Have you ever been torn between hopping on a game with friends or going outside to enjoy the beautiful weather? Well, what if we told you that you didn’t have to choose? That’s right—gaming outside is actually way more possible than you’d think. While we wouldn’t recommend having a permanent outdoor gaming setup, we still think that outdoor gaming is a great thing all gamers should experience at least once. So, without further ado, here’s our guide on how to use your gaming PC in the great outdoors.

Find a Power Source

Whether you go out to your backyard or find a fun spot out in the forest, you’re going to need a stable source of power to set up your beast of a PC. If you’re close enough to your house, you could run a waterproof extension cable to your rig, but if you can’t reach a built-in power source, you can always rent or buy a gas-powered generator.

You’ll still want a longer cable to keep the generator’s loud noise away from you, but it’s surprisingly viable for powering PCs. After that, you’ll need to ensure that the generator outputs enough wattage to run effectively.

Connect To the Internet

If you’re in your own backyard, this step will be an easier one. If you’re close enough to your house, you might still be able to use the Wi-Fi. However, it’s all about the performance of that Wi-Fi, so you’ll want to make sure your ethernet cable can withstand the outdoors.

If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you can buy a wireless hotspot that you can load up with as many gigs of data as you’ll need for your outdoor gaming adventure. Just make sure you download everything you need before you go so that you don’t waste all your precious data before you even start playing.

Safeguard Against the Elements

Of course, the most crucial part of figuring out how to use your gaming PC in the great outdoors is to check the weather before heading out. Still, there will be times where something unpredictable will happen, and you might get caught in the rain with one of your most valuable electronics. If you’re at home, you should be able to tell when things are about to turn sour and rush everything inside.

If you’re not, you’ll want to make sure you’re under or near some covering, such as a pavilion or an awning. These will also help block extreme sunlight that could make it difficult for you to see your screen at certain angles.

Luckily, there are quite a few anti-glare monitors on the market that will combat this very issue. While they’re not perfect, they will make outdoor gaming possible if you want to bask in the sun while gaming outdoors. No matter what you choose, this will be a brand-new experience for you that will take some adjustments, so be patient with it.