mechanical keyboard... is it worth it?

[Pachuca]

hi, I've been considering replacing my Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard for a mechanical keyboard,  but they are all very expensive. I would like to know if these keyboards are generally quieter than the conventional keyboards. What benifits are there to mechanical keyboards? Does anyone have suggestions for a good quality keyboard that's on the quiet side. I game a lot and when I'm slamming those keys it makes a lot of noise. I get annoyed by it and it's the main reason why I'm thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard. 

[deXxterlab97]

I suggest go to a local store and test each keyboard switch and see how they feel. MX Brown is on the quieter side.

[Damascus]

Quick warning, most mechanical keyboards are loud AF- it's part of the appeal.  

 

Any keyboard with Cherry mx silent or omron romer g (there ae some chep ones, logitech only) will be as quiet as it gets.

[dtaflorida]

You won't find one off the shelf that is quieter than your membrane keyboard. 

[BluJay614]

34 minutes ago, Pachuca said:

hi, I've been considering replacing my Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard for a mechanical keyboard,  but they are all very expensive. I would like to know if these keyboards are generally quieter than the conventional keyboards. What benifits are there to mechanical keyboards? Does anyone have suggestions for a good quality keyboard that's on the quiet side. I game a lot and when I'm slamming those keys it makes a lot of noise. I get annoyed by it and it's the main reason why I'm thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard. 

Okay, so to begin with, all keyboards can be loud if you bottom out the keys, especially if you do it forcefully. Mechanical keyboards have the advantage of not having to be bottomed out. Liner switches are smooth and are almost always quieter then their tactile counterparts. The downside is it may be harder for you to start getting a feel for where the actuation point is on a liner switch and training yourself to only press the key that far down. Tactile switches like Cherry MX Browns have the benefit of a tactile bump, so you can feel where it is actuating, helping give you a way to learn that point to stop pressing, and they are relatively quiet.

Another edge that mechanical keyboards have over membrane is longevity. The "switches" on a typical membrane keyboard is ~5 million actuations. For Mechanical, it's between 50 million and 70 million(usually the prior). So, while you may only spend $20 on a regular keyboard, and spend 5x more on a mechanical keyboard (this is assuming it's $100, there are plenty that are more, and many that are less), the mechanical keyboard may last you 10x longer.

[geo3]

Mechanical keyboards feel nicer and are more satisfying to type on. Unless you spend a fuck ton on something exotic it's not going to be more ergonomic that what you have.

[Tcrumpen]

53 minutes ago, Pachuca said:

hi, I've been considering replacing my Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard for a mechanical keyboard,  but they are all very expensive. I would like to know if these keyboards are generally quieter than the conventional keyboards. What benifits are there to mechanical keyboards? Does anyone have suggestions for a good quality keyboard that's on the quiet side. I game a lot and when I'm slamming those keys it makes a lot of noise. I get annoyed by it and it's the main reason why I'm thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard. 

I'd recommend the try before you buy method; if you're typing for long periods of time i'd say yes as you'll get less finger fatigue, there is also something satisfying about the feel and sound of a mechanical keyboard

 

Gaming id say it's helpful but not a must have

 

If you're an average everyday user then it's not worth the large initial cost

[Tcrumpen]

46 minutes ago, Damascus said:

Quick warning, most mechanical keyboards are loud AF- it's part of the appeal.  

 

Any keyboard with Cherry mx silent or omron romer g (there ae some chep ones, logitech only) will be as quiet as it gets.

MX Speeds aren't that loud it's only loud if you bottom out the keys (which i'm still doing)

[Damascus]

12 minutes ago, Tcrumpen said:

MX Speeds aren't that loud it's only loud if you bottom out the keys (which i'm still doing)

Same with reds and any other non linear switch

[divito]

Switch won't really matter too much if you hit keys hard and bottom out consistently. The pitch of each type of switch will be different, but any keyboard will produce noise.

It's best to go to a store that displays some various boards to get an idea of the sound you'd be producing when playing so you're not annoyed. I always bottom out and don't really have a problem with any of the sounds, no matter what switch it is.

Outside of a typical mechanical board with MX switches, the only other quiet keyboard I know of, is a Matias Quiet Pro. They have a sound sample on their website you can listen to.

[Eduard the weeb]

I would go Omrons from Logitech they are kinda mushy like membranes but are quiet, have rgb and you can still type really fast due to there low actuation weight and distance there personally my favorite Meca Switch 

[keskparane]

If you are testing a keyboard, and you need it to perform certain key combinations, you can go  here to see if it will register them correctly.

[Pachuca]

thanks for the input everyone. I forgot to mention that I purchased a coolermaster mechanical keyboard on sale for like $20, but it's for a pc I rarely use. I liked the feel of the thing and was hoping there are quiet version out there that don't require training (@BluJay614) and I guess I'll have to shop around and see what fits me best. I like the ergonomic because it's more comfortable for me to type, but it sucks for gaming lol. 

[HunterScott]

22 hours ago, Pachuca said:

hi, I've been considering replacing my Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard for a mechanical keyboard,  but they are all very expensive. I would like to know if these keyboards are generally quieter than the conventional keyboards. What benifits are there to mechanical keyboards? Does anyone have suggestions for a good quality keyboard that's on the quiet side. I game a lot and when I'm slamming those keys it makes a lot of noise. I get annoyed by it and it's the main reason why I'm thinking of getting a mechanical keyboard. 

I've recently moved across from membrane keyboards and I love mechanical keyboards now. It's mostly the 'click, click' that I enjoy - it's incredibly satisfying.