Discussion Gaming keyboard suggestions

[Colif]

I think I need a new Gaming Keyboard but I am trying to work out what.

Last 3 keyboards were from:
Razer
Logitech
Corsair

I want to try someone different.

Currently looking at https://steelseries.com/gaming-keyboards/apex-pro-tkl-2023 as I have used a Steelseries mouse for over 10 years so I know they make good hardware.
And I have yet to use one of their keyboards.

I can't afford the wireless version.

Anything else I should look at?

 

[Lutfij]

Wooting? You do know that the RGB on a keyboard doesn't add FPS to your gaming that being said you can take pretty much any keyboard off the shelf and use it for gaming. You can look at Keychron's/Ducky/Asus(ROG) stuff.

Honestly, if I wasn't constrained on desk space in the apartment I'm living in now, I'd have gone with a TKL keyboard, that too the one you linked up above.

 

[Colif]

Wooting are online only. I assume they wouldn't be cheap here. I can get one on Ali Express for 700... I wouldn't trust it to be real... and no, that is out of my price range.

The Steelseries can do some of the tricks the https://wooting.io/wooting-60he has.

I wonder if that Asus Keyboard installs malware.... I mean Armoury Crate... wow... i was right.

I might look at them as they support Icue. Need to look if that just works on their motherboards though,

I thought you might offer me your old Microsoft keyboard lol.

 

[Zerk2012]

Nice looking keyboard.
I've had my Logitech G510 for about 10 years and still love the G keys.
It's made it through about 10 beer spills.

 

[Colif]

Asus hardware appears let down by Armory Crate
Their Keyboards don't seem to work with Icue either. Expect that only really works if you also have an Asus motherboard.
The Steelseries doesn't either but they don't have an agreement with Corsair, unlike Asus.

Asus Azoth keyboard review: Crazy customization ruined by software

Asus set out to build the ultimate gaming keyboard and the ultimate custom mech keyboard. And then it made Armoury Crate.

www.pcworld.com

shame as hardware seems pretty good.

These aren't bad - https://keychron.com.au/products/ke...om-mechanical-keyboard?variant=43428889591975 (price is less than the Steelseries)
model so new there aren't any reviews for it... that I can find.

Steelseries does make switch choice easier, it only has 1. Keychron has 3 for that keyboard - https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k-pro-switch - Bananas seem to be the best choice.

 

[Lutfij]

Wooting are online only. I assume they wouldn't be cheap here. I can get one on Ali Express for 700... I wouldn't trust it to be real... and no, that is out of my price range.

The Steelseries can do some of the tricks the https://wooting.io/wooting-60he has.

I wonder if that Asus Keyboard installs malware.... I mean Armoury Crate... wow... i was right.

I might look at them as they support Icue. Need to look if that just works on their motherboards though,

I thought you might offer me your old Microsoft keyboard lol.

I have the X4 and X6 boards, still working but rubber domed keyboards. Which Microsoft updated that front with a mechanical keyboard, then again, in an oversaturated market, I don't think MS could offer something that hasn't been tried. Maybe they could.

I moved to the Keychron Q1 v2 and swapped the keycaps out. Have the RGB turned off and haven't gamed much on it, apart from typing. Hotswap function allows me to switch a cluster of keys as I see fit.

I forgot where you were located, when I typed that post out prior, lol. GST doesn't help with the stuff you guys have to buy/have access to.

 

[Colif]

I am trying to work out what difference between regular versions and knob versions of Keychron keyboards. It doesn't help that most explanations talk about the volume contrrol knob... which as far as I can tell isn't the difference. It might be what they call the pre built ones... that isn't it either as I can find barebones knob editions.

Oh god it is because they have a knob on them... the previous ones didn't. I thought it was something more than that.

people on review videos go on about how great having a Knob on a keyboard is... likes its not been done before... oh wait, it has... on one of the keyboards Lutfi mentioned. Only 14 years ago. I guess it was before most of them were born... and it wasn't mechanical.

Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard review

Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard review

geekhack.org

Probably get Banana keycaps as they sound quieter than reds and are still gamer related.

No rush. My keyboard not acting up today, it must know I am thinking about its replacement.

later:

Now I can't decide if I want a number pad or not. they offer too many sizes, I can't make my mind up.

Do I get a TKL 75% - https://keychron.com.au/products/ke...om-mechanical-keyboard?variant=43240652505255
or an 80% - https://keychron.com.au/products/keychron-q3-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard
or a 96% - https://keychron.com.au/products/keychron-q5-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard
or a 100% - https://keychron.com.au/products/keychron-q6-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard

they all pretty much the same, apart from number of keys on each. I hardly use the number pad but I might this year coming up.

GST just adds to price.

I might pick up different keycaps next year, the default ones don't let a lot of light through. Not buying anything yet, but will try to get it before Xmas happens. I remember waiting for deliveries last year.

 

[Colif]

Looks at Asus... wonders... why is this so bad.

OMG
his example: Say you want to swap the insert key and del key positions on keyboard. Easy to do, just swap the keycaps.

1. you select Insert key and choose reassign function
2. There is no drop down list of functions, you press the key you want the new function to be.
3. So now Insert = Del
4. Next you want to rename Delete to be insert
5. Select Del key and choose reassign key.
6. Press Insert key but its already been assigned Del.

So you get 2 del keys and insert is gone forever?

this way is dumb, It should have a drop down list of all possible keys so you don't get stuck in a position where you can't swap 2 keys. You lose functions

I don't have any way to confirm this has been fixed in 9 months.

So the 2 keyboard makers that sit on top of almost all Keyboard ranking charts have bad software.
I pity people who don't look... at least razer are fixing Synapse.

flip flopping on which keyboard I want.
Buying Keychron likely means I need new keycaps as the defaults are much different to the ones I currently have.
Buying Apex Pro is way less hassle. I can adjust key actuation point to match what I have now.

 

[Colif]

Every keyboard I look at his its faults

Right now, looking at

NuPhy Halo96 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Halo96 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Gateron G Pro 2.0 Red Hot-swappable Switches 96% 99-Key ANSI Layout KOP Double-shot PBT Keycaps Backlit & Sidelit RGB Tri-mode Connectivity (2.4GHz/BT 5.0/Detachable USB-C To USB-A Cable) Up To 205Hrs Battery Life Aluminum Frame N-Key Rollover Support

nuphy.com.au

Heard nothing negative as yet. Need to replace keycaps at some stage as they not shine through but this looks pretty good to me.

Apart from its battery life I didn't find any reason not to buy it, and a whole bunch of reviews saying to buy one... so I did.

 

[Colif]

One year anniversary reply (well, almost)

Only downside I have found for keyboard is even though Windows 11 says it has 100% battery all the time, its not accurate and it the only way I tend to find its time for a charge is when my typing response time from keyboard is slower than I can type.

This happened today and I charged KB for about 12 hours and it still wasn't improving. Restarting windows fixed it. It might have been so low on battery originally that its ability to use Bluetooth was borked until a restart.

I knew problem was BT as if I swapped to using wired mode it was normal, swap and it was slow. Fixed now, just odd. disabling/re enabling BT on PC may have done same thing I guess.

Apart from that, its been totally fine. One of the green plastic feet fell off months ago but I haven't really noticed.

I managed to set it so its halo light is essentially off. Saves on battery

they have since upgraded my model but its not a good enough reason to stop using the one I have now.

Happy camper so far