My first Mechanical Keyboard

[raphdu57]

Hey guys !
First I have to say that this website is awesome, I've learnt so much about mechanical keyboard that I want to get one !
The problem is that I don't want to spend too much money for my first mechanical keyboard and that I live in switzerland, so that's not really easy to find mechanical keyboard there.

My max price would be 90€/115$/120CHF, I could go a little bit higher, but the shipping has to be included.
I looked at some websites that ships in switzerland (for a fair price i.e. amazon.de, amazon.fr and ldlc.ch) and I was hesitating between 4 keyboards.
The 4 keyboards I've found are
- the Keycool 87 with brown switches (here)
- The Cooler Master Storm Quick Fire Pro Red with red switches (here)
- The SteelSeries 6Gv2 with black switches (here)
- The HPE 87 with brown switches (here

I'll be using this keyboard mainly for playing an mmo (gw2), but I don't need any specific macro keys and for typing (as I'm a student).
I can't decide which switches would fit me the best, at first I was looking for brown switches, since they seemed to be the best for typing and gaming. I unfortunately don't have the opportunity to test those switches.
I'll use this keyboard for a year or two and then I will certainly get a better (a more expensive one), since I'm going to type a lot more (programmation), I know I maybe should directly get a better one, but I'm a bit short on money these times and I really want to have a first experience with a mechanical keyboard before getting an expensive one.

Thanks in advance for your advice !

Raph

[spiralsc2]

Honestly, before you buy a keyboard, if you have ANY chance of testing out keys, that helps so much, (ex. At your local electronics store, some keyboards might have keys sticking out of the packaging as a "test", try double tapping those and pressing them to see if you like the feel), but I'll give you a basic guidelines of Cherry MX Switches, though a lot comes down to personal preference.
Cherry MX Brown:
Tactile switch, not clicky, MX Browns are the middle ground between all of the other switches, they are tactile but blue, but light like the blacks.
Cherry MX Black:
Linear switch, not clicky, not tactile, MX Blacks take a little more force to press down than the other switches, but are the best for repetitive tapping or APM in RTSes, as they spring back up very quickly.
Cherry MX Red:
Linear, not clicky, not tactile, MX Reds are pretty much a lighter version of blacks (they are the lightest Cherry MX)
Cherry MX Blue:
Tactile, clicky, MX Blues are clicky and are the slowest to spring back up, making double-tapping a little more difficult.


Honestly, I like blues, even for gaming, but it's all a matter of preference.

[raphdu57]

Thanks for your answer !
I've already read about the diverse types of switches and I've already checked my local store, they only have some razer blackwidow (black switches if I'm right), but I haven't tested it since I wasn't aware the different types. Anyway does it really worth testing this keyboard even though I don't have any other reference point ? Anyway I'll ask some friends to know if they have some mechanical keyboards.
At the moment I'm thinking of taking the keycool 87 or any other keyboard with brown switches, since brown switches seem to me the most "neutral" switches and if it is absolutely terrible, I'll change...in a few years !
Anyone already had a keycool and has some experience to share about ?
My main problem is to find a quite cheap keyboard which can be shipped in switzerland for a fair price, it really limits my choices...

Edit : Since it seems really import that I know which switches would fit me the best, I'm thinking of ordering the 4 types of switches at wasdkeyboards.com in order to try them and I may buy at the same time some o-ring because they seem great to make the keyboard less noisy. Is it worth 30$ in your opinion ?
And Bim Gao, I didn't get what you meant by "its own keycap" 

Edit 2 : I've added another keyboard to my "list", the HPE 87

[Bim Gao]

Welcome to geekhack
If im not wrong most Razer blackwidow using blue switch, only the stealth edition 2013 using brown switch
I prefer blue > brown > black > red and for the looking is CM quick fire > steelseries 6Gv2 > keycool but u only have 3 limit choices
The keycool keyboard, I havent tried yet so no commend on it build but 1 thing which I sure it will make u disappointed is its own keycap set, but you can use others keycap set to replace it
GL for your future choice

[PointyFox]

Honestly, before you buy a keyboard, if you have ANY chance of testing out keys, that helps so much, (ex. At your local electronics store, some keyboards might have keys sticking out of the packaging as a "test", try double tapping those and pressing them to see if you like the feel), but I'll give you a basic guidelines of Cherry MX Switches, though a lot comes down to personal preference.
Cherry MX Brown:
Tactile switch, not clicky, MX Browns are the middle ground between all of the other switches, they are tactile but blue, but light like the blacks.
Cherry MX Black:
Linear switch, not clicky, not tactile, MX Blacks take a little more force to press down than the other switches, but are the best for repetitive tapping or APM in RTSes, as they spring back up very quickly.
Cherry MX Red:
Linear, not clicky, not tactile, MX Reds are pretty much a lighter version of blacks (they are the lightest Cherry MX)
Cherry MX Blue:
Tactile, clicky, MX Blues are clicky and are the slowest to spring back up, making double-tapping a little more difficult.


Honestly, I like blues, even for gaming, but it's all a matter of preference.

I need to correct this.

Should say:

"Cherry MX Brown:
Tactile switch, not clicky, MX Browns are the middle ground between all of the other switches. they are tactile but blue, but light like the blacks they are tactile, but light like the reds.
Cherry MX Black:
Linear switch, not clicky, not tactile, MX Blacks take a little more force to press down than the other switches, but are the best for repetitive tapping or APM in RTSes, as they spring back up very quickly.
Cherry MX Red:
Linear, not clicky, not tactile, MX Reds are pretty much a lighter version of blacks (they are the lightest Cherry MX) they are the lightest Cherry MX along with brown.
Cherry MX Blue:
Tactile, clicky, MX Blues are clicky and are the slowest to spring back up, and have a higher reset point than actuation point, making double-tapping a little more difficult."


(You shouldn't notice any difference in key speed in reality).

My favorite switches are in this order from favorite to least favorite:  black = blue > red > brown > rubber dome > buckling spring.

Blue switches have a more prominent activation point than the brown, which just has a soft bump you need to pass over which can't be felt at high WPM.
I like linear switches better for gaming due to less distractions. Bottom it out and be done with it.  No need to worry about if I pressed it far enough or changes in key feel while pressing.
I like black better than red due to reds not having much feel to them.  Blacks feel more cushiony. (I type hard).

[raphdu57]

I'm still thinking of grabbing some switches and keycaps in order to try the different switches. I could even get some o-rings at the same times, but are they really worth 18$ ?
Also, I've also found this keyboard interresting, any know this brand ?

[tobydeemer]

I'm still thinking of grabbing some switches and keycaps in order to try the different switches. I could even get some o-rings at the same times, but are they really worth 18$ ?
Also, I've also found this keyboard interresting, any know this brand ?

I have no experience with that brand, and in all my lurking here, have never come across it. Looks interesting though from their pics.

As far as O-Rings being worth it, that's a personal preference thing all the way. I will say however that they do make a very noticeable difference in sound and feel, particularly the softer red ones. I have a CoolerMaster QF Rapid with MX Blue switches, and when I added the red O-Rings, it was much quieter and bottoming out was much softer. Only the click of the switch was left, and the *thock thock* of bottoming out was absent. If you're a heavy typist, the difference will be more pronounced.

[PointyFox]

I'm still thinking of grabbing some switches and keycaps in order to try the different switches. I could even get some o-rings at the same times, but are they really worth 18$ ?
Also, I've also found this keyboard interresting, any know this brand ?

No.  They're worth somewhere between $3-$7.  You can find them at Amazon or stores that carry hardware.