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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wes1099 on Sun, 24 August 2014, 15:06:31

Title: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: wes1099 on Sun, 24 August 2014, 15:06:31
I am looking for a backlit TKL board with clear switches, and all I have found so far is the CODE keyboard. Does anyone know if the CODE is any good? My only other option is to buy something else and replace the switches (which I am fully capable of). The only downside of the CODE that I could find it that it's backlighting is rather boring with only two modes; on or off.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: A-train on Sun, 24 August 2014, 15:16:04
I am using this exact board as my home keyboard. I love it. It's really solid. About the backlighting: you can adjust the brightness; I think there are 7 levels. But it won't really do much else.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 24 August 2014, 15:49:04
stock, yes

that is, unless deck makes one

you could always get a kustom :D
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 24 August 2014, 16:34:05
stock, yes

that is, unless deck makes one

you could always get a kustom :D

One of the TG3 BL82's came with clears, but you need to add a voltage regulator to step the voltage up to use the backlights.

Deck doesn't make anything, it's just a brand that TG3 has for their gaming oriented keyboards to differentiate them from the industrial ones they sell as TG3.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 24 August 2014, 16:52:28
that's what i thought

i didn't know if the deck boards were backlit or not
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: JaccoW on Sun, 24 August 2014, 17:44:12
Backlit and Clears is rare. Get a custom board. ;)
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 24 August 2014, 17:46:00
Weren't there Ducky Shines with clears at one stage?
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 24 August 2014, 17:48:22
i believe a limited run of DS2s or YOTS boards with clears was made

this was long before clear-mania
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: missalaire on Sun, 24 August 2014, 17:56:59
Weren't there Ducky Shines with clears at one stage?

Yes, they had a Ducky Shine II full size with MX clears. I have one :)

i believe a limited run of DS2s or YOTS boards with clears was made

this was long before clear-mania

Afaik the YOTS never came in MX clears, only the common four switches.

Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 24 August 2014, 17:57:46
thanks for clearing that up
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: taylordcraig on Sun, 24 August 2014, 18:18:46
I have two code keyboards, one with greens and one with clears.
They're both awesome and I used the green one for about six months.
I'm using a Lightsaver V1 now.
I'm planning on grabbing a tex aluminum case for one of them.
It'll be my "baby" keyboard next to my growing custom collection.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: wes1099 on Sun, 24 August 2014, 21:40:31
Backlit and Clears is rare. Get a custom board. ;)
Yeah, I think I am just going to find a board I like and replace the switches.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: SonOfSonOfSpock on Sun, 24 August 2014, 22:57:30
If you are up for a 60%, KB Paradise has a model with Clears and is backlit. It is available for pre-order here: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=894 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=894)

thanks for clearing that up

Great joke!  ;D
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 24 August 2014, 23:50:18
Afaik the YOTS never came in MX clears, only the common four switches.
Ducky DK9087 G2 PRO with Clears also has only the WASD cluster backlit.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 25 August 2014, 01:12:56
I am using this exact board as my home keyboard. I love it. It's really solid. About the backlighting: you can adjust the brightness; I think there are 7 levels. But it won't really do much else.

Agree with this post. The CODE has 7 brightness levels. IMHO, it suits the board really well since there no flashy frills, just a good quality board that feels great to use. I would get distracted and irritated with any other type of lighting mode, actually.

Backlit and Clears is rare. Get a custom board. ;)
Yeah, I think I am just going to find a board I like and replace the switches.

Be aware that in order to do that you have to desolder all the LED's and switches. It's a lot of work. That said, I did it on my KBT Pure so I could have plate mounted ErgoClears with white backlighting and the Pure layout (it's less switches than a TKL, though), but the Code already has Clears and backlighting and is a great quality board (with a standard layout so you can replace the caps easily, too), why go to the effort on another board?

The only other backlit TKL's that I can think of are the Ducky Shine TKL and CMStorm Quickfire Rapid-i. I'd say the CODE is similar quality to the Ducky, better than the Rapid-i.

If you are up for a 60%, KB Paradise has a model with Clears and is backlit. It is available for pre-order here: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=894 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=894)

thanks for clearing that up

Great joke!  ;D


I'd rather get one of the Poker II's with Clears from Massdrop. Compatible with more aftermarket cases and programmable.
Title: Re: Is the CODE the only TKL backlit board with clears?
Post by: jterp7 on Mon, 25 August 2014, 13:17:02
Backlit and Clears is rare. Get a custom board. ;)
Yeah, I think I am just going to find a board I like and replace the switches.

That's what I was recommended too. I'm currently being lazy so the current two boards you can easily buy are the code and the kbp V60.

Having tried clears now, I understand the 'slightly grittier red' that has been stated about browns. The day I switched back to browns from clears my fingers were just flying and i'm pretty slow at 80-100 wpm typically.