Silent mechanical keyboard

[yajdem]

Hi!

I am currently using an Asus Strix Tatic Pro keyboard, but I think it's time to replace it.

What do I want?

I want a keyboard with these features:

-ISO layout
-mechanical
-rgb backlight
-num pad

I will use the keyboard for Game, Programming and Daily tasks(internet, word, etc..).

I would like to select the switches to be as quiet as possible.

My budget : ~200-250$

What do you recommend?

[rxc92]

I'd recommend Corsair's line of MX Silent switches, they are reportedly quieter than even the most silent of standard mechanical switches (MX Brown and Red/Black). Note that they still won't exactly be quiet; it utilizes linear switches which have no force feedback and therefore no inherent noise - all noise comes from the keycap hitting the bottom of the board (the plate), and the harder you type, the louder it will be. If you type delicately, then they will be very quiet indeed. Hit the board hard and it won't be a whole lot quieter than clicky switches. 
 
If you're looking for a foolproof quiet board, you could go on a limb and try out silenced Topre switches, though they'd be on the very upper end of your budget. They're very quiet, due to using capacitive sensors with rubber domes rather than a mechanical slider, and their level of noise doesn't change based on the force you use. However, they would be expensive and more difficult to acquire outside of East Asia and NA.

[Riverman]

I had a Cherry G80-3494 with silent red switches.  If you like linear switches, they were very nice and extremely quiet for an MX switch.  The keycaps weren't deep enough to hit the plate, so you could type or game on it fairly hard and it would still stay pretty quiet.  As quiet as it was, though, it was still a noisy beast compared to a silenced Topre.  Unless you want to disassemble a Topre RGB and install silencing rings yourself, your RBG requirement takes Topre out of the list of potential keyboards.  Without silencing, the RGB is fairly loud.

[Sintpinty]

Pink Rosealios are the same force as Zealios, however they are unbeliveably silent and smooth when lube and orings are applied to the keycaps.

If you just want a good and reliable silent switch that can be found on most keyboards, then i'd reccomend silent red and black.

[yajdem]

I'd recommend Corsair's line of MX Silent switches, they are reportedly quieter than even the most silent of standard mechanical switches (MX Brown and Red/Black). Note that they still won't exactly be quiet; it utilizes linear switches which have no force feedback and therefore no inherent noise - all noise comes from the keycap hitting the bottom of the board (the plate), and the harder you type, the louder it will be. If you type delicately, then they will be very quiet indeed. Hit the board hard and it won't be a whole lot quieter than clicky switches. 
 
If you're looking for a foolproof quiet board, you could go on a limb and try out silenced Topre switches, though they'd be on the very upper end of your budget. They're very quiet, due to using capacitive sensors with rubber domes rather than a mechanical slider, and their level of noise doesn't change based on the force you use. However, they would be expensive and more difficult to acquire outside of East Asia and NA.

I had a Cherry G80-3494 with silent red switches.  If you like linear switches, they were very nice and extremely quiet for an MX switch.  The keycaps weren't deep enough to hit the plate, so you could type or game on it fairly hard and it would still stay pretty quiet.  As quiet as it was, though, it was still a noisy beast compared to a silenced Topre.  Unless you want to disassemble a Topre RGB and install silencing rings yourself, your RBG requirement takes Topre out of the list of potential keyboards.  Without silencing, the RGB is fairly loud.

Pink Rosealios are the same force as Zealios, however they are unbeliveably silent and smooth when lube and orings are applied to the keycaps.

If you just want a good and reliable silent switch that can be found on most keyboards, then i'd reccomend silent red and black.

I think the MX silent red switches will be right. I am currently using red with full satisfaction.

What do you think about Glorious GMMK with silent red switches. Or the ducky one 2 better thank glorious gmmk?

Thank you

[Findecanor]

Unless I would be specifically after the switch-swapping feature of the Glorious GMMK, I would choose the Ducky.
Ducky has a good reputation for quality and the One 2 has got good reviews from what I have seen.

[Venaros]

Pink Rosealios are the same force as Zealios, however they are unbeliveably silent and smooth when lube and orings are applied to the keycaps.

If you just want a good and reliable silent switch that can be found on most keyboards, then i'd reccomend silent red and black.

O-rings are redundant on silent switches, you'll just end up destroying the bottom out feel.

[Riverman]

Unless I would be specifically after the switch-swapping feature of the Glorious GMMK, I would choose the Ducky.
Ducky has a good reputation for quality and the One 2 has got good reviews from what I have seen.

I recently bought a Ducky One 2, and it's great.  It feels very sold, it's a little quieter than a comparable Filco, and it looks more modern, too.  The only downside is that the indicator lights are nearly impossible to see because they're sandwiched in between two rows of keys.

[yajdem]

Pink Rosealios are the same force as Zealios, however they are unbeliveably silent and smooth when lube and orings are applied to the keycaps.

If you just want a good and reliable silent switch that can be found on most keyboards, then i'd reccomend silent red and black.

O-rings are redundant on silent switches, you'll just end up destroying the bottom out feel.

Do you think O rings are redundant for quiet switches? Why?

[/quote]
I recently bought a Ducky One 2, and it's great.  It feels very sold, it's a little quieter than a comparable Filco, and it looks more modern, too.  The only downside is that the indicator lights are nearly impossible to see because they're sandwiched in between two rows of keys.
[/quote]

Can you say something about ducky shine 7? According to several opinions, space tends to get stuck. Have you heard of this?



Today I will have the opportunity to press some of the Varmilo keyboards with different switches.

[Findecanor]

Do you think O rings are redundant for quiet switches? Why?

O-rings serve part of the same purpose as the rubber bumpers inside the silenced switches: by cushioning the key when it hits the bottom. The rubber inside a switch will cushion the slider itself while an O-ring will sit under the keycap so that it would hit the key switch's housing first and thus prevent the slider from hitting the bottom.

Switches and keycaps were never designed for O-rings in the first place. They reduce key travel, whereas "silent" switches often are designed so as to not reduce key travel that much.
Different keycaps are made differently, and you would use different O-rings for different keycaps so that key travel does not get too reduced with them. Then there are some types of keycaps that don't fit O-rings at all (unless you stack many of them inside each keycap ... )

Both approaches also change the key feel a bit by making it softer when you hit the bottom: but if you would use both O-rings and a silent switch, it would become doubly softer and with even less key travel.

BTW. The rubber bumpers inside silent switches also dampen the noise of the key rebounding, which O-rings don't.