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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: JHK on Fri, 31 July 2015, 18:10:23

Title: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: JHK on Fri, 31 July 2015, 18:10:23
Using a Logitech K120.  The keyboard isn't bad, but it's not great.  Note: I got it for $8. 

I've been thinking about getting a mechanical keyboard.  Having used membrane keyboards my whole life I believe I'd benefit overall from using a mechanical keyboard. 

I've done research on keyboards and key switches, and have been looking primarily at Corsair and Razer keyboards, a bit skeptical on the Razer Blackwidow though due its Kailh switches. 

My main question is what switch keyboard to get.  I do quite a lot of typing and quite a lot of gaming lol.

BTW, would prefer RGB over non-RGB.
Cost does not matter.
 :thumb:
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: eddie on Fri, 31 July 2015, 19:20:16
i would look at more options... i'm pretty sure noppoo has a rgb and rosewill. it looks like they both have kailh switches tho
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 31 July 2015, 19:58:33
i would look at more options... i'm pretty sure noppoo has a rgb and rosewill. it looks like they both have kailh switches tho

Rosewill uses Cherry MX.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 31 July 2015, 20:03:31


i would look at more options... i'm pretty sure noppoo has a rgb and rosewill. it looks like they both have kailh switches tho

Rosewill uses Cherry MX.

Not the rgb board.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 31 July 2015, 20:04:21


i would look at more options... i'm pretty sure noppoo has a rgb and rosewill. it looks like they both have kailh switches tho

Rosewill uses Cherry MX.

Not the rgb board.

Okay thanks SpamRay...  It's been a long time since I have checked them out.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: blcksqrrl on Sat, 01 August 2015, 00:18:37
I like blues for both gaming and typing. As for the RGB, I'm pretty sure that the only current RGB offerings with Cherry MX switches are the ones that Corsair makes.

Having said that, I came from a membrane keyboard that was full RGB to one that doesn't have backlighting and I don't miss it at all. Maybe I didn't use it like you plan to, but I would much prefer to look at some pretty keycaps rather than pretty backlighting effects. But that's just me.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: demik on Sat, 01 August 2015, 00:24:27
anything.

you can game and type on any switch. mechanical or not.

try to find a switch tester before you dive into getting a keyboard because what people here suggest doesn't mean you'll like it for yourself. switch is all personal choice.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: Zensuji on Sat, 01 August 2015, 09:46:27
What demik said. You're going to have to try out a few. Don't get caught up in the whole gaming/typing switch thing though. WHat ever feels best is the best.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: chyros on Sat, 01 August 2015, 11:23:20
Don't read too much into the whole "gaming switch" thing, it's rather blown out of proportion by most manufacturers. Some switches feel slightly better or slightly worse while gaming, true, but I noticed that unless a switch is actually physically hard to use properly you can barely even tell whether a switch is linear or tactile while in-game. Proper typing experience is must more important; the worst gaming experiences I had gave me tired fingers quicker than other boards did, and in one case I had an annoying ghosting combination block me, but overall nothing really major. Conversely, I have had several boards on which I couldn't even stand typing an email. Also there's no need to get really picky on your first mech, in all likelihood you won't be able to appreciate the finer differences between different switches anyway xD .
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 02 August 2015, 01:53:08
Welcome to Geekhack!

A switch tester will only give you a general idea - it is better to find somewhere selling a range of keyboards and ask nicely if you can try typing on a few.

Other than that it pretty much comes down to whether you want light or heavy switches, clicky or not, tactile or linear.  Then pretty much just choose a board (standard ANSI layout will make it much easier to swap keycaps later on).
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: MajorMajor on Sun, 02 August 2015, 22:29:12
I'd suggest Cherry MX Brown switches.
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: Hyde on Sun, 02 August 2015, 23:26:40
Yeah like people said it's probably best to try a few switches to see what you like or don't like.  For example I realize I don't like switches that doesn't have the same actuate/reset point (like MX Blue) for both typing and gaming.

In general, I like MX Red a bit better for gaming and MX Brown a bit better for typing but overall I'm happy with either for general usage.

Topre is okay for gaming but I like it for typing way more.

So you can either get a few cheaper keyboards to start out with.

Or if you're set on the RGB keyboard, should wait for Ducky Shine 5.  :thumb:
Title: Re: A keyboard for gaming AND typing
Post by: jamster on Mon, 03 August 2015, 05:46:28


Not sure why, but the thread title made me thing of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSZfUnCK5qk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSZfUnCK5qk)