Phen8210
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Well within budget.
not worth leh, just buy taobao $50 keyboard with free shipping man, unless you really need shine through keycaps for visibility.
[Recommend] Good Mechanical Keyboard
- Thread starter purpleberry
- Start date
not worth leh, just buy taobao $50 keyboard with free shipping man, unless you really need shine through keycaps for visibility.
desolated
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I just received the prebuilt black alu/ zinc alloy case, so far touchwood looks fine
the spacebar stabilizers need more lube, sounds exactly like badseed tech's review
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Agree with @Phen8210
If your goal is to get a budget gaming keyboard, taobao will give you the most value for money.
You also want to ask yourself some questions on the keyboard in the screenshot shown:
a) Hot-swappable? (can change the switches as you may want to experiment other types of switches)
b) Multi-mode connection (wired, wireless and bluetooth)
c) Different OS support (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
d) Material for the keyboard case (plastic, metal aluminium etc). To some users, this can be a deal-breaker.
e) easy to disassemble and assembly if one is to do keyboard modding eventually once not satisfied with the default keyboard sound/typing configuration
Some wooden keyboards that I can think of for now:
1) KBD Fans Dusk 67: https://kbdfans.com/products/dusk-67
Here is a sound test YouTube video by KBD Fans Dusk 67:
2) Akko MU01 keyboard (65% size): https://en.akkogear.com/product/mu01-mountain-seclusion-mechanical-keyboard/ (also got autumn variant design)
3) Akko MU02 keyboard (75% size): https://en.akkogear.com/product/mu02-autumn-mechanical-keyboard/
For 2) and 3), it is best to use Akko rosewood switches for the interesting deep, muted thock sound. You can check YouTube videos for more details and sound tests.
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hi kb experts,
any recommendation for pre-built keyboards? budget about $200.
Have been with cherry browns for many years, hope to try out different tactile or even linear switches.
Like thocky sound with lower travel distance (maybe getting old).. Should be going for full layout or slightly smaller (1800?)
Appreciate any recommendations.
thank you in advance.
any recommendation for pre-built keyboards? budget about $200.
Have been with cherry browns for many years, hope to try out different tactile or even linear switches.
Like thocky sound with lower travel distance (maybe getting old).. Should be going for full layout or slightly smaller (1800?)
Appreciate any recommendations.
thank you in advance.
You can consider these 96% to 100% layout pre-built keyboards (not exhaustive as you may find even more options):
1) VTER Galaxy100 Aluminum Wireless Mechanical Keyboard.
( https://www.whatgeek.com/products/vter-galaxy100-aluminum-wireless-mechanical-keyboard)
2) Royal Kludge S98 96% Wireless Mechanical Keyboard (appears to be plastic case)
(https://rkgamingstore.com/products/s98-wireless-mechanical-keyboard)
Tip: If you buy from Royal Kludge's official store on a Chinese e-commerce platform, you can get the full pre-built keyboard with switches and keycaps inside for SGD50+.
3) Cidoo V98 96% VIA Wireless Gasket Hot Swappable Aluminium Mechanical Keyboard
(https://epomaker.com/products/cidoo-v98)
Similar to 2), if you buy from Cidoo's official store on a Chinese e-commerce platform, you can get the full pre-built keyboard with switches and keycaps for about SGD130+.
Another approach is to buy the barebone kit of the compact 96%-100% layout keyboard you want and use your own switches and keycaps instead.
In addition, you also need to consider the below points for your future keyboard:
a) Hot-swappable? (can experiment with other types of switches)
b) Multi-mode connection (wired, wireless and Bluetooth)
c) Different OS support (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
d) Material for the keyboard case (plastic, wood, aluminium, etc.). This can be a deal-breaker for some people.
e) Easy to disassemble and assembly if one is to do keyboard modding eventually once not satisfied with the default keyboard sound/typing configuration
f) Remapping of keys with VIA equivalent or with proprietary software
Thank you very much for the prompt and detailed advice.
now i'm leaning towards the RK for the screen, and the Cidoo for the very nice sound.
If i get the RK, i can take out the switches and replace with something else? Do you recommend it on the plastic case?
Yes, you can remove the default switches in RK keyboard and change to other switches. Because the keyboard is hot swappable.
Doesn't matter if the keyboard is plastic or aluminium case, so long you can find the desired switches for your daily use.
Anyone knows of any 1800 or 96% mechanical keyboard with TTC Frozen Silent V2 Switches?
Frozen Silent Keyswitch V2
Thank you.
Frozen Silent Keyswitch V2
Thank you.
thank you.. since switches will be swappable, i think i will go for the RK s98 over Cidoo for the pricing and screen (never tested if it's useful).
I've seen a few others with screen on 98 layout.
1. Monka 3098 pro (with screen too)
2. jamesdonkey RS2 3.0
what do you think of each?
And which stock switch on the RK s98 will you recommend to go with for a thocky sound? I've been using cherry browns for all my life and still like the tactile feeling but feel nowadays the browns need more actuation force.
@revebek I have not tried Monka 3098 Pro and James Donkey keyboards before. If you are interested in the features and sound profile, you can do a quick YouTube search to see people reviewing these keyboards.
For the stock switch on RK S98, if you base just on RK's official website at https://rkgamingstore.com/products/s98-wireless-mechanical-keyboard?variant=44396782256349, then the Viridian linear switch may be the choice you can consider.
However, if you decide to purchase the RK S98 via Taobao (see one example link --> https://detail.tmall.com/item.htm?id=675425504102 ), you will have even more switches and keyboard colour choices.
It is a little tougher to find mechanical keyboards that come with TTC Frozen Silent switches.
You can consider buying the 1800 or 96% keyboard (either pre-built with the switches), then swap out with the TTC Frozen Silent v2 switches).
I only managed to find steed.sg that sells SMK98 with TTC Frozen Silent V2 but the price is close to SGD 200.
Assuming you buy SMK98 from Steed.sg, just don't buy with the TTC Frozen Silent V2 included.
Get the TTC Frozen Silent V2 from elsewhere, which is definitely cheaper than paying another SGD90.
Thanks for the advice. Another option for me is to get mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Silent Red Switches.
Cherry MX Silent Red switches are the first silent switches I used a few years ago, before exploring other silent linear and silent tactile switches.
You can keep your options open as there are more silent switches in the market now.
Thanks for your opinion, may try out the monka because it's only 30 bucks.
Yes actually i went to the same seller on taobao, but the link you showed is for their G98 which has alot of choices. For their S98 (with screen), the choices are quite limited.
So i guess i will go for the chassis first, and worry about switch in the future, since i can replace them.
Are all switches in general compatible to slot into any hot swap chassis?
If you want the S98 with a screen, there may be fewer choices, as I didn't check out those options.
It is good to hear you have decided on the keyboard you will get.
You can get switches with 3 or 5 pins, so it is not a problem here.
Just double-check that the keyboard you are going to get says "热插拔" (hot swappable in Chinese language)
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