Looking for new Keyboard/Mouse

[Boyiee]

Currently own last gen G15, blue back lighting, 18g keys and LCD screen. Also a G5 mouse.

Think I'm going to give it to someone and pick up something new for myself.

Looking for something gaming grade, I play alot of CoD, UT, WoW, and I'm sponsered by a couple companies and do play at tournaments occasionally. The new G15 with orange back lighting is kinda nice, but its 100$ and I'm wondering if I really want it that much with how fast I have been known to go through mice/keyboards.

No Wireless, at all. Laser preferred of course. Currently use my G12 key for vent so I don't know if I could get used to something without extra keys like that, but if I do pick up a new mouse with more buttons I could always bind vent to that.

As for mouse, only ones I've found that seem decent are G9 and the Steelseries wow one (mainly due to keybinding and extra buttons on the mouse for it).

Does anyone have experience with the newer G15, G9mouse, or Steelseries wow Mouse, or have any other recommendations for something similar or maybe even better?


Edit:: want to mention my only gripe with G15 I own, is cleaning it. It takes sooooooooooo long to get inside and do it. Here's hoping the new g15 is easier to get into.

[Epical]

New G15 (I have the old one you have, but a friend has the new one) is shorter length-wise, has a spongier keyboard, and features improved LCD/media controls (this may not be important to you). The new G5 (again, I have the old rust-colored one, but the same friend has the new blue one) features another thumb button (same as the old one but split in two basically).

The moment I saw the thread title I was going to recommend both the G15 and the G5, but you said you already had both in your opening line lol. At any rate, I don't think you'll find a better board for the price (G15 is not $100 by the way, shop somewhere else if they have those prices... should be ~$75-80USD). Mouse on the other hand is debatable... Microsoft has some decent ones out (Sidewinder, etc), as well as the Razer Deathadder. Maybe try Anandtech/Tomshardware/Hardocp/Ars for some mouse round ups?

That's all I can think of at the moment.

[geno]

Since you're used to Logitech, I'd advise sticking with them. I personally just ordered a Razer Lyrcosa keyboard, but its quite different from the G15 (no extra macro keys, though every existing key is macro-able, slimmer design closer to a laptop style). I don't have it yet though, so I can't even really tell you if it was worth it either, but I've heard good things about it.

For mouse, I use a Razer as well (Habu to be specific). I like it, but once again like the rest of razer's mice, its quite different from the G5 design-wise which make make it harder to get used to. I can tell you that Razer does make their products look awesome though, and they are definitely quite powerful.

[Boyiee]

I love logitech so I'd be happy to stick with them. I have the rust colored g5 as well lol. The new g5 having a new button is nice, but damn that g9 is appealing, but spending that much on a mouse makes me want to try ou the steelseries, it's too bad I can't find it in any stores.

Friend has a razor lyrcosa, but it feels like a major downgrade to me. When I'd rather getting something thats equivalent or better in aspects when compared to the G15 and G5. I could do without the extra Gkeys(qq) if the mouse had other buttons, but that would be weird getting used to ;p

[geno]

The whole reason I got the lycosa was because I hate those gkeys, lol. Whenever I've tried it, my hand always ends up moving to the left since I use the bottom left of my left hand to hit control in a lot of games. I'm sure I'd get used to it over time, but I don't think I'd really even use them anyways. The one thing on the G15 that I might like is the LCD, but I wouldn't make much use of it.

[Boyiee]

I don't make too much use of LCD, only some, but I use the hell out of my gkeys. I make alot of button combonation/macros out of them and such. I'm pretty good at hitting them with pinky or more if I need, but that might be due to piano/guitar playing. My left hand loves to stretch.

[geno]

I don't make too much use of LCD, only some, but I use the hell out of my gkeys. I make alot of button combonation/macros out of them and such. I'm pretty good at hitting them with pinky or more if I need, but that might be due to piano/guitar playing. My left hand loves to stretch.

Hahaha, no kidding. Ever since I picked up guitar, my reach with control+numbers has gone from like ctrl+5 to ctrl+7 or 8, lol. I still don't think I'd use the gkeys though. If I ever do use macros (like buyscripts in CS or whatever) I end up setting them to existing keys, usually the numpad. But I dont use many macros for anything in the first place.

[Boyiee]

Well guess that pretty much narrows it down to logitech for my next items since I'm used to them and they deliver what I want. There are a few keyboards out there that look decent, but being so used to the Gkey capabilities really makes them win.

The mouse is still up in the air... A new G5 (since it has 1 extra button) seems like the perfect choice, best price and all... but damn that G9 is so hot looking, and the possibilities of the Steelseries mouse seem endless. My headset is Steelseries and I absolutely love it, so the mouse just really appeals.

If you haven't seen it: Partners - SteelSeries

160 character long macros, 15 buttons lol, preset commands and wow commands already - and omggggg multiple color choices for the backlighting to change it whenever I want - I'm such a nut about looks and lighting that is the most amazing thing ever lol. It doesn't say, but it has to be a laser with 3200dpi, cause I wont go less than a 2k dpi laser, and wont use optical. Just wondering if that hand/thumb rest is comfortable, since I've never used that before and can't check it out in a store.

[geno]

Thats a pretty crazy mouse, lol. Too much stuff for me though (especially since I don't play WoW). But yeah, lighting and looks are a bit important for me as well, which is part of the reason I'm getting the Lycosa (matches my Habu!). I can't really help you much on those options you have since all I've ever owned in terms of gaming stuff is razer.

Can I ask which headphones are you using? 5h v2? I've been narrowing down my choices on a new headset for quite some time and thats one of the two choices I'm down to. The other (the one that I think I'm actually going to get even if it is a bit more expensive) is the Sennheiser PC350.

http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuima...50-Headset.jpg vs http://www.inforafo.com/images/steel/5hv2.jpg

Everywhere I've looked, short of the Astro A40 system for $250 which is too much for me, the PC350 is about as good as you can get for a closed-ear circumaural stereo (I still don't trust most 5.1s) headset. Of course most places advise headphones and a separate mic, but I like my headsets too much. the 5h v2 though isn't that far behind, especially since you can get it USB (I don't have a good sound card... I might need to buy one for the PC350), and its like $40 cheaper. The Sennheiser does look better to me though, so it might be worth the extra.

[Boyiee]

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...249-010-05.jpg

That's what I use. I suppose it's lowtech for how much I need it and my other devices, but I go through them faster then anything else... lets see... I've spent probably 500+ on headsets this year. First I buy this 40$ one, shits out on me, didn't wanna spend that again, so I get a 20$ ps3 one, worked great! Gave it to sister. Bought a nice 50$ logitech... DIED WTF HOW DO YOU DIE YOU ARE 50$ WTF dont even know how it died it just stopped having sound come through. Ok time for another cheap one, 20$. Worked great. Died... etc etc, friend recommends that, he is on my cod4 team and has more sponsers than me, not to mention got paid more wtf. I got it, absolutely love it.

There are 2 models. One with the mic/headphone jacks, and one with a Micheadphone jack that goes into a volume control, that goes into USB port. So you have the option of either. I use vista and have had problems with vent with headsets sometimes not being recognized or whatever, or stupid things (needing to set them as default device everytime i open vent) but no problems with this one. Once a week I hear crackels in vent, just pop it out of usb and back in, and it starts working clear as day. I sound clearer then ever and so do the people speaking to me. It's pretty comfortable as well, however the 2 of those look way more comfortable. The mic is separate and clips onto either your shirt, or like I use it, onto the cord for the headset. Mic is always on too, you can talk into it and hear yourself, nice for checking to see where your problem is if you have a malfunction.

Oh, did I mention it's only like 80$? Win. My next option was well over 100, and the other was over 200.

Edit:: no wonder it sounds so good, it's got a USB soundcard thats virtual 7.1, and like someone mentioned in one review, that actually sounds better then their soundcard (and it's pretty equivalent to mine)

I don't know if I can use a separate... separate mic... Most places recommend like a totally different mic that sits on your desk? Those have always looked and sounded so shitty to me. My headsets really aren't bought on sound quality. I don't play music through them as I have good speakers and a surround sound system in my room. So it's only peoples voices, and in FPS I'll sometimes send sound through them. Sound quality isn't a huge issue for me, the headset performing to the price I paid and not breaking is. You look like you are more into sound than me, so I can't help you too much there.

[geno]

Thats the Siberia right? I liked that one a bit, but I think its open-ear, and I like attached mic better if I'm going with a headset anyways. I haven't read too much about it, but it does look similar in design to Razer's barracuda design, both of which I don't really like too much. The biggest difference between that one and the other Steelseries I posted (since they are actually similarly priced now that the 5h v2 has come down a bit), is that the 5h v2 is closed-ear (at least, it looks like the Siberia is open-ear.. kinda hard to tell). I always hear open-ear is better for sound quality and comfort (ventilation=good), but they leak sound which I don't want.

Anyways, the separate mic thing I was talking about is a lot like the ones that come with the Siberia, don't think they are too expensive. The real reason for it is the headphones though, as they are just made to sound a lot better than headsets (which only recently have companies started catering better sound to). Personally though, I doubt I could tell the difference, unless it was like some super expensive studio headphones or something (Clearly, I'm not an audiophile. I just read up on a lot of stuff when I get interested in it, lol).

As for the USB soundcard thing, that pretty much how all USB headsets work. The Siberia (and afaik their 5hv2 USB) both have external sound cards, but they really aren't going to be better quality than a dedicated sound card. They probably will be better than most onboard though (I think my onboard sound actually does support virtual 7.1... I'm not sure ).

I honestly think the biggest thing for headsets/headphones (if you aren't an audiophile) is comfort and durability, especially for gamers. I used to go through headsets so damn fast when I was buying like $10 sets from a computer fair around here, I'd buy them in bulk (seriously lol). The ones that have actually lasted me the longest so far are these USB Microsoft Livechats I got from their club.live.com site, lol. They get really uncomfortable though and their sound quality isn't really the best. That's part of the reason I'm getting one of the above headsets, to try out something with a bit more quality. I did a lot of research on them though for the same reason you said... they better damn well perform to the price I pay and not break after a month of use.

edit: Sorry about derailing your thread btw, lol.

[Boyiee]

It's fine to derail, the keyboard decision was made and the mouse is just "how much do I wan't to spend" and "do I wan't to try something new even though I have so much comfort and all in logitech".

I'll change the title to headsets too for you.

And yes, it's the siberia USB.

Anyway.

I need open ear. I occasionally have people come in my room, not to mention very often I have tv on or music playing through speakers. I rarely have anything but Vent and some games play through the headset, so I do need to hear things outside of it occasionally when I'm not "in the zone" lol. As far as losing sound goes, With how much of your ear is encompassed by the headset, I really don't see how thats possible. Unless you are an audiophile, that just seems like a gimmicky selling point. OH YOU LOSE SOUND! there is like 3 cubic cm of space for that to escape and I doubt it's noticable.

I'll never used closed ear again I don't think. Some days of practice I'll have my headset on from anywhere between 6hours and 12+, I need my ears to breathe. Even in the ones I posted, I need to remove them for a few seconds now and then cause my body just feels hot and I will start to sweat... And other closed ear noise cancelling headsets I've owned, when wearing them with no sound going through for a while (for whatever reason) my ears start to hurt... don't ask my why, but just the sound of silence for so long makes my ears absolutely intolerable. I gave up a 50$ headset in the past due to that.

It does seem we are in the same boat with going through headsets alot, but my next several headsets will be that exact one if anything happens to it.

The mic shown in the picture with the "in ear headset" on their headset page is the same one the siberia uses. Just clips on, kinda strange at first and it was new to me (always had mine attatched, on a boom, or my jawline). But I do like it, the only problem is I have restless leg or something and sometimes tap my foot, so when I'm talking in vent it can sound like I'm masturbating. I'd say attach it to a better thing than a loose shirt.

[geno]

By the lose sound thing, I mean other people around you will be able to hear it. The actual sound quality for the person wearing it is supposed to sound better though. And the ventilation is good too for prolonged use. I've always used a closed design though, and never had problems/been annoyed by it outside of the obvious design flaws in some of the cheapie headsets that make them too tight or poorly shapen, which is why I don't mind using a closed set. I have no problem either ignoring the people or things that come in and out of my room or taking off the headset when they do, because its worth it for when I'm alone because my room can end up pretty loud (tiny room with a computer that has like 7 fans with poor sound reduction, an in-window AC, and a mini-fridge that can get loud as well.)

The mic shown in the picture with the "in ear headset" on their headset page is the same one the siberia uses. Just clips on, kinda strange at first and it was new to me (always had mine attatched, on a boom, or my jawline). But I do like it, the only problem is I have restless leg or something and sometimes tap my foot, so when I'm talking in vent it can sound like I'm masturbating. I'd say attach it to a better thing than a loose shirt.

Hahaha, thats great. The one demo I saw for the use of that was a mounting onto the monitor instead of on clothing at all, which seemed to work really well. But that seems like it would make the headset less convenient for LAN type things.

[Boyiee]

ohhhhhhhh I didn't even think of mounting it somewhere. It's really a good mic, and picks up sound really well... And now that I think about it, it can pick up my speakers sound well if I want it to.

The masturbating thing is kinda funny though, hard to give up. I'd really like to hit up a store and try out one of the more elite headsets, I'm just so against spending 150-200+ on one since I use like 10+ a year. I've only had this one since September, but that's the longest any single one has lasted yet.

[geno]

Of the two I posted above, I found the Sennheiser for $120 (including shipping!) and the 5h v2 for $80, which I think are pretty good deals respectively compared to a lot of the other crap you'll find in those price ranges. I'm going to be so pissed if they break easily though, lol.

Funny that the longest lasting headset I've gotten (and the one I'm using currently) was technically free, lol. I got them in June, and they still work fine, which is in retrospect a strange feeling. I mean, I've still got a couple extra pairs of cheaper ones that I had ready for when it broke somewhere around here, haha. I'm hoping those higher end ones have the same durability.