Mechanical Keyboard Recommendations

[Joey D]

Who are the keyboard nerds here? @Terronium-12, you seem like a keyboard aficionado.

My old Razer mechanical keyboard finally died (I think it was a Blackwidow), and I need a new one. I don't know anything about mechanical keyboards other than I like typing on them way more than a standard keyboard.

Things I need:

• A 10 Key
• Function Keys
• Home Key
• Full-Sized (100%)
• Wired
• Preferably lighted since I work in a dark office. Yes, I know where the letter keys are, but I do need to look when I'm using function keys or other keys.

Looking at some of the offerings for mechanical keyboards, most seem minimalist. Unfortunately, because of the software I work with, I need a bunch of random-ass keys. Also, it seems like most are wireless and I hate wireless office equipment since I forget to charge it. I don't need multimedia keys or anything like that either.

I wouldn't mind one that I can customize a bit since I enjoy that, but I don't want to sit here and build a keyboard (I ain't got time for that).

I don't really understand the switches, but it looks like Red switches are the standard? I like clicky switches, but they annoy my wife, so maybe something that's not too over-the-top loud.

Also, I don't want to wait months and months for a keyboard. I want to order one ASAP since I'm currently using some no-name keyboard I got at Walmart today for $10 and I already hate it.

 

[Terronium-12]

Who are the keyboard nerds here? @Terronium-12, you seem like a keyboard aficionado.

My old Razer mechanical keyboard finally died (I think it was a Blackwidow), and I need a new one. I don't know anything about mechanical keyboards other than I like typing on them way more than a standard keyboard.

Things I need:

• A 10 Key
• Function Keys
• Home Key
• Full-Sized (100%)
• Wired
• Preferably lighted since I work in a dark office. Yes, I know where the letter keys are, but I do need to look when I'm using function keys or other keys.

Looking at some of the offerings for mechanical keyboards, most seem minimalist. Unfortunately, because of the software I work with, I need a bunch of random-ass keys. Also, it seems like most are wireless and I hate wireless office equipment since I forget to charge it. I don't need multimedia keys or anything like that either.

I wouldn't mind one that I can customize a bit since I enjoy that, but I don't want to sit here and build a keyboard (I ain't got time for that).

I don't really understand the switches, but it looks like Red switches are the standard? I like clicky switches, but they annoy my wife, so maybe something that's not too over-the-top loud.

Also, I don't want to wait months and months for a keyboard. I want to order one ASAP since I'm currently using some no-name keyboard I got at Walmart today for $10 and I already hate it.

How much are you looking to spend? Immediately, something like the G915 X comes to mind. Personally, I don't have any experience with their G-Romer switches but they're very well-regarded. If you want Cherry switches and don't want to bother with anything else, I'd recommend MX Brown and for that you could go with a Corsair K70 RGB. It won't be clicky but you'll get the tactile feedback.

The strange bit now is everyone has their own form of switch now, and I can only presume it's to not pay Cherry tax.

I'll do some looking around and see if there are any "older" keyboards still floating around because there's a lot to choose from.

 

[Joey D]

How much are you looking to spend? Immediately, something like the G915 X comes to mind. Personally, I don't have any experience with their G-Romer switches but they're very well-regarded. If you want Cherry switches and don't want to bother with anything else, I'd recommend MX Brown and for that you could go with a Corsair K70 RGB. It won't be clicky but you'll get the tactile feedback.

The strange bit now is everyone has their own form of switch now, and I can only presume it's to not pay Cherry tax.

I'll do some looking around and see if there are any "older" keyboards still floating around because there's a lot to choose from.

Thanks, I'll check those out.

As for price? I don't know, like less than $300? That's typically the most I can expense through work, and I'm probably going to expense this.

 

[Omnis]

I was gonna say just get a Drop keyboard, but it looks like they went out of business. I think you may still be able to get one through Corsair.

Make sure you get injected keycaps and not printed ones. I got low profile cooler master boards for my office with the cherry red low pro switches and the keys are all worn out after 4-5 years. Definitely would not recommend.

I’ve had a g skill board with mx browns for more than a decade and it’s still just fine. Mx brown is my preferred switch. They’re silent blues. Clicky blues are just dumb.

Now that mass drop is gone though I don’t know where all the keyboard nerds get their stuff. Maybe Etsy? You need like a special big dumb decorative keycap to replace your F2 lol

 

[Greycap]

As for the G915, I've had one since December 2022 and not a bad word to say about it. Sure, it's the wireless original and not the wired X, but if it works this well I can only imagine the revised model to be better. There's some typing noise as always with a mechanical but compared to the G613 that I had before it's night and day, this one has the tactile switches. Many people complain about the G Hub but I don't really know what they're trying to do with it, I used it to set the lighting pattern years ago and that was it. Just about as much as a "set and forget" keyboard as it gets.