Keycap height on CM Quickfire Rapid

[tinyblob]

Hi there,

I've been using a Raptor Gaming K1 keyboard for a while with Cherry MX switches, I picked up a few replacement keys from QWERkeys for it.

I've just received a CM Quickfire Rapid, and I see immediately that the keycaps are a different height. If I was to put the caps from QWERkeys or the K1 onto it they'd be a few mm lower than the other keys.

This is possibly a stupid question (I'm new to this), but I thought there were set heights, and that's why the keys are so interchangeable? Are the CM keys especially tall? Does this mean I have to do an all or nothing replacement, not just some of them?

Thanks!

[laffindude]

K1 use Cherry profile keys that are lower. Almost everyone else use taller keys.

[esoomenona]

They are different height profiles. The taller ones on the CM Storm are what is referred to as OEM profile. OEM profile are used on CM Storm, Filcos, Das, among others.

The Raptor K1 is based on a Cherry board, so it used Cherry profile. They are shorter than OEM.

Then there is SP profile, from Signature Plastics. They are very similar in height to Cherry, but there are some differences in them.

[tinyblob]

Hmm, I didn't know this. So the keycaps I bought from QWERkeys are also the Cherry profile.

I was going to buy this set from WASD: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/88-key-iso-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html

It's referred to as a Cherry MX set, does that mean they'll be the Cherry profile, and therefore shorter than OEM profile keys on the CM? I'm desperate to get rid of them, I don't like the font at all!

[asdf]

I was going to buy this set from WASD: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/88-key-iso-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html
It's referred to as a Cherry MX set, does that mean they'll be the Cherry profile, and therefore shorter than OEM profile keys on the CM?

No, WASD (also Filco and Das) uses the OEM profile

[esoomenona]

Hmm, I didn't know this. So the keycaps I bought from QWERkeys are also the Cherry profile.

I was going to buy this set from WASD: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/88-key-iso-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html

It's referred to as a Cherry MX set, does that mean they'll be the Cherry profile, and therefore shorter than OEM profile keys on the CM? I'm desperate to get rid of them, I don't like the font at all!

Calling it a Cherry MX set only means it will go on Cherry MX switches. As asdf said, WASD will be OEM profile as well.

[alaricljs]

To answer the other half, Cherry MX will refer to the stem compatibility so that the cap fits on the switch.  Since the bulk of the market uses OEM profile very few places care to point it out.

Alps and Topre are 2 other stem/switch types.

[tinyblob]

Thanks for the information all.

I've tried out the Cherry profile keys from my K1 on the CM, and I much prefer the height. Which is annoying because I was just about to pull the trigger on a coloured set from WASD. Any suggestions on my best bet for finding a set of orange ISO layout keys in Cherry profile that'll fit the CM Rapid?

I'm looking at QWERkeys at the moment, but I'm confused by their offerings and they don't seem to do full sets.

I feel like this is going to get very expensive very quickly!

[rainbowshy]

I'm in the same boat. You could scavenge the keycaps from a cherry board, or you could try out SP's keys which are also lower.

[TotalChaos]

According to what I read:

Cherry Profile is shortest.
Signature Plastics Profile is a little bit taller than Cherry Profile.
OEM Profile is a little bit taller than Signature Plastics Profile.

Is that not true?  Can anyone confirm for a fact?

I agree with the OP, trying to replace the crappy keys that come with the CM QFR is a complicated pain.

I personally require OEM profile in order to be 100% compatible with crashpads.

[tinyblob]

I personally require OEM profile in order to be 100% compatible with crashpads.

What are crashpads?

[esoomenona]

SP profile is ever so slightly taller than Cherry, more so on the bottom couple rows. OEM profile is much noticeably taller.