Help recommend a mechanical keyboard for this rare gamer

[geepondy63]

My wishes are simple.
-Full size. Bigger key font is prefereable to smaller.
-Cherry Brown Mx switches
-White LED (or assume RGB can be set for all white) backlighting
-Durability. Would rather buy good and have it last then buy cheap and break
-Media controls, at least volume. Volume knobs are nice but assume I can get used to pressing volume control keys as well.

I currently have a Logitech G710+ but it's not standing up to the test of time and needs to be replaced. I never investigated nor took advantage of any of its program capabilities.

Some keyboards I have looked at
-Deck Hassium Pro but just don't think I can get over that weird Font.
-Ducky One (version with white LEDs and Cherry Brown MX)
-Max Nighthawk -X8
-Corsair K70 RGB - way overkill but does have a volume knob and assume I can just set the LED lighting to white without spending hours learning the software which I read is not too friendly.

Any thoughts and recommendations? I don't know much about the Ducky One or Max Nighthawk but they come up when I do a search for white LED backlighting and Cherry Brown siwtches. The Das 4 looks intriguing but I really like illuminated keyboards and from viewing pictures, it looks like the keyboard font is not overly large and contrast doesn't look great.

 

[Viper GTS]

I'm using a Hassium Pro right now, in exactly the configuration you're looking for (MX Brown + White LED).

The nice thing about the Deck boards is they are 100% standard cherry stabilized keycaps, so if you hate the font you can easily replace them with a keycap set of your choosing. Doubleshot PBT keycap sets show up pretty frequently on places like MassDrop, so if it still bothers you after a few weeks it's a relatively cheap fix.

While I can't say that I love the font on the Hassium Pro I don't really spend enough time looking at it for it to bother me. Really a great board otherwise, by far my favorite out of the four I've had so far (this one plus MX Blue, Brown, and Green from other vendors).

Viper GTS

 

[geepondy63]

How is the backlighting of the Deck? It's sometimes tough to tell from web screenshots because of the camera exposure but I prefer the type that concentrates the light on the keycap itself rather than putting too much light on the back plate. It seems some keyboards are better than others at accomplishing this.

I'm using a Hassium Pro right now, in exactly the configuration you're looking for (MX Brown + White LED).

The nice thing about the Deck boards is they are 100% standard cherry stabilized keycaps, so if you hate the font you can easily replace them with a keycap set of your choosing. Doubleshot PBT keycap sets show up pretty frequently on places like MassDrop, so if it still bothers you after a few weeks it's a relatively cheap fix.

While I can't say that I love the font on the Hassium Pro I don't really spend enough time looking at it for it to bother me. Really a great board otherwise, by far my favorite out of the four I've had so far (this one plus MX Blue, Brown, and Green from other vendors).

Viper GTS

 

[TeknoBug]

Azio MGK1 has white LEDs with (Kailh) brown switches, has a metal body and costs a penny (heh).

Personally I'm not a fan of those jazzy LED stuff myself, I turn the LED off on my G510.

 

[geepondy63]

Hmm, not sure those Azio keyboards will stand the test of time? I don't need fancy LED colors but do like the back light and prefer the color white. I am relatively happy with my Logitech G710+ but it hasn't proved to be durable. First one broke under warranty and this one now has two broken keys. I can get by with only one alt key but underneath the right shift key, there are two support columns one either side of the switch that go up and down with the switch. One of them has become sticky/broken so the key rebound is slow and mushy.

 

[geepondy63]

Decided to try Corsair K70 RGB even thought it's overkill for my needs. Like the keyboard layout and the fact it had a volume knob and nice media controls. Unfortunately right off the bat the N key does not work. I tried a program called EK switch hitter which verified the keyboard is not receiving input. This does not make me feel good about the company's quality control as I think they would verify full switch operation before sending out the product. Otherwise appears to be a very solid keyboard except one other thing I don't like. The RGB backlighting scheme lights up more of the key back ground and plate then the key itself. I'm assuming that's normal behavior for these new type of cherry RGB switches? I prefer to have the light concentrated on the key digit itself rather than the background. The quest continues...

 

[DigDog]

as far as my limited knowledge allows, good quality mechs will not have media controls, that stuff is considered gimmicky and thus below good-mech standards.

my general recommendation is to get a keyboard with PBT keycaps;
PBT feels so much better when typing, idk why, that ruggedness, better feeling + grip.
Also PBT will last way past the nuclear war and after the roaches have gone extinct; i'mk telling you because iv'e bought a WASD-brand mech and the keycaps faded after less than 6 months.. and on top of that, they were slippery, and felt yucky to touch, from the start.

Now, PBT caps pretty much eliminate the possibility of backlighting. I mean, you can still have it, it will bleed through between keys (giving you a bit of visibility), but unless you buy one of a very limited number of keyboards with PBT *AND* backlit keys (the two are independent, but very few brands make PBT caps with the actual see-through effect of the backlit), you'll have to pick between PBT and ABS.

ABS quality varies a lot, but after my experience, i would never buy another ABS kb, and who cares about backlighting;
sure, it looks great when someone walks into your mancave, but when you are playing, you don't even notice.

my 2c.

 

[TeknoBug]

Re your comment about the G710+ I'd probably not bother with Logitech anymore, their quality has gone down lately.

Decided to try Corsair K70 RGB even thought it's overkill for my needs. Like the keyboard layout and the fact it had a volume knob and nice media controls. Unfortunately right off the bat the N key does not work. I tried a program called EK switch hitter which verified the keyboard is not receiving input. This does not make me feel good about the company's quality control as I think they would verify full switch operation before sending out the product. Otherwise appears to be a very solid keyboard except one other thing I don't like. The RGB backlighting scheme lights up more of the key back ground and plate then the key itself. I'm assuming that's normal behavior for these new type of cherry RGB switches? I prefer to have the light concentrated on the key digit itself rather than the background. The quest continues...

K70 supposed to have full NKRO, there's some instructions you have to read through and to install the Corsair software which should enable it. And there is a switch on the back for system compatibility which can also affect NKRO.

And about the Azio MGK1 keyboard, it's as reliable as about most other keyboards and the white light isn't blinding, it's not expensive so give it a shot. So far working out well for me.

Here it is with max brightness, photo doesn't justify lowest brightness so I'm not posting that

 

[bononos]

Hmm, not sure those Azio keyboards will stand the test of time? I don't need fancy LED colors but do like the back light and prefer the color white. I am relatively happy with my Logitech G710+ but it hasn't proved to be durable. First one broke under warranty and this one now has two broken keys. I can get by with only one alt key but underneath the right shift key, there are two support columns one either side of the switch that go up and down with the switch. One of them has become sticky/broken so the key rebound is slow and mushy.

Thats a common issue with that Logitech model - weak stems breaking off and the o-ring dampener weakening it further. The unsupported modifier keys like ctrl,alt,bkspace,caps will probably break first.

 

[TeknoBug]

Thats a common issue with that Logitech model - weak stems breaking off and the o-ring dampener weakening it further. The unsupported modifier keys like ctrl,alt,bkspace,caps will probably break first.

Oh it uses those Costar rockers as stabilizers instead of Cherry style stabilizers? That's even worse.

 

[geepondy63]

Thank you for taking the time to post the screenshot. Yes the lighting looks like it's concentrated on the key digits instead of the background. I read mixed comments regarding the Kailh keys vs their Cherry counterparts, though. Reliability concerns aside, I read the Kailh browns do not feel quite the same as the Cherry Mx brown's of which I've grown quite fond of. Wish the keyboard was available to try in person

Re your comment about the G710+ I'd probably not bother with Logitech anymore, their quality has gone down lately.

K70 supposed to have full NKRO, there's some instructions you have to read through and to install the Corsair software which should enable it. And there is a switch on the back for system compatibility which can also affect NKRO.

And about the Azio MGK1 keyboard, it's as reliable as about most other keyboards and the white light isn't blinding, it's not expensive so give it a shot. So far working out well for me.

Here it is with max brightness, photo doesn't justify lowest brightness so I'm not posting that

 

[geepondy63]

Yes that is exactly what is happening between my two keyboards. Either the keycap socket breaks or if the keyswitch has a supporting column, don't know the correct terminology, but there is one on either side of the shift key and they go up down together, fails. Logitech still does offer a three year warranty though. The Logitech G810 has very nice lighting and seems like a well implemented layout to please both gamers and non gamers but I do not like their keys at all. If you're one that likes a little travel in their keys, these appear to have less than even Cherry reds.

Thats a common issue with that Logitech model - weak stems breaking off and the o-ring dampener weakening it further. The unsupported modifier keys like ctrl,alt,bkspace,caps will probably break first.

 

[TeknoBug]

Thank you for taking the time to post the screenshot. Yes the lighting looks like it's concentrated on the key digits instead of the background. I read mixed comments regarding the Kailh keys vs their Cherry counterparts, though. Reliability concerns aside, I read the Kailh browns do not feel quite the same as the Cherry Mx brown's of which I've grown quite fond of. Wish the keyboard was available to try in person

Kailh brown still has that tactile feel but a bit more mushy than Cherry MX brown, just a tad quieter too however most of the noise on this keyboard is from the key hitting the body of the switch which can be easily damped by o-rings. Spacebar, shift and enter keys are very sturdy and they use Cherry style stabilizers (no rockers) so replacement keys are going to be easy to come by for the Azio keyboard.

 

[geepondy63]

I'm warming up to giving the Azio a try. Probably a safer bet then buying another Logitech G710+ and certainly can't complain about the price.

 

[DigDog]

Hi, I am also searching for a good gaming mechanical keyboard. many sites recommend different types of mechanical keyboard for gaming, but they are too expensive, I need something in budget, can anyone help me to find the best mechanical gaming keyboard under 60 $
and is this one is good for gaming ? anyone have personal experience with this keyboard
https://www.amazon.com/TOMOKO-Mecha...00&sr=1-8&keywords=gaming+mechanical+keyboard

LOL WUT?

that is a VicTsing https://www.amazon.co.uk/VicTsing-Mechanical-Keyboard-Switches-Typists/dp/B01D41O5P2
check out the logo. and it's less than $40.

ye i have one, it's pretty much the best $40 kb you can get, but it comes with blue switches - good for typing, not so great for gaming. go for something that has clones of brown, black or red cherry, not blue. READ REVIEW