Mechanical Keyboards - Anyone here a fan? Can anyone recommend a good 75% keyboard?

Off-topic Chatter
161

I agree, I prefer a rigid board instead of a bouncy squishy one. That’s part of why I like the plastic Keychron V1. It’s a tray mount board instead of gasket mount, and it has no fancy flex cuts or anything… so it’s rigid instead of bouncy. This also makes it cheaper, because it’s way easier to build than a fancy padded gasket mount.

OTOH, my metal Q65 isn’t rigid… it’s bouncy. Because, like most higher-end keyboards lately, it has those extra features designed to make the typing surface physically flexible. So I would prefer a simpler plastic “V65” version of it instead of the premium metal Q65. It would be more rigid, slightly lower profile due to the simpler internals, less cold to the touch, better-sounding, and about half as heavy.

Anyway, if you want rigid, try to find a cheap tray-mount board. The case material has almost no effect on how bouncy or rigid it is to type on. A tray mount and/or metal plate helps, but those things seem to be more common in plastic cases, since metal cases tend to be more premium boards with bouncier internals.

I got the 68g Boba U4, and ended up feeling like they were slightly too firm. I should have gotten the 62g version instead. But I’m really happy with both the silent and regular versions of the Durock T1.

Also, after looking at Akko’s site a few days ago, their “penguin” switch looks interesting too. I haven’t tried it, and they come out with new switches so fast it’s hard to ever find any real measurements, but at least based on what their page says, it looked promising.

Or for something completely different, there’s the Hako True switch. It has a long, tall force curve after activation, which I’ve heard described as “like typing on clouds”. Or like pressing on a sponge. It’s designed to not bottom out, which makes it very quiet. That’s what I have on my Whitefox. However, the unusually high bottom-out pressure also makes it tiring to hold a key down. And the tactile feel on it is otherwise really weak, so it feels almost like a linear switch during use, but with kind of a scratchy bit in the middle.

162

Found this site. Lots of KB info and reviews.
https://switchandclick.com/
and this place that sells all sorts of switches.
Switches (epomaker.com)
How the heck does anyone wade through all the choices?
It would be nice if there was a list that showed the graphs or at least the force next to the key type.
I’m interested in a quiet tactile with a heavy bump with a good bit of travel before the bump. Any suggestions?
All the Best,
Jeff

163

I think that is great question. I keep considering a new keyboard. The graphs don’t help much when one hasn’t a clue how that translates into actuall feel. So my eyes glaze over and I get a headache when considering switches. I am not sure how much it would matter to me. In IT for a very long time and travelling a bunch, I just got used to typing on whatever was available. That and the fact that I refuse to go down a path where I buy multiple sets of switches to try them. It makes this real hard.

164

That makes sense. I guess I still like the idea of having some metal though. It’s like, even if I could have a flashlight in plastic and it would perform the same as an aluminum one, I’d still opt for aluminum. There’s just something satisfying about something made well out of metal.

Believe me, this waffling is driving me nuts too lol. My wants are too specific. Rather than having 10 keyboards I’m trying to shove all me needs and wants into 2. It’s like trying to buy your endgame flashlight in one go instead of starting a collection. But I’m not giving up yet!

165

I’m trying out the Razer Blackwidow V4 75%. I thought I should just commit to a true gaming keyboard since it would hopefully have the features I want/need for that use-case. (north facing rgb and extremely low latency) And then I would get another keyboard to use the rest of the time.

That’s how it started, this is how it’s going:

Pros:

  • 75% form factor
  • audio roller is convenient and seems solid
  • hotswap sockets
  • north facing switches for good legend illumination
  • software technically works
  • optional 8000hz polling rate
  • by default, holding the FN key will light up the shortcut keys in white–very nice!

Cons:

  • Most bloated driver software I’ve ever seen–waaay too many background processes
  • The Razer Synapse application (not just the services) must be running to maintain the rgb settings… wtf
  • Weirdly awkward to type on - maybe the key profile is non-standard
  • Razer Orange switches feel like crap to me
  • This keyboard sounds worse than either the Epomaker TH80 SE or the FiiO KB3, both of which cost less. (It’s weird because it has sound dampening mods out of the box)
  • after one gaming session, I can observe that pressing the space bar down on one side feels significantly different from pressing it down on the other side. Either it came like that or one gaming session ruined a stabilizer. That’s nuts. My cheap $60 Magicforce68 feels better to type on and play on than this and I’ve been abusing it since 2017. (well, more use than abuse, I don’t get violent with my peripherals)

The stabilizers are replaceable, and I wanted to try different switches anyway, but it feels bad that the board doesn’t feel “good enough” out of the box for ~$200. The FiiO KB3 felt good enough that I didn’t think upgrades were a necessity. This one feels like it needs immediate help. Also, I don’t know if I can live with this software. It’s so damn invasive.

1 Thank
166

I’ll use this thread to post some pics of a board I built today - an Anvil Native 75 Founders Edition. Using Gateron Box Pink Ink (lubed with Tribosys 3204 and Krytox 105), and Durock v2 stabilizers (lubed with Tribosys 3204 and XHT-BDZ). Keycaps are in the basement and it is late, so will finish the build tomorrow. A pretty simple but fun board - and one I designed the electronics for. Made by a small German startup, sold only domestically AFAIK.

photo_2024-04-29_22-48-00
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-001616×1080 160 KB
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-02
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-021616×1080 156 KB

photo_2024-04-29_22-48-07
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-071616×1080 181 KB
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-09
photo_2024-04-29_22-48-091616×1080 209 KB

4 Thanks
167

I sent back the Razer Blackwidow V4 75%.

The switches grew on me, and I was able to disable a little of the software bloat. Unfortunately, the spacebar was worse than the one on my old keyboard. I was going to just replace the stabilizers, but then I discovered that pulling keycaps causes many of the switches to pull out too. I was worried that this would cause issues in the future including wobbling of the switch housings, and premature wear to the hotswap sockets. It was the last day in the return window, so I just brought it back.

I really wanted that one to work out since I think the latency is best-in-class and I liked how all of the board was filled with buttons leaving no useless blank spaces.

1 Thank
168

One of my membrane keyboards is starting to slowly fail.
The CTRL key on the left, which I use more frequently than any other key, is experiencing some resistance when I press on it.
I’m looking at a couple of keyboards, one of which was linked to by @ebastler
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09M76TX3L
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YRRLV25
If I eventually decide to quit using the problematic membrane keyboard, I’ll most likely order one of these two keyboards listed on Amazon. :keyboard:

169

Went with a Keychron K5 Max with brown switches in the end, I eventually decided low profile switches are what I enjoy the most, and can live with the far reduced number of options compared to full height. I’ve still got full size switches in my macro pad for satisfying that “wonder what that key feels like” itch.

170

Not a 75 % keyboard, but I use a TKL, a Keychron K8 RGB with aluminum frame and Gateron Red.

I installed white Steelseries Prismcaps in pudding style.

Just enough to get typing work done.

2 Thanks
171

Necrobump!
Last night, I ordered my first mechanical keyboard! :keyboard:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YRRLV25
There was a clickable coupon that brought the price down to $49.60 before tax.
The keyboard that I ordered is version 3.0, and there’s a version 3.1 that’s out, but it’s $100 (or $120 without prime.) :dollar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3MKVPPT

1 Thank
172

Nice, I only use mechanical keyboards.

1 Thank
173

Lies!

174

I received this keyboard today, and I’m using it right now.
It’s pretty darn quiet for a mechanical keyboard, which is exactly what I was looking for.
The keys are illuminated, but the font on each key is small and very tough to read.
That said, the keyboard seems to be built like a tank, so hopefully it’ll last me a long time before any durability issues occur.
When typing, the keyboard seems to have a mind of its own, and it does strange things because I’m probably hitting extra keys.
I’m guessing I’m just not used to the keyboard yet, and that problem will disappear with time (as I get used to the keyboard.) :+1:

175

Luckily there are at least 30 other models of mechanical switches to try! :wink:

1 Thank
176

The switches are fine.
The issue that I think will get better is me getting used to the layout of the new keyboard.
Some of the keys are in slightly different places, so I’m accidentally hitting the wrong keys. :upside_down_face:

177

I’m currently waiting for this (Dionysus color):

Will be my keyboard in the office. The 75 form factor, additional macro column and split design is exactly what I need for my work.

Will add some Invokeys Daydreamers, heavy silent tactiles:

My current board is an old Cherry G80-1800 with a custom new PCB and QMK (made by me), but my coworkers complained the MX Black are too loud, and for my work I prefer tactiles.

1 Thank
178

I’m using Monsgeek M1 V5 VIA, it’s a nice aluminum board.

I bought a barebone version and built as an office setting, PBT keycaps (locally) with Akko Penguin silent tactile switches.

20250901_101407736_1
20250901_101407736_11920×1115 186 KB

It also has the prebuilt version with many config to choose from.

179

Looks pretty nice. You left out something important though…

PCB:
Designed by ebastler

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

I like the symmetry. Reminds me of one of the best models I’ve used… the IBM M15. I still have one, but it hasn’t been used in ages. It’s not easy to use old PS/2 boards any more, and some of the buckling spring switches need repair but aren’t very replaceable, and it takes a lot more desk space than what I use now, and it doesn’t really work on a lap. But I had lots of good times with it.

ibm-m15
ibm-m151024×706 189 KB

Those seem nice too. They sound like they’d be very similar to Boba U4 or Durock T1 Silent, which are two of my favorites.

1 Thank
180

Originally I wanted fo get U4 for the board, then some people told me these are even better in their opinion - I already know and own U4, so I thought it’d be nice to try these if they are said to be similar but nicer. I can let you know how I like them once they show up!

Haha, yeah. Tbh, it’s the only way for me to get such an expensive board. I know that the price is fair (complex design, small batch), but it’d just be too expensive for me personally. I love getting one board as part of my payment whatever possible, though!

I think these designs were part of the inspiration for Theseus. For my work I mainly have one hand permanently on the mouse and the other has to do shortcuts on the keyboard (and access the entire keyboard), so a more ergonomic column stagger design or something like Alice is not really feasible (not one-hand-accessible).

This is the most ergonomic I can get while still being easy to use with a single hand, so it should be nice.