trackpad (just for navigation) and boom.

EDIT: This is the trackpad I was talking about, it's great. https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Multi-Touch-Touchpad/dp/B005DKZTMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474382890&sr=8-1&keywords=wireless+kb+mouse+trackpad

I know this is $15 over budget, but I own these and am very impressed. Very comfy and long wireless range. Virtual surround works well for FPS games. Battery lasts a while too.

Logitech G930

Keep in mind if you are in an apartment and there's lots if WiFi networks then your experience with wireless headsets will not be a good one.

how about using a wired xbox 360 controller?

they are great for car racing games, and you can use scripts that allow you to move the mouse pointer with the analogue sticks.

I own wireless 360 and One controllers, but a friend has a wired one and it seemed the same as mine. Here's the official one on US amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/Metro-ED500-DataVac-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484943908&sr=8-1&keywords=datavac

Amazon has better customer support, buy from them. 2 day prime shipping too

looks like they still have them on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Combat-Evolved-PC/dp/B00009TW6R/191-4203528-4565344?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

honestly, you guys need to give Halo Online a shot too. It's an incredible game that needs more players

Amazon has Xbox 360 controllers for $33.

Native support in Windows, and it's been adopted as the de facto 'standard' controller for computer games that support controllers.

I've had excellent luck with my Kinivo BTD-400 on windows 8.1

I used it on three different 8.1 PCs w/ DS4 to xinput mapper 1.2.2 without any problems. I have no experience with bluetooth in windows 7.

I hate the suction cup feeling too, I ended up getting a philips SHP9500 after reading a bunch about it on reddit a year ago. Its not a good solution if you are worried about other people hearing what you are listening to as they can be heard across a bedroom fairly easy, by design of course, with little holes in the pieces that cover the ear. This also means you can hear your surroundings too, works great for me as I can talk to people IRL while wearing them.

The pads are soft and the headband is on the looser side so it won't squeeze your skull. I do find that sometimes I don't hear sounds from far away in games like distant footsteps as good as the traditional suction cup feeling earphones but its worth the trade off for me because my ears don't hurt even after a full day of gaming, in 20 years of wearing headphones I haven't had a more comfortable set.

It doesn't come with a mic, I just use a $10 desk mic I've had for 2 years and am going to get a moda mic that just plugs into the headset cord eventually.

Just to show you guys what the controllers you're talking about actually look like:

Razer Onza:
http://www.razerzone.com/minisite/onza - 39.99$

Hori:
http://www.amazon.com/Hori-Controller-EX-Turbo-Xbox-360/dp/B000HS0Y6K - 30.00$

Microsoft xbox controller:
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wired-Controller-Black/dp/B003ZSN600 - 30.00$

There's a couple more types of controllers but these are the main ones. Hope this helps!

So should I get a refund on this? Just bought it two weeks ago 😂😂
ASUS VG248QE 24" Full HD 1920x1080 144Hz 1ms HDMI Gaming Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PGcczbCSW1EMX

My advice is to buy some inexpensive audiophile headphones ($100) or mid-range audiophile headphones ($150) and a decent clip on mic ($55) (a less expensive alternative ($30)).

For around the same price as a overpriced gaming headsets ($200), you'll get all the comfort, durability, and audio quality of nice headphones, plus you can chat with buddies while gaming! Plus, you can actually use them for music and stuff besides gaming.

Get a $7 attachable mic and $10 Monoprice headphones. I think that would be your best option at only $20

Edit: Links

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ?cache=6337cae682104ccb4f435e888dd13759&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1407166435&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B8QCMHY?cache=6337cae682104ccb4f435e888dd13759&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1407166494&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2

Still under $20

$100 wireless you say? Logitech G930, I've had mine for about a month now and love them.

Pretty sure Xbox controllers don't use Bluetooth. Something about how they need more bandwidth for reliable input... It's a proprietary technology and you need a specific wireless adapter for it.

Edit: Or this receiver for 360 controllers.

It's nice to see two comments to this already and neither are flaming you for using a controller on PC. Maybe the war is over. I got a [gold chrome Xbox 360 controller] (http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Controller-Gold-Chrome/dp/B00EFRNG0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416105134&sr=8-1&keywords=gold+chrome+xbox+360+controller&pebp=1416105135571) on sale last year and have been using it for all of my controller-worthy games. The only drawback is that you need a [wireless receiver] (http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2), but other than that, it's perfect.

This is what I use And I love it! I think I got mine at MicroCenter for $25.

I should say, I don't use this for gaming. If i'm couch gaming, I use DS4 tools and a PS4 controller.

If you're interested in a wireless headset, I really like my Logitech g930

From what i have heard, getting headphones and a mic seperately willget you better quality. For that money, I would recommend something along these lines:

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-419-Headphones-Black/dp/B005SNPTS2/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

with the mic:

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1374795329&sr=1-8&keywords=microphone

Head over to /r/headphones and click on the Headphone Recommendations by Price Range (Head-Fi) link on the sidebar. Choose the type of headphones that fit your budget. Pair them up with and inexpensive clip-on mic and you will have a headphone/microphone combo that costs less than X12's and provides much better sound.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481740091&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Zalman&dpPl=1&dpID=41G0amLlbML&ref=plSrch

15 CAD with prime, probably like 10 USD, and it still works better than most headset mics

You can use an xbox controller wirelessly from your couch with an adapter. Also games can be found for much cheaper and go on sale more often. There's also way more games available. Additionally, you need a computer anyways. Beefing it up a bit while you're at it is a great way to go!

HOLY SHIT! Thank you a million times over for sharing this.

I went to a lan party this weekend and one of our guild mates had this mouse. We were all blown away by it.

I shared this with them too.

You can get the virtual surround sound from headsets, headphones, or even ear buds. Its more of a software solution.

If you are looking at just headphones, check out these options
Audio Technica AD700 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000CMS0XU?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1404325365&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4

-

Sennheiser HD598 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FEEY9A?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1404325441&sr=8-10#ref=mp_s_a_1_10

Headset
-
Sennheiser PC350 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012XFDWO?cache=bcba77e1c5cdba6100b12e3619c0b44b&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1404325591&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2

All of these are at or below 150$ I'm fairly sure and are more than you could ever want from audio quality unless you were an Audiophile that only listened to FLAC with an amp to drive you headphones.

The best bang for your buck is probably going to be the Sennheiser HD598. That is my recommendation. Sennheiser makes one hell of a product.

Use those Bose headphones and simply clip a mic on it. I am doing so with my Headphones and I am very happy with the result (Comfort&Quality)

You can't just use the charging cord as it doesn't transfer data. It only transfers power. If you want to use the wireless one you'll need the wireless dongle like /u/Smack23j mentioned. Here is the amazon page for it, its only about 18$ and it will work fine.

It's plug and play, it will auto find your drivers.

Just buy any xbox controller, I would stick with an actual Microsoft product. I have a bias because of how shitty all third party stuff used to be though. Also I find Razr is overpriced, while nice, but I feel you are just paying for a label. I don't know about the Razr, but I like being able to use my controller with an Xbox or my computer.

You can get a wireless controller, that is what I use. You just have to buy the adapter. It's much handier being cordless.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

One of these is your best bet

Xbox 360 wired controller is the best gamepad I've ever had on PC

Most games automatically recognize and configure it for you too.

Okay yeah, you need one of these or more likely a third party knockoff since the first party ones aren't made anymore and are ridiculously overpriced. The Xbox 360 wireless controller has no native PC compatibility.

Here you have a 1080p 144Hz TN panel for US$250.

https://www.amazon.com/VG248QE-1920x1080-144Hz-Gaming-Monitor/dp/B00B2HH7G0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1496405547&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+monitor+144hz

Cheapest G-sync 1440p for US$400 :

https://www.amazon.com/Dell-S2417DG-YNY1D-24-Inch-LED-Lit/dp/B01IOO4SGK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1496405777&sr=1-1&keywords=monitor+1440+gsync

GTX 1070 is around US$400.

Your monitor seem fantastic for the price. However it is not G-sync/freesync, is it ?

So it seems that, not including G-sync/freesync, 1080p 144Hz, is about the same cost as 1440p 60Hz. That's up to people to figure out if they prefer resolution over framerate, I guess.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

Here's the real deal receiver that I bought a while back for my PC. Works great, and they include a driver CD.

I use one of these Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HZFCT2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9havyb750MKTE once the drivers are installed and controller is synced, it works great.

> IPS Swift
I think he ment this one but i have read a lot of people do like the back light bleed.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236677
Been eyeing a dell for a few months.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=37ROAZZLT532W&coliid=I5W7C56MH0DLE&psc=1

I thought that I was going to like using the controller a lot more (I had just come from Xbox) so I bought one of these but I haven't used it barely at all and haven't even updated the drivers due to the fact that I like the feel of a mouse and a keyboard a lot more.

This would have worked, but the wired controller is a solid purchase. You won't have to worry about connection issues. $40 is a little overpriced, but that's not too bad. I wouldn't sweat it.

Ideally, you want a wired xbox 360 controller. However, they don't manufacture those anymore. So, you can either get a used wired one, or get a wireless 360 controller and this from amazon.

Both would work.

This is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370866768&sr=8-1&keywords=zalman+clip+on+mic

This is also an excellent choice for headphones that don't come with mics.

If you're referring to this it's fine. If not, I wouldn't risk it. These electronic dusters are designed for the purpose they fulfill.

This it?

You could always buy a wired Xbox 360 controller.

*Edit, Nevermind, I read the reviews. You would think they would get rid of the "Microsoft" link under the title. Well it looks like your only alternative is getting a wired controller or a knock off, sorry mate. I can't find anything official, unless you want to go find one used.

My non-gamer SO got me a Blue Snowball for voice chat. She's a professional editor for a crappy cable TV company, and it's what they use to record scratch track. It sounds fantastic.

I'm with the others in the "headphones + mic perform better than gaming headsets" camp. I've never found a headset that fits my ears as well as a proper set of cans. And you can use them with mp3 players without people giggling at your mic.

This is not uncommon. So much that this exists:

• Razer Tartarus
  
• Logitech G13
  
  
  As for a Software Solution
  
  Add your game to Steam, and map your controller's functions to whatever you want. Here's how to do it.
  
  Otherwise, you might want to check out Joy2Key or Controller Companion.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Something like this is commonly referred to for clip on mics. You can clip it onto a headset wire (although your headset will be wireless, ideally?). I don't know if you can clip that onto your shirt, but yeah, I do mean the kind they have in interview shows.

Built in mics on headsets usually come with the gaming-type headsets. A great-sounding Sennheiser or Audio-Technica headset typically won't have a microphone.

There are ways to do it, but I don't recommend it. The only game I have been able to use it well is Dark Souls because it lets you change the on-screen button prompts. But it is still a hassle to get set up.

If you need a controller NOW, get this. If not, you might want to wait until the Xbox One launches. The new Xbox One controller will become the new standard controller for PC gaming as well.

This is the one that I have, that comes with both the controller and the adapter. (Check the third image to see what the adapter and package looks like.)

Since you already have the controller, you could just buy the receiver here. Word of caution, the official adapters say Microsoft on top. Reading reviews and images, it seems some people are getting the official one (probably taken from the above combo pack and repackaged) and others are getting a third party one (not officially from Microsoft). So I'd suggest shopping around a bit and doing some research about that.

Yeah! It is awesome
Here is the link to buy one if you want

I had to manually install the drivers, but there are YouTube videos for that

Do you need them to be on the headset itself? If you do, I'd suggest you look at the Astro a40.

If having the headphones and mic separate don't bother you, get sennheiser 558's and a proper DAC like this one with a separate mic.

@majornelson:
>2015-12-10 18:02:01 UTC

>In addition to Windows 10, starting today Xbox Wireless Adapter now supports Windows 7 & 8.1 amazon.com pic.twitter.com ^[Imgur]

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[^[Mistake?]](/message/compose/?to=TweetPoster&subject=Error%20Report&message=/3wa4ah%0A%0APlease leave above link unaltered.)
^[Suggestion]
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An electric leaf blower more expensive around $30 but will last longer than cans of air. I see people recommend the DataVac Electric Duster but it's more expensive at around $60.

What do you consider cheap?

For what you're looking for there's two options: Cheap or High Quality. And you probably won't find a 120Hz monitor for under $230.

I have the Asus VG248QE and am very pleased with it.

I agree canned air sucks but damn that duster you linked is expensive. I got one of these. Ive had it for about a year now and it works great.

> I've seen several games where it's as simple as clicking on "use xbox 360 controller", so I thought I would just do that.

Not only do many games support it "out of the box", requiring no setup or re-mapping, they will often change the UI for you, showing button prompts correctly with the icons for the 360 controls. This is why I normally recommend the 360 controller over the PS3 controller.

360 controller also works natively with Steam's big picture mode.

That said, don't get a off brand. they're terrible. I guess you could save a couple bucks and get one used, but, eww. The real deal is 34$ on Amazon right now.

There's mice with buttons on the side where your thumb normally rests that act as the number keys on your keyboard. I've used one for about 5 years for MMOs. I can't recommend them enough. Here's one of the most popular and reasonably priced ones

My issue is you could get a simple quick pad with an analog stick for significantly cheaper. While the design is cool.....There are all already better and cheaper methods.

This is what I bought a good bit ago and works great....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Q45EF4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If your headphones have a removable cord w/ 3.5mm jack then the Vmoda Boompro is really where it's at. Cheaper and from what I've seen better sound quality. You also don't have to stick anything on your headphones in order to make it work when compared to the ModMic. I own a ModMic 4.0 and have been kinda kicking myself for not getting a boom pro.

I love this one even though it doesn't match the exact sensor specs of the top mouses, but I have found it doesn't really matter unless you are pro-league

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0086UK7IQ/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

I linked the refurb for $30

Yes, this is the monitor I'm running. (I didn't pay $599 for it)

Dell Gaming S2716DG 27.0" Screen LED-Lit Monitor with G-SYNC

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0149QBOF0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_K7OszbDZ9ECEW

Dont forget this and Xpadder. Might make the transition a little easier.

Also r/Gamedeals and http://www.cheapshark.com/

Yes you can, If they are wired controllers you can just plug them into a USB slot. If they're wireless ones you need to get a wireless adapter

Xbox 360: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

Xbox One: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Adapter-Windows-one/dp/B00ZB7W4QU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1449962655&sr=1-1&keywords=xbox+wireless+adapter

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FB5LE8/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That one is a charm.

the wired xbox 360 controller is almost always the go-to reccomendation because:

1 it'll last a long time

2 it needs no drivers on windows computers (but if it does they are easy drivers to get)

3 it's comfortable to hold

you can buy a wireless controller too if you want but you also have to buy a reciever for it (which costs around 15 bucks or so)

A "good" steering wheel can run around $250 and headsets that don't have either poor mics or poor speakers are very uncommon and pricey. I recommend the controller by far, Xbox controllers use "xinput" and are plug and play with almost every game out there with exception of 10+ year old games that have a problem with the triggers being an axis instead of a single button. You can get the 360 controller quite cheap ex: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA/ or go for the Xbox One controller with the same input system and a much better d-pad: http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Controller-Cable-Windows/dp/B00O65I2VY/ (any wired Xbox 360 controller will work and any Xbox One controller will work with a micro usb cord of sufficient length).

Just edit your post and take them out, like so:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HZFCT2

I use a wireless Xbox 360 controller. You don't need to get a wired one. You just need to get a receiver: http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

And you only need 1 for your computer. It'll connect 4 controllers, just like an Xbox would.

Sounds like a job for Skyrim and a controller.

You can get an MMO mouse with a bunch of buttons to give you more options.

Otherwise some turn based RPGs like Baulder's Gate or any point-and-click game.

Get a mouse like this https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Gaming-Backlit-Programmable-Buttons/dp/B0086UK7IQ/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1517870738&sr=8-10&keywords=logitech+mouse

He means something like this.

• Wireless Xbox 360 Controller for Windows - $43.28
  
  
• DS4 Bluetooth Controller - $59.96
  
  The Xbox Controller comes with one of the dongles in the box anyway. It's really up to you if the DS4 is worth $16.68 more. Personally I think I'm just going to get the Xbox 360 controller, and I was thinking about picking on of these up for movie watching and web-browsing in bed anyway, so the trackpad support on the DS4 would probably be useless for me.

don't always trust the first price Amazon shows you. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00ZB7W4QU/ref=olp_f_primeEligible?ie=UTF8&f_new=true&f_primeEligible=true. $50 is a amazon shop who sells it for that much because Amazon itself doesn't have it in stock.

You can certainly do split screen on PC. We have a 'HTPC' with an Ivybridge i5 & gtx 570 for just this reason (built when I upgraded my gaming PC).

Here is a list of local co-op games on steam: http://store.steampowered.com/tag/en/Local%20Co-Op/#p=0&tab=TopSellers

You can get a wireless dongle so your xbox 360 controllers will work with the PC: http://www.amazon.ca/Xbox-360-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver/dp/B000HZFCT2

This is what I use and it works lovely. It's not third party, so you have that. It works with every game I've tried it on. I use it for platformers and racing games. You mentioned Assassin's Creed which I use it for quite a bit, but you also mentioned cod and BF3. Cod and BF3 shouldn't be used. You won't have a very good response time or accuracy. Chances are you will get trashed by KBM setups on those games.

This is what I got and I like it, I didnt install the keyboard tray because I dont like them so its not necessary. You can put your monitor/mouse/keyboard on one side and the part that wraps around you can put whatever extra stuff you want.

http://www.amazon.com/Walker-Edison-Soreno-3-Piece-Corner/dp/B001FB5LE8?ie=UTF8&keywords=glass%20table&qid=1465355100&ref_=sr_1_7&sr=8-7

I spent a little extra money and bought the official one But yes OP, you can absolutely do this with no trouble. I just leave it plugged into the back of my computer, so all I have to do is turn on my controller and I'm ready to go. Though you do have to pop the battery pack off the controller once you're done to get it to turn off

Yep, I have Sennheiser 555's, and use this attached to a model airplane on my desk.

and 35 here. It seems out of stock (which explains them showing another option), but they're still taking orders. It's at the top of this list for me:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004QRKWLA/ref=olp_tab_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

The posting you linked is the one I purchased from as well. However it should be noted that the item I received is not what is pictured. I ended up receiving the product pictured here

I know you want something for your desk but check this out.

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

It's only $8 and I've never had a problem with it.

I think you need a receiver for that. The wired controllers work fine too.

I'd have to recommend Asus's line of gaming monitors. The 24in model is a bit over your budget but I'd make an exception for the features offered.

You can still buy a new copy from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Combat-Evolved-PC/dp/B00009TW6R?th=1

I've been using this for a few months, it's not good for anything more than web browsing/file access, but it's solid all around http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Built-In-Multi-Touch/dp/B005DKZTMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397369453&sr=8-1&keywords=k400

http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Gaming-S2716DG-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B0149QBOF0 $510, 1440p 144Hz gsync. It's TN and still pricy, but damn I want it lol

You don't need that particular model; I have this one and I've been using it for 2+ years with no issues. I clean a bunch of PCs with it.

if you want an xbox looking controller.. get an xbox controller. (wired for PC

I bought similar electric duster about a year ago called DataVac and it's so much better compared to compressed air cans that get cold and lose pressure the more you use them. The first time I used this thing dust was flying out places the compressed air could never get to. Works great on other stuff around the house too.

wired is plug and play, wireless controllers will need their own adapter.

xbox one options
xbox one receiver only and
xbox one controller and receiver - cheaper

xbox 360 options
wireless adapter for 360 and
theres no bundle option but here's a 360 wireless controller

the 360 you'll have to buy both the adapter and controller, but it's cheaper than the bundle with the xbox one. 360 controller is $30 and the wireless plug is $18 making it a few bucks cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Combat-Evolved-PC/dp/B00009TW6R?th=1

​

Maybe you mean this?

Amazon.

Ummmm

Just buy the game?

have you've tried this?

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ

Get Sennheiser HD 419 ($39) or HD 201 ($22.70) and this Zalman Mic (link) for $8

(Prices on Amazon)

Go with your headphone plan and consider the Zalman ZM-MIC1 for the cheap. Or you can try the Blue Snowflake

If anyone wants to pull the trigger now is the time. I would buy one but I have my Blue Yeti and my Corsair Headset to do the job.

I see this mic from Zalman being reccomended a lot. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00029MTMQ/ref=mp_bxgy_p_dp_y?qid=1344025080&sr=8-1

for your budget get:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M30x-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUQW8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398378216&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-Zm-Mic1-Sensitivity-Headphone-Microphone/dp/B00029MTMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398378228&sr=8-1

HARX-700 with a Zalman Mic.

you'll need one of these

http://smile.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

This one?

You need the Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows.

It will charge the controller, but that's it. You still need a wireless adaptor.

Wireless 360 controller with this