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Category: Gaming

  • Best mouse for gaming in India – The ultimate starter guide:

    Best mouse for gaming in India – The ultimate starter guide:

    The holy trinity of getting the best experience in competitive gaming is a killer PC, a high refresh rate monitor, and a gaming mouse. If you’re on the hunt for a mouse, this comprehensive guide on how to select the best mouse for gaming in India is all you’ll need. I’ll also be giving you a list of 5 gaming mice of different specifications which are priced at a reasonably cheap rate to give you a little headstart on your mouse hunt. 

    The first question that you will be asking yourself is, why do you need to pay a relatively large amount of money just for a mouse? After all, the primary purpose of a mouse to perform basic click, drag, and scroll functions. You could make do with a simple home or office mouse, especially if you are on a very tight budget, but beware that you won’t be getting the full experience, particularly in competitive multiplayer titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, CS: GO, PUBG and so on. 

    So how exactly does getting a good mouse impact your gaming performance? Is it possible to find a cheap gaming mouse? Read on to know more! 

    Specifications of a good gaming mouse: 

    A gaming mouse has many features and a lot more specifications than you think. If you are someone who is still new to the PC gaming industry, you might not even be aware of some of these terms. Fear not, because a detailed explanation for each and everything will be provided below along with what kind of advantages the said specification or feature can give you when playing your favorite game. 

    DPI: 

    The most common term associated with a gaming mouse is Dots Per Inch or DPI in short. It is also known as Counts Per Inch or CPI but both of these terms essentially mean the same thing. It simply means how far your mouse will when you move your mouse cursor by an inch. 

    To understand Dots Per Inch, one must first understand how images are displayed on a screen. Every screen or monitor display is made up of a large number of dots. These dots together are used to form an image, to put it in simple terms. So, not only does DPI depends on the quality of the mouse itself but also on the display resolution of the screen you are using.  

    For instance, a mouse that moves fast on a 1080p monitor might move slower on a 4K monitor because a 4K monitor is larger and has a lot more dots. However, in high-quality gaming mice, this problem isn’t apparent. 

    Nowadays, good quality mice ship with a built-in DPI button to allow the user to easily toggle between varying amounts of DPI to get the best experience. DPI limits range from 50 to around 20,000. A lower DPI means lower sensitivity, so small movements of the mouse or cursor won’t be registered on screen while a higher DPI is the opposite.  

    Depending on your personal preference, the mouse you have, and the type of game you are playing, the DPI can be adjusted accordingly. Gamers also generally adjust the in-game mouse sensitivity to best compliment the DPI of the mouse they are using and it has proven to give very favorable results. 

    Polling rate: 

    It can be easy to get confused between polling rate and DPI. While DPI is how far across the screen your mouse will move, polling rate is defined as the length of the interval for which the mouse relays its position to the CPU. Polling rates can be as low as 125Hz and as high as 1000Hz. A polling rate of 125Hz means it relays its position to the computer 125 times per second. A polling rate of 1000Hz means that the mouse’s position will be relayed 1000 times a second.  

    A lower polling rate means that your mouse could be slower to respond to quick movements while a higher one would mean your mouse would be extremely swift and fast. In theory, you should always go for mice with higher polling rates but this could also put an extra strain on your PC. Think about it, a 1000Hz polling rate would mean your mouse would use way more CPU power and thus might cause a few lag spikes in games if your build isn’t powerful enough. So, if your PC isn’t exactly a freak of nature you want to go with a mouse that has a more moderate polling rate. 

    Optical vs Laser: 

    If you are a little more of the old school type, you would have been familiar with the trackball mouse. As the name suggests, it consisted of a ball that was used to detect rotation. However, nowadays such technology is obsolete especially after the introduction of optical mice and laser mice.  

    Contrary to popular belief, the only major difference between an optical mouse and a laser mouse is how they illuminate the surface. In an optical mouse, the surface is illuminated via infrared light and in a laser mouse, well you guessed it, a laser is used to illuminate the surface. 

    But which one of these is the better option? Normally, most PC gamers prefer using an optical mouse pointing out that a laser mouse is more prone to falling prey to acceleration. If you haven’t heard of the term, acceleration in a mouse is when the speed at which you move the mouse determines the speed of the cursor on-screen. PC gamers dislike this as it can cause havoc in FPS titles. 

    That being said, acceleration can occur in optical mice too. In the end, DPI and polling rates are more important factors that determine the quality of experience you’ll have with a mouse whether your mouse is optical-based or laser-based. You won’t be placed at a significant disadvantage if you go with a laser mouse or vice versa. 

    Deciding between wired and wireless: 

    Wireless is the new trend these days. We’ve already seen earphone jacks gradually disappear from the newest phones, thus forcing earphone and headphone manufacturers to increasingly switch to Bluetooth headsets. Even chargers are slowly being turned into wireless, with Apple being the frontrunner of this particular innovation. Wireless mice have been around for quite some time now but if you truly are looking for the best mouse for gaming then it is going to have been wired and there are two major reasons for that: 

    • Latency: Some of you might already be familiar with the term latency. Latency is nothing but a delay in the input given by a user and the action performed on screen. Having high latency can be a serious issue in the case of gaming mice and this is especially apparent in wireless mice as they rely on Bluetooth signals to get the job done. Wired mice, on the other hand, are connected directly to the computer and thus don’t have any sort of input lag or latency issues getting in the way. In a competitive gaming environment, even minute input lags cannot be forgiven. The best wireless gaming mouse may not have such problems but it might also come at a steep price.  
    • Batteries: Another major disadvantage of wireless mice is the fact they run on batteries. This might not seem like a problem at first but if you game for long hours then you’ll find that the batteries might quickly need replacing. This can especially become a problem if the battery in your mice dies on you in the middle of a crucial match. It is best to avoid such rookie mistakes in a competitive environment and thus a wired mouse is always the safer option. 

    Extra buttons/Programmable buttons: 

    The classic mouse normally comes with around three simple buttons; left, right and middle. For a casual gaming experience, these buttons will more than suffice. However, if you want to get into competitive gaming and/or if you just want to make your gaming experience a lot easier in general, it is always advisable to get a mouse with programmable buttons.  

    Nowadays, most gaming mice come with buttons added on the side. This means that you can make use of your thumb to interact with these buttons and perform some actions that you would normally have to do on your keyboard.  

    programmable buttons

    For example, let’s take a game such as Counter-Strike. You are in a 1v2 clutch situation. You think of throwing a smoke grenade to distract the enemy but by the time you do it, you’re already dead! This is where programmable buttons on a mouse come in handy. With your thumb on the side of the mouse at all times, the seconds or even milliseconds you save can make a massive difference to your online experience. Indeed, pretty much every Esports player uses a gaming mouse with programmable buttons, and thus it would be simply silly of you to ignore the added advantage when you buy a mouse for gaming. 

    These extra buttons are not only handy for FPS titles but also for MMOs and RPGs as well. These games are content-heavy and require a lot of buttons on your keyboard to perform various actions.  

    Weight of the mouse: 

    Games normally require high-speed reaction times. Especially, if you play an FPS, you’ll need to perform ‘flicks’ I.e., Move your aim from one enemy to another in a matter of seconds. In high-ranked matches, this is extremely important and can make the difference between a win and a loss. Thus here, the weight of the mouse plays a very pivotal role in determining how efficiently the player can flick. This is not true only for FPS titles but other games in general as well. 

    Generally, people prefer using a lighter mouse as it is much easier to control but there are pro gamers that use heavier mice and achieve good results. So, the myth that a heavier mouse isn’t suited for competitive gaming is simply false as it is all up to personal preference. If you want to get creative, certain mice allow for adding or removing weights so that you can tweak it whenever you want and depending on the game you are playing. 

    Getting a mouse pad: 

    mousepad

    Another accessory that is often overlooked by gamers is the use of a mousepad. It might seem silly to spend money on one first but there are numerous benefits to using a proper gaming mouse pad, especially if your desk isn’t optimal for mouse movement. Combine that with the best mouse for gaming and you are all set and raring to go for your next competitive FPS title.  

    So, let’s take a look at how you should select the right gaming mouse pad and what a good mouse pad does. 

    • It protects your mouse from dirt: Most desks are dirty or accumulate dirt and/or dust over time. This dirt will start sticking to the underside of your mouse and in the long term might cause some inconveniences. By using a mousepad, you can ensure that your mouse is adequately protected and clean all the time. 
    • It is more comfortable: If you find your hand feeling or stiff or slightly painful after gaming for long hours it is more likely because you keep it placed at an uncomfortable angle on a rough desk every day. By getting a mouse pad, you can ensure that your hand is rested on a smooth surface. There are also special types of mouse pads known as ergonomic mouse pads, that help position your hand at an angle that is far more comfortable for you. 
    • They will improve your gaming performance: If your desk is too rough or too smooth, you won’t be getting the required amount of friction that helps you move your mouse back and forth. For instance, a desk that is a bit more on the smoother side would produce far more friction than you’d like and might be a factor in your aim going haywire in competitive FPS. By getting a good gaming mousepad, you can ensure that your mouse movement is stable at all times. 

    Some of the best gaming mice: 

    Now, let’s move onto the fun part. If you want a complete mouse for gaming. you are probably going to have to shell out a lot. If you are running on somewhat of a budget and if you are looking to improve your gaming skills or if you feel you won’t be able to pick the right mouse for you, fear not there are plenty of good gaming mice available for relatively more reasonable prices. I’ve handpicked the five best gaming mice you can find below 5000 INR. You might have to make some sacrifices here and there but all of these should serve you well in the quest for climbing up the ladder in competitive titles, depending on your personal preferences of course. 

    Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best mice for gaming: 

    RUNMUS CW902: 

    The first mouse we are looking at is the Runmus CW902. Normally this mouse is priced at slightly above 5000 INR but it regularly goes for sale for well below that and as such presents itself as a very attractive option.  

    RUNWUS C902

    The mouse comes packed with a customizable DPI with a range of 800 to 6400. With such a high range, you can tune and tweak the DPI as per the game you play and the settings you use. This ensures a sleek and versatile experience. Moreover, there are special buttons designed to increase or decrease the DPI on the mouse itself which will save you the hassle of manually changing the DPI for each and every game. 

    In addition to the two DPI buttons, five other programmable buttons can be tailored as per your liking. This includes the four-movement buttons (forward, backward, left, and right) as well as a scroll wheel button. The number of buttons also means that it could be very useful for one-handed gaming for people with disabilities or injuries.  

    Do note that the mouse weighs around 136 grams making it slightly on the heavier side. If you are looking for a lighter mouse then this might be a little uncomfortable for you but it is by no means a deal-breaker and you can always get used to it! 

    If you are into aesthetics, it also comes with a customizable RBG backlight featuring six modes. This variety ensures that the lighting can be customized to blend in with the lighting of your CPU and the rest of your computer hardware. The mouse also promises a lifetime of 21 million clicks or an average of 10,000 clicks per day. This coupled with the 24-month warranty means that you get a mouse that is not only beneficial to you in the short term but one that is also long-lasting. 

    With an array of impressive features for a remarkably low price, the CW902 has garnered positive reviews across the board from a variety of customers, so you won’t need any second assurances about the quality of the product.  

    Price: 2,632 INR on Amazon. 

    HYPER X PULSEFIRE HASTE GAMING MOUSE: 

    If you are looking for a mouse that is super light-weight but still highly durable then look no further than the Pulsefire Haste. This mouse is built for precision, quality, and lightness. Weighing at just around 59g, it is easy to hold, handle, and delivers great gaming performance. 

    At first glance, the mouse might look odd due to the open honeycomb mesh but this new type of coverage makes it far lighter than your regular mouse without sacrificing any of the durability. The open mesh also allows for proper ventilation and airflow although beware this means that there is more risk of dust getting caught inside the mouse too! 

    HyperX Pulsefire haste mouse for gaming

    Being a wired mouse, the cable itself is also lightweight and specifically designed in a manner that both tension and resistance are reduced. A reduction in these factors allows for the mouse to freely and also means you won’t have to worry about cable wear and tear even with heavy usage. 

    While the CW902 promises to deliver up to 21 million clicks for its lifetime, this one takes it a step further and allows for 60 million clicks. Even with extremely high usage, you can be assured that the mouse will last you at least one gaming generation making it effectively a one-time purchase. The mouse also comes with grip tape that can be attached to the side. So, this could be a feature you like if you feel the vanilla mouse is a little slippery and difficult to control.  

    When it comes to DPI and aesthetics, the mouse is fully customizable with the readymade HyperX NGENUITY software. This software allows you to tweak the DPI of the mouse, adjust RGB lighting, and loads more thus allowing for a more relaxed and free-flowing experience. The DPI range of the mouse also goes up to 16,000 which is far more than the CW902. Do note that the mouse isn’t ambidextrous and is specifically designed for right-handers. 

    Although the mouse is slightly more on the expensive side, the premium build and quality make it absolutely worth the price you’ll pay. 

    Price: 3890 INR on Amazon. 

    LOGITECH G502: 

    Now coming to a rather well-known brand that even casual gamers and tech enthusiasts would be aware of. Logitech has always been a stalwart when it comes to delivering quality desktop computer accessories and the G502 is the latest in a line of high-quality Logitech gaming mice. When it comes to choosing the best mouse for gaming, Logitech always presents itself as a safe and reliable option. 

    Unlike the previous two gaming mice, this one is wireless and comes packaged with a single AA battery for use. As mentioned earlier, a wired mouse is almost always preferred for a competitive online experience but if you are building a setup with as minimal a number of external wires as possible and if you want to avoid cable wear and tear, this should serve you perfectly fine. It certainly is the best wireless gaming mouse you can find for this price range. 

    Logitech G502 mouse for gaming

    The DPI of the mouse can go up to around 16,000 and can be modified on the fly with the built-in buttons. This means you can change your DPI in the middle of a match itself and this can come in handy and save you a lot of time and possibly, matches. You also have the option of selecting from five custom DPI settings from within the readymade Logitech software, which is a must-download if you use any type of Logitech mouse. The Hero 16K sensor is also said to be Logitech’s most accurate and high-performing sensor yet. 

    Coming to the weight of the mouse, it is already on the heavy side, weighing around 122 grams by default, which is far more than the light-weight PulseFire haste. That being said it also allows to add or remove five weights of around 3.6g each inside the mouse. So, if you feel the mouse is lighter (or too heavy), then these weights will come in handy and it is a feature that is not available in most gaming mice, especially ones on a budget. 

    In addition to all of this, the mouse features up to 11 programmable buttons, as opposed to 7 (including the two buttons for DPI) on the CW902. This allows for more flexibility and button mapping which can be very useful for not only FPS titles but also RTS and RPG games. In addition, there is also a feature called “dual-mode hyper scroll” which allows the user to toggle a “fast scrolling option” on and off that allows for an extremely smooth scrolling experience.  

    The mouse is also ambidextrous and suited for both left and right-handed gamers. Despite being a little more on the expensive side, Logitech’s impressive track record plus the two-year warranty means that you will be more than happy with the mouse, provided you can adjust to its weight.  

    Price: 4295 INR on Amazon. (During lightning sales) 

    RAZER DEATHADDER ESSENTIAL: 

    Another company like Logitech that is well known for making desktop peripherals is Razer. The Deathadder Essential is something far more of a cheap option when compared to the previous ones listed but it presents itself as a great option if you want a mouse that is suited for gaming but also not a steep price. 

    Razer DeathAdder Essential

    The Deathadder Essential is an optical mouse that is designed only for right-handers. With a DPI of around 6,400, it promises accurate, fast, and responsive swipes. The DPI is also customizable either with a button or via the Razer software which is again a must-have if you own any kind of Razer gaming mouse. 

    Another feature of the Deathadder Essential is its ergonomic design. It means that the mouse is tailor-made to slot comfortably into your hands. An ergonomic design means that you can spend long hours gaming in intense titles without your hand going sore which can usually be the case if you use a non-ergonomic or a normal mouse without a proper grip. 

    When it comes to programmable buttons, it falls a little short of the G502 with only five programmable buttons present but for the price, you can pick it up for it is a relatively small trade-off. These buttons are hyper-responsive and you’ll be able to customize them as per your wish and they all work perfectly fine. 

    The mouse has an estimated lifespan of up to 10 million clicks which again might not seem like much when compared to the previous ones listed here but it should be more than sufficient to last you for a few years of highly intense gaming. The mouse has proven to be highly durable and Razer themselves have a history of being reliable when it comes to their products have sold more than 9 million units worldwide. 

    If you want the best mouse for gaming at a remarkably cheap budget and if you are okay with sacrificing some of the more premium features that would be available in other gaming mice, this one is certainly for you. Even in a highly competitive environment, it should be more than sufficient to do a commendable job. 

    Price: 1559 INR on Amazon.  

    COSMIC BYTE EQUINOX GAMMA: 

    Similar in specification to the CW902, the Equinox Gamma from Cosmic Byte is another pocket-friendly gaming mouse that boasts an impressive array of features considering its price tag. It features a PixArt Optical sensor and PixArt Optical lens that aim to provide the smoothest and most seamless experience possible whether it be for regular everyday use, editing work, and competitive multiplayer FPS titles. 

    Cosmic Byte Equinox Gamma

    The mouse comes with RGB lighting technology and the pre-built Cosmic Byte software will allow you to customize and set up the lighting as per your taste. It also comes with 12 programmable buttons which is a rarity at this price point. The DPI of the mouse can again be clocked up to 16000. In addition to a DPI switch, it also comes with an indicator to make it easier for you to adjust your DPI on the fly.  

    The mouse comes with 3 pieces of adjustable weights weighing around 3.5 grams each although by default the mouse quite heavy by itself weighing around 148 grams. The mouse also has a lifetime of up to 10 million clicks. Again, this might be a little less in comparison to the rest of the gaming mice listed here but you can’t ask for everything at this price. 

    The mouse is right-hand-oriented and features both a palm grip and a claw grip. Choosing which grip to use is entirely up to personal preference although it is generally said that gamers prefer the claw grip for FPS titles despite palm grip being more comfortable. Nonetheless, having the option to choose between the two means that you can switch whenever you want on the fly as per the game you are playing or the software you are using. 

    Price: 2193 INR on Amazon. 

    Conclusion: 

    And that’s a wrap, if you made it this far, I hope you gained some very useful insight into the inner workings of getting and use a mouse for gaming. If you’ve decided to buy any one of the above-mentioned gaming mice then you really can’t go wrong!  

    The advantages of using a proper mouse in competitive multiplayer titles are severely underrated. Most of the time, if you feel like your aim isn’t on point, it probably has more to do with your mouse rather than your skill or reaction time. Hence, having the best mouse for gaming at your fingertips is important to achieve high rankings in multiplayer titles. 

  • BEST OFFICE CHAIRS FOR WORK FROM HOME IN INDIA 2021

    BEST OFFICE CHAIRS FOR WORK FROM HOME IN INDIA 2021

    Working from home has been a dream come true for many people, one of the not so many upsides of the covid lockdown but it does come with its own set of unique challenges. While working from home allows you to attend meetings in boxers, it can also cause a lot of physical and mental stress owing to long sitting hours and reduced interactions with people. Sitting for long hours for work can cause a lot of physical stress on your body and all sorts of problems associated with it. A good chair is thus one of if not the most important component of a good work from home setup. An uncomfortable chair can cause frustration and irritability as well and hence a good chair can also help reduce fatigue and mental strain. A good sitting position can go a long way in maintaining good posture and physical and mental health and a good chair helps to ensure just that. Okay, now that you’ve decided that you want to buy a good chair for your home office, let’s look at how to get the best chair to make your work from home experience more fun and productive. There is a wide variety of chairs floating around in the market like the extravagant executive chair, the sleek mesh chair, the legendary iconic plastic Monoblock chair, the crazy gaming chair(yeah, crazy USELESS! Literally, they’re useless please don’t buy them) so it can get a bit tricky to choose the best chair but fear not my friend we’re here to guide you so that you don’t make stupid decisions like buying a gaming chair as uh, my friend did. Anyways, the type of chair you want is the office chair and there a few key considerations when buying office chairs so let’s dive right in!

     

    HOW TO CHOOSE

    Buying an office chair is a significant investment but also an important one for your health and well being. A good chair is not only comfortable and increases productivity but also improves mood and posture. Some key things to consider while buying an office chair are listed below :-

    • Seat: check the height, width and depth of chair from front to back to make sure it fits you perfectly. There are different sizes available so make sure you get the right size.
    • Seat comfort: the seat should not be so soft that it creates problems for your back and neither so firm that it causes soreness in your buttocks.
    • Back support: proper back support and lumbar support are important but some chairs have gimmicky lumbar supports which aren’t very effective. Most high end chairs provide lumbar support by design but see what works for you.
    • Arm rest comfort: the height, width and length of arm rest should be of proper fit and there should be adjustments for the same as well as for pivot angle of arm rest. Many chairs also have arm rest cushioning to keep your elbows soft uwu.
    • Adjustments: an office chair should be highly adjustable to fit the needs of the user . In addition to seat height and armrest adjustments, some standard adjustments are tilt lock, back height and headrest adjustments.
    • Build quality: comfort and adjustability are of no use if it doesn’t last. You don’t want to be sitting on ripped fabric and a broken chair. Robustness in design and quality of materials are definitely very important.
    • Assembly process: If I wanted to assemble chairs I’d be working in a chair factory. No one likes to perform over-complicated assembly but decide for yourself if it is worth it.
    • Warranty policy: warranty is like cake, the more you get the better. All good brands provide a warranty for their chairs, some better than the others. Generally higher end chairs have more extensive and longer duration warranty.
    • Return policy: some manufacturers have fees for returning products while some need paperwork, others are simple. Easy returns are definitely desirable.

    Now that you can judge an office chair like my ex used to judge me, let’s look at the best office chairs available in India.

     

    BEST OFFICE CHAIRS AVAILABLE IN INDIA IN 2021

    We have handpicked the best office chairs after extensive research to meet your needs. The chairs have been divided into best premium office chairs, best budget office chairs, best affordable office chairs and some honorable mentions. So, without further adieu, let’s take a look.

    BEST PREMIUM OFFICE CHAIRS :-

    Chances are that these chairs are out not for you or me, or most of us but we all like to see things that we can’t afford don’t we. If these are the chairs for you, buy me one as well eh? Anyways, top chairs cherry picked from the best listed below :-

    1) STEELCASE LEAP V2

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support:5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5
    • Buy for Rs. 81,473 at steelcase.com

    Steelcase leap v2 is a well rounded premium product. Fitting people of almost all sizes, coming in with ample adjustments, and build quality so good that it will last a lifetime, literally. In fact, I very often use “yo mama so fat, she broke the Steelcase chair when she sat on it” as a legit comeback. The seat is one of the most comfortable in the market. While the seat pad isn’t really thick, it does not cause any issues at all for long sitting time. Back support is the best in class with it’s Liveback technology which provides both flexibility and support. It has comfortable armrests with height , depth, width and pivot adjustments. This chair is one of the most adjustable chairs around with the option to adjust seat height, seat depth, arm width, arm depth, arm height, arm pivot, adjustable lumbar support and 5 tilt lock positions. The only standard adjustment it’s missing is the back height adjustment but that should already be tall enough for most users with the back height standard of 25”. it also comes with an optional headrest. One very strong point of leap v2 is this single chair can fit many different credit to the adjustments and standard back and seat size. This baby comes fully assembled right out of the box with a return policy of 30 days provided you keep original packaging. It has a lifetime warranty for the frame and 12 years for other parts, see I wasn’t joking before. Also, they cover expenses for all repairs and pay you if they can’t repair it, talk about service. It has the best build quality in industry with premium top of the line materials. Stylish and comfortable and a solid choice for those that can afford it.

    2) STEELCASE GESTURE

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support:5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5
    • Buy for Rs. 96,365 at steelcase.com

    Another solid product from Steelcase, this chair is another solid choice for a premium office chair. It fits most uses easily no matter what their body size is due to it’s very high adjustability. The highlight though has to be the 4d highly adjustable arms which are even more adjustable than those in leap v2. the seat is similar to that of leap v2 which is not very thick but surprisingly causes no issues and is very comfortable. The lumbar support is adjustable but the effect isn’t as pronounced as that in leap v2. The backrest moves with you and provides adequate support in all positions. The arms come with 4d adjustments but also with a staggering range of 10.25” to 22.5” wide and up to 4.25” high. This chair comes in with all the standard adjustments except back height adjustments but that should not be considered a problem as it has a very high back height which can easily fit most people. Build quality is the best in class with all sorts of premium materials available. It comes in fully assembles with a 30 day return police with original packaging. It also has a lifetime warranty for frame and 12 years warranty for other parts. All in all a top chair with quality and ample adjustments.

    3) HERMAN MILLER AERON

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support:5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5  
    • Warranty policy:5
    • Buy for Rs. 95,206 at hermanmiller.in

    This chair is the holy grail of quality chairs, the epitome of what an office chair can be in terms of comfort, quality, everything. I could sit on it with blisters on my ass no problem. Made in Usa with high end build quality and premium materials. Herman miller is one of oldest and  most successful brands in chairs, with sales in over a 100 countries. This chair comes with a breathable mesh on back and seat which is very comfortable to sit on. It comes with pneumatic seat height adjustment, tilt tension adjustment, armrest pivot, arm depth adjustment, lumbar adjustment, forward seat tilt and tilt lock. It has 2.5” dual wheel casters. It comes in three sizes of which size a supports weight up to 300 lbs and size b and c up to 350 lbs. Coming in with 30 days return policy with no extra fees or even a requirement of original packaging and a warranty of 12 years on all parts, you can be assured about a decent after sales experience. They even cover expenses for repairs on the chair, now that’s what I call premium service. It comes in pre-assembled and ready to roll out and sit on. Build quality is the best in industry. The seat comfort might be dependent on whether you can get used to the mesh but this 8z pellicle mesh is very flexible and soft to touch . backrest has adjustable lumbar support and head rest is also adjustable. Arm rests have soft cushions on top and are fully adjustable with height, depth and pivot adjustments. Even the smoothest surfaces have cracks right? This seat also has some drawbacks in spite of all the features mesh seats are not for everybody and if you can’t get used to it, it’s better to consider other options. It also doesn’t have seat depth or back height adjustments, can’t have it all. Everything considered, this chair is a solid choice and has passed the test of time. If you’ve been searching chairs, chances are you’ve come across it already a couple of times. An iconic chair indeed.

    4) HUMANSCALE FREEDOM

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5
    • Buy for Rs. 90,155 at ubuy.co.in

    Humanscale freedom is a simple high end chair with a lot of ergonomic adjustments and premium build quality. The standard seat option is adequately comfortable for long sitting hours. One thing the freedom excels at though is back support with excellent lumbar support that hits your lower back as soon as you sit on it. It also has a pivoting function in backrest and excellent upper back support. The weight activated incline promotes movement. The headrest is designed to keep your eyes at proper position on the monitor. The Duran armpads are soft and premium with option to adjust their width and height. The seat is easy to adjust and comes with a lot of adjustability including seat depth, arm height and width, back height, head rest, and recline. Also the arms recline with you so it is also desirable if you like to work in different positions. It comes with good build quality but sadly no return policy is available. It comes in two parts which can be put together easily. These chairs come with a 15 year warranty on all parts. Overall a very ergonomic premium chair.

    5) HERMAN MILLER EMBODY

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5
    • Buy for Rs. 1,50,000 at hermanmiller.in

    The embody is a high end ergonomic chair with a unique design and solid build quality. The embody’s pixelated support technology has a wide grid of pixels on the seat and back that can flex and confirm to your specific body shape to distribute pressure and keep you comfortable. It is also very breathable. The weight limit on it is 400 lbs. The backrest is not height adjustable but the deign makes it work for most people. It also has seat depth adjustment. Armrest are premium and can be adjusted in height and width. This chair can also fit a wide range of people comfortably dur to it’s design. It’s design also encourages movement due to its slimmer and flexible back rest which provides ample support to your spine and lower back. There is the backfit adjustment to adjust lumbar support in a unique way by changing the angle of backrest. It has pneumatic seat height adjustment and seat depth adjustment, armrest height and width adjustment, lockable tilt positions, tension adjustment and back angle adjustment. Arms recline with the back. It is made with excellent build quality and premium finish. It comes in fully assembles with a 30 month return policy. It also has a 12 year warranty on all parts and repairs are also covered by the company. Overall, a very unique design and premium build with modern looks.

    BEST BUDGET OFFICE CHAIRS :-

    Now that you’ve seen what the best has to offer, let’s take a look at the chairs for the common man and what do they compromise on for the money. Spoiler alert, not too much! best chairs you can get for realistic prices :-

    1) DURATEK CORPORATE M1 CHAIR WITH LUMBAR BACK SUPPORT

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:4
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3
    • Buy for Rs. 7850 at amazon.in

    Duratek  is a brand primarily catering to office supplies. The chair is a quality ergonomic chair with quality and comfort in mind. The seat is soft and comfortable and causes no problem for long sitting hours. It also has a breathable mesh back of premium material. It also has adjustable lumbar support for good lower back support. It has BIFMA certified pneumatic seat height adjustment, armrest height adjustment, optional headrest, backrest angle and lumbar adjustments. Build quality is solid and the chair is sturdy. Maximum weight capacity is 100 kg. It comes fully assembled out of the box. It has a 1 year manufacturer warrant and 10 days replacement policy. This is a very popular and trusted chair for many corporate offices. Goods looks and solid quality and certainly a very good addition for your home office.

    2) INNOWIN® JAZZ HIGH BACK MESH OFFICE CHAIR FOR OFFICE & HOME

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:4
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:1
    • Buy for Rs. 8600 at amazon.in

    Innowin jazz is a very popular ergonomic and comfortable chair. It has been highly praised for its design and comfort. I actually think that it beats the duratek in features but the only thing is that they don’t give a warranty but the build quality is excellent. It has a very soft high quality 45 density molded foam seat and a mesh breathable back with adjustable height and depth lumbar support. The mesh and seat materials are premium quality. It also has armrest height adjustment and also headrest adjustments. It also has an infinite tilt lock allowing it to lock at any tilt position. It also has bifma certified pneumatic height adjustment. It has a solid build quality and very sturdy build. Maximum weight capacity is 120 kg. You have to assemble the product and it’s a bit of work. It also comes with a 10 days replacement policy. They stopped giving warranty. They say people used to change product 10 Days before end of warranty like they abused it or something lol.

    3) FEATHERLITE ASTRO MEDIUM BACK

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 3
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:3
    • Warranty policy:4
    • Buy for Rs. 8490 at amazon.in

    Featherlite is one of the leading furniture manufacturing organization in India which focuses on innovative and cost effective chair designs. It has a very ergonomic design and plenty of adjustments to encourage dynamic seating. It has a good quality seat with soft seat. It has a breathable mesh back with adjustable lumbar support. Is has pneumatic seat height adjustment, recline lock, recline tension adjustment, armrest height adjustment and lumbar support height and depth adjustments. It has decent build quality and is very rigid. It requires to be assembled with nut and bolt fixing. It has a 10 day replacement policy and a 3 year warranty on all parts. That speaks of the trust of the company in it’s build quality. A very good and well rounded chair for you work from home needs.

    4) MISURAA EASY MID BACK CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:4
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:3
    • Warranty policy:3
    • Buy for Rs. 9499 at www.amazon.in

    Misuraa is a premium brand manufacturing quality ergonomic chairs. It has a sleek ergonomic design and premium quality. It has a molded foam seat which is fabric upholstered. It also has a breathable mesh back with fixed lumbar support. It also has back recline lock at one position. It has fixed armrests with good quality and no wobble. It has seat height adjustments and tilt tension control. It also has heavy duty caster wheel and a weight capacity of 120 kg. Build quality is solid with very rigid body. Although you must carefully check the size for fit as it doesn’t have too many adjustments. It has to be assembled yourself, sigh. It has 1 year warranty on all parts. Kind of underrated as it is a very premium product with a good brand but isn’t talked about very much.

    5) WIPRO FURNITURE ADAPT HIGH BACK EXECUTIVE ERGONOMIC OFFICE CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:3
    • Back support: 4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:4
    • Build quality:3
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3
    • Buy at Rs. 12329 at amazon.in

    Wipro furniture a pretty popular brand for office chairs in India. The wipro furniture adapt is a premium and ergonomic chair with a nice design. It has a comfortable Pu foam seat with breathable mesh back. It also has an adjustable and cushioned lumbar support. It also has weight activated tension adjustment. Armrests are comfortable and height adjustable. It also has pneumatic seat height adjustment and two position tilt lock mechanism. The product is not as sturdy and the quality is good but not as expected for the price. Carpenter assembly is required for the chair which is provided by the seller. It also has 1 year manufacturer warranty covering all parts. Overall a good product but a bit overpriced.

    BEST AFFORDABLE OFFICE CHAIRS:-

    I hear noises, they’re coming from my pocket. It’s my wallet, it keeps saying these names I don’t know why but I can’t ignore it. The ultimate bang for buck chairs to make your ergonomic work from home setup a reality :-

    1) GREEN SOUL SEOUL MID BACK OFFICE/STUDY CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3
    • Buy for Rs. 3491 at amazon.in

    Green soul is an Indian brand making high quality ergonomic chairs. This chair is a very high quality chair with decent design. It has a thick padded molded foam seat with a breathable mesh back although there is no lumbar support. It has fixed round armrests. It also has a lever to set tilt angle and a tension adjustment knob. There are 4 colour options and seat height adjustment. It has a maximum weight capacity of 90 kg. It requires basic assembly to be done and comes with a 10 day replacement policy. It also has a 1 year manufacture warranty which covers all parts and is hassle free to claim. Premium quality but missing many adjustments.

    2) CELLBELL C106 MEDIUM-BACK MESH OFFICE CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3
    • Buy for Rs. 2,999 at amazon.in

    This baby is honestly at steal at this price. It can in my opinion beat some chair in the budget category in terms of features and build quality. The seat is fairly comfortable for long seating hours and has a breathable mesh back. It is very sturdy and build quality is top notch. It has elegant and comfortable fixed armrests. It also has bifma certified height adjustments and heavy duty castor wheels. The design is ergonomic but not fit for tall people. It has to be assembled yourself and comes with a10 day replacement policy. It also has a 12 month extensive warranty. The customer service of cellbell is supposedly great. Excellent value for money but not too many adjustments.

    3) FURNICOM CHAIRS OFFICE/STUDY/REVOLVING COMPUTER CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support:4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:3
    • Warranty policy:4
    • Buy for Rs. 3999 at amazon.in

    Furnicom is another trusted brand in the office chairs industry with good quality chairs. It has quality soft foam in the back and thick molded foam in the seat which eliminates heat and moisture build up. It has a recline from 90 to 120 degree and a tilt lock to lock it at 90 degree. It has fixed armrests made of fiber which are sturdy and comfortable. It has a maximum weight capacity of 100 kg. It has pneumatic height adjustment and a tension adjustment knob. This is a good quality and very comfortable chair which can fit different sizes. It needs to be assembled yourself and it comes with a 10 day replacement policy. It has a 1 year warranty on all parts. Overall a very good value product with good quality.

    4) DURATEK TASK M1 FABRIC OFFICE EXECUTIVE CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support:4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:4
    • Buy for Rs. 3950 at flipkart.in

    Another solid product by duratek, the task m1 is a light and sleek ergonomic chair for long sitting hours. This chair has a ergonomic design and good quality seat material and breathable mesh back. It also has curved armrests which are sturdy and comfortable. It comes with pneumatic seat height adjustment, tension adjustment and tilt lock. Build quality is good and chair feels sturdy. It comes in fully assembled, no cap. It also has a 1 year warranty on all parts. Duratek at this point can be trusted for quality and good after sales service. All in all a solid choice for affordable office chairs.

    5) TIMBER CHEESE ERGONOMIC MESH CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:3
    • Back support: 3
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:2
    • Build quality:3
    • Assembly process:3
    • Warranty policy:4
    • Buy for Rs. 3029 at amazon.in

    Timber cheese ergonomic mesh chair is a good value for money product. It has a good comfortable seat and a breathable mesh back. It has fixed rounded armrests. The adjustments on this chair are seat height adjustment and tilt tension adjustment. It has a sleek look but quality is not as premium. It is also not suitable for tall individuals. It has to be assembled yourself and it comes with a diy kit. It has a 10 day replacement policy and a 12 month extensive warranty. Diy my ass deliver it pre-assembled! This baby goes up and down only but boy does it do that good.

    HONOURABLE MENTIONS:-

    WIPRO FURNITURE MEDIUM BACK EXECUTIVE OFFICE CHAIR

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 3
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:3
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3

     

    IKEA MARKUS

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 4
    • Arm rest comfort:3
    • Adjustments:3
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3

     

    HERMAN MILLER MIRRA 2

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5

     

    HON IGNITION 2.0

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5

     

    MISURAA IMPORTED XENON

    • Seat comfort:4
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:4
    • Adjustments:4
    • Build quality:4
    • Assembly process:4
    • Warranty policy:3

     

    HERMAN MILLER SAYL

    • Seat comfort:5
    • Back support: 5
    • Arm rest comfort:5
    • Adjustments:5
    • Build quality:5
    • Assembly process:5
    • Warranty policy:5

     

    A general rule is that the higher the budget the more features you get. It’s up to you to pick the right budget but one thing I can say for sure, investing in a good office chair is definitely worth it and will pay well in terms of your health and well being. Bye and happy sitting!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Does framerate matter for gaming on TV?

    Does framerate matter for gaming on TV?

    The past few years have seen great advancement in the quality of graphics of videogames. It might not be long before we are unable to distinguish between real life and video games. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Control, Horizon Zero Dawn, etc. have shown us just how far the graphics of video games have come. To match with the high-quality graphics, you need a high-quality display, so you can enjoy the stunning view of your game in the best quality.

    While there are many gaming monitors with a great display and high quality, a large portion of people still prefer to use their TVs as their main displays. This becomes even more common with consoles, as mostly all console users use a TV as their display.

    REFRESH RATE AND FRAME RATE:

    Before starting the discussion over the topic of this article, there are two terms we must be familiar with. They are refresh rate and frame rate. Refresh rate means the number of times a new image is displayed on the screen per second. The refresh rate of any display is measured in hertz. The frame rate differs from refresh rate as the frame rate means the number of images or frames which come into the display per second. It is desired both of these match in order to ensure that there is no tearing.

    Therefore, although both frame rate and refresh rate are different, they both need to be in sync to give you the best results possible. The refresh rate needs to match with the frame rate for this reason only. So, if your console or PC is running a game at 120 FPS, but your TV only has a refresh rate till 60 Hz, your game will look like it is running at 60 FPS. Therefore, a TV should have a high refresh rate if you plan to game at a framerate of over 60 FPS. Most new TVs do offer a refresh rate of 120 Hz. There is an increasing need for higher refresh rate TVs because the current generation PS5 and Xbox Series X are capable of running games at 120 FPS. Therefore, a higher refresh rate TV has become essential for modern-day gaming.

    We need to understand the relationship between frame rate and refresh rate in a little more detail before going any further. As discussed above, the frame rate is how many frames the GPU processes in one second, while the refresh rate is how many times a new image is shown on the display. If there is a gap between the timing of the refresh rate and frame rate, we see tearing on the screen. This is because the GPU may process some frames faster, while other frames slower, but the display refreshes these images as soon as it gets them, thus making the display appear with some tearing. To manage this, displays use virtual-sync, a technology whereby new frames are loaded into the screen only after the previous frame has been refreshed by the display. This prevents tearing, but at the expense of a display lag.

    The above images show how the frames work with and without vsync. This should help you understand the concept better.

    FRAME RATE AND GAMING:

    Now we come to the question of whether framerate matters while gaming on a TV or not. A simple yes or no is not sufficient to explain this concept in full detail. There are many variables like the device on which you are gaming, the game, your habits, the performance of your device, etc. There are multiple reasons for this which are described in this article.

    The previous generation of consoles ran most AAA titles at locked 30 FPS. While people on PCs ran these games at 60 FPS or more. The current generation consoles can run games at even 120 FPS. Some expensive PCs can easily run games over 240 FPS and use 240 Hz monitors. These are however used mostly by professional competitive gamers as a higher refresh rate gives a better advantage due to loading the image quicker. We need not talk about this in this article. Our talk will mostly be restricted to 120 FPS.

    FACTORS AFFECTING SMOOTHNESS OF GAMES:

    GAME GENRE– The genre and type of game matter a lot when deciding how many FPS is enough. A fast-paced action shooter looks much better and needs at least 60 FPS to look good. Meanwhile, a narrative-driven game like the Life is Strange, 30 FPS is more than sufficient. Action games require a better frame rate and refresh rate to look better because a lot of action is going on and there is a need for quicker and better performance. That is why, while playing an online game, people prefer a better frame rate over better graphics. Most competitive online gamers use 240 Hz monitors and try to keep their FPS above 240 to get the smoothest experience and use the advantage of the faster image loading.

    That is why in most online games also, you would prefer higher FPS. In normal single-player games though, 30 FPS is decent enough to game. Many games nowadays have different profiles of the same game. One profile offers better graphics at 30 FPS while the other offers better performance at the cost of graphic quality. So, you are free to choose whatever you want.

    GAMING DEVICE– The device on which you are gaming matters a lot as well. 30 FPS on a console looks much smoother than 30 FPS on a PC. This is even more prevalent while gaming on a TV. There are mainly two reasons why 30 FPS looks better on consoles. Firstly, the consoles have a constant frame pacing, making every frame change at a constant rate without any fluctuations. This is the main reason why 30 FPS looks better on consoles.

    The second reason is the motion blur in games. The high-quality motion blur hides any tears or unsmooth edges, thus making the game appear smoother on consoles. On PCs, the frame pacing isn’t constant. Thus, even if you lock FPS to 30 from your PC settings, the game will look much less smooth when compared to the same game on consoles. This is why consoles can get away with only 30 FPS, while on PCs you need 60 FPS or more.

    PERFORMANCE OF DEVICE– The performance of the device matters a lot as well. For example, if your console or your PC can run games only at 60 FPS at max, then purchasing a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz would simply be a waste of money as you would feel the difference only up to 60 FPS.

    HABITS– The final factor affecting the smoothness of the games is the habit of the user. If the user is used to gaming on PCs at over 60 FPS, 30 FPS on TVs will look sluggish to the user. Once you have experienced a higher framerate while gaming, lower framerates seem slow. That is why PC gamers looking to use a TV as their display need at least 60 FPS to enjoy the game. On the other hand, if you are used to console gaming, even 30 FPS would be fine by you.

    These factors affect how many frames per second do you need for your gaming needs. So, while purchasing a TV, you should ask yourself whether you are happy with 30 FPS or 60 FPS, or you need more FPS. Personally, I would recommend getting a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This is because the newest consoles are capable of running games at even 120 FPS. Therefore, you should enjoy the games at their best.

    WHY ARE MOVIES SMOOTH ON 24 FPS, UNLIKE GAMES?

    While there is a question on whether FPS matters while gaming, another question is why do movies appear smoother even at such a low frame rate. The movies we see are recorded and run at 24 FPS, yet we still see them as fine. However, games running at this framerate appear very slow and unplayable to most gamers. This problem worsens on PC. As discussed above, the last-gen consoles ran most AAA titles at locked 30 FPS. Still, these games appeared to run fine. However, while playing games at 30 FPS on a PC, the experience was much worse.

    This is because movies have a natural motion blur, unlike games. The camera recording the movie is usually focused at one point and the film is then recorded and we watch it passively. However, in video games, the focus constantly shifts and we are interacting with an active world, not a passive one. This puts a lot of load on the GPU and CPU, thus causing some processing to take place. The depth of field also changes. While calculating and adjusting to the new view, there is not a constant frame pacing, thus making games look choppy. However, movies appear smooth because of they don’t suffer from the same set of problems.

    That is why watching most videos on 30 FPS is fine as well. Although 60 FPS videos are better, the gap between 30 FPS videos and 60 FPS videos is not as big as gaming on 30 FPS vs gaming on 60 FPS or more.

    CONCLUSION

    Now we have to come to the question does frame rate matter while gaming on TVs. The answer is yes, it does matter. But how much it matters depends on various factors as stated above. If you are a console gamer, you will not be bothered by 30 FPS on your TV display while gaming. However, if you are an avid PC gamer, anything below 60 FPS on your TV will not be enough for you.

    The newest generation consoles have the capability to run games at framerates up to 120 FPS. Therefore, even console gamers should get a high refresh rate TV to experience the best performance of their games. However, keep in mind, that many games on these consoles will have a Picture Mode and a Performance Mode. The Picture Mode will run the games at 30 FPS on 4K. It is for people who prefer the better graphics over the performance of their game. The Performance Mode runs games at better frame rates but with the loss of quality. Most of the time, games will be downscaled to 1440p or 1080p. This is for people who want to experience a smoother gaming experience over the graphics.

    The above image shows the comparison between the graphics of God of War on PS5 while using the performance mode and the resolution mode. Although it is not that clear, the latter image has a much better graphic quality, but compromises on the framerate.

    Thus, we see that depending upon your device and preferences, you should personally decide how much do FPS matter to you while gaming. As a PC gamer myself, I would say that 60 FPS is the bare minimum for me and anything below that is sub-par for gaming. That applies to TV as displays too. However, if I were a console gamer, owing to the past experience of gaming at 30 FPS, the constant frame pacing, and high-quality motion blur, anything around 30 FPS and more is more than good enough to enjoy the games.

    So, yes, framerate does matter while gaming on a TV. The only question is how much it matters which can be answered by you only after analysing all the above things. Therefore, a big part of the question is subjective in nature and cannot be answered in a positive or a negative. However, in the future, 30 FPS will most likely become obsolete in gaming, so if you want to plan for the long term, you should always aim for at least 60 FPS.

  • Best Power Supplies to Buy In India (covers every budget!)

    Best Power Supplies to Buy In India (covers every budget!)

     

    Power Supply Units or PSUs are one of the most important part of a PC Build since they power your entire build. Be it a low-end PC or a higher-end one, a good PSU is really important. As after all, nobody wants a ticking time bomb in your PC (that’s right, bad PSUs have a tendency to explode). Now choosing a power supply can be quite boring since there are a lot of options available and they’re not exactly easy to distinguish. A buyer can easily get confused when it comes to the wattage of a PSU, its rating, efficiency, and overall reliability. But I’m here to make things a little easy (I’ll try).

     

    So let’s start with one of the most important questions, what power output do you need?

     

    Now instead of calculating the power consumption of each part, you have individually you can use a wattage calculator to get a better idea and save a lot of time.

    Some good wattage calculators online-

    Power Supply Calculator – PSU Wattage Calculator

    Seasonic Wattage Calculator

    To use the tools, select the components you plan on using, and it will automatically calculate the estimated power output you’ll need.

    For example, if I plan on getting a Ryzen 5 5600x, pair it with an RTX 3070, along with 16 gigabytes of memory and a 500 gig SSD, the recommended PSU wattage will be 472 watts. (according to the Newegg one)

    Now hold on, don’t go buying a 500W PSU for your RTX 3070 build, there are a few more things 

    you need to consider while deciding the wattage.

    1-Extra fans and coolers you plan to add to your build.

    2-Extra headroom for power spikes ( the spikes aren’t that much in modern components but it’s good to leave a headroom of approximately 100 watts)

    3- Future Upgrades- It’s important to think about future upgrades as a good PSU may easily last 10 years or so (some PSUs have a 10-year warranty)

    Now taking all this into consideration I’d suggest getting at least a 650W PSU for an RTX 3070/5600x  build, which is like +200W from the recommended wattage. 

     

    What is 80 Plus Certification?

     

    Now as you go on browsing PSUs for your build, you’ll notice many are labeled with an 80+ certification. 80 Plus is a certification program that manufacturers utilize to provide some assurance that their power supplies will meet certain efficiency requirements.80 Plus has various levels ranging from Basic to Titanium.

    This is a table consisting of efficiency levels for consumer power supplies-

     

    % of rated load 10% 20% 50% 100%
    80 Plus – 80% 80% 80%
    80 Plus Bronze – 82% 85% 82%
    80 Plus Silver – 85% 88% 85%
    80 Plus Gold – 87% 90% 87%
    80 Plus Platinum – 90% 92% 89%
    80 Plus Titanium 90% 92% 94% 90%

     

    Now I know all this is a little complicated to understand but to keep it basic, the difference is how efficiently the PSU transforms energy on a specific load level.  To conclude this complicated part, simply getting an 80 Plus Bronze rated PSU as a minimum is recommended.

     

    Should you get a Modular PSU, a Semi-Modular PSU, or a Non Modular one?

     

    Another important aspect of buying a PSU is choosing between a Modular, Non-Modular, or a Semi-Modular one.

    Non-Modular PSUs– These PSUs have all their cables attached.Probably cause they were around since cable management wasn’t a thing and people didn’t care about cables making a mess. Although they still have some advantages like being cost-effective and if you’re someone who uses all the wires which come with a power supply, there’s no point in paying for modularity.

    Semi-Modular PSUs– Semi-modular power supplies are kind of a middle ground between modular and non-modular PSUs and that’s what makes them great. They come with most of the necessary cables pre-attached and thus are really easy to use for new builders.

    Modular PSUs- These power supplies have some or all of their cables detachable. They help in cable management but are really hard to use for new builders as connecting the plethora of cables can be a little complex.

     

    Which one should you get? Well unless you’re using custom cable mods, there’s no reason to pay extra for a modular PSU, getting a semi-modular PSU will be enough for most people.
    The option to detach cables is nothing but a luxury and it shouldn’t be a deciding factor when you’re choosing a power supply.

     

    Getting to the part you’ve been waiting for (I hope), here are some of the best PSUs you can buy in India according to their price and wattage.

     

    Best PSUs under Rupees 4000 (450W, 550W)

     

    1- Cooler Master MWE 450W Bronze V2 230v  80 Plus Bronze Certified, Non-Modular Power Supply 

    This power supply is a great bang for your buck especially at Rs 3099 (on Amazon India at the time of writing). 

     

    • 5-year manufacturer warranty
    • Flat black cables
    • Certified 80 Plus Bronze Efficiency
    • Fixed the ripple issue with revision 2

     

    2-Cooler Master MWE 550 V2 80 Plus Bronze Certified, Non-Modular Power Supply

    The 550W version of the MWE v2 again is very cost-effective and a great budget option at Rs 3500 (on MDComputers at the time of writing)

     

    • 5-year manufacturer warranty
    • Flat black cables
    • Certified 80 Plus Bronze Efficiency

     

    Best PSUs under Rupees 6000 (650W)

     

    1- Corsair CX 650 80 Plus Bronze Certified, Non-Modular ATX Power Supply

    At Rs 5500 (on Vedant Computers at the time of writing), it’s one of the best 650W power supplies from Corsair.

     

    • 5-year manufacturer warranty
    • Matte black finish and sleeved cables
    • Certified 80 Plus Bronze Efficiency
    • 120mm thermally controlled fan

     

    2- Deepcool DQ650-M-V2L 650 Watt 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The Deepcool DQ650-M-V2L is simply a great power supply that is feature-packed and comes with the added bonus of a sweet 10-year warranty at Rs 6500 (on MDComputers at the time of writing).

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • Certified 80 Plus Gold Efficiency
    • High-Grade Japanese Capacitors
    • Fully Modular

     

    Best PSUs under Rupees 8000 (650W,750W)

     

    1- Antec EA650G PRO 80 Plus Gold Certified 650 Watt Semi-Modular Power Supply

    The Antec EA650G PRO at Rs 7000(on Amazon India at the time of writing) is one of the best and most feature-packed power supplies you can find in this price range.

     

    • 7-year manufacturer warranty
    • Certified 80 Plus Gold Efficiency
    • 120 mm noise optimized fan
    • Semi-Modular

     

    2-Deepcool DQ750-M-V2L 750 Watt 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The 750W version of the DQ650-M-V2L is another great power supply at just Rs 7400 (on MDComputers at the time of writing)

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • Certified 80 Plus Gold Efficiency
    • Fully Modular

     

    3-Antec EA750G PRO 80 Plus Gold Certified 750 Watt Semi-Modular Power Supply

    The 750W version of the EA650G Pro at Rs 7500 (at the time of writing on Amazon India) is again a feature-packed power supply at a great price.

     

    • 7-year manufacturer warranty
    • Certified 80 Plus Gold Efficiency
    • Semi-Modular

     

    4-Antec HCG 750 80 Plus Bronze Certified Fully Modular Power Supply

    This is from the Antec HCG series and at just Rs 6800 (at the time of writing on Amazon India) is a good choice to consider and is one of the cheapest 750W Power Supplies you can find.

     

    • 5-year manufacturer warranty
    • Fully Modular
    • Certified 80 Plus Bronze Efficiency
    • 135mm noise optimized fan

     

    Best PSUs under Rupees 10000 (750W,850W)

     

    1–NZXT C750 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The NZXT C series is a good and reliable option to go with since it basically is a rebranded Seasonic Focus PSU which is a good power supply not usually sold in India. Currently at Rs 8800 (currently at Rs 8800 on Vedant Computers) is a good option if you’ve got the budget.

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • Fully Modular
    • 80 Plus Gold Certified
    • 120mm dynamic fan with Zero RPM mode

     

    2-Deepcool DQ850-M-V2L 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The 850W version of the DQ650-M-V2L is a great bang for your buck and has a lot of features. It is a great power supply to consider if you have a high end build (looking at you 3080 and 3090 owners) and also want to be future proof. Currently costs Rs 8750 (at the time of writing on MDComputers)

                          

    • 3-year manufacturer warranty
    • Fully Modular
    • 80 Plus Gold Certified
    • High-Quality Japanese Capacitors

     

    3–Antec HCG-850 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The 850W Gold version of the HCG 750 is a good option especially with the 10-year warranty at Rs 9600 (at the time of writing on PCStudio).

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • Fully Modular
    • 80 Plus Gold Certified
    • 120mm noise optimized fan

     

    Best PSUs under Rupees 12000 (850W)

     

    1-Corsair RM850 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The RM850 is one of the best power supplies you can buy at Rs 11900 (on MDComputers)

    with tons of features and high build quality. This power supply has Modern Standby Mode which is a feature for Windows 10 which will vastly improve your PC’s sleep and wake functionality.

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • 80 Plus Gold Certified
    • 135mm noise optimized fan
    • Fully Modular and Multiple GPU ready

     

    2-Gigabyte Aorus P850 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Power Supply

    The Aorus P850 is a solid option to consider as another great feature-packed power supply at a great price. Currently at Rs 10100 (on Vedant Computers at the time of writing), often falls down to Rs 8500 during sales, so I suggest keeping an eye out for this amazing deal.

     

    • 10-year manufacturer warranty
    • 80 Plus Gold Certified
    • 135mm smart fan
    • Fully Modular 

     

    Note-This power supply is not to be confused with the Gigabyte P750GM and P850GM ones which are relatively cheap, as they’re bad quality power supplies having a tendency to explode.

     

    Where are the 1000W+ PSUs?

    After going through the list you might be wondering where the 1000W+ Power Supplies are. Well the reason I decided to not include them is most people who will read this won’t actually need a 1000W+ power supply. An 850W one is enough for most consumer PC Builds.

    But if you’re someone who wants to future proof for the next 10 years or wants to SLI 3090s or you’re a miner with multiple GPUs, here are some good options you could consider-

    1-Corsair RM1000x

    2-Cooler Master V1000

    3-Corsair HX1200

     

    So many options, which one should you get?

     

    Selecting a power supply out of the ones I’ve listed above might be a bit confusing but what you should keep in mind is, the above power supplies are all good quality ones backed by a warranty from a reputable company. So simply, decide what features you want and what budget might be the best for you, and voila! You’ve decided which power supply to get. Now you can finally power up your build and enjoy hours of gaming.

     

    Conclusion

     

    Whatever you end up buying, keep in mind that a good PSU is an investment. Most good power supplies have long warranties thus lasting for years. When your PC can no longer handle the latest games, upgrading your GPU and CPU can solve the problem. But your PSU will remain the same between many builds and thus it should be a priority.

    Remember, never cheap out on your PSU!

     

  • Best gaming monitors under 15000 in India [2021]

    Best gaming monitors under 15000 in India [2021]

    Introduction

    Gaming. The World’s biggest and most profitable form of entertainment. With an estimated revenue of $179.7 billion in 2020 it is bigger than movies and most sports industry revenue combined.

     

    We all play games. We always talk about big high clock speed CPU’s, shiny new graphics cards, faster RAM that’s better and faster [and often more expensive] than the previous versions and we all want the latest and greatest. But are these parts the things we interact the most with? No.

     

    We interact with Displays. TV’s, Monitors… And more often than not, we decide to skimp on a monitor while pouring more money into some other PC parts. But in doing so we are not only limiting the system of delivering the beautiful performance it is capable of producing, but also limiting our enjoyment.

    But does that mean we also have to spend an eye watering amount on monitors? No absolutely not. Today i will list 5 of the best gaming Monitors you can buy under Rs 15000 and have a great time in gaming and maybe even content creation and professional work.

     

    But before we do that, lets first learn about some of the technical terms used in Display space and what they mean. Trust me, follow along and they will make sense and even come handy not just for now, but also in the future.

    Refresh rate

    Refresh Rate is the number of times per second that a display can show a new image. The higher the number, the smoother and faster it is.

    Most common refresh rate on any display is 60hz. If you are a gamer, you would preferably want a refresh rate of at least 120hz or more.

    Most common high refresh rates used in Monitors are 144hz, 165hz and 240hz. Which means they can show 144, 165 and 240 new images every second on their respective displays.

    Simply put, you will not experience the blurring effect that occurs when moving too fast in a game, making it feel easier on your eyes. Also, simple activities like regular scrolling in a web browser or moving the mouse cursor would feel much smoother than on a 60hz monitor as a side effect.

    Please note Refresh Rate is not the same as Frame Rate. A Frame Rate is the number of frames your computer [the graphics card more precisely] can produce per second. Your PC can produce 300 frames per second but if you are stuck on a 60hz display you cannot fully take advantage of the extra frames.

    Response Time

    Every display has millions or even billions of pixels. A Pixel Response Time is defined as the time it takes for a pixel to change from one colour to another. This is normally measured in “GTG” or “Grey to Grey” time where the measured is the time a pixel takes from changing from one shade of grey to another. Most monitors have a GTG time of 8 milliseconds or 8ms. Any higher and the image looks blurry.

    The best possible refresh rate displays currently in the market are 1ms.

    The higher the refresh rate, the smoother, faster and more accurate it is to track an object displayed on the screen.

    TN vs IPS vs VA panels 

    There are 3 main panel types.

    • Twisted nematic (TN): This is the most traditional type of LCD panel.
    • In-plane switching (IPS): LG coined this term. Similar technology is known as “plane-to-line switching” (PLS) by Samsung, and “advanced hyper viewing angle” by AU Optronics (AHVA). They’re all equal.
    • Vertical alignment (VA): Samsung calls it “super vertical alignment” (SVA), while AU Optronics calls it “advanced multi-domain vertical alignment” (AMVA). Many of them have the same characteristics.
    1. TN or Twisted Nematic panels

    The first mass-produced flat screen displays used TN panels.

    They were instrumental in making the bulky cathode ray tubes (CRTs) obsolete, and they are still manufactured in large quantities today.

    There are some significant disadvantages of TN display technology. One of the drawbacks is the limited viewing angles, particularly on the vertical axis. When viewing a TN panel from an extreme angle, it’s not uncommon for the colours to fully invert. Its colour reproduction is also not very well.

    Most TN panels can’t show 24-bit true colour, so they have to rely on interpolation to get the right shades.

    As compared to IPS or VA, this may result in clear colour banding and lower contrast ratios.

     

    1. In-plane switching (IPS)

     

    IPS is a type of LCD monitor panel that stands for In-Plane Switching. It was developed to improve the image quality of TN panel technology. As compared to other LCD technologies, the most notable selling point of In-Plane Switching panels is their stability, better viewing angles, and superior colour accuracy.

    Regardless of where it is on the monitor, each colour shade maintains its distinct identity and distinctiveness. These features make IPS panels ideal for graphic design work as well as gamers who want the best visuals possible (but don’t mind a lower response rate). When using an IPS panel, one of the most noticeable flaws is a shimmer or sheen on the screen.  

    When displaying dark content, one of the most noticeable flaws of IPS displays is a shimmer or sheen on the monitor. When viewing the display from a wider angle, the glitch becomes more apparent.

     

    1. Vertical alignment (VA):

    VA panels (Vertical Alignment) are a good compromise between TN and IPS panels. VA was created to combine the benefits of IPS and TN tables, and it mostly succeeded, but again with some compromises.

    When compared to IPS panels, VA panels have a higher refresh rate potential. There are a handful that are above 60Hz, despite the fact that the majority are currently 60Hz. With improved colour reproduction, higher maximum brightness, and better viewing angles, VA panels outperform TN panels.

    While VA panels have the best contrast ratios of all the panel types discussed, they also have the slowest response times of all the display technologies discussed. This triggers blurring of fast-moving images, which is bad for gaming.VA panels are a jack-of-all-trades type of panel.

    VA is not the best choice for gaming because of its slower response time as compared to other panel types; this slower response creates more motion blur, essentially preventing its use in fast-paced games.

    VA panels have high contrast ratios, brightness, refresh speeds, good colour reproduction, and good viewing angles for a general work display.

    Backlight glow

    Backlight glow (also known as backlight bleed) is a common issue with IPS panels, which essentially means that if you attempt to display a completely black picture on your monitor in full-screen mode and create a pitch black area, you would be able to see the IPS panel’s inaccuracies. At different parts of your screen, you can note a faint yellowish colour of the backlight.

    When people see this, they become alarmed and often request a replacement, only to be frustrated by another display with a glowing backlight.

    Almost all IPS panels have some sort of backlight glow, which can be disconcerting to see in your new display, but it’s important to remember that this is a feature of the technology.

    And, with a black picture on the screen, this is only noticeable in very dark areas.

    This occurs because the IPS monitor is unable to fully switch off all of the lights behind the screen, resulting in non-uniformity.

    Cameras try to adapt to the low light atmosphere to make it look worse than it really is, so images shared online are often exaggerated.

    If you keep some lights on when using your monitor, you can solve this issue.

    If you want a dark room, use bias lighting at the very least.

    Input Lag

    The time between transmitting an electrical signal and the occurrence of a subsequent event is known as input lag. For example, the time between pressing a key on a keyboard and a letter appearing on the display is known as input lag.

    In video games, input lag refers to the time it takes for a signal to reach the television or computer and be shown on the screen[1] (see display lag below), or the time it takes for a player to press a button and see the game respond.

    A display with a high input lag can be unusable.

    Adaptive Sync Technology

    The dynamic adjusting of a monitor’s vertical refresh rate with the graphics card’s frame rate (GPU). Adaptive sync was designed for the video game industry to remove tearing, stuttering, and judder. Today, a gaming display must have a variable and customizable refresh rate in order to be marketed as such.

     

    VESA standardised adaptive sync, which is available in VESA’s embedded DisplayPort (eDP) and DisplayPort 1.2a interfaces. Under the FreeSync brand, AMD supports VESA Adaptive-Sync.

     

    G-Sync is an NVIDIA adaptive sync technology that requires both the card and the display to be present. G-Sync is a proprietary NVIDIA technology that is not VESA Adaptive-Sync compliant as of 2020.

    Contrast Ratio

    Contrast ratio is the ratio between the maximum and minimum brightness, or in other words, the ratio between the brightest white and the darkest black. A 1000:1 contrast ratio, for example, means that the brightness of a fully white image is 1000 times greater than that of a completely black image.

    Since the disparity between black and white is greater, pictures with a higher contrast ratio have more saturated colours.

    Basically, higher the contrast ratio, the better the display is to have more saturated colours, resulting in a better image quality.

     

    In fact, you should aim for a contrast ratio of at least 1000:1. Most TN and IPS panels are limited to a 1300:1 aspect ratio. The ratio of VA panels can vary from 3000:1 to 6000:1, with the majority of panels falling in the 3000:1 range.

    If you watch a lot of videos and images, contrast is crucial, as a higher contrast monitor can produce significantly better picture quality, so you should opt for a VA screen.

    If your primary role is productivity-related, such as browsing websites and editing documents, then an IPS display can be preferable, even if contrast ratio is sacrificed.

    Input Ports

    Many modern monitors have a sufficient number of useful ports. Basically, you should check if a monitor has a Display port or not as is it more commonly used gaming than the underpowered HDMI 2.0 or the more recent and expensive HDMI 2.1.

    Displayport or DP is the only way for most monitors to use both Freesync and High refresh rate at the same time. So you should always check for a Displayport option in any monitor you are looking to purchase.

    High Dynamic Range

    The ability of a monitor to display a wider range of contrast ratio and colour than an SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) display is referred to as High-Dynamic Range (HDR).

    This means that the display can produce darker blacks and brighter colours, resulting in a more realistic picture.

     

    The problem with HDR is that it is expensive. It needs at least a display capable of producing 400 nits. Any less is just software HDR which should be avoided.

    True HDR effect comes from HDR 1000 and above.

    HDR Certification and Performance Tiers

    (Image courtesy of Anandtech)

     

    The top 5 gaming monitors under Rs 15000/-

    The absolute best gaming monitor under Rs 15000 as of March 2020, the Acer Nitro VG240YS has emerged out as the jack of all trades and king of some.

     

    PRO’S:

    • Refresh Rate 165Hz
    • IPS Panel Type
    • 2xHDMI (2.0) + 1xDP (1.2)
    • Full HD IPS Panel with Radeon FreeSync Technology
    • Overclocked to 165 Hz Refresh Rate
    • Wide Viewing Angle [178 degrees]

     

    CONS:

    • Display Resolution 1920×1080 is a bit on the lower end by today’s standards
    • So is the display size of 24″
    • 1ms Response Time is advertised but physically impossible in IPS panels.
    • With 250 nits of peak brightness, the HDR is software only and pretty bad.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This Monitor was the previous top IPS gaming monitor in India, only recently surpassed by the newer Acer model. Let’s take a closer  look at the specs.

     

    PRO’S:

    • Refresh Rate 144Hz
    • IPS Panel Type
    • 2xHDMI (2.0) + 1xDP (1.2)
    • Full HD IPS Panel with Radeon FreeSync Technology
    • Wide Viewing Angle [178 degrees]

     

    CONS:

    • Display Resolution of 1920×1080
    • Display size of 24″
    • 1ms Response Time is advertised but physically impossible in IPS panels.
    • With 250 nits of peak brightness, the HDR is software only and pretty bad.
    • Refresh Rate cannot be Overclocked.
    • Older versions of this monitor had some flicker issues.
    • Height is not adjustable

     

    VA and especially Curved gaming monitors are always a curious case of design and technological choices made by the manufacturer. Let’s see how it holds up to the competition.

    PRO’S:

    • Refresh Rate 144Hz
    • 27 Inch Display size
    • VA Panel Type
    • 2xHDMI (2.0) + 1xDP (1.2)
    • Radeon FreeSync Technology

     

    CONS:

    • Display Resolution of 1920×1080
    • 4ms Response Time advertised.
    • Refresh Rate cannot be Overclocked.
    • Curved Monitors can be an issue for some people.

     

     

     

    Yet another Acer product, you may ask? Well its because they have really tripled down on dominating the budget gaming monitor market, and it shows. Let’s take a look.

     

    PRO’S:

    • Refresh Rate 144Hz
    • Advertised 0.5 sec of Response Time due to the TN panel.
    • 2xHDMI (2.0) + 1xDP (1.2)
    • Radeon FreeSync Technology
    • Overclockable to 165hz

     

    CONS:

     

    • Display Resolution 1920×1080
    • TN Panel Type
    • Display size of 24″
    • Lower viewing angles than IPS panels

     

     

     

    PRO’S:

    • Refresh Rate 144Hz
    • True 1ms Response Time due to the TN panel.
    • 2xHDMI (2.0) + 1xDP (1.2)
    • Radeon FreeSync Technology
    • Height is adjustable

     

    CONS:

     

    • Display Resolution 1920×1080 is a bit on the lower end by today’s standards
    • TN Panel Type
    • So is the display size of 24″
    • Lower viewing angles than IPS panels
    • Non overclockable refresh rate.

     

    What’s interesting about the best LG gaming monitor in this budget is that while LG has innovated the IPS panel technology and even hold the patent for it, it’s weird that they themselves chose to stick with a TN panel display while the rest of the pack has used their own IPS tech in their products. LG, it’s time to play on even grounds.

     

     

    Conclusion

    The gaming monitor scene has improved tremendously in the last 3-4 years, showing a similar trend to the recent improved in the gaming scene, from CPU’s to Graphics cards to even consoles. Every product you can buy today, no matter how cheap in price, far outstrips the average or sometimes even the high-end products offered to gamers by companies just a few years back.  Gaming has truly entered another Golden age.

     

    Basically, anything you choose above a certain price and product category will give you a very satisfactory experience for years to come. And with the advent of High refresh rate IPS displays, if you are willing to accept slightly lower refresh rates than TN panels, you can even used them for Office and most creative workspaces.