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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:00:29

Title: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:00:29
Hi, I just bought a Chicony KB-5181 and KB-5161 for $10, and I've gotten switches I that aren't mentioned in the wiki.
I'll open them up later.

KB-5181: Cherry MX Black? I was kinda disappointed to see that it didn't have Monterey Blues.
(http://i.imgur.com/HS7hg0m.jpg)

KB-5161A: Alps White or Cream? Feel really crappy, they need lubing. EDIT: PCB only says 'Chicony Copyright 1987'.
Also, doubleshots.
(http://i.imgur.com/ewvQONo.jpg)
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: AKIMbO on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:26:20
5161 is mitsumi switches
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:28:37
Interesting.
Is it worth anything?
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: Findecanor on Sat, 23 November 2013, 10:43:00
Be careful with those metal Mitsumi switches. They can break easily, even from just pulling a cap off.
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 November 2013, 12:01:38
The only thing that is consistent about Chicony 51*1 keyboards is they are not rubber domes. They can have any kind of MX, Alps, Monterrey, SMK, Futaba, Mistsumi... clones of any of the previous. Keycaps can be lasered, pad printed or sometimes doubleshot. There is no way of knowing what you might get unless you can get seller to verify first. For some inexplicable reason they seemed to have simply used whatever was available to them at the time and couldn't be bothered to change the model number.

Personally I would retrobright up the doubleshots and put them MX one. It has some nice vintage blacks on there.
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 13:19:53
Yeah, I was thinking about doing that since I don't have enough free time to lube the Mitsumis, however, the doubleshots are slightly shorter/lower profile than the original ones, I hope that won't become a problem.
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 23 November 2013, 15:11:55
Doubleshots look like Cherry profile, so they should be totally fine.
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: terrpn on Sat, 23 November 2013, 16:57:48
Quote from: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:00:29
Hi, I just bought a Chicony KB-5181 and KB-5161 for $10, and I've gotten switches I that aren't mentioned in the wiki.
I'll open them up later.

KB-5181: Cherry MX Black? I was kinda disappointed to see that it didn't have Monterey Blues.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/HS7hg0m.jpg)


KB-5161A: Alps White or Cream? Feel really crappy, they need lubing. EDIT: PCB only says 'Chicony Copyright 1987'.
Also, doubleshots.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ewvQONo.jpg)


vintage blacks can be very nice!
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Sat, 23 November 2013, 18:57:38
@8ax: Does the 5161A say "NKEY" on the PCB anywhere? Does it have diodes? Are you able to get 6KRO (if using PS/2 to USB) or NKRO (if using PS/2) from it using something like Aqua's Key Test?

The other 5161A keyboards that I've seen specifically state "NKEY" on the PCB, and it would be nice to know for sure that this one is also NKRO (in case the 'A' means something else).

(I didn't even realise you'd posted about this here: this forum is not related to the wiki you posted the details on, which is why I sent you a PM at Deskthority regarding references for the wiki updates, and I had forgotten to check GH all day >_<)
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 23 November 2013, 20:59:44
Quote from: terrpn on Sat, 23 November 2013, 16:57:48
Quote from: 8ax on Sat, 23 November 2013, 07:00:29
Hi, I just bought a Chicony KB-5181 and KB-5161 for $10, and I've gotten switches I that aren't mentioned in the wiki.
I'll open them up later.

KB-5181: Cherry MX Black? I was kinda disappointed to see that it didn't have Monterey Blues.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/HS7hg0m.jpg)


KB-5161A: Alps White or Cream? Feel really crappy, they need lubing. EDIT: PCB only says 'Chicony Copyright 1987'.
Also, doubleshots.
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ewvQONo.jpg)


vintage blacks can be very nice!

Care to elaborate?
Title: Re: Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches
Post by: 8ax on Sun, 24 November 2013, 08:42:00
Quote from: Daniel Beardsmore on Sat, 23 November 2013, 18:57:38
@8ax: Does the 5161A say "NKEY" on the PCB anywhere? Does it have diodes? Are you able to get 6KRO (if using PS/2 to USB) or NKRO (if using PS/2) from it using something like Aqua's Key Test?

The other 5161A keyboards that I've seen specifically state "NKEY" on the PCB, and it would be nice to know for sure that this one is also NKRO (in case the 'A' means something else).

(I didn't even realise you'd posted about this here: this forum is not related to the wiki you posted the details on, which is why I sent you a PM at Deskthority regarding references for the wiki updates, and I had forgotten to check GH all day >_<)

I'll open it up later today; I haven't been able to check the rollover since I don't have a PS/2 converter yet.
Also, I totally forgot about my Deskthority forum account...