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Some help regarding mechanical keyboards please. :)

7K views 24 replies 9 participants last post by  Angrychair 
#1 ·
I've finally decided to make switch from this awful Logitech G19 to a proper keyboard but I'm having trouble with a few bits.

Firstly is the switch type, from my understanding (after reading the mechanical keyboard guide) is that Blacks and Reds are similar to standard membrane boards in that the key must be bottomed out to register and that Reds are lighter than Blacks. Also AFAIK Blues and Browns don't have to be pressed all the way down and Blues are typing orientated. My issue is that as I'll be doing a lot of gaming and normal typing, you could make the arguments for Blacks, Reds or Browns being the best for me (arguably also Blues at a stretch). Also because I live in the UK AFAIK there aren't any shops near me that are specialised enough to carry different switch boards to try out, so when it comes to choosing the switch, I'm basically arbitrarily picking. Could anyone give me some insight into some of the switches? I know Blacks are heavy but are they comparably heavy to membrane keys?

My next question is a bit of a controversial one, are Filco and Ducky generally the same build quality? I hear both are excellent but I'm intruiged if one is intrinsically better.

Another question I have is are the keycaps for mechanical boards fairly universal? I realise there are different type of switches than Cherry but would I for example be able to buy a keycap set from WASD and use them on a Filco or Ducky board?

My last request is for some recommendations of keyboards if possible, at the moment I'm fairly stuck between Blacks, Browns and Reds but I'd like a board with media keys if possible, preferably Filco or Ducky (I've heard bad things about some boards by Razer) but I am open to other brands. Backlighting is not neccessary (I have the G19 and honestly the backlighting options are cool, but I never really play in the dark.

Any answers to any of these questions would be appreciated as I'm stepping into the unknown here.
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Cheers!
 
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#2 ·
I'm in the same boat as you, using a G11, and I really want to change to mechanical.

I do typing a lot, but also a lot of gaming, and I've come to the conclusion that brown is the way to go, you get the tactile feel, without having to bottom out the key's, but they arent too stiff.

I've also narrowed my search down to filco and ducky, and I think I'm going to go with ducky, mainly cause its backlit, but I hear people swear by both companies, so either way you go, your money is well spent.
 
#3 ·
Brown is probably the best type of switch for new mechanical users. It's great for both typing and games. I would NOT go with a black or a red if you game and type. I know some people use blues for both typing and gaming, but many don't like them for gaming.

http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=11421
http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=11538
http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=11526

Duckys are very popular, i've used around 3 mechanicals and I prefer the ducky's with brown switches. These are almost always out of stock, looks like they have 5 of the blue LED ones in (probably will sell fast). TigerImports is probably the best place to grab these keyboards, anywhere else and you'll pay more usually.

Almost all mechanical keyboards, including duckys, have media keys. You just use the function key with F1 through F12. Duckys can also be switched between PS/2 and USB with an adapter, many mechanical keyboards won't work if you do this. There are newer motherboards that don't have PS/2 on them (ASUS boards, etc), so if you buy a brand that locks into PS/2 you may find yourself in a bad situation come upgrade time.
 
#4 ·
I would also recommend brown switch since you will not have a problem double tapping and will have a decent feedback when typing. I use clear switches they are like brown switches but require more force to actuate since i am a heavy typer. If you do not require the numpad then get a TKL or Tenkeyless keybaord which is more ergonomic position of keyboard and mouse together.
some models to look at

COOLER MASTER CM STORM QUICKFIRE PRO MECHANICAL GAMING KEYBOARD CHERRY MX BROWN
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COOLER-MASTER-CM-STORM-QUICKFIRE-PRO-MECHANICAL-GAMING-KEYBOARD-CHERRY-MX-BROWN-/350578237033?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item51a0175e69

289

Filco Majestouch-2, Tenkeyless, NKR, Tactile Action, USA Keyboard FKBN87M/EB2 (mx brown)
http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87M-EB2/dp/B004WOF7QM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341188741&sr=8-1&keywords=filco+brown

300
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm84 View Post

Also because I live in the UK AFAIK there aren't any shops near me that are specialised enough to carry different switch boards to try out, so when it comes to choosing the switch, I'm basically arbitrarily picking..

(I've heard bad things about some boards by Razer)
Cheers!
I had the same problem as I'm in the UK too. I popped into my closest pc world though and they actually have a razer black widow backlit on display, in it's box. But the box has conveniently got the arrow keys exposed (intentional by razer) so I could tap those keys and see what it feels like, even though I have no intention of buying a black widow. It has cherry blue switches, the 'clicky' sounding ones. See if your local pc world has one to try out, at least you'll get some idea of what a mechanical feels like, and with blue switches.
 
#6 ·
Ok Brown switches it will be, and tenkeyless would make sense, I never use the number pad.

Now just to decide on whether LED backlight is worth it and if I should go with Filco or Ducky.

Thanks everyone!

@Roman5 - I've tried a mechanical board before, I believe it was the Steelseries 6GV2, but I can't remember what switches it had and there wasn't a selection of others to try for comparison.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm84 View Post

Ok Brown switches it will be, and tenkeyless would make sense, I never use the number pad.
Now just to decide on whether LED backlight is worth it and if I should go with Filco or Ducky.
Thanks everyone!
@Roman5 - I've tried a mechanical board before, I believe it was the Steelseries 6GV2, but I can't remember what switches it had and there wasn't a selection of others to try for comparison.
LED is for noobs
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everyone is going NINJA 18 keys now

325

or like me with complete blanks
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Keyboard sex
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449
 
#8 ·
I will end up going for blanks eventually when I get better at typing.
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Until then I'm tempted by the Filco Camo tenkeyless, I'm not fond of the camo as it feels a bit childish but I like the contrast of the keys to case.

At the moment it's between the Ducky Shine White LED, Ducky Tenkeyless or Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless (Standard or Camo) [All with Browns]

Opinions?
 
#10 ·
I only really look down occasionally, but I'm thinking I could always buy an LED backlit board and when I don't need it anymore just buy some cool blank keycaps.

Thanks for the help.
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#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm84 View Post

Ok Brown switches it will be, and tenkeyless would make sense, I never use the number pad.
Now just to decide on whether LED backlight is worth it and if I should go with Filco or Ducky.
Thanks everyone!
@Roman5 - I've tried a mechanical board before, I believe it was the Steelseries 6GV2, but I can't remember what switches it had and there wasn't a selection of others to try for comparison.
Steelseries 6GV2 has black switches, so now you know you tried those!
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#12 ·
Ah ok thanks, although I tried it over a year ago so I can't remember how heavy they were.
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Thanks for the help!
 
#13 ·
I think I'm going to go for a Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless, the Ducky's seem awkward to get a hold of and backlighting isn't much of an issue for me.

Does anyone know if the custom keycaps from WASDKeyboards will work on a Filco board? I know the MX switches are universal but I want to make sure.
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#16 ·
I own a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate, and although I've heard bad things about the brand as well, it's fine. It's an okay keyboard (Backlighting was important as were the macro keys), but it was a good fit for me. I'd recommend Blues strongly though. I absolutely love the tactility and they are a joy to type on even for a poor typist like myself. I play a Heroes of Newerth about four hours a day, plus the odd game of Tribes or CS, and I love my blues a lot more than my roommates' Ducky with Blacks (we traded for a week).

Give Blues more thought than you have already, I think they deserve more recognition than they get as gaming keyboards.
 
#18 ·
I feel that the Blues would irritate me after a while because of the loud click, especially playing for several hours on CoD or Minecraft.

As for a chequered pattern, having non-matching keys (e.g. the font) would annoy me, so I'd have to buy two sets of each colour to have a
good chequered pattern.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm84 View Post

@Roman5 - I've tried a mechanical board before, I believe it was the Steelseries 6GV2, but I can't remember what switches it had and there wasn't a selection of others to try for comparison.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paradigm84 View Post

I feel that the Blues would irritate me after a while because of the loud click, especially playing for several hours on CoD or Minecraft.
If you haven't tried blues though, a BW in pc world, (assuming your local store has one like my local store), is a chance to try them out. You might like them (not the BW necessarily but the cherry blue switches). They didn't sound loud to me but then it was quite noisy in the shop.
 
#20 ·
Do you reckon Green or Blue custom keycaps would go best with a black board? I can't decide between the two. Opinions are appreciated!
 
#22 ·
Yeah White look good also, but I think I'll go with Blue as White looks a bit old-fashioned for me.
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Thanks for the help, I'll post some pics when I get it sorted.
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#23 ·
BTW you do not need to bottom out red or black switches, but it can be tricky to learn the point at which the switch registered because there is neither tactile nor audible feedback. There are programs you can download or load in a browser that play a key press simulation sound as soon as the switch activates that can train your brain in this way, but this tends to be a compromise employed by people who are quite obsessive about the whole thing, not new-timers. Nonetheless it's useful to add to your pros and cons list.

Browns are essentially reds with a subtle mechanical bump just as the switch activates. Reds are pretty reknowned for promoting typing errors due to the lack of feedback preventing unwanted clicks and their general low resistance. Blacks are linear, but do not attract the same error issue as reds due to the extra resistance. If you like linear switches and are really heavy handed, blacks are a good choice, but personally I find them laborious to use.

Can't go wrong with browns as a starter, I reckon.

EDIT: By the way I love blues and just so happen to have a board here at work with me that has 100% blank white keycaps and it looks awesome. The white really stands out and even non-nerds have walked passed and expressed their envy.
 
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