Is a gaming keyboard worth it over a 10 year old keyboard?

[Luke Powell]

As the title says, is it worth buying g a gaming keyboard for a hardcore gamer after owning a now 10 years old Logitech Ultra-flat £10 compact keyboard?

I'm guessing this keyboard runs on membrane style keys and so mechanical would be much better, i have a preliminary budget of about £100 to work with if i should get a gaming keyboard and i would prefer it with red backlighting if it has any.

 

[m3ch]

In my humble opinion, yeah the new keyboards look very cool but the "mechanical" element really doesn't make a lot of difference. I have a Corsair k70. Does the job and looks sweet, but was it worth near £100? I don't think so. Backlighting is very useful but most keyboards a damn sight cheaper have this nowadays anyway. Bottom line is, if you want to spoil yourself, sure go ahead. But if you are thinking it will make your gaming experience so much better then you may be a little disappointed.

 

[ssddx]

it depends on the user and what their preferences are. a good mechanical keyboard or good mebrane keyboard are both completely useable.

i will say that either a higher end membrane keyboard with quiet touch (soft press) keys or a mechanical keyboard are certainly head over heels better than some $5-10 keyboards with stiff membrane keys. quiet touch/soft touch is a huge improvement for typing speed as well as response time in games.

i have used a plethora of keyboards including...

$free with computer rubber dome boards (generally equal to $5 rubber dome below)
$5 rubber dome (missed keys when typing, more mispellings, slower reaction time in games, keys are hard on fingers/wrists and hands.)
$100+ rubber dome w/ soft touch (excellent gaming performance and typing speed. easy on fingers and hands)
$150 mechanical (again, excellent performance. i would rate them above domes for my own use)

i'm using a cheap $5 gearhead dome keyboard right now and it most certainly is a huge step down from what i was using before (a wasd cherry mx blue). however, its what i have to use for right now until i can get something better.

--

my recommendation would be....

go with one of logitechs gaming or office keyboards with low profile soft touch keys or go with a cheap mechanical keyboard with mx brown switches and low profile keys.

 

[Luke Powell]

hmm, i was considering getting the k70, have you got any feedback on it?

 

[Ytyoussef]

The K70 is a really nice keyboard, which version are you considering?

 

[ssddx]

its a good keyboard but i would get the k70 in mx browns not the one available with mx reds.

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/vengeance-k70-fully-mechanical-gaming-keyboard-cherry-mx-brown

 

[Ytyoussef]

There's also the blue version, which some people swear by.

 

[ssddx]

mx blues are good and are my own personal choice however some may find them to "clicky" in terms of noise they make. browns are much quieter which is why i suggested them to someone used to rubber dome keyboards.

 

[Ytyoussef]

Indeed, but it might be with blues where he'd see the bigger improvement. Anyway, trying the switches before buying a keyboard would be a good idea.

 

[Luke Powell]

I wish i knew a place where i could try the different switch types but sadly i don't.