2020 Ultrawide Battlestation Setup

A question I’m often asked is “What is your current setup?”. My answer is different almost every time as my setup changes every time we review new tech products. However, for the first quarter of 2020, I’ve been running a consistent combination of what I believe are some of the best components available.

Monitor: LG 38BK95C-W 38” Ultrawide

The most important aspect of my battlestation is my monitor. It’s my portal into the digital world and I look at it for several hours a day. Bigger is better in this case and I’m a proponent of ultrawide displays, particularly 38” variants. I’ve never been a multi-monitor guy and I find that 38” is a sweet size for generous desktop real estate that is easily viewable. With a resolution of 3840 x 1600 pixels, a 38” monitor offers nearly all the pixels of a 4K monitor without the need for scaling. The single best battlestation upgrade is an ultrawide. Trust me.

Monitor Arm: Humanscale M8.1

A quality display should be paired with an equally capable monitor arm. Monitor arms offer numerous benefits including the ability to position your monitor at a myriad of angles and orientations. Mounting your display on a monitor arm significantly cleans up your work area by freeing precious desk space by eliminating the stock monitor stand. The Humanscale M8.1 is a standout product, it’s exceptionally well-made, offers an excellent cable management system and is incredibly simple to assemble and install.

Computer: Sliger SM580 RTX 2080 Ti Build

The aspect of my battlestation that is constantly changing is my computer. At the moment I’m running an 8700K paired with an EVGA RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 Ultra Gaming on an ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX-ac mini-ITX motherboard. Additional specs include 32GB of Patriot Viper Steel RAM and two WD Black SN_750 NVMe M.2 SSDs. This is all powered by a Corsair SF750 platinum SFX power supply. Finally, its kept icy cold with four In Win Crown AC140 RGB fans, two of which are connected to an NZXT Kraken X62 AIO.

Yes, the 8700K is an old processor by today’s standards but it’s among my favorite processors and has never let me down throughout countless overclocks and stress tests. All of these fantastic components are housed in a Sliger SM580 SFF (small form factor) chassis, a phenomenal boutique computer case that deserves all the accolades we’ve given it.

Mouse: Logitech G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless

Perhaps the most used components in everybody’s setup is their mouse, I know mine is. The G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming mouse is all I could have ever hoped for and more! It’s comfortable, has flawless tracking, endless buttons, lengthy battery life and solid build quality. Logitech nailed the G502 and again knocked it out of the park when they added their industry leading LIGHTSPEED wireless technology. I love this mouse!

Keyboard: Logitech G915 LIGHTSPEED Wireless RGB Mechanical (Linear)

The best keyboard to pair with the G502 LIGHTSPEED Wireless is the Logitech G915 Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming keyboard. It’s a low-profile gaming keyboard with great battery life and premium design and build. The G915 benefits from the same LIGHTSPEED wireless technology the G502 uses and Logitech has made substantial progress in battery life for wireless RGB keyboards. The G915 lasts nearly a week with RGB lighting turned on all the time. It’s compatible with Logitech’s G Hub Software, which makes customization for all Logitech G products a breeze. Review coming soon.

Mousepad: ADATA XPG Battleground XL

Another often overlooked but important accessory is your mousepad and the ADATA XPG Battleground XL mousepad I’ve been using is my favorite yet! It is massive (900mm x 420mm) and has more than enough room for a large gaming keyboard, maintaining a generous side area for your mouse. It’s made with a material called CORDURA fabric which is remarkably durable and easy for mice to glide on.

Headset: Astro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro TR (2019)

Another peripheral made by Logitech is the Astro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro TR (2019) gaming headset. The Astro A40 TR is my favorite gaming headset! Everything from its futuristic, industrial design to its constant comfort and top-tier gaming sound quality makes it an ideal addition to any serious gamer’s arsenal. The MixAmp Pro TR is an integral companion to the A40 headset and provides the necessary power for the A40s be experienced at their fullest.

Controller: Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2

Hardcore PC gamers will cringe at the sight of a controller and rightfully so, it is a sign of weakness! Having grown up on consoles and never quite committing to the mouse and keyboard master race, I find a controller an essential crutch to lean on in FPS games. The Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 wireless controller is my favorite gamepad. It’s the perfect shape/size and Microsoft has learned from its mistakes with the first-generation Elite controller, specifically the build quality. If like me, you prefer a controller, look no further than the Elite Series 2. Review coming soon.

Laptop: Microsoft Surface Book 2 15” w/Surface Pen Platinum

Leave it to Microsoft to completely destroy the MacBook Pro! The Surface Book 2 is sleek, fast and oozes premium quality. I’ve added a Surface Pen which is magnetically attached to the side of the display which, for the uninformed, can be complete disconnected from the keyboard for a full-on tablet experience, making it an iPad killer too! This is not a product Microsoft should ever retire or discontinue, it is really that good.

Desk Phone: VTech 4-Line Expandable Small Business Office Phone with Answering System

The least exciting component on this list is the VTech 4-Line Expandable Small Business Office Phone with Answering System. Not much to say here, it’s a 4-line business phone and it works well.

Desk: Custom Italian Designed Glass Desk w/Metal Leg & Wooden Drawers

This is a rare find and I cannot locate the original designer or manufacturer of this desk. It’s piece of art, combining glass, metal and glossy painted wood. The glass is about an inch thick and it’s connected to the metal leg on the left and the drawers + filing cabinet on the right. There are two “soft close” drawers and one filing cabinet drawer. It has just enough room for my setup and at the moment, I can’t find anything better!

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