Wireless mouse and keyboard for gaming? WITH POLL

[KingstonU]

I am finally building a decent gaming setup with new TV and everything. I will be gaming from my couch which is like ~8 feet from the screen and would love to simply have the convenience and simplicity of a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Is wireless a legitimate option to enjoy PC games with? I am not a competitive gamer but still would have some concern about if there is a delay that is enough to affect gaming.

A combo wireless KB + Mouse can be had for $15. I will probably opt for something that is a bit more ergonomic then that though, so maybe $40. But one can easily spend well north of $100 if they wanted to. Are the more expensive models really worth the added cost?

(poll added for recommendations) Thanks!

 

[nsafreak]

For non competitive gaming it should be just fine. You might see some delays on twitch related titles but if you aren't playing them on a competitive basis it shouldn't be an issue. Insofar as the cost it really depends on how well built you want the mouse keyboard to be. I wouldn't go for the $15 combo that's for sure but I'd probably gravitate towards the $60 - $70 arena as they tend to be built better and have better response.

 

[DigDog]

wireless = cancer.

(i mean, in all truth wireless is perfectly fine unless you are a total hardcore fraghead, in which case yeah, those few milliseconds of latency and the occasional pixel skip can kill you, but for any normal human being who enjoys starcraft and such, wireless is fine.

still, i whats the point of wireless if you are sitting at your desk? wired is cheaper and doesnt run out of batteries.)

with $110 you should be able to get a logitech g400s and a coolermaster quickfire brown tenkeyless. thats pretty much an ideal setup for 99% of gamers.

 

[Insomniator]

If its not competitive wireless should be fine. Razor even makes a wireless mouse (for a fortune) which I bet isn't much better for gaming then your average decent set.

 

[Termie]

Delay isn't the only problem with wireless - dropouts are more serious for gaming purposes.

That being said, I recommend the Logitech G602 for wireless gaming. It's probably the best wireless mouse available. Then go for any wired keyboard - the mechanicals of course are best, but cost a lot.

Wireless combo kits really aren't a good option for gaming - the mouse is typically useless for gaming, and a wireless keyboard is OK, but provides no advantage in gaming scenarios while also introducing the dropout problem.

 

[PliotronX]

The downfalls of cheap wireless mice are limitations in sampling rate (125Hz) and a small lag, almost feels like VSync w/triple buffering is on just in Windows let alone games. No bueno for multiplayer but single player is just fine. For multiplayer and less frustration, you're going to want at least a wired mouse and possibly wired keyboard (you don't want batteries dying in the middle of a deathmatch!).

 

[mfenn]

still, i whats the point of wireless if you are sitting at your desk? wired is cheaper and doesnt run out of batteries.)

I think the crux of the OP's question is that they're planning to use their computer from the couch with a TV as the monitor. While you could certainly get some USB extension cables and drape cords across the room, there are certainly compromises to that approach in a living room as well.

 

[MongGrel]

Wireless Trackball.

*hides*

 

[Termie]

I didn't realize that the OP was using this for an HTPC. Obviously a wired keyboard/mouse makes absolutely no sense in that situation.

Unless he's playing first-person shooters exclusively, I'd suggest a Microsoft Xbox 360 controller for Windows. It's by far the best way to play just about any game when using a TV. For games that demand a mouse, I'll stick with my recommendation of a Logitech G602, and I'd add in the versatile Logitech K400 keyboard with trackpad. But KB/mouse gaming from a couch is pretty uncomfortable.

 

[DigDog]

yeah, i too read the OP only just now.

funny_gif.gif

 

[guidinggod]

@OP am in pretty much the same situation (htpc/non-competitive gaming). I play CS:GO and recently started CoD : AW.

Second the recomm. for Logitech's excellent G602. No dropouts, even once, from about 8 ft out (I have a bunch of wireless stuff here and my last couple of cheap logitech mice/kb suffered random dropouts). For KB I went with a Logitech K800 (again, not seen dropouts or key lag). Both would be about $120-125 online unless you find a good sale.

 

[mfenn]

yeah, i too read the OP only just now.

funny_gif.gif

That's a problem with polls, they tend to stop people from reading the OP.