Essential hardware and software on a budget
There’s a lot of hardware and software I can’t live without. Cheap but quality is my motto. Here’s a list of hardware I use and what I typically install on new machines. I won’t put them in any particular order although I will give a description of what and why I include them, whether it’s for ease of workflow, price, low hardware requirements, usage, productivity or anything else.
Hardware
Logitech G203 Gaming Mouse - This mouse comes in at a super low price and it’s very durable. It beats the hell out of similarly priced Corsair and Razer products and I’m not just saying it. You can score it now for $20.
Mackie MC-100 Headphones - These headphones come with a 1/4 inch male adapter for music production and standard aux port. Again, on the budget these are great headphones. Who really wants to dish out hundreds of dollars on a pair of headphones that are going to get damaged and dirty overtime? Thinking about how many pairs of earbuds and headphones I’ve gone through over the years, I realized how much of a waste they were. And if it breaks, you’re only out $30.
NOCO Boost Pro GB150 3000A - In need of portable power that can charge a phone as well as jump a car, look no further than NOCO. I saw their ads at a baseball game and bought one in a pinch. It seems to have an amazing shelf life as so far I’ve rarely had to recharge it. All things deteriorate overtime but this product stands out to me. $300.
Dell G Series Gaming Laptops - The Dell G Series laptops are designed for gaming and feature powerful CPUs and GPUs, efficient cooling technology and a sleek design. They are positioned below Dell's Alienware line and offer a range of models suitable for mainstream gamers. Windows operating systems come native but the machines seem to be super compatible. My family and friends use them regularly and in comparison to Acer, HP, Lenovo and other brands Dell truly stands the test of time. They will surely continue to innovate. $1000-$2000.
Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor - 27″ monitor optimized for everyday gaming. Features a QHD display with great color performance, delivering gameplay that springs to life. Very little screen tearing, high refresh rate and portable design make it a must. I don’t use it regularly since I use laptops but if you’re so inclined to buy a monitor for a custom PC build this will run you $379.
Software
Steam - My most used software. Over the years I’ve logged more hours than I’d like to admit, and saved a ton of money on their sales. I’ve met thousands of great people across the many game servers. I install it on every machine I use.
Google Chrome - Right now it’s the best browser-cloud-email combo. Opera GX is a close second.
Opera GX - Quickly becoming the gamer’s Chrome, Opera GX seems to have a lot less going on under the hood. The design will hopefully be improved but it looks cool. And we get typewriter sounds for typing! And a built in VPN. Neat.
GrepWin - A powerful keyword-searching tool that helps find my files easier. Probably the most essential software I have.
Discord - A powerful communication tool. I’ve also met so many people here and have learned so much. For it’s productivity, it has much better uploading sizes than Skype. It’s tailor made for gamers and programmers alike. Not sure why more people aren’t using it more.
Windows 11 Debloat - This really isn’t necessarily a piece of software, more of a solution. Raphire’s Windows 11 Debloat will help keep your hardware safe from oppressive Windows shovelware.
TeamViewer - Still the best remote connection software you can find, businesses and consumers love it.
BitTorrent - If you want to avoid digital rights management, use BitTorrent to install your favorite media. Couldn’t live without it.
Notepad++ - Text editor that highlights source code. With it, tabbed editing and shortcuts can help programmers tremendously. Even if you aren’t a developer, you’ll find a use for Notepad++.
WinRar - Pretty much essential for opening .rar files. You should really have this by now.
Photopea - Free web based Photoshop. It works just as good as Photoshop did for me 10 years ago and because it’s web based, it helps my workflow immensely. Definitely check it out.
