Author Topic: Which Alu-Case for Poker II (Read 4807 times)

maroder · « **on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 06:22:17 »

Hi,

Although I just bought my Poker 3 I got a really good bargain on a Poker II with MX-Blacks and now have my second 60% keyboard for work.
But now (of course) I need an Alu case for it.

Has anyone got suggestions regarding quality alu cases? Are Tex good quality? What about Pexon?
I really would love, love, love a Hammer or MKC, but nearly impossible to find one for sale ...

Cheers,
Maroder

iamtootallforthis · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 07:15:58 »

A ton of people have Tex cases and love them. Pexon produces great products and is very meticulous so I would not doubt the quality of his cases either.

merlin64 · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 09:17:03 »

They've got a Vortex case on Amazon right now, they are different from the stock vortex case that comes on the pok3r. They are CNC milled instead of cast and the bottom looks different too.

inanis · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 09:27:55 »

I have the TEX aluminum case, and also a the Vortex CNC'd case. Of the two I strongly prefer the Vortex case. It is heavier and I like that the edges are less rounded than those on the TEX. Also the fit of the Vortex case is much tighter than the TEX. Both are great choices, of course. You really can't go wrong here.

For myself, I really want that pink Vortex CNC'd case. As soon as I find it in stock in the CONUS, it will be mine! I can't afford that international shipping.

azhdar · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 09:29:01 »

Have a loke at the new cases that pexon wil be selling soon :

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=72459.0

maroder · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 10:33:44 »

Quote from: azhdar on Fri, 17 July 2015, 09:29:01

Have a loke at the new cases that pexon wil be selling soon :

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=72459.0

WOW they look great!

But which one ... gold, silver or black? Damn those choices

The cases don't differ from ANSI to ISO, do they?

inanis · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 10:43:06 »

No difference between ANSI and ISO for the cases.

I have the silver one and it is fantastic. The black one is cast aluminum, not CNC'd. It is less expensive, but not as nice as a good CNC'd chunk of aluminum.

Tiramisuu · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 14:59:14 »

For the price of an aluminum case you can buy a poker 3 with an aluminum case.

I got mine for my poker two from qtan before the P3 came out. Machined and reasonable price.
It is nice to be able to beat someone to death with your keyboard if necessary.

inanis · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 15:05:20 »

Quote from: Tiramisuu on Fri, 17 July 2015, 14:59:14

For the price of an aluminum case you can buy a poker 3 with an aluminum case.

I got mine for my poker two from qtan before the P3 came out. Machined and reasonable price.
It is nice to be able to beat someone to death with your keyboard if necessary.

Is the one that comes with the Poker3 CNC'd or cast aluminum? I actually have one coming soon, with Greens (much excite!) but I thought it was a cast case. Still good! I don't even know why I bought it...I don't need another board.

Tiramisuu · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 15:07:22 »

For the price it must be cast. Bloody machining is expensive. It looks very much like the vortex stock cast aluminum case for the poker 2.

merlin64 · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 17:15:19 »

The pok3r has a cast and powder coated case. These are both cheaper ways to produce and I guess that's why the pok3r was cheap with those features.

I'm also looking for a replacement case, but I kinda like the matte look of powder coated things.

jerue · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 17 July 2015, 18:25:37 »

I bought a TEX (via massdrop), but man, the Vortex case looks nice...I honestly don't think you could go wrong either way

Bevo · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 19 July 2015, 05:49:12 »

Those vortex cases look fantastic!

maroder · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 19 July 2015, 07:12:03 »

One question to the Vortex cases: Do you see the red PCB from the Poker3 or can the plate in between be further used in the new case. Sorry if this is a stupid question - I'm new to this kind of stuff.

inanis · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 20 July 2015, 08:31:22 »

The Poker3 has a plate, which covers the PCB, so you won't see much, if any of the PCB. The PCB/Plate are joined together; where one goes the other must follow, no choice in the matter unless you desolder. It will unscrew from the existing case, pop out and then you can put it in the new case. Essentially, the "guts" of the board (PCB, plate, stabs, switches, LEDs) are all one piece when it is assembled. Those guts can then be taken and put in a new case by just taking out a few screws.

v0idtek · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 20 July 2015, 12:38:40 »

I've been contemplating an alu case but having it cost as much as the keyboard itself is making me hesitate.
Does it help with the ping on clear keys at all or change the feel of typing at all? I feel like I need to convince myself that I need it in my life.

inanis · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 20 July 2015, 12:54:01 »

Quote from: v0idtek on Mon, 20 July 2015, 12:38:40

I've been contemplating an alu case but having it cost as much as the keyboard itself is making me hesitate.
Does it help with the ping on clear keys at all or change the feel of typing at all? I feel like I need to convince myself that I need it in my life.

Depending on your board, it may help with the ping since there will be less room for the sound resonance in between the PCB and case. However, the aluminum case will produce some amount of ping all it's own. To remedy that, you put a little bit of drawer liner in between the PCB and case it takes care of it. Lubing the springs will help with the ping of the Clears too, though that might require some solder work. I put drawer liner in all my boards with aluminum cases and it works out great. The Vortex one has very little room for this so you need something very thin, once it is in there though it dampens that ping like a charm.

Having an aluminum case does make it feel better when you type. It feels solid, so to say. There is a bit of a "thunk" to the sound and feel when you press the keys. The addtional weight means it doesn't move around the desk. Plus most of these give you the option to have the board flat on the desk, which I greatly prefer. I honestly couldn't go back to typing on a 60% in a plastic case. If you are on the fence, you could buy one and see if it is something you like. If not you can always sell it in the classifieds. They tend to go pretty quickly.

maroder · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 20 July 2015, 13:12:55 »

Quote from: inanis on Mon, 20 July 2015, 08:31:22

The Poker3 has a plate, which covers the PCB, so you won't see much, if any of the PCB. The PCB/Plate are joined together; where one goes the other must follow, no choice in the matter unless you desolder. It will unscrew from the existing case, pop out and then you can put it in the new case. Essentially, the "guts" of the board (PCB, plate, stabs, switches, LEDs) are all one piece when it is assembled. Those guts can then be taken and put in a new case by just taking out a few screws.

Thanks a lot for the detailed information! Just ordered the gold Vortex.

inanis · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 20 July 2015, 13:14:19 »

Great choice!

Post up some pictures when it comes it. I haven't seen much of the gold yet, I bet it looks sweet!

maroder · « **Reply #19 on:** Wed, 22 July 2015, 16:01:59 »

Quote from: inanis on Mon, 20 July 2015, 13:14:19

Great choice!

Post up some pictures when it comes it. I haven't seen much of the gold yet, I bet it looks sweet!

I'll post some pics as soon as it arrives here.

xquisit · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 24 July 2015, 15:02:32 »

Why are the black cast 40 euro while the CNC for 60?

maroder · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri, 24 July 2015, 15:20:57 »

Quote from: xquisit on Fri, 24 July 2015, 15:02:32

Why are the black cast 40 euro while the CNC for 60?

Here is a good explanation regarding the differnces: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=1683.0
TL;DR: CNC aluminium has a higher quality than cast aluminum.

maroder · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 27 July 2015, 06:57:35 »

The case arrived and .... WOW!

The case is abolutely flawless and the fit is perfect.
The cable fits really nice to my rather dark desk and I am therefore typing with great joy today

Here are the promised pics

inanis · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 27 July 2015, 07:40:32 »

Wow! That looks great. It goes amazingly well with the Poker II caps.

News:

Author Topic: Which Alu-Case for Poker II (Read 4807 times)