Need new keyboard

E

Edgar

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,743
I'm coming from a Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard. It is 7 years old and a few of the switches are dying. Rather just get a new one at this point. Anybody have any recommendations? Ty in advance!
 
E

Edgar

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,743
It’s my first mechanical keyboard. I like it. I enjoy having a 10 key as well. Was hoping $100 or less. I know nothing about switches. Just know that this keyboard did clickity clacks. I did enjoy that I could set the colors per keys.
 
sharknice

sharknice

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
3,201
Edgar said:
I'm coming from a Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard. It is 7 years old and a few of the switches are dying. Rather just get a new one at this point. Anybody have any recommendations? Ty in advance!
Click to expand...

I had that keyboard, I switched to this one below. Similar design with dedicated media keys and the volume scroll wheel.

Time to go to optical switches https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categ...ES-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/p/CH-911901A-NA

Optical switches are much better IMO.
 
E

Edgar

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,743
What’s the difference between mechanical and optical switches. I’m willing to pay more if it’s easier to replace the switches individually.
 
sharknice

sharknice

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
3,201
Edgar said:
What’s the difference between mechanical and optical switches. I’m willing to pay more if it’s easier to replace the switches individually.
Click to expand...
These ones are specifically made for a shorter actuation distance and lighter force required to activate, so IMO a lot better for gaming and typing.
I think they're supposed to last a lot longer than mechanical. No idea if you can just pluck them out and replace them on this board or not.
 
Mad Maxx

Mad Maxx

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
6,585
Edgar said:
What’s the difference between mechanical and optical switches. I’m willing to pay more if it’s easier to replace the switches individually.
Click to expand...
You'll need to find a keyboard with "hot swappable" switches for that. The Corsair that Shark and I recommend doesn't have them.

The Glorious GMMK Gaming keyboard is worth a look, but it ain't cheap.
 
sharknice

sharknice

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
3,201
Edgar said:
Ended up getting the Corsair k100 optical mechanical. $180 at Best Buy. Most expensive keyboard I’ve ever bought. Still wish Logitech had an optical mechanical option.
Click to expand...

Logitech makes a lot of high end good stuff, but it seems like they take forever to adapt new tech to their keyboards.

They do have optical switches in their new G502X mouse though.
 
E

Edgar

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,743
sharknice said:
Logitech makes a lot of high end good stuff, but it seems like they take forever to adapt new tech to their keyboards.

They do have optical switches in their new G502X mouse though.
Click to expand...
Not gonna lie. That will probably be my next mouse when my current one starts double clicking.
 
sharknice

sharknice

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 12, 2012
Messages
3,201
Edgar said:
Not gonna lie. That will probably be my next mouse when my current one starts double clicking.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's pretty awesome. It has all the features and enough buttons, but not too many buttons where you hit the wrong one on accident.
I use it with the PowerPlay wireless charging mouse mat, which is also awesome. But yeah this stuff is all expensive.
 
Mad Maxx

Mad Maxx

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
6,585
Saw this keyboard from Steelseries today. It's the Apex 9 TKL with hot swappable optical switches. It's a tenkeyless, so you'd need a separate keypad, but the price is $112 on Amazon right now. I'm tempted to give it a try myself.
 
P

psy81

Gawd
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
Messages
534
Edgar said:
I'm coming from a Logitech G910 Orion Spark mechanical keyboard. It is 7 years old and a few of the switches are dying. Rather just get a new one at this point. Anybody have any recommendations? Ty in advance!
Click to expand...
Mad Maxx said:
You'll need to find a keyboard with "hot swappable" switches for that. The Corsair that Shark and I recommend doesn't have them.

The Glorious GMMK Gaming keyboard is worth a look, but it ain't cheap.
Click to expand...

I fell into the "custom" mechanical keyboard rabbit hole during the pandemic. If you want a nice "sounding/feeling" keyboard with hotswap sockets and not afraid of assembly (including lubing switches and stabs) and the ability to choose your switches at a reasonable price I suggest looking at KBDfans offerings. The KBDlite 67 and Tiger80 are far superior in sound and feel compared to Glorious keyboards and comparable in price and you don't have to deal with group buys. I have the original GMMK full size and two (2) GMMK Pro as well as the KBD67 lite and Tiger80 among other keyboards but KBDFans offers best bang for the buck by far (not including group buy options).
 
Mad Maxx

Mad Maxx

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
6,585
psy81 said:
I fell into the "custom" mechanical keyboard rabbit hole during the pandemic. If you want a nice "sounding/feeling" keyboard with hotswap sockets and not afraid of assembly (including lubing switches and stabs) and the ability to choose your switches at a reasonable price I suggest looking at KBDfans offerings. The KBDlite 67 and Tiger80 are far superior in sound and feel compared to Glorious keyboards and comparable in price and you don't have to deal with group buys. I have the original GMMK full size and two (2) GMMK Pro as well as the KBD67 lite and Tiger80 among other keyboards but KBDFans offers best bang for the buck by far (not including group buy options).
Click to expand...
Yeah, KBDFans makes some killer keyboards. Definitely worth checking out.
 
Zepher

Zepher

[H]ipster Replacement
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Messages
20,514
I went from the G910 to a G815 and really love the feel of the flat low profile keys. I replaced the G810 on my other system with a G815 as well.

IMG_1944.JPEG
 
Last edited:
P

psy81

Gawd
Joined
Feb 18, 2011
Messages
534
Zepher said:
I went from the G910 to a G815 and really love the feel of the flat low profile keys. I replaced the G810 on my other system with a G815 as well.

View attachment 537996
Click to expand...
I agree... Having to type on a Lenovo at work I'm so used to typing on a flat keyboard... I actually type fastest on low profile since I'm so used it now. I
 
Zepher

Zepher

[H]ipster Replacement
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Messages
20,514
psy81 said:
I agree... Having to type on a Lenovo at work I'm so used to typing on a flat keyboard... I actually type fastest on low profile since I'm so used it now. I
Click to expand...
It also depends on the keyboard. I have the Solar one as well with low profile flat keys and I can’t type for crap on it.
996FD2A8-AD2C-4E8C-A7A1-C9C788F62F50.jpeg
 
E

Edgar

2[H]4U
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
2,743
Westwood said:
All done with Logitech. That G-Hub thing can eat a bowl of dicks.
Click to expand...
man I'm really having trouble with this iCUE software. I much prefer the Ghub. It worked great on my peripherals. Might need to check out G815 again. But i do like optical mechanical. Since no more double clicking is possible.
 
K

Keljian

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 7, 2006
Messages
1,578
sharknice said:
These ones are specifically made for a shorter actuation distance and lighter force required to activate, so IMO a lot better for gaming and typing.
I think they're supposed to last a lot longer than mechanical. No idea if you can just pluck them out and replace them on this board or not.
Click to expand...
"Usually, mechanical switches have a lifespan ranging up to 50-80 million keystrokes, with Cherry MX switches offering a guarantee of 100 million keystrokes" - optical will probably be double this, depending on how long it is left on as the optics are on constantly.. but realistically, you'll be changing up keycaps (and/or keyboards) well before you hit those numbers.
 
B

Banya

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
106
Mad Maxx said:
You'll need to find a keyboard with "hot swappable" switches for that. The Corsair that Shark and I recommend doesn't have them.

The Glorious GMMK Gaming keyboard is worth a look, but it ain't cheap.
Click to expand...
Seconding the Glorious keyboard. I've had one with Kalih box white switches for a couple years and it's been fantastic.
 
Zepher

Zepher

[H]ipster Replacement
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Messages
20,514
Randall Stephens said:
Don’t replace, fix: https://www.overclockers.com/mouse-clicking-troubles-diy-repair/
Click to expand...
That is what I have been doing for over 20 years now, figured it out on my own, was looking to see if there was debris or something in the switch and ended up re-tensioning the curved spring area on the lever when I was putting it back together.
Did it first on my MX1000 and that fix lasted a few years. Also fixed my MX Revolution, Performance MX, and G700.
I do have a couple of G700's and G602's and one G604 I need to fix.

Another option is to replace the switch with a different brand, which is what I might try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top