How to choose the perfect gaming keyboard

Using a keyboard designed specifically for gaming makes for more rapid and accurate key strokes, with many gaming keyboards including additional functions such as macro keys, media playback and RGB lighting. You have two main choices to make, between rubber dome keyboards and those with mechanical switches

Gaming Keyboards

Cutting edge keyboards to make you a better gamer

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Rubber Dome Keyboards

Rubber dome keyboard are cheaper and often quieter than mechanical keyboards, but provide very little in the way of feedback.

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Mechanical Keyboards

These more expensive keyboards feature individual mechanical switches under each key, providing more tactile feedback. Mechanical keyboards are also much easier to clean and typically last much longer than rubber dome keyboards.

Mechanical Switches

To allow for the many types of game and user, mechanical keyboards are available with different types of switch, which are colour coded to set them apart. They feature different operating forces to use them, have various degrees of travel and noise levels related to these other factors. The below table shows the common types.

Red Silent Red Speed Silver Black Silent Black Brown Blue
TYPE Linear Linear Linear Linear Linear Tactile Tactile
OPERATING FORCE (CN) 45 45 45 60 60 55 60
PRE-TRAVEL (MM) 2 1.9 1.2 2 1.9 2 2.2
TOTAL TRAVEL (MM) 4 3.7 3.4 4 3.7 4 4
COMPARATIVE NOISE
(0 SILENT, 10 NOISY)		 8 5 8 8 5 9 10

Not sure what to buy?

Read our buyers guides for additional help.

Gaming Keyboards


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Mechanical PC Gaming Keyboards

Not sure which keyboard? Read our Gaming Keyboard Buying Guide

If you want to be the best, you must use the best! Keyboards play a key role in your gaming setup, be it for moving around your favourite map on Call Of Duty, or firing off your Ulti on LoL! Why settle for second best? Get yourself a mechanical keyboard and feel the difference for yourself!

View:
Tekspek An in-depth guide into tech: Mechanical Gaming Keyboards