Best off the shelf fullsize board?

[typo]

Without going into detail I need a board for someone ASAP. What is the best full size board I can get in less than 15 days? I mean like a Korean if possible. Obviously not actually Korean but that kind of quality if it exists. I was thinking of IKBC but they are sold out. It needs aluminum case, PBT caps ETC. Hopefully RGB as well. This is not a Troll post! Thank you

[Maledicted]

Without going into detail I need a board for someone ASAP. What is the best full size board I can get in less than 15 days? I mean like a Korean if possible. Obviously not actually Korean but that kind of quality if it exists. I was thinking of IKBC but they are sold out. It needs aluminum case, PBT caps ETC. Hopefully RGB as well. This is not a Troll post! Thank you

IKBC Table E 412 Kyboard MX Cherry Silent Red Switches

They've been trying, and failing, to sell that for at least a week. Case is plastic. I do see that some of their boards are thick aluminum, and heavy? What's so great about IKBC vs other brands?

It doesn't seem too hard to find other variants either: =Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=N&s[sku]=Y&s[match]=all&s[cid]=0&s[search]=ikbc]https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=search_list&s[title]=Y&s[short_desc]=Y&s[full_desc]=N&s[sku]=Y&s[match]=all&s[cid]=0&s[search]=ikbc

I know that link is ugly, the brackets in the url break trying to clean it up.

[Riverman]

I don't think you can beat Leopold keyboards for an off the shelf MX board.  I think Varmilos are great, too, but I've heard some complaints about their reliability.

[Maledicted]

I don't think you can beat Leopold keyboards for an off the shelf MX board.  I think Varmilos are great, too, but I've heard some complaints about their reliability.

I have just seen videos, but those always looked surprisingly thin and flimsy to me. I'm used to most things having a lot of metal though.

[Riverman]

Leopold and Varmilo cases are both thick plastic, at least as thick as a Filco case.  There's no flex to them, and they're solid as anything.  They also have a metal plate, of course.  The only thing I don't like about Varmilo keyboards is that most of them have a pretty tacky fake woodgrain finish. 

[Maledicted]

Leopold and Varmilo cases are both thick plastic, at least as thick as a Filco case.  There's no flex to them, and they're solid as anything.  They also have a metal plate, of course.  The only thing I don't like about Varmilo keyboards is that most of them have a pretty tacky fake woodgrain finish.

I don't even like how Model Ms have entirely plastic cases. To each their own.

[Pylon]

IKBC makes a couple metal fullsizeds, like the MF108.

[fohat.digs]

I don't even like how Model Ms have entirely plastic cases.

They had to do it. The Model M was designed as a huge cost-cutting exercise from the Model F.

[HungerMechanic]

Typo, what you are screaming out for is a Leopold FC900R PD.

The consensus is that Leopold is the best factory board. And it's Korean [at least, the company is]. It has those quality features, including double-shot Cherry-profile PBT keycaps, dampening materials, businesslike build, hefty metal plate, adequate and lubed stabilizers, detachable cable, DIP switches, and alternate keys for Mac or other layouts. It is the sum of its parts.

Now, I have some caveats. First, Leopold stabilizer inserts are shorter than Cherry stabilizer inserts. This makes it more likely that they accidentally come out if you pull a keycap too quickly. Second, the under-key LED lock indicators are tasteful, but in a very 2009 blue colour.

Third, and most important, the boards have an inconsistent sound profile. Some sections of the board are loud, others quieter, the spacebars can be unnaturally loud.

Most people I have recommended Leopolds to have been immensely satisfied with them. But I noticed that they bought Leopolds with linears, such as Blacks. People who have bought them with Browns seem to be seeing ping issues with them, according to a number of recent posts. Recent production MX Browns have not been stellar, IMHO.

All that being said, I have experienced the greatest satisfaction with a Varmilo factory board, not Leopold. Many will not agree, although this article does:

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/our-favorite-mechanical-keyboards/

[HungerMechanic]

And okay, the Leopolds don't have a metal case. Something like that in a quality factory-board is rare.

You can get Varmilos in a metal case, at least the TKLs.

IMHO full-size Leopolds have a superior plastic case to full-sized Varmilo. Because, as noted earlier, Varmilo has a faux wood-grain on their 104-sized cases.

But Varmilo TKL cases are very nice in both feel and heft. And that's the plastic cases I'm referring to.

Both Leopolds and Varmilos are surprisingly heavy, even in their plastic cases. They have hefty metal backplates, which make for a good typing experience. I can only imagine what a metal-cased, metal-backplate Varmilo feels like.


EDIT:

I have 2 Leopold full-size keyboards, and a relative has the Varmilo VA87M [ABS-cased TKL].

All of these keyboards feel very, very substantial. They do not move on a flat surface. They each weigh as much as 5-10 cheapo rubber-dome keyboards.

The Varmilo TKL feels rich and luxurious, both in terms of its thick ABS-plastic case and its thick, SS2-profile PBT keycaps. The metal backplate is insanely thick, and makes even MX Browns feel and sound half-decent. There's significant metal weight here.

When you pick up a Leopold FC900R, what you feel is the metal backplate.

Varmilo has the Sword 87 TKL in metal case, although I don't know much about it:

https://candykeys.com/product/varmilo-sword-ansi

[Maledicted]

I don't even like how Model Ms have entirely plastic cases.

They had to do it. The Model M was designed as a huge cost-cutting exercise from the Model F.

Sure. I understand that. That doesn't mean that I have to like it. lol

[typo]

He would really like the MF108 V3 I told him about. Walmart will have it in June. He is willing to wait that long. However he is not willing to wait years for a Korean. Nor does he barely have $150 to spend. Obviously he is not exactly like myself LOL. Although I buy my boards used. I wait even longer though. My boards are usually 2-3 years old when I get them. I cannot stomach Group buys just because the anticipation drives me bananas. On reddit You can get used Korean boards now and people tend to take care of them. I never got a bad one. The Rama that died I doubt was the owners fault. It was just bad luck. It was my fault I stuck in that auction. I should have gotten out at about $1,000. I just had to win and now look. I really like MKB now. i just got an illuminati i1 prototype. this think is a tank. put very mildly. In fact, this might be the nicest board cost no object. It is TKL. For this other guy I think the IKBC is about all there is closest to what he was looking for right now. I was hoping you folks knew something else but i guess I knew all the same stuff. Thank you for participating however.
 

[Leslieann]

I will admit you get a lot for your money, but ever heard the expression "too good to be true".

Run the numbers...
That case would retail for about $140, how can I know? Because IKBC is incestuous with Tex and Vortex and this case is very similar to those cases (I guarantee you this is cast then milled just like them on the same equipment). That doesn't leave a whole lot for those keycaps and switches much less a PCB, RGB, assembly and boxing. By requiring RGB and an aluminum case you've relegated this person to the very bottom rung of an already limited selection. Just by removing one or two little superficial things they could get a world class keyboard that will last them years or even decades which is (or at least should be) far more important to someone with limited funds.


Also,
Stop idolizing Korean keyboards as if they sprinkle every keyboard with some magical pixie dust made from the eyes of an albino four toed sloth. I'm not saying they're bad, just that you seem unable to look at them objectively and it's going to lead to some serious buyers remorse...

[Maledicted]

I will admit you get a lot for your money, but ever heard the expression "too good to be true".

Run the numbers...
That case would retail for about $140, how can I know? Because IKBC is incestuous with Tex and Vortex and this case is very similar to those cases (I guarantee you this is cast then milled just like them on the same equipment). That doesn't leave a whole lot for those keycaps and switches much less a PCB, RGB, assembly and boxing. By requiring RGB and an aluminum case you've relegated this person to the very bottom rung of an already limited selection. Just by removing one or two little superficial things they could get a world class keyboard that will last them years or even decades which is (or at least should be) far more important to someone with limited funds.


Also,
Stop idolizing Korean keyboards as if they sprinkle every keyboard with some magical pixie dust made from the eyes of an albino four toed sloth. I'm not saying they're bad, just that you seem unable to look at them objectively and it's going to lead to some serious buyers remorse...

Maybe I should put this in the unpopular opinions thread: Who cares if it is machined or cast? Especially if it is going to have some sort of finish over top of it. Sure, if it is a really poor cast that wouldn't be great, but Ruger, and others, have been doing fantastic castings for decades.

He would really like the MF108 V3 I told him about.

Yeah, Google and Ebay seem to be drawing a blank on that one. I wouldn't be surprised if some obscure retailer had some though.

[typo]

Actually, It says that it is Milled and anodized! Talk about too good to be true! 'Mal I had no idea you were a Mod! i do need to see what is in the unpopular keyboards thread. i have been meaning to check it out. i bet a bunch of mine. Yeah, I idolize Korean boards. Just my downfall. i will get it one day...

[Maledicted]

Actually, It says that it is Milled and anodized! Talk about too good to be true! 'Mal I had no idea you were a Mod! i do need to see what is in the unpopular keyboards thread. i have been meaning to check it out. i bet a bunch of mine. Yeah, I idolize Korean boards. Just my downfall. i will get it one day...

I am not a mod. I just meant posting that I don't care if something is cast or machined.

[rinkaan]

if RGB isnt absolutely needed, i would vote filco / leopold any day.

[foxtrap614]

Off the self Aluminum is hard to find in two weeks shipping time. You should look at https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/ There are many good customs on sell there and you could get one in a weeks time.

[typo]

Thank you fox. I will tell him he has to up his budget or he can't get what he want's then. People tend to take care of those. That is where I get mine.

[typo]

Turns out that the IKBC actually is plagued with issues. I will recommend Leopold to him since i know those are sturdy and proven by now.

[Leslieann]

Maybe I should put this in the unpopular opinions thread: Who cares if it is machined or cast? Especially if it is going to have some sort of finish over top of it. Sure, if it is a really poor cast that wouldn't be great, but Ruger, and others, have been doing fantastic castings for decades.

I absolutely agree, however a lot of manufacturers (not just in keyboards) have made names for themselves by telling people "billet" is better and so some people expect that. I initially had this in my other comment and removed it to keep the size down.

Actually, It says that it is Milled and anodized!

Unless you want a cast finish the outside still needs to be milled, plus the inside is milled for a precision fit.

By casting a blank first they only need minimal finishing on a mill rather than having to hog out a deep tub, this way they can mill multiples of cases on a single machine in the time it would normally take to do just one.