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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: dachef on Mon, 07 January 2013, 18:35:39

Title: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: dachef on Mon, 07 January 2013, 18:35:39
 Like for the silenced I would like to know if they modified the contact surface area like a landing pad or O-ring to help reduce the noise level or if they modified the switches. Also, does anyone know which keys have what weight sensitivity?  Anyone have any information on the weight distribution?  Does anyone know where I could purchase a Realforce besides Elitekeyboards or Amazon?  Lastly does anyone know where I could purchase the 10 year anniversary model?  That model looks pretty badass and if I'm going to purchase a Realforce I think I would like to buy that model. 
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: spacecase on Mon, 07 January 2013, 20:37:13
It seems to be an O-ring that dampens the clack on the key return. Topres are already very quiet on the down stroke it's the release that makes noise. I don't have my silenced 87u with me right now but I'll check later for the weights. Roughly the weights are 35 for the outer keys 45 for the inner keys and 55 for escape and maybe the F row.

You can also get a Topre from the keyboard company. It's not worth it at the exchange rate. EK is your best bet.

I believe you'll have to get the anniversary edition used and might be a JIS layout only model though I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: spacecase on Mon, 07 January 2013, 20:38:23
Do you already have a Topre of any kind?
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 07 January 2013, 21:24:36
You seriously think that anniversary model looks good? LOL... aight... I never thought I'd hear that... those colors... bleccch...
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: khaangaaroo on Tue, 08 January 2013, 02:21:57
Like for the silenced I would like to know if they modified the contact surface area like a landing pad or O-ring to help reduce the noise level or if they modified the switches.

There is a foam landing pad for the upstroke, no o-rings. The switches are the same, nothing modified except some silenced models have different color stems (purple instead of black).
You can do a silencing mod yourself with o-rings: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34972.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34972.0) 
It's a lot more work than just popping off some keycaps though. You have to take all the switches apart individually. But at least there's no soldering involved.

Anyone have any information on the weight distribution?

Depending on the model, it would be like this: http://deskthority.net/w/images/7/7d/Topre87_layout_th0x0.jpg
or like this: http://i.imgur.com/X6g6Y.jpg
or something really similar. My 10th AE had 30g domes instead of 35g. (you can barely tell the difference though)

Does anyone know where I could purchase a Realforce besides Elitekeyboards or Amazon?  Lastly does anyone know where I could purchase the 10 year anniversary model?  That model looks pretty badass and if I'm going to purchase a Realforce I think I would like to buy that model. 

There's also ebay. And the more costly option of  importing from Japan or China if the model you want isn't available domestically.
You'd have to buy the 10th AE used from someone. The ANSI versions comes in variable and all-55g. There's also a JIS version that's all-30g.

Here's a wiki page with all the Realforce models: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Realforce#Tenkeyless
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: daerid on Tue, 08 January 2013, 02:42:51
You seriously think that anniversary model looks good? LOL... aight... I never thought I'd hear that... those colors... bleccch...

lol... and you say your Topre posts are neutral
Title: Re: Realforce "Silent"
Post by: Yuuki on Tue, 08 January 2013, 03:19:19
I'm also interested in the 10th AE if you happen to find a broker that can import it from leopold or something