Buying my first mechanical keyboard, help !

[JusticeBreaker]

Hello everyone  ,
so I've been playing video games for quite a long time on a rubber dome keyboard and then a friend of mine told me about mechs, I tested his keyboard (Corsair K60 i believe, I also tested blackwidow) and i fell in love with it 

Now I want to purchase a mechanical keyboard, a red switch one and I found 4 keyboards but I don't know which one to choose (I tried to compare them but I really can't choose  )

Those 4 keyboards are:

- CM Storm Quickfire TK

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81mJnbqc71L._SL1500_.jpg

- CM Storm Quickfire Rapid

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81HnKlwF65L._SL1500_.jpg

- CM Storm Quickfire Stealth

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71p6g2FNwAL._SL1500_.jpg

- Steelseries 6GV2 red version

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41eXeamjHoL.jpg

I searched but I can't find any difference between these keyboards (except maybe the number pad which i don't really need), even though i have a small preference for the 6gv2 (it looks really solid and simple)
So yeah... I'd be happy if you could help me choose one of them, thanks in advance 

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

The QuickFire Rapid is probably your best bet, their quality is comparable to that of Filco boards.  I've had mine for over a year and it's still my favorite board.  I would imagine the Stealth is essentially identical to the QFR, minus the side-printed caps.

[stancato9]

Definitely the Quickfire Rapid. You said you don't really need the numpad so you will like the layout a lot. It makes the experience a whole lot better being able to move between mouse and keyboard with ease.

The build quality is also up there. They are often compared to filcos which are regarded as one of the best keyboard manufacturers.

If you care about changing the keycaps and the customization aspect of it, the QFR will also be great. It has one of the most common layouts and you can find a ton of keycap sets for it. The other ones will be harder to find caps for as they aren't as common; the 6GV2 even has an ISO layout.

Also, go with the stealth if you like the aesthetic of the blank keys. Not only do you not have to worry about the legends fading over time, but it will actually force you to better your typing skills.

[JusticeBreaker]

Thank you very much for your answers guys 
I'll buy the QFR 

[eth0s]

QFR has been the nub's favorite starter keyboard for like 2 years now.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Another vote for QFR - standard layout, good quality, good support, horrible legends (easily remedied), highly customisable.

Or, if you want backlighting, what about Ducky?

[Neal]

• CM Storm Quickfire TK

Non standard layout and bottom row, oddsize spacebar and has some odd bug that might've been fixed on some models.

• CM Storm Quickfire Rapid

Standard layout/spacing, comparable to Filco quality. Perfect starter board.

• CM Storm Quickfire Stealth

Same as above, but IMO a better look. I find the font to be unpleasant to look at, this hides it a bit.

• Steelseries 6GV2 red version

Non standard layout and bottom row, korean style enter and a short right shift. This board is IMO the worst board anyone can buy, sure its cheap as ****. But the layout is SO weird, and the left windows key is a fn key instead that enables media keys. its non rebind-able and just completely ****s up the keyboard IMO. I use windows a lot, I need a windows key for shortucts. Would've been a lot better if they'd put that one on the right side.


All in all, I'd go for the CM Storm Quickfire Stealth.
You're on GeekHack after all, you're probably going to buy some after market keyset someday. And you'll need a somewhat standard layout/spacing for that.

[JusticeBreaker]

Thanks 
So the QFR and the QFStealth are "equal" in terms of quality, uh ? So it's only about look preference ?
Btw I can't find any Ducky keyboard for  <100$ in france 

[Tony]

CM QFR is recommended. It has standard layout, and cheaper price. I don't know about QFR stealth though.

[lonedruid]

I have a red 6gv2 and I love it  quite good to play dota 2 with it. Dont get STEALTH for god sake. U will regret it.Imagine you playing dota, in the heat of battle, u nneed to talk to teammatte or use number key set as some hotkeys. U wont be able to find it!!!! No matter ur typing skills are!!!! Bcuz your hands wont be in normal typing position during gaming cuz ur right hand will alwayys be on ur mouse and u will nid to keep looking down when u nid to press those keys at the right side. And in the heat of battle I am scrambling on my 6gv2 for that full stop hotkey. Without printed keycapd? Please  u will play better on a 10 dollars dell keyboard. Tats why filco dont have ninja series for its multicam gaming keyboard and most of the gaming mech companies dont have stealth versions.in fact cm is the only one I know!!!
U can also consider filco. I planning to get filco multicam blues   

[lonedruid]

 :cool:I forgot to mention. No need get ducky for gaming..imho ducky is for people who want their keyboard to be lit up like some ITmall whose cocorridor is littered with shops that sell neon lightings. And it ooze that chinese feeling with chinese zodiac spacebar and lighting styles that is reminiscent of some sleazy hong kong restaurant.  Of cuz if u r after chinese-fashion kb. Nothing can beat the duck.

[stancato9]

I have a red 6gv2 and I love it  quite good to play dota 2 with it. Dont get STEALTH for god sake. U will regret it.Imagine you playing dota, in the heat of battle, u nneed to talk to teammatte or use number key set as some hotkeys. U wont be able to find it!!!! No matter ur typing skills are!!!! Bcuz your hands wont be in normal typing position during gaming cuz ur right hand will alwayys be on ur mouse and u will nid to keep looking down when u nid to press those keys at the right side. And in the heat of battle I am scrambling on my 6gv2 for that full stop hotkey. Without printed keycapd? Please  u will play better on a 10 dollars dell keyboard. Tats why filco dont have ninja series for its multicam gaming keyboard and most of the gaming mech companies dont have stealth versions.in fact cm is the only one I know!!!
U can also consider filco. I planning to get filco multicam blues   

While this is true, this will happen maybe for a week. After that you will know where every key on the keyboard is If you aren't an experienced touch typer now, you will be after buying a keyboard with stealth caps.

Also, Filco do make a stealth board. It is called the Ninja.

[PointyFox]

The Stealth is just the QFR with side printed keys.  The printing wears off pretty fast on the QFR keys.

[rowdy]

The Stealth is just the QFR with side printed keys.  The printing wears off pretty fast on the QFR keys.

Most people swap their QFR keycaps out pretty quickly anyway.

[lonedruid]

Stancato. I check at filco homepage. They dont have ninja for their gaming series

[Candyflip]

The Stealth is just the QFR with side printed keys.  The printing wears off pretty fast on the QFR keys.

Most people swap their QFR keycaps out pretty quickly anyway.

Indeed, I know a couple of guys (including myself) who ordered the QFR + pbt caps to replace the CM ones on start

[Emospence]

Stealth or Rapid, depending on where you want your legends

[neha_aks]

I am leaning towards QFR/Stealth (haven't decided on the keypad style yet) and this is my first mechanical keyboard as well. So probably this question might sound stupid but is QFR compatible with Mac? Would I be able to remap the keys to switch the positions of Cmd and Alt?

I ask because the same product on mechanicalkeyboards.com mentions Mac compatibility:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=73

but on Amazon it doesn't :
http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical/dp/B007VDLVD4/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

[gh_pp]

I am leaning towards QFR/Stealth (haven't decided on the keypad style yet) and this is my first mechanical keyboard as well. So probably this question might sound stupid but is QFR compatible with Mac? Would I be able to remap the keys to switch the positions of Cmd and Alt?

There are not many keyboards that comes with DIP switch for hardware swap of cmd & alt, but OSX has build-in preference for changing that, so you don't have to worry about it.
Any USB PC compatible will work under osx. However if you want the Fn (brightness, volume) keys, you'll need to get keyboards just for Mac.


QFR $70 + thick doubleshot or PBT keycaps $100

That's all you need until you're ready to spend more than > $300

[terran5992]

If you have the budget . Get the HHKB or realforce

[rowdy]

I am leaning towards QFR/Stealth (haven't decided on the keypad style yet) and this is my first mechanical keyboard as well. So probably this question might sound stupid but is QFR compatible with Mac? Would I be able to remap the keys to switch the positions of Cmd and Alt?

I ask because the same product on mechanicalkeyboards.com mentions Mac compatibility:
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=73

but on Amazon it doesn't :
http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical/dp/B007VDLVD4/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

Welcome to Geekhack!

I have used QFR and QFS no a Mac - no worries.  Just use System Preferences to swap Alt and Win.  Everything else works well, including Expose.

[PointyFox]

If you have the budget . Get the HHKB or realforce

Wouldn't it be if he doesn't have a budget?

[phoenix1234]

Hello everyone  ,
so I've been playing video games for quite a long time on a rubber dome keyboard and then a friend of mine told me about mechs, I tested his keyboard (Corsair K60 i believe, I also tested blackwidow) and i fell in love with it 

Now I want to purchase a mechanical keyboard, a red switch one and I found 4 keyboards but I don't know which one to choose (I tried to compare them but I really can't choose  )

Those 4 keyboards are:

- CM Storm Quickfire TK

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81mJnbqc71L._SL1500_.jpg

- CM Storm Quickfire Rapid

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81HnKlwF65L._SL1500_.jpg

- CM Storm Quickfire Stealth

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71p6g2FNwAL._SL1500_.jpg

- Steelseries 6GV2 red version

More

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41eXeamjHoL.jpg

I searched but I can't find any difference between these keyboards (except maybe the number pad which i don't really need), even though i have a small preference for the 6gv2 (it looks really solid and simple)
So yeah... I'd be happy if you could help me choose one of them, thanks in advance 

If you are in the US, you should consider this one :
www.bestbuy.com/site/cooler-master-cm-storm-quickfire-stealth-mechanical-gaming-keyboard-and-spawn-optical-mouse/1501444.p?id=1219052965240&skuId=1501444

[neha_aks]

Thank you all ! I tried the blue and brown switches today and I think I like the brown. 


I was worried about the noise factor but I think the brown is not that noisy and I can get the WASD O-rings if the noise really annoys me. For keycaps  I might go with the stealth.

And I looked at HHKB - I dont think I'd survive its layout - I dont like the number and function key overlap in HHKB.

[1pq]

If you have the budget . Get the HHKB or realforce

Don't start that, seriously...

[tuxsavvy]

Thank you all ! I tried the blue and brown switches today and I think I like the brown. 


I was worried about the noise factor but I think the brown is not that noisy and I can get the WASD O-rings if the noise really annoys me. For keycaps  I might go with the stealth.

And I looked at HHKB - I dont think I'd survive its layout - I dont like the number and function key overlap in HHKB.

HHKB is a 60% board with a completely different switch. If you want a full sized/TKL board with more or less the same switch and probably also a more sane price. There are Realforce keyboards/Leopold FC660C/Type Heaven to look at.

[lilky]

Whatever you buy, you won't regret it. Welcome to the mechanical keyboard world

[Pacifist]

Get the QFR

[rowdy]

Thank you all ! I tried the blue and brown switches today and I think I like the brown. 


I was worried about the noise factor but I think the brown is not that noisy and I can get the WASD O-rings if the noise really annoys me. For keycaps  I might go with the stealth.

And I looked at HHKB - I dont think I'd survive its layout - I dont like the number and function key overlap in HHKB.

Did you try typing on the HHKB?

Just to get the feel of the Topre switches?

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I am too happy with all my keyboards, including BS )

[1pq]

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I don't think I actually fully appreciated topre until after a month or two of using it, honestly.
It's odd though, I prefer Topre for typing English words, but when I have to write anything in fast spurts, I prefer MX (e.g. coding, keymashing (gaming)).

[BlindxLegacy]

I really like the keycool 84. Small body, tenkeyless, PRETTY LIGHTS!, standard design, solid, relatively cheap at $115

[rowdy]

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I don't think I actually fully appreciated topre until after a month or two of using it, honestly.
It's odd though, I prefer Topre for typing English words, but when I have to write anything in fast spurts, I prefer MX (e.g. coding, keymashing (gaming)).

That is the case for a lot of people - Topre is kinda meh, but after using it for a while and then switching back to MX you start really missing Topre.  At that point some people simply sell all their MX keyboards, invest in another Topre board or two, a few keycaps sets, and they are set for life.

[PointyFox]

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I don't think I actually fully appreciated topre until after a month or two of using it, honestly.
It's odd though, I prefer Topre for typing English words, but when I have to write anything in fast spurts, I prefer MX (e.g. coding, keymashing (gaming)).

That is the case for a lot of people - Topre is kinda meh, but after using it for a while and then switching back to MX you start really missing Topre.  At that point some people simply sell all their MX keyboards, invest in another Topre board or two, a few keycaps sets, and they are set for life.

I just got a Topre after trying every MX switch and Topre is what rubber dome should be, and what MX wants to be.

[SpAmRaY]

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I don't think I actually fully appreciated topre until after a month or two of using it, honestly.
It's odd though, I prefer Topre for typing English words, but when I have to write anything in fast spurts, I prefer MX (e.g. coding, keymashing (gaming)).

That is the case for a lot of people - Topre is kinda meh, but after using it for a while and then switching back to MX you start really missing Topre.  At that point some people simply sell all their MX keyboards, invest in another Topre board or two, a few keycaps sets, and they are set for life.

I just got a Topre after trying every MX switch and Topre is what rubber dome should be, and what MX wants to be.

So does that mean you like it?

[rowdy]

Although really you have to use Topre for a couple of days to really get the feel for it.  And after a maximum of two weeks it is said that you will find it difficult to switch back to MX.

I don't think I actually fully appreciated topre until after a month or two of using it, honestly.
It's odd though, I prefer Topre for typing English words, but when I have to write anything in fast spurts, I prefer MX (e.g. coding, keymashing (gaming)).

That is the case for a lot of people - Topre is kinda meh, but after using it for a while and then switching back to MX you start really missing Topre.  At that point some people simply sell all their MX keyboards, invest in another Topre board or two, a few keycaps sets, and they are set for life.

I just got a Topre after trying every MX switch and Topre is what rubber dome should be, and what MX wants to be.

Interesting way to put it