March 14th marks the annual celebration of the mathematical constant, Pi (π). In 1988, physicist Larry Shaw founded Pi Day on the 14th as 3, 1, and 4 are the first digits of the constant.
On a day where we celebrate learning and mathematics, here at Overclockers UK, our team of experts have decided to compile a handy guide on everything you need to upgrade your set-up. From the perfect desk and chair so you can work in comfort and style to the ideal laptop or PC – we’ve got everything you need right here!
How Does Your Environment Affect Your Learning?
According to UCAS, a study has found that your environment plays a huge role in your ability to learn and study effectively. Seating, noise, and even clutter can have a negative impact on your learning. Students who are learning in poor environments find it much harder to stay engaged and absorb information when compared with those in a positive environment.
Comfort:
Whether you are gaming, working, or studying, comfort is absolutely vital. Therefore, selecting the right seating is arguably the most information factor when creating your set-up.
The right seating will offer you comfort and the right amount of support to maintain a good posture and keep you focused. Check out the article we did on taking care of your back for more of our top tips! Some of our favourite brands of chairs that OcUK have available include;
- noblechairs
- NitroConcepts
- AeroCool
- ThunderX3
Struggling to pick the perfect gaming chair for your set-up? Take a look at our guide to gaming chairs for more.
Lighting & Colour:
Lighting and colour can play a role in how you engage and retain information.
In natural lighting, studies have shown a notable increase in mood with a reduction in stress and anxiety levels. What’s more, different colours have an effect. For example, red is a strong colour and known for increasing stress levels. In comparison, yellow creates a positive impact.
You can take advantage of natural light by moving your setup to be in front of the window plus, configuring the hue and colour setting on your monitor to feature a dim yellow tint. Or better still, take a look at our range of protective eyewear!
Noise:
Whilst some people prefer background noise and others prefer silence – noise has an impact on how we learn and retain information.
Listening to relaxing, instrumental music is a good way to help you relax whilst working or studying, yet on the other hand, too much background noise can cause distractions. Whatever your preference is, finding a quiet space or investing in a headset will create a notable difference.
Some of our favourite brands of headsets include;
- Corsair
- EPOS
- Razer
- ASUS
If you’re in the market for a new headset, be sure to take a look at the ultimate gaming headset guide. Here you’ll find all our tips and product recs to ensure you find the perfect headset.
Clutter:
Just as the saying goes… a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind.
Whether you are gaming, working, or studying, clutter taking up space on your desk is a notable distraction. Being in a disorganised environment can often result in increased stress and anxiety levels. Therefore, it might be time to clean up those cup mugs and snacks and invest in a desk with a large surface area, integrated holders, and helpful cable management features. All of which will enhance your productivity.
Looking for some cleaning tips? Look no longer as the spring cleaning guide has it all!
Is your desk a lost cause? Then it might simply be time for an upgrade. Our guide to gaming desks has all the information you need.
In the Mood to Upgrade?
Looking to upgrade your set-up this Pi Day? We’ve searched high and low through the Overclockers UK website to find all the essential tech you need to improve your productivity. From desks, comfortable chairs, to high-end PCs, our list has it all.
The Desk:
ThunderX3 ED5 Desk:
- 140cm x 60cm x 75cm desk
- Steel construction
- Integrated 2mm mouse mat surface
- Adjustable feet & cup holder
- Integrated RGB lighting
Nitro Concepts D12 Desk:
- 116cm x 75cm x 76cm desk
- MDF construction
- Headset and cup holders
- Built-in cable grommets
The Chair:
noblechairs EPIC Compact Chair:
- Designed for gamers between 4’1 and 5’7
- PU leather construction
- Cold foam upholstery
- DIN EN 1335 certification
- Adjustable mechanisms
noblechairs HERO Chair:
- HERO black edition
- PU leather construction
- Cold foam upholstery
- Adjustable mechanisms – included lumbar support
- Up to 180kg
Laptops/PCs:
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop:
- 14.0” QHD+
- 165Hz refresh rate
- AMD Ryzen R9 7940HS CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4080
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
- Windows 11 Home
Refract Gaming Azure Pre-Built PC:
- Pre-built PC
- Designed for high-level gaming and streaming
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
- 32GB DDR5 EXPO RAM
- 1TB M.2 SSD
- Integrated RGB lighting
Is your PC not up to the task of working with Pi? Why not upgrade to one that is?
Monitor:
ASUS ROG Strix 27” 3840 x 2160 Gaming Monitor:
- 27” gaming monitor
- IPS panel
- 3840 x 2160
- 1ms response time
LG UltraGear 27” 2560 x 1440 OLED Gaming Monitor:
- 27” gaming monitor
- OLED panel
- 2560 x 1440
- 0.03ms response time
- NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatible
Peripherals:
Glorious PC Gaming Race Model O Mouse:
- Light weight – only 67/68g
- Available in wired and wireless – this model is wired
- PMW 3360 Sensor
- Up to 3200 DPI
- Honeycomb design with RGB lighting
Ducky One3 Daybreak SF USB Keyboard:
- 65% form factor
- This Model comes with Cherry Speed Silver Switches
- PBT double-shot keycaps
- Detachable USB Type-C cable
- RGB lighting
EPOS H3 Closed Acoustic Headset:
- Wired gaming headset
- Lift to mute microphone arm
- Adjustable stainless-steel headband
- Ergonomic ear pads
- Multiplatform compatible – PC, PlayStation, Switch and XBOX.
How Have You Optimised Your Set-Up for Pi Day?
How have you optimised your set-up for learning or work? Got any top product recommendations that have enhanced your productivity? Share them in the comments.
- 6 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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