geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: yajdem on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:43:23

Title: Recommendations for a new mechanical keyboard!
Post by: yajdem on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:43:23

Hi!
I've had Asus Strix TACTIC PRO since 2015, and I think it's time to change.
I'm looking to buy a new keyboard to replace this Asus Tactic Pro keyboard and hoping for some recommendations.
Requirements:
 

• Mechanical keyboard
• Wired
• Including number pad
• ISO layout(UK)
• RGB Lighting
• Suitable for work(programming), surfing on the internet and gaming.
• Ideally not too loud but usability is more important than silence.
• Volume Control: Dedicated Button(Mute) and Volume Roller

 I have recently seen these keyboards:
 

• Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
• Asus ROG Claymore
• Fnatic Streak
• Das Keyboard 4Q
• Razer BlackWidow Elite
• Steelseries APEX 7

 Price range up to ~270$
 Any recommendations from the list or other?

Title: Re: Recommendations for a new mechanical keyboard!
Post by: shadowku on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:57:37

I don't think many people here are familiar with the more consumer brands and models, so you may not hear many responses.
Some of your requirements, primarily, numpad and volume control, rules out most boards that people talk about on this forum.

I'm chiming in because when I was still a student, I fantasized over the Logitech G19 which hits most of your requirements except it was a rubber dome keyboard, but at least it was quiet.

I instead, got the G110, which still fulfills most of your requirements, but I found it flashy and not really fun to type on. Then I got my first actual mech keeb (Das w/ browns).

I've come a long way since then and I've gotten rid of all of the keyboards that brought me into this hobby, but the ones you listed are probably all somewhat equivalent. They get bashed here somewhat because of their build qualities, flashiness, price, and intended audience. But they're perfectly functional. Spending more on your keyboard doesn't improve typing speed/accuracy or help you code, it just might make you happier when you do.

From your list, I'd probably be most interested in the Das, because it has a simple design, though I don't really agree with the brand. I'd also consider the Realforce RGB because I prefer Topre, but it has no volume knob. I solved the volume knob issue by having either a speaker that came with a volume knob, or by having a dedicated amp/dac.

Title: Re: Recommendations for a new mechanical keyboard!
Post by: rxc92 on Wed, 24 July 2019, 16:00:31

Are you absolutely sure that you need a volume roller? Almost all keyboards these days have Fn+key or Ctrl+key combinations for volume up/down/mute, and if you didn't need a dedicated wheel for it, you'd be able to get a much better (i.e. non-overpriced consumer) keyboard. 
If you could do without a roller, there are tons of excellent pre-built options (from Topre boards, quite luxurious and come in silenced varieties) to dozens of different types of MX-compatible switches.

Title: Re: Recommendations for a new mechanical keyboard!
Post by: shadowku on Wed, 24 July 2019, 16:23:59

Quote from: rxc92 on Wed, 24 July 2019, 16:00:31

Are you absolutely sure that you need a volume roller? Almost all keyboards these days have Fn+key or Ctrl+key combinations for volume up/down/mute, and if you didn't need a dedicated wheel for it, you'd be able to get a much better (i.e. non-overpriced consumer) keyboard. 

I totally forgot to about that. I use a keyboard map for volume up/down/mute on all of my keyboards. I change the controllers for my HHKBs to make them programmable. Definitely better than having volume controls built into the keyboard.