Computer accessories are additional external hardware used to control and use your computer. While additional hardware is usually optional with laptops, desktop computer do require additional hardware to operate. Some examples of accessories include keyboards, mice, monitors, speakers or headphones, and many more. It is important to remember that when purchasing a desktop computer, accessories are a necessary purchase unless you already have them, and they could easily add hundreds of dollars to your bill.
First, the most common accessories are keyboards and mice. When purchasing a laptop, some may prefer to purchase a mouse as well for ease of access, however this is purely optional. For desktop computers, a keyboard and mouse are required in order to use your computer. Some stores include a mouse and keyboard with the purchase of a desktop computer, while others do not. A budget keyboard and mouse pair can be as low as $20, however we recommend spending slightly more (roughly $30-$50 range) to provide more durability and quality.
Another very common accessory are monitors. They come in many shapes and sizes, and it's important to find one that fits your needs. Once again, additional monitors may be helpful for laptop use, but are entirely optional. For desktop computers, they are a requirement. There is also the option to have multiple monitors connected to the same computer, which allows for additional utility. For casual use, one monitor should fit your needs. However, the more frequently you use your computer (especially for work or gaming), additional monitors may be useful. The most important detail to look for when purchasing a monitor is the refresh rate, which is measured in Hertz (Hz). The Hertz of a monitor is how many frames the monitor shows in one second, so if a monitor is 60Hz, it will be showing 60 frames per second. A 60Hz monitor should be the baseline for any use of the computer. 60Hz monitors should work perfectly fine for all users, however, gaming computers may benefit from having a higher refresh rate monitor as their main display as to make the gaming experience appear smoother.
Speakers and headphones are also common computer accessories. Headphones (wired or wireless) could be used with laptops so that you can hear the volume from your laptop in public. For desktop computers, an output for volume is required if your monitor does not have internal speakers. It comes down to user preference to decide between speakers or headphones. We recommend spending a minimun of $20 to ensure decent audio quality, however more can be spent depending on how crisp and polished you would like the audio to be.