SteelSeries 7G Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The SteelSeries 7G Mechanical Keyboard is everything you require from a gaming keyboard including audio ports and a USB hub.

What is a gaming keyboard? Up until the release of the SteelSeries 7G it was clear that in order to be considered a gaming keyboard it had to in some way glow in the dark. Don’t take that the wrong way; SteelSeries do like things that have lights, but they don’t believe that’s what should define or set apart a keyboard for gaming. When SteelSeries began to design the 7G, they wanted to offer a keyboard that would do more than emulate the bridge console on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 and instead, they focused on raw performance and durability.

SteelSeries took a long look at the most extreme use scenarios for keyboards and designed a keyboard that would meet and, (in most cases) exceed every one of them. That’s why they refer to the 7G as the heavyweight of gaming keyboards. It’s not the prettiest chick in the beauty pageant. It doesn’t glow or pulse. But it packs a punch. A serious one.

MECHANICAL SWITCHES

SteelSeries 7G 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? Read on!

50 MILLION KEY PRESSES

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 experienced 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 7G offers a lifecycle of 50 million key presses per key, which is more than 10 times of the amount that conventional keyboards offer.

TACTILE FEEDBACK

But the 7G 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 7G, and the strict tolerance levels in which the switches are manufactured, is what allows the key presses on this keyboard to always feel consistent.

TRAVEL DISTANCE

It gets even better. With the 7G you don’t have to press the keys all the way down for them to register. The mechanical switches will register key presses fast; the travel distance will be 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 7G thanks to this feature.

GOLD

The SteelSeries mechanical switches are plated with gold to ensure durability and performance. Why gold you ask? It makes the switches more durable. Gold doesn’t corrode over time like other cheaper metals.

ACCLIMATION

It will take a while to get used to a mechanical keyboard, but most gamers or typists acclimatise in approximately 1 to 2 weeks. Once you are properly acclimatised 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

SteelSeries don’t just call it heavyweight because it packs the best performance in the industry. The 7G 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 which also helps improve durability. SteelSeries know you can get frustrated when you lose a game. You may even hit something in front of you when it happens. Like a keyboard. SteelSeries tried to take that into consideration when they designed the 7G. Disclaimer: Don’t hit your stuff. It’s not nice.

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 are often used for movements in games). If your keyboard exhibits this behaviour it will hinder your ability to perform certain actions, movement in a FPS games being one example. The industry has labelled this anti-ghosting. When using the PS/2 connection on the 7G, you can press as many keys as you want at the same time: all of the key presses will go through and be registered by your computer.

If you would rather connect with 7G via the included PS/2 to USB adapter, no problem. You can still use up to 6 keys plus modifiers at the same time, which is the highest spec limit a USB connection can accommodate.

USB OR PS/2?

We absolutely recommend using the PS/2 connector when possible. First, it will give you total freedom with no limit to the amount of simultaneous key presses. And, equally as important, using the PS/2 connector may just improve your overall gaming experience.

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. The 7G is built with a PS/2 connector as standard, but SteelSeries also include a PS/2 to USB adapter in the box. The choice is yours.

AUDIO PORTS

For convenience SteelSeries have added two audio ports to the 7G, making it easier than ever to connect speakers or a headset to your setup. Headphone/speaker-out and microphone-in is built directly into the keyboard. This gives you easy access to your audio outlet, instead of having to move to the back of your computer when changing or plugging in audio devices.

USB HUB

And for even more convenience SteelSeries also added a 2-port USB hub to the 7G. Plugging in your mouse, recharging your MP3-player or mobile phone is closer and easier.

BRAIDED CORD

SteelSeries have a lot of signals to transmit with the 7G: two audio signals, two USB ports, and the keyboard itself. That’s why their wiring is massive. Even more so because they use double braided nylon on everything, adding the finishing touch to a product that was built to be durable. Very durable.

MORE GOLD

The 7G is built with gold-plated connectors for durability. As previously mentioned, gold doesn’t corrode over time.

NO WINDOWS KEY

Everyone likes the Windows key for certain things and in certain situations. But not when we are in the middle of a gaming session. SteelSeries have replaced it with a “SteelSeries Key” that wont wreak havoc during a game by minimising it or by opening a menu. The SteelSeries Key serves a different purpose: it’s a function key for the Media Controls found on the 7G.

To keep the 7G compact and easy to transport, SteelSeries decided against adding additional rows of space consuming media keys. Instead you can press the SteelSeries key and access the Media Controls via the first six F-keys on the keyboard.