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Should I buy a mechanical keyboard?
posted in Hardware
1
#1
-2 Frags +

It's about time I get a new keyboard (been using the same one for the past 7 years and some keys are starting to not work)

And I was wondering is a mechanical actually worth the extra money? or if they really are that much better than a regular keyboard.

some questions

Does air-strafing become "easier" i.e. does it feel like you're doing a better job at air strafing.

Does A-D spam feel different?

Are there any moments where you find yourself thinking "if I had a regular keyboard I wouldn't have been able to do that, or not as easily, or at least not as often."

etc.

Also pretty sure if I do buy a mechanical keyboard it'll be Cherry MX Brown Switches.

-edit-

Are you able to play for any longer periods of time, or that your fingers feel more relaxed?

It's about time I get a new keyboard (been using the same one for the past 7 years and some keys are starting to not work)

And I was wondering is a mechanical actually worth the extra money? or if they really are that much better than a regular keyboard.

some questions

Does air-strafing become "easier" i.e. does it feel like you're doing a better job at air strafing.

Does A-D spam feel different?

Are there any moments where you find yourself thinking "if I had a regular keyboard I wouldn't have been able to do that, or not as easily, or at least not as often."

etc.

Also pretty sure if I do buy a mechanical keyboard it'll be Cherry MX Brown Switches.

-edit-

Are you able to play for any longer periods of time, or that your fingers feel more relaxed?
2
#2
8 Frags +

yes worth the extra money (depending on your financial situation)

no (air strafing is mostly mouse movement anyways)
yes (but you're not gonna be better because of it)
no

but it feels so much better

yes worth the extra money (depending on your financial situation)

no (air strafing is mostly mouse movement anyways)
yes (but you're not gonna be better because of it)
no


but it feels so much better
3
#3
3 Frags +

If you live near a microcenter or fry's in the US, or an NCIX or canada computers in Canada, or a tiger direct in either, you can go try out at least a couple different switches. Failing that, best buy has a razer with blues and a logitech with browns, and you could go try them out.

If you live near a microcenter or fry's in the US, or an NCIX or canada computers in Canada, or a tiger direct in either, you can go try out at least a couple different switches. Failing that, best buy has a razer with blues and a logitech with browns, and you could go try them out.
4
#4
1 Frags +

.

.
5
#5
7 Frags +

Every day when I come home from stiff cheap rubber dome keyboards to my MX Browns, it's like my fingers are being massaged in butter.

Every day when I come home from stiff cheap rubber dome keyboards to my MX Browns, it's like my fingers are being massaged in butter.
6
#6
1 Frags +

It's hard to say that a ~$100 mechanical keyboard is more worth it when you can airstrafe and spam just as well with a ~$15 regular keyboard, but its kinda like paying $300 for a pair of really nice boots that will last you a long time compared to a shitty $50 pair of faux leather shoes that will desole in a couple of months.

The tactile feedback is really nice on the blues if you don't really mind the sound (roommates, etc..). Brown are probably a good compromise of feedback and loudness.

The board is definitely built more sturdy and you can tell.

The feedback lets you know when the key is registered. And most if not all mechanical keyboards have the null-key register thing whatever its called. Basically it can register a bunch of keys being pressed at once, whereas a regular keyboard can only register one or two. I don't really know how useful this is, but it seems to be a big selling point.

Also, regular keyboards get shitty over time and the keys get stuck or the spacebar will only work if you press it in that one exact spot. I've had mine for a while and haven't had that issue and don't really see any mechanical keyboard having that issue as long as you don't spill some coke or some shit all over it.

overall : hell yeah dat shit is worth it
edited.

It's hard to say that a ~$100 mechanical keyboard is more worth it when you can airstrafe and spam just as well with a ~$15 regular keyboard, but its kinda like paying $300 for a pair of really nice boots that will last you a long time compared to a shitty $50 pair of faux leather shoes that will desole in a couple of months.

The tactile feedback is really nice on the blues if you don't really mind the sound (roommates, etc..). Brown are probably a good compromise of feedback and loudness.

The board is definitely built more sturdy and you can tell.

The feedback lets you know when the key is registered. And most if not all mechanical keyboards have the null-key register thing whatever its called. Basically it can register a bunch of keys being pressed at once, whereas a regular keyboard can only register one or two. I don't really know how useful this is, but it seems to be a big selling point.

Also, regular keyboards get shitty over time and the keys get stuck or the spacebar will only work if you press it in that one exact spot. I've had mine for a while and haven't had that issue and don't really see any mechanical keyboard having that issue as long as you don't spill some coke or some shit all over it.

overall : hell yeah dat shit is worth it
edited.
7
#7
-1 Frags +
AyRno keyboard is gonna magically make you better at the game

but i only recently switched to mechanical (cherry browns) from regular and it feels a lot more comfortable in general

i type relatively lightly so the switches feel great when i do that
however when i game i press keys hard as fuck so it doesnt change as much there (still helps a bit though)

I didn't think it would make me "magically better" maybe slightly like .2% better. Which is why I am asking.

idk I just kinda wanted to know just how big the difference was, or if that it affected gameplay in a way that I may or may not like, and if their was any buyers remorse because of how much it cost vs. how well it performs.

[quote=AyR]no keyboard is gonna magically make you better at the game

but i only recently switched to mechanical (cherry browns) from regular and it feels a lot more comfortable in general

i type relatively lightly so the switches feel great when i do that
however when i game i press keys hard as fuck so it doesnt change as much there (still helps a bit though)[/quote]

I didn't think it would make me "magically better" maybe slightly like .2% better. Which is why I am asking.

idk I just kinda wanted to know just how big the difference was, or if that it affected gameplay in a way that I may or may not like, and if their was any buyers remorse because of how much it cost vs. how well it performs.
8
#8
0 Frags +

i mean it's pretty much a straight upgrade from a regular keyboard, and i don't think anybody has buyers remorse from a mechanical keyboard unless maybe you managed to drop an ungodly amount of money on one. cmstorm makes some pretty good ones that you can get for like 60.

i mean it's pretty much a straight upgrade from a regular keyboard, and i don't think anybody has buyers remorse from a mechanical keyboard unless maybe you managed to drop an ungodly amount of money on one. cmstorm makes some pretty good ones that you can get for like 60.
9
#9
3 Frags +

For me, I don't think there was a noticeable change in my performance. I think the biggest factors in performance (equipment wise) would be a stable (high) framerate, a high refresh rate monitor, and a good mouse + surface.

I switched to a mechanical board kind of recently and I really really like it. Typing feels a lot more satisfying and my typing speed improved by like 20 wpm, but if you're just looking to increase your game performance there are better uses for the money.

For me, I don't think there was a noticeable change in my performance. I think the biggest factors in performance (equipment wise) would be a stable (high) framerate, a high refresh rate monitor, and a good mouse + surface.

I switched to a mechanical board kind of recently and I really really like it. Typing feels a lot more satisfying and my typing speed improved by like 20 wpm, but if you're just looking to increase your game performance there are better uses for the money.
10
#10
0 Frags +
MeematFor me, I don't think there was a noticeable change in my performance. I think the biggest factors in performance (equipment wise) would be a stable (high) framerate, a high refresh rate monitor, and a good mouse + surface.

I switched to a mechanical board kind of recently and I really really like it. Typing feels a lot more satisfying and my typing speed improved by like 20 wpm, but if you're just looking to increase your game performance there are better uses for the money.

Nah, I wasn't really looking for increased game performance I just wanted to know if it did, and if some of the advertising was just hype/true or something that wasn't mentioned. I already have all those other things though 120Hz, 200+fps, g400, and QCK+.

[quote=Meemat]For me, I don't think there was a noticeable change in my performance. I think the biggest factors in performance (equipment wise) would be a stable (high) framerate, a high refresh rate monitor, and a good mouse + surface.

I switched to a mechanical board kind of recently and I really really like it. Typing feels a lot more satisfying and my typing speed improved by like 20 wpm, but if you're just looking to increase your game performance there are better uses for the money.[/quote]

Nah, I wasn't really looking for increased game performance I just wanted to know if it did, and if some of the advertising was just hype/true or something that wasn't mentioned. I already have all those other things though 120Hz, 200+fps, g400, and QCK+.
11
#11
0 Frags +

Ah ok. Yeah I would say it'd be impossible for me to pick out my performance on a mechanical vs. non-mechanical board. Mine was a gift, so I can't comment on buyer's remorse per se, but if you've got around $100 to spend it's not a bad investment. You could also probably pick up a used one or wait for a sale, if that's too steep. Overall, I'm really happy with the keyboard.

Ah ok. Yeah I would say it'd be impossible for me to pick out my performance on a mechanical vs. non-mechanical board. Mine was a gift, so I can't comment on buyer's remorse per se, but if you've got around $100 to spend it's not a bad investment. You could also probably pick up a used one or wait for a sale, if that's too steep. Overall, I'm really happy with the keyboard.
12
#12
9 Frags +

The disadvantage of a mech keyboard is that if you ever have to use a regular one, it'll feel like you're pushing your fingers into dog shit.

The disadvantage of a mech keyboard is that if you ever have to use a regular one, it'll feel like you're pushing your fingers into dog shit.
13
#13
3 Frags +

*

*
14
#14
0 Frags +

I have mx blues and they feel amazing. No chance they'll somehow make you better at tf2 but they're really fun to type on. I imagine the reds could be a small improvement because of the increased responsiveness, but it's nothing to write home about lol

I have mx blues and they feel amazing. No chance they'll somehow make you better at tf2 but they're really fun to type on. I imagine the reds could be a small improvement because of the increased responsiveness, but it's nothing to write home about lol
15
#15
-4 Frags +

sound like a g play like a g

sound like a g play like a g
16
#16
0 Frags +

I switch between mech and rubber domes every week or so for no real reason. Don't notice a difference between them other than when im typing.

I switch between mech and rubber domes every week or so for no real reason. Don't notice a difference between them other than when im typing.
17
#17
3 Frags +

I got one because when I'm holding a choke I can spam A and D and make a clicky noise.

I got one because when I'm holding a choke I can spam A and D and make a clicky noise.
18
#18
-3 Frags +

Mechanical keyboards make less of a difference in FPS then RTS or other games.

A mech vs rubber dome in SC2 for example makes a huge difference where as my skill didn't change in TF2 at all when I switched.

Also if you type a lot, it makes a HUGE difference...

One thing too, if you get a clicky one make sure your roomate/parent whatever is ok with the sound because its loud.

Mechanical keyboards make less of a difference in FPS then RTS or other games.

A mech vs rubber dome in SC2 for example makes a huge difference where as my skill didn't change in TF2 at all when I switched.

Also if you type a lot, it makes a HUGE difference...

One thing too, if you get a clicky one make sure your roomate/parent whatever is ok with the sound because its loud.
19
#19
0 Frags +

I got a mechanical keyboard about 4 years ago when they were still being marketed as being nicer to type on for extended periods/help with RSI.

They are worth it if you are actually having problems with wrist pain because once you get used to it you stop bottoming out on the keys this has been said a million times before etc etc

Then for some reason (can produce £20 of plastic and sell it for £100 i guess) mongoloid gaming companies picked them up and said they would make you better at video games which is dogshit it doesn't make the slightest fucking difference.

If you've never noticed NKRO while playing (actually playing, not just hammering every key trying to make it not register) you don't need it. The key feel doesn't make any difference when you are just bottoming out anyway.

also if anyone lives within hearing distance of you they will kill you

edit: also2 consider that 1) you can buy ~30 keyboards for the same price as a mechanical one which will last a lifetime unless you are inbred 2) people are referring to the 30-40 year old IBM keyboards when they say it and not the newschool mechanical keyboards which have been around <10 years if you want to bring up the "but they last so much longer!!" argument

I got a mechanical keyboard about 4 years ago when they were still being marketed as being nicer to type on for extended periods/help with RSI.

They are worth it if you are actually having problems with wrist pain because once you get used to it you stop bottoming out on the keys this has been said a million times before etc etc

Then for some reason (can produce £20 of plastic and sell it for £100 i guess) mongoloid gaming companies picked them up and said they would make you better at video games which is dogshit it doesn't make the slightest fucking difference.

If you've never noticed NKRO while playing (actually playing, not just hammering every key trying to make it not register) you don't need it. The key feel doesn't make any difference when you are just bottoming out anyway.

also if anyone lives within hearing distance of you they will kill you

edit: also2 consider that 1) you can buy ~30 keyboards for the same price as a mechanical one which will last a lifetime unless you are inbred 2) people are referring to the 30-40 year old IBM keyboards when they say it and not the newschool mechanical keyboards which have been around <10 years if you want to bring up the "but they last so much longer!!" argument
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