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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: minase on Sun, 05 October 2014, 23:32:29

Title: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: minase on Sun, 05 October 2014, 23:32:29
Alright so a long time ago I got the Razer Deathstalker membrane keyboard. After buying it and realizing how bad this keyboard/membrane was for gaming, I decided to find a new a mechanical keyboard for gaming. I'm currently looking for a keyboard with a good build and cherry mx red switches (backlighting doesn't matter). I've been looking at the Leopold FC 660M, Filco MJ2 TKL, and KUL-ES 87 and can't really decide if I should get one of these or keep looking. I just need something that is under $200 and good, hopefully someone could help me find a good one that I won't regret buying.  :)

Oh, and preferably TKL.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: munch on Sun, 05 October 2014, 23:47:30
KÛL all the way! you got some really good options there.
the Cooler Master QFR-I is also apparently really nice, but silly looking keycaps and stuff (subjective of course).

you might want to consider getting PBT caps for a better feel too, I feel it helps a lot for gaming to be honest. really good grip on the caps.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 05 October 2014, 23:50:28
Yeah, KUL is probably the best low cost option you have. It has pretty all around glowing reviews. Filcos are also pretty nice. Can't go wrong with either. I like my Leo FC660, the only problems you're gonna run into is with replacing the caps; the right shift is the same size as the left instead of standard size
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: PointyFox on Sun, 05 October 2014, 23:54:57
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: munch on Mon, 06 October 2014, 00:00:01
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.

just as good, but don't feel quite as nice, IMO! and he might be using his computer for more than just gaming.

... unless you're one of the torpe klan...
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 06 October 2014, 00:00:30
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.

just as good, but don't feel quite as nice, IMO! and he might be using his computer for more than just gaming.

... unless you're one of the torpe klan...

(http://cms.news5.com.ph/Upload/Images/CONFESSIONS%20OF%20A%20TORPE%200209.jpg)
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: minase on Mon, 06 October 2014, 00:07:08
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.


The game I play the most is called osu! which involves double tapping CONSTANTLY. Rubber domes were not the way to go. Cherry MX Red switches would be really good if not the best switch for this game. Sorry, should've mentioned that earlier.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 06 October 2014, 00:23:03
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.


The game I play the most is called osu! which involves double tapping CONSTANTLY. Rubber domes were not the way to go. Cherry MX Red switches would be really good if not the best switch for this game. Sorry, should've mentioned that earlier.

I would think that double tapping would be easiest on a rubber dome or Cherry MX brown switch since you know when the switch has actuated or reset with more certainty; but if you're just slapping the keys down, you'd probably prefer a short-throw switch like a rubber dome scissor switch over a longer throw switch like a Cherry MX red.  Another option of that would be to use 2mm o-rings on the MX reds to decrease the wasted bottom-out distance.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: munch on Mon, 06 October 2014, 01:07:36
in Osu! you'll most likely just be slamming it down to the bottom very rapidly, it's a super spastic game. O-ringed MX Red sounds like a great option for that yeah.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 06 October 2014, 01:11:27
You're going to be disappointed. Rubber domes are just as good if not better for gaming than the Cherry MX switches; well at least the good ones are.


The game I play the most is called osu! which involves double tapping CONSTANTLY. Rubber domes were not the way to go. Cherry MX Red switches would be really good if not the best switch for this game. Sorry, should've mentioned that earlier.

I would think that double tapping would be easiest on a rubber dome or Cherry MX brown switch since you know when the switch has actuated or reset with more certainty; but if you're just slapping the keys down, you'd probably prefer a short-throw switch like a rubber dome scissor switch over a longer throw switch like a Cherry MX red.  Another option of that would be to use 2mm o-rings on the MX reds to decrease the wasted bottom-out distance.

You'd think, but you'd be wrong. It's hard not to go too far with Browns and RD switches if you release them past the bump. Rubber domes and Browns are actually harder to double tap and hover than I expected. So far the easiest switch to do that with that I've found are ErgoClears. Linears are almost as easy since you don't have the bump changing finger pressure during the stroke, just the spring with a constant increase in force. With Clear stems, you can rest it on the upstroke just above the actuation point.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Karura on Mon, 06 October 2014, 01:12:26
You might want browns, or modded clear switches because I find it beneficial to have a tactile response for games like osu!

Reds are good too but you won't have a distinctive bump to prepare for a press.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: AverageHybrid on Mon, 06 October 2014, 02:52:45
The game I play the most is called osu! which involves double tapping CONSTANTLY. Rubber domes were not the way to go. Cherry MX Red switches would be really good if not the best switch for this game. Sorry, should've mentioned that earlier.
Well depends on what beatmaps you play there. It's most of a preference thing and I stream 110 BPM fine with my blues just that the extra noise the blue makes kind of annoys me so I'm either getting browns or reds. I don't like o-rings as they make the key travel shorter and to me I am used to the constant bottoming out and it just breaks my stream when I have o-rings on. And depends on the way you stream. If you stream with you finger always on the key, go for the reds. If you stream with your whole hand (you move your whole arm) I would prefer you go with the tactile switches. Also linear switches doesn't mean better, for some people like me I actually need the tactile bump to tell me when I have activated for more accuracy. However for others they feel like the bump is an annoyance, its all up to your preference in the end of the day.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Matter on Mon, 06 October 2014, 05:39:30
Well, reds are excellent for double tapping.

Have you considered Noppoo?
The choc mini and the choc mids are excellent choices.

They make really decent keyboards that I am currently using the choc mid now which is a TKL keyboard.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: minase on Mon, 06 October 2014, 07:54:18

I stream 170bpm and I keep my fingers on the keys.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: notsonerd on Mon, 06 October 2014, 08:11:50

I stream 170bpm and I keep my fingers on the keys.

If you plan to bottom-out the keys when you play games and when you type and want some resistance, then something with a little more feedback than a red or brown might be for you. Typing on browns and reds is pretty much an effortless task. I feel like I put almost no force into pressing brown switches on my KBP V60. Bottoming out on browns doesn't feel bad at all, but you kind of drive your finger right past the tactile bump. Clears and blacks might be more up your alley.

This is like the third time this morning I'm linking the Leopold FC660M (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/leopold-fc660m) on Massdrop. It's TKL and comes in reds, browns, clears, and other switches as well as different key and case color combinations. It's also currently your cheapest option among what you listed other than what you might be lucky to find on the classifieds.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: notsonerd on Mon, 06 October 2014, 08:12:32

I stream 170bpm and I keep my fingers on the keys.

If you plan to bottom-out the keys when you play games and when you type and want some resistance, then something with a little more feedback than a red or brown might be for you. Typing on browns and reds is pretty much an effortless task. I feel like I put almost no force into pressing brown switches on my KBP V60. Bottoming out on browns doesn't feel bad at all, but you kind of drive your finger right past the tactile bump. Clears and blacks might be more up your alley.

This is like the third time this morning I'm linking the Leopold FC660M (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/leopold-fc660m) on Massdrop. It's TKL and comes in reds, browns, clears, and other switches as well as different key and case color combinations. It's also currently your cheapest option among what you listed other than what you might be lucky to find on the classifieds.

Lmao. I quoted myself.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 06 October 2014, 08:16:33

I stream 170bpm and I keep my fingers on the keys.

If you plan to bottom-out the keys when you play games and when you type and want some resistance, then something with a little more feedback than a red or brown might be for you. Typing on browns and reds is pretty much an effortless task. I feel like I put almost no force into pressing brown switches on my KBP V60. Bottoming out on browns doesn't feel bad at all, but you kind of drive your finger right past the tactile bump. Clears and blacks might be more up your alley.

This is like the third time this morning I'm linking the Leopold FC660M (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/leopold-fc660m) on Massdrop. It's TKL and comes in reds, browns, clears, and other switches as well as different key and case color combinations. It's also currently your cheapest option among what you listed other than what you might be lucky to find on the classifieds.

And it's a great layout, too :)
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Kmynis on Mon, 06 October 2014, 08:41:13
You made a good decision by going for MX reds. A light and linear switch fits the best for a "spammy" game.
When it comes to a specific keyboard, I would buy a QFR. I got a Filco but only because ansi qfr was not available in the region.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 06 October 2014, 19:35:50
Welcome to Geekhack!

Reds should be find, although I find them a bit light.  Most people seem to like them.

Any of the three keyboards you listed in the first post will be fine, but note that the FC660M does not have separate function keys, if you need those.

Also consider a QFR/QFS, QFR-i and Ducky (shine with backlighting, or Zero without).
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: Puddsy on Mon, 06 October 2014, 19:49:39
KUL seems like the best option for you.
Title: Re: Need a mechanical keyboard
Post by: minase on Mon, 06 October 2014, 20:55:58
Welcome to Geekhack!

Reds should be find, although I find them a bit light.  Most people seem to like them.

Any of the three keyboards you listed in the first post will be fine, but note that the FC660M does not have separate function keys, if you need those.

Also consider a QFR/QFS, QFR-i and Ducky (shine with backlighting, or Zero without).

I would for sure get a QFR-i if it came in Red switches.  :'( Sorry not really looking for browns lol