Gaming KB + Mouse worth it ?

[pharaoht8]

Are gaming keyboards and mice really worth it? I'm new to PC gaming and I've got just a regular KB + mouse setup that was probably 10 USD total and they work just fine. So what are the real advantages of spending good money on a good mechanical keyboard and laser mouse?

[Testcatt]

Mechanical keyboards are awesome, faster typing and better ergonomics. Why you should be buying gaming keyboards and mice is because they look sweet, are made around the idea of someone using them for hours in games, macro keys, led's and much much more. I myself have a Logitech G700 and a Thermaltake Meka G Mechanical Keyboard and this is my first mechanical keyboard and i absolutely love it.

[CostcoSamples]

Yes it's worth it. Buy a mechanical keyboard and a good mouse. It will enhance your gaming experience.

[olbaze]

Are gaming keyboards and mice really worth it? I'm new to PC gaming and I've got just a regular KB + mouse setup that was probably 10 USD total and they work just fine. So what are the real advantages of spending good money on a good mechanical keyboard and laser mouse?

 

Let me start by clearing one thing up for you: Laser mice and mechanical keyboards are not all there is to gaming peripherals. But generally speaking, you're going be paying for features. In mice, this means more customization options, more buttons, more CPI, braided cables or good wireless. In keyboards, it comes down to macro buttons, antighosting, n-key rollover and customizing what the keys do.

 

Mechanical keyboards are popular for gaming not because mechanical is superior for gaming, but because mechanical switches are more durable and many people find them better for typing, which is what you'll be doing when not gaming. That and some people simply prefer the feel of mechanicals over membrane. Personally, I don't think that a "gaming" keyboard is a necessity at all. I don't use most of the features and sometimes the extra macrokeys can even be a complete dealbreaker due to the size increase. It just happens that some of the common features in gaming keyboards are useful elsewhere, such as backlighting, media keys, locking your windows button and being able to reassign the keys.

 

As for mice, gaming mice have a lot more going for them. They come with superior sensors, superior buttons and more customization (which actually matters for a mouse), not to mention a wide variety of shapes, button layouts and coatings. The difference between a bad mouse and a gaming mouse is instantly obvious. A bad mouse feels cheap and performs badly under certain circumstances. For example, I took one of those cheapo mice you get for free when you buy a PC and tried playing some Counter-Strike with it. Well, that lasted about 10 seconds because as soon as I tried turning around, the mouse spazzed out and I was looking at the roof. This was because I had moved the mouse faster than its sensor could handle. And I wasn't even trying to do that, it just happened naturally while playing with my usual settings.

 

However, as you might have realized by now, gaming mice and gaming keyboards won't make you a better player. Well, at least not necessarily and most likely not in a measurable manner. You're not supposed to buy them to improve your K:D ratio or something. You buy them to eliminate your peripherals as possible bottlenecks of performance. Your mouse, even if it performs flawlessly, can hinder your play if the shape isn't comfortable and it bothers you. It's kind of like buying a comfortable chair or comfortable headphones.

[Veil]

Depends.

Don't expect to play better.

Just expect more convenience, more durable products, and lots and lots of glowy things.