best mechanical gaming keyboard

[bifi85]

Hi, i am new and read a lot about keyboards in the last few weeks. I have a 7 year old logitech access keyboard and it looks like new. But the time is ripe for a new pc and a mechanical  keyboard. I will play games like StarCraft II, Diablo III, DotA II and the good old ego-shooter in a semi-professionell way.


My goal is a mechanical keyboard with:
- Cherry-MX switches: red > black (with brown springs) > black/brown
- german keyboard layout
- good keys


red switches
I think the only way for real red switches is to buy a keyboard from asia, like the Cherry 3494-LYCUS, but it will coast more than 200€ ($270). Is there an other way to get the red ones?

black with brown springs
So i think the best way to get "red switches" is to buy a good keyboard with black switches and then buy brown springs. But where do i get low priced brown springs? Directly from Cherry? Or must i buy the cheapest keyboard with brown switches?

german keyboard layout
I find only 2 keyboards with german (eu) layout and black/brown switches:
- Steelseries 6gv2 [black switches] 60€ ($80)
- Zowie Celeritas [brown switches] 120€ ($160)
But i heard, that these 2 keybords have very cheap keys, so what can i do in this case? I don't know very much about good/bad keys or how to buy one they fit (the letter on my logitech access keyboard looks like new, am i careful and bad keys are irrelevant for me?).


What would the best way?

[db_Iodine]

You can get a Cherry G80-3494 for about 140€ delivered from PChome. That's way less than 200€ and therefore a viable option for a board with mx reds.

Your other option is to buy something like the Steelseries 6gv2 (60€) and a set of brown switches (30€) and then mod the keyboard yourself. Do note that you need to desolder the switches before the springs can be swapped, and considering this the 140€ for a g80-3494 doesn't seem too steep.

[bifi85]

I don't understand this asian homepage, is there a link for english language?
I am working a little bit in an logistic firm and i can get/send packages very cheap, so would the asian shop do this or will send it like before because they get more money?

Where can i buy brown springs?

[Arc'xer]

Guide from Fssbzz

[keyboardlover]

Welcome to GeekHack! I bought one of these (Cherry G80-3494) from PCHome and it's a great keyboard. Following the guide worked for me and many others and shipping was SUPER fast from Taiwan! Also when I ordered shipping was $20 but now it's only $10. Photos and mini-review here.

[db_Iodine]

Welcome to GeekHack! I bought one of these (Cherry G80-3494) from PCHome and it's a great keyboard. Following the guide worked for me and many others and shipping was SUPER fast from Taiwan! Also when I ordered shipping was $20 but now it's only $10. Photos and mini-review here.

The shipping is still $20 for Europe.

[RiGS]

Check sixty's costum made springs in the group buys section and buy the Steelseries or wait for the filco.
http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_search.asp?SG=10040
I bought mine for around 50€ and currently waiting for the springs just in case.
Also you will probably like those black switches especially if you never tried those lighter springs before and you will have 2 years warranty.
Also note if mx black switches are good enough for Grubby and White-Ra probably they will good enough for you as well.
 
I don't see any problem with the keys and a board is very decent.
KBC is going to sell blank keys for it anyway.

Your other option is to buy something like the Steelseries 6gv2 (60€) and a set of brown switches (30€) and then mod the keyboard yourself. Do note that you need to desolder the switches before the springs can be swapped, and considering this the 140€ for a g80-3494 doesn't seem too steep.

Where can I buy a set of brown switches for 30€?

You can get a Cherry G80-3494 for about 140€ delivered from PChome.

Considering the import taxes in Germany it is going to cost extra.

[calavera]

German ebay has g80-3494's as well. You might have to lurk around for a while but you should be able to snatch one there.

[keyboardlover]

Couple things to note here:
1. Modding cherry springs is a fairly big undertaking. You'll need to take the keyboard apart and de-solder and re-solder every switch.
2. If you type about as much as you game, your fingers will probably get tired on cherry blacks. Browns or reds would be a better choice if this is the case.

[db_Iodine]

Where can I buy a set of brown switches for 30€?


Considering the import taxes in Germany it is going to cost extra.

If you're lazy, you can wait for some switches to appear in the classifieds section, like I did. Some resellers also sell these switches directly.

I forgot about that damn import tax. Well, if some g80-3494 are available at German ebay, then that's probably a little cheaper.

[bifi85]

I have a little bit time to de- and re-solder. Has the Filco much better keys than the steelseries and zowie? Well, the g80-3494 is for 130€ ($185) available, but the keyboard is not really except for mx-red-switches. Has it full n-key-rollover and very good keys?

[keyboardlover]

The G80-3494 has full N-key rollover (using the PS/2 adapter) and lasered keys. The keys are not as high quality as doubleshots, but they are considered of "good quality" in comparison to many others. Plus, you could always replace them. Again, my mini-review with photos is here.

[db_Iodine]

Again, if you're fine with a full size keyboard, go with the g80-3494. If you want tenkeyless or something similar, you're going to have to mod it yourself.

[bifi85]

Well i like a full size keyboard more, because i use the NUMPAD. But i won't pay over 130€ ($180) + TAX for this product. I don't know how much are the TAX, do you?

[RiGS]

I have a little bit time to de- and re-solder. Has the Filco much better keys than the steelseries and zowie? Well, the g80-3494 is for 130€ ($185) available, but the keyboard is not really except for mx-red-switches. Has it full n-key-rollover and very good keys?

Actually the Filco keycaps are even worse than Steelseries keycaps, because they are thinner and have a shiny coating on them.
There is a lot of complain about the printing on Steelseries keycaps, but after cleaning them they look as new and the board construction match the Filco in quality.
The leds have condom on them so they are not too bright like the Filco.
The stabilizers on the Steelseries are Cherry's implementation instead of Costar.
Also consider the cherry board are nearly twice the size of Steelseries or Filco and the case is made of ABS plastic and the switches are mounted on the pcb instead of a metal plate.
Same quality Cherry board without Nkro and different switches costs around 50€ in Germany.

[bifi85]

So, is it easier or harder to change the switches/springs on a steelseries keyboard?

[RiGS]

Just like the Filco you have to desolder the switches first.

[dec.net]

Of course you can buy all sorts of new and fancy keyboards, if you're so inclined. If you're more like me, meaning cheap and quite content with the esthetics of the original Cherry keyboards, you can get this done without any soldering, since they are not plate mounted  and you can easily take the switches apart. Also, blue cherrys have the same light springs as browns, so this expands your options as well.

My suggestion is to buy two cheap old Cherries:
One G80-XXX with blacks, one G80-XXX with blues or browns, and one of them should have the letter "H" in the model name, which stands for doubleshot keycaps. Essentially, this will set you back about 30-60 Euros in total on ebay.de, but you can sell off the keyboard you don't need afterwards after swapping the springs, or give it to a friend as a gift (more like a friendly gesture of "here's some heroine, it's great, you want to try?"). I'd suggest a G80-1800 for the keyboard you're gonna end up using, because they're a bit more special than the G80-3000 that everybody's got - but your mileage may vary, and the location of the entf/einfg/pos1 etc. keys is a bit sucky.

Chris