[Recommend] Good Mechanical Keyboard

[Flying_Chair]

I've some questions on RK860 with hot swappable switches, can any bros here help?

If I want to change switches on the RK860, what switches can I use?
I searched abit, seems like it can fit switches with 5pin and north facing LEDs only?

If I'm not wrong, 3 pin can fit in 5 pin slots, just not as stable as no plastic feet. North facing led just means the switch is mounted with the LED on top, for south facing PCB the switches would be mounted upside down. If your keycaps are shine through, would be better with north facing as the characters are most likely to be above the led. Don't think they are shine through keycaps for south facing switch unless it comes with the keyboard (e.g. Wormier k66)

 

[HolyInnocents]

anyone has any recommendation for low-profile keycaps like those used in keychron k1/k3?

 

[SkyScraper]

should have bought from local vendors instead....

I would have. But at that point of time, they dont have color, customization and etc. I was on flex batch too.

slowly i found out other insta local sellers, which was already too late

 

[Nuclear Boy]

I've some questions on RK860 with hot swappable switches, can any bros here help?

If I want to change switches on the RK860, what switches can I use?
I searched abit, seems like it can fit switches with 5pin and north facing LEDs only?

Main thing to look out when selecting switches is that it can accomodate SMD LEDs, like those mounted on the surface of the board on RK860.
The switch should have a clear cutout in the housing. See left pic, the long open slot on the bottom. Right pic is for through-hole LEDs, note the round cutout on top housing, 4 holes and LED symbol on bottom housing.

Pick something like that one shown in left pic for your RK. Otherwise, not only would the backlight not shine through, your switches will not be fully-seated in the socket, because the SMD LED is in the way. And yes, check the orientation with respect to the legs and slot cutout. The ones shown in the pic can fit, just mount them with the brandname upside down, will fit in socket.

 

[FroztSpectre]

Swee la keyboard coming liao.
Never use EZBuy this time. Just use Taobao's official forwarder Cainiao lol.

 

[HexenHeretic]

Just received my RK860 today, everything feels good so far, doesn't feel as bad as some of the reviewers mentioned, it actually exceeded all my original expectations.
Only thing now is to get used to this 1800 layout.

I'm considering to change the keycaps later on, I'm aware that I need to get a set that has a 1.75U for a SHIFT key and a 1U Numpad0, do I need to take note of anything else?
CherryMX styled keycaps, OEM/SA/NP all can use?

 

[jonnyboy91]

Just received my RK860 today, everything feels good so far, doesn't feel as bad as some of the reviewers mentioned, it actually exceeded all my original expectations.
Only thing now is to get used to this 1800 layout.

I'm considering to change the keycaps later on, I'm aware that I need to get a set that has a 1.75U for a SHIFT key and a 1U Numpad0, do I need to take note of anything else?
CherryMX styled keycaps, OEM/SA/NP all can use?

Pretty much any keycap profile will fit just fine. Other then the shift and numpad0, you will also need 1U Alt, Fn and Ctrl. Everything else are standard size keycaps.

 

[FroztSpectre]

Keyboard, keycaps, stabilizers are here!

Time to spend many hours lubing and modding those stabilizers. Lol.

 

[hosehbo?]

Any pudding keycaps or similar keycaps for 84 keys or gmmk pro?

Saw some but most of them don't have the 1.75u right shift or the 1u modifiers keycaps.

And where do you guys go to shop for key caps beside kbdfans or drop?

 

[jonnyboy91]

Any pudding keycaps or similar keycaps for 84 keys or gmmk pro?

Saw some but most of them don't have the 1.75u right shift or the 1u modifiers keycaps.

And where do you guys go to shop for key caps beside kbdfans or drop?

For pudding keycaps, you can find them on Aliexpress, taobao or shopee.

Aliexpress 143 keycaps
Official KBDfans store taobao (has white option if you prefer)
Official KBDfans store shopee (has white option if you prefer)

For other keycaps choices, my preference is to get it from taobao. They sell keycap sets that supports more then the standard 108 keys.

Taobao store 1
Taobao store 2
cuxiu Shopee

 

[localITguy]

my teaware keyboard just died, out of the blue ( change switch still same)

won't suggest anyone buying this lousy brand. AVOID. not even 6 months and died. throw inside trash bin better

 

[entertaint]

Received my RK100 (860 with no RGB?) Soldered MX cherry reds one like almost 2 weeks ago.

I felt satisfied about the keyboard itself as the clicks are not loud enough to annoy me after hours of usage and the build quality quite nice. That being said Idk if I can justify spending extra as even cheapo keyboard can last me 2.5 years back when I was heavily gaming all the time. I don't regret my purchase but will definitely consider throwing that extra money into say a better PC part, chair or other electronic I rely on daily basis.

 

[entertaint]

I forgot to mention some stuff

1. As someone who have been using 100% layouts this 96% is weird in the sense that the difference in layout is so small that I don't get used to it just because there are so little instance where you wrongly input command so it's hard to correct it without the intention to. But most of the time you won't make mistake typing from a 100% to a 96%.

2. Not sure if this applies to other 96% keyboards but let's say opening task manager, if I want to press Ctrl alt on the left I actually have to press Ctrl windows del. If I press the right side it's Ctrl alt del and not Ctrl FN del if I follow the direct opposite compared to the left side command. Afaik all my previous keyboards uses Ctrl alt del regardless of the left side or right side Ctrl alt I use.

These are small issue that are easily adaptable though so no issue imo.

 

[Nuclear Boy]

Just added bottom pc of foam (under PCB) and the one in between plate and PCB for my RK100. Doesn't seem to make a huge difference to me. Probably will still sound slightly hollow since the bottom case is plastic.

Stabs come lubed from factory it seems. I don't think I'll be adding anymore myself. Not sure if I want to clip it too. Does clipping make a big difference in terms of noise?

Now just left with lubing and filming the Gat Yellows that I'll be swapping in.

 

[FroztSpectre]

Just added bottom pc of foam (under PCB) and the one in between plate and PCB for my RK100. Doesn't seem to make a huge difference to me. Probably will still sound slightly hollow since the bottom case is plastic.

Stabs come lubed from factory it seems. I don't think I'll be adding anymore myself. Not sure if I want to clip it too. Does clipping make a big difference in terms of noise?

Now just left with lubing and filming the Gat Yellows that I'll be swapping in.

Not really. Just makes it more stable / less wobbly.

 

[nez]

Just added bottom pc of foam (under PCB) and the one in between plate and PCB for my RK100. Doesn't seem to make a huge difference to me. Probably will still sound slightly hollow since the bottom case is plastic.

Stabs come lubed from factory it seems. I don't think I'll be adding anymore myself. Not sure if I want to clip it too. Does clipping make a big difference in terms of noise?

Now just left with lubing and filming the Gat Yellows that I'll be swapping in.

Only the switch will make a bigger difference in terms of sound.
Change to silent ones.

 

[jonnyboy91]

Just added bottom pc of foam (under PCB) and the one in between plate and PCB for my RK100. Doesn't seem to make a huge difference to me. Probably will still sound slightly hollow since the bottom case is plastic.

Stabs come lubed from factory it seems. I don't think I'll be adding anymore myself. Not sure if I want to clip it too. Does clipping make a big difference in terms of noise?

Now just left with lubing and filming the Gat Yellows that I'll be swapping in.

Honestly, is just good common practice/habit to just clipped them off since is like the easiest and fastest mod for the stabs.
It removes the unnecessary rattly noise you may get when bottoming out.

 

[Nuclear Boy]

Thanks guys for the tips
@FroztSpectre @jonnyboy91 Guess I shall try it out

@nez Tested with both the factory Browns and my Gat Yellows, though not fully populated. Gats are noticeably quieter for sure, but still has that hollow cavity sound upon bottoming out, esp with Spacebar. I'll have do the full lube deal and populate fully when I'm done to gauge the difference.

 

[nez]

Thanks guys for the tips
@FroztSpectre @jonnyboy91 Guess I shall try it out

@nez Tested with both the factory Browns and my Gat Yellows, though not fully populated. Gats are noticeably quieter for sure, but still has that hollow cavity sound upon bottoming out, esp with Spacebar. I'll have do the full lube deal and populate fully when I'm done to gauge the difference.

Oh yeah. I just remembered, plate form made a huge difference in terms of the hollowness. You can try that.

 

[Nuclear Boy]

Oh yeah. I just remembered, plate form made a huge difference in terms of the hollowness. You can try that.

What's plate form?