What’s not to like?!
A nature-themed gaming setup with an unbeatable view, plenty of sunlight, real plants that don’t need watering, and increased airflow for your case. That sounds like the ultimate setup!
Add in the sound of birds singing, a light refreshing breeze, the ability to watch the kids play in the garden, and the fun of watching astonished passers-by.
My kid has played the entire day into the evening and had a blast. Compared to a lot of other projects we could’ve wasted our vacation time on, this is a huge success.
Let’s start with a tour
We use my kid’s setup as it is cheaper than my own in case something breaks, setting up on an outdoor dining table, which is under a covered terrace with additional sunshade protection above. This means the setup is protected from rain and direct sun. Sunshade protection is necessary to be able to see what’s on the monitor and to sit comfortably in the shade. Of course, we also check the weather forecast, which promises 25 degrees Celsius / 77 degrees Fahrenheit, barely any wind, and no rain.
As you can see, the view from the vacation house is quite nice, adding to the aesthetics of the setup.
Items in the setup
The case is an old discontinued Corsair with RGB fans, but it looks gorgeous outside and provides a contrast to the surrounding nature.
The monitor is an Acer XF270 with an IPS panel and 400 nits max brightness, which is average for a gaming monitor. The brightness could be better as there’s a lot of sunlight, but it is completely viable. Compared to an average gaming laptop, this monitor is much brighter.
The keyboard is an Anne Pro 2, the mouse is an Xtrfy M4 Wireless, the speakers are Creative Pebble, the controller is an Xbox X and the headphones are Logitech G435 Lightspeed. Everything except the speakers is wireless, which is recommended to avoid a lot of cable clutter. If it starts to rain heavily, it is easier to move the things indoors again.
Other small features
Add in some barbecue and it’s suddenly an L-shaped office!
Okay, so maybe I should move the barbecue a bit further away because it actually gets screamingly hot, but you get the idea.
It also works in the dark
This is where the RGB really shines, but the mosquito lamp is a must. As you can see, it’s placed behind the PC case to avoid insects flying directly into it. The lamp does the job well. Naturally, insects are attracted by the light from the setup, but not nearly as much as I’d expected, and no worse than gaming indoors at night with an open window.
The perfect way to enjoy a nice summer evening and if it gets too cold, we have an infrared terrace warmer just behind the chair.
If you want to try it yourself, this is what I recommend
An outdoor gaming setup can work with some prerequisites. This is what I recommend:
Nice weather
This is of course only possible on warm summer days and evenings. Heavy rain will risk destroying your electronics.
Covered terrace with sun shading
I would not try this without cover from rain and sun. It will break your electronics but also because it’s uncomfortable to sit in direct sun.
Outdoor dining table
Do not try this with low-height lounge furniture. You will break your back and neck.
Power extension cable
You will most likely need an extension power cable with at least 3 slots.
WiFi extender
Placing a WiFi extender strategically will greatly enhance your gaming experience, i.e. treat your outdoor gaming setup as another room you have to extend the signal to.
Mosquito lamp
If you have an open case like us, the mosquito lamp is a must.
Mouse repellant
I also recommend a mouse repellant if you want the setup to stay outside during the night.
Terrace warmer
A terrace warmer is handy during the evenings.
Plastic bag for your case and monitor
We simply use a large shopping bag to wrap the case and the monitor during the night.
A few extra remarks based on my experience
Keep it wireless and simple, so it’s easy to move things indoors if need be. It’s a good idea to move at least your case indoors during the night and if it starts to rain heavily. Our terrace is private and therefore, we don’t have to factor in the risk of theft, but you should consider that too.
Could you do this with a regular gaming laptop or a handheld gaming device? Surely. Is it the same experience? Hardly! In particular, kids may this setup extremely fun.
An outdoor gaming setup is the ultimate summer battlestation, even if it’s as impractical as it’s fun!
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