Steelseries 6Gv2 - y/n ?

[vld]

Hello everyone, I've been around GH for about six months, which is about as long as I've been trying to figure out what mechanical kb to get.

I'm only interested in a new keyboard for gaming only, mainly starcraft 2 which involves alot of double tapping so from everything I read my best choice are black or red cherry mx switches, and yes i realize browns are pretty popular.

I read pretty much all the reviews regarding the Steelseries 6gv2 and the only real flaw seems to be the key-caps (or key-craps). Should i get it or should i get something else? Keep in mind that i live in Romania and its v hard to find mech kb here.

Thanks in advance! I know this is the right place to seek help cause imho this is the friendliest community i've seen lately. Cheers

[elbowglue]

Nonono.  Get a cherry blue for starcraft.

Unless you are in a situation you need to game quietly, in this situation cherry blues may be too loud.

I would not recommend cherry blacks for starcraft-type games.  If you have no tactile or clicky feedback (blacks are linear until you bottom out) then you will be bottoming out for all of your keypresses, which requires a lot of force and is not at all ideal.  This is not ideal imho.

I have cherry brown, cherry black, cherry blue keyboards at home, I have capabaility to make a cherry red keyboard (ghetto reds).  Given all of these choices I prefer the cherry blues to play SC2.

[squarebox]

It heavily depend on what kind of touch you have? light touch or heavy touch?
light touch go for brown
heavy touch go for black

I game fine with brown and black. Blue can sometimes affect my performance in FPS (Black Ops).

I strongly recommend that you try/borrow on 6gv2 before u make any purchase.
Black is not for everyone and dislike by many.

[stuiees]

I would also argue blacks are not "best" for sc2. IMO blacks are best suited for fps games where you hold down keys for often several seconds at a time. Sc2 requires quick spamming of keys better suited for other types of switches. I personally prefer the feel of the Topre switch over my mx brown for sc2. Just my opinion.

[Azuremen]

Hello everyone, I've been around GH for about six months, which is about as long as I've been trying to figure out what mechanical kb to get.

I'm only interested in a new keyboard for gaming only, mainly starcraft 2 which involves alot of double tapping so from everything I read my best choice are black or red cherry mx switches, and yes i realize browns are pretty popular.

I read pretty much all the reviews regarding the Steelseries 6gv2 and the only real flaw seems to be the key-caps (or key-craps). Should i get it or should i get something else? Keep in mind that i live in Romania and its v hard to find mech kb here.

Thanks in advance! I know this is the right place to seek help cause imho this is the friendliest community i've seen lately. Cheers

Welcome to GeekHack!

And don't trust OCN's guide.

I love my Cherry MX Blues more than anything for SC2. My 6Gv2 just sits idle on another desk as I've not bothered to plug it since I started using Blues. The audio feedback that lets you know you are pressing the keys is much more important than any perceived need for double tapping (which, honestly, you don't do much of aside from jumping to your army and main) and I've had no issues with it on the Blues.

Browns are nice as well, though lack the audio feedback, which is why I still prefer Blues over them. Everyone on Team-Liquid will tell you to get Browns though because that is what Fruitdealer used, and they don't have the hysteresis that the Blues do.

Edit: I will say the SteelSeries is fairly well built. My major complaint with it is the "Function" key they have in place of the Windows key. I use the WinKey all the time and thus it is a bit of a hassle. The keycaps are fine in my opinion with the Filco's not being notably better in my opinion. The other issue is the lack of legs to adjust the height of the board, but it sits at a nice angle anyhow.

Really, it does just come down to personal preference. I know people that do prefer the Blacks to the Blues just because of the sound and feel. And I've been looking at selling my 6Gv2...

[dish]

It comes down to personal preference.   At the end of the day as long as it is decently made and has good roll over you are going to perform the same no matter the switch.  

I'd advise browns.  They are easy to find, great for all forms of gaming/typing, light, quieter than even rubber domes, double tap really well for SC2, and won't annoy anyone.  It's pretty impossible to be disappointed with them.  

I really wish reds would catch on for gaming and/or typing, but you have pretty much a single option for a red keyboard and it costs a ton.  I wouldn't advise it.

[2084]

I think the 6Gv2 is a good keyboard its price. I had the 7G for a while until the spacebar stabilizers disconnected but I played all kinds of games with it and was quite satisfied.

I know the team EG is sponsored by steelseries and have them seen playing with the 7G a few times, so it can't be too bad for SC2...

Now that I own cherry mx blues however, I prefer those a lot more than the blacks because of the tactile feedback and I don't mind the clicks either.

I don't know any romanian shops, but since you are in the EU, you might want to check out keyboardco.com which is from england, or try to get used ones from eBay

[jimmy919]

Some person on eBay is selling the 6GV2s for a decent discount off MSRP.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=steelseries+6gv2&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I'm no expert, but after spending some time with both MX Blacks and Blues, the Blues are just so much more comfortable to type on.  The Blacks are noticeably stiffer and less "fun" overall.  Think of Blues as being more versatile, and probably a better long-term value.

[vld]

Thank you for all your help guys

[vicariouscheese]

just a thought- the only sc2 pros who use steelseries keyboards afaik (as in, black switches) are those who had this keyboard before the game came out and they are all from US (where steelseries had the only available mech keyboard*) and in general were fps players.  

this isnt to say its a *bad* choice, but in general almost all the high level players with mechanical boards have blue and brown switches, which are also generally accepted as better switches for outside gaming.  but really you should try it out if possible, which shouldnt be as hard as its easier to find a steelseries lying around than other keyboards

*when i say available, i mean for people outside of the geekhack/other keyboard communities, steelseries 6g and 7g were the only ones that had any sort of presence before the whole "omg pros in sc2 are using mechanical we need to buy some" and razer announced theirs.  besides a tiny tiny minority (eMg enoryt posts here about his topre ) id say no one knew about mechanical boards and elitekeyboards/importing options, especially given the pricetag, lack of advertising, and no known players using them- the latter probably being a bigger factor than most people like to admit

[Cyanide]

@vicarious Idra recently switched to the 6gv2.

[bxt]

Sorry for hijacking this thread a little, but I am too thinking of buying this keyboard. I am also a SC2 player, but besides that i play lot of WoW and sometimes FPS games. Would you still recommend cherry MX blue switches?

Where i live, only mech keyboards avalaible are pretty much just Razer and Steelseries, so i dont really have any other choice.

[nmd]

I'd imagine EG members only use the 6gv2 because they're required to used products from their sponsors. Past that perhaps many of them haven't tried other mechanical offerings, IIRC most sc professionals used the DT35 because it was cheap and worked.

Imho SteelSeries peripherals are GREAT if you play FPS, for RTS you need something that requires less force on the clicks(mice especially.)

[fssbzz]

they key cap material suck, the font wont last long too.
other then that, overall build, i think is ok. and good.

[bxt]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I'd get a Razer Black  Widow if you can get it for a good discount.  In the US it'll get as low as $60.  SteelSeries won't be able to touch that.

Although 2KRO, the keyboard has macros and the rollover capability seems improved over the Razer Tarantula.

Thanks!

The standard BW is 72 €, the Ultimate 119 € and both are out of stock until January. Steelseries 6gv2 74 €, but currently in stock. Bah..

I really hate the fact, that there is no place here to try different switches out.

[keyboardlover]

I really hate the fact, that there is no place here to try different switches out.

Welcome to Geekhack! Maybe you'd be interested in the switch-try keypad sinklist?

[Jalal]

Sorry for hijacking this thread a little, but I am too thinking of buying this keyboard. I am also a SC2 player, but besides that i play lot of WoW and sometimes FPS games. Would you still recommend cherry MX blue switches?

Where i live, only mech keyboards avalaible are pretty much just Razer and Steelseries, so i dont really have any other choice.

I had the 6gv2 some days ago. it doesnt make you worse in starcraft, not at all, but i disliked the force you need to push down the keys. I don't recommend it.

[vld]

My 6Gv2 should be here tomorrow. Really curious if i'll like it or not. Yes, the key-craps suck and the gold usb thing is just silly but I'm gonna order a set of blank, black Filco keyset when the original caps start failing. (the Filco replacement keys do fit the 6Gv2, right?)

Regarding the BW: out of stock, useless macro keys(for me), shinny, 2kro.

Will post my first impressions on the 6gv2 tomorrow, hopefully. Next one will be a Filco or something else with browns (mb that new Zowie). Since i dont have little girly hands, backs should be fine.

[Bitters]

I play sc2 with a 6gv2 and don't get why anyone would think it is worse to use (I've also played a week on a brown Filco for comparison, and find both are great for rts)

Now the thing is, when playing a fast game like sc2, aren't you bottoming out on any keyboard? like when you get into the 100-150 average apm with 250+ peak periods, it seems unlikely that you are not going to be bottoming out those keys.

i find blacks were better for double taps too, since the key seems to have more force popping it back up into original position

[Fishraper]

It's just preference really imo. Idra uses the 6Gv2 although I'd imagine he gets em for free or at least discounted heavily. But I'd bet any money he'd be able to play on any keyboard and still make GSL RO32 or better.

I'd could only recommend trying out the keys from someone/somewhere and seeing if you like em.

[laden3]

the Filco replacement keys do fit the 6Gv2, right?

Yes, except the enter and the right shift. |\ will be fine I guess, except the height is different and its smaller. If I am not mistaken, someone contacted SteelSeries and they send him/her some replacement keycaps. KBC said that PBT keycaps that fit 7G and 6GV2 will be available sometime in the future, a very distant future... (they said that months ago, but, I believe something new will come out in Jan/Feb [don't quote me on this])

[vld]

Yes, except the enter and the right shift. |\ will be fine I guess, except the height is different and its smaller. If I am not mistaken, someone contacted SteelSeries and they send him/her some replacement keycaps. KBC said that PBT keycaps that fit 7G and 6GV2 will be available sometime in the future, a very distant future... (they said that months ago, but, I believe something new will come out in Jan/Feb [don't quote me on this])

Thanks, hopefully when i need new keycaps, ill have some options to choose from.

[T0fu]

I play sc2 with a 6gv2 and don't get why anyone would think it is worse to use (I've also played a week on a brown Filco for comparison, and find both are great for rts)

Now the thing is, when playing a fast game like sc2, aren't you bottoming out on any keyboard? like when you get into the 100-150 average apm with 250+ peak periods, it seems unlikely that you are not going to be bottoming out those keys.

i find blacks were better for double taps too, since the key seems to have more force popping it back up into original position

You will bottom out for sure. I bottom out my 55g topre easily enough and with some rage or panic spamming Im sure you will as well. Im also around 150-170 APM in realtime with most of my apm on the board rather than on the mouse. On the other hand if i had 350-400 apm I probably wouldnt bottom out. If you watch nada's hand movement hes literally floating around the keyboard at the speed of light.

Also Fruitdealer and alot of the other korean pros use filcos

[Azuremen]

Typing this from a Razer Black Widow. Have to say it feels much better than the 6Gv2 for typing on. Will test it for gaming soon as well, but I have no issues gaming on my Filco with Blues, for both FPS games and SC2.

As for the 6Gv2 being worse, I certainly like the audible feedback and tactile feedback the Blues give me so I don't wonder if I hit the 3 key before mashing the T key, etc.

[bxt]

Well I just ordered 6gv2, I am impatient and dont wanna wait till January for the BW. I am sure i will love it for gaming (WoW, SC2 and such).. typing, I will have to see.

[vld]

Typing on my new 6Gv2...its awesome. After a few days of testing in Starcraft2 i'll post more if anyone cares...
The blacks seem just right, dont know why.

[frylock]

Typing on my new 6Gv2...its awesome. After a few days of testing in Starcraft2 i'll post more if anyone cares...
The blacks seem just right, dont know why.

Glad you like the blacks too, the only complaint I have is the lettering on the keys wears pretty quickly.

[godly_music]

On the upside.. let it wear out and clean out the white from keys you don't use that much, and there you have a blank keyboard that still has letter-shaped grooves.

[JRM]

Lol I just ordered the 7G yesterday. Always wanted to know how that wristrest feels like.

[bxt]

Ok i got this keyboard yesterday. My first mechanical, so i could feel the difference right off the bat. Typing is fine, better than on my old keyboard... I find it somehow "fun", which is a relief... I thought blacks are gonna be worse for typing. I had one gaming session too, I have had couple of small issues - I quite often accidently press "space" with my thumb (i guess its too heavy lol), and second... no wrist rest. My old keyboard had one, so this will take some time getting use to. I might get one of those things for wrist, i dont know how it is called (the vespula mousepad has it). Oh and one more thing - i accidently ALT-F4-ied from game couple of times, meant to press function button + F4. I better watch this next time

[wupi]

Yep, the placement isn't good but anyway i like my 7G :tongue:

[db_Iodine]

I've learned to like not having the left windows key on my Das, so I wouldn't mind the 6gv2.

Woah, a lot of new members in this thread lately. Welcome to geekhack, wupi.

[wupi]

Thank you db_Iodine, i think this is a really great board. :biggrin:
The only thing i don't like are the bright (!!!) LED's, which are very annoying for me. I turn the Num mostly off.

[Ekaros]

I just like giving Steelseries a hard time for claiming their Gold USB connectors reduce latency.

Luckily they must read Geekhack because it's now changed.

And something is up with the 7G.  Supply has dried up.  Time for a 7G V2?  Time to drop PS/2, add Macro SW and compete with the big boys like Razer?

Hmm, personaly heading for earlier more "crappy" model...

Still, I would like to know how they claim gold-plating helps on latency?

[Zen]

Blacks are great !!
It's such a shame with those keycaps, everything else is rock-solid .
The big inverted 'L' enter-key (and the way the space for it is made)
makes key-cap swapping a bit challenging ..

Yah, that fcn key placement isn't my favorite. I like it on the right side and out of the way.

Actually, it's quite nice that you don't open the start-menu if you hit it by
accident . However, using the media-keys one-handed isn't easy ..

[sl___]

I was really surprised when people recommended blue and brown switches for SC2! I tried my friend's 7G keyboard and played a few games of SC2 with it. Right off  the bat, I could feel how good mechanical keyboards are. My apm ended up a lot higher (I'm usually 200 apm real time but I was ~220 sometimes higher sometimes lower).

I don't seem to understand how people are recommending blue and brown switches for SC2 (Although i wish I could try them for an unbiased opinion). When you're playing at a high apm in a RTS game, you will be bottoming out on your key anyways. Although this might be due to the fact that I use a lot of force in my typing, so I benefit a lot from black caps anyways since I bottom out.

But yeah, from my experience with the keyboard, it was enough to convince me to get my own 6g v2. I would highly recommend it to anyone who types with a lot of force like me, but it really all boils down to personal preference.

[jdreamer]

Does a keyboard really help in increasing APM?

I'm sitting between 100-120+ most of the time and sometimes ended at 130+ but will it be helpful?

I was trying to get a brown but after reading your comments on black, it made me thinks twice now..

[killy]

The real question is: how many actions in that 100-200 APM rating are completely superfluous?

[inediblebuffalo]

I was thinking about getting the 6Gv2 or 7G but the crappy key caps are a big turn off.
What replacement options do I have with those keycaps.

[RiGS]

I think a lot of folks here are exagerating about it. They get dirty rather quickly, but you can clean them and they will look like new.
They are certainly not doubleshots, but who cares? Otherwise the filco keycaps are even crappier.
By the time they wear out, KBC will carry replacements for it.

[RiGS]

Congrats on the first mechanical.

Yah, that fcn key placement isn't my favorite.  I like it on the right side and out of the way.  I always think of the Mayans when I see it.

Show Image

I think the placement is awesome there, you won't hit accidentally that creepy windows key while gaming.
Also note that all the function keys are on the left side(F1-F6).

[RiGS]

I 'd rather choose that than the eugenist Gate's Microsoft logo.

[inediblebuffalo]

I think a lot of folks here are exagerating about it. They get dirty rather quickly, but you can clean them and they will look like new.
They are certainly not doubleshots, but who cares? Otherwise the filco keycaps are even crappier.
By the time they wear out, KBC will carry replacements for it.

What I'm worried about is the letters rubbing off...

Agh why is this keyboard business such a hard choice!

[2084]

I feel bad for having recommended this keyboard for my brother. Not even one month of usage and his arrow keys don't work anymore. He's returning it

[RiGS]

Hm did he check the soldering of those switches?

[2084]

No he didn't want to open it, and rather get a quick refund

[RiGS]

See the Key Reference Wiki.

I have 6 sources linked for the 6GV2 keys each with problems cited.  They get an unusually large number of complaints.

Actually link is missing for the source4 and the major complains are about the printing gets dirty what you can fix by cleaning them.
About the guy who complains about a broken keycap I am sure he can rma that or get a replacement.
I don't think this type of posts are representative for a mainstream product anyway, because people who get faulty units tend to post about it, so it is natural to have some bad reviews.
Also I don't think other brands won't have faulty units as well.
I'm not sure why is even a complain about the thickness of the keycaps when the filco keycaps are thinner and sound cheap compared.
My board is solid and the keycaps are sit tightly on the switches, yes even the esc key, but there is a red esc key option anyway.

I don't think it is necessary to demonize a good quality mainstream-prized gaming product, especially when one likes the MX blacks switches.
As an european gamer I also like the BigAss enter.

About the Steelseries logo what you consider as a symbol of death, I have not find anything to confirm it.
Maybe you confused it with something that appeared on the Star Trek: The Next Generation series in the episode "Masks".

[RiGS]

Hmm..  what happened to Source4?  

Anyway there seem to be plenty of other people in this thread that weren't thrilled with the key wear.

The guy who you refer as source6 posted this later:
http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=279395&postcount=13

[RiGS]

That looks like to me as a side effect of a nail polish remover.

[inediblebuffalo]

This is still my favorite Steelseries Key Pic.

Show Image

That guy has been on cruise control way too much.