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Are mechanical keyboards worth it for PC gaming?

O

onlyindreams

Banned
Never used one before. Thinking about getting a Razer Blackwindow from Newegg for $60. Yay or nay?

edit: I'd be upgrading from the shitty stock keyboard that came with my Alienware X51
 
They're worth it for EVERYTHING! I got a Blackwidow in 2010, and I don't plan on going back to membranes any time soon.
 
Heh, I was just looking at a mechanical keyboard thread. How much are the good ones usually? They seem pretty pricey.
 
"Heh, I was just looking at a mechanical keyboard thread. How much are the good ones usually? They seem pretty pricey."

You can get a Rosewill mechanical anywhere from 80-110$. Newegg rotates which kind is on sale every week-ish, so if you decide you want to try a particular kind of switch, you can wait until it's on sale if it's not already.
 
Wario64 said:
Heh, I was just looking at a mechanical keyboard thread. How much are the good ones usually? They seem pretty pricey.
Click to expand...

The Razer Blackwidow, semi-generic Rosewill mechanicals on Newegg, and Unicomp Model M clones start around $80. You can get nicer ones from DAS, WASD Keyboards, Leopold, Ducky, and Filco for $100-120.
 
Orayn said:
The Razer Blackwidow, semi-generic Rosewill mechanicals on Newegg, and Unicomp Model M clones start around $80. You can get nicer ones from DAS, WASD Keyboards, Leopold, Ducky, and Filco for $100-120.
Click to expand...

The Blackwidow is $61 now with a promo code EMCNDJE235 on Newegg. So temptingggggg
 
I've always wanted a mechanical keyboard but I surf and type very late into the night/morning so worry about bothering the neighbours above me with the noise.
 
I might be crazy, but I could have sworn Mechanical Keyboards were a standard thing for keyboards a long time ago. Anyone know what made them change to something inferior?
 
onlyindreams said:
The Blackwidow is $61 now with a promo code EMCNDJE235 on Newegg. So temptingggggg
Click to expand...

That's the lowest you'll ever pay for a new mechanical keyboard. Go for it!

charsace said:
I might be crazy, but I could have sworn Mechanical Keyboards were a standard thing for keyboards a long time ago. Anyone know what made them change to something inferior?
Click to expand...

Price. Membrane boards are much cheaper and easier to mass produce.
 
charsace said:
I might be crazy, but I could have sworn Mechanical Keyboards were a standard thing for keyboards a long time ago. Anyone know what made them change to something inferior?
Click to expand...

Construction cost. The old buckling spring 'boards are about ten times more expensive to produce than a membrane-based model that uses most of the same moldings for the plastic.
 
Currently, Newegg is offering 15% off all keyboards with code 'EMCNDJE235', so if you're in the market, now's not the worst time to buy. The Rosewills 9000s (except the MX Brown model) and the CM Quickfire Rapid (LOVE this keyboard) are something like $68 with that discount.

EDIT: Beaten
 
ghst said:
i've got a noppoo choc mini with browns:

KP2HS.jpg


i love the mini 84 form factor and have always wanted a row of function keys that sit directly along the top of the number keys. i'm a sucker for grid layouts.
Click to expand...

This one looks so sexy. Too bad there is no QWERTZ version.

Any other mini keyboards like that available in europe?
 
Teknopathetic said:
"Heh, I was just looking at a mechanical keyboard thread. How much are the good ones usually? They seem pretty pricey."

You can get a Rosewill mechanical anywhere from 80-110$. Newegg rotates which kind is on sale every week-ish, so if you decide you want to try a particular kind of switch, you can wait until it's on sale if it's not already.
Click to expand...

The rosewills are a good choice, same oem as filco boards.
 
The benefits are more noticeable for typing than gaming, but what tipped me over the edge was that I kept hitting the max key limit on my old keyboard during BF3, which got really annoying in the heat of battle.
 
I don't think it makes any difference for gaming. But if we're talking typing, mechanical for life. If you can type properly, you'll get a major speed/accuracy boost from typing on a real keyboard.
 
"I don't think it makes any difference for gaming. But if we're talking typing, mechanical for life. If you can type properly, you'll get a major speed/accuracy boost from typing on a real keyboard."

The main reason I bought a mechanical was because of key rollover and having problems with a ton of games holding Space + W/A/S/D and then needing to press shift, Q, E, R, etc. while playing Tribes.

That is an uncommon case, though.
 
Teknopathetic said:
"I don't think it makes any difference for gaming. But if we're talking typing, mechanical for life. If you can type properly, you'll get a major speed/accuracy boost from typing on a real keyboard."

The main reason I bought a mechanical was because of key rollover and having problems with a ton of games holding Space + W/A/S/D and then needing to press shift, Q, E, R, etc. while playing Tribes.

That is an uncommon case, though.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I know you mentioned that. And I was going to bring it up, but I figured if it was an issue for him, he'd know by now.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from getting one. DO IT! Just trying to temper any expectations that it's going to make him game better. It's only going to help in gaming if you have NKRO issues (and then it's a pretty big MUST).
 
Definitely worth it. Got a rosewill with cherry blue switches a couple years ago. Can't go back to membrane or chiclet style keys now. I want to get something with brown switches too, but the blue switches seem perfect for me
 
I just got a DAS keyboard on Tuesday. MX Blue switches.

I like it a lot. You can definitely feel the difference between a mechanical keyboard and a rubber dome one.

The clicky noise isn't loud enough to penetrate walls and ceiling though... unless your walls and ceiling are made of paper.

I got it for typing though, not gaming (although I do game on it).
 
I use the CMStorm Quickfire mainly because it's small. It's like the gaming equivalent of the Apple bluetooth keyboard. The nice mechanical keys is a bonus.

 
Going to join everybody else in praising mechanical keyboards. They are worth buying for general use not just gaming. They are louder then membrane keyboards, but unless you are sitting right next to somebody it shouldn't be an issue.
 
Some losers on here like vertopci were all "TMB, you totally need a mechanical keyboard!!"

and I was all "nah, bro, you haven't even upgraded to PCI-E, what do you know about technology?"

Then I got a dasKeyboard and I will never go back.

Mechanical is the future, bros.
 
NIN90 said:
I like the non-tacky look of it and the price is alright.
It uses Reds. How is the sound of those? I'd like a nice click.
Click to expand...

Reds are linear, which means the only noise they make is when the key you're pressing actually hits the plate (or PCB) at the bottom. There is no tactility in the switch, it's a smooth travel the entire way.

Edit - Speaking of click, the only kind of switches that are actually going to click aside from the bottom out noise is Blue or Clear. Brows are tactile but you won't hear it in the switch, you'll only feel it in the travel.
 
I got a Ducky 9008S with Cherry Reds, and I love it. It's built like a brick shithouse. The main reason I went with Ducky was because it's one of the few mechanical keyboards I could find with media keys. Keep an eye on the model, though. Some aren't as good as the 9008S, I hear. And availability is rough.

I say go with Red switches. Blues/Browns are too loud and don't bottom out (which can be bad for games) while most 'gaming' branded mechanical kbs use Black switches which I hear require an uncomfortable amount of force to press.

The main feature of Reds is that the keys require very little force-- less than just about any other kind of switch. I was scared that they would be too light, but I don't feel that's the case at all.

NIN90 said:
It uses Reds. How is the sound of those? I'd like a nice click.
Click to expand...

All mechanical keyboards will make some sort of noise. Reds are one of the quieter types, but they're still loud as fuck compared to 'normal' keyboards.

Warning: If you get Blues, you might stop thinking the loud click is so 'nice' after a while. Especially when you're trying to get immersed in a game.
 
NIN90 said:
Qpad TAS-MK-50

71f9CcUOagL._AA1500_.jpg


Yay or nay?

I like the non-tacky look of it and the price is alright.
It uses Reds. How is the sound of those? I'd like a nice click.
Click to expand...

Cherry MX Reds are linear, meaning there's no audible or tactile click when the switch actuates. They're very quiet and smooth, and feel like pressing down a spring. Some people swear by them for gaming purposes.
 
NIN90 said:
Qpad TAS-MK-50





Yay or nay?

I like the non-tacky look of it and the price is alright.
It uses Reds. How is the sound of those? I'd like a nice click.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you want blue switches?

I love mah blues. They are quite loud though, but nothing any speakers/headphones won't drown out.
 
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