Backlighting, for example, is not merely a way to illuminate keys in a dark room. Trick It Out: Keyboard Backlighting and Customizationįeatures that would be unimportant on a regular keyboard take on new significance when adapted to gaming. Scissor switches are most often found on laptops, but a few low-profile gaming keyboards use them. A slight variation on this is the scissor switch, which also uses a silicone membrane for springback but has a slimmer profile and adds a stabilizing 'X'-shaped mechanism beneath each key. The result feels mushy and requires a full press with each keystroke, slowing down the speed at which commands can be entered. If you need a keyboard that can switch back and forth between hard-core gaming and traditional work tasks, this is the kind to look for.Īt the lower end of the gaming keyboard market, you will still find boards that make use of 'rubber dome' switches, which employ little bubbles in a silicone membrane, the material being the spring behind the switch. If either is too extreme for you, there's a compromise candidate in Cherry MX Brown switches: They have the same actuation force as the Red variety, but add a tactile bump to aid with typing. This, though, can give them a stiff feel that's not well suited for games that require nimbler response, so for those types of titles you may prefer hair-trigger Cherry MX Red switches. Cherry MX Black switches have the highest activation force, which makes them ideal for games in which you don't want to have to worry about accidentally hitting a key twice. Which switch you want depends on what types of games you play, and what else you do with your computer. Many of these switches use so-called 'MX' mechanisms from a company called Cherry, and are identified by color (MX Black, MX Brown, MX Blue, MX Red, and so on), each with a slightly different design, tweaked to provide a specific feel and sound while typing. They are designed to provide superior audio and tactile feedback. Most higher-end gaming keyboards these days use mechanical key switches, which pair each key to its own spring-loaded switch.

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