Any backlit Mech. keyboard with Costar stabilizers out there?

[mirage4life]

Hey guys,

Just got my Quickfire TK in the mail today and learned the hard way that it uses Cherry stabilizers instead of the Costar stabilizers my quickfire rapid featured.

That being said, are there any backlit keyboards with Costar stabilizers out there?
Is there any way I can mod the TK?

Thank you!

[missalaire]

The Cooler Master Storm Trigger is backlit and uses Costar stabilizers and the Corsair K90 as well (but it's not fully mechanical). There's speculation that the new Rosewill Helios RK-9200 that's coming out is also a backlit Costar keyboard. Most backlit keyboards seem to use Cherry or iOne though.

http://techgage.com/news/ces-2013-rosewills-helios-rk-9200-mechanical-keyboard-features-dual-leds/

[IvanIvanovich]

All iOne made one will have costar stabilizer, but they are generally poor made. So there are quite a lot of them, Black Widow, Qpad, Tessoro, Max, etc... many rebranded of the same thing really.
A decent choice if you want tenkeyless, Keycool 87, it have costar type stabilizer and probably one of larger range of options in backlight color and switch type and a good price.
Personally I do not like costar stabilizer and feel that Cherry have a much better design and are less prone to problem. If you find them to be 'mushy' there is a mod you can do on your TK, have a look...
If that still don't do it for you, well, you could unsolder all the switch and cut the plate for costar hole size to use thier stabilizer, but it would be a lot of work.

[davkol]

The Cooler Master Storm Trigger is backlit and uses Costar stabilizers and the Corsair K90 as well (but it's not fully mechanical). There's speculation that the new Rosewill Helios RK-9200 that's coming out is also a backlit Costar keyboard. Most backlit keyboards seem to use Cherry or iOne though.

http://techgage.com/news/ces-2013-rosewills-helios-rk-9200-mechanical-keyboard-features-dual-leds/

Trigger has Cherry stabilizers, Carter mentioned it's because of backlighting IIRC.

[mirage4life]

Wow... I've been looking at CM Storm keyboards for so long and I completely missed this (in terms of it having Costar stabilizers).

Is this the only keyboard which features backlighting on the market?

If it is, I'm definitely going to pick it up as soon as I can. Thanks!

[alaricljs]

Costar hadn't spun up backlit compatible stabs at that point.  I'm pretty sure Costar has an LED friendly version of their stabilizers at this point since they are now producing back-lit boards.

[mirage4life]

Wait... Now I'm confused...

Does the Trigger boast the same switches as the Quickfire Rapid or the ones found on the TK?

[davkol]

Wait... Now I'm confused...

Does the Trigger boast the same switches as the Quickfire Rapid or the ones found on the TK?

It should have the same Cherry MX switches. However, stabilizers (and for example rubber coating on keycaps) are different.

[missalaire]

Trigger has Cherry stabilizers, Carter mentioned it's because of backlighting IIRC.

Really? Because CM Carter said here it comes from the same place as the Rapid: http://www.overclock.net/t/1267585/cm-storm-quickfire-rapid-or-trigger.

I thought he only mentioned what you said regarding the QuickFire TK.

[IvanIvanovich]

How are costar stab not compatible with backlight? iOne have always used them since the begining. Thier boards suck, but I don't see how regular costar style stab make any problem on them for backlight.

[alaricljs]

Costar stabs found on boards produced by costar (not costar *style* stabs) do not work if they are mounted on a switch with LED.  It strikes the LED, or if you rotate the switch 180, it strikes the switch housing.

[davkol]

Trigger has Cherry stabilizers, Carter mentioned it's because of backlighting IIRC.

Really? Because CM Carter said here it comes from the same place as the Rapid: http://www.overclock.net/t/1267585/cm-storm-quickfire-rapid-or-trigger.

I thought he only mentioned what you said regarding the QuickFire TK.

sauce

[missalaire]

Trigger has Cherry stabilizers, Carter mentioned it's because of backlighting IIRC.

Really? Because CM Carter said here it comes from the same place as the Rapid: http://www.overclock.net/t/1267585/cm-storm-quickfire-rapid-or-trigger.

I thought he only mentioned what you said regarding the QuickFire TK.

sauce

Ah, I see. Thanks.

@OP: Sorry for the misinformation.

[davkol]

I'm not sure about this, but WASD v2 should supposedly come in backlit version as well, and it's Costar design — if Costar can make backlit keyboards now, backlit WASD v2 will probably have Costar stabilizers.

[dbdynsty25]

The Mionix board is costar w/ a backlighting.  Only comes w/ black switches tho, so depends what cherry switches you're looking for.

http://mionix.net/products/zibal-60/

[Saturn]

I'm not sure backlighting is worth it on a mechanical keyboard unless it's a feature you really desperately want.  Many people buy mech kb's for their build quality and longevity, and almost every backlit keyboard has to use lower quality keycaps in order to work with the backlighting.  Specifically, instead of using laser engraved ABS or something along those lines, they'll use translucent keycaps with a rubbery sort of black coating covering the keycap making it black.  The legend is etched through the coating, revealing the translucent keycap surface underneath, so that the backlighting shines through the lettering on the keycap.

Said coating wears off over time and extensive use and ends up looking like crap.  From what I have heard, the only manufacturer to get around this basic problem is Deck.

[mirage4life]

What do you guys think of the Zibal 60?


And as for backlighting, it's a feature which I really enjoy in a keyboard and I really wouldn't mind if the keycaps wore off in a year or two..

[lazerpointer]

!!! I was going to get a Quickfire TK until I saw this thread. Costar stabs FTW. Thanks GH....

[Hyde]

What do you guys think of the Zibal 60?


And as for backlighting, it's a feature which I really enjoy in a keyboard and I really wouldn't mind if the keycaps wore off in a year or two..

I think it's a nice keyboard, too bad I don't like mx black and green led.  If they had any other options it would've sell pretty well I think.

[mirage4life]

I don't mind pressing harder on the keys. All I really need is backlighting, a clacky shift, and a clacky space key when playing FPS games

[rwpritchett]

Have you checked out the mech boards made by MaxKeyboard?  Both Nighthawk and Durandal use Costar stabilizers... and they're backlit.

[rowdy]

Have you checked out the mech boards made by MaxKeyboard?  Both Nighthawk and Durandal use Costar stabilizers... and they're backlit.

Welcome to Geekhack!

[Saturn]

Have you checked out the mech boards made by MaxKeyboard?  Both Nighthawk and Durandal use Costar stabilizers... and they're backlit.

Looks interesting.  Any info on who the OEM is, or what the quality on these is like?

[davkol]

Have you checked out the mech boards made by MaxKeyboard?  Both Nighthawk and Durandal use Costar stabilizers... and they're backlit.

Looks interesting.  Any info on who the OEM is, or what the quality on these is like?

IIRC iOne, but with much better QC.

[rwpritchett]

Yeah, I think the OEM is iOne, but if you read the reviews their KB are above par for that OEM.  I've had the Nighthawk X9 for about 8 months.  It's my only mech board, so I can't offer any comparisons.  The board is heavy and solidly built for sure.

Their CS is excellent too.  I had to contact MaxKeyboard and the guy there (Jerry) answered all of my emails within 1 hour... on a weekend, not exaggerating.

[zongeva]

Dear people, being Costar made does not necessary mean that it must have wire stabilizers. Several keyboards made by Costar has Cherry style stabilizer(or known as satellite switch) as well. Examples are KBTalking One, KBTalking Oni, CMStorm Trigger. I believe the upcoming Helios RK9200 will use the Cherry style stabilizer too.

[laffindude]

2 out of 3 examples are not Costar boards.

[rwpritchett]

Well, I just pulled off my spacebar (putting back on was sure a b*+¢#).  It definitely has a Costar wire-type stabilizer.  The metal wire goes across the top and runs right next to and touches the LED that illuminates the spacebar.

[zongeva]

2 out of 3 examples are not Costar boards.

I suppose you are talking about KBTalking One and Oni?
I have sources from Chinese and Taiwanese forums that mention that it is made by Costar.
So what about you, do you have any strong evidence or citations to show me?

[laffindude]

The factory that makes the board does make boards for Costar, but they are not Costar.

[rwpritchett]

Well, if anybody is interested in the MaxKeyboard mechs, another group buy has started that will get you 20% off.  Full LED illumination and Costar stabilizers.  Choice of blue, brown, or red switches.  Choice of red, blue, white, green, orange, purple LEDs depending on the switches you want.  I'm picking up a second one for work.

http://www.forums.custompcreview.com/f75/max-keyboard-group-buy-thread-10-a-1437/

[Carter]

Costar now has the ability to use their own stabs w/ backlighting.

Hang in there boys

[Lunartuna]

Costar now has the ability to use their own stabs w/ backlighting.

Hang in there boys

Indeed they do!

[alaricljs]

What board is that?

[Lunartuna]

Zibal 60 with the newer keycaps that Mionix sent out to customers that had the quick wearing ones.

3 weeks after purchase the S key started to wear



Mionix sent out some new keycaps(and Alioth 320 mouse pad for free) that had a slightly more matted finish and nicer laser etching on the fonts.
Its been about 8-9 months now of heavy gaming use(2-8hrs/day)



They are starting to shine a little but these new caps are much much tougher.

Edit: actually now that I think about it, its been about a year on the new keycaps

[alaricljs]

So those aren't Costar, they're iOne Costar look-alikes.

[Lunartuna]

Interesting, read somewhere here that the Zibal 60 was a Costar board.

[Lunartuna]

If they are iOne they sure seem fine to me. If I hit right shift and then ' key right beside it, i can't tell much difference in feel. The shift is just slightly louder.






I see the difference in design. I just thought it was because of the LED.

[alaricljs]

It is because of the LED, however Costar hadn't done backlit boards themselves until just recently.  They showed one off at a European  trade show a couple months ago and that was their first.

[rowdy]

Silly question - on my Ducky Shine the LEDs are above the switch, not below it as in these pictures.  If the LED was above the switch (i.e. on the opposite side to the stabiliser bar) would that work?

[alaricljs]

With Costar stabs (as found on a Filco for instance) the bar hits the switch housing rather than the LED in that case.

[rowdy]

Fair enough, thanks

[rwpritchett]

Silly question - on my Ducky Shine the LEDs are above the switch, not below it as in these pictures.  If the LED was above the switch (i.e. on the opposite side to the stabiliser bar) would that work?

I just received my Nighthawk X8.  It's set up that way: LED on top, stabilizer on the bottom.



EDIT:  Now that I look at the previous pics from Lunartuna, it looks like the cherry switch is inverted in order to get the LED positioned on the opposite side.  Interesting...

[tp4tissue]

Costar can use their REGULAR wires with leds. they do not conflict... anyone with a quickfire rapid can tell you.. they use the standard costar wires, and the led is on the "bottom", not inverted..

And the wires do not come in contact with the led whatsoever.

[mirage4life]

I own a Quickfire Rapid and am confused about what you are saying. There are no rapids that I am aware of that have backlighting capabilities...

[rowdy]

But the QFR has an LED under the keycap for caps and scroll lock

[Lu_e]

Which are unstabilized keys....?

[mirage4life]

Bump.

Anything?

[Hyde]

Yeah Caps Lock and Scroll Lock are keys that doesn't require stabilizers.

As for iOne, they use a "Costar-like" stabilizers that's actually not the same but very similar though 

And people are right about CM Storm Trigger not having the technology for it before so they used Cherry stabilizers, but all the new ones should be on Costar stabilizers.

Here are the list of keyboards that I think are backlit + Costar stabilizers.

Currently Available:
Mionix Zibal 60 (MX Black only)
CM Storm Trigger (MX Brown and Red)

Available in the future:
CM Storm QuickFire XTL (Backlit version of QuickFire XT which will come out in late April, so I'd image QuickFire XTL will come out even later)
WASD V2 (White LED only, Coming soon)
Rosewill Helios RK-9200 (From the demo it looks like only green/red dual color so far, hopefully more color options will be available later such a blue/white)

[mirage4life]

The Trigger does not have costar stabs. + backlighting if I remember correctly.