Gaming keyboards – Searching for the best

[shaithis]

I have the k60. It has 2 braided USB cables (guess that's how they get so many active keys via USB) and I cannot fault it. Build quality seems excellent (and at the prices we are talking about, it should be)...

I presume you play MMORPG/RTS? As for FPS games, the k90 (and any other keyboard with macro keys down the left edge) would drive me insane with it's layout.

[dirky]

85 is red so better with noise I think

[StealMySoda1]

I'm in the same boat with trying to find a new keyboard. I'm still using my 3 year old saitek eclipse II. It still works fantastically but it's looking a little bit worn out.

Whats the reliability like on the G19s?

[Kerandran]

Thank you all for your contributions in terms of providing information on the type of mechanical keyboards available. The more I read technical details the less I am sure about which type of mechanism to go for. I am hesitant between the Cherry MX Red and Cherry MX Brown. Nevertheless the NKRO feature is a good one to take into account. The wrist rest and the illumination are the next big improvement. Other than that any additional keys are bonuses, especially if volume control and mute buttons are available, although I am not likely going to use programmable keys. One feature that I will definitely miss on my existing keyboard, it the immediate shutdown button, which I use frequently when in a hurry to shutdown the computer. To save energy of course!

In terms of illumination I prefer the cold colours like blue or green as opposed to red, but then again any illumination is better than none.

I think that regardless of the type of games one plays, the choice of keyboard is personal as to the feature that one prefers, and should not be dictated by what the manufacturers are aiming their product to. At the end of the day, most people use their keyboard for general purposes like productivity applications as well as leisure applications, and it does not matter whether a keyboard is dedicated to an individual task or not.

I am particularly looking at mechanical gaming keyboards, because these contain the features that I am looking for, but this does not necessarily mean that I will be playing games with such keyboard all the time.

Therefore after what I have read so far my short list has slightly changed:

• Corsair Vengence K90
• QPAD 3202 MK-85
• iOne Xarmor U9BL-S Mechanical Keyboard (this does not appear to be available yet)
• Logitech G19 (non mechanical keyboard)

Although a number of you have recommended the Filco keyboard, I have not shortlisted this as I am not keen on the basic and minimalist key layout, and the fact that the manufacturers are not very generous in providing a little bit more casing to widen the keyboards, unless this is intentional for people who do not have wide desks. If the Filco keyboards did have backlight or illumination capabilities, these would be included on my list. Since I often use my computer in the middle of the of the night, or early hours of the morning, this feature is important to me. Another keyboard that I find interesting in terms of features, and which I have to turn down, because it is not illuminated is the Daskeyboard Model S Professional Silent Keyboard.

The keyboard that I shall go for will depend on how easily it is obtainable in the UK, and whether it has a UK key layout. Availability is not a great issue as I am a patient person.

[Ross1]

In my experience whether I am typing in day or night, the light from my monitor is more than enough to see my keys (not that I really have to see them anyway...). Illuminated keys have always seemed like a waste to me, even more so on a laptop when the keyboard is so close to the monitor.

I ended up getting the mk-50 after making this thread http://forums.hexus.net/pc-hardware/...k-options.html

My thoughts on it: Its probably not the best looking, or the most well made mechanical keyboard on the market, but its an MX brown uk layout for £80 all in (or I think thats what it cost inc shipping). I would say that although the brown is meant to be a quiet version of the blue, they arent what I would call silent, but perhaps thats because I am quite forceful with my key presses, and tend to "bottom out" a lot... and I have heard this can be dampened with some rubber ring type thingamabobs. Thought I wouldnt use the wrist rest, but after trying it out I found it difficult to go without it for some reason. In addition you also get 4 orange keycaps which I assume are for WASD, and a tool for removing the keycaps. Overall, seems like its worth saving £40 compared to the filco.

Just taken a look at it seems I probably wasnt the only person to have bought this model, its sold out until march on the website.

[Green Beret]

In my experience whether I am typing in day or night, the light from my monitor is more than enough to see my keys (not that I really have to see them anyway...). Illuminated keys have always seemed like a waste to me, even more so on a laptop when the keyboard is so close to the monitor.

/Agree!

Not only that but for some reason after a while on these backlit keyboards the lights start to fade my brothers G15 (blue backlit) has basically no backlit keys on there anymore.. you can still see they're on but so dull..

Also them mechanical keyboards... my only question is why?????

I go on skype with a mate who has one... Its a typewriter in a plastic shell. total waste of money

[khanmein]

how bout ducky shine 5?

[Ttaskmaster]

how bout ducky shine 5?

Given that this thread is over 3 years old, I'm fairly sure the OP has made their choice by now...