Which mechanical keyboard should i buy?

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Hello,

I would like to get rid of my rubberdome keyboard and want to buy a mechanical one... It should have a BRIGHT backlight, so that i can also play in the dark without having a lamp on and it should have a good handwrist.

At the moment i got a Roccat Isku FX Multicolour Gaming Keyboard... but i dont like that the backlit is really weak and that it has got a clavier lack. Because of that it gets dirty very fast.

I think MX Brown Keys would be the best for me, because they are in between gaming and typing and have got a tactical feedback...

I just have found those two keyboards:

1. QPAD MK 80 (Blue bright backlight, all switches available, no software for Makro Keys and Handwrist)
2. QPAD MK85 (Red backlight, all switches available, software for makro keys, handwrist)

I cant really decide between them, because i dont know which light is brighter and better for gamig in the dark.

Can anyone give me an advice? What mechanical keyboard do you have?

Revo

If you've got the coin, I bought a Gigabyte Aivia Osmium last year and absolutely love it. It's Cherry MX Red switches which I initially wasn't sure about (I tend to prefer Blue) but it's been fantastic. I type faster on it with fewer typos and the low travel response is great for gaming. The macro customisation software is a little weird (though fully functional) and it only backlights blue but it's the best keyboard I've ever owned. I've had to smack myself upside the head multiple times for considering buying a second one to use at work.

Or if you want to go totally nuts and speed like a billion dollars, you could wait for Corsair's upcoming Cherry MX RGB keyboard.

Well, if you're really into the backlight, the Ducky Shines are supposed to be good, although I think they might use Blues. You might be able to get one with the keycap color you prefer, though.

I use a Topre Realforce, myself. I really like the feel of it; it's not a mechanical like the MX switches, but it's very comfortable. (it's basically a super rubber dome, with springs under the rubber, and once it breaks in, it's exceedingly comfortable.) But I don't think it has a backlight at all.

Ducky makes shine boards with all the normal common switch.

Yeah the new Corsair Keyboard looks very nice, but maybe it is a bit too much backlight, but i dont really care

I think i will purchase another keyboard, because i don't want to wait a half year just for this keyboard

Has anyone of you ever had a QPAD Keyboard?

I have to chose one keyboard out of these 3 keyboards. So could you please give me an advise, which keyboard i should buy. I don't want to take the wrong one

1. Qpad MK 80

2. Qpad MK 85

3. Logitech G710+

Please help me, i hate such decisions

I take it there's nowhere you can try out keyboards before buying? I surprised myself a little by buying my current keyboard from Best Buy, but an employee there took it out of the box for me and let me see how it felt.

I have no experience with either Qpad model, but I've been using a Logitech G710+ for a while now and can say this about it:

The switches have O-rings to make them a bit quieter, which probably also makes them a little less crisp than unmodified brown switches.

There are four different brightness settings for the backlighting (plus "off"), and separate settings for the brightness of the WASD and arrow keys vs. the rest of the keyboard. If 4 is brightest, I usually have mine on 2, but that doesn't really tell you anything.

The wristrest is just a piece of plastic that felt a little flimsy by itself, but so far, it's doing its job all right for me.

This is unrelated to anything you mentioned, but I really like that instead of "volume up" and "volume down" buttons it has a roller knob for controlling volume.

I've never even heard of QPAD, so I can't help you.

I personally like the Cherry MX Brown switches the best (tactile response but no audible click), but would probably have reds as my second choice. Of those keyboards I'd go for the Qpad MK 85 because it's backlit, backlit with red light (red doesn't mess with nightvision and is less distracting in the dark), and has the Cherry MX Red switches. I've never actually used a Qpad keyboard before though, so I couldn't comment on build quality.

Ok, if I can butt in. I've been looking for a mechanical keyboard for a while but I need an ergonomic one due to wrist issues. I've been using the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic split keyboard for years so if there was a mechanical version of that it would be perfect. The Cherry MX Brown switches totally sound like my kind of thing and I simply do not care about things like macros or back-lighting. Any suggestions?

Anyone got any experience with the Truly Ergonomic keyboards? (https://www.trulyergonomic.com/store...)

+1 for the Logitech 710+. I got one for Christmas and absolutely love it. I'd add something to what has been said but instead I will just agree

Ah, I didn't know the 710 was backlit. That changes things. Also, Logitech's webpage for that keyboard sucks.

complexmath wrote:

Ah, I didn't know the 710 was backlit.

Yep, in white, if that makes a difference.

Looking more carefully, the 710 is a really nice keyboard. It's not really for me (I don't use WSAD, for example, so the different color keys there would be annoying), but I think it's overall a better keyboard than the others.

Okay if will buy either the Qpad MK 80 (65 Euros) or the Qpad MK 85 (75 Euros). I really don't know which one is better

Qpad MK 85 (75€)
It has got customizable profiles, programmable keys and macro recording.
Full N-Key roll over via USB
Red Backlight

IMAGE(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/_ef_s_j1sFI/maxresdefault.jpg)

Qpad MK 80 (65€)
It HASN't got customizable profiles, programmable keys and macro recording.
Full N-Key roll over via PS2
Blue Backlight ( maybe this would be brighter than the Red Backlight, especially in the dark?!?)

IMAGE(http://www.overclock3d.net/gfx/articles/2013/05/06104507919l.JPG)

IMAGE(http://www.overclock3d.net/gfx/articles/2013/05/06104508100l.JPG)

On which one would you decide? Is the Qpad MK 85 worth the 10€ more. Which backlight do you prefer?

Revo

So, are you just here to advertise Qpads? We've given you a million options, but you keep coming back to those, and now you're extolling their benefits.

I don't think any of us have used them or know anything about them.

For me personally I'll likely never buy a QPad keyboard simply because there are too many better options...

Monoprice also has some interesting Cherry-switch keyboards, and they usually have pretty reasonable pricing.

Ok thanks i will check them

Malor wrote:

Monoprice also has some interesting Cherry-switch keyboards, and they usually have pretty reasonable pricing.

Also they are pretty good.

Note that the Qpad 80 has Cherry MX Blue switches (loud "click" sound on keypress plus tactile response) while the Qpad 85 has Cherry MX Red switches (no "click" or tactile feedback on keypress). That's really the important difference there. For gaming, I'd go with the Reds over Blues.

Hey complexmaths
i have an offer of both keyboards ( Qpad MK80/85) and they both have got MX Brown Switches, which i personally prefer

On which one would you decide if you had to decide between those two?

The MK-85. Looking at the side by side comparison, it seems like the primary difference is that the MK-80 provides n-key rollover on PS/2 while the MK-85 provides n-key rollover on USB. As I haven't had a PS/2 port for my keyboard in I dunno how many years, that's a feature I'd really want on USB.

complexmath wrote:

The MK-85. Looking at the side by side comparison, it seems like the primary difference is that the MK-80 provides n-key rollover on PS/2 while the MK-85 provides n-key rollover on USB. As I haven't had a PS/2 port for my keyboard in I dunno how many years, that's a feature I'd really want on USB.

Possibly worth a mention, NKRO over USB is as far as I know always achieved through a pretty weird hack where the keyboard actually shows up as three or four separate input devices, each a separate section of the keyboard.

IIRC, Macs hate it and it ends up not working.

Otherwise, *most* USB keyboards are only actually 6KRO. It's some kind of limitation of the USB standard or something. I don't remember all the details.

Ducky boards for example usually have dip switches that let you disable USB NKRO because the board may stop working in the BIOS if you have it enabled. Again, because it's usually accomplished through some kind of hack or trickery.

Ugh. Good to know.

plavonica wrote:
Thin_J wrote:

Ducky boards for example usually have dip switches that let you disable USB NKRO because the board may stop working in the BIOS if you have it enabled. Again, because it's usually accomplished through some kind of hack or trickery.

That actually explains certain keyboards of mine not working when I am screwing around with the BIOS.

I've used the dip switch on my Ducky more than a few times now. As far as I know they're one of the only ones that just give you the choice instead of picking one or the other and you being stuck with it.

If the Keyboard has got Full NKRO over PS/2, do i need an PS/2 to USB Adapter if my PC hasn't got a PS/2 Slot?

do i need an PS/2 to USB Adapter if my PC hasn't got a PS/2 Slot?

Most PCs still have a PS/2 port, but if you're really sure it doesn't, a USB adapter will work -- but most of them will have the same 6KRO limitation.

Normally, only being able to press 6 keys at once is not really a problem. You have to be a pretty nutsoid gamer for that to be much of an issue.

Malor wrote:
do i need an PS/2 to USB Adapter if my PC hasn't got a PS/2 Slot?

Most PCs still have a PS/2 port, but if you're really sure it doesn't, a USB adapter will work -- but most of them will have the same 6KRO limitation.

Normally, only being able to press 6 keys at once is not really a problem. You have to be a pretty nutsoid gamer for that to be much of an issue.

Your fingers are too fat for the keypad. To obtain a special dialling wand please mash the keyboard now.

I've got the corsair k95 that uses cherry red switches. The backlight is white LED and if you want bright this will fit the bill. It's got a brightness adjuster (4 settings) and a really nice media control section. Takes 2 USB connections. I'm very pleased with it. Although they just announced a full color LED option coming out this year that I'll probably upgrade to.

http://www.corsair.com/us/gaming-per...

Are there any wireless mechanical keyboards? I would like to replace my current wireless keyboard with a mechanical simply because the wireless signal reaches into the living room where the TV is located (and I have the computer hooked up to it with HDMI). If wireless isn't an option, are there any reasons I can't have two USB keyboards hooked up at the same time?

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