As game developers continue to develop games that put more demand on computers, gamers may need to upgrade their gaming rigs with a few years’ intervals in order to get the seamless gaming experience that most of us want.
The most commonly replaced components include graphic cards, processors, and RAMS. This can easily be justified because of how much these components can impact the computer’s performance.
But these components aren’t the only things that are being replaced or upgraded by gamers on a frequent basis in order to get the most out of their games.
The trend has expanded, and it now includes peripherals, such as mice and keyboards, too. If you’re on the verge of purchasing a gaming keyboard, you may be asking yourself if it will contribute to the overall gaming experience – or if it’s just another way for the companies to produce expensive keyboards.
Gaming keyboards can make a big difference, they improve the gaming experience by being tailored to gamers’ needs, they are lighter than regular keyboards and more responsive. They come with customizable features suitable for gaming, such as macro keys that can be mapped to desired functions, buttons to switch between keyboard layouts, and media keys. They are also designed to offer comfort through long gaming sessions.
All of these things packaged into one product will absolutely make a big difference in your gaming experience. While all of these things aren’t included in every gaming keyboard on the market, they can certainly be considered common and popular.
Some gaming keyboards actually offer more impressive features than those listed above, but I’ve chosen to focus primarily on the average gaming keyboard, rather than the top-level ones.
In order to really understand the benefits of purchasing a game keyboard, one must look at the keyboard’s advantages in detail.
What Is the Advantage of a Gaming Keyboard?
What have these companies been able to develop that separates these gaming keyboards from regular keyboards? What justifies the need for a keyboard made specifically for gaming?
Their counterpart, the gaming mouse, is considered a must-have for a lot of gamers, and I truly believe that a high-quality gaming mouse makes a huge difference when it comes to first-person shooters, for instance.
The same can be said about gaming keyboards.
Gaming keyboards are advantageous for gamers as they are mechanical, which makes the keyboard more durable, tactile, and responsive. The gaming keyboard will, therefore, respond to each keyclick faster than any regular keyboard would.
This provides seamless movement for the gamer in-game. Other advantages of a gaming keyboard include comfort options, customizable keys, and lighting.
Let’s take a look at the advantages.
Mechanical Keys
But the benefits of a mechanical keyboard aren’t unique to gaming keyboards, other mechanical keyboards also offer similar improved mechanics.
The thing about gaming keyboards is that they are often equipped with high-quality switches. High-quality switches will last for millions of key clicks and lower the response time (marginally).
But what is response time and how does it work?
The response time is the time between the keypress and the action being seen on the screen. The time it takes for the keyboard to communicate the command to the computer and then execute it.
For most computers, the time between the stimulation and the response is extremely small and for most, unnoticeable, but for gamers, these small delays can be noticeable and impact the outcome of the game.
This is considered one of the advantages of a gaming keyboard. However, it’s important to remember that the difference we’re talking about here is extremely small (about 30 milliseconds).
But in a game where fast reactions make the difference between winning and losing, these milliseconds start to add up.
I do not think this alone justifies the purchase of a gaming keyboard if you are a casual gamer with no intention of competing in e-sports.
With that said, there are other features that I think you can enjoy as a casual gamer that can make a gaming keyboard worth it.
Programmable Keys
These features include programmable keys, which can come in very handy for all types of games, but especially for Real-Time Strategy or Role-Playing Games.
Programmable keys allow you to bind macros to certain keys on the keyboard. That way you can record a sequence of keypresses and bind all of them to one key.
Now, instead of pressing 10 keys in a row to execute the series of commands, you can press one key to trigger all of them.
What a lot of people don’t know is that this feature can be found within Windows. The downloadable software enables you to record macros on any keyboard, be it gaming or not.
The benefit of the gaming keyboard still remains though, as they often come with a set of blank keys that you can map the macros too.
RGB Backlights
Most high-end gaming stations (as seen on streams) look like sleek futuristic spaceships. They’re often full of LED lights coming out of every corner of the station, and the keyboard is no exception.
Gaming keyboards come equipped with RGB backlights. These lights can be programmed to light up in different colors, patterns, or during certain events in-game.
While these lights provide little function, they do affect the ambiance. I think RGB lights are a nice feature that adds to the gaming experience.
Comfort
Long gaming sessions can take a toll on your wrist, for instance. Some gaming keyboards come with comfort options that can remove some of the pressure from your wrist, or make your fingers less fatigued by being highly responsive to your keypresses.
Anti-ghosting
Keyboard ghosting is when a single keystroke or several are lost because of the keyboard’s inability to process the number of keys pressed simultaneously. To not be able to press keys simultaneously when gaming would be catastrophic.
To counter and minimize the discrepancies, gaming keyboards have anti-ghosting.
Anti-ghosting will keep track of your keystrokes and the order they were pressed in to ensure that everything is executed as you intended it to be and that nothing is lost during the transition, regardless of how many keys are pressed simultaneously.
USB ports
Some gaming keyboards come with USB ports. Having USB ports built-in on the keyboard’s frame is a nice feature. I, for one, had to swap between USB-connected devices all the time because I didn’t have enough ports on my computer. An extra two or three ports really makes a difference for those who have a bunch of USB devices.
Last but not least: It’s nice to not have to go to your computer (which I have in a cabinet) only to connect or disconnect a cable.
However, if my budget only would allow me to upgrade one component, I would prioritize getting the gaming mouse first, and then the keyboard.
Upgrading your mouse to a high-quality gaming mouse will boost the experience more than a gaming keyboard will, I believe.
Read: Do USB Hubs Reduce Performance?
Is a Gaming Keyboard Worth It?
This question has a million answers because it really depends on the situation. You need to be realistic with your expectations when you purchase a gaming keyboard.
Simply upgrading to a gaming keyboard with a bunch of features, and more responsive switches will not make you a pro by any means.
If you instead focus on the convenience and comfort provided by the features of the gaming keyboard, then you might be more in tune with reality.
The keyboard and all of its features and functions will have little effect on your skills in-game, but it will offer a better gaming experience.
This, in combination with the quality of the build, is what separates an unbranded 9.99$ keyboard and a gaming keyboard that is built to withstand intense gaming sessions for years.
It’s worth getting a gaming keyboard for the features the keyboard provides, and the small improvements in performance. The keyboard will, however, not do that much for your skills in-game instantaneously.
Is a Mechanical Keyboard Better For Gaming?
Mechanical keyboards are generally more suitable for gaming than membrane keyboards. It should be noted that a good portion of gamers enjoy using membrane keyboards too, so I guess it comes down to personal preference.
But let’s put personal preference aside for this one. Let’s look at why a mechanical keyboard may be better suited for gaming than a membrane keyboard.
The first thing to point out is the lifespan of a mechanical keyboard. The worldwide average amount of time spent using the Internet on any device is about 6 hours. If that device happens to be the computer, imagine how much the keyboard has to withstand.
Gaming sessions can be long, and they don’t always bring forth the gentle side of people, which means some keyboards are mashed with force.
Thankfully, mechanical keyboards are built to last and withstand this. These keyboards are also very easy to replace keys and switches on. So when the day finally comes, it will only be a minor problem.
Not only are they able to withstand millions and millions of keyclicks, but they are also more resistant to water and dust.
In comparison to a membrane keyboard, which isn’t as easy to fix, and doesn’t withstand nearly as many keyclicks as a mechanical keyboard.
Mechanical keyboards are (generally) slightly faster than membrane keyboards. This is considered a great benefit when it comes to gaming, especially for first-person shooters and similar games that require quick reactions, and where milliseconds can make a difference.
When it comes to price tags, membrane keyboards are often cheaper than their mechanical counterpart. However, I do believe the price can be reflected in the product.
You can expect to get more mileage out of a mechanical keyboard than a membrane keyboard.
Membrane keyboards are also smaller and more portable, which can be something to take into consideration if you plan to move around a lot. The weight and size difference is not enormous, but it might be noteworthy.
Lastly, the sound of a mechanical keyboard can be much louder than a membrane keyboard. The keys will make a loud click sound every time they are depressed.
Both keyboards work for gaming. You can absolutely get around town using any of these types of keyboards. There are pros and cons to both keyboards.
However, mechanical keyboards are considered more suitable for gaming, and I truly believe you will get more out of a mechanical keyboard than a membrane keyboard.
Are Gaming Keyboards Faster?
Yes, gaming keyboards are slightly faster than many other keyboards. The time it takes to send and register the signal from the keyboard to the computer can be a few milliseconds faster on a gaming keyboard. It sounds like a very small difference and a meaningless one at that.
While the difference is small, it’s absolutely not meaningless. When it comes to gaming, the quickest reactions may lead to a win.
Why Do Gaming Keyboards Light Up?
Playing games in the dark has a certain thrill to it, and it’s easier to see everything on the screen in a dark room. It is, however, much harder to see the keys on the keyboard.
That’s where backlit keyboards come in; the lights provide the visibility that the gamer needs in order to see the keyboard’s keys in a dark environment.
Backlit keyboards are visually appealing too. Being able to change the color pattern of the keyboard is a nice little feature that can help set the mood.
What Keyboards Do Pro Gamers Use?
The model and brand of keyboards used vary because pro gamers often have sponsor deals, which means they will use the gear provided by the sponsor to showcase their products.
The largest companies include Logitech, Razer, Corsair, and HyperX. However, there are a few smaller companies that are making an entrance on the market with high-quality products.
In addition to sponsorships, personal preference and the game played also determine which keyboard is used.