Keyboard build

[goatedpenguin]

Hi, this is my first time building a custom keyboard and I have little or no idea on what to buy or where to start, my main purpose for this keybaord is for gaming, programming and a overally nice typing experience. I want to go for a 60% keyboard and my budget is a 150 usd. Thanks in advance  

 

[saintlouisbagels]

Hate to break it to you, but I don't think 150 USD is enough if you're starting from scratch.

 

GMMK 2 Barebones 65% is $120

Keychon Q1 QMK barebones is $143-$152

 

edit: maybe I'm too ignorant of the hobby lol.

Glorious Custom Gaming Keyboard - GMMK 60% on Amazon is $40

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by saintlouisbagels

[goatedpenguin]

3 minutes ago, saintlouisbagels said:

Hate to break it to you, but I don't think 150 USD is enough if you're starting from scratch.

 

GMMK 2 Barebones 65% is $120

Keychon Q1 QMK barebones is $143-$152

 

edit: maybe I'm too ignorant of the hobby lol.

Glorious Custom Gaming Keyboard - GMMK 60% on Amazon is $40

 

lol I thought a 150 usd budget would be pretty high end, guess this is an expensive hobby, maybe I should consider just spending the extra 30 bucks and get a wooting 60 he which is a pretty solid keyboard but thanks for the parts will look into that  

[saintlouisbagels]

Well, do you know anything about switches? I'm going to copy-paste what I wrote in a previous thread (with some tweaks):

 

The three primary switch types that you should know:

• Clicky - Cherry MX Blue, Cherry MX Green (heavy typer)
  • Do you work with other people? Live in a shared home (family, partner, etc.) ? Do. Not. Buy. These.
• Tactile - Cherry MX Brown, Cherry MX Clear (heavy typer)
• Linear - Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Black (heavy typer)

You will also find that Gateron makes switches that closely follows this colour pattern.

And you will find many other colours that fall into these categories like Gateron Milky Yellow for Linear, or Baby Kangaroo for Tactile.

 

There are also other switch types you should consider:

• Silent Linear - Cherry MX Silent Red, Gazzew Bobagum, Gecko Silent Linear
  • Mechanical keyboards are LOUD, even if you get a linear switch that inherently makes zero sound. These have integrated silicone features to dampen the bottom-out sound which is where most of the loudness actually comes from.
• Tactile, No-Pretravel - Holy Panda, Boba U4T, Durock T1, Zealios V2
  • I think these feel like very satisfying rubber membrane keyboards. The initial actuation is very high and then it drops considerably.

Within these 5 categories there are countless variants. You need to pick a lane first.

[goatedpenguin]

I do know about switches, stablizers and all that stuff just dont know what parts to get eg. PCB, case, stabilizers, switches, keycaps

[goatedpenguin]

thinking to get holy panda switches or get analog switches as they are more responsive for gaming

[Slottr]

For your first time, I would buy a kit.

 

Something like a YUNZII AC064 will be within budget. 

[goatedpenguin]

11 minutes ago, Slottr said:

For your first time, I would buy a kit.

 

Something like a YUNZII AC064 will be within budget. 

thanks for the info