PC Gaming Keyboard Recommedation

[DefDC]

I bought the very first line of Logitech "G" series keyboard, with the little flip up screen, but it's almost dead. I never really used the extra functions, or the screen, but they were nice to have, I guess. I did like the media controls.

I bought a cheapo Aula KB, just to try a highly rated value KB. It's ok, but it's small and does not have media control buttons at all. (Simple functions are available with the fn + F keys) I didn't realize how much I'd miss the two USB ports on the keyboard.

There are no places near me with gaming keyboards on display, so I have to go on recommendations alone. I visit Fry's 2 or 3 times a year, but don't have a trip planned any time soon, and they haven't had as many gaming keyboards on display lately.


Logitech G 710+ looks nice enough at around $80. I'd pay more for a nicer keyboard, but I'm not looking to burn money. The fact that it has quieter brown switches is a minor plus, but I wont be bothering anyone were I type.

Anyone have a keyboard they love?

 

[moonbogg]

Corsair K series. I have the K90. It are amaze.

 

[SithSolo1]

I've got a G710+

This is my first mechanical keyboard and my first standard layout KB in many years. I had a Microsoft Ergo 4000 split-KB before.

Likes:
I like the way the keys feel/actuate and its not super clickity-clacky but still makes a satisfying noise.

Dislikes:

Something about the key spacing feels off and I mistype a lot more than I use to. Part of it is going from split style back to standard but I'm several months in and not much better. My brother has a Corsair K70 series and has used a standard layout for years and even he has issues typing on this one. It just feels cramped I guess.

I wish the back light was another color. I thought white would be cool but after using my brother's I definite prefer red or rgb.

The key text is faint and hard to read in some light and with the backlight off the silver keys may as well be blanks. I know under normal typing you shouldn't be reading the KB but with as many mistakes as I make I'm constantly having to glance down at it.

I like the idea of programmable key row but in practice I haven't used it much and I'm constantly hitting the G1 and G2 keys instead of Esc and ~.

After using my KB and my brothers back to back, I'd opt for a Corsair if I get another one down the line. Shame really, I've always liked Logitech's gear.

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Corsair have a history of expensive premium mechanical keyboards that have LEDs that fail after only a few days/weeks use. Had an absolutely horrible experience dealing with their customer support, wouldn't go near them for peripherals.

Logitech are a really good industry standard, if you're after mechanical many people seem to love the Ducky keyboards.

 

[Midwayman]

I have the 710+ and like it alot. It has browns with o rings on it which are a nice compromise switch. If you're looking at mechanics you should order one of the tester boards and figure out which switch you like. I have blues at work for general typing. Browns at home for gaming. A lot of people like red/black for gaming, but no clicky.

The corsair k boards were my second choice, but I didn't see them in brown and they were more expensive when I ordered.

 

[Anubis]

have a Corsair K60 and K70 RBG
both work fine and no issues with LEDs

 

[CuriousMike]

I recently purchased a "Coolermaster SGK-4000-GKCL1-US CM Storm QuickFire Rapid" keyboard.

After years of staring at keys I never use and realizing I love mechanical boards, I went the "10 keyless mechanical route" and have been pretty damn happy with it.

 

[Aikouka]

have a Corsair K60 and K70 RBG
both work fine and no issues with LEDs

I have a K70 RGB that I bought after I spilled soda on my K95 (non-RGB). The K95 actually still works, but I wasn't sure if it would work again. Anyway, my complaint with it actually has to do with the software. Without the software installed, the media keys actually work, but with the software installed, they don't work at all. I've also found it harder than it should be to setup simple color schemes. For example, I actually like the default scheme that you get without the software installed (WASD in white, rest in red), but the only similar variant that I can find is the same coloring scheme with a slow breathe effect. I could probably figure out how to do it myself, but it seems like way too much work.

 

[Anubis]

what do you use the media keys for that isn't working?

mine work fine but TBH the only thing I use them for is winamp

 

[calyco]

Gigabyte Aivia Osmium, awesome keyboard with excellent feedback for gaming and typing

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, if you can find it in stock, take a look at the Tesoro Durandal Ultimate V2:

http://tesorotec.com/durandal-ultimate-v2-g1nlv2-gaming-mechanical-keyboard/

You can pick the kind of switches you prefer, which is a big bonus if you ask me (I personally prefer Cherry MX Brown's, but many people swear by the Reds). All keys can be reprogrammed to become a macro (or simply change the key into a different key), which stays with the keyboard itself (not simply in the system software, which means you can unplug the keyboard from one computer and plug it into another and your macro's and changes will still be there). Has a function key/shift key to access media functions such as change volume, play/pause/fast-forward/rewind.

I think the only complaint I have is that the cable used isn't a detachable USB connection (I understand why because they also have audio connections for headphones and microphone).

 

[finbarqs]

I have a Déck Mech keyboard (First Mech Keyboard), then I went to a Maxkeyboard with blues, then I went to a Corsair K95 RGB (browns) now I'm with a G710+

Out of all of them, my Corsair kind of does not function sometimes... My PC ran weird with the Corsairs, where it wouldn't enable outside of windows, 'cause my PC to throw out bogus "CPU overclocked temp" warnings... to which all of have been resolved since the implementation of the G710+

Corsair customer support wouldn't budge for one bit. The Corsair was the biggest waste of $200 I've ever spent...

 

[Aikouka]

what do you use the media keys for that isn't working?

mine work fine but TBH the only thing I use them for is winamp

Right now, the media keys work with just about anything. I'll use something like Media Player Classic - Home Cinema to play something on loop or just have iTunes open for something that's in my library. I recall having no problems when I first got the keyboard (and my K95 worked too), but then I installed the software. When I installed Windows 10, I never installed the software, and it has been working fine ever since.

 

[mnewsham]

K70 RGB here, been working fine daily for ~8 months.

No dead or dim LEDs either, that's mainly an issue with the non-RGB version.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I don't have a gaming keyboard specifically, I just bought a Leopold mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX keys for about $100 a few years back. I don't care about macro keys and lights any longer. To me the real value of a keyboard was in the switches. Tesoro sells mechanical keyboards(as posted above by Fallen Kell) using Cherry MX switches as posted above. Amazon has them and they have full RGB backlighting on the keys priced from $60-$90. If you don't need macros and stuff it's probably the best value but I think some of their keyboards offer 512k memory for macros.

 

[TeknoBug]

Anything with blue switches (at least for me), brown and red don't cut it. I'm a fast typist and an FPS gamer so blue feels right for both.

The G710+ or Thermaltake Poseidon Z are pretty good for ~$100 range. Razer are more expensive and not worth it.

 

[Worthington]

Just bought a BlackWidow Chroma but the rollover keys don't work as advertised so need a good replacement. This thread popped up at just the right time. Thanks OP!

 

[biostud]

Corsair K70 with red LED and cherry MX Red keys. Everything works fine. More than two years old.

 

[DigDog]

i find it hard to believe you guys would have a problem with corsair support. we even have one of them on this forum, and they have always give a strong backing to their products. if it fails, they will replace it.

having said that, corsair would not be my first choice for a kb, because i dont need weird leds and because i need my kb to be tenkeyless (low sens player,need more space).

i would opt for a nice mechanical, tenkeless, PBT caps, mx brown. brand doesn't really matter, as they are all stellar quality. ducky, WASD, filco, basically any geekhack/desktority brand.

 

[YBS1]

having said that, corsair would not be my first choice for a kb, because i dont need weird leds and because i need my kb to be tenkeyless (low sens player,need more space).

Corsair has (or had) a mechanical tenkeyless, I know because I own one, not that I'm recommending Corsair or not.

 

[rivethead]

Corsair K40 owner here (the non-mechanical version....I needed backlit, but am not serious enough to need a mechanical keyboard).

I like it a lot. Over 1 year of daily use...no issues.

 

[mnewsham]

Corsair has (or had) a mechanical tenkeyless, I know because I own one, not that I'm recommending Corsair or not.

The K60 and the K65 RGB.

 

[pontifex]

using a Logitech G15 but I rarely use the extra features on it.

 

[Fire&Blood]

I bought the very first line of Logitech "G" series keyboard, with the little flip up screen, but it's almost dead. I never really used the extra functions, or the screen, but they were nice to have, I guess. I did like the media controls.

I bought a cheapo Aula KB, just to try a highly rated value KB. It's ok, but it's small and does not have media control buttons at all. (Simple functions are available with the fn + F keys) I didn't realize how much I'd miss the two USB ports on the keyboard.

There are no places near me with gaming keyboards on display, so I have to go on recommendations alone. I visit Fry's 2 or 3 times a year, but don't have a trip planned any time soon, and they haven't had as many gaming keyboards on display lately.


Logitech G 710+ looks nice enough at around $80. I'd pay more for a nicer keyboard, but I'm not looking to burn money. The fact that it has quieter brown switches is a minor plus, but I wont be bothering anyone were I type.

Anyone have a keyboard they love?

Love my G710+, got it for $65 on BF via BB online, my first mech kb.

 

[TeknoBug]

Love my G710+, got it for $65 on BF via BB online, my first mech kb.

Wow your first mech KB? I was using an IBM PS/2 keyboard since I got the 486 back in 1992 up until a couple years ago, it was mechanical and weighed a ton and back then you were able to buy mechanical keyboards for $15-20 now they cost a freaking fortune (because of hipsters?). Eventually membrane dome keyboards took over and are just absolute garbage, once my IBM PS/2 keyboard went kaput a couple years ago I've been using a Logitech G510 since then and it's god awful.

When playing an MMO or FPS game where I hold down the up key to walk forward it sometimes disconnects and I have to press even harder since membrane keyboards uses 2 condutors and the key itself has a connector to connect the 2 conductors together and can be inconsistent vs a mechanical switch that just works 10 times out of 10 no matter how you push the key. I'm a fast typist (75-80wpm) and sometimes letters are missed due to not completely pushing the key down on a membrane dome keyboard after a bit of wear and tear.