Hey guys, I figured I'd ask here before I try to look into it myself. I'm looking to put together a gaming rig for the first time in eight years, and I want to try out a mechanical keyboard to see what all the fuss is about. I'm really not too clued up on the matter though, so that's why I am asking for some of your knowledge to help me along. The need to knows: I don't want to spend more than £75 ish - I can go a bit higher but I don't want to spend stupid amounts. I want the best for my money. I want something that will last. I've no clue about the types of keys, such as reds, blues, browns etc., so any help would be great. Thank you in advanced. On a side note. I guess I should've kept that 4770K after all... *facepalm*
A few questions first: 1) Tenkeyless or full-size? (i.e. missing the numberpad or having it) 2) Any preferences on backlighting / audio controls / usb ports etc? 3) Main uses? (gaming, work, mixture) That way we should be able to help better with suggestions
See, I wouldn't have known to ask those questions. I would like it with the num pad. They're always useful. Back lighting makes no difference to me. No need for USB ports or audio ports. Main uses will be both for gaming and article writing every so often. Thanks, George.
If you're looking for a simple full sized mech keyboard I'd strongly recommend the CM Storm Quickfire XT, having owned one previously. It's EOL now (according to Scan) which might make it difficult to source, but there are places that have it in stock for around the £70 mark. There are other full sized cherry keyboards that would be cheaper, however they are really big and unsightly things IMO. My main reason for getting the XT was its compactness for a full sized board. Aside from that, you need to think what switch type will best suit you: clicky (blue), tactile (brown), or smooth (red/black).
On the CM Storm side I went for CM Storm Quickfire TK. A bit more compact by combining the arrows+inset/home/etc buttons with the numpad. In regards to what switches the basic idea is red = best for gaming, blue = best for typing brown = bit of both. YMMV though so worth trying them out and seeing how they feel for you. I have brown and I'm more than happy with it.
One question I would ask is regarding aesthetics. Do you want something lively and fun, muted and reserved or somewhere in the middle? Companies like Razer and Logitech seem to think that their customers want their keyboards to shout "look at me, I'm a l33t mechanical gaming keyboard. Others like Filco, some Duckys, Realforce etc. tend to produce better constructed but plainer options. CM Storm and Corsair etc. occupy a middle ground, although CM have come out with a few Zany designs.
I would also say try not to "overthink" your first mechanical keyboard. Very rarely have I seen (or heard of) somebody buying a mech kb and sticking with it forever. I've had several, but I'm not a collector like some of the guys here. After using one switch you might develop a fancy for another, and so it goes.
There's some really cracking advice in there guys. Thank you! I was looking at the CM Storm QuickFire range, as I heard about them somewhere, so it's good to know I wasn't too far off the mark. Shirty, I'm really not up for all of this bling that some are. I like plain and simple now which is why I want to keep things plain and simple. I feel that it looks better than having flashy lights everywhere. I think I'll have to add it to the order next month but I shall try to find a few that I like the looks of and get your opinions on them if you don't mind. I really don't want to spend a fortune on this as it is my first one and it is the first time I am going to be on a PC playing some games for the first time in almost ten years. My last gaming rig had a Q6600 back in the day, so you can do the math if you wish.
For your first board I'd suggest browns or maybe reds if it's predominantly for gaming (or blacks if you're really heavy handed). I'd only suggest blues if you were mostly going to be using it for typing. CM Storm is always a good bet for a board tbh - the alternatives (Filco, Ducky etc) might be a bit out of your price range atm.
Ducky produce some lovely keyboards but they are expensive. I don't think I am heavy handed but people always tell me that I hammer the keyboard. I honestly don't think so. You can't type fast without producing a bit of noise, you know? I reckon I'll settle on blues as the chances are that I will type more than game for now. Can you change them easily or does that involve getting a new keyboard?
Unless you're a soldering whizz, it's usually new keyboard time should you want new switches. Never stopped me though, but I like a challenge Seeing as we're only half an hour apart I'm happy to help out in any way I can.
I wouldn't want to attempt such a thing on a keyboard. That lead free solder is a bloomin' nightmare to remove without some serious heat. I've done it once before, never again! Thank you, Shirty. That's very much appreciated.
Yes please!! Thank you for your offer. That's really great of you. I'm not planning to buy the rig just yet as I need to source a reasonably priced 46*0K before I shell out on the test of the gear. I'll be in touch soon though, if that's okay.
I'm just waiting to hear back about a CPU from one of my team mates before pulling the trigger on the rest of the rig. I'd need to wait for the 7970 to get back from RMA before I could do any gaming though. Blast! The best GPU I have here after that is a fully modded 5850 which I wouldn't want to run on its stock cooler...
Shout me when you're ready dude, I'm happy to meet halfway unless you want to come and take in the sights, sounds and smells of Salisbury at some point I knew I should have kept the Carnival Cougar in its switch testing format: (Yes, I will find any excuse to post images of it) Unfortunately it wasn't getting much use from me so I took it to pieces and made it orange with uniform Gateron clear switches instead
They do look pretty darn sweet! What switches do they both have? Would there be any way you could ship the thing? I have no means of transportation besides asking my old man. Of course, I'd cover the shipping. I've just pulled the trigger on most of my rig. I need to get a CPU and the GPU back from RMA and she'll be good to go! I'm just waiting to hear back from a team member about a chip.
They were/are the same thing! The keyboard started life as a Cougar Attack X with Cherry MX reds and red backighting: Margo Baggins gave it to me after I donated a PC for his grandfather, and he had already robbed it of red LEDs and partially replaced them with the purple ones in the first image. I filled in the LED gaps for some colour and did some switch rearranging and the Carnival Cougar was born, mainly for use as a switch tester. It contained greens, blues, whites, reds, blacks, browns clears, and one of each linear/tactile grey. Then I realised I wasn't using it much and it contained the best part of £100 worth of switches, so I broke it down to the PCB and sold off the switches for a pretty penny. When Gateron released their range of MX compatible switches which received rave reviews on Geekhack/Deskthority, I jumped in on Hzza's group buy and ordered 120 Gateron clears (very light linear switches), and have just brought the board back to life with orange paintwork and orange LEDs. It's still a really nice - if large - keyboard. I'll probably lend you either my Ducky Premier with reds or my Ducky Shine 3 with browns though, they will give you a good distinction between linear and tactile. For me, light linear switches feel best during gaming and tactile switches feel nicer for typing, but it's all subjective. I'll probably be swinging by Ringwood in the next week or so so if you want I can drop one off for you or bring a couple if you just want to pound a few keys.
Who knew so much went into such a keyboard. Damn! That would be perfect mate. I'll drop you a PM and we can discuss. Thank you again. Absolutely superb of you.
