geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: capdown on Wed, 13 July 2016, 16:23:12
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Hi Geekhack forums
Looking for some advice here
I have never used a mechanical keyboard before, I'm quite happy with my current cheap RD keyboard but it's on it's lasts legs and time for a replacement or upgrade, plus is keep hearing praise for mechanical so i'm very intrigued :) however a cheap RD would be a ideal as then I can buy other peripherals I've been meaning to buy also.
Every shop i have gone to that i know of in my area (PC World, Maplins) offer either very low profile scissor switches which i personally dislike or gaming keyboards by razor or corsair with blue/clicky switches that I'm not really interested in. I like the feel of them although they are VERY different but these are all I have been able to test :(
All i ask for is a keyboard that is TKL and not lowprofile/laptop style that is not too loud. I'd much prefer a minimal design also and tactile non-clicky keys (or just RD)
The dilemma is have is that even online all I can really find is mechanical keyboards of over £120 in TKL, maybe this is just how the market is now? but I thought I would ask people that know about keyboards first.
Although I have seen mechanicals for sale for very cheap on ebay £30-40 I figure these are the ones I should stay clear of as they are probably very noisey and unreliable?
If I can't find a RD here are are the options I have found so far that i feel I'm left with:
Max Keyboard Blackbird TKL
code clear TKL
cooler master rapid-i
ducky shine range (not sure which)
Again, i just want something that is TKL and quiet
thanks guys :thumb:
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The KBParadise V80 with Matias Quiet Clicks sounds perfect for you:
It's built well and the switches are very tactile but very quiet. You can even get it for a little more with doubleshot caps which is hard to find for ALPS based switches.
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I'd avoid the Ducky One TKL. It's inexpensive but has very loud, noisy (rattling) stabilizers.
I'm using a Varmilo V87MN with MX Browns now for gaming. No rattly noises and minimal metallic resonance.
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Also, if you ever buy O-rings, you can get generic ones much cheaper.
These from Amazon (US)
008 Buna-N O-Ring, 70A Durometer, Black, 3/16" ID, 5/16" OD, 1/16" Width (Pack of 100)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FMWLR8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I don't use O-rings much because I don't like the way they alter the feel on most of the keys, but for instance, on my Varmilo, the spacebar bottoms out much louder than the other keys, so I put O-rings on JUST the spacebar.
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The KBParadise V80 with Matias Quiet Clicks sounds perfect for you:
It's built well and the switches are very tactile but very quiet. You can even get it for a little more with doubleshot caps which is hard to find for ALPS based switches.
I forgot to mention... I need a keyboard with a UK layout.. and damn, yeah, first time seeing that keyboard and it does look perfect, price is not too steep and very minimal design. I was very close to buying it until I zoomed in on the picture a little more and saw the layout was not what I'm used to.
Unless theres somewhere else I can buy it other then from mechanicalkeyboards.com. or just something I'm missing
It would only be for light home use (web browsing, some gaming). So I find it hard to justify paying over £120 or 130 odd just so I can have the right side of my keyboard chopped off essentially.
It's the principle of it in a way lol, not necessarily that I can't afford the others I posted earlier. and I know the rubber dome membrane ones I'm looking for used to exist because I own one, around here somewhere is a TKL Packard bell membrane, I don't know the exact name of it. it's pretty decent but just a bit knackered :D thanks guys :D
I'll go hunt around the shops again, or if i don't see anything then i'll just say screw it and take the plunge and buy 1 of the 4 I mentioned earlier online, most likely the CODE clear :thumb:
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I have a CODE with MX clears - it's great!
Although some (with MX clears in particular) have been reported as having bad ping, mine is fine.