Need help finding a new board

[twilek]

Hello there, so I'm kinda new to this whole mechanical keyboard thing (bought a quickfire pro but it didn't work however the keys gave me goosebumps) so I'm looking for an opinion on two things! First the type of switch that I want (buckling spring or cherry no alps and I don't have the money for topre) and then for a keyboard recommendation. So here I go.
       I would want a switch that is something a long these lines:
-good for typing
-Great for gaming
-tactile
-clicky
-I could stand intense finger pressure but main emphasis on that whole tactile click clack thing
Side note: Alps are low quality apparently but if you have a suggestion that is high quality I will hear you out, also topre would be fine but I have a budget that at the moment is $100
Now for the keyboard that I would want:
-under $100, though I'm flexible for a really good quality keyboard
-double shot injection molded key caps but keycaps from somewhere else would be fine
- tenkeyless but this is much less important compared to looks
- Awesome looking
So that is it, I know that switches are a matter of preference but I stated my preferences and though I am probably not going to get one for under $100 my budget for keyboards is increasing after the quickfire pro disaster of 2012.

[IvanIvanovich]

Sounds like you are after a board with MX blues then. Even though you had a bad time with the Pro, I suggest CM Rapid with blues. It is made by different oem so is much higher quality. You can usually find the blues version for around $60 and have $40 left to get a nice keycaps set in doubleshots. Otherwise, maybe a Keycool. Also should have a look in the classifieds for any good deals on blues boards.

[rowdy]

Blues are about the only tactile clicky key (unless you go for buckling spring).  However the release point for blues is above the activation point, which means that once you press the key down and it activates, you have to let it lift even higher to stop activating.  This has been reported to cause problems when trying to do a quick double-tap, so if your gaming relies heavily on quickly double-tapping the keys you might consider browns, which are tactile, but not clicky.

Personally I have two keyboards with MX blue switches and manage to double-tap without any issues.

[twilek]

Hmm, thx guys but what do you think about buckling spring is the force to.... excessive for typing in terms of school? I mean if I were to get a buckling spring keyboard where would I find one and would standard keycaps work "ok".

[twilek]

Correction, I found unicomp thanks guys!
EDIT: I still need clarification on the whole would standard keycaps work thing.

[tp4tissue]

The ONLY good keyboard under $100 is the cmstorm quickfire, not pro.

everything else is crap. UNLESS you buy used..-\

Unicomp is NOTHING like the original model M.

[TheProfosist]

The ONLY good keyboard under $100 is the cmstorm quickfire, not pro.

everything else is crap. UNLESS you buy used..-\

Unicomp is NOTHING like the original model M.

I think that your views are overly biased...

[IvanIvanovich]

I couldn't stand BS for gaming. Or typing either for that matter. Awful. Also scratch lots of options for cool keycaps because there really aren't many. If you want a BS, get one IBM M on ebay for like $10 and try it.

[Reason]

From my experience Cherry MX Reds are best for gaming.
Starcraft 2 is the most keyboard intensive game I know of, and I've tried every Cherry switches / BS / Topre
I played best with Cherry MX Reds - I was Grandmasters for 3 seasons if that matters to you.
but Reds are not tactile, they are soft linear but, I liked it a lot more than blues or browns.
Blues and browns might be better for typing because of tactile feedback, but Reds are best for the light touch experience.

For fps, I don't think keyboard really matters that much.. it's more about the mouse.

$100 is a small budget for everything you are asking for.. I was going to suggest Quickfire Pro for around $60 on Newegg but not sure why you didn't like it.

[Larken]

Given your requirements, pretty much only cherry blues and buckling springs are viable (tactile and clicky).

But keep in mind that Unicomps are 2KRO, which might or might not work for gaming depending on what games you play. If you're in the US, I'd recommend the CM Quickfire Rapid Blues. The price is much lower compared to the other switches, it's tenkeyless, and iirc, the OEM is costar, the same company that manufactures filcos. But imo, nothing beats buckling springs for clicky-ness.

[twilek]

thx but if I use a ps2 cable for a bs board would that be NKRO and I still need info on if good keycaps can work on bs boars or do they have to be special caps.

[SmallFry]

Only a Model F (not sold by Unicomp) would be able to do NKRO, via PS/2 and nothing else. I would go with a Cooler Master Rapid. It is a nice board for what you are asking for in terms of price too.

[Burz]

If both clicky and gaming are important to have in the same keyboard, then I think you'll have to go with Alps switches. Keep your eyes out for reviews of the redesigned Alps switches that Matias are coming out this month.

[twilek]

Hm, what makes alps good in general and where would I buy this model F keyboard from?Also are buckling springs good for gaming or are they just to much force.
Side note: my budget grew $200 is now what I have to spend so expensive keyboards are exceptable.

[Burz]

Hm, what makes alps good in general and where would I buy this model F keyboard from?Also are buckling springs good for gaming or are they just to much force.
Side note: my budget grew $200 is now what I have to spend so expensive keyboards are exceptable.

Alps tend to be more tactile in general without a lot of the deactivation lag (hysteresis) that Cherry blues have. The tactile switches are usually firmer than Cherry tactile, but not as firm (or noisy) as I remember a Model M being. Alps switches make a lower,
more satisfying click sound than the Cherry blues. I also find that bottoming out on Alps is less annoying than bottoming out on Cherry switches, probably because Alps have a bit less key travel.

My impression of the Cherry browns (the switch that is considered the best combination for typing and gaming from the Cherry lineup) is that they are a bit too light and not tactile enough. And they don't click.

YMMV.

[rowdy]

Alps tend to be more tactile in general without a lot of the deactivation lag (hysteresis) that Cherry blues have. The tactile switches are usually firmer than Cherry tactile, but not as firm (or noisy) as I remember a Model M being. Alps switches make a lower,
more satisfying click sound than the Cherry blues. I also find that bottoming out on Alps is less annoying than bottoming out on Cherry switches, probably because Alps have a bit less key travel.

My impression of the Cherry browns (the switch that is considered the best combination for typing and gaming from the Cherry lineup) is that they are a bit too light and not tactile enough. And they don't click.

YMMV.

No, they don't click.  But blues do have a release point above the activation point, and this is a killer for some people who need to double or triple or more tap in games.

Hence blues are generally held to be the best for typing (tactile and audible feedback), and reds/browns for gaming (no tactile, but no problem with double tapping).

browns are a kinda middle ground, in that they provide some sort of tactile feedback, but are not clicky.

Or, you can swap springs and make your own combination of tactility and activation force.

[twilek]

Thanks guys for all the help, perhaps with that nice budget I'll buy2 and swap accordingly, however according to these forums, 2 turns to 3, and grows exponentially there. Oh, and clarification for the quickfire pro fiasco. I bought it plugged it in and it didnt work, got another one for a refund for the old one and still didnt work. if I'm only buying one I think I'll go for blues, or maybe clears but how rare are they and where do I find RELIABLE ones.

[FoxWolf1]

Thanks guys for all the help, perhaps with that nice budget I'll buy2 and swap accordingly, however according to these forums, 2 turns to 3, and grows exponentially there. O

See, this is the wonderful thing about the keyboard hobby. You really don't have to worry about choosing what to buy, since you're eventually going to wind up buying everything anyway.

[twilek]

I was looking on deskthority and I found this nice keyswitch called beige, pink, or whatever I call them ergo clears, I would really love them in red but can I buy them from manafacturer or do I need to make one myself

[twilek]

To edit my original list I would like to expand its scope after learning more and more about mechanical keyboard. At this point with all the information to make a much more informed position, I would consider the destruction of a quickfire pro not much of a disaster after all.
- must be unsoldered so I can turn the clears into ergo clears without a gun-like contraption
- must include two keyboards that together are under $200
- must be tenkeyless
- must leave $40 for a nice pair of doubleshot injection moulded keycaps
Also how hard is it to mod a keyboard like what I am describing.