Looking for a good backlit mechanical keyboard

erazor51 · 23 Sep 2012 at 15:58

I need help buying a good Mechanical Keyboard.

Requirements:

Cherry MX Black Switches
Backlit
UK Layout

No budget.

Thanks

BuToNz · 23 Sep 2012 at 16:11

Qpad MK-85, Fantastic keyboard. You'll have to order directly from QPad though if you want black switches as OcUK only stock the Red Switch model.

Vidya · 23 Sep 2012 at 16:18

Razer black widow/corsair k90 i think it's called

BuToNz · 23 Sep 2012 at 16:36

Vidya said:
Razer black widow/corsair k90 i think it's called

The Corsair is red switches and the Razer is blue.

CM Storm Trigger is another option but I'd go for the no frills QPad still.

Vidya · 23 Sep 2012 at 16:37

BuToNz said:
The Corsair is red switches and the Razer is blue.

oh my bad I read cherry and imagined the colour red and im sureo ne of the razer boards use red

erazor51 · 23 Sep 2012 at 17:57

Is there a big difference between black and reds?

This keyboard looks amazing but are in red switches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4EFIKvNNzA&feature=player_embedded

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4179#kf

BuToNz · 23 Sep 2012 at 19:44

Red requires less force to push...Good article here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/242037/mechanical_keyboard_faq_pick_the_right_switch.html

IT Troll · 29 Sep 2012 at 19:36

erazor51 said:
Is there a big difference between black and reds?

This keyboard looks amazing but are in red switches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4EFIKvNNzA&feature=player_embedded

http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4179#kf

That Gigabyte Aivia Osmium does look good and is getting great reviews across the web. I found it for just under £100 and so have placed an order as a replacement for my BlackWidow Ultimate.

"Cherry MX Black switches are purely linear (non-tactile), making them ideal for first-person shooter games. Since the keys in this type of gaming scenario are pressed frequently (and often with considerable force), a detectable pressure point is not necessary, and in some cases even disruptive."

"The rarely-encountered Cherry MX Red switches are a special variation on the MX Black, and are distinguished by a very low compression point and a low operating force."

So it sounds like they are quite similar.

olivier renault · 29 Sep 2012 at 20:54

yeah, but strangely, reds are becoming more common on gaming keyboards.

Can't fault my Qpad MK-85 (with browns).

jackocurly0074 · 30 Sep 2012 at 01:13

I have the QPAD MK50 which is more or less the same as the QPAD MK85 with the USB hub and the lights! I would say that the build quality is ok, but it is no Filco, I owned a Filco Brown for 2 weeks and this is the best Mechanial keyboard i have used, very sturdy and well built. Unfortunately I don't think they offer a back lit version.

Probably wouldn't go for the Razer mechanicals as they aren't all NKRO, which if you want something decent is essential. I have a Cherry MX Blue keyboard and would say that what you like to type on is very subjective. I prefer blues for typing but the tactile and audible click can be annoying in games, so for those I use Reds. The QPad build quality I would say could be better, perhaps the corsair might be better?

If you order from the QPAD website you can pay a little more to get the key switches of your choice...

jackocurly0074 · 30 Sep 2012 at 01:15

Also, this forum here has loads and loads of info about all the different types of mechanical switch, there are many! Worth a look to get an idea of what is available and the better boards ->

http://geekhack.org/index.php

BluSky · 30 Sep 2012 at 01:19

I would recommend one of the ducky shine keyboards, unfortunately they are only available in US layout I believe. I am typing this post on a ducky dragon of the year edition with red switches, it is basically a limited edition tenkeyless version of the shine 2 and I must say I am absolutely loving it coming from an old scissor switch type.

IT Troll · 30 Sep 2012 at 08:24

jackocurly0074 said:
If you order from the QPAD website you can pay a little more to get the key switches of your choice...

That choice comes at a price, 150-170 Euro for the backlit keyboards.

Also, I wish they hadn't felt the need to cover the keyboard and wrest in multiple logos.

IT Troll · 30 Sep 2012 at 08:32

BluSky said:
I would recommend one of the ducky shine keyboards, unfortunately they are only available in US layout I believe.

They do look good, shame about being US only.

androo · 30 Sep 2012 at 10:20

I have the Q-Pad MK-85 with reds and I really like it. It can be a little noisy to type on but build quality seems fine and the back lighting is nice and even with each key having it's own LED.

jackocurly0074 · 30 Sep 2012 at 11:20

The quality of the keyboard is ok, but if you take a look at the keycaps and the mechanisms beneath it isn't as good as my MX Blue Cherry board, but that isn't NKRO and fitting everything in at the price they do is they have to cut back somewhere.

IT Troll · 3 Oct 2012 at 23:07

Now typing on my new Gigabyte Aivia Osmium and really liking it so far. It addresses all the niggles I had with my BlackWidow Ultimate.

Quite MX Red switches and keys (the BWU uses MX Blues which are very clicky)
Matt finish throughout (the body of the BWU is very glossy)
Regular keycap font (the BWU uses a "cool" gamer font)
64-key rollover (the BWU is 2-6 KRO depending on key clustering)

The Osmium does in fact have winkey lock, something which several of the reviews do not make clear. The on-board USB 3.0 port is also a useful bonus.

Any bad points?

I am not keen on plastic wrist rests and so I am using a a 3M Gel instead.
The cable is very thick, but when bent into position does at least hold it's position well.
The box is ridiculously large.

I haven't bothered with the macro software yet as this is not a feature I currently have a use for.

erazor51 · 5 Oct 2012 at 15:32

IT Troll said:
Now typing on my new Gigabyte Aivia Osmium and really liking it so far. It addresses all the niggles I had with my BlackWidow Ultimate.

Quite MX Red switches and keys (the BWU uses MX Blues which are very clicky)

Matt finish throughout (the body of the BWU is very glossy)

Regular keycap font (the BWU uses a "cool" gamer font)

64-key rollover (the BWU is 2-6 KRO depending on key clustering)

The Osmium does in fact have winkey lock, something which several of the reviews do not make clear. The on-board USB 3.0 port is also a useful bonus.

Any bad points?

I am not keen on plastic wrist rests and so I am using a a 3M Gel instead.

The cable is very thick, but when bent into position does at least hold it's position well.

The box is ridiculously large.

I haven't bothered with the macro software yet as this is not a feature I currently have a use for.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I ended up buying the Gigabyte keyboard. After a days usage i have to say i'm loving it.

I have tested the macro software and its very easy to use and set-up. I am currently using the keys to purchase weapons on cs:go and it works flawlessly

Mei · 5 Oct 2012 at 15:38

im liking the look of their other one too
http://uk.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2789#ov
tho not backlit kinda reminds me of the old ibm keyboards, i use to use one of them
hope they make some more diff kinds, i only want small ><

olivier renault · 5 Oct 2012 at 21:06

erazor51 said:
Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I ended up buying the Gigabyte keyboard. After a days usage i have to say i'm loving it.

I have tested the macro software and its very easy to use and set-up. I am currently using the keys to purchase weapons on cs:go and it works flawlessly

Probably the keyboard to have right now.