Optix

With my new rig inching oh so slowly towards my door step and the new MMO APB on the horizon I'm thinking about getting into gaming peripherals. I'm not a hardcore gamer and I am more into MMO's than I am first person shooters so funky designs like the SteelSeries Merc are not a necessity. I am also not looking to break the bank but I am looking to get quality for my dollar.

Here is the question: What entry level gaming gear (keyboard, mouse and mouse pad) would you get?

The options that I have been looking at so far are, for keyboards the Razer Acosta, Tarantula or Microsoft Reclusa. Possibly even a Razer Lycosa if I can get the money together fast enough to buy the one on Ebay. The first three can be had for less than $56 here in Canada.

For a mouse I am looking at the Razer Abyssus, Death Adder 3G or Salmosa. These three can be picked up for less than $40.

I'm not too stuck on getting a gaming mouse pad since $20 for something I'm going to rub seems a bit much unless she can also dance around a pole (ha!) so at this point anything plain and black would work but I'm open to suggestions there as well.

Any thoughts?

***EDIT: Hmm...what about this?

http://www.directcanada.com/products...acture=IDEAZON

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BlueMak

First of all, I would avoid all combo value packs.

Now, mouse pads. I can't say it enough, get a good hard Steelseries mousepad. YES, they are expensive. But your mouse, your hand and your accuracy (even for games like WoW) will thank you for years and years. You pay more than average once and you have a mousepad that is helpful to your gaming for several years. I have mine for 3-4 years and it is still like new and I just wouldn't want to not have it.

Regarding keyboard, if you are not typing much, it is surprisingly the least important part. I have only good experience with Logitech keyboards, but their specialized gaming keyboards are too expensive. The keyboard you placed a link for is ok, but a bit too huge for my taste. Plus, I found out that I always end up going back to the classic keyboard WASD than any specialized extra keys.
Steelseries also have some great keyboards and Microsoft keyboards are usually top quality as well. If you can't test them, buy one which is comfortable to you.

About mouse/mice...I currently have a CoolerMaster Storm, and while it is a good mouse, I wish I got the Logitech G9X even at double the price. I used to have the regular Logitech G9 and it is for me the best mouse I have ever used. And very comfortable.

If you are going to play WoW more than anything, then I recommend the SteelSeries World of Warcraft MMO mouse. I almost got it if not for the higher price tag the last time I got a new mouse.

Another very good mouse and cheaper than the more expensive Logitech ones, is the Logitech G5, I recommend it as well.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Optix

Thanks for the info.

The reason I was looking at the SteelSeries/Ideazon Merc is because APB, while a MMO is not your typical game. You run, crouch behind cover and fire on the run so I was thinking the left gaming section may help out a bit. Use that for movement, switching weapons and maybe firing while I use the mouse to aim.

The Ideazon Merc looks identical to the non-stealth SteelSeries only cheaper in price and I could get it in the bundle for less and just put the mouse and headset in storage.

Part of me wants to go for the Razer Acosta and Salmosa since they are both the cheapest option but I don't want to sell myself short with something that sucks. Plus if I'm going to shell out $20 on a mouse pad I'm going to need to save some cash somewhere.

It's hard being a budget builder sometimes.

***EDIT: W00T! 1k posts!

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BlueMak

I can't comment on Razer mice, I have never used one even for 2 min.

I stand by Logitech for mice after having tried many different brands over the years. Don't get this wrong, they do break down, but till they do, they are awesome to use.

About the APB, basically what you tell me is it is a MMO with 3rd person action games. Nothing different in how the keyboard operates... Get a keyboard that is comfortable. If you buy one that has extras, then you pay for the extras that even if you use, doesn't mean they are going to help, or that you will continue using them after the initial (wow!) period.
But that's just me.
Getting a good mousepad is essential, but to get a worse mouse for it is...silly.
You might as well save on the keyboard if you need to save on one of the 3.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Takaharu

Logitech all the way for me. I'm a big fan of my G11 keyboard because of the comfort factor and, when gaming in the dark, I have backlit keys (although this was not a deciding factor in choosing my keyboard).
For my mouse, I am definitely a Logitech G7 fanboy; I had a G7 for a few years and, when it starting double-clicking on me (can happen after a few good years of clicking), I bought the more modern-looking black G7. I just love the ability to hot-swap the battery for a charged battery and I hate having a wired mouse when gaming. The G7 is still a fairly decent spec by today's standards (2000 dpi), comfortable and accurate.
For a mouse to use round my friends' place for gaming I bought a Microsoft Sidewinder X8 for £20, basically because it was a gaming-grade mouse and it was cheap. It's a decent-spec and can go between wired and wireless.
Funnily enough, I kept the old G7 as a spare and it seems to work fine now - no double-clicking so I use it for my laptop.

Don't underestimate a gaming mouse compared to a high-performance laser mouse. I had a laser (Logitech) mouse before the Sidewinder and dang did it have such an impact on my gaming! Going from using a G7 on a regular basis to that mouse; it just couldn't cut it; the precision wasn't as good and it just didn't feel as smooth.
The keyboard, on the other hand, I agree with BlueMak; if you're not using it to type too much, get a cheapass keyboard. You're going to use 4 keys on a regular basis, occasionally hitting a few other keys. I use a cheap keyboard with the Sidewinder and it works fine. At home, however, I wanted comfort, reliability and long-lasting hardware so the G11 was it for me (the G15 I found pointless because of the LCD and the G11 is practically the same, just without the display). The macro keys I don't use but considering the rest of the keyboard, it was worth it.

Go Logitech for a decent mouse & keyboard in my opinion; they deliver performance and reliability. I even got my speaker system Logitech (Z-5500) almost 6 years ago and they're still like brand new (except for the dust) and they retail for the same price!

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isaak

Razer Diamondback 3G and Creative Fatal1ty keyboard work great for me, although the keyboard doesn't have any hotkeys which you may be wanting for the MMO.
As for the mouse, it has been great and I've got no complaints. I'm not as picky as some others though (and I haven't had much experience with different brands) so that's my 2cents.

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The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

Optix

So here's what I think I have settled on.

Razer Arctosa keyboard (I'd love to get the Lycosa but it's a out of my budget)
Razer Ayssus mouse (3500DPI w00t!)
Razer Goliathus Fragged Alpha Speed mouse pad

A friend of mine who's opinion I value said that if I can't go for the Logitec G series keyboards that I would be happy with the lower end Razer boards. I don't really use macros so the Ayssus would likely be good for me and the mouse pad is the cheapest one on the website where I intend to order from and it qualifies for free shipping.

It may seem like I'm jumping on the Razer fanboy wagon but it's mostly due to budget reasons.

Any thoughts?

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BlueMak

Getting a mousepad because it is the cheapest, it is a lousy reason. The same goes for mice and monitors and keyboards (but the last one depends highly on what you are going to use it for).
A mouse a mousepad and a monitor are the main ways you are going to interact with your computer every single time you use it, be it for 2 min or for 20 hours. If the cheapest happen to be the best for you, that's of course great. If not, you better save some money till you can afford something better.

I am not saying that any of the above are not great products, they might be. But if you only buy them because of their price and not their quality, you will regret it later on.

Better wait X days till you get the money to get something better than get something now because you don't want to wait.

If you go through with this, good luck and post pictures when you get them.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Optix

Price vs. performance is always in my mind. Having the added expense of a child, saving for a house, a trip along with all of the usual day in and day out costs are more important than having the best of the best. I'll go for the best of the cheap.

I'm not about to waste my money so I always read all the reviews I can get, both from tech sites and from end users but at the same time I'm not about to pour excess dollars into something that I don't need.

I never go backwards but am content with even a small step forward.

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Xeroeth

I would take Razor 3g, Icemat 2nd and Logitech g11 - price is little high but your wrist/hand will thank U. The G buttons in G11 are awesome if u can accustom to them ;]

Optix

I was looking at the G11 and it is out of my price range however, if I could manage to track down a used one in good condition I would jump at it.

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Earthmonger

Don't base your keyboard purchase on macro abilities if you plan to play primarily MMOs. Most MMO anti-cheat systems block them. The few exceptions are game-specific keyboards which have actually licensed permission from game developers to support their macros, such as the Steelseries WoW keyboard.

blibbax

Apologies that this is slightly tangential.

I have a Steelseries gaming mouse (and have had other laser mice before it) and use it straight onto a polished hardwood desk. I've never been dissatisfied with this setup at all. You really think the steelseries mousemats are worth it? I'm not arguing if so, just curious. I find it hard to imagine a mousemat having such a big impact - in the past I've always found them to get in the way and, unless using a roller ball mouse, to have little or negative impact on peformance.

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isaak

My situation is the same... my Diamondback 3G works perfectly on my polished wood desk, but in saying that I have never tried a "performance" mouse mat... I don't see how much it could change

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The first step... shall be to lose the way. - Galway Kinnell

BlueMak

Yes, huge difference for me.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Optix

Well I won a contest and one of the prizes is a PureTrak mouse pad so that takes away a little bit of money that I would be putting out. I imagine that it will either be the Stealth, Talent or Complexity so I will see how that goes. The last mouse pad I used was a generic one from Walmart and that was waaay back when I had a PIII. Again, anything will be a step up.

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BlueMak

Don't confuse those soft plastic or cloth like mousepads that were given for free with magazines or chocolates lol, with the good/expensive ones from SteelSeries (and I guess others). That's like comparing the graphics of a 3D game in the 1980's and today.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Optix

$20 for a mouse pad to me is pushing it since I'm not a hardcore gamer so I'm sure this will be better than running a generic Microsoft mouse on a worn, desk.

Again, I'm not looking for the best of the best because quite frankly I think it's pissing away money that can be better spent elsewhere. A simple step or two forward is good enough for me.

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anonemus

This is exactly the reason why I scour the used market and join online contests

BlueMak

It's your comfort, not mine. Do as you wish, I already have mine, I bought it years ago and it is still like new. So a cost of 4-5 per year so far and if I keep it for another 5 years it will be like 1 or so per year. I think my bank account can handle it.

You don't have to be a gamer to use a good mousepad. Use anything you want.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

blibbax

While I kind of appreciate your point, I must warn from personal experience against spending money on small upgrades or "simple steps up" of any kind. It's much more expensive in the long run that buying the proper item now.

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anonemus

Honestly when I read this last month I was very skeptical about the huge difference a good mouse and mousepad can make in daily. Had the chance to experience both at length over the weekend (Logitech MX518 and Nova Microptic Winner gaming pad) and I must say I'm now convinced that these two items really do make a difference!

@ Optix -- how's your experience so far?

BlueMak

Of course, I always speak the truth or the truth that I know.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

anonemus

Never doubted you, BlueMak. What I was skeptical about was if it will have the same impact on me...and it did!

rubber

Logitech all the way for me. Fantastic .