How to improvise the PC gaming experience forever with some inputs?

Here is the list of 4 hardware which can change your gaming experience forever. If you ever have thought about to get in to the game as you are playing there on your own then these are the hardware which you must have so that you can feel the latest version of technical gaming support.

Mechanical keyboards

The phrase mechanical keyboard might sound a bit steam punk and retro, but the technology isn't all that different to the hardware you're using right now. The majority of current keyboards operate by having a rubberized membrane positioned under each key, with contact points that connect every time you press a key and push the two sides together. Mechanical keyboards operate on similar principles, but instead of pushing down a membrane, each key has an individual micro switch beneath it.

Being substantially more expensive to make than 'membrane' keyboards, it's been decades since the mechanical style were normal, or even widely available - but recently they've come back into fashion as accessories aimed at high-end garners. This is because mechanical keyboards offer improved sensory feedback. In a membrane-based keyboard, you usually know you've pressed a key because you see something happen on screen, or feel the key bottom out. In a mechanical keyboard, the micro switches give minute tactile and auditory feedback when they're activated, which allows you type quicker, giving you a slight edge when gaming.
Admittedly, it's not something you'll necessarily notice unless you're some kind of cyber-athlete, but there is added value in that typing on micro switches is an inherently satisfying experience - the computer equivalent of writing on banana skin using a Biro  In addition to that, they automatically have anti-ghosting capabilities. This allows you to hold down multiple keys at once without fear of the input being lost. The majority of membrane-style keyboards can handle no more than three keys at once. Mechanical keyboards can handle far more, which is ideal for setting up multi-key macros or inputting several commands simultaneously.

Mechanical keyboards are also longer-lived and more resilient than membrane-based keyboards, with each key rated for as many as 50 million presses compared to 1-5-million on membrane keyboards. However, mechanical keyboards can also be heavy and they are more vulnerable to spillages, because the circuits aren't sealed by a single rubber membrane. Potentially the largest down side is that the switches are much noisier than most keyboards, which has the potential irritate those around you in communal settings. If that's likely to be a problem, there are some models that offer low-noise versions.

So if I've convinced you to get one of these a high-end gaming keyboard, what are the options?

Steel Series 6G v2 - The Steel Series 6Gv2 is based on the popular Cherry MX Black micro switches found in many gaming keyboards, meaning they're smooth and quiet, and thus an familiar choice for anyone thinking of upgrading into the realm of mechanical keyboards. A proprietary Steel Series key replaces the left-hand Windows key, partly to prevent you accidentally opening the start menu while gaming, and partly to give easy access to a function-modifier that turns fts function keys into media keys.

As mechanical keyboards go, this one's all about the micro switches - don't expect to see extras like USB hubs or audio pass-through. Indeed, it even lacks any height-adjustment features, although it is more angled than the majority of keyboards by default. Minimalist is the word, although its micro switches are silent (i.e. very quiet, for micro switches) and the shell is made of rather sturdy iron-infused plastic. When it's connected by USB, it provides a six key rollover but if plugged into a PS/2 port there's no limit to the amount of keys it'll detect simultaneously.

It's certainly not the most complex peripheral on the market, but if you just want to find out what the fuss is over mechanical keyboards, it's a reliable name and a fine example of one.

Razer BlackWidow - The Razer Black Widow uses Cherry MX Brown micro switches, which are also quiet, but give a more easily felt tactile response (FYI, those wanting the full loud and tactile experience should look for Cherry MX Blue switches). As keyboards go, it's got plenty of extras garners will appreciate — a pass-through audio jack and USB port, for example. It also offers a six key rollover via a USB connection, but sadly there's no PS/2 option, which might put off more dedicated garners.

Gaming keyboards

If you're less bothered about fidelity and more interested in features, there are still gaming keyboards available that might want to consider. These use the more familiar membrane design, meaning they're not as expensive as fully micro switched mechanical keyboards, but they also support all sorts of additional features that might not be found on their bog standard cousins.

Back lights, for example, are popular additions to gaming keyboards, reflecting the tradition of gaming to be done in dimly lit rooms so as to enhance the visuals. Keyboard back lights tend to be are unobtrusive, deep colors such as red or blue, and aid the player in finding the right keys despite the potentially light-free environment. More advanced examples may have customization colors, or multiple brightness levels.

You'll also find additional keys, beyond the 101 standard ones — most likely programmable function keys, for macro-inputs bound to proprietary or complex keyboard commands for certain games, or media keys that allow you to control things like audio volume and even screen brightness. While one of the most important things about a Gaming keyboard is that it looks the part, many also have anti-ghosting capabilities to allow multiple key presses  which sets them apart functionally (as well as visually) from a normal, run-of the-mill keyboard.

Unlike mechanical keyboards, gaming models are rarely much more complex or well-engineered than the average keyboard, but that does make them significantly more affordable. Don't expect to spend more than £30-f 50 even on the best!

To give you an idea of what hardware you should be aiming for if you want a gaming keyboard, here are two I recommend:

Microsoft Sidewinder X4 - The Microsoft Sidewinder brand has long been associated with affordable, but feature-packed, gaming peripherals and the Sidewinder X4 keyboard is no exception. Packing in tonnes of functionality it's stylish and reasonably priced, making it an ideal choice for people who want a gaming keyboard AND something that looks vaguely like it could be used for actual typing. Gaming-related extras include six programmable macro keys down the left-hand side, a row of multimedia keys across the top, and a pleasantly subtle red back light that can be brightened or dulled depending on your preference. With selectable memory profiles and the ability to detect up to 26 simultaneous key presses  it can be confidently relied on to play just about any game you throw at it. Its unapologetic mid-range, but unassailable good value for being so.

Saitek Cyborg v7 - Garners more interested in a higher-end keyboard are likely to be interested in Saitek's latest: the Cyborg v7. Despite the fact that it looks like it fell off the set of a 1980s sci-fi movie (indeed it's rare in the computing industry to find a name so aposite), this is a gamers keyboard at heart. Its distinctive design comes with 12 extra Cyborg keys, split down the left and right of the keyboard, which can be reprogrammed to correspond with any input you like. For that matter, so can any other key, because its fully configurable.

How configurable, you might ask? Well, the backlights for each key can shine in any of 5 different colors, allowing you to color code various functions, and brightness can be adjusted from the lighting control touch-panel at the top of the keyboard. Indeed, to prove how serious this keyboard is about gaming, the WASD and spacebar keys are coated with metal for extra protection against wear and tear. Now that's the kind of commitment every gamer wants to see.

Gaming mice

A good mouse is essential for any PC gamer but, much like gaming keyboards, gaming mice have the potential to look crazy and cost a lot. There are good reasons for that, though. Gaming mice tend to pack in features you wouldn't dream of seeing in other, more conventional input devices - like the ability to reconfigure the optical polling speeds on the fly means you can go from wide to fine input in seconds (perfect for lining up that headshot at the last moment). Meanwhile, adjustable weights allow you to select the most comfortable feel for you, rubber grips are often included so that your hand stays firmly in place and some even allow you to adjust the angle at which your hand rests!

As you'd expect, gaming mice are also packed with buttons, which can be bound to keypresses or used in Windows as extra browser keys. The difference between wired and wireless mice is hotly debated, with some garners decrying the potential lag and battery requirements of wireless peripherals, and others upset with the idea of tethering their mouse with an easily trapped cord. Whichever your preference, the lack of consensus means that high-end mouse market should be able to fill it.

So, which gaming mice are worth getting hold of?

Sidewinder X8 - It might not look particularly impressive, but the Sidewinder X8s more conventional design could conceivably appeal to a larger section of the market more than the bizarre future-industrial approach favorite by some other manufacturers - especially if you're expecting to use it in a non-gaming context. Sleeker and smoother than previous incarnations, the Sidewinder X8 handles more comfortably as a result, making it worth paying a little more for.

As well as looking better than earlier versions, the X8 features seven buttons and adds Microsoft's new BlueTrack laser technology, which means that it performs well even on previously problematic surfaces. This helps to eliminate the lag that can plague other wireless gaming mice. A detachable power cable means you can plug it in to charge without having to stop using it, which is a welcome idea (and it means there are no more 'I forgot to put it in the cradle!' mishaps).

It's slightly more expensive than you might want to spend on a mouse that doesn't look especially flash, but if you do want a functional gaming mouse that doesn't look like it just dropped off a robot, this is well worth considering.

Mad Catz Cyborg R.A.T. 9 - It might be the most expensive mouse this side of Disney, but the Mad Catz R.A.T. 9 both looks and feels the part. Despite being wireless, response times are as close to zero as you could reasonably ask for, and even though its battery-powered (you get two, so you can charge one in the supplied dock, and hot-swap to the other if it runs out) it's still light and sleek. Indeed, you can actually add or remove up to 30 grams of weighting to make sure its pitched just right for you. Rubber grips ensure you never miss that critical moment, while adjustable panels mean that you can even mould it to your hands preferred shape. The precision mode is a true hardcore gaming feature, temporarily slowing the input speed for greater accuracy while the total of seven buttons is more than adequate for any game. Admittedly expensive, but it's quite clearly worth it.

Gaming controllers

The final gaming peripheral is one that some PC gamers eschew altogether, but in a world where games are designed for games consoles first and then ported to the PC, it makes sense to use the input device they were programmed for. And that means a game controller.

Controllers are fairly uniform these days, sporting two analogue sticks, at least 11 buttons (plus two on the sticks) and a d-pad. Extra features might include turbo switches or additional, programmable buttons, but these are rarely as useful as they sound. Really, the qualities to value are comfort, precision and quality — and with those criteria in mind, there's one controller that stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of the PC market...

Xbox 360 Controller for Windows (Wireless) - The Xbox 360's controller is, quite simply, the best ever produced. A rare example of Microsoft getting something completely right, and managing to synergize between its Xbox and Windows platforms. The controller itself is light but sturdy, comfortable to hold even for long periods, and easy to use — simply, it has all the strengths of its console counterpart.

The only downside is that as soon as you plug it into a PC, it starts competing with other PC controllers, rather than other console ones, and for that reason it can look unashamedly basic. Don't expect much in the way of programmable buttons, for instance, and if you don't buy the charge kit it'll tear through batteries in no time. On the other hand, ever other PC controller you'll find is effectively trying to be this one, and sometimes the no-frills approach is best of all.

Frankly to get to grips with a design this perfect you'd put up with far worse crimes than not trying very hard, and that's the only one this can be accused of.

Saitek Cyborg v5 Rumble Pad - What if you don't want an Xbox controller? One of the few that truly competes is the Saitek Cyborg v5, which is fully compatible with the PC and Xbox 360. Chiefly, it is a controller with customization at its heart. Although it largely mimics Microsoft's official controller, the Cyborg v5s best gimmick is that you can rotate the left d-pad & stick module to suit your preference, eliminating the argument of whether it's better to go Microsoft or Sony-style.

And even further than that, when you use it with a PC every button can be directly mapped to any keyboard control you like. As the name suggests, it also has a rumble/vibration function (which does work with the PC - not all of them do). Its priced reasonably well — certainly, there are cheaper gamepads that are almost as good, but the amount of customization available makes it worth paying a little bit extra for.