** The Official OcUK Mechanical Keyboard Thread **

I moved from the Razor Blackwidow Ultimate to the QPAD MK-85 (red's) about four months ago. I didn't get on with the key placement on the Razor, especially the macro keys... But the QPAD is just amazing, nearly perfect for me. Great build quality, simple and comfortable key layout, I love the red switches (personal taste), and the rubberized finish on the keys and wrist rest is a really nice touch (pun intended).

I'm usually quite critical about computer kit, but its difficult to find anything bad to say about the QPAD. Its probably the best over all keyboard I've used so far.
 
I find the dampeners are negative with Browns. I have one on the spacebar to deaden the thud, and one of the lowest on the enter key to slightly soften the blow as I always mash enter for some reason :p

Good to hear you like it though!

One reason why the Razer keyboard with blues is feeling the same lgihtness, is because Razer get their switches to be 55g not 65g for activation. Browns are only 50g, but you will think the Blue's are lighter due to expecting them as be heavier :)
 
Ryan-3 said:
I find the dampeners are negative with Browns. I have one on the spacebar to deaden the thud, and one of the lowest on the enter key to slightly soften the blow as I always mash enter for some reason :p
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Ta Ryan.
What do you mean by "negative"? A negative feeling, i.e. worse experience in use with dampeners?
I take it you just used some generic O-Rings from somewhere?
 
I'm typing on the keyboard now and am wondering if the louder "thwack" sound on the MK-80 is stritcly on keys where there is an underlying cross bar, i.e. on Longer key caps?
They each seem to be slightly louder. Nothing compared to the spacebar though. That key has a massive loud thwack! I need to sort that as it's annoyed me instantly. The nosie is otherwise fairly clicky like the blues and I quite like it personally.
Argh the spacebar! Doing my nut. CLicky click clickety click THWACK clicky click THWACK.


EDIT: OMG the backlight is lush. :) :) :)
 
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It removes the full feeling of the switch when you use a '50A-R', making them 'less of a pleasure'. After a while though, the O-Ring does seem to 'work itself in' and feels abit better once that starts to happen.

I got mine from WASD, but I got them in their sample pack, where you get 5 from all 3 varieties they sell. Fine for me as I would only ever put them on the larger 'stabilised' keys. But yeah, the dull thud is much better than the THWACK :)
 
:)
Cheers for info. I think I will order some of those O-Rings. Surely they are just O-rings though? Can I not just pop down a local motor factors somewhere and get some? Do you know the diameter and/or thickness of them Ryan?

Also another quick question. Which do you prefer, keyboard propped up or keyboard totally flat on the desk? I know I'm totally 4nal about this, but what would be perfect for me is something in between the two. lol. Jeez I'm obsessed.

The quality of this keyboard though and the backlight...amazing.
 
I keep it flat with the profile of the keys, and it's more comfortable for me as I keep my hands constantly over the top.

According to the ruler, they're 50mm diameter - and WASD is the only place I know that sell them. I have heard of people getting them from DIY shops - but they usually are for Topre keyboards or the other switch variants.
 
Ryan-3 said:
I keep it flat with the profile of the keys, and it's more comfortable for me as I keep my hands constantly over the top.

According to the ruler, they're 50mm diameter - and WASD is the only place I know that sell them. I have heard of people getting them from DIY shops - but they usually are for Topre keyboards or the other switch variants.
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You've been a great help. Thanks. Glad to be a mechanical keyboard owner now and really liking the QPAD. I think I type better with it out flat rather than propped up. Not sure. Just trying to decide whether to keep the wrist pad on. Don't think it makes it any better or worse for me.

I think you meant 5mm for O-Rings. Cheers. I'll see if I can find some locally, but I can always put in an order at WASD. I will post back how I get on at some point.

One of the reaons I liked going for the QPAD, is that if I do find I can't possibly not use a mechanical day to day at work, I can always pick up the cheaper MK-50 (non backlit) for £60 ish with exactly the same layout and feel that I will be used to, again with Cherry MX Brown switches.
 
I have a CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid with Black switches but I'm tempted to get a QPAD MK 50 or 80 with Browns.

I love the black switches but I think I would like the brown even more, and the USB hub and headset ports would definitely be appreciated. Can anyone comment on the quality of the headset sound quality on the QPAD MK 80/85?

Edit: Nevermind, the 80 has 4 cables and not a unified USB interface for everything.
 
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Yeah, 50mm is abit... big. :p Was up early for the F1, and it pickled the brain.

I did think I would miss the wrist rest, but I havn't so far!
 
I left the wrist rest on on mine but the way I type, I can't say I can feel that if really offers anything in speed or comfort. It looks nice though so I will probably keep it on.

Kreeeee said:
I have a CMStorm Quick Fire Rapid with Black switches but I'm tempted to get a QPAD MK 50 or 80 with Browns.

I love the black switches but I think I would like the brown even more, and the USB hub and headset ports would definitely be appreciated. Can anyone comment on the quality of the headset sound quality on the QPAD MK 80/85?

Edit: Nevermind, the 80 has 4 cables and not a unified USB interface for everything.
Click to expand...

I could try it out for you but I don't use those features on mine as I have access to two other audio ports (well three actually if you count the rear ports) and I have a KVM switch in the mix too. I do use the USB hub though which works well.

The black switches are very different to the browns. If you are used to Blacks and then try anything else, they may feel to soft to press.
 
I just tried using a generic O-Ring I had lying around for the spacebar on my QPAD MK-80. It definitely eliminated the clack of the spacebar bottoming out to the point where it is no longer audible at all really. I just hear the other keys being pressed and clicking away and the spacebar blends into just not being recognised audibly unless you are really listening for it. I like hearing the clicking of the other keys anyway - not like blues - but the brown switches still have a distinct noise when pressed. I like this.

The O-Ring I used was from an old aircon seal O-Ring set from Halfords I still had in my toolbox (smallest green O-ring in the pack). I don't know what rating it was or anything but it fit snuggly over the space bar Keystem. There was an ever so slight difference in the key feel, but not in a negative way to me. The stroke felt ever so slightly reduced when bottoming out, and I'm talking a difference that is minute and hard to detect, but it is there. Some people I have seen even use double O-Rings stacked on top of each other for a very short stroke so they can mash the keys and still get short travel. So with one small O-Ring it's possible you would not be able to perceive a different at all depending on the hardness and feel of it when bottoming out.

The spacebar key I guess I must just mash and bottom out naturally from years of using rubber dome / membrane keyboard where my muscle memory in my thumb just hits the key down quickly to its full travel. It's the only key that I find loud. Maybe it's also to do with the crossbar and extra width of that key. Not sure.

I guess with O-rings it's a case of experimenting as you don't want to make it back to feeling like a rubber dome/membrane keyboard again otherwise there's no point in going mechanical some would argue. I think I am happy with just sorting out the spacebar, but if I can reduce the noise significantly accross the whole keyboard and the feel is exactly the same, then for me there's no reason not to go with a more silent setup. I'd rather type in silence if I could get away with it as it's really all about feel. A mechanical is never going to be silent though.

I think the noise of these things is more a novelty thing, and part of the experience. I would argue that the clicky sound of the blues (whilst satisfying) can not really assist you in knowing you have struck a key correctly because there is no way your brain has time to register the noise and accept that the key was struck before you would have moved onto the next key anyway. Since when typing at any kind of speed - even a relatively slow typist - your fingers are hitting keys so fast one after another that the sound cannot possibly assist in making decisions on errors. I think you know by feel instantly when you have miss typed or you would see it instantly on the screen anyway.

So I am going to get me some O-Rings. I see the WASD keyboards also sell O-Ring sets, but rather annoyingly they are $17.99 for one set, but I want to try all 3 hardness O-Rings. I'm not paying $53.97 + custom fees. That's getting close to £50.
I'll probably go and buy a few different types down a local shop or from ebay.


EDIT: Forgot to say that the spacebar has definitely got quieter without an O-Ring as well though. Not sure if this is because it has actually "worn in" (whatever that might mean!?). Or if I am just getting used to the actuation point and bottoming it out less. I'm pretty sure I bottom out the spacebar most of the time, but perhaps I am pressing more softly too the more I use it.
 
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Ryan-3 said:
Try this out first!

Gives you a feel of each. I'm sure i've posted about these before, and are very useful for everyone with or wanting a mech keyboard. ;)
Click to expand...

I have that sampler kit. But i ended up starting a mechanical keyboard collection, as i wanted one kb of each switch type ;).

Just be advised, that the noise will generally be louder when the switch is mounted on the plate/PCB as opposed to standalone as it is sold by WASD.

Brown:
IMG_0174_zps4319bfe5.jpg


Red:
IMG_1205_zps70e8d1ed.jpg


Blue, RMA'ed Brown and bought a Blue:
IMG_1222_zps712f28ce.jpg


Just need a Black and Green now, White/Milky will come, but vintage kbs are hard to come by.

My Personal favorite are Browns. Just a good all round switch. Only a tad higher in actuation force over the reds. Tactile bump is only slightly noticeable.

Reds are great but i find myself miss typing a lot. Perfect for FPS gaming. It is so light, I managed a 6 hour binge of BF3 with out fatigue.

I'm quite surprised that i liked Blues, RMAed my Ducky with Browns for it. The click gives a very satisfying feeling, it defines what a mechanical keyboard is. They are defiantly heavier than Browns, so i not optimal for the FPS games I play. Not because of the click as I used a headset anyways.

Blacks are even heavier than blues when trying the switches included in the sample pack. I don't have a keyboard with blacks yet but I really not sure if i like them. I defiantly like tactile over linear, So my next hunt will be Milky switches form a vintage keyboard, wish me luck.
 
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I only know of the "KBT Race 75%" keyboard coming with MX Milk/White - unless you specifically want a vintage keyboard.

I'm currently wanting MX Clear as I love the feel of them, but I'm waiting to see if WASDKeyboards are able to deliver and make their v2 available with them. If they can, i'll be ordering pretty quickly! :D
 
I just read up a bit on the MX White switch. It's specification seems very similar to MX Greens, i.e. a stiffer Blue switch. If the MX White is that similar to the MX Green, I might not bother with it and just go for the mainstream MX Green.

But the Clears look interesting. From what i read, it is a more tactile Brown. Browns are my favorite, it would only be perfect if it had a more pronounced tactile feel, and it sounds like Clear fits the bill.

My next board will probably be MX Green, as they are most different to the 3 boards I currently have.

I personally don't like the ABS key caps from WASDKeyboards, I am not sure if v2 will finally start using PBT caps, if not then you really are paying a premium for those ABS caps. I was also disappointed with the quality of a engraved set I bought from them a month ago. It was only outline engraved so you can feel them too easily when typing which is annoying.
 
Well I'm gutted. My week old QPAD MK-80 has encountered a problem. I am having to RMA it to OCUK as the USB Hub has failed in it. :(
I just want the same keyboard again but it to work and last. Lost faith in the QPAD a little now, as I have seen a few people have problems with the backlit LEDs failing too.

If it fails again I will have to import a Ducky Shine II at considerable expense I suspect.
 
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