Mechanical Keyboard Quality

[marcplante]

I'm shopping for a backlit mechanical keyboard and am getting mixed messages about the quality levels offered by some of the more prominent companies. I was considering the RGB keyboards from Corsair (K70 RGB brown) and Razer (Blackwidow Chronus RGB Stealth) and am reading about issues buggy software interfering with the usability of the keyboards and keys and LEDs failing a little too frequently for devices with the price points that they command.

I tend to be at my home workstation in the evenings working under lower lighting, and I thought a nicely colored keyboard would add an interesting touch, but I now wonder about the quality and hassle of RMAs. Do I retreat to a logitech 710 mechanical? I've had very good luck with Logitech support if nothing else.

Experiences? Opinions?

Marc Plante
Home Built Deskop
Asus N56 Notebook

 

[sphenodont]

Are you working or gaming? If you're working, you shouldn't need any of the extra software and you don't need to be looking at a gaming keyboard. (Of course, if you want the rainbow-colored LEDs, that might be where you have to look.)

Corsair uses Cherry switches and Razer uses Kailh. For that reason, I'd lean towards the Corsair. No idea about their warranty support, though.

 

[marcplante]

mostly typing, some gaming. Thinking that the premium for rgb keys isn't worth it right now, so corsair k70 if I can find the browns, or a Rosewill. I like the usb and audio hacks on the keyboard as I do a fair amount if skype conferencing with a headset and need to remove it when my young son is using my pc.

 

[bononos]

I'm shopping for a backlit mechanical keyboard and am getting mixed messages about the quality levels offered by some of the more prominent companies. I was considering the RGB keyboards from Corsair (K70 RGB brown) and Razer (Blackwidow Chronus RGB Stealth) and am reading about issues buggy software interfering with the usability of the keyboards and keys and LEDs failing a little too frequently for devices with the price points that they command.

I tend to be at my home workstation in the evenings working under lower lighting, and I thought a nicely colored keyboard would add an interesting touch, but I now wonder about the quality and hassle of RMAs. Do I retreat to a logitech 710 mechanical? I've had very good luck with Logitech support if nothing else.

Experiences? Opinions?
......

Razer has shifted to kailh switches, whether they are up to cherry standards, we don't know yet. And even if they are, Razer keyboards are less well built and have lower durability compared to solid brands like Filco/ducky. The failing led issue might've been fixed by Corsair since it was a while back, you might want to check their forum.
The Logitech 710 has a problem with broken keycap stems, probably caused by the o-rings which could be fixed by getting new (stronger?) aftermarket keycaps and/or thinner o-rings.

https://forums.logitech.com/t5/Logi...al-use-plastic-tops-Where-to-get/td-p/1075449

 

[QueBert]

I never Googled to see if it was an issue, but 5 of my keys suffered from that keycap stim thing on my 710. I had it about 6 months and keys just started falling off.

 

[TidusZ]

I got a cm quickfire rapid and although it's good it had 2 keys fail after ~8 months and I had to do RMA, which took like 8 weeks to get a replacement.

My brother has a ducky and it's really nice. It's what I'd get if I bought a new kb.

For typing you definitely want blue or brown switches, having used both for a while I'd recommend the blues. I prefer them for typing and gaming. The reds are really nice for playing cs and the black are just a stiffer red. No tactile response or click on actuation at all though.

I think if the keyboard you buy has cherry switches then it's not going to be all that different quality-wise.

 

[marcplante]

So...razer sounds like their mfg quality isn't great, rosewell has a problematic usb connector in the back of their units, Logitech just plain breaks...I guess corsair if I can find one. It appears the brown lit switches are in short supply...lots if reds around...

 

[Phaetos]

So...razer sounds like their mfg quality isn't great, rosewell has a problematic usb connector in the back of their units, Logitech just plain breaks...I guess corsair if I can find one. It appears the brown lit switches are in short supply...lots if reds around...

Good luck finding Rosewill's anywhere. They seem to be decent keyboards at good prices, but they are out of stock everywhere that sells them, even Newegg doesn't have any of the middle-road boards in stock, only the high-priced ones.

 

[marcplante]

update. It looks like the Roswell note has a hard wired connector. Game back on...I'm back to the corsair or roswell brown.

 

[titanicdave]

I bought my son a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 (which has cherry switches) and he LOVES it. I have just retired my old Logitech G15 in favour of a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate Chroma, only just got it, but coming from a membrane keyboard it feels very different, but nice just the same. Can't say about the build quality as yet, but its very nice to type on. Got to try some gaming now.

 

[JechtShot]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...s=max+keyboard

Like you, I have done extensive research before buying mine. For a no frills mechanical keyboard, this is the one i got - Cherry MX Brown switches with Green back light. I wanted white but they were out of stock. I have called them several times and not only were they very nice and informative, they were local to my work area which means I can stop by anytime. Their custom keycaps are nice, i ordered a bunch of them.

The only complaint really from people was that the LEDs around the number lock could not be disabled. Its not that bright IMO but YMMV.h

Forgot to mention: Quality is outstanding, thick braided cables with gold plated usb and headphone pass-through on keyboard. Laser etched keys - they even give you the option to buy LED colored bulbs on their main site and you can solder whatever color you wish. They have tutorials on Youtube.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

Wanted to chime in,
I'm late but have to say just picked up a Razor BlackWidow Tournament Edition Stealth 2014. Only had it like three weeks, the V key sticks, the left caps lock key cap fell off. This is a board Razor used there own home made mechanical keys, the keys feel alright..................
And Yes I did not do my home work, and got what I paid for! For the money I'd pass on Razor :thumbsdown:.

 

[TidusZ]

IMO Razor has increasingly become a peddler of cheap goods at high prices with a focus on marketing. They started out with a good single product in 1998, Razer boomslang, and then had some nice mice early on, but over time the quality got worse and quantity of products increased, and marketing became the focus. Any product you get from Razer seems to have a limited life expectancy due to poor build quality with parts that are guaranteed to fail. One example, my brother got a Razer mamba $130 mouse and a plastic piece in the scrollwheel failed. He RMAd and the same piece failed in short order. The only thing I'd buy from Razer these days is a mousepad (I've had my Razer exactmat for almost 10 years, although the futureshop brand rocketfish sells the exact same pad for less, literally exact same but doesn't say razor on it).


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817114323

vs

http://www.amazon.com/Rocketfish-Uni...pr_product_top

I own both btw

 

[paul878]

I am using an old IBM black model M keyboard and I don't see myself changing anytime soon. Unicomp still makes these keyboard under their own name with the Windows key.

 

[AMD64Blondie]

Unicomp Customizer 101 all the way:
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UNI041A

(I'm actually using a old-school 1991 IBM Model M,which is what the Unicomp is based off of..)

(It's not backlit,but I just thought I'd give my opinion.)

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

I have heard good things about these keyboard, not cheap at all. I mean for the 50 bucks i spent im happy just not totally thrilled is all.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823567001

 

[marcplante]

you mean 150 bucks. At that price, I'm looking at a ducky shine 4

 

[DigDog]

eh ..

i have bough a very expensive CODE, it comes with cherry mx clears, which are supposedly very stiff.. but they aren't. gaming on it is essentially identical to when i was on a cheap, low-height keys (similar to a notebook kb).

for gaming, a mechanical doesnt do anything that a £3 dell kb doesn't. you can go for really light switches, like cherry reds, but i'd rather go the other way around.
yes, its got a nice backlight, and it's tenkeyless, which is good. its solid and will probably last 20 years.
still, the only noticeable change is that it has rollover, which is good. but, it took me time to get used to the raised keys - cherry switches are much taller than a modern rubber dome.

so .. typing. imho, you can't beat the buckling spring. i'm going to get a unicomp in a couple months, to bring to work(i do a ton of typing).

fun fact. i work at IBM, in the same center that used to house the factory making IBM type M.

 

[ViviTheMage]

you mean 150 bucks. At that price, I'm looking at a ducky shine 4

Love my ducky ... I have two. One for work, and one for home!

 

[rchunter]

Just bought a Filco Majestouch Ninja blue switch and I love it. And it works with my kvm!! I'm a happy camper. This thing should last me a good 10 years.

 

[bigboxes]

I've got a pair of Cherry G80. They have Cherry MX Blues and were only $60. Love the hell out of the keyboard. Once you go mechanical you can't go back to membrane. I know you want LED backlit. I too might like that on occasion as my workstation is dimly lit at night and the keyboard is black. I can't say that I would like it backlit all the time as I like the low light. I do have an OttLite for the desktop so I get natural light that isn't shining into my face. But my keyboard is on a pullout tray so many times the upper keys appear quite dark. I can type by touch so normally it isn't an issue.

 

[DigDog]

For that reason, I'd lean towards the Corsair. No idea about their warranty support, though.

corsair are legendary in how awesome their support is.

kahil switches are not bad. mechanical switches are so superior to rubber dome that even if they were of lower quality than cherry, they would still perform well for many years.

IF

kahil switches in razer keyboards are designed to have a shorter actuation than cherry. there is no reason to think they are inferior in any way, but people just assume, since cherry is such a sacred beast.

 

[bigboxes]

corsair are legendary in how awesome their support is.

kahil switches are not bad. mechanical switches are so superior to rubber dome that even if they were of lower quality than cherry, they would still perform well for many years.

IF

kahil switches in razer keyboards are designed to have a shorter actuation than cherry. there is no reason to think they are inferior in any way, but people just assume, since cherry is such a sacred beast.

C'mon DigDog. Cherry switches have earned their reputation. Have Kahil? It's ok to critique another product base on their perceived quality, is it not? It may be anecdotal, but that is up to the individual reader to decide. If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. Just wanted our readers to know that it's Rush's 40th anniversary. Peace.

 

[DigDog]

yeah but a mechanical switch isn't *that* complicated; when a chinese, MODERN company decides to replicate them, how badly can they ... never mind, don't answer that.

 

[bononos]

yeah but a mechanical switch isn't *that* complicated; when a chinese, MODERN company decides to replicate them, how badly can they ... never mind, don't answer that.

Kailh switches aren't gold plated, possibly had an issue with breaking stems with their earliest yellow version (now discontinued I think) and from their specs seem to have high tolerances for the amount of force to actuate (I can't find that bit in the Cherry spec to compare).