Mastering the Art of Casual Gaming: Best HP Gaming Gear for Hobbyists
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The best HP gaming gear for hobbyists offers a good balance of performance and price accessibility, so you can take on the games you want without breaking the bank.
Affordable builds also favor portability, with more travel-friendly weight and measurements.
In this article, we’ll help you assemble a good hardware suite for casual gamers.
Victus for competitive pricing and premium performance
Though you can find many gaming PC options at the HP Store, the Victus line will typically provide the best HP gaming laptops for hobbyists. Displays provide a range of potential features to upgrade, like brightness and response time. You can even choose from three color options with the models we profile here: mica silver, ceramic white, and performance blue.
High portability with the Victus 15
With a trim build and affordable base configuration, the Victus by HP Gaming Laptop 15t-fa100 is a versatile option that fits a variety of user scenarios - from work to gaming, and everything in between. Enjoy a 15.6-inch diagonal FHD display (1920 x 1080) with several optional upgrades, like improved brightness ratings (from 250 to 300 nits) and low blue light to reduce eye strain.
Or you can opt for extra performance, with a boosted 144 Hz refresh rate and 9 ms response time. It’s no slouch with hardware either, offering up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 laptop GPU and Intel® Core™ i7-13700H processor. You can also count on deep storage and responsiveness, with 1TB of SSD storage and up to 16GB of RAM.
Key highlights:
- 15.6" diagonal FHD display (1920 x 1080)
- Display upgrades: refresh rate, response time, low blue light, brightness
- Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU (6GB)
- As much as 16GB RAM and 1TB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD storage
Expand your horizons on a Victus 16
For gamers that want a little extra screen space without too much extra expense, the Victus by HP Gaming Laptop16t-r000 adds a bigger display and a higher ceiling when it comes to critical components. Configure yours with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and an Intel Core i7-13700H processor for expanded performance.
The Victus 16 also provides a well-rounded optional display upgrade, combining comfort and performance features. Count on a 144 Hz refresh rate in all configurations, plus an optional 7 ms response time, low blue light mode, and a brightness boost from 250 to 300 nits. You can still count on 1TB of efficient SSD storage, and can max out your RAM at a hefty 32GB.
Key highlights:
- 16.1" diagonal FHD display (1920 x 1080)
- Display upgrades: response time, low blue light, brightness
- Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU (8GB)
- As much as 32GB RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD storage
The best HyperX accessories for hobbyist gamers
Now that you’ve checked out some accessible gaming laptops, it’s time to prepare for your favorite games with the best HyperX peripherals for hobbyists. But what you need also depends on your preferred titles and style of play.
Most fans of multiplayer games will want a reliable gaming headset to get started and even a dedicated mic for better clarity, especially if you plan on streaming. You can even add a separate gaming keyboard to maximize enjoyment when it’s time to clock out and start playing.
The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 Core wired gaming headset
Designed for simplicity and comfort, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 Core wired gaming headset has an affordable price point and an appealing list of features for both casual and more serious gamers. Two years of free support for DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio means you can enjoy high-clarity sound from the get-go.
Bass output via 40 mm directional drivers support a more immersive experience, so you get the most out of your DTS:X. It’s also designed for quick, convenient interactions, with built-in audio controls so you can control settings directly from the headset and an easy-to-use noise-canceling microphone that you can swivel up to mute.
Key highlights:
- DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio
- 40 mm directional drivers
- Built-in audio controls
- Swivel-to-mute mic
The HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 wired gaming headset
The lightweight HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 wired gaming headset offers similar features for not much more price tag, and adds some extra emphasis to comfort and performance. In addition to two years’ worth of DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio, the Cloud Stinger 2 upgrades your bass experience with 50 mm directional drivers.
Audio controls are still built into the headset and the microphone swivels to mute, but you also get some bonuses in this department. The Stinger 2 adds memory foam ear cups and premium leatherette for extra comfort, and you can even rotate the ears so they lay flat against your chest when you need to take down your headset for a bit.
Key highlights:
- DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio
- 50 mm directional drivers
- Memory foam and premium leatherette
- Rotating ear cups
The HyperX Cloud Stinger Core wireless gaming headset
Compared to its wired cousins, the HyperX Cloud Stinger Core wireless gaming headset offers a great balance of features with the added convenience of a strong 2.4 GHz wireless connection. You can still count on two years of DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio, built-in controls, and a noise-canceling mic with swivel-to-mute.
The wireless edition is also designed for added comfort, with soft foam and fabric cushions to promote breathability for long gaming sessions. Steel sliders allow confident, easy adjustments, while the flexible mic gives more options to explore during play.
Key highlights:
- DTS:X Headphone Spatial Audio
- 2.4 GHz wireless audio
- Soft foam and fabric cushions
- Added comfort features
The HyperX SoloCast USB Microphone
Compact and convenient, the HyperX SoloCast USB Microphone is a popular free-standing microphone for gamers and producers alike. The slim build and flexible stand make it easy to integrate with a variety of work and gaming spaces. If space is at a premium, you can even slip it underneath your monitor.
Designed to preserve clarity, the SoloCast offers customizable firmware so you can upgrade to output higher-quality audio. It also uses a cardioid polar-pattern mic to emphasize the speaker and mitigate background sound. Making videos? Tap the mic to mute and use the built-in LED indicator to confirm when you are and aren’t broadcasting.
Key highlights:
- Flexible stand
- Tap-to-mute with LED indicator
- Cardioid-pattern mic
- Compatible with most boom arms
The HyperX Alloy Core RGB gaming keyboard
Whether you’re outfitting a desktop rig or want more from your laptop experience, the Hyper Alloy Core RGB gaming keyboard is a colorful way to finetune your style and take advantage of more gamer-friendly features. The most noticeable difference is customizable RGB backlighting, with a built-in light bar and six presets to try out.
But it also has its own range of practical benefits, including spill resistance and a reinforced plastic frame. Key action is quiet and easy, with built-in anti-ghosting functionality, so every keystroke is registered. It also incorporates a keyboard lock mode to protect against the risk of accidental keystrokes.
Key highlights:
- Customizable RGB backlighting
- Spill resistant
- Anti-ghosting functionality
- Keyboard lock mode
The HyperX Alloy MKW 100 mechanical gaming keyboard
The HyperX Alloy MKW 100 mechanical gaming keyboard offers similar flair, but with an even more durable build, a spiffy cloth-braided gold-plated USB connector, plus new customization and comfort features. First and foremost, the Alloy MKW 100 stands out with RGB lighting, but in this case, you can customize effects per key when you want to set a different mood.
It also adds several durability upgrades, including mechanical, dust-proof keys for satisfying action and easy maintenance, plus an aluminum frame that provides greater stability. There’s also an integrated wrist rest that you can detach to find the perfect sweet spot in between you and your keyboard.
Key highlights:
- Customizable key colors
- Aluminum frame
- Dust-proof mechanical switches
- Detachable wrist rest
The HyperX Pulsefire Core gaming mouse
Another good accessory whether or not you’ve gone the laptop gaming route, the HyperX Pulsefire Core gaming mouse has a straightforward design suitable for most scenarios. The wired connection guarantees the speediest inputs, and a Pixart 3327 optical sensor supports native DPI settings of up to 3,200 for high-sensitivity tracking.
Textured side grips make for an especially stable and ergonomic design, with a symmetrical build that supports multiple play styles. It also features a suite of programmable buttons and HyperX NGENUITY software so you can customize lighting, DPI, and your preferred button scheme.
Key highlights:
- Pixart 3327 optical sensor
- Customizable HyperX NGENUITY software
- Supports up to 6500 DPI
- Ergonomic design
The HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse
For an even more ergonomic build with pro-level sensitivity, the HyperX Pulsefire FPS Pro gaming mouse offers many of the same features with some notable upgrades. The Pixart 3389 optical sensor provides maximum DPI settings of up to 3,200, while Omron switches guarantee maximum durability and quick inputs.
It retains the textured side grips, but adds extra-large skates to improve movement and stability. The symmetrical build is still suited for multiple playstyles and features six programmable buttons to help you finetune yours. You can even store multiple profiles so you can switch between different configurations depending on what game you want to play.
Key highlights:
- Pixart 3389 optical sensor
- Customizable HyperX NGENUITY software
- Supports up to 16,000 DPI
- Omron switches
Summary
While Victus provides affordable access to some of the best HP gaming gear for hobbyists, the right selection of HyperX accessories provide additional advantages. High-sensitivity inputs and clear communication mean faster response times onscreen, while immersion features like customizable buttons and RGB lighting add depth to your gaming experience.
