STACK #182 Dec 2019

GAMES FEATURE

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The long and short on the factors that impact the long and short actuation points on a gaming keyboard. Words Nathan Lawrence

Making the switch

S lap ‘gaming’ in front of any peripheral and you can expect to pay more dollars. But you can also safely expect some viable gamer-centric gains from that adjective, too. When it comes to gaming keyboards, you can skimp on an older slower-actuating membrane keyboard or dive into the machine-like wonders of speedy mechanical actuation. But first, here’s what you actually need to know about actuation.

Despite variance in names between big-name brands, the switches on mechanical keyboards tend to break down into three core categories. Tactile is targeted at competitive shooter fans who seek a noticeable bump in their keystrokes. Linear ditches the mid-keystroke bump for a smoother-than-tactile feel, which is meant for games that favour double-taps. Clicky is next- level tactile, where the bump also offers a clicky sound and feel of a typewriter- like keyboard.

Membrane dead? Membrane keyboards are fast becoming rarer than encouraging teammates in Call of Duty . That said, rumours of the death of the old keyboard tech are greatly exaggerated. If you’re just starting out on your gaming-peripheral journey, there’s nothing wrong with buying something like the slower- actuating Cooler Master Devastator 3. This keyboard/mouse combo boasts an ergonomic design, RGB lighting for lovers of illumination, and even offers tactile feedback via custom membrane key switches. ACTUATING ACTUATION On the ever-raging war of gaming keyboards, the current battle is being waged over actuation. This is a five-dollar word for a five-cent explanation: ultimately, how quickly a keystroke is registered via its key switches. It might not read like a big deal, but our tests of the last weapon in low-actuation, optical switches, reveal noticeable competitive gains.

In fairness, full-sweat tenkeyless (read: D-pad-less) competitive gaming keyboards with optical switches make everyday tasks fraught with the keen on-screen proof that you're likely to have aim inaccuracies in your typing. Forgiving of a barely brushed key these keyboards are not. Still, as you’ll learn later, there are exceptions.

On top of actuation, there are specific mechanical switches to take into account, some of which offer those low-actuating competitive advantages, but mostly it boils

down to the personal-preference finger equivalent of rating a burger in terms of ‘mouth feel’. It’s a combination of touch and sound, which can mean the difference between Simon and Garfunkel’s most

popular song (or close to silence) and like you’re typing correspondence on a typewriter.

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DECEMBER 2019

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