6 things that’ll give you a more productive desk setup
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Polk Audio
This article was originally published on 3/18/2016.
Computing has gone more and more mobile, but there’s still a place for the trusty old desktop. If you need to hunker down to get work done or just carve out a place for your Steam sessions, a desk-bound machine will still get you the most performance for your money.
It’s not uncommon for these things to come in an all-in-one package, but for those who can afford to adjust their setup, we’ve gone through the essentials and picked out our favorites.
It’s not uncommon for these things to come in an all-in-one package, but for those who can afford to adjust their setup, we’ve gone through the essentials and picked out our favorites.
If your work station is in need of an upgrade, the accessories below should help.
The monitor
A brawny computer can only do so much if the monitor hooked up to it is out-of-date. If you’re in need of a new display, look to the 27-inch Dell UltraSharp U2715H. It’s not exactly new, but its 2560x1440 IPS panel is sharp and vibrant out of the box. The monitor itself is sufficiently adjustable, and it surrounds that display with nicely thin bezels.
The experts at The Wirecutter consider the U2715H the best 27-inch monitor going today, while its family of devices has a 4.5 rating on Amazon after 1,030 user reviews. That family of devices includes the 24-inch UltraSharp U2415, which has similar strengths if you need to save space. Just know that Dell has new monitors coming very soon, if you can afford to wait.
It’s also worth noting that the UltraSharp isn’t explicitly made for gaming. If that’s a concern, something like the BenQ XL2730Z could be a better fit. It’s a TN panel, so its colors and viewing angles are aren't as great as a comparable IPS, but it’s still crisp and accurate for what it is. More importantly (for a gaming monitor), its fast 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync support make it super smooth in handling motion onscreen.
Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-inch Monitor, $475.63, available at Amazon.
BenQ XL2730Z 27-inch Monitor, $498.99, available at Amazon.
Dell UltraSharp U2715H 27-inch Monitor, $475.63, available at Amazon.
BenQ XL2730Z 27-inch Monitor, $498.99, available at Amazon.
The keyboard
If we’re being particular about our desktop tech, it may be worth switching to a mechanical keyboard. As many self-professed gamers will tell you, they’ll hold up longer to abuse, help boost your typing accuracy, and simply feel more satisfying to the touch.
Das Keyboard has long been respected by enthusiasts, and its Das Keyboard 4 Professional brings the high-quality feel and finish its following would suggest. It’s full-sized, with a handy set of built-in media controls, and while it isn’t as featured as a full-on gaming keyboard like the Razer BlackWidow Chroma, it’s much more understated. It comes with either Cherry MX Blue (which are clickier but louder) or Cherry MX Brown (which are softer but quieter) switches, and hasoptions designed for Macs, too.
Das Keyboard 4 Professional (Cherry MX Blue), $164.84, available at Amazon.
Das Keyboard 4 Professional (Cherry MX Blue), $164.84, available at Amazon.
The mouse
If a "luxury mouse" is something that could exist, the Logitech MX Master would be it. It looks expensive, and it is, but its big, textured curves are both comfortable and easy to grip. It can be used wired in, through a Logitech USB receiver, or over Bluetooth Smart, and its years-long battery is rechargeable (though not user-replaceable). It comes with five customizable buttons on top of that, including a second scroll wheel on its side. It’s not for lefties, though, and it won’t work all that well for gaming — for the latter, we still like the Razer DeathAdder Chroma.
Logitech MX Master, $71.99, available at Amazon.
Logitech MX Master, $71.99, available at Amazon.
The speakers
It’s probably not a stretch to say that your default computer speakers aren’t that crisp. If you use your desktop for entertainment as much as getting things done, the Polk Audio Hampden will give it more life. They sound great for a speaker this small, with a smooth, immediate profile that isn’t lacking in bass and can get unusually loud. They can connect over USB or Bluetooth (with aptX), and, at least to us, look pretty stylish to boot. Reviews from InnerFidelity, Digital Trends, and PCMag have approved as well.
Polk Audio Hampden Bluetooth Speaker System, $249, available at Amazon.
Polk Audio Hampden Bluetooth Speaker System, $249, available at Amazon.
The webcam
The webcam built into your laptop, tablet, or smartphone might be fine for casual Skype chats, but if you’re stuck in videoconferences or remote interviews with any regularity, there’s a good chance you’ll want something more professional.
The Logitech C920 is just that — its 1080p video is crisp, its audio is clear, and it does very well to automatically adjust to lighting changes. An upgraded C920-C model is even smoother for $30 more, but for most, this should be more than fine.
Logitech C920 HD Webcam, $62.99, available at Amazon.
Logitech C920 HD Webcam, $62.99, available at Amazon.
The USB hub
If your PC doesn’t supply enough ports for all your accessories, or you just want a place to charge your various mobile devices, it’s worth looking into a USB hub.
This 10-port USB 3.0 model from Anker won’t chew up too much space on your desk, is well-spaced, and has more ports than you’ll probably ever need. Three of those ports charge up to 2.1A, meaning they’ll refill your devices faster. And for what it’s worth, Anker generally has a good reputation with these things.
Ideally, we’d recommend a hub with a more reasonable 7 ports, but finding one that costs less, uses USB 3.0, and supports multiple 2.1A ports proved surprisingly difficult. For now, the Anker is still a good value.
Anker 10-Port 60W USB 3.0 Hub, $39.99, available at Amazon.
Anker 10-Port 60W USB 3.0 Hub, $39.99, available at Amazon.
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