Hey guyse - I'm looking to buy a new keyboard since I am sick of my 10 pound piece of shit. I am an avid FPS gamer and decided to buy a mechanical keyboard. I have thus far set my eyes on these two:

Ozone Strike:
http://www.ozonegaming.com/product.php?id=22

Mionix Zibal 60:
http://www.mionix.net/page.php?al=zibal60

But both of them use Cherry Black switches. I've never had a mechanical keyboard before, but from what I've read, black switches are far from ideal for typing (of which I do a lot).

I thus started looking at blue switches and found:

Razer Black Widow:
http://store.razerzone.com/store/razerusa/en_US/pd/productID.211324200

QPAD MK80:
http://www.corporate.qpad.se/modules/news/article.php?storyid=238


Ideally, it seems that I'd like brown or red switches, but I haven't found any gaming specific keyboards that use those yet. Though, it doesn't have to be gaming specific.

In short, I'm looking for something along the lines of this:
-mechanical, ideally not black switches
-fast response time
-PS/2 connector
-I don't care about macro buttons
-don't care about LEDs
-budget is not an issue, but I'll be unlikely to go for something over 200 pounds

A 5.99 GOG for someone who suggests something that I haven't listed yet and I end up buying it!


Oh and for those who know little about mechanical keyboards, here are two useful links!

Mechanical keyboard guide:
http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide

Cherry MX typing sounds:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1179809/cherry-mx-video-typing-tests

No experience with them but what about Leopold?
http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold

They have full size keyboards with different switches for reasonable prices.

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/

Most of the keyboards on that website are very old school. However, I use one for Starcraft 2 and I find it very useful for the playing session. Most of my SC2 friends have the keyboard from that website and have comment to me how much their gaming has improving.

Majority of the keyboards are going for 60 bucks.

I have 2 myself and I'm more than happy with them. Very useful for daily typing and gaming session.

But it's understandable if you chose not to down this route.

It's just other option to consider. :)

Hope you can find that right keyboard for you.

I'm not going to claim much knowledge of the topic, but I'm interested in what you buy as I'll be making the jump before too long. Most of my hardware questions are answered over on HardOCP. They're very helpful. :)

They have a post with a ton of different models, prices and forum user suggestions here: HardOCP Post

Thanks for the links guys, having a browse.

My brother actually has the:
http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhkbpro2

But I really don't like the Topre switch. I'd imagine the Cherry Black to be similar? It's a bit too difficult to press for my taste. I think you're right - from what it seems, most modern gaming keyboards simply come with a PS/2 adapter anyway, which goes on top of the USB. I want it because of unlimited NKRO, but you're right, it probably has a very little impact since I doubt I'll exceed the 6 button limit (though I think I probably will if I start playing WoW again).

Yeah, my thoughts too, P/S2 is obsolete tech for PC keyboards, though if you really want to use it you can still get USB to P/S2 converters and very cheaply too. You might find that your PC won't recognise the keyboard correctly if you use P/S2 meaning it will see it as a standard keyboard and won't be able to take advantage of any provided software for any additional functonality the keyboard has.

EDIT: Hmm, just read that page you linked to about mechanical keyboards and that does give reasons for using P/S2 which I think is very strange indeed. Maybe mechanical keyboards can take advantage of P/S2 that other keyboards can't? Hmm, odd one and I'd like to find out more about this.

That Razer almost certainly has a USB connector.

Also, I think Razers are a bit... well, I don't know. Unrestrained; a bit tasteless, I suppose. Probably because they're absolutely everywhere, being used by 14-year-old Counter Strikers. Most Razers are probably good products, but I wouldn't buy another one. Also, I think a friend of mine had a BlackWidow and the keys became all glossy in a relatively short period of time, but it may have been a Lycosa. Can't remember. But enough of me.

There's a company called Cooler Master. The name may not be familiar, but they have done some geniunely good stuff like the Sentinel mouse, HAF series cases and good CPU coolers; you might want to check out the Quickfire which was launched late last year while you're at it.

Agree with what you said about Razers, they are like the Starbucks of gaming imo. Actually most Counterstrikers are much older than 14, it is the last generation of FPS' after all!

I do quite like the keyboard that you posted (I have a Cooler Master cooler for my CPU and it's great), and I also like RealWeaponX's suggestion. However, after having done all this research, I fail to see what a 'gaming' mechanical keyboard offers that a regular mechanical keyboard doesn't. Besides 'looking cool' of course, which is very low in my list of priorities.

edit: eeeeh, I really like the Cooler Master one, but just realised that it has no numpad, which effectively makes it almost certainly a no-go for me. Shame, because apparently it comes with either red or brown switches and I really like the look...

I am not sure if they ship internationally, but I highly recommend the Rosewill mechanical keyboard with cherry blue switches. I obtained it as a Christmas gift last year, and it has held up extremely well during that time. It is a very heavy and solid keyboard, and it is very easy to maintain. It is also not very flashy with crazy LEDs, which is a big bonus for me.

When my keyboard was purchased, the Rosewill keyboards were rumored to be simply be rebranded Filcos at a much cheaper price. The controller inside has the Filco name all over it. I am not sure if this still holds true with the keyboards today, but I still thought it may be interesting to note.

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard RK-9000 @ NewEgg

Shortly after obtaining this keyboard, Rosewill released a similar keyboard with cherry red switches. It seems to have pretty decent reviews, although there are some complaints about a squeaky spacebar, whereas the cherry blue keyboard has glowing praise for reviews all around.

Rosewill Mechanical Keyboard RK-9000RE @ NewEgg

Additionally:
Official Website
[url=http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:12688]A LOT of photographs[/url] of the keyboard, inside and out.

I advise staying away from Razer. My friend obtained one around the same time I received my keyboard, and he was already experiencing issues 3 months in. I have yet to have a problem with mine.

I have an old IBM Model M that I absolutely love. Of course they don't make them anymore, and if you don't want to buy a used keyboard you could get one from Unicomp, who bought the business from IBM.

http://www.pckeyboard.com/

THIS! I have one, best keyboard money can buy imo... Also, avoid the blackwido like the plague, some people have no problems with them, but many people have had to file down keycaps due to manufacturing faults. I recommend not skimping on this, you might have to spend a lot on one but it should last you a lifetime(or probably more).

Here's a nice guide: http://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/?page_id=1458

Shame the only keyboards I can find for decent prices have Cherry MX Black or Red switches (admittedly, they are gaming keyboards), though the ones I've tried feel better than membrane, they're completely non-tactile, and I'd prefer something better suited to typing.

Also annoying that my country is too small to get any decent keyboards with our layout (I could order Das Keyboard from Germany, but that'd be with black caps... of course I have thought about doing that anyway and using it as a way of learning not to look at the keyboard when typing).

I am about to place an order within the next couple of hours for the Filco Majestouch FKBN105M.
Any comments?