Lookout for new Mechanical gaming board

[D001]

Will be using said device for mainly gaming on stuff like SC2, Mass Effect 1 and 2 reruns, and maybe some FPS, may also have to type 20% of the time due to my job, Computer is in living room so that could be a factor.

Budget is around the £100 mark maximum but would be after best value VS Quality.

No lighting in corner of living room where PC is so would prefer backlighting.

I know all the different cherry keys and what they do but seriously to gamers what is the differenece, I like the sound and the feel of a cherry mx blue key but hear peeps raving about how its not a gaming key and you should always use black and red and sometimes brown.

Apparently, the following work well:


For RTS gaming activities (which favour high and accurate [error-free] "actions per minute") (e.g., Starcraft II):

* Cherry Blue (a light press; "clicky" noise at moment limit is passed and keystroke registered; tactile sensation at moment limit is passed and keystroke registered)
* Cherry Brown (a light press; not clicky; tacticle sensation at moment limit is passed and keystroke is registerd)
* Cherry Red (a light press; not clicky; no tacticle sensation at moment limit is passed and keystroke is registerd -- rather, if you push down "enough" or "all the way", a keystroke is registered) (Essentially, a "lighter" Black switch)

Out of these, the Red's seem to have the most "buzz" on forums for RTS gaming.


For FPS gamng activities:

* Cherry Blue (as above)
* Cherry Brown (as above)
* Cherry Red (as above)
* Cherry Black (a slightly heavier press required; not clicky; no tacticle sensation at moment limit is passed and keystroke is registerd -- rather, if you push down "enough" or "all the way", a keystroke is registered) (Essentially, a "heavier" Red switch)

I currently use a keyboard with Cherry Black keys for FPS and have been satisfied with it. I do plan to move to one with Cherry Red switches in future however.


For everyday typing: (e.g., e-mails, message-boards, word documents)

* Cherry Blue (as above) (probably the best for typing, in my opinion)
* Cherry Brown (as above) (probably the best for typing with less potential to annoy others with noise, in my opinion)
* Cherry Red (as above)


I believe a lot comes down to personal preference. Cherry Red strikes me as a good all-rounder (for both gaming and every-day usage). If you have to have those "clicks", then it's Cherry Blue. If you don't want those audible "clicks", then it's back to a Red or a Brown again. The Blacks, in my opinion, are an FPS gamer's switch. They are robust and stand-up to punishment. Yet, they are noisy for typing, as you press the keys very deliberately to ensure you have typed them properly.


A great overview of the most popular switch types (Blue, Brown, Red, Black) is here: http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index...ical-switches/

[Pob255]

Anyone used the coolermaster quickfire keyboards? they use the cherry red switches.
For a fully lit switch keyboard they are relatively cheap http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...ng-keyboard-10 the only thing I dislike here is the US style layout, both in key layout and shape/style

[Willzzz]

I've just ordered a Zowie Celeritas, so I'll let you guys know how I get on with it.

[Hicks12]

Pob the CM quickfire rapid is meant to be brilliant, I know the normal CM quickfire rapid is made by COSTAR which are highly regarded as one of the best mechanical keyboard OEMs, they make the Filco keyboards which again are considered among best (in build quality) in their price range and the CM quickfire rapid brings in the exact same quality bar the different style of text etc, basically a solid keyboard at a rock bottom price!.

I have been eyeing up the TK board for awhile now as I really dont use the numpad enough to warrant it being there and would rather have a more ergonomic setup however this keyboard specifically isnt made by COSTAR it is made by an unnamed OEM but it still appears to be very solid build quality (its no the iONE which carry the status of being bad, not quite sure why but you wont find much praise for boards made by them!).

Oh and they do sell UK versions which follow our standard layout its just that everywhere seems to like using the US images, as long as the product code has UK at the end it should be fine .

[crazyspike]

Hey all, got an update for you

I eventually after trying a few decided on the Coolermaster Quickfire TK, with Cherry MX Blues and have been running it for almost a week now, She is perfect, keys feel great and keyboard feels like quality, Full N key rollover is awesome, Lighting is perfect, would of preferred red, but couldent get red with Blues, only red with reds and I wasent keen on the feel.

Thanks for everyones Input.

[Deadlight]

Sorry to resuscitate this thread, but my logitech G710+ has fallen foul of a mug of tea. Thing is, I've see the light from the mech keyboard, and I want more. Now, I really need some macro keys, for MMO sessions. (SWTOR - no more WoW) Is my choice either the G710+ or K90, or is there another option?

edIT: Or the Razer BlacklWidow Ultimate 2013 - uses blue switches. Only 5 macro keys though, down the left

[Marc_92]

Your best bet which has been mentioned is to try out the different switches at your local pc store, to have a better judgement on which switches you prefer.

[Deadlight]

Update: I got a Corsair K 90 yesterday; the Cherry Red switches do the job very well. HOWEVER;

- The keyboard is cased in brushed aluminium, apart from the G Keys, which are surrounded by black plastic. Not only that, but the G-keys themselves are of the rubber-dome variety, and look something awful compared to the rest of the keyboard
- curiously the lighting doesn't light the whole keyboard. No lighting of the G-keys, function keys or the cluster of 6 keys above the arrow keys.
- I got no wrist rest at all.

Maybe I should have got K95?

[directhex]

Update: I got a Corsair K 90 yesterday; the Cherry Red switches do the job very well. HOWEVER;

- The keyboard is cased in brushed aluminium, apart from the G Keys, which are surrounded by black plastic. Not only that, but the G-keys themselves are of the rubber-dome variety, and look something awful compared to the rest of the keyboard
- curiously the lighting doesn't light the whole keyboard. No lighting of the G-keys, function keys or the cluster of 6 keys above the arrow keys.
- I got no wrist rest at all.

Maybe I should have got K95?

Well, yeah - the things you're not happy with, other people weren't happy with either. Which is why they shipped the 2.0 version (the K95)

Similarly, the K70 fixes the K60's worst points

[directhex]

(minor point: anyone advertising NKRO on USB is lying to you. It's not possible under the USB HID spec to implement NKRO, due to the maximum size of a single USB data packet)

[flearider]

max is 6 ??on usb but why use a usb just plug into the keyboard slot ...

[Agent]

(minor point: anyone advertising NKRO on USB is lying to you. It's not possible under the USB HID spec to implement NKRO, due to the maximum size of a single USB data packet)

The term 'NKRO' is quite a bad one to be fair, but you can do what most people want on USB:

http://web.archive.org/web/201011172...gy+and+Results
http://web.archive.org/web/201012270...ead.php?t=9230

That to one side though, you can get 16KRO working with some USB driver trickery: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages..._review,5.html

Not that I believe for a second that anyone needs anything close to that.

[asturtivant]

Got to say I'm a fan of the K90 so look forward to the K95

[Whizzkid]

k70 looks a nice piece of kit. But seriously is there much difference from standard keyboard to mechanical?

[Willzzz]

There is a noticeable difference, I certainly wouldn't go back.

The thing is you are likely to use your keyboard nearly every day for the rest of your life, when you consider how much you use it the cost isn't really that much. A mechanical keyboard should last you essentially for life.

[Whizzkid]

I dunno its just £100 for a keyboard seems alot. Guess I need to stop being a tight b***er!