Razer vs Logitech

Discussion in 'hardware' started by whitedragon551, Jan 31, 2015.

  1. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    I am considering replacing my peripherals with Razer. Currently I use the Logitech G700S mouse and a Steelseries Apex gaming keyboard. I have always had good luck with Razer Mice and really like them. However, I was at Best Buy the other day and got the chance to play with the Razer Blackwidow Chroma keyboard and it felt leaps and bounds better than my Steelseries.

    Currently I am considering the Razer Blackwidow Chroma keyboard and the Razer Mamba, Razer DeathAdder Chroma, or the Razer Orochi mouse.

    Also in my experience any time I have ever needed warranty Logitech is simple to deal with and usually replaces things for free without requiring me to return a broken product.

    So my questions are as follows:

    1. What company do you prefer for mice?

    2. What company do you prefer for mechanical keyboards?

    3. How is warranty/support?

    4. And why do you prefer the companies you do?

    Also for Razer experts what is the difference between the Razer Blackwidow Chroma Stealth and the Razer Blackwidow Chroma? They are the same price and look the same.
     
  2. Veeshush

    Veeshush Registered Member

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    Typing this out with a Logitech keyboard and when I when click "Post Reply" it'll be via a Logitech mouse. Not saying I'm a fanboy to anything, but I can't say I'm not more opt to get something Logitech as everything from them which I've owned has held up alright, along with having a good feel to it.

    I have heard good things about Razer, but they're stuck in the "gaming" category. I don't think they make bad stuff by any means, but I feel they base their design on aesthetics (which I could say would go for some Logitech models, or other brands too). They do tout the whole "mechanical keys" thing which seems to be decent.

    As far as games though, less you're really into competition- I just feel about anything will get the job done, unless it's utter junk. Thankfully we're long past the junky 90s/early 2000s peripherals, like ball mice.
     
  3. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    I'm not a gamer, but I do like to work in the dark ;) I use a Logitech illuminated keyboard. It's very crisp, yet gentle. Using mice makes my wrist hurt, so I use a trackpad. My trackpads are ~10 years old, so there's no point in mentioning brands.
     
  4. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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  5. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    1. In my opinion, it's more than just which company is better. Some mice from a certain company are better than other mice from the same company. For instance the DeathAdder is one of the best mice from any company. Due to the sensor it has, there is no acceleration, which is very unique among mice. It's good for other reasons but meh, read about them if you care.

    2. If the keyboards you're looking at all have cherry-mx switches, then the switches themselves will be exactly the same. Other things that change the feel are the type of switches, the keycaps, how the switches are mounted, and if there are any o-rings or some sort of buffer material on the stems. I personally really like the G710+. Not sure if the Chroma is the same as the Ultimate but the coating on the Black Widow Ultimate felt cheap and I'd bet it rubs off rather quickly. The G710+ just felt much more solid. Also, the G710+ has MX-Brown switches as opposed to the MX-Blue like switches of of the BWU. I felt like the "Blue's" got in the way just slightly when gaming.

    3. Not sure. I've heard that Razer warranty is really good. My roommate had some Razer mouse break after like 2 years and they sent him a new one for free. I personally have never had to deal with them.

    4. I don't necessarily prefer specific companies. I just prefer good products. As such, I personally use a 2013 Deathadder and a WASD v2 keyboard. Also I should mention that I have personally used the G710+ and Blackwidow Ultimate.
     
  6. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    Wish there was a PC place around here other than Best Buy. Best Buy only has the G710, BlackWidow Chroma, and the Corsair K70 in the same price bracket.
     
  7. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    I have read that Razer doesnt use Cherry MX switches, but switches that a company called Kailh has copied from Cherry. The Kailh copies have a higher failure rate from my reading, but are the same price point as the companies (Logitech, Corsair, etc.) that use real Cherry MX switches.

    I believe the Chroma is the same thing as the Blackwidow ultimate just different LED options.
     
  8. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    Yep, that's what I meant by "MX-Blue like". The K70 has MX-Red's and is nice too. The reason I have experience with these three keyboards is that I bought them all, tested them each for about a week, returned them, and then bought the keyboard I wanted with the switches I liked. You can always buy one and return it if you don't like it.
     
  9. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    A new contender was recommended, the Corsair K95 RGB version.
     
  10. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    The Best Buy near me in VA has started to stock some high end items again. For years, after they shifted their business modle towards online sales to better compete with Amazon and such, it was rare to find a high-end anything related to PCs at a Best Buy Store. But they appear to be changing their game. I was in a Best Buy on Friday and I nearly fainted when I saw a bunch of EVGA GTX 970 OCs and non OCs on the shelf.

    I have only had one Razer mouse many years ago. One of their first models and I hated it and it broke. I would never again buy another Razer product, though many gamers love them. I think all Razer products are ugly, with the exception of the Chroma. A lot of peeps complain about their keyboard software.

    I'd stay away from the Logitech G710+. I have had to buy two of them. The keys have a very good feel. But, on one, some of the keys permanently shorted out from a few drops of water. On the second , the keys started coming off just from sticking to my fingers after a while. I had to crazy glue keys from the first one onto the second one. Also, the illumination does not light up the Shift+ characters on the number and other keys. It can be very annoying. Logitech has a slightly upgraded version of the G710+ but they also have a totally new mechanical keyboard similar to, but IMHO, better than the Razer Chroma. It's called Orion "Spark". It has toally newly designed proprietary mechanical keys that have awesome specs and are claimed to be extremely durable. It looks totally awesome, it's expensive ($179) but they do sell them at my local Best Buy. Check it out at the Logitech website.

    For a mouse there are many excellent choices other than Razer and Logitech, though Logitech has a new top of the line wired gaming mouse that looks great and sells for around $70. It is also now sold in Best Buy stores. I have until very recently used only Logitech mice. I won't buy any mouse that you cannot adjust the weight of and that does not have specially designed super low friction feet. I'd avoid the Steel Series. They are good while they last, but I have had bad luck with durability.

    I am currently using a Roccat Kone XTD and have been very happy with it. It's a wired mouse. Also sold at Best Buy (slightly overpriced IMHO). While it has outstanding specs, I think the reason I like it so much is how it fits my hand and I am totally mesmerized by the lighting on the mouse that is fully adjutable in color and the different ways it's lights change colors gradually and slowly - they transform to different colors. Beating,breathing and heart modes :) It's a trip to watch :) Better than most movies on Netflix. :)

    Hope this helps.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2015
  11. Firecat

    Firecat Registered Member

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    Razer has, and always has had, severe quality issues IMO. Their mice rarely last as long as an equivalent Logitech. Go for any other brand but Razer. IMO, of course.
     
  12. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    So far Im leaning toward the Corsair K95 RGB. I was able to find it for $150 online plus some Best Buys carry them in store so I should be able to get them to price match Newegg + use my $15 in Best Buy rewards.
     
  13. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    I would never buy that key board. If I can be mezmorized by a mini-light show on a Roccat Kone XTD mouse - I might become locked in a permanent hypnotic trance from the Corsair's Panasonic total keyboard light show mode. LOL.

    It's an awesome keyboard from a company which has over the past 5 years or so established a reputation for making products of the highest quality. I believe it was their SP2500 speaker system that really put them "over the top" in terms of reputation among hard-core gamers and magazine review editors. As a result of their success with the SP2500s, they began to produce a stream of high quality gaming peripherals, the K95 RGB being the latest. No way you can go wrong with a Corsair product.

    Brushed aluminum is great for a keyboard. The only advantage in terms of specs. that the Logitech Orion Spark might have over the Corsair are their new keys - The Romer-G mechanical key switches. Logitech claims that the Romer-G key switches actuates at a distance of 1.5mm. Logitech says that is up to 25% shorter and faster than the leading competitor. (Obviously Cherry) . They have the same force actuation as the Cherry MX, but Logitech makes claims about their durability, which if true, are amazing. Logitech claims their Romer-G key switches have been tested for 70-million keystrokes, and that Romer-G mechanical switches are up to 40% more durable than the top competitor. They also have Dual-contact redundancy that helps ensure key activation at the same point, every time. (I have no idea WTF Dual-contact redundancy is.)

    However, given my recent experience with the Logitech G710+, which uses Cherry MX Brown key switches, I am skeptical of the durability claim. The keys on the G710+ quickly become loose from their switch base and literally will detach if you hit them from an angle. Frequently, some of the most often used WASD keys will come off just from sticking to your finger's. Whether this is a result of the Cherry MX Brown key switches, which is doubtful (the Cherry MX Brown Key Switches are the quietest of the Cherry Switches) or Logitech's quality control, or key to switch attachment mechanism I do not know. I suspect it is a combination of the latter two.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2015
  14. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    I'm going to assume that there are two sets of contacts that are triggered each time you press the key. This way if one set mechanically fails, the other one will continue to work and you wouldn't even know it.

    When you say the keys become loose from the switch base, do you mean the keycaps come off the switch stems? Also, I'd say that all the Cherry switches are the same volume except for the blues and greens, which are the clicky type.
     
  15. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    Yes that's exactly what I meant to say :)
     
  16. hawki

    hawki Registered Member

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    You may be totally correct on that point.

    The G710+ does use the Cherry MX brown keys:

    "Key Features: Cherry MX Brown key switches;"

    http://www.trustedreviews.com/logitech-g710-review

    for which Logitech claims:

    "Whisper-quiet keys. Focus on game. Quiet, non-clicking key switches and a built-in dampening ring underneath each keycap significantly reduce the distracting noise coming from your keypresses— without sacrificing responsiveness."

    http://gaming.logitech.com/en-us/product/g710plus-mechanical-gaming-keyboard
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2015
  17. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    Well, I ordered the Blackwidow today. Just too many issues with Steam and the Corsair software and Corsair claiming they would fix it since December 2014.. Almost every app I use is via Steam so definitely a deal breaker.
     
  18. CrusherW9

    CrusherW9 Registered Member

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    Here's a good video showing the differences between the switches both with and without o-rings.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFkl1Vet1eU
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 8, 2015
  19. Stigg

    Stigg Registered Member

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    Even though I am using a Razer mouse at the moment because they make a good left handed mouse due to my mouse wrist problems, I still think that Microsoft mice and keyboards are great.

    By the way...
    I have two mice plugged in all the time. One for my left hand and one for my right.
    And I use EitherMouse, which is an awesome application for switching between mice.
     
  20. Carver

    Carver Registered Member

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    Razer has a quality control problem, along time ago I had a Razor Boonslang ball mouse 2000 DPI. The right and left click buttons are connected to the framework with 2 ballpoint pen size springs,one for down one for up. The spring for up broke. You could remove the plastic shell but to to remove the springs you had to remove the circuit board held on by a wire from a resister on the circuit board. I have had good luck with Logitech keyboard and mouse, I have had my mouse for 7 years and I am noticing a occasional freezing and considering getting a Logiteck G602 .
     
  21. cooperb21

    cooperb21 Registered Member

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    Logitech have better mice and razer better keyboards imo. Logitech have way to many crappy none mechanical keyboards. Last time i checked they had one and you cant choose the key type.
     
  22. DOSawaits

    DOSawaits Registered Member

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    Razer is for kiddies who want cool stuff and love to spend a lot of money on garbage.
     
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