Advice buying my first mechanical keyboard

[g4mezz]

I am looking to get my first mechanical keyboard, but I am in a lot of doubt of which would be the best to get. I see Massdrop has a Varmilo VA87MR drop right now and it looks really cool, but the Gateron switches confuses me. I like the tenkeyless format and would like to go for that and since I intend to use the keyboard as an all-round keyboard for coding, gaming and writing I read that MX browns are a good option, but I am still not sure if that's the case. I have also found a CM Storm QuickFire Rapid i for about 50 less than the Varmilo, is the Varmilo worth 50 more?

Also what switches (Gateron and Cherry) would you recommend for my use (I'll try to find a place to try them out) and what would be the keyboard you recommend that offers a good price to performance ratio?

[demik]

55g RF / HHKB

buy either (leaning towards the RF as your first) and don't look back. No other switch will live up to it.

I just saved you a ton of money by switching to topre.

[EscapeVelocity]

CM Storm Quickfire Rapid is a good place to start.  In Cherry MX Browns or Blues. 

[chyros]

If you have a PS/2 port on your computer, instead of blowing 100 million billion on a fancy new keyboard you know nothing about and might even hate, how about trying an older model from eBay instead? Don't worry too much about them having some dirt on the caps, that comes off easily. This way you can make up whether mechanicals are even worth it to you. You might even be really happy with your first purchase and you'll have saved tons of money!

A good, reliable, solid, versatile, forthcoming oldie you can generally buy for $20-30 or if you're lucky, even less (look for one with low or free shopping to where you live) is the Dell AT101W. I don't know where you live, otherwise I'd link you a few example keyboards.

[micr0n]

I am looking to get my first mechanical keyboard, but I am in a lot of doubt of which would be the best to get. I see Massdrop has a Varmilo VA87MR drop right now and it looks really cool, but the Gateron switches confuses me. I like the tenkeyless format and would like to go for that and since I intend to use the keyboard as an all-round keyboard for coding, gaming and writing I read that MX browns are a good option, but I am still not sure if that's the case. I have also found a CM Storm QuickFire Rapid i for about 50 less than the Varmilo, is the Varmilo worth 50 more?

Also what switches (Gateron and Cherry) would you recommend for my use (I'll try to find a place to try them out) and what would be the keyboard you recommend that offers a good price to performance ratio?

Massdrop also is selling the CM tester switch as well.  I would recommended you pick up one of those first.  This will at least give you some context on the different types of cherry switches.  Then you can get some ideas of what folks are talking about when mentioning the different types of switches out there.

[False_Dmitry_II]

If you have a PS/2 port on your computer, instead of blowing 100 million billion on a fancy new keyboard you know nothing about and might even hate, how about trying an older model from eBay instead? Don't worry too much about them having some dirt on the caps, that comes off easily. This way you can make up whether mechanicals are even worth it to you. You might even be really happy with your first purchase and you'll have saved tons of money!

A good, reliable, solid, versatile, forthcoming oldie you can generally buy for $20-30 or if you're lucky, even less (look for one with low or free shopping to where you live) is the Dell AT101W. I don't know where you live, otherwise I'd link you a few example keyboards.

Seconded. I still don't own any newly made, because all of my preferred types are ... Out-of-print shall we say.

Well, that is besides the Matias switches that I've placed in old boards, but to call the whole thing new is a stretch.

[Blaise170]

Seconded. I still don't own any newly made, because all of my preferred types are ... Out-of-print shall we say.

Well, that is besides the Matias switches that I've placed in old boards, but to call the whole thing new is a stretch.

Third(ed?). I own almost all vintage boards and I'm happier with them than I have been with any of the newer ones. I'd suggest tinkering with the old ones first and then once you get a feel for what you like (clicky, tactile, or linear) then you can spend out the money for a good modern board.

[g4mezz]

Thanks everybody for the advice, I have now tried a keyboard with MX Brwon and must say I quite like it, but I have no reference to compare with any other switches. I do not have a PS2 port and as much as I'd love to take my time trying old keyboards first and then making a choice, my current keyboard is broken so I am looking to replace it at the earliest time, this is why I have been looking at keyboards now. Currently only CM Storm Quickfire Rapid, RF and HHKB been recommended in this thread with the CM Storm as the cheapest option. Nobody said anything about the Varmilo, so I guess that's not a good option for a first time purchase.

[azhdar]

KUL ES-87 is a solid first board.

Try other switches, brown are considered to be the worst mx switches by a lot of people.

[chyros]

Damn, another one lost to crappy modern boards xD .

[Blaise170]

KUL ES-87 is a solid first board.

Try other switches, brown are considered to be the worst mx switches by a lot of people.

I don't consider them the worst, they objectively are the worst. 

[Snowdog993]

*sigh*

[EscapeVelocity]

Start with Cherry MX Blues, you can tell if you like clicks, tactile bumps and also whether you prefer heavier or lighter key depress force and then make your move up or down the line. Cherry MX Blacks (linear), Clears (tactile) Greens (clicky & tactile) for heavier. or Browns (tactile) or Reds (linear) for ligher. Or you might just like the Blues.

[frosty]

you want tactile switches go for topre

you want linear switches get something with green complicated alps, slowly transition into building a 60% or TKL with green alps

then you start buying novelties (optional)

[Oobly]

you want tactile switches go for topre

you want linear switches get something with green complicated alps, slowly transition into building a 60% or TKL with green alps

then you start buying novelties (optional)

I disagree.

Firstly, MX switches are a LOT easier to find than green complicated Alps and a lot cheaper than Topre. I wouldn't get either of those for a first board.

So I'd recommend:

For Tactile, try MX Clears.
For Linear try MX Blacks or Reds.
For Clicky, try Matias Click or buckling springs. The high pitched, plasticky "click" of MX Blues and Greens is not very appealing IMHO.

For reference, MX Browns or Blues are good starter switches.

With Browns you can then choose either more tactility (Clears), more click but same tactility (Blues, Greens) or less tactility (Reds, Blacks). You can also decide if you want heavier springs (Greens, Blacks, Clears) or about the same (Blues, Reds, ErgoClears). For me, I like a lot of tactility, but no click, so I use 62g ErgoClears.

[Blaise170]

Yeah Alps SKCM green are really hard to find. It is one of the few switches I don't own (even though I have a board with Green SKCC, those are older and harder to find keycaps for).

[Defect]

For Clicky, try Matias Click or buckling springs. The high pitched, plasticky "click" of MX Blues and Greens is not very appealing IMHO.

Not to mention that Blues and Greens suffer from hysteresis.  Not noticeable at first but once you get used to your board it's impossible to ignore.

I wish I could like MX blues again.

[Data]

KUL ES-87 is a solid first board.

Try other switches, brown are considered to be the worst mx switches by a lot of people.

I don't consider them the worst, they objectively are the worst. 

Trololololololololo

Browns are objectively the best MX switch, and possibly the best mechanical key switch of all time.

You see what I did there? 

[hwood34]

You won't regret Gaterons. You'll eventually learn that all new stock Cherry switches are scratchy as hell anyway.

[False_Dmitry_II]

you want tactile switches go for topre

you want linear switches get something with green complicated alps, slowly transition into building a 60% or TKL with green alps

then you start buying novelties (optional)

I disagree.

Firstly, MX switches are a LOT easier to find than green complicated Alps and a lot cheaper than Topre. I wouldn't get either of those for a first board.

So I'd recommend:

For Tactile, try MX Clears.
For Linear try MX Blacks or Reds.
For Clicky, try Matias Click or buckling springs. The high pitched, plasticky "click" of MX Blues and Greens is not very appealing IMHO.

For reference, MX Browns or Blues are good starter switches.

With Browns you can then choose either more tactility (Clears), more click but same tactility (Blues, Greens) or less tactility (Reds, Blacks). You can also decide if you want heavier springs (Greens, Blacks, Clears) or about the same (Blues, Reds, ErgoClears). For me, I like a lot of tactility, but no click, so I use 62g ErgoClears.

Except it being easier to find doesn't matter a bit. Even though they are linear switches through and through, they are outdone by other switches in all categories. Even linear! Linear space invaders especially, and there are others.