What is a gaming keyboard? Up until the release of the SteelSeries
6Gv2 it was clear that in order to be considered a “gaming” keyboard it
had to in some way glowed in the dark. Don’t take that the wrong way, we
do like things that have lights and can be a bit flashy, but we don’t
believe that’s what should define or set apart a keyboard for gaming. As
we began to design the 6Gv2, we wanted to offer a keyboard that would
do more than emulate the bridge console on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701
and instead, we focused on raw performance and durability.
We took a long look at the most extreme use scenarios for keyboards and
designed a keyboard that would meet and (in most cases) exceed every one
of them. That’s why we refer to the 6Gv2 as the “heavyweight of gaming
keyboards”. It’s not the prettiest chick in the beauty pageant. It
doesn’t glow or pulse. But it packs a punch. A serious one.
MECHANICAL SWITCHES
SteelSeries 6Gv2 is built with mechanical no-click switches. The
users experience with mechanical switches is very different compared to
using the “soft feel” keys found on conventional keyboards or even
laptops. So how is it different?
50 MILLION KEY PRESSES
Traditional keyboards are built with small rubber domes under the
keys. It is these rubber domes that provides the “soft feel” level of
resistance when you type. When you operate a rubber dome keyboard, the
keys needs to be pressed down until a membrane switch is activated.
These membrane switches will slowly wear out, typically after one to
five million key presses. You may already have tried this. After a while
you will find yourself pressing harder and harder to get the keyboard
to register key presses. Typing gradually becomes annoying and
irritating – but when you’re gaming and you start missing critical
in-game commands, frustration sets in. The 6Gv2 offers a lifecycle of 50
million key presses per key, which is more than 10 times of the amount
than conventional keyboards.
TACTILE FEEDBACK
But the 6Gv2 offers more than just a long lifecycle. The rubber domes
on a conventional keyboard will, over time,lose their tactile feeling
due to rubber flexing. The keys you use the most will start to feel
different. The physical construction of the mechanical switches used in
the 6Gv2, and the strict tolerance levels in which the switches are
manufactured, is what allows the key presses on this keyboard to always
feel consistent.
TRAVEL DISTANCE
It gets even better. With the 6Gv2 you don’t have to press the keys
all the way down for them to register. Our mechanical switches will
register key presses fast; the travel distance will be roughly 50%
shorter than a conventional keyboard. You will type faster, with a
consistent tactile feeling. Your Actions Per Minute (APM) can reach new
heights with the 6Gv2 thanks to this feature.
ACCLIMATION
It will take a while to get used to a mechanical keyboard, most
gamers or typists acclimate in approximately 1 to 2 weeks. Once you are
properly acclimated you will appreciate better tactile feedback,
superior response times and ultimately greater control. Simply put: You
will become a better typist.
AND IT’S HEAVY
We don’t just call it “heavyweight” because it packs the best
performance in the industry. The 6Gv2 is also physically heavy. All keys
are mounted on a metal plate within the keyboard to ensure durability.
The plastic material used to create the keyboard has metal elements,
also to help to improve durability. We’re just like you. That’s why we
know you can get “frustrated” when you lose a game. You may even hit
something in front of you when it happens. Like a keyboard. We tried to
take that into consideration when we designed the 6Gv2. Disclaimer:
Don’t hit your stuff. It’s not nice.
REDEFINING “ANTI-GHOSTING”
Ever tried pressing a few keys on your keyboard and getting a beep
sound? It either happens when you press too many keys at the same time,
or when you press too many keys within the same cluster at the same time
(like the keys around WASD which often used for movements in games). If
your keyboard exhibits this behavior it will hinder your ability to
perform certain actions, movement in a FPS games being one example. The
industry has labeled this anti-ghosting. When using USB, you can use up
to 6 keys plus modifiers at the same time, which is the highest spec
limit a USB connection can accommodate.
USB OR PS/2?
The 6Gv2 is built with a USB as standard, but we also included a USB to PS/2 adapter in the box. The choice is yours.
We absolutely recommend using the PS/2 connector when possible. First,it
will give you total freedom with no limit to the amount of simultaneous
key presses. And, equally as important, using the PS/2 may just improve
your overall gaming experience. The reason is that when you use a USB
keyboard your computer is actually using CPU time polling your keyboard.
The higher the polling rate the more CPU time is used to perform the
polling. And because of the built-in debounce rate found on any quality
keyboard, any polling rate above 200Hz is simply a waste of CPU time and
really just a result of pointless marketing hype. Unlike USB keyboards a
PS/2 keyboard isn’t polled at all. The keyboard simply sends a signal
to the computer as key presses are made, which causes a hardware
interrupt, forcing the CPU to register the signal.
NO WINDOWS KEY
We like the Windows key for certain things and in certain situations.
But not when we are in the middle of a gaming session. We have replaced
it with a SteelSeries Key that won’t wreak havoc during a gaming by
minimizing your game or by opening a menu. The SteelSeries Key serves a
different purpose: it’s a function key for the Media Controls found on
the 6Gv2.
To keep the 6Gv2 compact and easy to transport, we decided against
adding additional rows of space consuming keys for this. Instead you can
press the SteelSeries key and access the Media Controls via the first
six F-keys on the keyboard.