Why gamers prefere mechanical keyboards.

[Gdourado]

Hello,

So, I know that mechanical keyboards are great for typing with their individual switches for each key and tactile feedback.

I know that for someone who writes a lot using a computer, a mechanical keyboard can improve typing speed, comfort and accuracy.

But what about games?

For someone who uses the computer to play 90% of the time and mostly WASD games, are mechanical keyboards worth the price premium?

What are the advantages?

Cheers!

[Tim Drake]

It's just more satisfying.

 

Hard to explain.

 

Also slightly faster responses

[Guest Kloaked]

I like the feel of them over membrane.

 

Worth it? Subjective.

[TheKDub]

Overall just better than rubber dome (dumb) keyboards

 

I outta get a mechanical keyboard some time soon, im gettin tired of this crappy dell rubber dome keyboard...

[WoodenMarker]

The advantage generally boils down to 

'It feels better'

[Comessy]

They feel better. Unless of course its MX Reds, they feel exactly like membrane

[ApolloX75]

Definitely up to the individual. Some people prefer the feel and others just like the sound. I do know some people who prefer membrane over mechanical.

 

They're peasants.

[STRMfrmXMN]

Hello,

So, I know that mechanical keyboards are great for typing with their individual switches for each key and tactile feedback.

I know that for someone who writes a lot using a computer, a mechanical keyboard can improve typing speed, comfort and accuracy.

But what about games?

For someone who uses the computer to play 90% of the time and mostly WASD games, are mechanical keyboards worth the price premium?

What are the advantages?

Cheers!

It doesn't make you better at gaming per se. You're unlikely to enjoy gaming on, say Greens, though you might like it, I don't know. It's preference.

[Str_Mape]

it feels better and they're solid enough to smack someone in the face for trying to take your computer... not speaking from experience 

[othertomperson]

'It feels better'

 

A good enough advantage for a device that exists to be touched.

 

As well, not gaming per se but my mum hammers keyboards like they were Victorian typewriters. She normally gets a few months out of a membrane keyboard before she utterly destroys it.

[brokencross]

• Better feel

Not as much strain

Faster response

Better built

Longer life

Possibility of choosing the switch you're more comfortable with

Customization

[WoodenMarker]

They feel better. Unless of course its MX Reds, they feel exactly like membrane

I prefer good membrane keys over Reds.

[Charger]

fully programmable with n-key rollover? What isn't to love?

Also that probably does not reflect 95% of mechanical keyboard on the market but it is what my custom keyboard can do lol

[CapricaBuccaneers]

I moved from a membrane to mx reds last year, using the shift key constantly was annoying my pinkie finger.

In my case, the reds have a more uniform action, and take less force to actuate. Essentially, I find them more comfortable to use, and they are easier to hit.

They were also a bit more prone to accidental activation (control got hit quite often at first) until I got used to it shortly thereafter.

My keyboard wasn't expensive so I don't regard it as that much of a premium, but some of the other models out there are outrageously priced. It really depends if you need backlighting, multicoloured at that, and other stuff like on the fly macro recording. I didn't so easy choice.

[TechFun]

I still use membrane keyboard I have no problem gaming 

[DotoreN]

They feel better. Unless of course its MX Reds, they feel exactly like membrane

 

Lol not true at all.

 

Cherry MX red & blue are the most common ones when it comes to gaming.

 

Cherry MX brown is somewhere in the middle between red & blue

 

And don't even bother going for black, they suck ass... I held down W (walking in a fps) and it felt like my finger was about to die off if I didn't release it.

[SeriouslyMikey]

More comfortable and far less fatiguing. 

[Charger]

Lol not true at all.

 

Cherry MX red & blue are the most common ones when it comes to gaming.

 

Cherry MX brown is somewhere in the middle between red & blue

 

And don't even bother going for black, they suck ass... I held down W (walking in a fps) and it felt like my finger was about to die off if I didn't release it.

Don't hate on black switches because you cant handle them. My main keyboard uses mx blacks and I love them and have no problem gaming on them. My numpad uses mx greens and the keyboard I'm currently making uses vintage mx blacks (from a keyboard made around 1985) and I changed the springs for ones that came out of cherry mx clear switches.

[DotoreN]

Don't hate on black switches because you cant handle them. My main keyboard uses mx blacks and I love them and have no problem gaming on them. My numpad uses mx greens and the keyboard I'm currently making uses vintage mx blacks (from a keyboard made around 1985) and I changed the springs for ones that came out of cherry mx clear switches.

 

Yea it's all preference really. I mean I completely dislike blue aswell imo it feels like there's sand between the keys lol.. doesn't take away the fact that some people find them great to game/typ on and some even like the clicky sound of it. 

 

The reason that there are so many different types is not because some are better than others, it's more because people have choice between switches.

 

Some like clicky feel, some like clicky sound, some don't or actually do prefer feedback so yea, it's preference and because there are so many different cherry mx switches, there's usually atleast 1 switch you'll like.

[Thony]

Red switches have higher actuation point so u don't need to bottom then out to activate it. Therefore "spamming" spells and abilities in games like MOBAs its the perfect choice.

On my old membrane keyboard I often would not use spell because I didn't press hard enough lol.