Gaming keyboard price comparison

With the colossal growth of hardcore gaming peripherals, it’s only fitting that we stack up SA’s mechanical gaming keyboards against one another.

We’ve looked at the Cooler Master, SteelSeries and Razer ranges to see what is available and at what price.

Some of the keyboards, particularly that of the Cooler Master range, feature different mechanical key switch types, namely Black, Brown, Blue, Clear, and Red.

Black switches are linear, meaning there is no bump or click when pressed. These have a smooth feel with the actuation and release points happening at the exact same time.

Brown switches are known to allow for quick double-tapping, and have a soft, tactile bump halfway through the key press.

Blue switches are known to be the “clickiest” of the lot, and have a tactile bump when the activation point is hit.

Clear switches have a higher actuation force than the brown switches and are often compared to the feel of rubber dome keyboards.

Red switches are linear, non-tactile, and require a lot less pressure to actuate. The results is a smoother and faster feel, making them ideal for gamers.

The following table lists the keyboards and respective RRPs (recommended retail prices):

Keyboard	Price
CM Storm Quick Fire Rapid	Black: R949.00 Blue: R949.00
SteelSeries 6GV2 keyboard	R999.00 (Cherry Black)
Razer BlackWidow 2013	R999.99 (Blue)
CM Storm Quick Fire Pro	Blue: R1,049.00 Black: R1,049.00 Brown: R1,049.00 Red: R1,199.00
CM Storm Quick Fire TK	Blue R 1,199.00 Brown R 1,199.00 Red R 1,199.00
Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 2013	R1,399.99 (Cherry MX Blue)
CM Storm Trigger	Blue: R1,349.00 Black: R1,349.00 Red: R1,449.00

The keyboards have various additional features such as back-lighting, key sensitivity, additional keys, additional ports, and customisation options. Aside from price, personal preference on features may sell or sway on a particular mechanical keyboard.

Which mechanical keyboard do you recommend? Have you even managed to get hands on such a device? Let us know in the comments below and on the MyGaming forum.