"Gaming" keyboards worth it?

chipachap

chipachap

chipachap

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So since I've built my PC I've been using an antique AST keyboard. Very solid keyboard but it's about 20 years old and weighs about a stone or 2! I've been browsing gaming and mechanical keyboards on the shop and I'm just wondering is there any real benefit to forking out >70 quid on a keyboard. Do they offer any advantages like lower input lag and such. Also what is the main diff between a mechanical and gaming keyboard?

TY for your input.
 
Mechanical keyboards are a pleasure to type on and use for games, but depend on what sort of games you actually play. I had a corsair K90 which has red switches, which is designed for FPS games and that was like night and day in comparison to the cheap dell thing I had before it. It allowed me to have every single one of my key pressed fully register properly in the game, mostly due to the N-Key rollover which doesn't saturate the USB on such keyboards.

Avoid the gaming keyboards before mechanical as the quality of them is substandard in my opinion. I owned a logitech G11 which was a macro key based gaming keyboard and that was rubbish. Had numerous issues with it and ended up binning it for that £5 dell flat keyboard :S
 
Filco Majestouch-II user here. It's a fantastic keyboard, the MX-Browns are a great balance between typing and gaming.

Probably one of the best purchases i've made for my PC.
 
chipachap said:
Lol I can't say the AST is a pleasure to use, some noise of it aswell. I was looking at one of these http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-000-CA&groupid=702&catid=23&subcat=2107.

Says in the description it's an FPS keyboard and the k90 is a RTS/MMO one, although all those extra buttons look nice I'm strictly an FPS and Fifa man, so I think I'll go with the K60 if I am getting one.
Click to expand...

K90 has a full wrist rest and backlit keys. Better option IMO :)
 
Don't listen to Corsair, they hardly know anything about gaming equipment :P

If you're going to go for a mechanical then look for the multiple guides on google, there's a good one on TeamLiquid in the tech section. While some switches are "best suited" for certain genres it doesn't mean you'll enjoy using that one the most for what you do.
 
A "gaming keyboard" is basically a normal keyboard with extra features.
- Macro keys
- Backlighting
- Disable windows button
- Maybe a screen
- etc.

I think if you're into MMOs, then you benefit from the macro keys. Otherwise not so much.

I think if you game in the dark and can't touch-type, then you probably want backlighting. Otherwise not so much.

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything other than a mechanical keyboard at the moment. They're simply superior in the following ways:
- Keys are a pleasure to use
- You know when the key has actuated
- You can optain higher APM (#1 gaming feature imo)
- You get N-key rollover (#2 gaming feature imo)
- Build quality is generally superior

That said, you can get mechanical keyboards with the aforementioned gaming features - but you'd pay a premium for it - same as with rubber dome keyboards. So it really boils down to whether you need those extra or not.

My current keyboard, and happily recommended: Qpad MK-50
 
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I have a nice Compaq mechanical KB that's from the early 90's up in my attic. it blows away anything I've ever seen since, build wise... The only problem with it is

a.\ It's PS2

b.\ It's beige

Therefore unuseable against the colour schemes of today.
 
thedoc46 said:
I have a nice Compaq mechanical KB that's from the early 90's up in my attic. it blows away anything I've ever seen since, build wise... The only problem with it is

a.\ It's PS2

b.\ It's beige

Therefore unuseable against the colour schemes of today.
Click to expand...

Spray it, Im pretty sure Ive seen Mech KB's without stickers on the buttons.
 
I highly doubt they actually have 20 key roll over rofl. I researched a lot before I bought my BWUS and even £200 mechanicals don't have more than 8 key roll over... If corsair actually have proof Ill believe it. If not they are BS'ing you.
 
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