Summer's half over, which means all the Amazon Prime day PC deals this week are a great chance to get ahead of back to school shopping instead of procrastinating until August. For us, that means spotting some of the best Prime Day PC gaming deals for some good mouse and headset upgrades or a brand new gaming laptop that will handle classwork by day and matchmaking queues by night.
I did plenty of bargain hunting for pre-built machines and scavenging pack-in peripherals when I was gaming through school. Getting back to class means working with a budget, so I'm not about to suggest you go clear your bank account for the hottest gaming PC. Nope, you'll want a machine that can pull double duty on assignments and achievements without cheaping out on the specs you actually need for both.
We've been digging through all the overall best PC gaming Prime Day deals, so here's a handy subset of great choices that will get you back to class with the gear you need.
If a laptop is your go-to device, you've got options. For some, a small and reliable laptop can handle all your study and class video chat needs while also making easy work of all our favorite best laptop games you might want to play at home (not during class, mind you). Those that want their machine to double up on big games and big assignments will want a beefier machine with a dedicated GPU and more storage.
For those studying and playing at home, getting a good deal on a desktop PC doesn't have to mean giving up on gaming either. The key here is letting go of the RGB gaming PC look and being willing to take a small hit on your display and storage space. A small but fast SSD will serve you best, as will a monitor with fewer pixels but more speed.
These PC deals will respect your student budget without making you feel like you've totally hamstrung your system's gaming capacity. A lean but mean PC can carry you through classes and quests both.
Last up are all your peripherals. I did university from a horrible low-back office chair and a free pack-in mouse, so let's make sure you aren't relegated to the same fate. Mouse and keyboard are a must, so getting the best deal on solid gear is the way to go. If you're also in the market for a gaming chair and headset, I'll assume that you're sick of the phone earbuds and office chair combo, so some good deals on pricier gear will do there.
