ISO: NKRO, mx blue, usb passthrough, backlit, 5+ macro buttons

[Phrozt]

Hi folks, I'm brand new here.  Looked at a few of the rules and I think I'm in the clear, but if I've violated some type of etiquette, please feel free to lambast me appropriately.

I currently have a Black Widow Ultimate 2014 and I love it for the most part, except for the fact that I fell for the anti-ghosting, and it's only the the wasd keys which I do not use in FPS games, and the keys that I do use do not rollover.

Oh yeah, and I spilled about 50ml of eliquid in the keyboard and spent a good several hours trying to clean it up, but realize the inevitability coming my way.  So, while I'll never trust the design of that type of juice bottle ever again, it leaves me in need of a new keyboard. 

When I looked at the current offerings, it was my to my dismay that I found Razer stripped ALL of their keyboards from any type of macro buttons!!  I'm not super crazy w/macros, but I've definitely come to rely on the macros I have set up.  Since I now need a keyboard, I felt this was also a good time to look into NRKO offerings to correct my previous mistake.  Finally, I've gotten really used to the nice, satisfying sounds and feels of the razer green switches, which seem to be most closely related to the mx-blue switches from my research.  The corsair K95 looks like a fairly good alternative, but I haven't been able to test any mx-speed switches, and from the description I doubt I'll like them.

I checked the major brands that I could think of, growing more and more disappointed, so I ended up going to wiki to find a list of all keyboard manufacturers and just started hitting site after site.  FINALLY, all the way at the end of the alphabet, I found the thermaltake Poseidon Z Forged (blue switched edition) and I thought for sure I'd found my holy grail!! The layout was almost exactly the the BWU w/a slight upgrade to an aluminum frame, full NKRO, backlit, USB passthrough, *and* even audio/mic 3.5mm jacks when I definitely use but put as a last resort!  I was so excited!

Then I read the reviews.  Review after review showed that the keyboard tends to fail 2-6 months or even a year into ownership.

At this point in my research, I feel I've hit a block, and now I'm turning to you experts to help guide me, if you would be so kind as to share some of your time.

Thanks.

[Telstar]

MX blue must be cherry or also compatibles ones are fine for you?

[Phrozt]

MX blue must be cherry or also compatibles ones are fine for you?

No problem at all w/compatible ones, as long as they offer the same type of experience.  Technically the razer greens aren't mx blues, but I like the feel very much!  The thermaltake boards aren't true blue MX either, but are certified like them or something?  I have no issue w/that, other than the fact that they stop working after half a year or so.  So as long as they feel similar and are reliable... no problem w/alternates.

[Phrozt]

Well guys.. it's official.  The first button died, and it's the "s," so I'm kind of crewed, lol.

I'm currently on my 2 decade old Saitek Eclipse, which is terrible, so I'm really hoping you guys can point me to a solution!!!

Thanks

[Telstar]

I believe there is a Corsair K95 with mx blues. The typical high quality keyboard makers don't make boards with macros, although there should be a DAS with them.

[suicidal_orange]

That is a big list of features, I don't think there are many options that meet the list and you've probably seen them all.

The standard recommendation for a shiny board is Ducky which have lots of switch options but don't think they do USB passthrough or macro buttons...

[Phrozt]

Telstar - I do see a reference for a K95 blue, but can't find any in stock anywhere.  There is a brown version too, but I'm not sure that will satisfy my clicky needs .  I had also looked at Das, but didn't find any w/macros.  Just for fun though, I typed "das keyboard macro" and DID find a site w/a das gaming keyboard!  Clicked on the "buy" button to check price.... page not found, lol. 
https://www.daskeyboard.com/x/x40-mechanical-keyboard/

That's one weird thing I noticed w/several of the manufacturers.  They have typical "choose your keyboard" areas, but some of them don't have gaming keyboards listed, and essentially you have to use google to find their gaming offerings.... I wonder why that is? 

suicidal - I fear you might be right that I've already gone through the gambit... I was just tossing a hail mary in hopes of finding what I need.  I hadn't run into Ducky yet, but you were correct in your assumptions about the lack of macro/passthrough.

Is there even an organization that would build something like this?  I'd be tempted to spend around $300 or so if I can get exactly what I need.. but I wouldn't even know where to go to find something like that, and I have this harrowing feeling that something this custom would start closer to $500, which is a bit much IMO.

[suicidal_orange]

The Das x40 is available on amazon, seems to fail on your ISO requirement though.

If you're looking at custom boards you get programmability so you can make a layer and put macros on a standard key you wouldn't be using otherwise rather than 'wasting' desk space on extra keys, and backlighting isn't uncommon.  But they don't do USB passthrough and aren't usually full size.  They may be TKL with no number pad or, more commonly, 60% which is just the main section with no Fx row, arrows or numberpad or something in between.

[Telstar]

Telstar - I do see a reference for a K95 blue, but can't find any in stock anywhere.  There is a brown version too, but I'm not sure that will satisfy my clicky needs

Browns are decent if you like blue, but don't have the same tactility and smoothness. They sound better though. I'm currently using a CK550 from cooler master with Gateron brown and they are no worse than Cherry.

Is there even an organization that would build something like this?  I'd be tempted to spend around $300 or so if I can get exactly what I need.. but I wouldn't even know where to go to find something like that, and I have this harrowing feeling that something this custom would start closer to $500, which is a bit much IMO.

You can get a custom kit for 2-300 - when there is a group buy - but it will not have macros nor usb passthrough. The benefit is that you can put the switches and caps you want. Most people uses different ones for different keys like enter, shift etc.
You can also get Varmilo keyboards (also in white) which are high quality, have MX blue and are priced OK, but no macro keys. I still think that Corsair is your best bet.

[Phrozt]

I ended up going w/the K95.  I managed to find a store not terribly far away w/browns instead of mx-speed, and it's not too bad.  The build quality is fantastic!  I'm liking pretty much everything about it, including several upgrades from my BWU.  While I figured the switches would be the most awkward "comfort" thing to get used to, it's actually the fact that it's following the new trend of essentially posting all of the keys on a flat board, instead of creating a shell w/recessed areas for all the keys.  So now I'm realizing all of the places I would have been resting parts of my hand on the shell that now have nothing to rest on! lol.

All in all, I think I'm going to be pretty happy with it.  I appreciate you guys taking your time to lend me some of your expertise in my quest.  I guess, w/as much of a challenge as this was, it leaves me wondering... am I really that much of a freak when it comes to keyboard taste?  Comment section after review after forum after article seemed to throw massive hate at blues, which I guess is why you don't find them on most boards?  And people don't see the value in having USB/audio passthrough.... especially when so many desktop speakers tend to have wires juuuust out of range for the desktop?  And I figured NKRO would be pretty standard on a substantial portion of gaming keyboards, yet the majority still only have 6-8 KRO.

Going into my research, I honestly thought I'd have at least a few different companies/builds to choose from, and I find it rather fascinating that not one board out there meets these requirements.

Ah well, thanks again guys!

[Lanrefni]

I ended up going w/the K95.  I managed to find a store not terribly far away w/browns instead of mx-speed, and it's not too bad.  The build quality is fantastic!  I'm liking pretty much everything about it, including several upgrades from my BWU.  While I figured the switches would be the most awkward "comfort" thing to get used to, it's actually the fact that it's following the new trend of essentially posting all of the keys on a flat board, instead of creating a shell w/recessed areas for all the keys.  So now I'm realizing all of the places I would have been resting parts of my hand on the shell that now have nothing to rest on! lol.

All in all, I think I'm going to be pretty happy with it.  I appreciate you guys taking your time to lend me some of your expertise in my quest.  I guess, w/as much of a challenge as this was, it leaves me wondering... am I really that much of a freak when it comes to keyboard taste?  Comment section after review after forum after article seemed to throw massive hate at blues, which I guess is why you don't find them on most boards?  And people don't see the value in having USB/audio passthrough.... especially when so many desktop speakers tend to have wires juuuust out of range for the desktop?  And I figured NKRO would be pretty standard on a substantial portion of gaming keyboards, yet the majority still only have 6-8 KRO.

Going into my research, I honestly thought I'd have at least a few different companies/builds to choose from, and I find it rather fascinating that not one board out there meets these requirements.

Ah well, thanks again guys!

I don't get the hate for blues either,they are by far my favorite switch to type on,I'm still thinking about trying Box Jades at some point though,I'd get an F XT but for the fact that carpal tunnel in both wrists means non split boards are painful as hell to use,used my new to me AEK II last night and my wrists still hurt. :/

[Telstar]

Yes, among the "gaming" vendors Corsair has the best build quality.
You probably need a slim wrist rest, I would recommend the 3M gel one, which you can find on Amazon for about 30€.

Oh and I think browns gets more hate (rightfully so)

[Sintpinty]

Do you use other controls like esdf or ijkl? I know a couple of people who use them. Or the arrow keys have rollover. I don't like it how all gaming companies assume that people use wasd, when in fact they should be able to customize their controls.

[Phrozt]

Do you use other controls like esdf or ijkl? I know a couple of people who use them. Or the arrow keys have rollover. I don't like it how all gaming companies assume that people use wasd, when in fact they should be able to customize their controls.

Heh... you've highlighted the reason I need NKRO; because the 6-8KRO on most "gaming" keyboards doesn't cover what I use.

Forward - RMB
Backward - LeftAlt
Strafe Left - Z
Strafe Right - X
Sprint - LeftShift
Jump - Space
Crouch - C
Primary Fire - LeftCTRL
Aim - LMB
Reload - ThumbMB
Use - E
Quick knife - ThumbMB2
Toggle prim/sec - Q
Global chat - T (this and team chat are important from QWTF days)
Team chat - Y
Push to talk - W

[Telstar]

Do you use other controls like esdf or ijkl? I know a couple of people who use them. Or the arrow keys have rollover. I don't like it how all gaming companies assume that people use wasd, when in fact they should be able to customize their controls.

Most games use WASD for moving so they are really the most used keys for gamers. I also bind and use arrow keys when I dont need to use mouse.

[Sintpinty]

And i see games that force it on us with no rebinding except " click to move" , aka roblox.