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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ZmanFTW on Sun, 23 November 2014, 18:14:56

Title: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ZmanFTW on Sun, 23 November 2014, 18:14:56
I am new to gaming peripherals and I probably type more than game. Just want something really nice and really quiet. I have been Googling like crazy and cannot find a clear answer. I thought maybe someone here would be kind enough to point me in the right direction?


Most silent gaming keyboard?
Most silent gaming mouse?
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Altis on Sun, 23 November 2014, 18:47:59
To be honest, the quietest keyboard I have (out of 8) by a long and far margin is the Apple bluetooth keyboard while placed on a large mousemat/deskmat.

It's extremely quiet. Next quietest is probably my Realforce 87U Topre keyboard. The rest are pretty well all loud, if you ask me. All MX and Alps boards, as well as buckling springs, are all out of the "quiet" category and into the grey areas of personal tolerance.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: TheAngelicWolf on Sun, 23 November 2014, 18:59:57
I am new to gaming peripherals and I probably type more than game. Just want something really nice and really quiet. I have been Googling like crazy and cannot find a clear answer. I thought maybe someone here would be kind enough to point me in the right direction?


Most silent gaming keyboard?
Most silent gaming mouse?
I don't have any specifics but look for Topre keyboards, quietest switches I've ever heard.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: faceyourfaces on Sun, 23 November 2014, 19:06:48
All MX and Alps boards, as well as buckling springs, are all out of the "quiet" category and into the grey areas of personal tolerance.

Have you tried/heard the Matias Quiet Click switches? They make noise but they sound pretty quiet to me, being no louder than the average rubber dome keyboard.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: RED-404 on Sun, 23 November 2014, 20:27:15
(http://red.dazoe.net/stuff/WIN_20141123_190834.JPG)
The V60MTS Quiet Click is pretty quiet for a Mechanical but not silent.
Note I don't have the quiet room or PC and someone started using a DS3 with MX blues during the omni recording.
Recorded like so.
(http://red.dazoe.net/stuff/WIN_20141123_200610.JPG)
Audio file: http://red.dazoe.net/stuff/mxblack%20vs%20mtsqc.flac
Order: cardioid SteelSeries 7G MX Black, V60MTS Quiet Click, omni SteelSeries 7G MX Black, V60MTS Quiet Click.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 23 November 2014, 21:29:53
KUL with clears and o-rings with drawer liner mod. Have fun trying to make sound.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: dante on Sun, 23 November 2014, 21:38:05
KUL with clears and o-rings with drawer liner mod. Have fun trying to make sound.

I'm intrigued.  Would you be able to give a sound clip vs. something else?
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 23 November 2014, 21:40:02
Silenced Realforces are pretty damn quiet
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Peinful on Mon, 24 November 2014, 01:29:52
I think hes looking for "silent" not quiet, frankly all mech keyboards make noise especially when gaming
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: berserkfan on Mon, 24 November 2014, 14:44:30
I am new to gaming peripherals and I probably type more than game. Just want something really nice and really quiet. I have been Googling like crazy and cannot find a clear answer. I thought maybe someone here would be kind enough to point me in the right direction?


Most silent gaming keyboard?
Most silent gaming mouse?

Ultimately the most silent gaming keyboard you can have is one that you modded yourself. These are a variety of mods that you can do for that.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ZmanFTW on Mon, 24 November 2014, 18:12:37
Well thank you for all the input. Looks like I got some Googling to do now. I never heard of Topore switches or KUL but I'm guessing that all these suggestions are all pretty quiet. Zero noise would be perfect actually. If I want backlit keys for typing in the dark will that ruin my chances at zero noise?! I was looking at Razer Chroma Stealth with their orange 45g switch. Would be similar to MX Red/Brown? If I add o-rings maybe? I'm also very accustomed to grabbing my wireless keyboard by it's palm rest since I mostly type in bed. I might be the only guy alive who uses his own chest as a desk! Or...I have 2 black TV trays but one is for my prehistoric mouse.

I was looking at Das, Ducky, Matias Pro, WASD, Max seems pricey...hopefully I will get what I pay for. Not afraid to mod though! Just need good links or resources...
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Puddsy on Mon, 24 November 2014, 21:34:21
KUL with clears and o-rings with drawer liner mod. Have fun trying to make sound.

I'm intrigued.  Would you be able to give a sound clip vs. something else?

Don't have o-rings or drawer liner. The board is already super quiet, so this is kinda an assumption.

Silencing it is on my list, though.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Altis on Mon, 24 November 2014, 21:39:24
Well thank you for all the input. Looks like I got some Googling to do now. I never heard of Topore switches or KUL but I'm guessing that all these suggestions are all pretty quiet. Zero noise would be perfect actually. If I want backlit keys for typing in the dark will that ruin my chances at zero noise?! I was looking at Razer Chroma Stealth with their orange 45g switch. Would be similar to MX Red/Brown? If I add o-rings maybe? I'm also very accustomed to grabbing my wireless keyboard by it's palm rest since I mostly type in bed. I might be the only guy alive who uses his own chest as a desk! Or...I have 2 black TV trays but one is for my prehistoric mouse.

I was looking at Das, Ducky, Matias Pro, WASD, Max seems pricey...hopefully I will get what I pay for. Not afraid to mod though! Just need good links or resources...

I still think that, given everything you've listed as a priority, you're best off with an Apple Bluetooth Aluminum keyboard. It's dead silent, easy to see at night, wireless, very lightweight, sturdy, and the keys are actually quite snappy and tactile.

Then, get a mechanical board for when you're able to be less stealthy with the noise. Then you aren't lessening the experience by trying to make it as quiet as you can, or forcing yourself to type quietly.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ZmanFTW on Thu, 27 November 2014, 10:26:38
Is it compatible with PC? I never owned an Apple product in my life!
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ZmanFTW on Thu, 27 November 2014, 10:36:07
This is what I'm thinking about doing instead of Razer...

Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard + o-rings
Logitech G502 Proteus Core Tunable Gaming Mouse
Logitech G440 Hard Mouse Pad (I have cloth and I keep getting cigarette burns!)

I'm kind of sold on the whole RGB thing for when I DJ! What are the best o-rings? Also, the actuation point is only 1.5mm...can I still even do o-rings? Are there any other ways I could mod it to make it quiet?
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 27 November 2014, 18:56:55
G910+ has issues with fast LED death due to ESD and has a lot of DOAs. Try the Ducky shine 4 instead.

I like the thinner, softer o-rings personally.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: saturnotaku on Thu, 27 November 2014, 19:55:56
Silenced Realforces are pretty damn quiet

The major problem is that the variable weight sucks for gaming, and there's no uniform Realforce that uses the silenced Topre switches.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 27 November 2014, 19:56:54
Silenced Realforces are pretty damn quiet

The major problem is that the variable weight sucks for gaming, and there's no uniform Realforce that uses the silenced Topre switches.

Dental band mod is not hard, just time consuming
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: slickmamba on Thu, 27 November 2014, 20:21:35
How has nobody said reds or blacks yet?  As long as you aren't slamming to bottom out, they are very quiet
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 27 November 2014, 20:48:38
As long as you aren't slamming to bottom out

and therein lies your issue

i can float them fine but it's hard to type quickly without bottoming out
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: noisyturtle on Thu, 27 November 2014, 20:54:31
Lubed reds with o-rings. Probably the most silent mech keyboard.

Add POM caps and sticker your switches and they are ever-so-slightly quieter too. Maybe. I'm pretty sure my YotD is quieter. Could be placebo... pretty sure though  :))

Any rate, the lube and o-rings make it very quiet for sure. Things for stability like a metal casing, plate mounted PCB, and a soft inlay help as well.   :thumb:
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 28 November 2014, 01:12:13
A NovaTouch with spiceBar's silencing mod and DCS or SA profile caps (any caps without the crossbraces, so they don't hit the top of the switch) is pretty quiet, too.

I'm very happy with trampoline and latex modded ErgoClears. Very quiet (although it may not be absolutely THE quietest, it's quieter than the rubber domes we have at the office) and feel awesome.
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: berserkfan on Fri, 28 November 2014, 02:57:57
A NovaTouch with spiceBar's silencing mod and DCS or SA profile caps (any caps without the crossbraces, so they don't hit the top of the switch) is pretty quiet, too.

I'm very happy with trampoline and latex modded ErgoClears. Very quiet (although it may not be absolutely THE quietest, it's quieter than the rubber domes we have at the office) and feel awesome.

Oobly, I saw these silicon balls for sale and was wondering how you felt about them. Are they that much better?
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: appleonama on Fri, 28 November 2014, 04:28:23
topre with silenced mod
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 28 November 2014, 07:21:22
A NovaTouch with spiceBar's silencing mod and DCS or SA profile caps (any caps without the crossbraces, so they don't hit the top of the switch) is pretty quiet, too.

I'm very happy with trampoline and latex modded ErgoClears. Very quiet (although it may not be absolutely THE quietest, it's quieter than the rubber domes we have at the office) and feel awesome.

Oobly, I saw these silicon balls for sale and was wondering how you felt about them. Are they that much better?

I'm using them in my KBT Pure at the office. Better than orings for sure, but I think I still prefer cut pieces of soft oring inside the stems, although the difference is not so big and the cut pieces are not as consistent. The balls are definitely acceptable :D
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ConscienceDrop on Fri, 28 November 2014, 08:00:20
you want MX greens with really thick PBT caps.

cant hear anything with this setup  :thumb:
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: hwood34 on Fri, 28 November 2014, 08:04:10
you want MX greens with really thick PBT caps.

cant hear anything with this setup  :thumb:
lol?
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: Data on Fri, 28 November 2014, 11:21:57
MX Reds with o-rings should get you pretty close without a lot of additional modding.

(I don't consider o-rings to be modding.)
Title: Re: Most Silent Gaming or Mechanical Keyboard?
Post by: ZmanFTW on Sun, 30 November 2014, 15:08:22
G910+ has issues with fast LED death due to ESD and has a lot of DOAs. Try the Ducky shine 4 instead.

I like the thinner, softer o-rings personally.

Can't find anyone reporting LED death...

Where would I get softer thinner o-rings?

Thanks!