Over the past years, “gaming keyboards” were typically defined by excessive LCD screens, back lighting, and extra ‘macro’ keys. Though flashy, the actual function of the keyboards remained relatively similar to less expensive keyboards. When you are in the middle of a Tribes: Ascend scrim, are you really looking down at your keyboard? Some keyboards offered “anti-ghosting”, which means a phantom key would be registered when the key was never depressed. This has been nearly eliminated in modern keyboards, so it barely even registers as a gaming oriented feature.
The largest issue with most of these keyboards is that they’re all based on a membrane switch design, with a limited few using scissor switches. Membrane switches are best described as keyboards where the entire key area is covered by a plastic sheet with domes or raised areas the keys are attached to. When the key is fully depressed, the plastic cover puts pressure on an electrical membrane activating the switch. Scissor switches are similar, but use interlocking plastic or metal pieces in a scissor pattern that helps aid the key resulting in reduced travel time. These are fairly inexpensive to manufacture, which is the reason why they prevail as the most common form of switches on keyboards today.
The other significant issue is that these keyboards operate through USB. Most people don’t even realize that this is an actual issue, but this puts a direct limit on how many keys can be depressed at any one time. On most USB keyboards, if you hold down both shift buttons and try to type a sentence, it won’t come out properly. This is referred to as NKRO or ‘N key rollover’, meaning any number of keys can be depressed at any time while being registered. This is hugely important in a game like T:A or Q3 where there are a large amount of keys in use do to the increased importance of movement.
Enter mechanical keyboards, which have started to become adopted by some of the gaming hardware manufacturers. Most of these employ Cherry MX switches, which all have different characteristics but are all based on a total of 4mm of travel while actuating at 2mm. Here is a rundown of the different types.
Cherry MX Black
These are non tactile linear switches that feel exactly the same during travel, with an actuation force of 60grams. Many mechanical gaming keyboards use these as there is no feedback that interrupts keystrokes for consistency.
Cherry MX Red
These are exactly the same as the blacks, but require 45g of force to actuate. These are also becoming popular on gaming keyboards for all of the same reasons as the blacks.
Cherry MX Brown
These are a tactile switch that give a slight bump during actuation, but don’t have a ‘clicky’ sound. Like the Reds, these require 45g of force. For those that prefer feedback to better keep the key closer to actuation for successive keystrokes or just prefer the feel for general typing, these are a great middle ground.
Cherry MX Clear
These are exactly like the browns but require 55g of force for actuation.
Cherry MX Blue
The Blues are the very clicky keys that people tend to associate with the sound of mechanical keyboards. The force required is right around 50g, though they tend to cascade through their actuation as it almost acts like a buckling spring. These provide a huge amount of feedback, often described as positive reinforcement for hitting each key.
As far as which type of switch is preferable to you, it’s entirely subjective. Many prefer the linear feel of the Reds and Blacks, but dislike typing on them due to no tactile feedback. Once you have selected your switch of choice, the next thing you will want to think about is keyboard layout.
Many people enjoy the added benefits of macro keys for various games. Razer’s Blackwidow series offers your choice of Cherry Blue or Brown (Stealth edition) switches, and has a small set of 5 macro keys on the left side. Though extremely well made, the non-illuminated versions are fairly inexpensive for mechanical keyboards. The high gloss finish makes it quite the looker as well.
Steelseries was the first peripheral maker to embrace mechanical keyboards with the 7g and 6gv2. Both use Cherry Black switches. In addition, the switches are actually gold plated to make the keyboards a lot more durable. This can be seen in their cost, however.
Corsair recently unveiled their Vengeance series of gaming products, with the K60 Keyboard aimed at FPS gamers. They chose to go with Cherry Red switches, though the function keys are still membrane keys to keep down cost. This issue has been brought up for some to scoff at the keyboard, as it’s not fully mechanical. Though really, how often do you touch your F keys?
Cooler Master, not to be left in the dust, finally released a set of new keyboards under the CM Storm brand, called the Quick Fire Rapid. They offer both a Cherry Blue and Cherry Red version in the US at the moment, though the Red is only available through the Cooler Master Store. The major selling point of the keyboard is the fact that it is a ‘tenkeyless’ design, meaning there is no numpad. This one feature makes it really stand out, as it allows a much more comfortable gaming position with your hands much closer together. Priced below $90.00 makes this keyboard the clear winner for FPS gaming.
-zfz.Michalius
Many thanks go to Manyak’s amazing guide on Overclock.net, which introduced me to finer points of mechanical keyboards. Most of the technical details included in this guide were learned there.
