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Thinking about getting into custom keyboards

Stahlmann
By Stahlmann
in Peripherals
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Since my chrismas money is here i thought about what i could upgrade in my setup. As i'm pretty much settled for the forseeable future in terms of PC hardware, monitor, audio, etc. now i've been thinking about other peripherals. Currently i'm using a Logitech G915 TKL, which is pretty high-end when it comes to standard keyboards. But from what i saw in custom keyboard threads in the past it's not that popular with people who are deeper in the keyboard rabbit hole.

 

The only things i'm certain about:

- Should be wireless (preferrably with USB-C charging)

- Fairly low-profile (doesn't need to be as thin as the G915 but i don't want a standard height)

- I really like the feel of clicky switches, but don't like the sound - any recommendations?

- as quiet as possible

- i need media keys (either dedicated or via function keys)

- preferrably TKL, but no less keys

 

Other than that i didn't get into different switch types, switch brands, sound dampening, materials, what budget i should expect, keycaps, different layouts and other parts.

 

Any tips or resources to help me get into keyboards? I'm pretty overwhelmed atm and don't really know where to start.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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12 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Any tips or resources to help me get into keyboards?

@Eschew entire post history.

 

For a board with your criterias, what would fit well as a starter would be a wireless hotswappable board. While many brands have made one of those, i still have liking for moddability of GK68XS by EPOMAKER.

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6 minutes ago, SorryClaire said:

@Eschew entire post history.

Comments like this are exactly the problem i'm facing right now: Too much information and no idea where to start 😄

 

6 minutes ago, SorryClaire said:

For a board with your criterias, what would fit well as a starter would be a wireless hotswappable board. While many brands have made one of those, i still have liking for moddability of GK68XS by EPOMAKER.

I'll keep that one in mind. Thanks for the first suggestion!

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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31 minutes ago, TokyoKeebs said:

What's your budget? I can't really recommend anything without that.

I don't really have a set budget. I'm at a point where i don't even know what's a reasonable budget for the freatures I need.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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3 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

I don't really have a set budget. I'm at a point where i don't even know what's a reasonable budget for the freatures I need.

If you just want your features and nothing fancy, it would be relatively cheap. If you want a prebuilt, it would probably be max 200. Probably should get a GK68XS like @SorryClaire said. However, if you want a barebones, I would suggest a GMMK Pro or a Keychron Q1. It would probably be around 200 to 250 to build.

 

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13 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

Comments like this are exactly the problem i'm facing right now: Too much information and no idea where to start

Honestly for many, Start from switches, and then the frame. Unless you go with budget brands like keychron you usually cant go nightmarishly bad.

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3 hours ago, SorryClaire said:

Honestly for many, Start from switches, and then the frame. Unless you go with budget brands like keychron you usually cant go nightmarishly bad.

Any way to test many different switches without having to buy dozens of sets and returning most of them?

 

2 hours ago, geo3 said:

There are exceptionally few wireless customs. Realistically you should drop this requirement or just go for a prebuilt. 

There is no single visible cable on my entire desk and i'd like to keep it that way.

 

So far the GK68X is the only one suggested that somewhat does what i need it to. But there is no option i like in terms of looks. I'm gonna have to keep searching.

 

7 hours ago, TokyoKeebs said:

If you just want your features and nothing fancy, it would be relatively cheap. If you want a prebuilt, it would probably be max 200. Probably should get a GK68XS like @SorryClaire said. However, if you want a barebones, I would suggest a GMMK Pro or a Keychron Q1. It would probably be around 200 to 250 to build.

I heard about the two you mentioned, they seem to be a go-to option. But sadly both are wired and have no wireless option.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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Just now, Stahlmann said:

Any way to test many different switches without having to buy dozens of sets and returning most of them?

listen to the audio (chyrosran22 has a lot of keyboard switch reviews with clean audio), buying switch testers, and going to a mechanical kb meetup.

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6 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

Any way to test many different switches without having to buy dozens of sets and returning most of them?

 

There is no single visible cable on my entire desk and i'd like to keep it that way.

 

So far the GK68X is the only one suggested that somewhat does what i need it to. But there is no option i like in terms of looks. I'm gonna have to keep searching.

 

I heard about the two you mentioned, they seem to be a go-to option. But sadly both are wired and have no wireless option.

If you are willing to go up to around $120, I would go with the wireless version of the KBD 67 Lite R3. Mine just arrived in the mail yesterday.

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14 minutes ago, TokyoKeebs said:

If you are willing to go up to around $120, I would go with the wireless version of the KBD 67 Lite R3. Mine just arrived in the mail yesterday.

The wireless option is BT only, so that's sadly also out.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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3 minutes ago, TokyoKeebs said:

I'm confused, what else would you use?

Bluetooth adds latency, that's why all low-latency wireless gaming keyboards use 2.4Ghz connections with a dongle of some sort. 

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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6 minutes ago, TokyoKeebs said:

oh, how bad is the latency?

Here is an example from the Logitech G915:

image.png.e0e7a2826636c60557b8c4c2a6f51935.png

 

It basically goes from unnoticeable latency with 2.4 ("receiver" in the chart above) to noticeable latency with Bluetooth.

It's a 368% increase in latency. It's still not unuseable, but just not suited for the best gaming experience anymore imo.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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12 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Here is an example from the Logitech G915:

image.png.e0e7a2826636c60557b8c4c2a6f51935.png

 

It basically goes from unnoticeable latency with 2.4 ("receiver" in the chart above) to noticeable latency with Bluetooth.

It's a 368% increase in latency. It's still not unuseable, but just not suited for the best gaming experience anymore imo.

Ah, got it. I didn't know you were going to use it for gaming or I wouldn't really have recommended a custom. I can't currently think of any other prebuilt boards that have 2.4 Gz wireless and are in that form factor. You said earlier that the GK68XS doesn't look how you want it to, what would you prefer in looks?

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52 minutes ago, TokyoKeebs said:

Ah, got it. I didn't know you were going to use it for gaming or I wouldn't really have recommended a custom. I can't currently think of any other prebuilt boards that have 2.4 Gz wireless and are in that form factor. You said earlier that the GK68XS doesn't look how you want it to, what would you prefer in looks?

Something sleeker, idk if low-profile is a thing in custom keyboards.

 

For the GK68XS it's either black plastic or grey aliminium. I'd prefer something black or dark grey, but aluminium. Tbh i don't really know yet if there even IS an option that comes close to the G915 in terms of materials... I don't really intend on "downgrading" with going custom.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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11 hours ago, geo3 said:

You said you didn't want anything smaller than a TKL.

So far it seems i have to do some kind of a compromise. If you have another suggestion I'd be happy to hear about it.

 

But tbh with what producs i saw so far i'm not sure i'll be able to get something that will be able to offer me everything the G915 has.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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10 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

So far it seems i have to do some kind of a compromise. If you have another suggestion I'd be happy to hear about it.

 

But tbh with what producs i saw so far i'm not sure i'll be able to get something that will be able to offer me everything the G915 has.

Pretty much I think so, pre built branded usually got full pack included for advertising etc. I myself got into customs recently and built my first one on cheap budget to try it out. Went with mentioned GK68 (one of them, but wired coz of budget) and used gateron yellow milky black switched, feels amazing, tho size is.. problem, thats why Im looking into new keyboard now xD. But in customs its gonna be hard to find a slick wireless base if only you wont buy board and wire it yourself and make a customer or order a custom case for it xD then maybe you could get a slick wireless but budget for that ... is out of the world and not worth it imho.

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8 minutes ago, Hunlight said:

Pretty much I think so, pre built branded usually got full pack included for advertising etc. I myself got into customs recently and built my first one on cheap budget to try it out. Went with mentioned GK68 (one of them, but wired coz of budget) and used gateron yellow milky black switched, feels amazing, tho size is.. problem, thats why Im looking into new keyboard now xD. But in customs its gonna be hard to find a slick wireless base if only you wont buy board and wire it yourself and make a customer or order a custom case for it xD then maybe you could get a slick wireless but budget for that ... is out of the world and not worth it imho.

Currently it seems like it'll be quite a few tradeoffs just for slightly different switches. I'll have to think about it some more. Maybe custom keyboards aren't what i'm looking for.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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2 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Currently it seems like it'll be quite a few tradeoffs just for slightly different switches. I'll have to think about it some more. Maybe custom keyboards aren't what i'm looking for.

that is exacly what I experienced. I loved the idea of picking what suit me. BUT theres is tens or hundreds of different switches and no way in hell to know which u will like. as my choice was done by the videos sound tests but IRL it sounds differently. Sooo Im back to normal keyboards, for now made a choice but still looking if any better  value out there.

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While I will say I'm really liking my rog falchion nx,

 

I think you should watch a bunch of YouTube custom keyboard reviews to narrow down a little on stuff. Keyboards are one of the hardest things to figure out where to start from text based advice imo. 

 

Your keyboard I almost bought but decided not to. Coming from a g710+ to this falchion, I can tell that typing is much more accurate with keyswitch actuation but my fingers haven't learned the new positions that well yet and I only type 60 words a minute right now reeee

 

Best of luck finding what you like 

 

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
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@CptnReflex @SorryClaire  @TokyoKeebs

 

Hey again everyone!

 

I just found basically exactly what i searched for: The Nuphy Air75. It has all the features i asked for in my OP and reviews seem very positive.

 

One thing i'm not really sure about is the choice of switches. These are available:

image.png.04b35087e985477463a7de158f73793b.png

This is what i wrote in my OP:

Quote

I really like the feel of clicky switches, but don't like the sound

 

So based on this what swiches do you recommend? Never tried Gateron switches before, so i'm clueless here. I know blues are the clicky ones but i fear they might be too loud for me.

If someone did not use reason to reach their conclusion in the first place, you cannot use reason to convince them otherwise.

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