What 75-60% Cherry MX board should I get?

[Roibhilin]

I have ~140 to spend on a new keyboard and I want to try a compact one, do you guys have any 75-60% keyboards to recommend? I use arrows so if  the layout incorporates those it would be a plus 

[exitfire401]

My favorite 75% board is the Race 2 for its programability, but if you're looking more for the ability to change keycaps, look into a Noppoo Choc Mini. For 60%, I recommend the Poker II.

[Sagii]

Should consider looking into the Keycool 84. 75% layout with almost all standard keycaps

[qwack]

The Pure Pro is a good choice if you want a backlit 60% with arrows. So is the Filco Minila. The drawback withg these keyboards is that some keys are smaller than on bigger keyboards (especially the right shift, but you'll learn to deal with it), which also makes it harder (read: almost impossible) to find replacement keycaps for the whole board.

[Roibhilin]

i know it doesn't have arrows but is the Poker II a good choice?
as far as I know the poker has standard keycap sizes and i go on an OCD trip when you can change all but one key, which is why I replaced my Quickfire TK...

[Defect]

I didn't like Poker 2 because of where PN and FN keys are.  Wish you could move them.

But I know most people like poker 2.

I liked older Keycool 84 and love my Choc Mini.   Spacebar on the choc mini is impossible to replace though.


Edit: Also none of these are "Cherry" boards, but they do all have Cherry MX switches.

[qwack]

If you want a 60% board and the ability to replace its keycaps easily, then the Poker II is the best choice. It does not have dedicated arrows, but the programmability kind of makes up for it if you're not against using modifiers. Check out the GuiFN layout for instance.

[Roibhilin]

I didn't like Poker 2 because of where PN and FN keys are.  Wish you could move them.

But I know most people like poker 2.

I liked older Keycool 84 and love my Choc Mini.   Spacebar on the choc mini is impossible to replace though.


Edit: Also none of these are "Cherry" boards, but they do all have Cherry MX switches.

the keycool 84's spacebar is 6.25x right?

[Kraksx]

I'm in the same market as OP and was looking at the Poker II and I was wondering where the best place is to get one.

[IvanIvanovich]

If you're in no rush you could wait for the GH60 or go with sprit's. Otherwise if you need something premade sooner I would go with the KBParadise V60mini as it has better switch options, more layout freedom.
As far as 75% I would also go with the Keycool. Just be careful not to buy a Kailh switch version... they are not as tried and tested as Cherry MX switch, though they may not be any worse there is just not enough feedback to give a recommendation.

[Fragil1ty]

I have ~140 to spend on a new keyboard and I want to try a compact one, do you guys have any 75-60% keyboards to recommend? I use arrows so if  the layout incorporates those it would be a plus 

Noppoo choc mini dominates the 75% board scene, hands down. I wouldn't even advise you get anything else, best 75% board around in my opinion.

[ideus]

In my experience 60s cannot provide you all the actual freedom to use arrows, and modified arrows for many useful things like windows relocation shortcuts under win 7, or for block selections in excel, or for simple navigation. I have used a Poker X (60%) for almost two years now, but now I am using also an FC660M, and I am more productive in this last. If you do not use modifiers with your arrows much, as I do, you maybe get accustom to FN+ for arrows in a Poker II, V60, HHKB, and the like. For me the preferred layout is the 660. The only thing I do not like of it are its special positions for the stabilizers' stems of the spacebar. Besides that only the right shift and the windows key are not standard.

Some recent keycaps GB have already include some provisions for the right shift, and the windows key in order to get full sets the covers the FC660M. For the space bar I already got a black, a white, and a gray one, in PBT, that mostly match most of my sets now.

In the quality of build I may say that the FC is very well made, robust keyboard.

[luisbg]

If you want arrow keys and can live without modding everything: Leopold FC660M

If you want to possibly mod everything and can live without arrow keys: Poker II.

The two best 60% boards IMHO.

[Oobly]

If you want the most universal keycap compatibility, the Poker II is best.

If you want arrow keys and almost universal keycap compatibility I recommend a Pure (not Pure Pro, just Pure). The only non-standard caps are a short right shift and extra 1x key. Most sets with Tsangan kits include the needed caps. You can toggle the right hand modifiers into an arrow cluster.

ALL the 75% layouts have keycap compatibility issues. The "most compatible" is the Keycool 84.

[ideus]

If you want the most universal keycap compatibility, the Poker II is best.

If you want arrow keys and almost universal keycap compatibility I recommend a Pure (not Pure Pro, just Pure). The only non-standard caps are a short right shift and extra 1x key. Most sets with Tsangan kits include the needed caps. You can toggle the right hand modifiers into an arrow cluster.

ALL the 75% layouts have keycap compatibility issues. The "most compatible" is the Keycool 84.

Original Pure and Poker have the same capability to turn the right mods into arrows, but they are not available, but in the classifieds only.

[dv8omega]

i am interested in the poker 2, but i dont have the skills to solder. and i cant find one that already has LED backlighting

[xuanwumen]

Keycool 84 II has the LED backlights and the keycaps are standard size. Also with cherry mx switches, not kailh switches.

[luisbg]

i am interested in the poker 2, but i dont have the skills to solder. and i cant find one that already has LED backlighting

Is backlighting that important for you? Just curious to why.

[dv8omega]

i am interested in the poker 2, but i dont have the skills to solder. and i cant find one that already has LED backlighting

Is backlighting that important for you? Just curious to why.

preference

[ideus]

I've never understood why ppl want lights on their keyboards.

[CPTBadAss]

I've never understood why ppl want lights on their keyboards.

I like how it looks.

I've never understood why ppl don't like backlighting on their keyboards.

[luisbg]

I like how it looks.

I've never understood why ppl don't like backlighting on their keyboards.

I can respect having different aesthetic tastes. For me, I find it distracting from my focus on whatever is happening in the screen.

Though programming the lights so they show you possible key combos in emacs would be cool to try.

[ideus]

I like how it looks.

I've never understood why ppl don't like backlighting on their keyboards.

I can respect having different aesthetic tastes. For me, I find it distracting from my focus on whatever is happening in the screen.

Though programming the lights so they show you possible key combos in emacs would be cool to try.

Functionality and aesthetics are totally different matters. Again, what happens with the elegant simplicity of a good old mechanical keyboard in its own modesty? Let the cute lights to hang on X-mas trees.  )

[luisbg]

Functionality and aesthetics are totally different matters. Again, what happens with the elegant simplicity of a good old mechanical keyboard in its own modesty? Let the cute lights to hang on X-mas trees.  )

I would say 'less is more'. But I do have a few specialty keycaps, so I am not truly minimalist.

[stakiman]

Guys I'll hijack this thread a bit, because I'm looking into a 60% gaming board with brown switches. However, I need a full set of F keys (so Leopold FC660M and Poker II are sadly out of the question). The other thing I need is that the ESC key touches the F1 key. That's it.

But it is sooo difficult to find a proper one.. My old Choc Noppoo Mini almost broke (or got broken) the other day and I'm looking into newer models/variants.
The only similar board that can be bought brand new is the Keycool 84, which looks cool indeed (looking into the LED version).

I read in a selling thread that Qtan manages, where he said that newer models of the Keycool are "worse quality" than their previous batches. Can anyone confirm/comment on this?
Either way, I'm looking into buying a Keycool II 84 LED .

All in all, I wonder - would I make a mistake not buying another Choc Noppoo Mini if I get a Keycool II 84 ?
Also consider that getting a new noppoo mini with *brown* switches is a difficult task, while the keycool seems easier to obtain. I really don't want to wait a few months if I order from aliexpress.. ;(

PS.: I don't care about modding at all (yet).

[Sagii]

Guys I'll hijack this thread a bit, because I'm looking into a 60% gaming board with brown switches. However, I need a full set of F keys (so Leopold FC660M and Poker II are sadly out of the question). The other thing I need is that the ESC key touches the F1 key. That's it.

But it is sooo difficult to find a proper one.. My old Choc Noppoo Mini almost broke (or got broken) the other day and I'm looking into newer models/variants.
The only similar board that can be bought brand new is the Keycool 84, which looks cool indeed (looking into the LED version).

I read in a selling thread that Qtan manages, where he said that newer models of the Keycool are "worse quality" than their previous batches. Can anyone confirm/comment on this?
Either way, I'm looking into buying a Keycool II 84 LED .

All in all, I wonder - would I make a mistake not buying another Choc Noppoo Mini if I get a Keycool II 84 ?
Also consider that getting a new noppoo mini with *brown* switches is a difficult task, while the keycool seems easier to obtain. I really don't want to wait a few months if I order from aliexpress.. ;(

PS.: I don't care about modding at all (yet).

I believe newer versions come with kailh switches, mby that's what he was talking about. Some say they are worse quality than Cherry MX, but none of the newer Kailh switches have been tested for longer periods of time, so we simply don't know yet. Personally, I just LOVE the look of the black Noppoo with PBT caps It would probably be better to go with a KC84 just because of the compatibility of keycaps though, if you ever find out you want to switch it up. As far as quality goes, I've heard that they are pretty similar in quality (y)

[Fragil1ty]

I've never understood why ppl want lights on their keyboards.

I like how it looks.

I've never understood why ppl don't like backlighting on their keyboards.

Having a backlit keyboard, iuno man, I think it looks absolutely disgusting and ruins the aesthetics of the keyboard. But heh, each to their own right?

[xuanwumen]

Guys I'll hijack this thread a bit, because I'm looking into a 60% gaming board with brown switches. However, I need a full set of F keys (so Leopold FC660M and Poker II are sadly out of the question). The other thing I need is that the ESC key touches the F1 key. That's it.

But it is sooo difficult to find a proper one.. My old Choc Noppoo Mini almost broke (or got broken) the other day and I'm looking into newer models/variants.
The only similar board that can be bought brand new is the Keycool 84, which looks cool indeed (looking into the LED version).

I read in a selling thread that Qtan manages, where he said that newer models of the Keycool are "worse quality" than their previous batches. Can anyone confirm/comment on this?
Either way, I'm looking into buying a Keycool II 84 LED .

All in all, I wonder - would I make a mistake not buying another Choc Noppoo Mini if I get a Keycool II 84 ?
Also consider that getting a new noppoo mini with *brown* switches is a difficult task, while the keycool seems easier to obtain. I really don't want to wait a few months if I order from aliexpress.. ;(

PS.: I don't care about modding at all (yet).

I believe newer versions come with kailh switches, mby that's what he was talking about. Some say they are worse quality than Cherry MX, but none of the newer Kailh switches have been tested for longer periods of time, so we simply don't know yet. Personally, I just LOVE the look of the black Noppoo with PBT caps It would probably be better to go with a KC84 just because of the compatibility of keycaps though, if you ever find out you want to switch it up. As far as quality goes, I've heard that they are pretty similar in quality (y)

New keycool versions with kailh switches are mainly in 87 and 104 versions.Those keycool 84 versions are still cherry mx switches, which are from previous batches, not from new productions this year.

[inanis]

i am interested in the poker 2, but i dont have the skills to solder. and i cant find one that already has LED backlighting

The had them on Massdrop recently, both with and without backlight. I bet they will have them again soon, but the wait to receive it after the drop ends is brutal. It took more than a month to get mine delivered.

[Lain1911]

I got my Poker 2 in about 3 days from banggood when they had their us stock last month.

[Roibhilin]

I ended up ordering a Poker II with browns for the compatibility and it came in the mail today, I really like it so far

[Quardah]

I ended up ordering a Poker II with browns for the compatibility and it came in the mail today, I really like it so far

!!!CONGRATULATION!!!

According to your very good choice and incredible skills into good-decisions making, you now own one of the best 60% there will ever be (aka my flavrit)!!

No, take a good look at the manual and check out the DIP switches if you want it to behave differently, and give the programming a little test!


I've had mine for 14 month and still no flaws. Hope you enjoy that little baby!

[Kraksx]

I ended up ordering a Poker II with browns for the compatibility and it came in the mail today, I really like it so far

Very nice! I'm about to order a Poker as well but I cant decide if I want reds or browns. I'm not sure if i'll like the tactile feedback or not.