[Nsybouts]

Switch Mechanisms

Buckling Spring

Buckling Spring technology is the oldest and now the least used mechanical key switch technology with an Actuation Force of 65g-70g it by far takes the most strength to push down a single key (The newer Unicomp Model M copies are lighter and only take 65g). Keyboards with the buckling spring are now no longer made by IBM which had the original patent until the early 90's to where they licensed it out to other companies to make the keyboards for them such as lexmark. The current owner of the patent is Unicomp (the creator of the Customizer 104/105).

{Actuation Force 65g-70g}



Cherry MX

There are many kinds of Cherry MX key Switches each with their own attributes witch are signified by the color of the switch. For example the Cherry MX Brown Switch has a tactile feel but little to no noise, good for the person who has roommates or lives with others and wants to keep noise level low, then there are the Cherry MX Blues witch have the same tactile feel as the Browns but with that classic "clicky" Noise.

Cherry MX switch type	Feedback	Clicky	Actuation force	Bottom-out force
Blue	Tactile	Yes	50 g	65 g
Brown	Tactile	No	45 g	60 g
Red	Linear	No	45 g	60 g
Clear	Linear	No	55 g	65 g
Black	Linear	No	60 g	80 g

*Credit to SGTNAPALM*




ALPS

The ALPS key switch is well known for being a high quality clone of the Cherry MX switch that has been previously been stated. With the same Actuation force as a Cherry key (60g-70g) There is little to no difference in the feel of the key.



Topre capacitive key switch

Topre capacitive key switches are a patented hybrid between a mechanical spring based switch, a rubber dome switch, and a capacitive sensor that combined provide tactility, comfort, and excellent durability. The unique electrostatic design of Topre switches requires no physical mechanical coupling and therefore, theoretically, key switch bounce/chatter are eliminated.





CHERRY MX KEYBOARDS

Filco {Cherry MX}

$120.00 - $180.00 Buy Here UK Only





Leopold {Cherry MX}

$99.99 Buy Here





Das {Cherry MX Blues or Browns} (also comes in a "ultimate" option)

$129.00 - $135.00 Buy Here




Logitech G710+ {Cherry MX}

$149.99 Buy Here




Deck Legend {Cherry MX Blacks with MX Grey Spacebar, or Cherry MX Clears}

$169.99 Buy Here





WASD V1 Custom {Cherry MX}

$119.99 Buy Here





Razer BlackWidow {Cherry MX blues} (Available "Stealth" option with Cherry MX Browns)

$74.99 Buy Here





Steelseries 7G {Cherry MX Blacks}

$160.00 Buy Here





Rosewill Cherry MX Switch {Cherry MX blues}

$99.99 Buy Here





Tt eSPORTS MEKA G1{Cherry MX Black}

$104.99 Buy Here





Corsair Vengeance K60 {Cherry MX Red}

$110.00 Buy Here





Corsair Vengeance K90 {Cherry MX Red}

$115.00 Buy Here




CM Storm Quick Fire {Cherry MX Blue/Brown/Black/Red}

$80.00 Buy Here






BUCKLING SPRING KEYBOARDS


IBM Model M {Buckling Spring}

Used $30 - $80 New $90 - $120 Buy Here





Unicomp Customizer 104/105 {Buckling Spring}

$79.00 Buy Here






TOPRE KEYBOARDS


RealForce {Topre capacitive key switch} (Available in white)

$245.00 Buy Here





Happy Hacking Professional 2 {Topre capacitive key switch} (Also Available in white)

$275.00 Buy Here




CHERRY MX SOUND DAMPENERS



O-Ring and Landing pad modifications can reduce the noise of your Cherry MX Mechanical Keyboard.

Available in different sizes and firmness to fit your needs.



Pro's of a mechanical keyboard

1. Longer life span of the switch compared to rubber dome and scissor switch (Mechanical 20 to 50 million keystroke life span / Rubber dome and Scissor Switch 1 to 20 million keystroke life span)
2. Mechanical keyboards have a tactile feel so you will feel the completed keystroke
3. Each individual Key has its own Mechanical key switch behind it compared to one large membrane.
4. Mechanical keyboard are better for people who "Hunt and pick" while they type and not use Traditional technique



If you need help finding a keyboard that fits your needs just PM me and I'll help you find what you are looking for.

[SomeGuest]

I paid $100 for my CM Storm Quick Fire.



Lovely Cherry Reds!

[Weltmeister]

That'd be such a cool board to bring to LAN parties.

[Somebody_404]

Any advantages to owning a mechanical keyboard, for gaming?

[Weltmeister]

Anti-Ghosting, Faster Response, and it's just plain better.

All the SC2 and Dota pros use Blacks and Browns if I recall correctly. I'm sure some use Reds though.

[raceingdemon]

Somebody_404 posted:

Any advantages to owning a mechanical keyboard, for gaming?

My model m can stand up to a little rage unlike my old eclipse II, shit exploded.

[TheLolrus]

All the shortened links are broken.

[venn178]

I posted this in one of the other Mechanical Keyboard megathreads but I'm gonna do it again for the sake of discussion:

I am not a fan of Mechanical Keyboards. They're far too expensive (I won't spend more than about $30 on any PC peripheral), I type slower on them, the keys are more likely to stick, they have to be cleaned more, they look older (preference), and they get crumbs and shit in them so easily.

[chipset]

venn178 posted:

I posted this in one of the other Mechanical Keyboard megathreads but I'm gonna do it again for the sake of discussion:

I am not a fan of Mechanical Keyboards. They're far too expensive (I won't spend more than about $30 on any PC peripheral), I type slower on them, the keys are more likely to stick, they have to be cleaned more, they look older (preference), and they get crumbs and shit in them so easily.

I got my model M for approx $2 at a yard sale and there was a link in the previous thread to an OEM supplier that had model M's and AT101w's for $10 each.
Typing speed is usually down to getting used to the keyboard, I'm not a very fast typer so I haven't noticed much of a difference going form a rubber dome to a model m.
As for the keys sticking I honestly have no idea what you mean, you'll have to post what mechanicals you've tried to back up those claims.

And finally as for needing to be cleaned more and attracting crumbs that's hardly a property of mechanical keyboard and depends entirely on the model in question, I really don't see how that can be any different form a normal rubber dome though.

[venn178]

Maybe it's just because I'm comparing it to mine (http://img.linkecomputer.com/images/...BK_41730-3.jpg) which I've never had a problem with.

And for typing, I know it's not getting used to it, because when you press a key down, it's quicker to be able to move directly horizontal with your finger without having to lift up on it before moving it, and if you're on a mechanical your finger will hit the next key, slowing you down considerably. I've done research on that part at least. Maybe it's just me, though.

[reapaninja]

venn178 posted:

the keys are more likely to stick, they have to be cleaned more, ... and they get crumbs and shit in them so easily.

this is nothing to do with mechanical switches, you should start taking better care of your stuff

[venn178]

reapaninja posted:

this is nothing to do with mechanical switches, you should start taking better care of your stuff

I have always taken perfect care of my stuff.

[reapaninja]

venn178 posted:

I have always taken perfect care of my stuff.

crumbs do not appear from thin air

[venn178]

So eating at your computer = not taking care of your stuff, now?

[Killerelf12]

venn178 posted:

So eating at your computer = not taking care of your stuff, now?

Don't eat directly over the keyboard, clean it out with an air can once in a while... That's taking care of it. Just letting that crap sit there in it isn't taking care of it. It's not really a hard thing to do...

[4RT1LL3RY]

venn178 posted:

So eating at your computer = not taking care of your stuff, now?

How to eat at your desk, push your keyboard and mouse toward/under your screens and away from where you are eating. Eat. Clean debris. Other option is you just flip over your keyboard/use a cover.

Its not that hard to do it right. My Keyboard only has dust and dog hair in it

[Doritos_Man]

I've been using a Black Dell AT101W keyboard for the past few weeks and it's amazing to type on. I can't imagine going back to my G15.

Also I got this keyboard for free.

[Weltmeister]

venn178 posted:

So eating at your computer = not taking care of your stuff, now?

Keyboard roof = Never have a dirty keyboard again.

Any enthusiast should have one tbh, and you can make one yourself pretty easily.

[Giacomand]

I have been looking for my first mechanical keyboard to own, I wanted a Das at first but I could not find a UK layout version.

I eventually found a good alternative for £120.00 but I am not 100% sure if I should get it or not. (I chose to buy off amazon because of a £50 gift card I had on it.)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Filco-Majest...pr_product_top

Should I go for it?

[Weltmeister]

Nearly $200 for a Filco? Not worth that price IMO.

[Giacomand]

Weltmeister posted:

Nearly $200 for a Filco? Not worth that price IMO.

I did think it was a bit expensive. I wish there was a better alternative though.

Edit: I found the same model but for £100 instead but it's on a different website.

[altern]

I went to the salvation army to look for a model m today, as I've seen a few older keyboards there before, but all I found was a hot pink CRT


:saddowns:

[Giacomand]

I went ahead and purchased it. Can't wait for my first mechanical keyboard, I will miss my Sidewinder X6 though.

By the way, I've noticed how weird the US layout is. Why is your enter key so small?

[Odellus]

why is your backspace key so small?

[Giacomand]

It isn't.

[Odellus]

then what are you talking about

all I've ever seen are either giant enter keys with small backspace keys or regular sized enter keys with regular sized backspace keys

[SomeGuest]

US usually only has 2 styles.


and the one I use

[danielplazzy]

Anyone know where I can buy a black model M for ~40 USD?

[Gravity Ponds]

SomeGuest posted:

US usually only has 2 styles.


and the one I use

I've come to associate the second one with new keyboards.. (My G19 is the second layout, the huge enter on the top design feels weird, its not needed lol)

[Odellus]

Gravity Ponds posted:

I've come to associate the second one with new keyboards.. (My G19 is the second layout, the huge enter key feels weird, its not needed lol)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout

explain to me which of those has a small enter key because they all look bigger than the typical ANSI layout's enter key

[Gravity Ponds]

Edited my post, just finished work and kinda left a few words out which re confused the situation lol

Edited:

I mainly see the first design on old beige school keyboards

[Giacomand]

Every UK layout keyboard I've ever owned all had a large enter key and a large backspace key.

Doing a quick image search result for "UK keyboard" will show you.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...MMPT0QXk752tCA

Edited:

Hmm, I just found out my computer doesn't have a PS/2 slot. Will using a PCI card still give me the same NKR?

[Ooops: 404]

Giacomand posted:

Every UK layout keyboard I've ever owned all had a large enter key and a large backspace key.

Doing a quick image search result for "UK keyboard" will show you.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...MMPT0QXk752tCA

Edited:

Hmm, I just found out my computer doesn't have a PS/2 slot. Will using a PCI card still give me the same NKR?

Get a converter!
They are cheap as shit.

[Giacomand]

Ooops: 404 posted:

Get a converter!
They are cheap as shit.

Then the keyboard won't be able to register over 6 keys being pressed simultaneously. That is why I want to use a PS/2 port but I don't know if the NKR will still work on a PS/2 PCI expansion slot because of the PCI's limitations.

[Ooops: 404]

Give me one situation where you would need more than 3

[Weltmeister]

When laughing at simpletons who can't do this all at once.

6olbpc; v7i-[=90'4gxas35tyq2wderh/fU>ZK8,j/[=]\

:smug:

[Giacomand]

Ooops: 404 posted:

Give me one situation where you would need more than 3

I want the keyboard secondarily for gaming. If I wanted to strafe left and move backwards while also crouching behind cover and changing weapons. I would have to press over three buttons at the same time. It is not important that I get it as 6 keys would be enough but I would like to get the most out of my keyboard if I can.

[Chubbs]

Ooops: 404 posted:

Give me one situation where you would need more than 3

When flying jets or helicopters in BF3. Seriously, trying to dodge missiles and use extinguishers or ECM's at the same time can use like 4 or 5 keys.

[Night-Eagle]

Ooops: 404 posted:

Give me one situation where you would need more than 3

Playing Garry's Mod using the number pad to control a contraption while running alongside it.

It is worth noting that some keyboard controllers have an added delay if you use them with a USB interface (looking at you, iOne).

[Protocol7]

10 key rollover should be standard

I mean, come on, you only have 10 fingers.