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Author Topic: First mechanical keyboard.  (Read 5261 times)

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Offline Jarmen

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First mechanical keyboard.
« on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 06:22:05 »
Hello. 24 hours ago I knew barely anything about mechanical keyboards, now, thanks to browsing geekhack, I have narrowed down my choice down to:

A Leopold FC750R Cherry MX Brown or a Leopold FC980C Topre 45g.

I want to keep noise levels down, and use it for a variety of gaming genres (besides MMOs/MOBAs.) + a decent amount of typing as would be expected.

If I am willing to pay the roughly £72 increase in price for an FC980C, should I just go for it over the FC750R?





« Last Edit: Mon, 12 December 2016, 06:34:19 by Jarmen »
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Offline moh18one

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 06:57:13 »
If you want to try Topre keyboard get one ;)
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Offline bexleycorona

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 08:15:43 »
I'm thinking of getting a FC750R myself. Can you tell me what helped you decide to get one?
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Offline DALExSNAIL

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 08:27:29 »
Go for topre in my opinion.

Not as loud as mx and it feels much nicer to me.

Also adds the option of Hyperspheres for silencing even more which have almost no effect on travel and feel, as opposed to the alternative with cherry, o-rings.

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Offline menuhin

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 08:39:49 »
Hey Jarmen,

I would suggest every newcomer to try out the various types of mechanical keyboards in a shop or from friends first. Me as an example, (in terms of keyboard) my original object of desire was an IBM buckling spring keyboard or SSK, but I found I can't live with its ping sound and its bulky size even when I had a very handsome model. Of course there is the thrill of unboxing a totally new merchandise, but there are great keyboards out you can get in a fraction of its original price or even for just a few bucks. So I greatly suggest you also check out the classified.

In terms of the Leopold FC750R (MX Brown) vs the Leopold FC980C, I'll go with a Topre board because of its higher resale value - when other more famous Topre boards may guarantee even higher resale values.

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Offline supamesican

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 10:00:37 »
Topre, never settle for mx.
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Offline Cocopah

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 12 December 2016, 10:05:34 »
Topre seems to be many peoples endgame. Why not start with the best? Haha
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Offline evoman

  • Posts: 22
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 13 December 2016, 17:47:02 »
Quote from: Cocopah on Mon, 12 December 2016, 10:05:34
Topre seems to be many peoples endgame. Why not start with the best? Haha

Debatable - I still cannot decide what switches I like best!  The Topre are definitely 'smooth', but I feel like I get better feedback from buckling springs and alps.  So I wouldn't say that a preference for Topre is inevitable!
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Offline albin

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  • Location: Malaysia
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 14 December 2016, 08:19:08 »
topre or the romer-g!

felt super nice.
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Offline evoman

  • Posts: 22
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 14 December 2016, 09:05:25 »
Quote from: Jarmen on Mon, 12 December 2016, 06:22:05
Hello. 24 hours ago I knew barely anything about mechanical keyboards, now, thanks to browsing geekhack, I have narrowed down my choice down to:

A Leopold FC750R Cherry MX Brown or a Leopold FC980C Topre 45g.

I want to keep noise levels down, and use it for a variety of gaming genres (besides MMOs/MOBAs.) + a decent amount of typing as would be expected.

If I am willing to pay the roughly £72 increase in price for an FC980C, should I just go for it over the FC750R?







You might want to look for a switch test set - I have seen a set on eBay with the common Cherry varieties as well as a 45g Topre - it is not quite like using a keyboard, but you can at least get a general sense of the feel of the various switches.  I think most of those tester sets are not too expensive (shipping from HK I think).

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Offline 1391406

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 14 December 2016, 09:19:09 »
I tried Cherry MX Brown's long before I tried Topre. MX Brown's are a bit louder and not quite as smooth, in my opinion. If I knew then what I know now, I would've started with Topre. They excel at long typing sessions, and I use mine for gaming. I've got the 45g weighted version. In my opinion, they're a step up from MX Brown's in terms of feel.
« Last Edit: Wed, 14 December 2016, 09:21:49 by 1391406 »
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Offline Mavarina

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 20 December 2016, 09:15:58 »
One problem that I have with all of my topre boards is gaming with them. They just feel heavier somehow? So if I were you I'd get the FC750R w/ brown switches, but that's just from my experience could be different for you.
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Offline Kellon

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 01 January 2017, 04:00:36 »
How are Topre 45g switches for gaming?
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Offline Entropia

  • Posts: 275
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 01 January 2017, 05:14:15 »
If anyone ever makes and sells a Topre switch tester, he would make a fortune.

As regards Topre keyboards, I've watched some typing demos on Youtube and I didn't like the muted sound of the keys. I wouldn't mind spending a fortune in a Realforce (I'm looking for a 100% keyboard) if it feels as good as everybody say, but the variable force across the layout is something that I don't like at all, as well as the fact that it comes with a spacebar made of abs plastic, when the rest of the keys are pbt (the spacebar is the key that sooner gets shinny)
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Offline Gungthar

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 01 January 2017, 05:33:52 »
Having gamed with browns for 2 years, I would personally recommend against it. They're quite rough keys and the provide quite a bit of tactile resistance. Like most in this thread, I'd recommend either Topre, or if you don't have the money, a Dell AT101W.
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Offline Jarmen

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 02 January 2017, 01:27:39 »
Thank you for the replies. I am leaning towards the FC980C, but I am still not 100% sure.
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Offline moh18one

  • Posts: 112
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 02 January 2017, 08:42:36 »
Quote from: Jarmen on Mon, 02 January 2017, 01:27:39
Thank you for the replies. I am leaning towards the FC980C, but I am still not 100% sure.

TOPRE TOPRE TOPRE !!!!!!!!
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Offline 1391406

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 02 January 2017, 09:17:19 »
Topre is going to be quieter than MX Browns.
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Offline evoman

  • Posts: 22
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 03 January 2017, 04:02:56 »
Quote from: Jarmen on Mon, 02 January 2017, 01:27:39
Thank you for the replies. I am leaning towards the FC980C, but I am still not 100% sure.

It looks like a great layout to me.  I have three Topre boards, but cannot decide if they are really a favourite  switch, or I would order the FC980C just to have that layout. 

That being said, I would like to hear someone give an assessment of the feel of the Leopold models in comparison to the RealForce since I like the feel of the RealForce build and so that would make me feel more confident that I would like their offerings.
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Offline happylacquer

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 03 January 2017, 09:17:42 »
Hey OP, do you have any (good) computer stores near you?? I live near a Microcenter so I am spoiled, but if there is a computer store, you should be able to check out the keyboards and press some keys to see how they feel. This could help your decision a lot. I went into a store one day thinking I was either gonna get a board with Blues or Browns.... walked out with a board full of Reds.

I have not had the chance to use a Topre in years and they sound amazing but enough people say that they prefer MX or ALPS over Topre that I never just went straight for them. (I thought I bought one once but it was a mis-advertised rubber dome and I got my money back for a return of the board)

One day I will buy a Topre or Leopold though. I LOVE the look of the Type Heaven but have no idea if it's worth the money.
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Offline moh18one

  • Posts: 112
Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 03 January 2017, 11:23:55 »
Quote from: evoman on Tue, 03 January 2017, 04:02:56
Quote from: Jarmen on Mon, 02 January 2017, 01:27:39
Thank you for the replies. I am leaning towards the FC980C, but I am still not 100% sure.

It looks like a great layout to me.  I have three Topre boards, but cannot decide if they are really a favourite  switch, or I would order the FC980C just to have that layout. 

That being said, I would like to hear someone give an assessment of the feel of the Leopold models in comparison to the RealForce since I like the feel of the RealForce build and so that would make me feel more confident that I would like their offerings.

The Leopold FC980C have the same build quality as Realforce.
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Offline Jarmen

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 04 January 2017, 10:24:54 »
I had the chance to try a Leopold FC750RT MX Brown. I really liked the build quality (it felt like typing on wood), but I went from about 160 WPM to 130. There was also a bit too much resistance and I don't think I would like it for gaming.

I've used a basic Logitech membrane keyboard for years, so I think Topre is the way to go.
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Offline mousouchop

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #22 on: Wed, 04 January 2017, 11:24:23 »
Is a Cherry MX Brown switch the most equivalent to a 45g Topre switch? I have seen a couple of Topre vs MX comparisons mentioned on this site, and don't know if the comparison MX switch is just the user's preferred MX switch, or if it was chosen due to a similar experience compared to the 45g Topre.

I think the other comparison I saw was a Cherry MX Green.

EDIT: I am also considering my first mechanical keyboard, and am wavering between a couple 60% boards. Currently considering HHKB2 or perhaps a Varmilo VA68M...
« Last Edit: Wed, 04 January 2017, 11:27:54 by mousouchop »
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Offline DALExSNAIL

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Re: First mechanical keyboard.
« Reply #23 on: Wed, 04 January 2017, 11:47:17 »
Quote from: mousouchop on Wed, 04 January 2017, 11:24:23
Is a Cherry MX Brown switch the most equivalent to a 45g Topre switch? I have seen a couple of Topre vs MX comparisons mentioned on this site, and don't know if the comparison MX switch is just the user's preferred MX switch, or if it was chosen due to a similar experience compared to the 45g Topre.

I think the other comparison I saw was a Cherry MX Green.

EDIT: I am also considering my first mechanical keyboard, and am wavering between a couple 60% boards. Currently considering HHKB2 or perhaps a Varmilo VA68M...

MX browns are very far from topre imo. Not very tactile at all, feels much lighter, and sounds horrid.

Topre is it's own beast seperate from MX, and feels much different. You wont get your topre fix from any MX switch.

MX green is even further from topre.
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