Keyboard Recommendations

[Essence_of_War]

Hi,

I'm looking for a keyboard that:
1) Is backlit
2) Lets me press a ton of keys
3) Will not wake my sleeping gf/soon-to-be-wife in the next room.
4) Gives me some tactile feedback.

I'm pretty close to a microcenter, so I was looking at this:
Ducky Black KB w/ Cherry MX Brown w/ Backlight

Only downside is that I had been thinking about getting one that came with o-rings already installed to cut down on the bottoming out noise. Maybe something like this logitech G710 model?

I had also been looking at one with scissor switches, since my understanding is those are pretty quiet, like this logitech G105, also backlit

Any recommendations/opinions on any of these models?

 

[NewYorksFinest]

if you can spend $100, the Corsair K70 is excellent.

 

[whistleblower]

The black Widow 2014 edition is a very nice choice too

http://youtu.be/mU2kAy01cdQ

 

[ithehappy]

Well if you want a really silent keyboard then maybe you have to skip Mechanical? Don't know.

I'm getting the QF Ultimate day after tomorrow, but it might not suit you as you need tons of keys...Anyway...

 

[alexeus]

Gonna also vote for Corsair K70, but it's not so quiet. Didn't found any mechanical keyboard that it's silence ... maybe in the future. If you prefer a Logitech, I would recommend Logitech g110.

 

[shinta86]

I have the G710+ and I love it. I have my computer in the bedroom and it doesn't wake my wife when she is sleeping in the bed a couple feet away. Another good Cherry Brown keyboard would be the Corsair Vengeance K70.

 

[NewYorksFinest]

The K70 isnt that loud. I have the K95 and while still being loud, not the loudest Ive seen.

 

[Jumpem]

All mechanicals are quite noisy. I tried the Corsair K70 with MX Reds and Logitech G710 with MX Browns and dampeners. I will stick with rubber dome models.

 

[Anubis]

i use reds at home (K60) and black at work (monoprice) the blacks are louder but neither should wake someone up who is sleeping in the next room unless you type with a sledge hammer

 

[Essence_of_War]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I decided to bite the 10-dollar bullet and pick up a sampler set with o-rings to test a couple of different switches against my rubber dome keyboard in person before I committed to any of them.

jumpen, you were not particularly impressed with the logitech's mx browns w/ o-ring dampeners?

 

[Ben90]

If you don't really need backlighting that much I recommend searching for a board that uses PBT keycaps instead since the two are pretty much mutually exclusive.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I'll keep that in mind, I'd kind of like backlight though. I often play in a room lit only by the monitor's glow and my current backlight-less KB is kind of annoying.

 

[bononos]

If you're one room away I don't think the noise from a mechanical keyboard is going to be a problem. And if you don't use headphones while gaming, the speakers are going to be more of an issue than the keyboard.

 

[Jumpem]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

I decided to bite the 10-dollar bullet and pick up a sampler set with o-rings to test a couple of different switches against my rubber dome keyboard in person before I committed to any of them.

jumpen, you were not particularly impressed with the logitech's mx browns w/ o-ring dampeners?

The build quality was good, though not as impressive as the K70. It was just louder than I expected. I prefer to listen to the television, or have a conversation, not listen to keys being pressed. Key travel seems longer too, which I don't like.

 

[Cerb]

All mechanicals are quite noisy. I tried the Corsair K70 with MX Reds and Logitech G710 with MX Browns and dampeners. I will stick with rubber dome models.

Even MX Blues don't hold a candle to buckling springs!

I'm getting a G710+ for office use, due to that problem, though (well, and other reasons, as far as picking that particular model goes). Ironically, I'm typing this on an old (as in beige PS/2) Dell Quietkey, and it's no quieter than unhushed blacks or browns (Dell has definitely made them quieter, over the years). A mechanical would be hard to make quieter than some mushy domes, but there are domes lower than some mechs, too. Generally, any keyboard with substantial resistance to pressing, that isn't a scissor key type, will end up louder than a more mushy feeling one, if not mechanical. Scissors remove a lot of travel, but can be very quiet while still providing good resistance.

 

[Essence_of_War]

If you're one room away I don't think the noise from a mechanical keyboard is going to be a problem. And if you don't use headphones while gaming, the speakers are going to be more of an issue than the keyboard.

In the interest of being maximally considerate I'm already wearing headphones

 

[JamesV]

I love my G710+, except for one thing - for some reason Logitech got rid of being able to bind any key to whatever you want, like you could on older models. The only keys you can rebind are the G keys on the side.

It is nowhere near as loud as my BlackWidow Ultimate (blues), and my typing speed actually increased after getting it. It just feels so much better to type on.

I'd be wary of ever buying a Corsair KB... just look at the posts here with people having issues, and posts everywhere with lighting issues. Maybe after they have been in the market a while longer, but right now I wouldn't bet my money on one.

 

[Skott]

I recently went with the Corsair Raptor K40. 16.8 million colors to choose from(one of its best features). Not clicky so wont wake anyone. $80. I love it. Its not mechanical but that doesn't make it bad. I can tell what keys I'm pressing and when. It has 6 programmable buttons on the left side so you can do macros. If your on a budget its worth looking into.