The importance of gear depends on your needs and preferences.
The importance of gear depends on your needs and preferences.
I believe the impact varies depending on your previous setup. I didn’t see a significant jump in skill when switching from a membrane keyboard to a mechanical one, yet moving from a clunky $5 mouse from 2001 to a solid G9x improved my gameplay a lot. My precision got much better. I wouldn’t claim that expensive branded gaming equipment automatically boosts your abilities. It’s more about discovering what suits you best. While high-quality parts inside a mouse or keyboard matter, there’s a limit. You don’t have to invest $200 just to improve, but when you do, it can really help.
I personally value a descent mouse highly. Back then, I owned a wireless laser mouse that I considered decent. Later, I moved to a 1600 dpi optical mouse, believing it was incredibly fast and allowing me to click with greater speed and precision. After that, I switched to a 5200 dpi laser model, which made tasks much simpler. It’s helpful when you can tap on the opponent's head before they do the same.
When it comes to equipment, it's not just about the latest or most advanced—it's about what feels right for you. Some pros stick with older gear simply because it suits their style. The only item that truly boosts gaming performance would be higher refresh rate displays. I don’t know many who like 60Hz over 120/144Hz in Counter-Strike, but even that won’t noticeably impact your gameplay.
It doesn't necessarily improve your gaming skills, but playing with the right equipment can definitely make it more enjoyable. I recently returned to a M310 after using an R.A.T M, since the rat had some deceleration problems that made it feel a bit off in a fast-paced setting.
Choosing gear depends on your personal taste and how you feel with it. For me, switching to a mech keyboard made playing Starcraft much better, and once I found a mouse that fit perfectly, I felt more comfortable and performed better. It really helps, but don’t just buy something because others say it’s good—make sure it matches your needs and you’ll actually enjoy using it.
You should be confident with your setup and feel at ease using it. Replacing that $5 mouse is a priority—it seems out of place beside your K70. The sensor quality isn’t ideal either.
It varies by genre. For turn-based games, it doesn't matter much. In FPS and MOBA, everything counts.
I continue playing on a 60Hz screen with one GPU and often drop to 30:0 k/d in Natural Selection 2, 15:2 in War Thunder, and I believe my best run in Titanfall was a 26-game streak. Gaming involves various abilities; upgrading to newer gear boosts some while reducing others, like anticipation—predicting enemy moves and object motion at high speed. It seems my top FPS skill is reaction time, which comes from not reaching 120+Hz for long. With a 144Hz monitor and sufficient GPU power, I wouldn’t need it as much, and eventually I’d adapt to the higher refresh rate. But then I’d get used to it and react more smoothly. Swings and turns.
A $200 keyboard won’t turn you into a superstar, nor will a $100 mouse; a good monitor might actually provide an edge. If it matters to you, that’s fine—most folks won’t notice much difference. Still, it’s pleasant to play on a tidy keyboard free of dried milk and sticky keys.