Steelseries 6G V2 keyboard review

Whether you build your own PCs, or buy a computer off the shelf, the keyboard is often the last thing on your mind.  Either the new machine comes with one, or you probably have one (or several) lying around that’ll do the trick.  I know I’m that way.  On one of my systems, I’m still using the keyboard from the PC manufacturer, which looks nice enough, but for extended use is actually pretty annoying.  I’ve generally steered away from most gaming keyboards, because although I do game on the PC from time to time, I found most of the the dedicated controls superfluous, and the design aesthetic on most are straight out of a second rate science fiction show.

There are good 3rd party keyboards, and both Logitech and Microsoft make some solid, ergonomic options.  My work keyboard is a Logitech and it does the trick, but it’s not something I ‘love’.   After all, we’re talking about keyboards, so love may be too strong of a word.  Does the Steelseries 6Gv2 Pro Gaming keyboard make it possible to love a keyboard?

Right out of the box, it presents something you don’t see in most keyboards these days – a straight up keyboard with no little widget buttons or any wasted space.  If you’re familiar with the old school IBM style keyboard, think that with a modern, minimalist chassis.  This flies in the face of other keyboards targeted at gamers by doing away with dedicated side controls, LED lights and other bells and whistles.  Take a look at the Steelseries Merc Stealth for an example. The 6Gv2 has a classic, simple design and there’s no mistaking what it’s to be used for.  I should also mention this is a wired USB keyboard, which comes with the USB to PS/2 adapter for those who need it.

You know that the 6Gv2 means business when you take it out of the box.  This thing weighs probably 4 or 5 times as much as the average keyboard, and could be used to easily bludgeon somebody to death.  Instead of cheap plastic flip out legs to raise the angle, two wedges are carved out of the body to make lap tying easier, and has four large non-slide pads on the bottom.  Most keyboards have a tendency to slide around the desk somewhat, unless the user has taken the time to do something about it.  The combination of weight and anti-slip pads keeps the 6Gv2 in place and actually takes some real effort to readjust positioning.  How many times have you adjusted your keyboard in the middle of a game because it’s slid a bit and you hit the wrong key?  With the 6Gv2, it becomes a non-issue.

On the matter of keys, like the old IBM style keyboard I mentioned above, the keys on the 6Gv2 have a deep travel, but quick responsiveness and just feels better than modern keyboards.  By using 18K gold plated mechanical switches, as opposed to the membrane keyboards that are so common today, there’s a solidness to every keystroke that just is on a different level from other keyboards.  It’s so good it makes you actually WANT to type on it.  Although it’s a very traditional layout, one non-standard change that Steelseries made is to replace the left Windows key with their media key, which can be used in conjunction with the F1-F6 keys for media playback.  I had no issues with the functionality in Windows Media Player, but this brings up the one minor layout problem with the 6Gv2.

For users running Vista or Windows 7, the actual Windows key has become invaluable to the average user, when compared to XP.  I rarely launch programs from icons or the Start menu, and am in the habit of hitting the Windows key and typing what I want.  Once you get into the habit, it’s hard to go back to actually hunting down icons or menu items.  By moving the Windows key to the right, the 6Gv2 threw me for a loop.  Since the media controls are also on the left side, on the F1-F6 keys, this either forces you to contort your hand unnaturally, or move your right hand across to the left side of the keyboard to select the function. Returning the Windows key to it’s home on the left, and putting the Steelseries key to the right would make much more sense.

As for the ‘pro gaming’ features, besides the weight and reliability, what makes it a gaming keyboard is the “anti-ghosting” buffer that Steelseries uses.  The 6Gv2 is capable of registering multiple key presses, even if you pressed every single key simultaneously.  I don’t have the uber-micro to vouch for how much of a difference this makes, but I can say that after putting it through some some Left 4 Dead 2 and Bioshock 2, I came away with very impressed. Of course, first person shooters are pretty limited on the simultaneous keystrokes compared to some RTS games and MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.

Personal tastes in keyboards vary widely, especially in layout.  As someone who rarely uses all the extra buttons, the 6Gv2 suits my needs perfectly, and exudes a quality that you just don’t see from a keyboard these days.  If there’s a single fault with the Steelseries 6G V2 keyboard (besides the Windows key placement), it’s that the company is marketing it wrong.  Although I understand the technical reasons why a gamer would find the keyboard appealing, the 6Gv2 goes well beyond that.  Anyone who does a lot of actual writing on their computer will probably fall in love with this thing as fast as I did.  Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or not, this will probably be the last keyboard you’ll ever buy.  The suggested US $99.99 price is fairly steep for a wired keyboard, but the quality and day to day usage puts this above and beyond every keyboard I’ve used on a modern PC.

The Steelseries 6G V2 can bought at Canadian retailers such as NCIX and Futureshop for $99.99