« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?  (Read 1992 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 09:35:38 »
can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard? and what size are the keys? and thanks alot and the 4 picture is the zitech next to my blackwidow
Logged

Offline jeroplane

  • Posts: 547
  • Location: Australia
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 09:53:09 »
Short answer: no. What you would have to do is basically take all new parts off of a mechanical keyboard and put them into that case because not much else is compatible. And by that point, why wouldn't you just buy a new keyboard.
Logged

My signature hasn't changed since 2012. I should really update it.

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 10:07:06 »
Ok but what kind of key caps can i put on it im new to Geekhack so i dont know if i can put new key caps on this zitech like this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-Windows-Keycap-Cherry-Switches/dp/B005LVNCOE/ref=sr_1_89?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1347548704&sr=1-89
Logged

Offline Wildcard

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 1046
  • Location: Fields of Columbia
  • When caffeine isn't enough
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 10:29:14 »
Depends on the key stem, take a few caps off and show us pictures of the bottom side of the key cap and of the key stem.

I've got my bet on rubber dome sliders.
Logged

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 10:33:23 »
cant take them out yet i dont have one of those pulling things :(
and here is a picture of the key from my old zitech
« Last Edit: Thu, 13 September 2012, 10:42:04 by The hobo gamer »
Logged

Offline Wildcard

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 1046
  • Location: Fields of Columbia
  • When caffeine isn't enough
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 10:51:54 »
That works

Yep this looks like a rubber dome board with sliders (ie. the white stem).  You're going to be very limited by the type of key cap you can use. From the bottom of the key cap it looks like Alps caps may work, however you're better off just getting a different board to put key caps on.

If you really like how the board feels you can always make this work, or you can try something else.
Logged

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:01:16 »
what about my razer blackwidow can i change the caps on that one and maybe also make it to a black cherry because my friends always say that my typing is to loud :D
Logged

Offline alaricljs

  • I be WOT'ing all day...
  • ** Moderator Emeritus
  • Posts: 3715
  • Location: NE US
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:05:24 »
Yes you can put new keycaps on the BW, hard part being finding an ISO set for the BW.  Also it is possible to mod the BW to blacks.  You are either going to spend way more on time and materials or paying someone else to do it than it is worth.  If you don't have soldering experience you can kill the PCB or the LEDs or the switches (most likely some portion of all of this.)
Logged
Filco w/ Imsto thick PBT
Ducky 1087XM PCB+Plate, w/ Matias "Quiet Click" spring-swapped w/ XM Greens

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:10:39 »
okay but what do you mean by ISO for my BW?
Logged

Offline jeroplane

  • Posts: 547
  • Location: Australia
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:20:10 »
There are two popular keyboard layouts: ANSI and ISO. Your keyboards (both the BW and Zitech) have the ISO layout.

ANSI is the most popular in the US, and the layout looks like this:



ISO is more common in Europe:



As you can see, certain keys are shaped differently (e.g. the Enter key, Shift key). Also, some keys are in different positions or have different legends. Unfortunately for you, keycap sets are generally made to cater for ANSI boards, so that is what alaricljs meant by it being hard to find a set that fits the ISO layout.
« Last Edit: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:22:43 by jeroplane »
Logged

My signature hasn't changed since 2012. I should really update it.

Offline The hobo gamer

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: Danmark
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:24:28 »
okay thanks for the help man and is it easy or really hard to change the Cherrys?
Logged

Offline jeroplane

  • Posts: 547
  • Location: Australia
Re: can i change my old PS/2 keyboard to a mechanical keyboard?
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 13 September 2012, 11:27:12 »
If you have never worked with electronics or soldering before, it is really hard. I would recommend not trying it.
Logged

My signature hasn't changed since 2012. I should really update it.
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »