How To Select the Right Technology for an Esports Facility at Your Institution

There are many different elements that go into creating ideal esports gaming facilities. You’ll need to select computers with the right Central Processing Unit (CPU), graphics card, and cooling system. You’ll also need to consider components such as the monitor and keyboard, along with peripherals such as a mouse, mousepad, and gaming headset. To help futureproof your institution’s esports technology investments, consider investing in higher-end hardware that has the ability to run new games without issues.

Let’s discuss each of these components in greater detail:

PC

Desktop computers are the best option for institutions that plan to have gaming facilities and don’t want students to move or remove PCs from the area. Desktop computers are simple to upgrade and are easier to keep cool than laptops, which is a major advantage for esports games with high system requirements.

PC Internal Hardware

For esports, it is essential to have a CPU that can keep up with the audio and video feed being rapidly distributed. The clock speed determines how fast the CPU can retrieve and interpret instructions, and is measured in gigahertz (GHz).

• The clock speed of Intel’s 9th generation Core i5 processor is 4.1-4.6 GHz, and i7 is 4.7-4.9 GHz, which beats previous generations.
  • A Core i7 minimum equipped PC is preferred for high-end gaming like esports, although gen 9 i5s may be good, too.
• The clock speed of AMD’s 4th generation Ryzen 5 processor is 3.7-4.6 GHZ, and Ryzen 7 is 3.8-4.7 GHz.
  
  

All gaming PCs must be equipped with optimal RAM to handle the requirements for esports.

• 8GB of RAM is typically viewed as the minimum to create an esports setup with 4K resolution.
• Many popular esports games now recommend 16GB, which is ideal for balancing performance with budget.
  
  

A dedicated graphics card containing a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and optimal memory (referred to as VRAM or RAM) is also required. The GPU accelerates the creation and rendering of images, video, and animations.

• For esports, 1080p is good resolution, but if you intend to have students play at 4K resolution, you need a high-end graphics card capable of supporting it.
  • One with at least 8GB of VRAM (RAM) is recommended for esports and will help futureproof your investment.
    
    

Your graphics card must also be powerful enough to produce the ideal frames per second (FPS) in the games your students play.

• While 60 FPS is acceptable, 144 or more is recommended.
• Although it’s not critical here, esports pros usually try to get 240 FPS to eliminate ghosting and enable smooth animations on the monitor.
  
  

Monitor

Monitors are a crucial element of your esports setup. Investing in high resolution monitors that can handle the intense weight of esports game graphics is essential. The gaming monitors should be:

• large enough for your students to clearly see the games they are playing, roughly 21.5-35 inches is recommended.
• flicker-free, offer a 1ms (millisecond) or quicker response time, and have fast refresh rates.
  
  

The refresh rate of the display is the number of times per second the monitor creates a new image. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the picture display and action will be. The monitor’s refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz). To create an ideal gaming experience, the system’s FPS output should match the monitor’s refresh rate.

Keyboard

Selecting the right keyboard is another important decision for your institution’s esports setup. There are two keyboard types to select from: mechanical and membrane.

• Mechanical keyboards are considered the gold standard in esports. A switch under each key clicks when pressed, making it easier to know when a keystroke is registered. They are very reliable and responsive. Some even have the ability to turn off Alt, Tab, and Window keys, which helps players avoid hitting the wrong keys. Mechanical keyboards are extremely durable and have a long lifespan, but are more expensive than membrane keyboards.
• Membrane keyboards are inexpensive and may be a good option for games where keyboard performance is less likely to affect the gaming experience. They are quieter but the keys are less robust, and keystrokes failing to register are common. Issues like ghosting may be a problem as well, which is when a keystroke isn’t registered although the key was pressed correctly.
  
  

Mouse

The mouse is a critical accessory to the esports gaming setup. In fact, the mouse can dramatically affect gameplay, especially with games that require swift, precise movement. However, selecting the right mouse can be tricky, as there are thousands of makes and models to choose from. Focus on the qualities that all student players will benefit from.

Whether to choose a wired or wireless mouse is extremely important. Many esports gamers prefer corded mice because they are more responsive and offer better speed, precision, and durability, but the wire may tangle or get in the way. To avoid this, look for a mouse that’s light and flexible — some even have “phantom” type cords that claim to not tangle. Wireless mice avoid tangles and provide additional range of movement.

The mouse selected should be:

• lightweight and extremely sensitive with no jittering, acceleration, or prediction.
• ergonomically designed, as the mouse should be ambidextrous and good for students with different sized hands.
  
  

Mousepad

Believe it or not, there are several advantages of having a mousepad designed for esports. Thickness is important. Opt for a thinner pad when going from a smooth playing surface, or a thicker one if the playing surface is bumpy or uneven. The texture should be smooth and even, offering a glide that is consistent, standard, and comfortable for most players.