After 13 years, Grand Theft Auto VI is finally in sight. Almost.
With just a couple of months until its official launch (on 16 November, FYI) there’s still a little time to level up your gaming set up so you give the moment the experience you deserve.
Whether you need a new gaming laptop, TV, or keyboard, our shopping writer has got you sorted.
We’ve scoured the web for the best equipment for gaming, so when the big day comes you won’t have any lag, or miss out on any of those much-anticipated graphics.
Keep reading for our suggestions.
Best laptops, CPUs, keyboards, and TVs for gaming
Best budget gaming laptop
Want to be able to take your gaming laptop with you wherever you go? This laptop not only comes in considerably cheaper than the Acer and Alienware models, but is also much lighter.
The battery life isn’t ideal, though, so you’ll need to keep it plugged in or carry the charger with you wherever you go.
If you don’t mind that, the refresh rate, resolution and display make this Acer worth it.
Display: 15.6-inch IPS LCD
Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Full HD)
Refresh rate: 165Hz
GPU memory: 6GB GDDR6
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD
Response time: Not specified
Weight: 2.11kg
+ More lightweight and budget-friendly
+ Great display and refresh rate
+ Graphics have access to DLSS
– Storage might get full quickly
– You may want to upgrade your set up down the line, which could take away from it being lightweight and portable.
Best gaming laptop for high-FPS gaming
If you’re into competitive games, this Alienware laptop comes with a 300Hz refresh rate, so you won’t find it lagging unnecessarily.
It’s easily customisable, with a mechanical keyboard that has per key RGB, and the potential for upgrading your set up however you see fit, thanks to the fact it has plenty of RAM and storage configurations.
Not to mention, Alienware has great customer service. It comes with the option to pay for Dell’s premium warranty service that means you’ll have a technician at your door within 48 hours for problems that can’t be solved remotely, so you can rest assured that you’ll be able to game no matter what.
Display: 18-inch WQXGA
Resolution: 2560 × 1600
GPU memory: 24GB GDDR7
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 2TB SSD
Response time: Not specified (300Hz LCD, ClearMR 8000)
Weight: Up to 3.6kg
Ports: USB-A, USB-C/Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, SD card reader, headset jack
+ Alienware has great customer service if you have problems
+ Has a 560 × 1600/300Hz display, which is ideal for high frame rates
– Heats up quickly
– Quite heavy, so not portable
– The resolution isn’t great for AAA games
Best gaming laptop for maximum resolution
If you’re after a laptop that can deal with demanding games, this one from Lenovo comes highly rated. Not only does it come with an insane display, which boasts 4K 240Hz, Dolby vision and a 3ms response time, but Lenovo has loaded it with a custom cooling system so it can stay powerful for longer.
It’s also as good for using in your daily life (say, editing videos) as it is gaming. The webcam is as good as you could ask for from a gaming laptop: it comes in with 5MP and a privacy shutter, meaning it’s also suitable for work and personal use – which you’d expect at that price.
Display: IPS RTX 5090 + 18-inch 4K 240Hz display
Resolution: 3840 × 2400
GPU memory: 24GB GDDR7
RAM: 64GB DDR5
Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD
Response time: 3ms
Weight: 3.5kg
Ports: Thunderbolt 5, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, ethernet, SD card reader, headphone/mic
+ 175W TGP and 3ms response time
+ 300 W thermal heating
+ 16:10 aspect ratio
+ Per key RGB
– Not as portable as other models
– Very expensive.
Best gaming chair for support
If you’re going to be sitting around for hours, this chair is designed to help keep you properly supported (and most importantly, comfortable) for long periods.
The armrests are adjustable to six different dimensions, while the backrest reclines from 95° to 165° so you can sit upright to focus or lean back to relax.
It’s also been designed specifically to fit the natural curves of your body, with rounded cushions, a wider seat pad, and leg rest for added comfort.
Best TV for gaming to avoid burn-in
This Hisense TV also has a great refresh rate and resolution, and some gamers say they opted for this over the LG option to prevent burn-in as it comes with VRR support.
Instead of a regular LED display, this uses MiniLED, which means the colours are more vibrant and contrasted.
It’ll also work better than the LG for console gaming.
+ Better suited for PCs and console gaming than the LG
+ Resistant to burn-in
+ MiniLED means better display
– Quite big.
Best TV for no lag gaming
For a TV that won’t lag during gaming, LG C series works for solo and multi-players.
With a fast 0.1ms response time, you won’t experience lag, while the refresh rate will keep things running smoothly.
It can sync with NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync Premium cards, and can even be connected with multiple PCs at once thanks to its four HDMI ports that are each loaded with 2.1 bandwidth up to 48Gbps.
+ Great for gaming with PCs
+ Contrast and brightness is high quality
– Not so good for console gaming.
Best CPU for gaming
Designed specifically for speed, this CPU is consistently rated the best for gamers.
With 96MB of L3 cache, it makes for a smoother gaming experience. It’s faster, too, proving it has up to 27% better gaming performance compared with others on the market in testing.
+ Designed specifically for gaming
+ Ideal for gaming at higher display
– Not for general work.
Best gaming keyboard for beginners
If you’re new to gaming, this keyboard has everything you need for an easy and affordable set up.
Not only is the LED display customisable, but you can swap out your switches to whatever configuration you want.
There’s a dial on the keyboard, which means you can adjust the brightness and volume instantly. Plus, the keys make a satisfying “thocky” sound for a little ASMR while you play.
Best wireless keyboard for gaming
Want to avoid (even more) tangled wires? This keyboard is wireless, but without taking away from performance.
It won’t lag, as it’s designed specifically for gaming, and it has fast mechanical switches.
Similar to the Logitech keyboard, you can switch out the keys, which by the way are covered in three layers of sound dampening materials for quiet tapping that won’t distract you.
