Gaming Keyboards

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I am considering which gaming keyboard to own. I currently just got back from MicroCenter with a Razer Black Widow Ultimate.

A fellow gamer suggested the steelseries 64225 Black USB or PS/2 Wired 6Gv2 Keyboard. In a review on New Egg, the reviewer says it uses Cherry MX Black switches Vs the Razer with Cherry MX Blue switches. Don't know what that means but I am guessing it's the mechanical part of the keyboard.. this seems like a personal preference thing but this is the type of thing I don't know and am asking others about.

Gamers, which is an overall better gaming keyboard, without price in mind.

Razer
Steel Series

 

[mnewsham]

It's mostly just preference when it comes to the different types of switches, Blues, blacks, browns, etc...

 

[zi0n.]

^ What he said.. In my case I don't buy "gaming keyboards" I just buy the cleanest and not weird shaped.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Is there a difference between the switches? Some louder than others, maybe? ....or is there a performance difference between the switches, also?

 

[aphelion02]

I'm going to direct you to here:

http://geekhack.org/
http://elitekeyboards.com/

You can thank me later.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I'm going to direct you to here:

http://geekhack.org/
http://elitekeyboards.com/

You can thank me later.

How much later? haha

............ Thanks! I think

 

[XLNC]

I've been going thru the above websites and settled on the Blackwidow Ultimate as well. Once backlit keys are a requirement, the choices are narrowed considerably. For me, it came down to BWU w/ blue switches vs Deck Keyboards w/ black switches. I decided to go with blue switches, so the BWU won.

If you decide to go with black switches, Decks seem to be highly regarded.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I've been going thru the above websites and settled on the Blackwidow Ultimate as well. Once backlit keys are a requirement, the choices are narrowed considerably. For me, it came down to BWU w/ blue switches vs Deck Keyboards w/ black switches. I decided to go with blue switches, so the BWU won.

If you decide to go with black switches, Decks seem to be highly regarded.

Thanks

I think I'm going to try out this Black Widow U and see what I like/dislike about it.

 

[Zap]

Gamers, which is an overall better gaming keyboard

Out of the two you linked, I'd go for the Steelseries because it is more of a "normal" keyboard. Really though, for gaming any keyboard will work as long as you don't get key blocking in the games you play.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I just played with the Black Widow Ultimate in UT3, and it really is a nice kb, starting with the mechanical part. Very responsive, it claims 1ms response time. If I knew for sure the Steel Series had that feature also, i'd give it a test drive - its in my NE cart right now...

 

[cytoSiN]

I prefer cherry mx brown switches. Those are generally described as tactile and non-clicky. Tactile means that you get tangible feedback and they "click" about halfway down, and you don't have to bottom out to get your keystroke, which makes for very fluid, lower-impact typing, although I tend to bottom out anyway when typing furiously. Non-clicky means that they're quiet compared to blue switches, but still loud compared to non-mechanical keyboards. My personal favorite is this one, but it's hard to find: http://www.amazon.com/XArmor-U9BL-S-...2658149&sr=8-2

The first review provides an excellent comparison to both of the keyboards you're interested in. Check it out if you haven't already made your purchase.

 

[stahlhart]

My personal favorite is this one, but it's hard to find: http://www.amazon.com/XArmor-U9BL-S-...2658149&sr=8-2

Want.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I prefer cherry mx brown switches. Those are generally described as tactile and non-clicky. Tactile means that you get tangible feedback and they "click" about halfway down, and you don't have to bottom out to get your keystroke, which makes for very fluid, lower-impact typing, although I tend to bottom out anyway when typing furiously. Non-clicky means that they're quiet compared to blue switches, but still loud compared to non-mechanical keyboards. My personal favorite is this one, but it's hard to find: http://www.amazon.com/XArmor-U9BL-S-...2658149&sr=8-2

The first review provides an excellent comparison to both of the keyboards you're interested in. Check it out if you haven't already made your purchase.

That's a very good review. Now I understand some of the differences between the Cherry MX switches :thumbsup:

For about 10yrs I've always used a Microsoft Elite keyboard for the ergonomic comfort. It is so crazy trying to get use to the "standard" keyboard style.

What would you prefer for a keyboard to have. One with 1000Hz 1ms polling rated USB or a PS/2 interface?

 

[aphelion02]

I think the Leopold's are very good value now. The owner, Majestouch, does a lot of screening and quality control of the keyboards and for $112 after shipping (to the midwest) those tenkeyless are a steal.

 

[cytoSiN]

What would you prefer for a keyboard to have. One with 1000Hz 1ms polling rated USB or a PS/2 interface?

PS/2 = full n key rollover. This is a must for me, so I use PS/2. It's possible that some keyboards are using USB and still have that functionality, but I'm not sure. Make sure your motherboard isn't legacy free if you intend to use PS/2.

 

[Lobo56]

Can someone explain to me WTF full n key rollover is?

I always hated any PS/2 keyboards I had due to the input limitation of 3 keys at once.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Do they make mechanical gaming keyboards in the shape of the microsoft natural elite?

 

[cytoSiN]

Can someone explain to me WTF full n key rollover is?

I always hated any PS/2 keyboards I had due to the input limitation of 3 keys at once.

It means that each key is scanned completely independently by the keyboard hardware, so that each key press is correctly detected regardless of how many other keys are being pressed or held down at the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollover_(key)

PS/2 allows for this natively if the keyboard itself supports it. Your old PS/2 boards that only allowed 3 keys were limited by the keyboard's hardware, not the PS/2 input.

 

[cytoSiN]

Do they make mechanical gaming keyboards in the shape of the microsoft natural elite?

I'm not aware of any, but check here, they have a great selection: http://ergogeek.com/

 

[Jaepheth]

This contains diagrams of the different keyboard switches.

I think I'll go for brown switches when I finally spring for a > $5 keyboard.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Is the steelseries 64225 Black USB or PS/2 Wired 6Gv2 Keyboard a native PS/2 keyboard with a USB extension?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

I did some research and I think I am looking for a back-lit 'Cherry MX black' keyboard. This gives me a reason to go return that broken SATA III 40" cable that I started a thread over asking if it was worth it to return it: Thread. Therefore I can also return this very nice Razer Black Widow Ultimate keyboard :T

I ordered the 6Gv2 SteelSeries to give it a try... but if I can get something like this with those Cherry MX black switches in backlit then I am in. Anyone know of such a keyboard? gonna do some looking

Thanks

 

[Zap]

This contains diagrams of the different keyboard switches.

That is an awesome link. Bookmarked!

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

That is an awesome link. Bookmarked!

100%

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

While looking around, I remembered I use to use an old Dell Keyboard that seemed to have mechanical key switches. http://shop.ebay.com/items/sk 6000?...eo_id=1&keyword=sk+6000&adgroup_id=1730830268Here it is on eBay. Does anyone know if this uses Cherry MX switches?