Looking for recommendations

[xeno]

Hey all,

I've been looking into getting a new keyboard, and I've narrowed down the specific features I want, but I'm finding it hard to search for the ideal model based on these features. I was hoping to get some reccomendations which fit what I'm looking for, or maybe some advice if I'm looking for the wrong sort of thing.

I work as a programmer so I do a lot of typing day to day, and I play a wide variety of PC games in my spare time so I'm trying to find something which will work for both of these.

The things I'm looking for in particular are:
- NKRO or 6/12KRO (I play FPS games left handed so my odd keybindings cause rollover issues otherwise)
- Fullsize layout (left handed means I make use of the numpad for a lot of bindings)
- Wired (Don't like having to change batteries/recharge, dont mind the wire)
- SA keycaps, preferably glossy finish (I like the look and feel, I'll probably end up polishing them myself)
- Good quality tactile switches (maybe MX brown but im open to suggestions)
- Minimal assembly (dont want to do any soldering, although im fine with screwing stuff together and changing keycaps)

I don't care about backlighting, programmability, weight, media keys etc. Just looking for a good quality keyboard with pleasant typing experience.
Budget isnt particularly an issue, but ideally I'd like to keep it below £150.

It seems like the only way to get a board with SA keycaps is to buy them separately, so ideally I want a board without or with extremely cheap keycaps.
I was considering a leopold but it didnt seem worthwhile to pay the extra for their high quality keycaps when I'm just going to replace them anyway.

Im mostly looking for your opinions and experiences, as I'm finding it hard to cut through the marketing-speak to get a clear idea of what's worth investing in.

[ddrfraser1]

Best bang for your buck would be a Leopold keyboard IMO. They actually come with pretty great keycaps stock. The stock experience overall is pretty good. Durgod would also be a good call I think. I would probably put varmillo up there. You would be able to find good deals on eBay or FB marketplace.

[xeno]

Yeah, I've seen good things about the leopold boards, but the price includes a set of quality keycaps that I'm just going to replace in order to get the SA keys I want, so it just seems like a waste. Ideally I'd like to buy a leopold board without the keys included, I don't suppose anyone knows a way to do that?

[Leslieann]

Yeah, I've seen good things about the leopold boards, but the price includes a set of quality keycaps that I'm just going to replace in order to get the SA keys I want, so it just seems like a waste. Ideally I'd like to buy a leopold board without the keys included, I don't suppose anyone knows a way to do that?

Other than kits about the only way to get a partial board is something hot swap (GMMK, Drop, Idaboa), most of which are bare boards and will quickly fly past your price. The other issue you have is simply availability, a lot of things are just not available, and even worse you waiting until AFTER Black Friday making even more things now sold out. Your best bet is either going to be a fully assembled kit (check mechanicalkeyboards.com) or buy a bare board or board and switches from GMMK. 

By the way, boards are not the only thing difficult at the moment, a lot of switches are in short supply as well.
Your choices may be more a matter of what you can get rather than what you can afford.

[Tactile]

Yeah, I've seen good things about the leopold boards, but the price includes a set of quality keycaps that I'm just going to replace in order to get the SA keys I want, so it just seems like a waste. Ideally I'd like to buy a leopold board without the keys included, I don't suppose anyone knows a way to do that?

No. But WASD will sell you a barebones keyboard. They are very nice quality.

[ddrfraser1]

Barebones keyboard would definitely be a good option. I think you might be able to get the YMDK 96 barebones.

[xeno]

yeah okay, thanks for the good advice guys. I'll look into the base boards and see how feasible that is.

On another note does anyone have experience with Rosewill keyboards? I bave been looking at the RK900-V2 as a potential option to swap the keycaps off of, from what I've heard its a reasonably good board with cheapish caps. It seems to be cheaper than the leopold but I'm wondering if that's mostly the difference of the cheaper caps and no sound insulation

[tp4tissue]

Yea, pretty much none of that stuff matters.

/ERGODOX = Perfection

[xeno]

Yea, pretty much none of that stuff matters.

/ERGODOX = Perfection

...okay, thanks for a reccomendation that has literally none of the features I'm looking for lol

[Leslieann]

yeah okay, thanks for the good advice guys. I'll look into the base boards and see how feasible that is.

On another note does anyone have experience with Rosewill keyboards? I bave been looking at the RK900-V2 as a potential option to swap the keycaps off of, from what I've heard its a reasonably good board with cheapish caps. It seems to be cheaper than the leopold but I'm wondering if that's mostly the difference of the cheaper caps and no sound insulation

Rosewill is Newegg's white label company, sort of like Amazon basics.

The non-backlit, Cherry models (in the gaming keyboard section) are Costar based, same as Filco and Cooler Master QFR. These are solid boards, though they can be a bit pingy with light Cherry springs (red, blue, brown). The rest of their mechanical keyboards are probably Ione based, which is probably who builds Razer boards, meh. I would spend a bit more for the GMMK, Leopold, Ducky, WASD or Vortex, all of which are pretty solid for the money. You can always resell the caps or keep them for when this gets relegated to being a spare (odds are this won't be your last mechanical).

[Error213]

Try topre

[ddrfraser1]

Yea, pretty much none of that stuff matters.

/ERGODOX = Perfection

...okay, thanks for a reccomendation that has literally none of the features I'm looking for lol

Tp4tissue is kind of like geekhack's lovable mascot. Whatever he says you just kind of go with it 

yeah okay, thanks for the good advice guys. I'll look into the base boards and see how feasible that is.

On another note does anyone have experience with Rosewill keyboards? I bave been looking at the RK900-V2 as a potential option to swap the keycaps off of, from what I've heard its a reasonably good board with cheapish caps. It seems to be cheaper than the leopold but I'm wondering if that's mostly the difference of the cheaper caps and no sound insulation

Rosewill is Newegg's white label company, sort of like Amazon basics.

The non-backlit, Cherry models (in the gaming keyboard section) are Costar based, same as Filco and Cooler Master QFR. These are solid boards, though they can be a bit pingy with light Cherry springs (red, blue, brown). The rest of their mechanical keyboards are probably Ione based, which is probably who builds Razer boards, meh. I would spend a bit more for the GMMK, Leopold, Ducky, WASD or Vortex, all of which are pretty solid for the money. You can always resell the caps or keep them for when this gets relegated to being a spare (odds are this won't be your last mechanical).

Agree with all this. I like my Rosewill and it was nice to get it cheap on eBay. It has a nice alu case albeit thin. To echo Leslieann, you might as well go with Leopold etc at that point but with the right mods they are all really good choices. I do like WASD especially since you can get a thicc alu case but my one point of caution is that they have costar stabilizers instead of cherry. Not too big a deal after you're done modding but for me they are a HUGE pain to get on and off. Anything with cherry stabs will be a little more solid IMO.

Try topre

Yes.