Re: [AFMUG] OT: Gaming Keyboard

[Nate Burke]

I'm looking at new keyboards.  The interesting this is that my PS2 
keyboard did not have this problem on my old box, I am using a USB->PS2 
adapter on the new box with the same keyboard, and I'm limited to 3 
keypresses.  That almost makes it seem like a USB limitation, or an 
issue with the USB->PS2 adapter, not the physical keyboard.

On 3/30/2015 11:08 AM, Steve D wrote:
My Microsoft Sidewinder keyboard (with NKRO) has taken a beating over 
the years.  I think they stopped making it though or something?  Also 
gives you the option to disable the windows key while playing games.  
Most keyboards that have it that I used for gaming I popped it out, 
but on the desktop it's actually an entirely useful key, so having it 
disabled just while in game is much better.

Even for work, there are certain situations where I'll manage to jam 
up my laptop keyboard which is entirely aggravating.

-Steve D

On Mon, Mar 30, 2015 at 7:56 AM, Bill Prince <part15...@gmail.com 
<mailto:part15...@gmail.com>> wrote:

    Here's a pretty good overview of nkey rollover:

        
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mechanical-keyboard-razer-logitech-gigabyte,3505-6.html

    bp
    <part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com>

    On 3/30/2015 7:39 AM, Simon Westlake wrote:
    You need a keyboard that advertises full NKRO. This will allow an
    infinite number of keypresses to be sent. I personally use
    
http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-blackbird-tenkeyless-tkl-cherry-mx-backlit-mechanical-keyboard.html
    but I like mechanical keyboards and ten key less boards. There
    are cheaper keyboards with full NKRO.

    From Wikipedia:

    Certain high-end keyboards have "/n/-key rollover". This means
    that each key is scanned completely independently by the keyboard
    hardware, so that each keypress is correctly detected regardless
    of how many other keys are being pressed or held down at the
    time.^[3]
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollover_%28key%29#cite_note-TechWeb-3>


    Most music keyboards use isolation diodes in theirkeyboard matrix
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_matrix_%28music%29>to
    implement full/n/-key rollover (sometimes abbreviated NKRO),
    making them immune to both key ghosting and key jamming.^[4]
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollover_%28key%29#cite_note-dribin-4>

    However, to reduce cost and design complexity, most computer
    keyboards do not isolate all keys in this way. Instead, they use
    a matrix of key switches, without any isolation diodes, that
    assumes that only a limited number of keys will be held down at
    any given time. With these keyboards, pressing as few as three
    keys can cause ghosting effects,^[4]
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollover_%28key%29#cite_note-dribin-4>
    although care is taken when laying out the matrix arrangement
    that this does not happen for common modifier key combinations.



    On 03/29/2015 09:18 PM, Josh Luthman wrote:

    I never liked those as much as PS2 Logitech's I used entirely
    before this one.  They did have the problem, though...

    Josh Luthman
    Office: 937-552-2340 <tel:937-552-2340>
    Direct: 937-552-2343 <tel:937-552-2343>
    1100 Wayne St
    Suite 1337
    Troy, OH 45373

    On Mar 29, 2015 10:13 PM, "TJ Trout" <t...@voltbb.com
    <mailto:t...@voltbb.com>> wrote:

        I use a standard dell usb keyboard for gaming and it works
        great. Like $15 new on ebay and it's one of the best
        keyboards I've ever owned

        On Mar 29, 2015 6:59 PM, "Josh Luthman"
        <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com
        <mailto:j...@imaginenetworksllc.com>> wrote:

            Personally I wanted PS2 only keyboards for the longest
            time because it always worked.  Even up to XP I found
            issues with USB keyboards (gone with 7 and 8).

            The PS2 keyboards I had most definitely had the problem
            you're talking about.  Definitely in UT2004 where it was
            VERY noticeable.  I believe this G19s is my first USB
            keyboard as far as I can recall.


            Josh Luthman
            Office: 937-552-2340 <tel:937-552-2340>
            Direct: 937-552-2343 <tel:937-552-2343>
            1100 Wayne St
            Suite 1337
            Troy, OH 45373

            On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 9:54 PM, Nate Burke
            <n...@blastcomm.com <mailto:n...@blastcomm.com>> wrote:

                That's what I saw, it was something about the groups
                of keys that they put into the same 'read' pattern. 
                So you can't have multiple keypresses from the same
                'group', but USB had a limit of 6 simultaneous
                events.  Some high end keyboards get around that by
                having a Hub built into the keyboard, and presenting
                it to the OS as 2 keyboards so they can get 12
                events.  PS2 did not have this limitation.  There
                seems to be a ton of bad information floating around
                though.

                This PC Came with a USB Keyboard that's still in the
                box.  Maybe I'll put that out and try it.

                On 3/29/2015 8:46 PM, Josh Luthman wrote:
                The bus has nothing to do with what key
                combinations you can or can not push.  It's in the
                keyboard itself.  At least that's what my research
                told me.

                I've used the G19s for quite some time, but
                honestly the only PC game I've played in the last
                ~12 months is Diablo 3.  I absolutely love this
                keyboard for everything else, if that helps.


                Josh Luthman
                Office: 937-552-2340 <tel:937-552-2340>
                Direct: 937-552-2343 <tel:937-552-2343>
                1100 Wayne St
                Suite 1337
                Troy, OH 45373

                On Sun, Mar 29, 2015 at 9:36 PM, Nate Burke
                <n...@blastcomm.com <mailto:n...@blastcomm.com>> wrote:

                    I've acquired a new PC which is better than my
                    old box, but It doesn't have any PS2 ports on
                    it.  I've always used a PS2 Keyboard for
                    gaming, but now have to use a USB to PS2
                    adapter, and I'm running into what I guess is
                    called 'N-Key' Issues. Apparently this is an
                    issue with USB Keyboards where only a certain
                    number of keys (or combinations) can be pressed
                    at the same time.  It seems like PS2 doesn't
                    have these problems.  There are many many sites
                    on it, and lots of talk about fake reviews/ bad
                    specs for keyboards.

                    So, Anyone here have a recomendation for a good
                    Gaming keyboard (USB) that doesn't cost
                    $100's?  Or is there a special USB to PS2
                    adapter to use?  I just loaded up one of my
                    racing games, and found that I can't accelerate
                    turn, and hit the Ebrake at the same time.

                    Nate





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