Not gaming on a mechanical keyboard

[vasouv]

Does anyone else do that? Having your mechanical keyboards but not game on them to not "wear them out"?

It's been 7-8 months since I got my Leopold and I've only gamed on it 3 or 5 times I still keep using another membrane keyboard so I can press the keys all the hard I want. It's this stupid thing that I need to get over, where I type on it everyday but don't want to game on because I might press the keys harder lol

Well, at first it was due to the keyboard being all new and stuff, after all these months you'd think that I'd use it in every situation but still

[epzy]

Lol nope. Your Leopold won't break or anything due to gaming... Unless you're literally punching your keyboard while gaming.

[Defect]

I've played many games on all my boards.  If they get busted, half the fun is in the repair!  Or an excuse to get another one /gg

[Signature]

I've played many games on all my boards.  If they get busted, half the fun is in the repair!  Or an excuse to get another one /gg

Keyboards gotta catch em all

[da20valve]

That's like buying a car and NOT driving it, or you see these people buy a nice car and have one of those bonnet bras (bumper bras) on the front of it to protect it, to me it takes a certain type of person to do this, me.... I was the kind of kid to literally destroys the box trying to get the toy out, I wasn't one of these good kids that kept it in the box for 30 years and sold it for some astronomical amount.... maybe I should rethink... .

[Frenir]

Not at all, a good quality mechanical keyboard isn't dainty - use it as much as you can.

[absyrd]

The whole idea with mech keyboards is that they are (ideally) built to take a beating and last. Don't be a sissy!

[metalliqaz]

I mentioned this before somewhere, but if I'm playing the kind of game where I mash a key and hold it for a long time, I actually want a membrane.  Like WASD for movement.  It's just better suited for that purpose.  XBox controllers use the same technology, for example.

[Oobly]

Mechanical for EVERYTHING! I actually want my switches to wear in, so I use them as much as possible.

[Puddsy]

Even my QFR can stand months of daily multi-hour gaming sessions. And that board feels awesome.

[Razor Lotus]

I don't see the point of this thread lol.

Mechanical keyboards are built to last, whether you game on them or not. As long as you're not smashing it on your desk or throwing it at a wall or something. Even then some boards are still able to handle abuse to that level

[esko997]

Despite the fact the most mechs can handle a good gaming session, I do see what you mean. If your not too strapped for cash at the moment, maybe consider getting a mech dedicated to gaming and one dedicated to typing?

[thesentinel]

Similar to a fine wine, mechanical key switches get better the more you use them. The more you press a key, the smoother it gets overtime. Mechanical switches are meant to be super durable and to never break. In fact, I've never really heard of a cherry mx switch breaking with use..

[osi]

Use your mech! However, I do understand you hanging on to your RD for gaming. I used to have a really cheap RD that I had used so much that my strafe keys required ~1mm or less for actuation. It was glorious in its time.

Mechanicals are superior for me due to the consistency of actuation.

[Candyflip]

I never understood people like this. The product is designed to be used and after all its a material thing that can be bought/repaired even if you brake it..

[dorkvader]

makes a lot of sense to me. A PCB mounted board can only take so much before the PCB cracks. A plate mounted one on the other hand will be fine.

I game on half an ergodox I made, and with the stainless steel plate it can take a pounding and I don't have to worry.

[IronJoeJac]

I agree with the majority of people who have posted, mechanical keyboards are built to last and gaming on it should not damage it in anyway.

[IvanIvanovich]

Gaming is the reason I even got mech in the first place. Sticking with crappy domes makes no damn sense to me at all. I gamed extensively with G80s, Poker X and my current GH60 which is all PCB mount. But I don't pound on the keyboard even when gaming gets hot... and I don't rage and throw the keyboard across the room into the wall either so... perhaps if you are inclined to do so you should stick with a $5 domes. )

[oscillik]

I have a separate mechanical keyboard for gaming (Razer Orbweaver Stealth) so as not to shine my HHKB keycaps faster due to gaming. This, in my opinion, is the only real legitimate reason to not want to game on your mech board

[dorkvader]

Gaming is the reason I even got mech in the first place. Sticking with crappy domes makes no damn sense to me at all. I gamed extensively with G80s, Poker X and my current GH60 which is all PCB mount. But I don't pound on the keyboard even when gaming gets hot... and I don't rage and throw the keyboard across the room into the wall either so... perhaps if you are inclined to do so you should stick with a $5 domes. )

just making sure that this doesn't happen:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57152.msg1309324#msg1309324
Credit to Jevvix, 2014

yeah... but I think that was probably because seller had stacked 47 other keyboards on top of it... or a bowling ball or something fell on it in the USPS.

Having worked in retail, I suspect the damage occurred during it's service life.

[IvanIvanovich]

yeah... but I think that was probably because seller had stacked 47 other keyboards on top of it... or a bowling ball or something fell on it in the USPS.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Eh, I rotate through my main stuff and game or whatever on everything. I don't think PCB mount is likely to matter much, but I only have one of those that I use sometimes (dyed and painted cherry pos) and also one with a plastic plate.

If its someone who is likely to throw stuff against the wall, it would be simpler to just keep the old domes within reach and throw that with complete reckless abandon, while using the mech at all times.

[Defect]

Lol if you break a pcb mount board you really need lessons on handling hardware.

[n0rvig]

Ha. You surprised me. I thought you were going to talk about playing too many games on your mechanical keyboards.

[Hyde]

I'd really not worry about it, keyboards are meant to be used.  It's like buying a car and no drive it because you worry about mileage or dust/dirty/wind/rain ... etc.

OR you can buy a second cheaper keyboard (for example like QuickFire Rapid) and use that for gaming.

[okwchin]

I'd really not worry about it, keyboards are meant to be used.  It's like buying a car and no drive it because you worry about mileage or dust/dirty/wind/rain ... etc.

OR you can buy a second cheaper keyboard (for example like QuickFire Rapid) and use that for gaming.

Or buying a TV, and wrapping the remote in cling wrap… or putting car seat covers on a new car, only to let the next owner enjoy fresh new seats….

In a way, breaking in something sooner helps you to truly enjoy what you have.

[Oobly]

I say just use it. Quality items tend to wear in nicely and last a loooong time. I find sometimes that once I have been using something for a while I become rather attached to it and wouldn't swap it for a new one, even if it has developed a flaw or two.

In my experience, Cherry MX switches actually tend to get better with use. Haven't you noticed how sought after "vintage" Cherry Black switches are? IMHO, it is purely that they are properly worn in that gives them such a nice feel.

[Bucake]

use it! fool!

[Heezy]

I use my topre all the time, even went to tournaments with them.. (Pink keycaps, people were asking me what mx switches was it!!)

[maatmouse]

The older IBM Model M keyboards were made to be used and hard wearing.In the typing pool I worked in years and years ago (back in the 1990s), the best keyboard to get was the one that had been 'broken' in by years of typing by one of the senior typists. There were 2 in our office and they were very hard on keyboards. Their style was german rapid fire machine gun typing, usually in excess of 100wpm, fast and accurate. Both of them used old IBM Model M buckling spring keyboards.

If a old style IBM Model M can survive being used by 2 of them. then it will probably survive your gaming.

[Lanx]

most of the korean starcraft pros use that really crappy membrane board, prolly cuz they're used to it tho.

[cannonking]

most of the korean starcraft pros use that really crappy membrane board, prolly cuz they're used to it tho.

They used to (Samsung DT-35), now pretty much all use mechanical keyboards. Leopold FC700R seems to be the most popular. I'm pretty sure Dear uses a KMAC .

[miroslav]

I used to the do the same thing as you except.. now I just find myself excuses to get new boards And besides if you break your board, you must like literally be bashing the heck out of it. Repairing a board is quite easy as well since you won't break all the switches in one go and probably just a few. They just need to be desoldered from the pcb and demounted from the plate.

But on a more serious note, mechanical keyboards actually improve your game (no more spamming that apm) and the response is much better than that of a membrane keyboard. I'm sure because you feel like you're not hitting the key on the membrane keyboard is making you mash it harder

[Puddsy]

most of the korean starcraft pros use that really crappy membrane board, prolly cuz they're used to it tho.

They used to (Samsung DT-35), now pretty much all use mechanical keyboards. Leopold FC700R seems to be the most popular. I'm pretty sure Dear uses a KMAC .

It's a pretty even split between Filcos, Kustoms, and Leopolds. You see the occasional blackwidow as well.

[russm]

Your typical(CHERRY) MX switch is meant to last >50 million actuations and as said already are easy to repair unless maybe you play games like this lady.

[iLLucionist]

Does anyone else do that? Having your mechanical keyboards but not game on them to not "wear them out"?

It's been 7-8 months since I got my Leopold and I've only gamed on it 3 or 5 times I still keep using another membrane keyboard so I can press the keys all the hard I want. It's this stupid thing that I need to get over, where I type on it everyday but don't want to game on because I might press the keys harder lol

Well, at first it was due to the keyboard being all new and stuff, after all these months you'd think that I'd use it in every situation but still

I mostly code, but when I game it's FPS. But I can tell you, I have my Filco Majestouch 2 TKL with Browns for more than a year but I don't feel a sharp contrast between WASD and my other keys. Only wear I noticed are my keycaps getting shiny but that's because of ABS... already ordered PBT ones. I HATE shiny keys

[vasouv]

Hahaha I see your points Yes you're right, I should just get over it. And no, I don't bash my keyboards around. Actually I only did it once many years ago, I punched my keyboard because my game crashed and I ended up breaking one of the two standing legs (those clips in the back, you know) and a couple of letters. My teenage years are long behind me now though

Not really sure, maybe subconsciously I don't want to use it for more than typing because it cost so freaking much to get it from the US, it's not really easy to find mechanical keyboards in Greece...

Anyway though, I'll starting gaming on it because I love it to death and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made...

[absfac]

most of the korean starcraft pros use that really crappy membrane board, prolly cuz they're used to it tho.

They used to (Samsung DT-35), now pretty much all use mechanical keyboards. Leopold FC700R seems to be the most popular. I'm pretty sure Dear uses a KMAC .

Apparently Flash used the same beat-up qsenn dt-35 with keys ripped off (Brood War doesn't have key rebinding) for 7 years:
http://instagram.com/p/S8OkrDzZU7/

It's true that these days sc2 players often use fancier mechanical keyboards but I think that's either for fun (cherry switches are easier to dress up with colorful caps) or due to sponsorships. Probably a lot of the old Brood War pros would feel just as comfortable on a generic rubber dome.

Obligatory imgur gallery:
http://imgur.com/a/ixDhR#0