Buying Guide

The Best PC Gaming Gear Under $100

Each item here was listed under $100 at the time of writing, so any one fits a modest budget.

By The PC Journal editorial team

12 min read5 products evaluated

Good gaming gear does not need a large budget. Each item here was listed under $100 at the time of writing; prices change, so check before buying.

We compared the specs from each listing.

Quick Picks

Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.

  1. Best Mouse Under $100

    HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wired Gaming Mouse

    53g with 8000Hz polling.

    Best for: Performance on a budget

    Our take Check price for HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wired Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  2. Best Alternative Mouse

    SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse

    8,500 DPI with three RGB zones.

    Best for: Different shape

    Our take Check price for SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse (opens in a new tab)

  3. Best Keyboard Under $100

    Redragon K617 60% Hot-Swap Mechanical Keyboard

    Hot-swap 60% layout.

    Best for: Mechanical on a budget

    Our take Check price for Redragon K617 60% Hot-Swap Mechanical Keyboard (opens in a new tab)

  4. Best Headset Under $100

    Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset

    Removable mic with in-line controls.

    Best for: Cross-platform chat

    Our take Check price for Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset (opens in a new tab)

  5. Best Pad Under $100

    Razer Gigantus V2 Large Mouse Pad

    3mm foam cloth pad.

    Best for: Aiming room

    Our take Check price for Razer Gigantus V2 Large Mouse Pad (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wired Gaming Mouse

Best Mouse Under $1001 of 5

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wired Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

HyperX's Haste 2 wired keeps a solid shell at 53g and polls at up to 8000Hz.

Best for

Performance on a budget

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the Gigantus V2 L, which cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

Its switches are rated for 100 million clicks. It weighs 53g with a solid shell rather than holes, and the HyperX 26K sensor tracks up to 26,000 DPI. The wired cable keeps it simple.

Its paracord-style HyperFlex 2 cable reduces drag, and it polls at up to 8,000Hz, reporting every 0.125ms. It is the only pick here with RGB lighting; the Rival 3 Gen 2 has 3-zone RGB lighting instead. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Rival 3 Gen 2 the nearest cheaper option.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Type: Wired mouse
  • Connection: USB, paracord cable
  • Key spec: 53g, 8000Hz polling
  • Lighting: RGB

Pros

  • Solid shell at 53g
  • 8000Hz polling
  • Switches rated for 100 million clicks
  • RGB lighting, the only one here

Cons

  • Costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing
SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse

Best Alternative Mouse2 of 5

SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Gaming Mouse on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

SteelSeries's Rival 3 Gen 2 pairs an 8,500 DPI TrueMove Core sensor with a paracord-style cable and three RGB zones.

Best for

Different shape

Skip if

Skip it if price comes first: the Gigantus V2 L cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

Its switches are rated for 60 million clicks. Three-zone RGB lighting is included. Its TrueMove Core sensor tracks 1-to-1 without acceleration, which keeps aim consistent at any swipe speed.

3-zone RGB lighting is unique to it among these picks, while the Haste 2 wired uses RGB lighting. It also comes with a 1.35ms click latency claim. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing. Its price falls between the K617 and the Haste 2 wired, based on our last check.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Type: Wired mouse
  • Connection: USB, paracord cable
  • Key spec: 8,500 DPI TrueMove Core
  • Lighting: 3-zone RGB

Pros

  • Switches rated for 60 million clicks
  • 1.35ms click latency claim
  • Paracord-style cable
  • 3-zone RGB lighting, the only one here

Cons

  • Costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing
Redragon K617 60% Hot-Swap Mechanical Keyboard

Best Keyboard Under $1003 of 5

Redragon K617 60% Hot-Swap Mechanical Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Redragon's K617 is a 60% board with hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.

Best for

Mechanical on a budget

Skip if

If budget leads, the Gigantus V2 L was cheaper at our last price check.

Why we like it

It frees desk space for mouse movement. Its 60% layout frees desk space for wide mouse swipes, and 20 lighting presets adjust in brightness and speed. The software programs macros.

Its switches are rated for 50 million presses, in a white and grey colourway. A 60% or 65% layout drops the number pad and some navigation keys; check you can live without them. It also brings USB connection, the only one here. When we checked, only the Recon 50 and cheaper picks cost less, and the Rival 3 Gen 2 cost more.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Type: Wired 60% keyboard
  • Connection: USB
  • Key spec: Hot-swap 3-pin and 5-pin
  • Lighting: RGB, 20 presets

Pros

  • Hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches
  • Red linear switches rated for 50 million presses
  • Macro software
  • USB connection, the only one here

Cons

  • Costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing
Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset

Best Headset Under $1004 of 5

Turtle Beach Recon 50 Gaming Headset on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Turtle Beach's Recon 50 is a 3.5mm headset with a removable mic and in-line controls.

Best for

Cross-platform chat

Skip if

Price-first buyers should look at the Gigantus V2 L, which cost less when we checked.

Why we like it

It has PC, PlayStation and Xbox support. Its high-sensitivity mic detaches when you're watching films or listening to music, and the light frame suits long sessions. It works across PC and consoles over 3.5mm.

Its light build suits long sessions without pressure on the head. On a desktop with separate mic and headphone jacks, a single 3.5mm plug needs a splitter. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Gigantus V2 L and the pricier K617, at the time of writing.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Type: Wired headset
  • Connection: 3.5mm
  • Key spec: 40mm speakers, removable mic
  • Lighting: None

Pros

  • Removable mic
  • In-line volume and mute controls
  • PC, PlayStation and Xbox support

Cons

  • Costs more than the Gigantus V2 L at the time of writing
Razer Gigantus V2 Large Mouse Pad

Best Pad Under $1005 of 5

Razer Gigantus V2 Large Mouse Pad on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Razer's Gigantus V2 Large uses 3mm foam under a micro-weave cloth.

Best for

Aiming room

Skip if

Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.

Why we like it

It gives room for low-sensitivity aiming. Its micro-weave surface is calibrated for all sensors and suits fast and controlled play. It comes in sizes from Medium to 3XL.

It comes in four sizes up to 3XL, so you can match it to your DPI and desk. It also offers 3mm high-density foam and an anti-slip base. Measure the desk: an extended pad should fit under both keyboard and mouse without hanging over the edge. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Recon 50 was the next step up.

Key dimensions & specs

  • Type: Cloth mouse pad
  • Connection: None
  • Key spec: 3mm foam, Large
  • Lighting: None

Pros

  • 3mm high-density foam
  • Micro-weave surface
  • Anti-slip base
  • 3mm foam cloth pad

How We Chose

Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.

Connection
We checked wired, wireless and platform support.
Role in the setup
We chose one item per role so each guide covers a complete desk.
Listed specs
We recorded the key figure each listing states.
Price tier
We grouped picks by price at the time of writing.

What to Look for in a PC Gaming Gear Under $100

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. Upgrade in the right order

    The mouse, keyboard and headset are the parts you touch and hear all session. Replace whichever frustrates you most first; lighting and extras come later.

  2. Mouse shape before sensor

    Every current gaming sensor tracks well enough for most players. Weight, shape and size decide comfort, so pick those first.

  3. Keyboard size

    A 60% or 65% board frees room for the mouse; a full-size one keeps the number pad. Hot-swap sockets let you change switches later.

  4. Headset or separate mic

    A headset is the simplest way to get game audio and chat. A separate USB mic sounds clearer if you stream or take calls.

  5. A proper mouse pad

    A cloth pad gives consistent tracking and glide. An extended pad covers the keyboard too and keeps the desk tidy.

  6. Check platform support

    Most gear works on any PC, but software can be Windows-only, and some headsets target consoles as well.

How to Choose a PC Gaming Gear Under $100

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Performance on a budgetHaste 2 wired53g with 8000Hz polling
Different shapeRival 3 Gen 28,500 DPI with three RGB zones
Mechanical on a budgetK617Hot-swap 60% layout
Cross-platform chatRecon 50Removable mic with in-line controls
Aiming roomGigantus V2 L3mm foam cloth pad

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

Figures as each maker states them.

GearTypeConnectionKey specLighting
Haste 2 wiredWired mouseUSB, paracord cable53g, 8000Hz pollingRGB
Rival 3 Gen 2Wired mouseUSB, paracord cable8,500 DPI TrueMove Core3-zone RGB
K617Wired 60% keyboardUSBHot-swap 3-pin and 5-pinRGB, 20 presets
Recon 50Wired headset3.5mm40mm speakers, removable micNone
Gigantus V2 LCloth mouse padNone3mm foam, LargeNone

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need all gear from one brand?

No. Matching brands only helps if you want one app to control lighting. Mixing brands works fine.

Is wireless gear good enough for gaming?

Modern 2.4GHz gaming mice and keyboards are fine for competitive play. Bluetooth modes add delay and suit office use.

What should I buy first on a small budget?

A comfortable mouse and a cloth pad. They cost little and change the feel of every game.

Will PC gear work on consoles?

Wired headsets with 3.5mm plugs usually do. Mice and keyboards work only in games that support them.

What makes a good gift?

Items that do not depend on fit or taste, such as a mouse pad, a light or a mic, are the safest. A mouse depends on hand size.

Does RGB improve performance?

No. It is cosmetic; most gear lets you turn it off.

Bottom Line

The Haste 2 wired is the best-value performance upgrade. The Rival 3 Gen 2 is the alternative mouse, the K617 is the keyboard, the Recon 50 covers audio, and the Gigantus V2 L finishes the desk.