Picking a mechanical keyboard, need help/suggestions.

Skarth

Member
Feb 25, 2006
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Crossposted to hardforum

Looking to get a mechanical keyboard for up to $80 dollars. The less spent, the better. I want this keyboard for FPS gaming first and foremost, and the general recommendation is cherry red/black for FPS gaming. I like the tenkeyless design, but it's not a deal-breaker. I don't care much for led lights, macros, and usb inputs. NKRO is very important. I can use USB and PS/2.

This will be my first mechanical keyboard. My current one is a rosewill $10 "gaming" keyboard. It's a very basic keyboard, and I need something better.

My current choices are.

Cooler master quickfire pro - Cherry red Switches - $69 with $10 rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...ter-_-23129008

Cooler master quickfire rapid - Cherry blue - $64 (there is a cherry red version for $80 on newegg)
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...aster+keyboard

Or to get a ducky keyboard, though I don't know the differences between the alps switches offhand - $65 shipped and up
http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?m=&c=73&l=product_list&sortby=price:asc

I would like to hear any recommendations in a similar price range as well.
 

Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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I personally would recommend red over black switches. Blacks are just too heavy to type on and feel like crap.
 

birthdaymonkey

Golden Member
Oct 4, 2010
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Definitely go for the Quickfire *Rapid*. It's a Costar-made board, which means it's the same OEM as Filco, Das etc. Thus, if you ever need/want to replace the key caps, you've got the industry standard layout. Plus it's TKL. The only disadvantage is the ugly branding, but that can be remediated down the road with a new set of caps.

The Pro is not a Costar board (note the size of the windows and menu keys--not Filco compatible) and it's even uglier than the Rapid.

As for the switch selection, I prefer blues, which also happens to be the cheapest option, but the only game I currently play is SC2. Dunno how good they are for FPS gaming. They're outstanding fun to type on.
 

Skarth

Member
Feb 25, 2006
144
0
76
Definitely go for the Quickfire *Rapid*. It's a Costar-made board, which means it's the same OEM as Filco, Das etc. Thus, if you ever need/want to replace the key caps, you've got the industry standard layout. Plus it's TKL. The only disadvantage is the ugly branding, but that can be remediated down the road with a new set of caps.

The Pro is not a Costar board (note the size of the windows and menu keys--not Filco compatible) and it's even uglier than the Rapid.

As for the switch selection, I prefer blues, which also happens to be the cheapest option, but the only game I currently play is SC2. Dunno how good they are for FPS gaming. They're outstanding fun to type on.

That defiantly helps my decision. I was torn between the rapid and pro, as the pro was more expensive normally and getting in on a sale sounded good. But knowing the rapid has the better manufacturer means I will go with the rapid.

Only decision now is to go for the red/black or the blue cherry switches.
 

Ben90

Platinum Member
Jun 14, 2009
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My personal favorite Cherry switches are Blues. They have two major downsides however. The first and main one is that they are pretty damn loud. It keeps setting off the microphone when not using push to talk. If that is not a concern and people around you are not going to be bothered by some clicking, then it doesn't apply too much.
The second concern and why Blues get a bad rap for gaming is because the actuation point is much lower than the reset point.
imageview.php

This only really matters in games where you need to hold the key down, release briefly, and press down again. Mostly first person shooters. Until you get used to having to release the key nearly all the way, it can be slightly bothersome.

But lets get to the advantages. Other than the new found "gaming" hype, the only real reason to get a mechanical board is because they feel better to type on. Blues just strait up feel better than Reds and especially Blacks to type on. We can discuss which switch is the best to game on until the end of time (Topre), but in the end it really doesn't affect your game in any way. Get what feels best to type on, and of the options presented, MX Blues are the clear winner. The only reason not to get Blues is if the sound and actuation point are deal breakers for you. Then the next course of action would be Browns.
 
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