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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Internetlad on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:50:46

Title: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Internetlad on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:50:46
http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-XT-Mechanical/dp/B00EHBECAW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1384811231&sr=8-4&keywords=quickfire+xt

Been eyeing up that board for xmas, I really like blacks and don't mind the lack of tactility but I think i'd really like to try Greens. I enjoy typing on an M and figure this would be the closest analog to it besides a Unicomp board (which doesn't, for whatever reason, work with my KVM at work.)

All of that aside, what's the GH general opinion of this board? For 120 bucks this is dipping past the 100 dollar mark that seems to separate "mechanical gamer" and "mechanical enthusiast"

Any other 104 boards with greens that would be worth looking at?
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:58:12
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Psybin on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:07:26
I have one with a set of thick PBT cherry profile caps and its my favorite board to type on so far, its my daily driver at work (I've spent time with blues/blacks/reds, haven't tried browns/clears/whites).
I used it for a little bit with the stock caps and was pretty meh on it, the shorter and heavier caps really tied it together.

Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Linkbane on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:51:55
http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-XT-Mechanical/dp/B00EHBECAW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1384811231&sr=8-4&keywords=quickfire+xt

Been eyeing up that board for xmas, I really like blacks and don't mind the lack of tactility but I think i'd really like to try Greens. I enjoy typing on an M and figure this would be the closest analog to it besides a Unicomp board (which doesn't, for whatever reason, work with my KVM at work.)

All of that aside, what's the GH general opinion of this board? For 120 bucks this is dipping past the 100 dollar mark that seems to separate "mechanical gamer" and "mechanical enthusiast"

Any other 104 boards with greens that would be worth looking at?

If you're pretty sure that you'll like greens, which you seem to be, it's quite a good choice. Honestly I'd recommend getting a TKL though, either the Rapid or the Rapid Stealth, as it's cheaper and takes up less space, but as far as I've heard the Rapid is a great board.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: ITzNybble on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:56:47
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:00:01
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:05:34
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:06:20
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!

Why not both?
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:13:17
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!

Why not both?

I have a mash of ghetto-reds and clears...

clears for mods arrows and misc,  ghetto-red for central partition
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:15:34
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!

Why not both?

I have a mash of ghetto-reds and clears...

clears for mods arrows and misc,  ghetto-red for central partition

Touché.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Internetlad on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:29:55
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!

Why not both?

(http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/Why+not+both+_3ac383cf896b463cffa48dd6a677b70c.png)

Well I'll keep an eye peeled on the classifieds in the meantime, pretty glowing reviews for it thus far.

One of the reasons I like the XT is that it does have the volume/media controls and the ability to disable the winkey built in, I don't think the TKL versions have that. I'd be willing to chuck a few extra bucks at 'em just for that. On top of that I appear to be one of the 10 people on earth who actually use the numpad when it's applicable (and since I'm getting into Eve it becomes more applicable every day.)
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Grendel on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:34:08
Love mine -- after swapping the caps w/ a GMK set it became my main work board, replacing a Unicomp M I haven't looked at since...
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: ITzNybble on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:34:13
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

I like tactility thats why! and I don't like Blacks......err....I mean....

*walks away
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Hak Foo on Mon, 18 November 2013, 19:14:39
I got one, bought it from another member... it had busted LEDs.  I replaced one, but I still can't get Scroll Lock to light correctly.

It's almost identical to all the other Costar-built 104 boards... like the Rosewill 9000.  As such it's probably the purest way to test "do I like Greens or just some other aspect of the board."

Greens are nice and heavy, but they still have that plasticky Cherry sound.  It's not really a buckling spring replacement.

You don't get a functional Menu key with it-- it's a Fn key used to access media controls in conjunction with the function keys... but you can ignore it because it default sane, unlike a bunch of crappy Microsoft and Logitech boards which leave the function keys remapped to weird stuff by default.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 19:37:33
The XT seemed heavier than a comparable rosewill.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: berserkfan on Mon, 18 November 2013, 22:20:07
I don't think anything is a Buckling Spring replacement except another buckling spring.

Nobody has ever built a Cherry Blues or Green keyboard that feel as solid as a 30 year old M. But my experience is limited, so these Koreans who customize, might well have a metal keyboard that really feels as awesome.

I got one, bought it from another member... it had busted LEDs.  I replaced one, but I still can't get Scroll Lock to light correctly.

It's almost identical to all the other Costar-built 104 boards... like the Rosewill 9000.  As such it's probably the purest way to test "do I like Greens or just some other aspect of the board."

Greens are nice and heavy, but they still have that plasticky Cherry sound.  It's not really a buckling spring replacement.

You don't get a functional Menu key with it-- it's a Fn key used to access media controls in conjunction with the function keys... but you can ignore it because it default sane, unlike a bunch of crappy Microsoft and Logitech boards which leave the function keys remapped to weird stuff by default.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Internetlad on Mon, 18 November 2013, 22:57:55
I kind of compare it to driving a big ol' steel muscle car from the 70s. You can re-imagine them with modern tech and give it the same name, but you can never really get the exact same feel.

That said, There's a lot of stuff I dig about this board. I showed it to my wife and she feigned interest to make me happy then promptly left the room.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: CommonCurt on Tue, 19 November 2013, 00:24:31
You might get one cheaper in the classifieds. I had one it is a solid board, I'm just not a huge fan of clicky switches.

I know there have been many who liked the most recent QFR with greens also.

I love my QFR with Greens, I get less misclicks when typing fast, took a few days though to get adjusted to the heavier spring, want to try browns next for at night use or at trainings and such.

Why not blacks?

why not whites!

Why not both?

Show Image
(http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/Why+not+both+_3ac383cf896b463cffa48dd6a677b70c.png)


Well I'll keep an eye peeled on the classifieds in the meantime, pretty glowing reviews for it thus far.

One of the reasons I like the XT is that it does have the volume/media controls and the ability to disable the winkey built in, I don't think the TKL versions have that. I'd be willing to chuck a few extra bucks at 'em just for that. On top of that I appear to be one of the 10 people on earth who actually use the numpad when it's applicable (and since I'm getting into Eve it becomes more applicable every day.)


I have a Quick Fire Rapid with Greens. I love it, and it does have the volume/media controls as well as disable WIN key.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Capitalistix on Wed, 20 November 2013, 01:15:53
Honestly, the QFR TKL was the only way I was able to affordably try greens. What a happy purchase it was. I had tried blues, browns and blacks in addition to Topre (overrated IMHO) and outside of BS, Cherry greens became my all time fave. this board just kills it. Also, while I love custom keycaps, the cherry lrofile alters the feeling a little too much for me and kinda makes them feel like blues to me. With OEM caps, though, IT IS DE BOMB. Makes it feel meaty and satisfying when typing without being tiresome. I cant reccomend it highly enough. Only thing that could make it better is if you got an aluminum case for it!
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 22 November 2013, 07:23:41
If geens are your favourite, why not try buckling springs? I'm sure the audio and tactile feedback will be great for you.

Another thing I love about buckling springs are their high profile, keys that are similar all the way.

Honestly, the QFR TKL was the only way I was able to affordably try greens. What a happy purchase it was. I had tried blues, browns and blacks in addition to Topre (overrated IMHO) and outside of BS, Cherry greens became my all time fave. this board just kills it. Also, while I love custom keycaps, the cherry lrofile alters the feeling a little too much for me and kinda makes them feel like blues to me. With OEM caps, though, IT IS DE BOMB. Makes it feel meaty and satisfying when typing without being tiresome. I cant reccomend it highly enough. Only thing that could make it better is if you got an aluminum case for it!
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: terran5992 on Fri, 22 November 2013, 07:51:05
If geens are your favourite, why not try buckling springs? I'm sure the audio and tactile feedback will be great for you.

Another thing I love about buckling springs are their high profile, keys that are similar all the way.

Honestly, the QFR TKL was the only way I was able to affordably try greens. What a happy purchase it was. I had tried blues, browns and blacks in addition to Topre (overrated IMHO) and outside of BS, Cherry greens became my all time fave. this board just kills it. Also, while I love custom keycaps, the cherry lrofile alters the feeling a little too much for me and kinda makes them feel like blues to me. With OEM caps, though, IT IS DE BOMB. Makes it feel meaty and satisfying when typing without being tiresome. I cant reccomend it highly enough. Only thing that could make it better is if you got an aluminum case for it!

Buckling springs are very heavy switches. If i recall correctly its 80g. My fingers get fatigued after typing on them for a while
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 22 November 2013, 22:55:34

i think a broken in Model M is not so bad; if it's been used for a while the actuation feels lighter. I have a Lexmark 122 (new) and a Model M 122 (vintage) and the vintage definitely feels much easier to type on. I ended up retiring the new Lexmark.

If geens are your favourite, why not try buckling springs? I'm sure the audio and tactile feedback will be great for you.

Another thing I love about buckling springs are their high profile, keys that are similar all the way.

Honestly, the QFR TKL was the only way I was able to affordably try greens. What a happy purchase it was. I had tried blues, browns and blacks in addition to Topre (overrated IMHO) and outside of BS, Cherry greens became my all time fave. this board just kills it. Also, while I love custom keycaps, the cherry lrofile alters the feeling a little too much for me and kinda makes them feel like blues to me. With OEM caps, though, IT IS DE BOMB. Makes it feel meaty and satisfying when typing without being tiresome. I cant reccomend it highly enough. Only thing that could make it better is if you got an aluminum case for it!

Buckling springs are very heavy switches. If i recall correctly its 80g. My fingers get fatigued after typing on them for a while
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Internetlad on Fri, 22 November 2013, 23:47:57
I actually really like the heaviness of the switches, and don't really feel fatigue after long periods of typing on blacks or even BS boards. Don't know why that is but I like heavy switches.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: lonedruid on Sat, 23 November 2013, 01:02:19
If you really like heavy switches, you go for it my man!! Dont be tentative cuz of ppl opinions or wad they might say aboit ur choice. Or that you may regret it. Trust ur instinct. Each of us are uniquely different.dont let modern times' paradox of choice affect u!  Live ur life with no regret.!! :)
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 23 November 2013, 01:08:26
Now that I've been able to use my MX greens for a week (on and off), I really like them.

Now as heavy as Model M, and the sound is lighter, but now it's going to be a toss-up between blacks and greens.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: Linkbane on Sat, 23 November 2013, 10:15:51
Now that I've been able to use my MX greens for a week (on and off), I really like them.

Now as heavy as Model M, and the sound is lighter, but now it's going to be a toss-up between blacks and greens.

Yes, yes, let the clickiness flow through you..
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 23 November 2013, 20:05:47
Now that I've been able to use my MX greens for a week (on and off), I really like them.

Now as heavy as Model M, and the sound is lighter, but now it's going to be a toss-up between blacks and greens.

LOL post QA fail, it was supposed to say "Not as heavy as Model M".  What I typed sounds, and is, wrong.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: tbc on Sat, 23 November 2013, 20:11:03
model m is heavier than in unicomp?

cause my unicomp is much lighter than the greens.
Title: Re: Opinion on the QuickFire XT with green switches? Worth the entry fee?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 23 November 2013, 20:51:37
I have two Model M.  The first feels loose, and actually seems about the same as MX green.  I think that one is in need of a bolt mod.

The other Model M feels tighter, and seems heavier than the MX green.