[SOLVED] Looking for a new mechanical keyboard

[Desch_]

Hey guys im looking for suggestions for my new mechanical keyboard. Theres SO many options so i was hoping the tomshardware community could help me narrow it down a bit.

Heres what im looking for

Mechanical switches; right now i have knockoff blue switches and they are way too loud. I would like something significantly quieter.

Color: Black/Gray layout. Nothing too flashy. My current keyboard is all white and chrome with a blue backlight (blue only) and its a little obtrusive.

Backlight: I would like a backlight but no need for complex RGB designs, plain white would suffice. Bonus if it is dimmable.

Budget: 60-90$.

Connectivity: USB Wired! Not interested in recharging/replacing batteries in a wireless KB/mouse.

Other: I dont use macros for my games really and I dont need a programmable keyboard. Just something basic that looks good, feels nice to type on, and isnt an over-the-top design. most "gaming" keyboard seem too flashy for my liking.

If theres any other info i can provide on what im looking for let me know.

 

[Desch_]

https://www.newegg.com/p/0GA-00SP-00019?Item=9SIA2XB9AX4626

https://www.newegg.com/p/0GA-0038-001Y1?Item=9SIA2J2BX10684

current front-runners...

 

[hang-the-9]

So you want a full size keyboard or does it not really matter if there is a num key pad on it? The ones you picked have lower quality switches that will not feel as smooth as others.

I like the Gateron keys, the Opticals are very smooth and great response. This keyboard is hotswappable with Optical switches so you can try others if you want to try other ones https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-SKYLOONG-Bluetooth5-1-Mechanical-Dye-subbed/dp/B08GG77R7P/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=epomaker+hot+swap&qid=1604431078&sr=8-9&th=1

Or https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-Swa...ords=epomaker+hot+swap&qid=1604431078&sr=8-18

https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Swa...?dchild=1&keywords=GK68&qid=1604431250&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-Hot...8AE6VVB9QAR&psc=1&refRID=Q9WNECD2F8AE6VVB9QAR

The smaller forms tend to have more interesting options for switches and hotswap capability.

 

[Person268]

Hey guys im looking for suggestions for my new mechanical keyboard. Theres SO many options so i was hoping the tomshardware community could help me narrow it down a bit.

Heres what im looking for

Mechanical switches; right now i have knockoff blue switches and they are way too loud. I would like something significantly quieter.

Color: Black/Gray layout. Nothing too flashy. My current keyboard is all white and chrome with a blue backlight (blue only) and its a little obtrusive.

Backlight: I would like a backlight but no need for complex RGB designs, plain white would suffice. Bonus if it is dimmable.

Budget: 60-90$.

Connectivity: USB Wired! Not interested in recharging/replacing batteries in a wireless KB/mouse.

Other: I dont use macros for my games really and I dont need a programmable keyboard. Just something basic that looks good, feels nice to type on, and isnt an over-the-top design. most "gaming" keyboard seem too flashy for my liking.

If theres any other info i can provide on what im looking for let me know.

Are off brands fine or not. Because if u dont want off brand then it will be very easy but if u do then there will be tons of options.

 

[Desch_]

off brands are cool if theres atleast a handful of good re

So you want a full size keyboard or does it not really matter if there is a num key pad on it? The ones you picked have lower quality switches that will not feel as smooth as others.

I like the Gateron keys, the Opticals are very smooth and great response. This keyboard is hotswappable with Optical switches so you can try others if you want to try other ones https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-SKYLOONG-Bluetooth5-1-Mechanical-Dye-subbed/dp/B08GG77R7P/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=epomaker+hot+swap&qid=1604431078&sr=8-9&th=1

Or https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-Swa...ords=epomaker+hot+swap&qid=1604431078&sr=8-18

https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Swa...?dchild=1&keywords=GK68&qid=1604431250&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/EPOMAKER-Hot...8AE6VVB9QAR&psc=1&refRID=Q9WNECD2F8AE6VVB9QAR

The smaller forms tend to have more interesting options for switches and hotswap capability.

big fan of that last one! firdt two are bluetooth and im not too keen on that

does hot swappable mean swapping switches? are almost all pcb keycaps interchangable?

full form is perferred but not required. im hunting deals this november on a few items (keyboard, monitors, psu mainly) so no rush. just wanna find something quality value oriented.

Are off brands fine or not. Because if u dont want off brand then it will be very easy but if u do then there will be tons of options.

offbrands work if theres a handful of good reviews or someone from here assures me theyre decent quality

 

[Person268]

off brands are cool if theres atleast a handful of good re


big fan of that last one! firdt two are bluetooth and im not too keen on that

does hot swappable mean swapping switches? are almost all pcb keycaps interchangable?

full form is perferred but not required. im hunting deals this november on a few items (keyboard, monitors, psu mainly) so no rush. just wanna find something quality value oriented.



offbrands work if theres a handful of good reviews or someone from here assures me theyre decent quality

Off brands are never decent quality, if u consider them then sure but i would never consider off brands decent quality.

 

[hang-the-9]

Off brands are never decent quality, if u consider them then sure but i would never consider off brands decent quality.

Depends on which ones, even the cheaper stuff like Redragon if used with the better switches are pretty solid, the ones made by brands like Epomaker, Skyloong, Keychron are very good. I have a bunch of those and they are almost as good as my Leopold keyboards which cost 50% more and they are at least as good as Corsiar or HyperX just with worse software support.

 

[hang-the-9]

off brands are cool if theres atleast a handful of good re


big fan of that last one! firdt two are bluetooth and im not too keen on that

does hot swappable mean swapping switches? are almost all pcb keycaps interchangable?

full form is perferred but not required. im hunting deals this november on a few items (keyboard, monitors, psu mainly) so no rush. just wanna find something quality value oriented.



offbrands work if theres a handful of good reviews or someone from here assures me theyre decent quality

Just because they have bluetooth does not mean you have to use it, they all have USB connectors. They work fine with bluetooth also, I have used it for my work laptop connection at times so I don't need to move my USB around, and my father uses one with his Rasberry Pi systems.

Yes hotswap means the switches are not soldered in so you can pop them in and out. Many switches are interchangeable, you will need to read a bit to find out for sure, there are 3 and 5 pin setups so depends on the board layout. Optical ones need an optical switch setup, so those for sure you can't swap with standard switches. Also need to make sure the LED lights orientation if any north or south mounted for lights for shine-through.

You can even get a kit and select your own switches and keycaps https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Mechanical-Keyboard-Tenkeyless-Gaming/dp/B01MXUL6D3/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=hot+swap+tkl&qid=1604507388&sr=8-4&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/...8ba9-22e4-4362-a39b-9e18f1b212ca&ref_=ast_bln

Another option in TKL format https://www.amazon.com/Keychron-Blu...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[Desch_]

https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Modular-Mechanical-Keyboard-Gaming/dp/B01MXUL6D3

big fan of this one dude.

does it come with switches and keycaps or ill need to buy them seperately?

this is wild...somehow buying a keyboard has become the most complex purchase of my entire rig. need to be back at my desktop for this, the cellphone aint cutting it!

 

[hang-the-9]

https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Modular-Mechanical-Keyboard-Gaming/dp/B01MXUL6D3

big fan of this one dude.

does it come with switches and keycaps or ill need to buy them seperately?

this is wild...somehow buying a keyboard has become the most complex purchase of my entire rig. need to be back at my desktop for this, the cellphone aint cutting it!

That is just the bare keyboard, no switches or caps. They do make others with everything.

Keyboards are pretty complex, if you get into them past how many lights you want on them. As are mice, monitors, speakers, headphones, almost anything really. CPU, motherboard and videocard are probably the simplest things to pick out. When you buy a motherboard you don't need to decide how you want it to feel as you are touching it.

 

[Desch_]

ive only owned 1 mech kb and its pretty trash. my others have all been generic membrane kbs so im just looking for a quality starting ground. not really concerned with modding it or having software support, just want high quality plug and play for under 100$. the hunt continues!

 

[Person268]

ive only owned 1 mech kb and its pretty trash. my others have all been generic membrane kbs so im just looking for a quality starting ground. not really concerned with modding it or having software support, just want high quality plug and play for under 100$. the hunt continues!

g512

 

[Desch_]

g512

i like the looks of this one, especially the carbon.

https://www.eagletec.com/product/keyboards/120

btw for the people helping me out this is the keybaord im currently using.

 

[hang-the-9]

i like the looks of this one, especially the carbon.

https://www.eagletec.com/product/keyboards/120

btw for the people helping me out this is the keybaord im currently using.

The switches on this one would be in the same class as the first ones you were looking at, they will not be as nice feeling as the better brands. The switches in the cheapest models may be mechanical but they are not as smooth feeling or have as good keycaps. You would want to stick with the higher end switches, MX, Kailh, Gateron, RomerG, the newer Razer ones are the most common.

 

[Person268]

The switches on this one would be in the same class as the first ones you were looking at, they will not be as nice feeling as the better brands. The switches in the cheapest models may be mechanical but they are not as smooth feeling or have as good keycaps. You would want to stick with the higher end switches, MX, Kailh, Gateron, RomerG, the newer Razer ones are the most common.

The g512 has RomerG

 

[Person268]

i like the looks of this one, especially the carbon.

https://www.eagletec.com/product/keyboards/120

btw for the people helping me out this is the keybaord im currently using.

the link doesnt work

 

[Desch_]

the link doesnt work

yeh thats weird it worked for me last nigjt but not this morning.


https://www.amazon.com/KG011-Mechanical-Industrial-Illuminated-backlighted/dp/B015MQH59A

heres amazon listing for it

 

[Desch_]

walmart has the g512 carbon listed for 80$ right now but im hesistant to purchase because it doesnt say what type of switch it has and they come with brown/blue/red fron logitech. really dont want blues again, want something quieter. i wish DIYing mech KBs was an affordable alternative but those setups end up costing a lot more than the prebuilts from what i can tell

 

[hang-the-9]

The g512 has RomerG

Yes it does, I was replying about the EagleTech brand. I like the RomerG keys, I have the Logitech Pro TLK with them (the linear version), but the thing I don't like as much are the ABS keys, after using several brands of PBT plastic keycaps the ABS just feel too smooth and wear to a shine fast. Nice feeling switch however, like a mix between Red and Brown switches

 

[Person268]

walmart has the g512 carbon listed for 80$ right now but im hesistant to purchase because it doesnt say what type of switch it has and they come with brown/blue/red fron logitech. really dont want blues again, want something quieter. i wish DIYing mech KBs was an affordable alternative but those setups end up costing a lot more than the prebuilts from what i can tell

buy off the official website because there u can choose.