Looking for a first mechanical keyboard

[dnLL]

Hi guys,

First of all, I'm French Canadian, my apologies if there are some spelling mistakes. It also means that I'm looking for something that I can buy in Canada.

I just bought a Steelseries 6GV2 at my local FutureShop retailer to try for the first time a mechanical keyboard. And I actually enjoyed it. However, I'm going to take it back to the store as I don't think that this keyboard is really appropriated for me (and it is actually available through NCIX.com e-retailer for less expansive). Anyway, I've done a lot of reading, trying to determine what would be the best keyboard for me but I've not been able to find the perfect keyboard.

My use is about 70% writing (or coding), 30% gaming (some FPS like Battlefield and Call of Duty but also some light games like DiRT3). I've determined that the Cherry MX Brown switches are most probably the best for me, at it offers a good balance between gaming and writing. Unfortunetaly, I have no way to test any other mechanical keyboard than the Steelseries at FutureShop (which carries MX Black switches).

I would like to get the layout as standard as possible. But I would also like to get it PS/2 and with some minimal multimedia shortcuts (i.e. mute/unmute, volume +/-) and the problems start there. I actually have a Silverstone FT02B computer case, which won't allow me to use any adapter (USB to PS/2 for example). It means that I need it to be native PS/2. I've found a keyboard that has almost everything I want: The Rosewill RK-9000BR. I can plug it natively PS/2. However, the multimedia shortcuts aren't there. And I'm not sure that I like that much the that mini-USB cable. It would be better if it actually plugs under the keyboard like the CM Quickfire for example.

Why do I want it to be PS/2? Well, all modern ASUS Rampage/Maximus motherboards have a PS/2 port because of what it is. It frees up a USB port and avoids the polling over USB too. I have many USB peripheral already and I do like the idea of a PS/2 keyboard with the interrupt thing. I would however prefer the Rosewill to have a Fn key with some shortcuts than the PS/2, I'm sure you guys could convince me that PS/2 is actually useless and that I could buy some USB hub or something. But the Rosewill doesn't have the shortcuts. I do however like the layout and obviously the low price of this keyboard (and it's available on newegg.ca).

I hope you guys will be able to help me finding the best keyboard for my usage. I was typing on a Logitech Illuminated but it's quite used and it will need to be replaced in the next few weeks.
Thank you!

dnLL

[Aral]

I'd like to say just one thing:
Don't dismiss the blue switches just because you are a gamer too, I find them really awesome for gaming, and so do a lot of other people too, but there are some reviewers saying that blues are not the way to go for gaming, which is entirely a personal opinion. Also, they are excellent for typing, and you can probably find a Blackwidow you can test out in a shop near you.
Just my two cents.

[dnLL]

There isn't much local retailers where I live, honestly. The nearest place where I could probably find some Razer products is about ~500km away. FutureShop does carry some Razer mice and maybe a Lycosa but no Blackwidow as far I as know. I'm still quite undecided because I cannot really test them. Only tried the blacks and won't be able to try anything else without really buying it (it's a little bit harder to return a product bought online, shipping and restocking fees are usually too high). I can say something about the MX Black however: it does feel quite better than my Logitech Illuminated when gaming and even when typing. I don't hate the Logitech scissors however but that keyboard is only ~1.5 year-old, the standoffs are already broken and the prints wore off a bit. And I don't like the plastic coating on it, Razer uses the same on their keyboard.

I read a lot of reviews and found on this forum some audio recordings of Filco keyboards with MX Blue and MX Brown and I actually don't really mind that clicky sound. But I guess it won't be as fast when double-tap in gaming. The CM Quickfire does have the blue switches and is less expansive (only 80 CAD and it might be a little less). The multimedia shortcuts are there. Cable is mini-USB but no straight PS/2 however (any possibility I could fit a mini-USB to PS/2 cable like the Rosewill has?). Not sure yet if I will mind about the missing keypad. I guess I could replace those ugly CM Storm switches with standard Windows button switches too?

[dnLL]

Just read this thread about the CM Quickfire: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:24273
It sounds like a great keyboard, I could change the keycaps if needed. The review reported that some multimedia shortcuts don't work in fullscreen games, this part of the review does disappointed me a little bit. I mainly use the mute button on my Illuminated and it always worked properly, whatever gave I was playing.

Any other input? Still trying to figure out what would be the best first mech keyboard for me. Thank you!

[dnLL]

I found myself reading a lot (again) about different switches and it seems that it all comes down to user's preferences. Some prefers the MX Blacks even for typing while others like the Blues for gaming. But it has been established that the blacks are more gamer-oriented and the blues more typist-oriented. In the long run, I guess I will have to try them all. I still think that the balanced brown switches would give me a better overview of everything in comparison with my actual blacks on my temporary "borrowed" Steelseries keyboard.

[dnLL]

It sounds like I've found something that would match what I want: Ducky DK9000G2 Mechanical Keyboard w/ Brown Cherry MX Switches (PBT). There's also another model with backlit. I have 2 questions. What's the main difference between PBT and ABS? PBT is more expansive, is it really better? Second question is about PS/2. Both keyboards are mini-USB, but no PS/2 cable, only an adapter. If I get a mini-USB to PS/2 cable, would it work (like the one on the Rosewill)? What would happen with the backlit keyboard? Not enought power? Thanks.

[furry_angina]

What's the main difference between PBT and ABS? PBT is more expansive, is it really better?

The main difference I think is feel.  PBT feels a lot softer to the touch and I think might dampen the noise a bit, compared to ABS keycaps that are more 'plasticky' and makes more of a crisp sound when bottoming out.  I prefer Topre/PBTs for coding and Cherry Blacks/ABS for gaming since I like to mash keys lol.