geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: VimLover on Sat, 07 December 2019, 15:48:08

Title: What would you build for 300$
Post by: VimLover on Sat, 07 December 2019, 15:48:08
Must in some way be built from parts, not just a mod for a prebuilt (no HHKB + Hasu). For 300$, what would you build?
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: DoctorNunu on Sun, 08 December 2019, 07:39:14
Must in some way be built from parts, not just a mod for a prebuilt (no HHKB + Hasu). For 300$, what would you build?

Probably a KBD75 with:

- GMK(Cherry) Screw in stabilizers
- Some good value linears like Gateron blacks (preferably with milky tops) 
- Keycaps of your liking, perhaps you can get an ePbt set for a good price.


Switches and stabilizers lubed of course :)
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: equalunique on Sun, 08 December 2019, 11:01:44
1x GMK Set ($130)
1x GMK 40s Kit ($40)
48x Switches ($25)
1x Planck PCB ($50)
1x Planck Case ($50)
1x 2u Cherry Stabilizer ($5)
(s/h ~$40)

Oops went over budget!

I wouldn't actually do this, just want to point out how insanely expensive it is to get a 48-key Planck outfitted given *most* GMK offerings.

Sent from my Ono-Sendai Cyberspace 7 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sup on Sun, 08 December 2019, 12:31:32
XD75 Build

Basic 60% alu case 40 ish dollar
XD75 PCB/Plate 50 ish dollar
Switches 80 Gateron yellow  15 ish dollars
80 DSA 1U key caps 25 ish dollar

very under budget but hey still a nice keyboard

Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: NewbieOneKenobi on Tue, 10 December 2019, 01:16:58
Probably a low-profile mech with a custom bracket to mount as low as possible over a laptop keyboard.

Or something with more spaced apart or larger keys.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sam_Kim on Tue, 10 December 2019, 01:59:22
Tofu96 kit

Gateron Black Inks

PBT Dye Sub Keycaps from KBDFans

Turns out to be $293.45

Given I have lube already and switch film.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: treeleaf64 on Tue, 10 December 2019, 11:35:53
I would buy some blue alps and then make an Iris. That's what I'm doing now :)
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Steezus on Tue, 10 December 2019, 11:40:11
I would buy some blue alps and then make an Iris. That's what I'm doing now :)

Blue alps will run you $200+ for the switches so I wouldn't really recommend that for a budget-friendly build.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sup on Tue, 10 December 2019, 12:21:37
I would buy some blue alps and then make an Iris. That's what I'm doing now :)

Blue alps will run you $200+ for the switches so I wouldn't really recommend that for a budget-friendly build.

All depends on how much you are buying :p
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Steezus on Tue, 10 December 2019, 12:33:21
I would buy some blue alps and then make an Iris. That's what I'm doing now :)

Blue alps will run you $200+ for the switches so I wouldn't really recommend that for a budget-friendly build.

All depends on how much you are buying :p

You are very much correct. I was basing the estimation off finding a vintage board with blue alps to source the switches from. I've typically seen the switches sell for more when someone puts in the work to desolder and clean them.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: treeleaf64 on Tue, 10 December 2019, 17:19:25
I already have some blue Alps, and I am in the stage of cleaning them now. I am going to sell them along with my Greens, which I have held off cleaning because they don't too good. Then, I'm going to get some excellent conditioned Browns or Oranges and put them in my Iris. Now that I think about it, that seems like a good idea, especially because I can bring my Iris to school and use it there without people complaining about the lovely sound.

Sincerely, treeleaf64
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sup on Wed, 11 December 2019, 03:16:47
I already have some blue Alps, and I am in the stage of cleaning them now. I am going to sell them along with my Greens, which I have held off cleaning because they don't too good. Then, I'm going to get some excellent conditioned Browns or Oranges and put them in my Iris. Now that I think about it, that seems like a good idea, especially because I can bring my Iris to school and use it there without people complaining about the lovely sound.

Sincerely, treeleaf64


The sound would be good but some despise the mechanical keyboard sounds. And aren't Alps really loud though. My yellow Alps in my Filco Zero with alu tex case was super loud compared to normal mx counterparts. Maybe Tactile alps is different though.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sintpinty on Wed, 11 December 2019, 07:15:09
Everybody have alps while i'm stuck with only one mechanical keyboard that doesn't even work on older devices D:
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: treeleaf64 on Wed, 11 December 2019, 10:06:40
They are going to be pretty loud in general. If anyone complains I'll ask them to try my keyboard out, then they'll forget about their complaining.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Sup on Wed, 11 December 2019, 17:44:42
Everybody have alps while i'm stuck with only one mechanical keyboard that doesn't even work on older devices D:

Ever heard of USB to PS2? Unless you are working on super old systems that use XT and ADB protocol.........
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: chyros on Thu, 12 December 2019, 01:56:15
Uhhh, probably some kind of SMK build and piss the rest away xD .
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: tex_live_utility on Thu, 12 December 2019, 08:29:46
One option is the shockingly high-quality KBDFans Pebbles (https://kbdfans.com/products/kbdfans-pebbles-mechanical-keyboard-kit) ($200) with Gateron switches ($18), decent stabilizers ($10), and offbrand dye-sub Cherry profile PBT keycaps ($50-70)

Another option is the Mekanisk Type X (https://mekanisk.co/collections/type-x-1) $(165) including foam infill ($10), with basically the same parts as above, but you have more budget to buy nicer switches or keycaps.

For an ergo option you can build an Iris from keeb.io, and have a lot more budget to work with for switches and caps.
Title: Re: What would you build for 300$
Post by: Leovan_13 on Fri, 13 December 2019, 06:15:04
Find the best sub $300 custom keyboard on GH/mechmarket.