Mechanical Keyboards and why you should get one.

Gaming Other Games
#1

Rarely do I ever make threads like this, but I feel that I should spread the word of Mechanical Keyboards.

Mechanical Keyboards are, simply put, keyboards that do not use rubber membranes. Most keyboards use a sheet of rubber with little “bubbles” under each key. When you press them down, the rubber pops back up and pushes the key up with it.

Mechanical Keyboards are different in the way that they use individual switches to push the keys back up. The most common of these being CherryMX switches, ALPS, and Buckling Springs.

Cherry Switches look like this.

Seeing as these are the most common in modern mechs, I’ll only talk about these. But if you want to learn more about the different types, you can look here. http://deskthority.net/wiki/Main_Page

Mech’s feel amazing to type on, however each different type of cherry switch feels different. Either lighter or heavier, tactile or linear. Tactile switches are clicky, linear are smooth. These are distinguished by the color of the stem (the + piece in the picture). Blues are a normal weight tactile piece, meaning they’re clicky. The one pictured is an MXBlack switch, my favourite, it’s heavy to type on and is linear which is great for gaming.

If you want a damn good keyboard that feels good to type on, get a mech. They cost much more, however they last a lifetime. I recently spilt a little bit of soda somehow onto my board, which ended up making the B key sticky. I took apart my board, desoldered the B key (and it broke because I was a little careless). Took apart the switch, used a replacement switch (MXBrowns) with my MXBlack Spring(Which changes the force in switches) and stem. Then put it all back together. Which just goes to show that mechs are generally very easy to repair unlike crappy membrane keyboards.

My CherryMX Black Ducky Shine 3

My Cortron Model S (Hall Effect Switches, Not Cherry)

My Compaq MX 118000, Where I got my MXBrown Replacement.

Not pictured is my SMK Alps board which I’m thinking of putting in PCB’s colors and raffling off (with proceeds - shipping going to the server)

#2

I don’t have one myself, but I’ve used one. <3 The clicking. I don’t know why, they just do feel amazing to use. There’s just something satisfying about them. Membrane ones suck, as the little rubber “bubbles” can become worn out in the areas where they bend frequently, and split - making the key useless. My old laptop space bar was literally just one of the bubbles held on by some tape…

#3

I have a basic cherry mx-red mech board, Its really nice, a noticeable upgrade from the rubber dome membrane types.

I like red due to less noise which is great when playing at night, but the pressure required to press the keys is just so little I have trouble with it during games, my fingers are resting on the usual wasd position but its easy to depress the keys just by leaning on them with fingertips. So unintentional strafing is a issue for me XD

cherry_mx_board_3_keyboard_large1.jpg1000×362

#4

LOL I have the Microsoft touch cover 2 XD surprisingly I have learned to game on it XD

#5

r/mechanicalkeyboards ftw.

basically mechanical or die. peasants.

#6

Hehe, my rubber thingy keyboard is like 10 yers old, has had continuous use, and feels just how a keyboard should. I’m perfectly happy with it xD and it’s silent and all :stuck_out_tongue:

#7

My keyboard is a very clacky membrane keyboard.

#8

Dell? Some of the dell domes aren’t awful like most.

#9

Reppin’ the Rip I see!

#10

Nah, Ttesports

#11

ahahahahah I saw deskthority and had to rep rip

#12

I don’t use one myself, I just have a cheap Microsoft keyboard that works. If t breaks after 5 years of use then I’ll just buy a replacement.

To me it doesn’t seem worth the investment, because they will still break, and when they do it’s not so easy to replace.

#13