Keyboard: Saitek's Cyborg
Saitek’s new gaming keyboard, the $80 Cyborg, borrows heavily from the Saitek Eclipse, a keyboard designed for geeks, but not necessarily for gamers. In comparison, the Cyborg has gamer written all over it. The unit is large next to most competitors, but all of the keys and the touch panel at the top of the keyboard are well-spaced.
The integrated touch-sensitive readout is a unique feature. In place of media control buttons or dials, the touch panel allows you to change the volume and key brightness, as well as switch between “human mode” and “cyborg mode” by pressing specific areas on the panel. The panel isn’t an LCD display. Rather, you can tell which functions are active based on whether the corresponding symbol is illuminated on the panel.
Cyborg mode disables the Windows key (so that you don’t accidentally press it while gaming) and allows you to customize the key backlighting of different keyboard areas. You can choose among a handful of colors for the general backlight. But, in cyborg mode, you can pick the backlight color you want specifically for the WASD keys, arrow keys, numeric keypad, and the rest of the keyboard as well. You can also turn backlighting off in certain places, while leaving it on in others.
The WASD keys are covered with a smooth, metallic finish, which makes them instantly identifiable to the touch. Overall, the keys are well-spaced and rise a little higher than competing models, so they should feel familiar to anyone not accustomed to gaming keyboards.
Whereas the X6 and the G19 have programmable keys on the left side of the keyboard, the Cyborg has six programmable switches down the left and right sides. These angle up from the board's plane, and they click down and back up with a firmer feel than regular keys. This way, you’ll never mistake them for normal keys. Unfortunately, you only get 12 of them.
The Cyborg also sports a powered USB hub, as well as stereo output and microphone input jacks. With these, you can attach additional devices directly into the keyboard instead of feeding cables to the back of your computer.
Gaming on the Saitek Cyborg reminded me of why the Eclipse and Eclipse II are such popular keyboards. The keys feel solid under your fingers, and the keyboard is heavy enough that it doesn’t move during intense gaming. The touch panel is a fingerprint magnet, but it’s a fun alternative to discrete media keys.
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Ive been looking at the G19 for some time now, ever since it came out, but I am not sure if I should just go for the Sidewinder x6 or the G15 which is still good and at a reasonable 80-100dollars where Im from....
Should I get it or wait for my next build..... x6? g15?
I recently just purchased a Saitek Cyborg keyboard. Very impressed with it, loving it the moment we touched. Ive used the first Saitek Eclipse, and then the Eclipse 2. The Eclipse 3 is out there; the Cyborg is basically just the gamer edition of it.
Keyboard: SteelSeries MERC Stealth
Mouse : Roccat Kone
Mousepad: Roccat Sota
Headset : Roccat Kave
bah on fancy gaming peripherals. I'm still using a roller-ball PS2 port mouse and keyboard and they work great. Price? Free, because nobody wants cheap stuff like that!
I am waiting for Logitech G110. Looks nice and will not cost $200.
Since I'm a flight simmer, I own both a CH Yoke+Pedals and a Saitek X52 Pro. I also bought an "A4Tech" laser gaming mouse - a discount brand but the mouse itself compares to any Logitech or Razer rodent...for half the price. For keyboard, I'm using a $10 no name corded keyboard
I don't need the $100+ keyboards or anything, what REALLY makes a difference in my playing is how smooth the feet of the mouse are, and how comfortable the mouse is.
I had a $10 cheap ass mouse, was the most comfortable mouse I've ever used, but then the cord wore down and it stopped working, and I lack the skills to fix it. Bought a Microsoft Habu, didn't like it at all. Bought a Logitech G5, love it. Bought a steelseries mousepad, OH MY GORSH. My KDR in games (particularly sniping in TF2, where headshots are near essential) nearly doubled. EVERYTHING is so much smoother when compared to my (what I thought was smooth) desktop. It just glides, no more rugged, scratchy mouse movements, it's amazing.
For keyboards, I have a Razer Arctosa, which I bought because I LOVE the flat keys, and the low profile. No need for fancy backlighting or macro keys, I just want it to be easy to type with and the keys to not be curved.
I'd advise ANY gamer who doesn't already have a mousepad to get one.
Are they worth it eh not really
Are they pretty just about every time.
I got a G15 v2 and a G9. They are worth every penny.
Preiphereals are worth it.
Full 7.1 sounds, 7000 DPI mouse, 9x 2560x1600 monitors, G(insert number here) keyboard, soft leather chair with fully adjustable tilt, proper desk...
You could have a boring powerhouse, or a crappy computer but with all the fixings. It's nice having the extras.
@ Fortunex
Totally agree w/you dude. I also have a Logitech G5 with a Steelpad 5L mousepad, it feels like my mouse is gliding each time i game. Flawless!
I can't go back to anything after that combo
Gaming peripherals won't make a bad player good, but they can enhance a good player's game. Or at the very least, add some comfort to make the long hours of gaming less ergonomically stressful
Should have looked at other brands other than the 2 big ones, OCZ's line of mice and keyboards are an amazing deal for their performance. I suggest anyone thinking about getting a gaming specific keyboard or mouse at least give them a check. I've used them personally, and my customers love them too.
I like this article! Comparing products without having to find a winner is a nice change.
Too bad you can't have the g19 display on a saitek chrismas lighting board with keys.
Should have looked at other brands other than the 2 big ones, OCZ's line of mice and keyboards are an amazing deal for their performance. I suggest anyone thinking about getting a gaming specific keyboard or mouse at least give them a check. I've used them personally, and my customers love them too.
There are too many products out there for them to cover any but the most common...and perhaps some they'd like to point out to users.
I have a bad habit of spilling beer on my keyboard while playing tf2 and destroying it. So I don't buy expensive keyboards anymore. Which is fine since I use a Logitech G13 gamepad anyway. The thing I noticed about nicer peripherals is that you don't notice too much change when you get them, it's when you have to go back to the ultra cheap stuff that it becomes bothersome. I have a gigabyte ghost mouse, plantronics gamecom headset, an old Q-pad, and my 15 USD Logitech USB keyboard...All of which I am glad to have. If I had to go back to some of the simpler hardware out there, I'd be a little unhappy.
To say good peripherals won't improve your game is silly. A good mouse & pad will make a difference, no matter your skill level. Get a good mouse like a MX518 & a good pad like a SteelSeries & your game will improve. Makes me think the author isn't that experienced @ fps.
I feel compelled to respond to this artical mainly from a highly competitive FPS perspective. Been playing FPS games for years and I am currently into QuakeLive pretty hardcore atm.
I just wanted to disagree with the part about the very high DPI settings on some of the more expensive not being of much use. I've went from a plain M$ mouse, to a MX518 (1600dpi), to a G5 (2000dpi), to a G9x (5000dpi) and have seen notable gain in speed and control with each upgrade. Going from the $40 MX518 to the $100 G9x is a pretty remarkable improvment. A must say that using a good mouse pad can actually make or brake a high dpi setting.
Obviously one needs to go into the console and fine tune the sensitivity in order to take full advantage of a high dpi setting. I recommend using the 360/inches method to figure out the exact sens you need when upgrading. I'm currently playing at .52 sens/ 5000dpi/ 1000 polling rate with my G9x (this comes out to 5 inches per 360 degree rotation, or 360/5") and I will never go back to my old G5.
After trying many preiphereals, this is the best setup I've found so far
keyboard: Wolf King Warrior $40, or Warrior Extreme $60
mouse: G9x with smaller grip $100
pad: Razer Destructor $40
headset: Steelseries $80
... o... the G9... so many unreal frags... nice and heavy...
Are Premium Gaming Peripherals Worth Your Money?
For me, they aren´t. I have a cheap keyboard and mouse from Lifetech and they are more than enough to play Counter Strike Source at a very nice level. I prefer to spent that kind of money on PC parts like CPUs and graphic cards.