Should I consider getting a mechanical keyboard based on the games I play?

lawrence281 · 24 Mar 2018 at 13:49

so I’ve been using my loyal Razer deathstalker for a good 4 years which is flat keys. Typing on it is good and accurate,don’t skip a beat and as for gaming, it’s served me well for OW, CSGO, Runescape among other games that are single players.

I’ve tried a steeelseries mx500 I believe cherry switch keyboard other day and instantly returned it, it’s so loud and typing feels so off. Why would anyone use them, which reason?

I’ve got a £120 BT prepaid card and thinking of trying something out if anyone has any suggestions and why, it’s just I live with my gf in a studio but I guess I could use it during the day and switch to razer during the night lol.

Thanks for any replies

TallPaul1878 · 24 Mar 2018 at 15:17

Consider fitting O rings to your mechanical keyboards. They aren't going to magically make them silent but they will dampen the sound enough to reduce the annoying clickety clack to a more reasonable level. They basically stop them from bottoming out so loudly.

Little_Crow · 24 Mar 2018 at 17:18

If you're using a keyboard in the same room as someone who is sleeping (or trying to sleep) then any mechanical keyboard is not a good choice.

If you value your relationship, then I'd probably steer clear

lawrence281 · 24 Mar 2018 at 18:42

TallPaul1878 said:
Consider fitting O rings to your mechanical keyboards. They aren't going to magically make them silent but they will dampen the sound enough to reduce the annoying clickety clack to a more reasonable level. They basically stop them from bottoming out so loudly.

Don’t have one, but wouldn’t know what’s what in the mechanical world. It all looks the same for me

lawrence281 · 24 Mar 2018 at 18:43

Little_Crow said:
If you're using a keyboard in the same room as someone who is sleeping (or trying to sleep) then any mechanical keyboard is not a good choice.

If you value your relationship, then I'd probably steer clear

I’d use it during the day, but would I notice improved gameplay with mechanical lol, can’t see how they’re better apart from feeling the keys more

TallPaul1878 · 24 Mar 2018 at 19:10

lawrence281 said:
Don’t have one, but wouldn’t know what’s what in the mechanical world. It all looks the same for me

Corsair Strafe with Cherry MX Silent switches is worth a look. Slap those O rings on to further dampen them and you should be golden.

lawrence281 · 25 Mar 2018 at 00:32

TallPaul1878 said:
Corsair Strafe with Cherry MX Silent switches is worth a look. Slap those O rings on to further dampen them and you should be golden.

Had a look but will read more reviews, it looks awesome. Are the rings easy to fit ?

TallPaul1878 · 25 Mar 2018 at 10:14

lawrence281 said:
Had a look but will read more reviews, it looks awesome. Are the rings easy to fit ?

You just pop the key covers off and put the ring over them. They're just little rubber washers to stop the plastic keys from bottoming out and making that clacky sound.

lawrence281 · 25 Mar 2018 at 18:46

TallPaul1878 said:
You just pop the key covers off and put the ring over them. They're just little rubber washers to stop the plastic keys from bottoming out and making that clacky sound.[/

Thought on this keyboard? Really like the look and how it’s built.
Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2

TallPaul1878 · 25 Mar 2018 at 22:18

lawrence281 said:
Thought on this keyboard? Really like the look and how it’s built.
Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2

They're all much of a muchness. Depends on which switches you want really. Everything else is really down to how you like the software and any extra media buttons etc.

Wulfster · 26 Mar 2018 at 08:01

lawrence281 said:
Thought on this keyboard? Really like the look and how it’s built.
Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2

I have this keyboard on one of my computers, it’s great. Build quality is solid and the wrist rest is awesome. Sounds great to type on too (orange variant is like cherry browns).

Best

Wulf

EsaT · 27 Mar 2018 at 11:02

lawrence281 said:
so I’ve been using my loyal Razer deathstalker for a good 4 years which is flat keys.

I’ve tried a steeelseries mx500 I believe cherry switch keyboard other day and instantly returned it, it’s so loud and typing feels so off.

All mechanical keyboards differ from rubber dome and scissor switches in their behaviour.
Instead of high force/resistance in upper position, mechanical switches have little or medium resistance in start of travel.
And instead of during bottom contact key press is registered about half way down.

That makes very light linear switches like Cherry MX Red to feel not having any feel before key press is registered.
If you're used to resting finger on keys that can cause accidental presses.

Another main type of mechanical switches are non-linear switches with "bump" in force curve before actuation point.
MX Retro aka Blue adds also wannabe mechanical typewriter noise effect.
(Razer Green is Razer's copy of it)
MX Brown has little smaller tactile bump, but no artificial extra sound and would be good starter switch.
It's just that without internal noise damping for also upstroke besides downstroke all mechanical switches (except Topre) are going to keep lots of noise.

lawrence281 said:
guess I could use it during the day and switch to razer during the night lol.

Constantly switching between two vastly different switch type keyboards would just likely result both feeling weird.
And if you're not used to feel technical differences are likely irrelevant for performance.

So if someone else is working/sleeping in same room would be pretty much best to keep using one keyboard which is quiet.
Or at least switch type should be one not differing too much in feel.
Logitech's Romer-G would be likely closest in feel with tactile bump starting in pretty much start of down travel.

sadbuttrue · 27 Mar 2018 at 11:34

I've owned keyboards with 7 different switches.

I'm an ex-Quake2/Quake3 player and would need to find a decent rubber dome keyboard if I took up gaming again. While mechanical is my choice for daily use and typing, none of the switches feel suitable for movement keys (WASD). The bottoming out and tactile response of rubber dome provides better feedback for quick and precise movement ime.

The problem - most rubber dome keyboards are utter tosh.

V F · 28 Mar 2018 at 12:29

sadbuttrue said:
I've owned keyboards with 7 different switches.

I'm an ex-Quake2/Quake3 player and would need to find a decent rubber dome keyboard if I took up gaming again. While mechanical is my choice for daily use and typing, none of the switches feel suitable for movement keys (WASD). The bottoming out and tactile response of rubber dome provides better feedback for quick and precise movement ime.

The problem - most rubber dome keyboards are utter tosh.

Is that similar to the Steelseries Apex M800?

KungFuSpaghetti · 28 Mar 2018 at 15:32

I have only ever had Cherry MX black, blue and red switched keyboards before which were okay. I actually preferred my Logitech K750 membrane keys over these though, felt better in every usage scenario. I'm using the K750 wireless on my HP server and for my gaming/work PC I bought a Logitech 810 Orion Spectrum. Love it, best keyboard I've ever used. Prefer these Romer-G switches to any of the Cherry ones I've owned and used in the past as they feel better and are infinitely quieter. My work keyboard has MX reds, which is okay for typing on, but still a bit loud.

Cromulent · 31 Mar 2018 at 17:58

I just bought some O rings for my Cherry MX Blue keyboard to hopefully make the keyboard somewhat quieter as it is bloomin' loud at the moment. I love the keyboard, but the noise is a bit much especially at night.