Does a gaming keyboard make a difference?

My keyboard is the logitech k400. I bought it because its convenient to have a touch pad with the keyboard.

I was wondering if it would benefit my gaming if I bought a gaming keyboard? It seems like I play fine on my keyboard. Although I never have used a keyboard that great gamers use.

Not really.

Unless you need some extra keys for fancy macros in mmos

Depends what type of games you play and what keyboard you buy.

Well yeah, I mean, you might like the feel of a gaming keyboard compared to the standard run-off-the-mill one. Maybe you could use it's benefits with extra keys for games, or hell, maybe you just like the look of that keyboard that has backlighting on the keys (makes it easier to use at night too).

They can get pretty expensive though, so you might want to think hard on whether it might be worth it to you. I've got a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate keyboard and it cost $200AU. It's expensive I know, and besides it looking awesome I regret it a little because the keys when clicked are very loud. So during the night when everyone is sleeping, it's far too loud and irritating. So take that into consideration too.

it really depends on you.

i have a logitech k360 and it's great for someone like myself. it has chiclet keys so i can press X, C, V keys with my thumb, which i couldn't other keyboards without either pressing the spacebar or getting a hand cramp. the keys are close together, including the ESC and function keys which are right on top of the numbers so i can easily bind stuff to them to use ingame.

i've tried gaming keyboards but either they were too big for my table, or too big for my hands, or had some other flaw. this cheap keyboard isn't a detriment to my gaming, and is actually better.

The keyboard is probably the least significant of "gaming" merchandise you can buy. If you have to type a lot a mechanical keyboard can be very useful (keys take less pressure to register so you can type faster) but other than built in macros and backlights, they're not really more useful that regular keyboards. I have a MS Sidewinder X4 gaming keyboard. It was only $40 and has the backlight and programmable keys. It's not mechanical and very inexpensive. I highly recommend it. I would never spend $100+ on a keyboard. You simply don't get enough benefits for the price.

A gaming keyboard doesn't help that much. I guess it's just for comfort.

Yeah I agree with the others if you define a gaming keyboard as like the logitech g19 and crap, your not really getting anything other than a bunch of fancy relatively useless features. I enjoy my mechanical keyboard a lot on the other hand. Technically it is a "gaming" keyboard, but it have pretty much nothing special about it other than the mechanical switches. My keyboard is a Corsair k 70.

What makes gaming useful is only the anti ghosting thing, other than that nothing special about them, never in my life used my macro keys.

I have anti ghosting keyboard so I can press up to 5 keys simultaneously.

EDIT: that Logitech k400 that you've bought is used for media center purposes, nothing more.

Not necessarily, but a good KB definitely makes a difference.

I really like my Razor BlackWidow.

for rts it may help key differentiation on some cherry keyboards

for fps that is movement based (as in strafe is used to aim a lot for left right) you generally want a keyboard with an actuation point that requires force/distance

i use an apple keyboard over cherry keyboards because of the minimal distance required and low force needed... of course it's not for everyone

Agreed. I love my mechanical keyboard.

Same here. Once you go mechanical, you never go back. :)

I love chiclet keyboards.

The funny thing is I always see people talking crap about them online.

@BattleSpectre: I don't know whether you knew when you bought the keyboard, but it's a mechanical keyboard. They are usually loud, when the keys are pressed, obviously hehe :P

Chiclets are the way to go if you don't have/want a mechanical.

Nope. Cheap £10 set will do the job.

Get a mechanical keyboard. It is amazing.