Buying a mechanical keyboard

[Cyrus]

So im buying a mechanical keyboard as the title says and im really lost in what to buy and i was wondering if any of you had a keyboard to recomend (not so expensive) and i mainly play FPS games but i need to use the computer for school time to times and im  a noob at choosing which switches to look for.

 

Thanks for your time! and any help is greatly appreciated 

[bchampion96]

So im buying a mechanical keyboard as the title says and im really lost in what to buy and i was wondering if any of you had a keyboard to recomend (not so expensive) and i mainly play FPS games but i need to use the computer for school time to times and im  a noob at choosing which switches to look for.

 

Thanks for your time! and any help is greatly appreciated 

 

For me in that situation, I'd get a CM Storm Quickfire rapid (or other tenkeyless keyboard) with cherry mx reds. Although keyswitches is an intensely personal decision

[Cyrus]

For me in that situation, I'd get a CM Storm Quickfire rapid (or other tenkeyless keyboard) with cherry mx reds. Although keyswitches is an intensely personal decision

  

Are these availible in europe?

[Samdb]

Is there any way you can try each switch locally?

 

Also, wrong section

http://linustechtips.com/main/forum/44-peripherals/

[Dudenstein]

I use the black widow ultimate and those are mx blues. I love the feel of the and I don't mind the loud clicks

[Cyrus]

Is there any way you can try each switch locally?

 

Also, wrong section

http://linustechtips.com/main/forum/44-peripherals/

 

Oh sorry noob at the forums :P

[bchampion96]

Are these availible in europe?

 

Yes.

[Cyrus]

Is there any way you can try each switch locally?

 

Also, wrong section

http://linustechtips.com/main/forum/44-peripherals/

 

No thats why i asked here btw.

[CyberneticTitan]

I have a Gigabyte Aivia Osmium and I absolutely love it I have Chery MX-Brown switches. It has the tactile feedback of blues, but its not as loud.

 

I'd wait for the Ducky Shine 3.

[Samdb]

No thats why i asked here btw.

Have you considered checking out the WASD sampler kit?

[Oseirus]

It's a bit of a read, but http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide#post_6009482'>this post on Overclock.net is a pretty conclusive breakdown on mechanical boards.

 

But like the others have said, it's all about what kind of switch you want. The vast majority of mechanical boards you'll find today use the same brand of switch, Cherry MX. There are two basic categories: tactile and linear, and then each category has different "models" identified by the color of the switch, and specifically how they actuate. 

 

Tactile keys have a distinct bump or click that tells you exactly when the switch registers the keystroke. The most common types you'll find are Cherry MX Blues and Browns, with the former having a much louder audible click and a slightly higher actuation force. Tactile keys are, generally speaking, geared more towards typists as the bump prevents you from completely bottoming out the key, reducing finger stress over prolonged periods. 

 

Linear keys lack any sort of extra feedback beyond bottoming out. These are mostly considered better for gaming, since they tend to respond better to rapid keystrokes and reduce the possibility of unwanted double tap or redundant keystrokes. Cherry MX Reds and Blacks are the most common that you'll find, and there isn't much difference between the two aside from Blacks being significantly stiffer.

 

There isn't any rule saying you have to use one specific switch for whatever purpose. If you feel like gaming on a tactile board, go for it. Want to type on a linear switch? Go nuts. It's all about what's most comfortable. I currently use a http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=79'>Tesoro Durandal G1N with Brown switches. It's decently priced, and I have no complaints about it. It's not flashy, but that's fine by me. 

 

Actually while I'm thinking about it, that last link goes to a store that is AWESOME for helping you pick out a board you might like. Just use their search to pick out features you do or don't want on the board. Since you're in Europe I would NOT recommend buying from them since shipping out of the US is stupidly expensive, but at least you can get an idea of what you want, and then buy it locally. 

[TheDigitalRealm]

It's a bit of a read, but this post on Overclock.net is a pretty conclusive breakdown on mechanical boards.

 

But like the others have said, it's all about what kind of switch you want. The vast majority of mechanical boards you'll find today use the same brand of switch, Cherry MX. There are two basic categories: tactile and linear, and then each category has different "models" identified by the color of the switch, and specifically how they actuate. 

 

Tactile keys have a distinct bump or click that tells you exactly when the switch registers the keystroke. The most common types you'll find are Cherry MX Blues and Browns, with the former having a much louder audible click and a slightly higher actuation force. Tactile keys are, generally speaking, geared more towards typists as the bump prevents you from completely bottoming out the key, reducing finger stress over prolonged periods. 

 

Linear keys lack any sort of extra feedback beyond bottoming out. These are mostly considered better for gaming, since they tend to respond better to rapid keystrokes and reduce the possibility of unwanted double tap or redundant keystrokes. Cherry MX Reds and Blacks are the most common that you'll find, and there isn't much difference between the two aside from Blacks being significantly stiffer.

 

There isn't any rule saying you have to use one specific switch for whatever purpose. If you feel like gaming on a tactile board, go for it. Want to type on a linear switch? Go nuts. It's all about what's most comfortable. I currently use a Tesoro Durandal G1N with Brown switches. It's decently priced, and I have no complaints about it. It's not flashy, but that's fine by me. 

 

Actually while I'm thinking about it, that last link goes to a store that is AWESOME for helping you pick out a board you might like. Just use their search to pick out features you do or don't want on the board. Since you're in Europe I would NOT recommend buying from them since shipping out of the US is stupidly expensive, but at least you can get an idea of what you want, and then buy it locally. 

 

I don't want to be a thread hijacker, but do you use that keyboard for gaming? 

[_ASSASSIN_]

I personally like blues, but it's up to you, you have to try it yourself, imo, the best switches are blues and browns

[Oseirus]

I don't want to be a thread hijacker, but do you use that keyboard for gaming? 

Not extensively, no. I use a Razer Naga and a Nostromo (and way too many different key configurations) for most of my gaming. However I do type on it a lot, and in that department it's pretty solid. I kinda wish I had gone with Blues, but I'm not complaining.

[GamerDude]

I don't want to be a thread hijacker, but do you use that keyboard for gaming? 

You can use mechanical KB's for gaming, in fact, some are sold as 'gaming KBs'. Oseirus has a Brown Cherry MX switch KB and Browns are pretty good for gaming. Reds are sold as the gamers; switch of choice, but that's not definitive. I game with Reds and Blacks (which are linear and non clicky) as well as Brown (which is tactile but non-clicky), and Blues and Greens (tactile and clicky), and I find myself having no problem gaming with any of these switches. Some have said that Blues aren't really good due to a double tapping issue, but I find myself not experiencing that problem.