Best gaming keyboard under $50?

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660
Hi all,
I have a Corsair Vengeance M65 mouse that I use for gaming, along with a cruddy Dell keyboard that I have from god knows where. I'm looking into replacing the pile of junk and I stumbled upon the Corsair Rapter K30. I saw the K40 but I'm not that into LED illumination and red seems fine, so there's no point to upgrade to that imo. Is the K30 a good deal? If not, please link to any other recommendations that you have for a =< $50 keyboard.
 
Solution
The Raptor is great. It really is worth considering getting a mechanical keyboard, though. They last much longer and offer a much better typing experience. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201060 This is the cheapest mechanical keyboard I know of, but if you're willing to spend a little more, I highly recommend the TTEsports Poseidon Z. You can turn the LEDs off and it looks like a normal keyboard, but the typing experience is much better. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823162030&cm_re=poseidon_z-_-23-162-030-_-Product
The Raptor is great. It really is worth considering getting a mechanical keyboard, though. They last much longer and offer a much better typing experience. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823201060 This is the cheapest mechanical keyboard I know of, but if you're willing to spend a little more, I highly recommend the TTEsports Poseidon Z. You can turn the LEDs off and it looks like a normal keyboard, but the typing experience is much better. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823162030&cm_re=poseidon_z-_-23-162-030-_-Product
 
Solution

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660


I was considering getting MX Blue but I work in a room where others take conference calls quite often so I don't want it to be loud. I've used Blue switches before and I loved them, so maybe later I'll get a mechanical keyboard. Just not now. Plus I'm looking to keep it under $50 because I don't want to spend more on my keyboard than on my mouse, since a mouse is more important anyways.
 
Well, what's more important depends on what games you're playing, and keyboards are more expensive than mice simply because they use more material. I have a Corsair M95 and TTEsports Meka G-Unit, the keyboard is usually $120 and the mouse is usually $60, yet my mouse is higher quality than the keyboard, but I do understand what you're saying. The Raptor is probably your best choice in that range. This is also a great keyboard, if you like chiclet keycaps.

Brown makes less noise, but still has the tactile feedback. http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/official-mechanical-keyboard-guide This guide goes over all of the switches nicely.
 

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660


I play CS:GO mostly. Other games include BF3/4, Borderlands 2, Saints Row 3/4, GTA IV, Payday 2, etc. Mostly TPS/FPS games. I know the mouse makes a difference so I got a good mouse, but I'm not particularly concerned with the keyboard. I DESPISE keyboards that look all 'gamey' since it just looks fugly. I'm looking for something that looks sort of like the raptor or at least the poseidon. Anything that tries too hard to look cool very much angers me so I'd rather not get something that looks that useless.
 
http://gaming.coolermaster.com/en/products/keyboards/mech/ So you probably don't like this one.

There isn't much difference between membrane keyboards, no, but a mechanical keyboard will make a difference. Luckily for you, most mechanical keyboards are fairly plain and go for performance more than appearance. The rest of Coolermaster's keyboards are pretty tame compared to the MECH... thing.

The Deathstalker is a membrane keyboard.
 

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660

Ugh.


So. Deathstalker vs. Raptor. Which do you think would be better for playing FPS games. I think that the deathstalker would since the keys are shorter hence requiring less pressure, but I could be wrong.
 
I would go for the Poseidon, the Rosewill is the absolute bare minimum, and it shows. Any mechanical keyboard will be louder, but browns are not clicky so that cuts down most of the annoying noise. You can also buy O-rings that make it a bit quieter, they're not too expensive.
 

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660

O-Rings remove the tactile feedback? Or do they just make it a bit quieter. I want the whole mechanical experience, so to speak. If there's no tactile feedback I'd rather put up with the noise.
 

Shadowblade2652

Honorable
Nov 20, 2012
1,409
0
11,660
Received the Poseidon Z yesterday (got the browns) and it works great!

It's a bit odd though, because I seem to hit keys accidentally FAR more often than I did before (I'm used to being able to rest my fingers on the keys without pushing them down).

Just curious,
Can I add new keycaps? I don't particularly like them (I like the Corsair ones, and my brother has some left overs from the K70 that he's willing to give me. Will they fit? The K70 uses MX Reds.
 
They may fit, it wouldn't hurt to try them. You do have to get used to a new keyboard, though, and over time you will. Eventually you'll be better at not hitting keys accidentally and you'll get used to the keycaps. I believe the Corsair ones will work, but the Poseidon Z uses TTEsports switches rather than Cherry, so they may be slightly different, so I can't promise you anything. The keys may be spaced more or less requiring different sized keycaps, or there may be a slightly different layout, but those are the only things that would stop you from using the K70's caps. I say pull a couple off and put the Corsair ones on, unless you take them off with a hammer it won't hurt anything.