Mechanical Keyboard For Gaming

[KyleNSM]

Sup Geekhackers,

I want to switch over to a mechanical keyboard but cannot decide on a brand or a switch.

Currently I reside in South Africa and the only mechanical keyboards I can source locally are Coolermaster and Razer.
The only mechanical switches I have tested are the black and the blue switches on the cm storm.
The blue switches felt to light and the black switches don't have the feedback that I want.

I am a guitarist so the force should be abit heavier and I mainly play Dota2 and I would prefer having a backlit keyboard.

So I have decided to import a keyboard and I am currently looking at the Ducky Shine3 (They where quick to respond to my inquiry) but unfortunately they do not have green switches yet.
Also by the time the keyboard gets to me it will cost me around about $280 in total which is abit over my budget due to the horrible exchange we have.

I have looked at a few other brands and I  have done quite abit of research but I still cannot make a confident decision.

Do you guys have any suggestions or information that would be useful for a MechanicalKeyboardVirgin?

Thanks 

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

With that combination of requirements, you will be lucky to find something within your price range.

A quick search turned up: http://www.uprice.co.za/find/?q=mechanical+keyboard

And: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/416072-Mechanical-Keyboards

Which might be able to point you to something locally.

Avoid the BlackWidow - they are fairly low quality and less durable.

[terran5992]

You could try black or clear switches since they are heavier compared to other types of switches

[KyleNSM]

Thanks Rowdy!

I also got the same results, not much of a choice locally. Also razer will not be brought in to South African suppliers anymore as of the first of this month.

So I will be forced to get something imported from a online shop.

any recommendations for me?

[CPTBadAss]

First keyboard? Check this out. Try ordering from Amazon, CM's site itself, MechanicalKeyboards.com, or Newegg.

[Oobly]

....
The only mechanical switches I have tested are the black and the blue switches on the cm storm.
The blue switches felt to light and the black switches don't have the feedback that I want.

I am a guitarist so the force should be abit heavier and I mainly play Dota2 and I would prefer having a backlit keyboard.

So I have decided to import a keyboard and I am currently looking at the Ducky Shine3 (They where quick to respond to my inquiry) but unfortunately they do not have green switches yet.
....

Hi! I'm a Saffie living in Finland right now. This kind of stuff is much easier to get here in Europe, I feel for you, it's one thing I don't miss. I do miss the weather sometimes, though! OT: Did you see the reports of snow on Table Mountain?

Anyhow, I think you would really like MX Clear switches. They are tactile like the Blue, but don't have the loud click or difference in actuation point to reset point of the Blue. Stronger springs, too. Better for gaming, IMHO. Personally, I like the Brown switches, just enough tactile feel, but light enough springs. I find Blacks and Clears are too heavy for me.

I would recommend a Ducky Shine with Clears, but as you say, it's quite expensive after shipping and with the exchange rate. AFAIK, CoolerMaster don't make a board with Clears, but they do have one with Greens: http://titan-ice.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=68_310&products_id=10289

Good luck on your keyboard quest!

[Belfong]

Honestly, mechanical keyboard is not cheap. I'd buy something locally that you can touch and test. Can't imagine spending us$280 only to find that the switch you chose is not what you like. What are you going to do then? Sell? Until you are sure what switch you like, don't buy the expensive range.

I was eyeing the Code keyboard with MX Clears. But I have experienced Clears and as such not willing to pay $150 plus whatever $x for shipping. I will wait till I try Clears before I import.

Is there a Filco Clears? Filco has a distributor in my country so I may just drop by their shop one of these days.

[rowdy]

You could try qtan's store: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/

Importing from China might be a bit cheaper than from US.

[KyleNSM]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the information! Ive decided that MX clears is what I need!

@Oobly Yes i saw that, the weather has been pretty awful this side cant wait for a sunny south African summer

To bad the codeKeyboard is out of stock. Was in my price range, backlit and mx Clears

Trying my luck but does anyone know who makes good and affordable mechanical keyboards with MX CLEAR switches. Everyone seems to be out of stock.

[IvanIvanovich]

Cheapest keyboard with clears is usually the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU. They cost about €55 on average from Germany, and shipping from DE is pretty low generally as well comparatively. Though finding a place that will ship it to you in SA may be tricky, finding a German forum member to proxy you might be easier.

With the low price, they are not the highest quality MX keyboard. Also, they have a low KRO so may not be the best fit for fast action games as you could experience some key blocking. Though it's a cheaper way to try out clears and if you like the switch you could always swap them into another keyboard if you aren't scared of some soldering work.

[Oobly]

I managed to find this: http://www.banggood.com/KEYCOOL-108-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Cherry-MX-White-Switch-p-82971.html

Not sure what the cost will end up as after import duty, etc, but it's a nice board. MX Clears, dye-sub PBT keycaps, 21-key rollover in USB. Looks like it has at least partial backlighting (WASD keys), not sure about full.

It's a pity the Ducky will cost so much, it's a great board, too.

There aren't a lot of companies making boards with Clears. Ducky, Keycool, Cherry and the Code keyboard are the only ones that spring to mind. Maybe some Leopolds? Deck also make boards with Clears, but the prices are really high. AFAIK Filco don't do a board with clears.

Something nice about the Clears is if after using them for a while you feel the springs are too hard, you can mod them into "Ergo" clears by replacing the springs.