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Technical Details
- Gold plated switches
- Extreme anti-ghosting
- Features SteelSeries Media Controls
- 18K-Gold plated mechanical switches and USB connectors
Product Details
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The SteelSeries 6Gv2 mechanical keyboard, modeled after the award winning SteelSeries 7G mechanical keyboard, is incredibly durable and is designed to improve the user's ability to obtain more actions per minute than any other keyboard on the market. The SteelSeries G Series Keyboards redefine "anti-ghosting" features by supporting as many simultaneous key presses as there are keys on the keyboard.
Golden Quality and Rapid Response Time
The SteelSeries 6Gv2 features PS/2 and gold-plated USB connectors as well as 18K gold-plated mechanical switches with a switch lifetime of 50 million operations, more than 10 times the lifespan of a typical "membrane" keyboard. Its increased response times and extreme durability make the SteelSeries 6Gv2 the ultimate keyboard option for gamers.
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 FPS games being one example. The industry calls 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.
Increased APM
It gets even better. With the 6Gv2 you don't have to press the keys all the way down for them to register. The mechanical switches will register key presses quickly with a travel distance 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.
Tactile Feedback and Unrivaled Lifecycle
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.
Mechanical Switches
SteelSeries 6Gv2 is built with mechanical no-click switches. The user's 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?
Traditional keyboards are built with small rubber domes under the keys. It is these rubber domes that provide 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 of a conventional keyboards.
Acclimation
It may 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
It's not just called "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.
USB and PS/2 Connectors
The 6Gv2 is built with a USB as standard, but also included is a USB to PS/2 adapter in the box. The choice is yours.
The PS/2 connector 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.
Easy Access to Media Controls
The Windows key is useful for certain things and in certain situations. But not in the middle of a gaming session. Replacing it on the 6Gv2 is a SteelSeries Key that won't wreak havoc during a gaming session 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. You can press the SteelSeries key and access the Media Controls via the first six F-keys on the keyboard.
What's in the Box
The SteelSeries 6Gv2 Mechanical Keyboard with USB connectors and a USB to PS/2 adapter
What the Critics are Saying about the SteelSeries 6Gv2 Mechanical Keyboard
"Do you really need a gaming keyboard? I sure didn't think I did, right up until I tried a SteelSeries 6Gv2. Gaming demands aside, the 6Gv2 is a great piece of office equipment. It brings back the days when a keyboard was a robust part of the PC suite, not a cheap, plasticy afterthought."
--Gaming Nexus
Technical Specifications
- Gold-plated Microphone and Headset Jacks
- Connection Options: PS/2 and USB
- Dimensions: 21.5" x 12.6" x 3.3"
Which SteelSeries Gaming Keyboard is Right for You? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  6Gv2 |  7G |  Merc Stealth |  Shift |
| Integrated Media Keys |  | | | |
| PS/2 Connection Option | | | ||
| Mechanical Switches | | | ||
| Extreme "Anti-Ghosting" | | | ||
| USB Hub | | | | |
| Gold-plated Audio Ports | | | | |
| Dedicated Gaming Terrain | | (w/ optional keysets) | ||
| Illuminated Keyboard | | |||
| Record Macros Directly on Keyboard | | |||
| Interchangeable Keysets | | |||
Product Description
Customer Reviews
Pro:
- MX Cherry Blacks (widely considered the best switches for gaming, along with MX Reds, which I believe are only available in China).
- Solid construction (fortunately, I did not have any problem with the keys being loose in any way. My keyboard is solid through and through perhaps due to successful shipping and handling).
- Full NKRO
- Relatively inexpensive for a mechanical keyboard
- Familiar key layout and key size
- It works flawlessly with Windows 7 64bit. You simply plug it in BEFORE turning on the PC, then turn on the PC to enjoy your new keyboard.
Cons:
- Very minor flaw, but the PS/2 converter isn't the most snug-fitting connector. However, it works and does enable full NKRO, so I'd highly recommend using it.
- I can confirm what other users have written about dulling of printed letters on the keys. No exaggeration, after only a few DAYS of use, the WASD (my most used keys) keys have faded considerably. I should note that I'm impeccably hygienic and wash my hands thoroughly before each session at my PC. That being said, it's not dirt that's obscuring the letters; the letters themselves are literally rubbing off the keys. I don't see this as a glaring issue, but if you desire immaculate aesthetics, this could irritate you.
- Angle of keyboard is non-adjustable. (Not an issue for me since, if anything, I prefer a flat keyboard)
Other thoughts:
I can attest that typing on MX Cherry blacks isn't as laborious or disastrous as some people make it out to be. They're certainly still considerably more suitable for typing than rubber dome membrane keyboards. At first you might make more typing-errors because the keys actuate about half-way through the stroke, meaning if you're not a confident typist some of your thoughtless keystrokes will register as well.
Summary: if your main interest in keyboards is multimedia utility or having dozens of extra keys, then look elsewhere. This keyboard is minimalistic, highly durable and functional, and could easily be the last keyboard you ever purchase (I've read numerous claims of mechanical keyboards lasting 15-20 years with almost no loss of functionality).
For the record, I tried many different products across multiple manufacturers and ended up coincidentally settling with almost all SteelSeries peripherals. I don't have much experience with this company, but from all my impression with their products, I am very satisfied and will continue to try their merchandise.
So, I get the keyboard. It's not natively PS2, but provides an adapter so you can plug it in to your PS2 port. PS2 is required to use the anti ghosting feature, which works flawlessly by the way. The keys are pretty loud compared to a membrane keyboard, but I was aware of this before purchase and actually find it fun ( i am easily amused ) . It feels like I am efortlessly gliding around this keyboard, mashing keys at an unprecedented rate. It is far more compact than any keyboard I have ever used and I can basically man the entire left half of the keyboard with one hand easily. I didn't really beleive that something like a keyboard could increase your in-game performance so greatly, but boy, was I wrong. I saw a 25 point actions per minute in Starcraft 2 on average!
The board its self is very sturdy and I feel like I could bludgeon a small mammall with it and it would stay intact. Overall, this is an amazing product for the price. I would highly recommend it for someone looking for their first or even an upgraded mechanical keyboard.
Pro: The build quality of this keyboard is outstanding. It is a good no frills keyboard and performs flawlessly. Read more
It's also one of the more affordable mechanical keyboards on the market. Read more
-minimalist design
-mechanical switches
-comes with a ps/2 adapter for n key rollover
-on the quite end of the spectrum for a mechanical... Read more
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