The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard Guide: Everything You Need to Know

The Ultimate Guide to Gaming Keyboards: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to take your gaming experience to the next level? If so, you need to invest in a gaming keyboard. A gaming keyboard is designed specifically for gamers and offers features that can improve your gameplay. In this gaming keyboard guide, we will discuss what you need to know about gaming keyboards. We will cover topics such as the different types, features sizes, and more! So, if you are ready to level up your gaming, keep reading.

Choosing the best gaming keyboard for you can be hard – there are so many options and brands available today.

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What is a gaming keyboard and what are its benefits over a regular keyboard?

A gaming keyboard is a specialized keyboard that is designed specifically for gamers. It offers features that can improve your gameplay, such as key switches, backlighting, macros, and more. Gaming keyboards also usually have high-quality key switches that provide a better gaming experience.

Benefits of using a gaming keyboard include:

More keys for additional macros and shortcuts to be assigned
Macro keys that can automate complex gaming actions
High-quality key switches for a better gaming experience
Backlighting to help you see the keys in low-light conditions
Customizable LED to create different lighting effects to match your gaming setup or mood
N-key rollover and anti-ghosting (NKRO). These features allow you to press multiple keys at the same time without ghosting or losing keystrokes.
Multi-media controls. gaming keyboards often have dedicated buttons for controlling audio and video playback.

Types of gaming keyboards – membrane, mechanical, or hybrid

There are three main types of gaming keyboards: membrane, mechanical, and hybrid.

Mechanical keyboards

Mechanical keyboards use physical switches to register key presses.

Benefits of a mechanical gaming keyboard include:

Better gaming experience due to the high-quality key switches
Greater durability since there are no rubber dome components that can wear out over time

Drawbacks of a mechanical gaming keyboard include:

More expensive than membrane gaming keyboards
Physical switches can produce a loud noise when gaming

Membrane keyboards

Membrane gaming keyboards are the most affordable option and use rubber domes to register key presses.

Benefits of using a membrane gaming keyboard include:

More affordable than mechanical gaming keyboards
Quieter key presses since there are no physical switches

Drawbacks of using a membrane gaming keyboard include:

Not as durable as mechanical gaming keyboards
Gaming experience may not be as good since the key switches are not as high quality

Hybrid keyboards

Hybrid gaming keyboards are a mix of both membrane and mechanical keyboards.

Benefits of using a hybrid gaming keyboard include:

A mix of the best features from both membrane and mechanical gaming keyboards
More affordable than pure mechanical gaming keyboards

Drawbacks of using a hybrid gaming keyboard include:

Gaming experience may not be as good as a pure mechanical gaming keyboard since the key switches are not as high quality
Not as durable as a pure mechanical gaming keyboard since there are still rubber dome components

Features to look for when purchasing a gaming keyboard

Some features to look for when purchasing a gaming keyboard include:

Key Switches

Look for gaming keyboards with high-quality mechanical key switches such as Cherry MX. These switches will provide a better gaming experience. Find out more about key switches here.

Backlighting

If you often game in low-light conditions, look for a gaming keyboard with backlighting. This will help you see the keys more easily.

Macros

Macro keys can automate complex gaming actions. If you want to use macros, look for a gaming keyboard that offers this feature.

N-Key Rollover

N-key rollover allows you to press multiple keys at the same time and have all of them register. This can be helpful for intense gaming or for fast typing.

USB Passthrough

A gaming keyboard with a USB passthrough allows you to connect other devices, such as a mouse or gaming headset, directly to the keyboard. This can be helpful if your computer´s USB ports are in a difficult-to-reach location.

Multi-Media Keys

gaming keyboards will also have multimedia keys that will allow you to control things like volume and playback without having to leave your game.

Size

Choose a gaming keyboard size that fits your needs. If you have a lot of desk space, a full-sized gaming keyboard may be the best option. If you want a more portable gaming keyboard, consider a tenkeyless or compact gaming keyboard.

Budget

Don’t forget to factor in your budget when choosing a gaming keyboard. Gaming keyboards can range in price from $50 to $200.

How to properly adjust your gaming keyboard to fit your needs

The gaming keyboard you select should have the ability to be easily customized to fit your gaming style. You can do this by adjusting the backlighting, key repeat rate, and more. By customizing your gaming keyboard, you’ll be able to create a gaming setup that’s comfortable and efficient for you.

When it comes to backlighting, you’ll want to choose a gaming keyboard that offers multiple backlighting options. This way, you can adjust the backlighting to suit your gaming environment. For example, if you’re gaming in a dark room, you’ll want to select a gaming keyboard with bright backlighting. On the other hand, if you’re gaming in a well-lit room, you may want to choose a gaming keyboard with dim backlighting.

In addition to backlighting, you’ll also want to consider the key repeat rate. The key repeat rate is the speed at which the keys on your gaming keyboard will repeat when you hold them down. If you’re someone who likes to spam keys during gameplay, you’ll want to choose a gaming keyboard with a high key repeat rate. However, if you’re someone who likes to take their time when gaming, you may want to choose a gaming keyboard with a low-key repeat rate.

Also, you’ll want to make sure your gaming keyboard is comfortable to use. After all, if you’re not comfortable using your gaming keyboard, you’re not going to have a good time gaming. To ensure your gaming keyboard is comfortable, look for one with ergonomic features that also fits your mouse grip style. For example, some gaming keyboards come with a wrist rest, which can help reduce strain on your wrists. Having a wrist rest is highly recommended, you can remove it if you don´t need it. Other gaming keyboards come with contoured keys, which can help reduce strain on your fingers.

Finally, you’ll also want to consider the size of the gaming keyboard. Some gaming keyboards are full-sized, while others are compact. If you have a small gaming setup, you may want to choose a compact gaming keyboard. However, if you have a large gaming setup, you may want to choose a full-sized gaming keyboard.

Different Gaming Keyboard Sizes

When it comes to gaming keyboard sizes, there are three main options: full-sized keyboard (104 keys), tenkeyless or TKL (87 keys), and compact such as the 60% keyboard (61 keys).

Full-sized gaming keyboards

Full-sized keyboards are the largest option and they offer a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard.

Benefits of a full-sized keyboard:

More gaming keys
Numeric keypad
Easier to type on

Tenkeyless gaming keyboards

TKL keyboards are smaller than full-sized gaming keyboards and they don’t have a numeric keypad.

Benefits of a tenkeyless keyboard:

More portable
Less expensive
Takes up less desk space

Compact gaming keyboards

Compact keyboards are the smallest option and they don’t have a numeric keypad or function keys.

Benefits of a compact keyboard:

Extremely portable
Takes up minimal desk space

Tips for taking care of your gaming keyboard

Just like any other piece of gaming equipment, your gaming keyboard needs to be properly cared for if you want it to last. Here are a few tips to help you keep your gaming keyboard in tip-top shape:

Don’t eat or drink while gaming. This will help prevent crumbs and spills from damaging your keyboard.
Clean your keyboard regularly with a soft, dry cloth. This will remove any dirt or dust that could build up and cause problems.
If you spill something on your keyboard, act quickly! Turn the keyboard upside down and use a can of compressed air to remove the liquid. Then, wipe the keyboard down with a clean, dry cloth.

By following these simple tips, you can help ensure that your gaming keyboard will last for many gaming sessions to come!

Conclusion of our little gaming keyboard guide

Overall, gaming keyboards offer many benefits that can improve your gaming experience. However, they can also be quite expensive. If you are looking for a gaming keyboard, be sure to consider your budget and needs.

If you’re looking for a gaming keyboard that will improve your gaming experience, we recommend checking out our top picks for the best gaming keyboards. See you next time, Happy Fragging! 🙂

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