Gaming Keyboards, Are They Really Worth It?

[2HF]

For competitive gamers?
For noncompetitive gamers?

I've played PC games before. Never used one. I've never played competitive multiplayer games though. It's just not my bag.

I'm planning on building a PC in the not so distant future and so I wonder.

What about gaming mice?

 

[mavkiel]

Mice are great. I love my logitech mmo mouse http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G600-Gaming-Mouse-White/dp/B0086UK7I6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1460230850&sr=8-2&keywords=logitech+mouse+mmo

It takes a little getting used to, but even if you're not an mmo player its great. I used the third button for dragon shouts (skyrim), and have the various keys on the side for any functions I want. *shrugs* I love never having to reach for my number keys to switch weapons or give commands.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Mice are great. I love my logitech mmo mouse http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G600-Gaming-Mouse-White/dp/B0086UK7I6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1460230850&sr=8-2&keywords=logitech+mouse+mmo

It takes a little getting used to, but even if you're not an mmo player its great. I used the third button for dragon shouts (skyrim), and have the various keys on the side for any functions I want. *shrugs* I love never having to reach for my number keys to switch weapons or give commands.

mechanical/gaming keyboards are nice aftermarket stuff, I would consider a mouse like this more important than the keyboard, the side buttons are extremely handy in many games beyond mmo's.

Worth it if you have the extra dough, but for your first PC build, I'd pour that extra cash into the main pieces (GPU/CPU/PSU/MOBO) rather than the keyboard.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

If you can afford one, a mechanical keyboard is worth it if you spend a lot of time at a computer even if you don't game at all. It's just so much nicer to type on than even a really good membrane board. Gaming mice can be nice, too, but there's less of an advantage compared to a mechanical keyboard. The biggest thing your average gaming mouseNote that by "average gaming mouse" I'm explicitly leaving MMO mice out, those things have half a keyboard strapped to the side. has that your average non-gaming 5 button mouse doesn't would be an on the fly DPI switch, which is nice if you either spend a lot of time gamingespecially if you switch between classic PC games and modern ones a lot -- games in the late 90's were built with the sensitivity of ball mice in mind, and even a 1500 dpi mouse can be too much for them if you can't turn it down. or do, like, photoshop work with your mouse, but isn't really necessary.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

For competitive gamers - yes.
For noncompetitive gamers - no. But owning one might make you feel special.

Gaming equipment is more of a marketing trick than something useful. For PC gamers, and especially for people building a new PC it's always a better idea to invest more money into their actual rig than "gaming" peripherals. I'd rather get more RAM even if I don't need it, or another SSD or HDD for storage than buy a ridiculously overpriced gimmick that I don't need.

I do like keyboards with multimedia keys and backlight though. Those things are useful. But most of the so called "gaming equipment" is insanely overpriced.

As for the mouse, just get a mouse that has 2 extra buttons on the side. They're incredibly useful. I always use Mouse 5 button to access inventory in games and Mouse 4 for one of the most used actions that is usually bound to a keyboard key. For example in The Witcher 3 I use Mouse 5 for inventory and mouse 4 for heavy attack.

 

[laggyteabag]

A lot of my stuff, I got for the extra features, like the backlight on my keyboard, which is really great, or the specific size and weight on my mouse, as well as the two extra buttons. Im sure that they don't give me any form of advantage, but they just feel a lot better to use than a ?5 mouse and keyboard, so i'd say money well spent.

 

[llsaidknockyouout]

For 99% of gamers, no. For the 1% of super-elite competitive gamers (who should probably spend less time on the computer anyway), yes.

 

[CeeBod]

I'd say it depends on the keyboard! - I don't see the point in many gaming keyboards, but I did buy this one from Steelseries, and I <3 it! -

That left hand set-up is just awesome for gaming )

 

[sanquin]

I'd say it depends on the keyboard! - I don't see the point in many gaming keyboards, but I did buy this one from Steelseries, and I <3 it! -

That left hand set-up is just awesome for gaming )

Finally another gamer using the steelseries z-board! <3 I have the same one though without the lights. And I absolutely love the game button layout on the left side.

As for the topic, no, gaming keyboards aren't all that needed. Unless you're a pro gamer going to actual tournaments and such that is. Your mouse is more important than your keyboard for the average gamer. Though you can get a good mouse for as little as 40~45 dollars if you know where to look. The largest reason people go for mechanical gaming keyboards is how it feels to type on them I think. It just feels better once you get used to it. Though there are also plenty of gamers that just buy expensive gaming keyboards because it looks shiny.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

If you're just going to play single player and maybe, maybe get into some multiplayer games, basic mice and keyboards will work for now (and long into the future). Save your money and keep using your old keyboard and mouse for now.

Later on, upgrade your mouse and/or keyboard when you feel like doing so. Those extra programmable mouse buttons do help with many games that fit a lot of commands to the keys around WASD. On fly DPI switching is also nice. Keyboards aren't as important (unless you want the extra features like mechanical keys or extra, programmable keys). I've really never used the programmable keys on my old Logitech G110.

Buying extra, expensive hardware is also moot if you play games with a gamepad often.

 

[wizzy555]

One issue that rarely comes up is the number of keys a keyboard can register at once. Normally this isn't a problem, but when we were playing lego games two player we found it had difficulty coping with two players.

So we bought a gaming keyboard and it works fine in that regard. Is it just sooo much better than a regular keyboard? No, but it's nice and does the job.

 

[Morgoth780]

Mechanical keyboards, yes, they're absolutely amazing.

'Gaming' keybords that don't have mech switches, absolutely not worth it in my opinion.

 

[Bad Jim]

Regular mice generally have limited resolution. If your mouse sensitivity is low enough that you can aim precisely, you'll probably need to move it a couple of feet if you want to be able to turn around. Or you can suffer mouse acceleration, where your mouse sensitivity depends on how fast you move the mouse, which allows you to do both but it's much harder to do twitch shots because you cannot move the mouse a specific distance and have your crosshair move by a specific amount.

Gaming mice have much better resolution and can also increase the polling rate, which has the interesting side effect of almost nullifying the two-speed mouse acceleration that Windows uses, as it becomes hard to move the mouse fast enough to trigger the higher mouse speed. Another thing that gaming mice usually have is extra buttons, which are nice.

I'm much less convinced about the merits of gaming keyboards, but I haven't tried them. But if you have a laptop you game on I would recommend getting a proper keyboard for that.

 

[DefunctTheory]

'Gaming' Keyboards, no.

Mechanical Keyboards? Depends. I absolutely love mechanical keys. Can't stand when I have to use a 'regular' keyboard, or worse, one of those flat keyed monstrosities they made for laptops, but now infest desktop keyboards as well. But it's all a 'feel' sort of thing, less about the performance, more about the experience.

If you've never used a mechanical keyboard, I suggest you find a store that has a display model or a friend with one and try it out. You may never go back.

For reference, this is what I use:

Spoiler

As for gaming mice, depends. If you play a lot of games where you need extra buttons (MMOs, MWO, etc), then an 'MMO' mouse, with a bunch of thumb buttons, is probably worth it. If you're a twitch shooter enthusiast, something with insane DPI and weights may be worth it. Otherwise, just get a comfortable mouse with enough buttons to satisfy you. For reference, I use:

Spoiler

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

From experience, I'd say due to the branding and competitive nature of games nowadays, it's easy to get suckered by gaming peripherals. Between a friend and I, we've bought about 5 Razer peripherals (headsets to input devices), and ALL of them have died or failed within 2 years. Not only that, but their drivers are dysfunctional. That's a really shit success rate. My MX 518 Logitech mouse I use at the office and got for under $30 has been bashed on for over 8 years and is going strong, super precise optics, never an issue. Kinda says something.

I use a mechanical keyboard at work now, because they simply cannot be compared in typing comfort if your work entails much. At home, I use a very cheap "gaming" keyboard. My criteria is: it has anti-ghosting or whatever so you can press multiple keys at once without the computer wigging out and beeping, backlight, and functional volume/media controls. Simple drivers that work is a plus. This keyboard cost me less than $40.

For my gaming mouse, I use a Steelseries. Gets the job done, clicks nicely. Pretty lights on it, and nice grip to hang on to. So when you say "gaming" peripherals, unfortunately this covers a very wide spectrum. Gaming keyboards go from $30 up into the hundreds, I think if you like to type a lot then go mechanical for sure, but unless you *really* need all the light shifting and macro programming, just avoid the higher end stuff. They're not going to make you better or anything.

 

[BeerTent]

It really depends on the KB. From here on out, I won't buy a keyboard unless I've had a chance to type something on it. So far, the only gaming keyboard I've ever had worth it was the Razer Lycosa. It's even got a bug in the firmware! But it's such a damn nice KB to type on. It's not worth it if you can't type an essay and feel cozy with your keyboard, which is why I don't like those inexplicably loud mechanical keyboards.

Gaming mice on the other hand? I've got mixed thoughts on. I don't like super-high DPI on my mice, but having the extra buttons on the size and top are an amazing addition, and a must-have for me. 7 buttons or no sale.

 

[Souplex]

Isn't "Gaming Keyboard" an oxymoron in the same vein as "Gaming Mouse"?
That's like saying "Typing fightstick".
PC games accept USB controllers, so there's literally no reason to ever use a mouse and keyboard for games that aren't Typing of the Dead.

 

[Joccaren]

Isn't "Gaming Keyboard" an oxymoron in the same vein as "Gaming Mouse"?
That's like saying "Typing fightstick".
PC games accept USB controllers, so there's literally no reason to ever use a mouse and keyboard for games that aren't Typing of the Dead.

RTS, FPS, 4X, Grand Strategy, Tycoon... There are a ton of games that are just plain better on a KB+M than a controller. Controllers win out for racing games, platformers, and some action games, but otherwise the extra precision of the mouse and flexibility of the keyboard just wins out.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Isn't "Gaming Keyboard" an oxymoron in the same vein as "Gaming Mouse"?
That's like saying "Typing fightstick".
PC games accept USB controllers, so there's literally no reason to ever use a mouse and keyboard for games that aren't Typing of the Dead.

Or shooters.

Or RTS games.

Or so on and so forth. PC Master Race and all that.

I have a 360 controller and a Steam controller, and the only time I touch either one is for platformers, Binding of Isaac, or when I'm being lazy and want to play from some place where my keyboard isn't.

 

[JaKandDaxter]

I'd say it depends on the keyboard! - I don't see the point in many gaming keyboards, but I did buy this one from Steelseries, and I <3 it! -

That left hand set-up is just awesome for gaming )

That honestly looks pretty useful.