Let me know what you guys think!

i want to buy a new keyboard but dont know which one will look the best with my mousepad and mouse which one do you guys think i should get?

My first custom keyboard build! Decided to go with something clean and simple to match the Apple keyboard look which I had previously used before.

Module: MADLIONS MAD60 HE
Case: Tofu60 Redux V2 (Anodized Silver)
Switches: Creamy Jades
Stabilizers: DUROCK V3 (Lubed w/ 205g0)
Keycaps: SDYZ x XVX Doubleshot PBT

changed the keycaps for my keyboard what a change

Keyboard : Epomaker HE75 V2 TMR
New Keycaps : Duochrome Keycap set

same frosted PC keycaps in both photos. Pretty dark with the lights off, but the amber backlight really comes through when they're on. Esc and Enter are aluminium.

Last photo shows the packaging of IQUNIX EV63 x EDG with the player cards and matching signature keycaps.

upcoming collab with EDward Gaming.

Three weeks in, coming from a Ducky One 2 / Attack Shark X820 Ultra. Short version: lots to like, with a couple of 60% tradeoffs I'm still adjusting to.

Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3

Note: my camera can't capture the keyboard's colors correctly. They look very blue in the photos, but in person they're green, matching the terminal on my monitor.

Pros

• Build quality: top notch. Best-feeling keyboard I've used, no complaints.
• Switches: quieter than I'm used to, but responsive and springy. They've kept getting better as they break in.
• Software: easy to use and easy to update.
• Design: the Ghost in the Shell look is the main reason I bought this. I changed my terminal colors to match the lighting and it looks great together.

Cons

• Small R-Shift: I've mostly adjusted, but it's still a 60% compromise, and it still trips me up a few times a day.
• No dedicated Home/End keys: a big part of my workflow, so this is the most frustrating one for me. I haven't decided whether to remap something to cover it. For now I'm seeing if I can live as a Ctrl+Left/Right person.
• Software is browser-limited: the web software doesn't work in Firefox, so you'll need a Chromium browser (I had to install Chrome just for this).
• Default cable: it doesn't match the aesthetic of the keyboard at all, so I swapped it for my own grey coiled one.

Programming

The only real issue is R-Shift + ". I could retrain myself to use L-Shift for everything, but I'm not there yet. Home/End (above) is the other thing I notice.

Games

I've been playing Grim Dawn since the recent expansion came out and it works well. No issues, and it feels very natural. The rapid trigger feature is mainly aimed at FPS and rhythm games, so it didn't matter for me in an ARPG.

Verdict

I'll keep using this as my daily keyboard for the foreseeable future. I'd recommend it if you like the design and want a great-feeling 60%. If you rely on Home/End or arrow keys, think about how you'd handle that first.

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

Mechanical or membrane, what’s your favorite keyboard you’ve ever had?

Hello, I will have a budget of 500 dollars to spend on a keyboard, main uses will be at my architectural job drafting, and gaming at home

I would prefer a 100 percent layout, maybe with another numpad so I can have them on both sides, but I'm also open to a 80 with a separate numpad for my architectural job

they don't have to be from the same or a certain brand, although I've heard "wooting" is good and also "razer", 3d connexion could be a good pick as well but I'm afraid their keyboards won't be acceptable for gaming as well.

Material doesn't particularly matter to me, something sturdy though as this will be carried from home and work everyday, sound wise I would prefer something silent, doesn't have to be dead silent but no loud mechanical clicky stuff as that will give me away in horror games and upset my coworkers at works, "thocks" would be ok.

Also if anyone has any suggestions for (space) mouses to pair along with this, I use a razer basilisk v3 pro at home and a 3d connexion compact cad mouse wireless at work.

Im open to any and all suggestions for this budget and use cases, thank you for reading!

I bought Realforce R3S Topre or capacitive keyboard with normal switches from Mechanical Keyboard store which took only 2 days.

Truth be told, I tried to find a Topre keyboard with normal switches but it was not easy to find especially since AI gave me wrong infos for several times. Since Topre or Realforce is focusing on silent switches, R3S is the only latest version with normal switches I can find other than HHKB. I had no choice but to buy it even if it has a built in cable. It was cheap anyway.

It's a first time using a Topre keyboard with normal switches and I really like it. Shame that R3S is not a wireless keyboard but for now, that's fine since I'm gonna use it for home anyway. I would probably sell other mechanical keyboards as I dont use and like them anymore especially after getting this keyboard. Might be the ultimate keyboard that I've been looking for.

For now, that's all I can spend but looking forward to buy limited edition version of Realforce R4 blue and grey version and HHKB Hybrid sooner than later.

Still not quite there, but after dealing with transparent grey rectangles as buttons for a year , feeling very excited about the increase in general polish.

Any feedback or features/mechanics you'd like to see in the game?

Hello everyone,

I just received my order today of core75 (smoke white)

All the time I was worried hoping to not come across the one with spacebar issue...

More context -

My friend and I ordered on the same day so we both received our keyb today... Gives me a good chance to compare and check the potential spacebar issue

I have attached a video of my keyb and my friend's (frost) I feel like the issue is there as the sound is more clicky and my friend's is more towards thocky

Video of my friend's keyb [here]

Video from URX [here]

Post where I got the URX clip from [here]

Please help me understand if I'm correct or not I'm 90% sure that there is a difference and the sound is somewhat like the ref video from URX.

I am trying to stop buying disposable air cans for my keyboard, but I am not fully convinced the rechargeable duster solves every problem. The electric one is convenient for loose dust and quick desk cleanup, while a fresh can still seems better at short angled bursts when hair or crumbs are caught under keycaps. Then again, canned air gets cold, runs out fast, and can spit condensation if I tilt it too much. For people who clean keyboards often, do you use both for different jobs, or has an electric duster actually replaced cans for deeper cleaning?

Hey Everybody,

Looks like keyboard inventory management is a hot topic these days and many great minds think alike! I'm glad I'm not the only one with a crippling addiction great love and devoted passion for collecting keyboards.

I’m excited (and a little nervous) to share KeebVault, a collection-management app I built for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

The main idea is simple: KeebVault gives you one place to catalog your keyboards and all the parts that go with them. Instead of trying to remember what is installed where—or digging through several spreadsheets and notes—you can see your collection, builds, inventory, and related parts together.

Why I built it

I needed a better way to keep track of all my keyboards, keysets, switches, and other parts.

My collection information was spread across a combination of Notion templates, Google Sheets, Excel files, Post-it notes, and assorted bits of information living in places I had probably forgotten about. It worked, technically, but it was hard to get a clear picture of everything I owned and how it was being used.

So I started building KeebVault very much for myself. Eventually, I figured other people in the hobby might have the same problem, so I decided to turn it into something the community could use too.

What you can do with KeebVault

• Track keyboards, switches, keysets, individual keyset kits, PCBs, artisans, accessories, and more
• Partnership with SwitchBook allows you to track switch allocations so you know what is in a build and how many loose switches you still have
• Record purchase, procurement, commission, and build information
• Track which keyboards are currently in use
• Upload photos and documents
• Import an existing collection from CSV or JSON
• Create a public profile and choose which individual items are publicly visible
• Share public item pages with photos and build details
• Discover other public vaults that have the same keyboard
• Generate meetup placards, including QR codes for public boards

Privacy is opt-in at the item level: your collection is not automatically made public. You decide which items, if any, other people can see.

What is free, and what is paid?

KeebVault is free for the vast majority of people - If you own less than 200 boards and don't care too much about photos

The free plan includes the core collection-management experience: tracking and organizing your inventory, CSV/JSON importing, tags, collections, favorites, public profile sharing, per-item visibility controls, basic meetup placards, and up to:

• 200 total items
• 10 item photos
• 1 photo per item

My goal is for the free plan to be genuinely useful—not a demo that immediately pushes you into a subscription.

Why Paid?

It's mainly to pay for my crippling keyboard buying addiction image hosting. As I learn more and find creative ways to store images but still deliver optimized and speedy results, the price will go down, hopefully. I'm still playing around with the limits, but as of now no one has even hit them on the plan they have chosen.

This is still a work in progress

KeebVault has been around since March, and has primarily been shared through the MechMerlin socials. It currently has a little under 100 users, but I think it is time to put it in front of the wider community and see what happens. (Believe me I've tried, but I seem to run amok some community guidelines, so we'll see what happens this time)

It is still very much a work in progress, and I would genuinely appreciate any feedback, recommendations, criticisms, bug reports, or feature suggestions you have. Tell me what is useful, what is confusing, what is missing, and what makes you wonder why I thought it was a good idea in the first place.

With that said, going from fewer than 100 friendly users to posting on reddit feels a bit like testing new QMK firmware on PCBs (For those who watched me try QMK in the early days...you know....you know....), so please prepare for some breakages. I’ll be nearby with the digital equivalent of a fire extinguisher.

You can check it out here:

KeebVault

Thanks for taking a look!

im trying to buy Rainy 75 RT Aluminum Magnetic HE Gaming Keyboard for gaming, especiaslly for fps games. i heard rainy 75 is awesome so i was thinking of trying to buy this. is this magnetic version any good?

Hi everyone, I figured before buying a keyboard I would ask the keyboard nerds with their extensive and ever knowing knowledge.

I am about to have delivered a ROG 240hz 1440p WOLED monitor and they have a program where if you leave a good enough review, you get a 50$ amazon gift card, I'm willing to spend an extra 20 if it gets me a big quality or software upgrade, but would like to keep it as close to 50$ as possible.

Right now I have a logitech g305 mouse, and some random red switch 1k polling 60 percent mechanical keyboard.

I am trying to get one that has Hall Effect keys, 65% layout hopefully with arrow keys, 8k polling, and maybe snap tap if possible.

Thank you guys for all the help, let me know if you think a mouse upgrade would be more beneficial or not and what you think the best keyboard upgrade will be!

What board do you find yourself using most often ?

I've become more interested in moderately prices boards lately as the quality has risen significantly in the past few years.

I have a small collection of cheaper boards, and surprisingly, the board i use the most is a transparent wireless aula 68 or an epomaker 68. I like the feel and size of them both.

Other boards i have include a bauer lite, a kisnt 75, a nuphy lp, and a few others.

No 40s yet (but i'm curious).

In at least 3 of my boards I use gateron yellows (my fav), but i also use keygeek y2s, akko fairies, various low profile switches, and some cheap crystal switches.

What's your go-to?

The last three HE switches ive changed springs in have advertised “22mm” spring but they were all between 20-21mm free length, and their outer diameter was smaller than your typical ~6.1mm spring.

They were all around 5.9mm outer diameter. Using 22mm 6.1mm springs causes massive crunch and ping issues.

Which springs do i buy that are a match for these switches?

Womier Void full pom - very very smooth just some ping after they wear in, lube job is very light

Irok mg75max default switches - barf a lot of off angle friction never using a non pom stem again. Stiffer (62g) springs just amplify this throw them in the trash. Another reason this boards value is highly overrated.

Otemu peach silent - very smooth not as smooth as void but has pom stem, impressive for the price and very silent. My samples purchased from 2 different sellers had an impressive amount of lube.

I might be overthinking this, but I get nervous using any blower around custom keyboards when the PCB and switches are right there. I have been using a wolfbox air duster for light dust and cat hair around the keycaps, usually from a little distance instead of blasting straight down into the switches. It clears loose stuff fine, but I am not sure if air is just pushing dust deeper unless I pull caps first. For people who maintain multiple boards, is static or pushed-in dust a real concern here, or is it mostly about angle and distance?

I've had the monsgeek M5 VIA for a few years now and it chattered and eventually some keys died entirely (even after swapping switches).

I'm looking for my next keyboard.

1. Only 100%, not 98%
2. Wired (don't mind if it has wireless but I don't intend to use it so I'd rather not pay extra for an unused feature)
3. Not sure if I mind it being aluminium. The monsgeek being heavy was nice and all, but not a dealbreaker
4. Need to THOCC (I had the monsgeek with gateron brown pro v3's IIRC, I was not impressed. Not sure if It relates to the kb, the switches, or both)
5. Not too expensive, up to 150$ but preferably much less if possible
6. Needs RGB. I hate south facing LEDs with a burning passion but I'd imagine none cater to north facing ones in the non "gaming" keyboards sector

I've read about the Aula F108 pro v2 as the best all rounder but not sure if it truly is the case. Plus not sure if I should opt for one that comes with switches already, or use external ones. I like tactile switches

Thanks everyone

As the title suggested, I am looking for a prebuilt keyboard that's under 150 dollars, I can probably extend it by max around $15-20, but it's likely that I won't be able to.

Preferred size & layout: 75% ANSI

Other: Has nice sound; preferred color is blue but not mandatory; rgb is good but not mandatory; wireless or wired or Bluetooth is fine; I play games but not esport level (so a HE pick would be fine, but a non-HE one is fine too)

Some recommendations I've got are (with some additional research:

Chilkey ND75 - feels slightly less premium than other picks, still a solid one

Womier RD75 - nice build and color but mid sound

Bridge75 - idk why but this felt like the best one out of the bunch, but it's not in stock, lmk if it's worth it to wait

Neo75 prebuilt - $20 over the budget from what I've heard this should be the best keyboard here, according to multiple people. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not a fan of the sound because it feels really clacky. Also the default keycap colors are kinda mid. All of these can be fixed since it is hotswappable, but for a $170 prebuilt? Maybe I'm missing something

Keychron Q1 V2 - A very inexpensive and popular pick, but I feel like the acoustics are a bit off, and the overall build feels pretty mid. I've also heard that I should avoid the Q series from keychron, but IDK

LMK if these are good picks, or if there's another keyboard I should pick. I am a complete beginner in the field, knowing next to nothing, so pls help me out

EDIT: Grabbed the K10 after some kind users reassured me on my qualms, including the ability to use it in wired mode for lower latency. Thanks to everyone who read, let alone responded!

TL;DR: Quick list is below of what I'm looking for and why. Trying to choose between Keychron K10 (nearly perfect save for terrible latency due to wireless), Wooting Two HE (nearly twice the price due to duties), and Logitech G Pro X TKL RAPID (unknown quality of sensors, no analog sensor capability, terribly unreliable shit software that is GHub)...Or some other option that I have yet to find?? Please help!!

For context, I have had a NuPhy Field 75 ( not the V2) for 1.5 years, but not happy with it. Mostly because of layout, but also no analog, no shine-through on the keycaps, and I only just moments ago realized there was an actual NuPhy software I could use to customize it....there was NO mention of it anywhere in the manual...very frustrating. So below is first my list of requirements, and then the options I'm considering and their pros/cons.

ANY INPUT FROM THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE WITH ANY OF THE LISTED CONTENDORS, OR HELP IN GENERAL, IS MUCH APPRECIATED. IM VERY TIRED AND MUST SLEEP NOW!

1. Layout - delete/home/etc. must be standard 6 key layout above arrow keys. I can't cope with them being elsewhere or missing entirely. No numpad is ok, have separate one if needed.

2. Actuation Depth - 0.1 seems to be fine. Must also be able to set customized actuation depth - I consistently have issues with accidental presses just resting my hands, esp. on WASD.

3. Rapid Trigger - set separate actions on press and depress

4. Analog - this is not 100% necessary but I've always wanted to have analog response be possible on WASD, for driving cars and other such tasks where small adjustments are needed and a joystick would excel. To be clear, I mean WASD (or other keys) acting essentially like four separate axes, that I can bind in games the same way I would a joystick axis.

5. Primarily For Gaming - high polling rate, low latency, high build quality to stand up to extended use, sensors that work consistently, robust anti-ghosting (preferably with customizable key priorities). The standard asks for gaming keyboards.

6. Software/UI- Software should have a user friendly UI and not require anything more complex from the user than a simple restart of the PC or keyboard. It should also work consistently (looking at you, GHUB...)

7. Availability - In Canada, without exorbitant duties or shipping fees (yes, that's why I don't want to pull the trigger on a Wooting).

8. Back-Lighting - would be nice to have shine through keycaps again, which the Field sorely lacks. Didn't think I'd miss it, as I rarely look at the keyboard. But I do sometimes, and I'm often in the dark due to ppl sleeping in the house (and look at it a lot more now too, with this new layout that I hate).

• Keychron K10 seems to be a contender, but I have no idea what I should choose between the two switch options. Probably Gateron for longer lifespan? But then again, less sensitive sensor and lower control over actuation points. Seems nearly perfect, even supports analog which the NuPhy Field does not...but then I notice it's wireless with a full 3.4ms latency, when the Field is 0.45ms. Anyone have any experience with the K10, is this a noticeable amount of latency for gaming?

• Another obvious choice is the Wooting Two HE. But I want to avoid Wooting cause it is very costly. This particular keyboard is $314 CAD, including shipping but not including duties, which aren't listed until after you hit buy. When I last checked, which was when I got my current keyboard last year, it was like another $100 for the duties - and Im afraid of what it would be now with tariffs being insane...

• Finally, the Logitech G Pro X seems to meet a lot of my criteria. But, I haven't found too many solid reviews for it compared to the other two. It seems to almost be a throwaway, as Logitech doesn't have many listed specs or features (at least, compared to the feature list on other websites I've visited recently). No latency listed, which concerns me a little. Sensor quality might not be up to par. No analog which is a bummer. And GHUB is kinda shit...but it's nearly half the price of the Wooting....anyone have experience with this one?

• Any other contenders?

I wanted to ask this here because I no longer trust reviews or my own ability to discern what is and isn't important in a keyboard. Especially with all the crazy names for the different types of sensors, no idea which ones are and aren't good...If you have any advice after reading this far, feel free to stop here. The below is mostly me outlining why I'm not happy with my current keyboard.

Layout

First, I was pretty pissed when I bought the Field 75, because nowhere in the reviews I read did anyone mention it was a TKL. I realize now the 75 means 75%, and that's on me for not looking closely enough at the pictures and instead just reading the reviews and ad copy. But, everyone raved about the HE sensors being so nice to use, so I thought I'd give myself time to ...forget 20 years of muscle memory and relearn how to type? But I simply cannot get used to the positioning of the delete/pg up& down/home/end keys. And not even having an insert or scroll lock key, is crazy to me.

After 1.5 years, I still fumble around or have to glance down for page up and down (change scope elevation in most games) because they're in between other keys, and the delete key being as far away from my left hand is possible is actual pain. And forget trying to use any of the 4 keys under Delete for actually maneuvering through a document or Web page - is home first or second, is end at the bottom or middle...I genuinely couldn't tell you with certainty because I'm not looking at it right now.

Note: I got a separate numpad right away, so that's a non-issue. So, I'd be ok wirh

Customizability

I was under the impression I could adjust the sensor actuation depth, make the sensors act as analog, and a host of other profile changes. I'm even reading the original amazon page for it where it says you can at least change the depth, set different actions at different trigger and retrigger points. But the manual that came with it doesn't make any mention of software or drivers to download, just that there are some preset profiles you can use and adjust things like RGB patterns, color types, what happens to the lights when you press a key - very generic and boring, and frustrating when I was looking forward to fine tuning my actuation points. I tried looking at NuPhy website at the time but there were no drivers available there either, just a downloadable copy of the manual listed under the keyboard.

But apparently the NuPhy IO software has been compatible with it this whole time? Why did the manual not say a fucking thing about it? Why wasn't it listed under the keyboard's support page? I always wondered what the stupid Mode Switch thing was for, other than accidentally muting my sound when I press the button on it instead of the Escape key. But just looking at the images of the software is giving me flashbacks to trying to learn how to use the VKB joystick driver software, which requires a PHD to operate....not exactly user friendly to say the least.

Honestly at this point I just want to wash my hands of this keyboard and start fresh more than anything. I've accidentally pressed Home instead of Delete one too many times I guess....

I'm currently using the keyboard on my laptop for gaming. The keyboard I learned on (at home and at school) was a membrane switch Dell. I still have one, with the left windows key removed so I didn't accidentally back out of games. lol I've never had a proper mechanical switch keyboard.

I've been playing a lot of FPS games recently. I also enjoy typing. I want tactile, non-clicky switches, and want a quiet keyboard. Coming from a laptop keyboard and the cheap membrane switch keyboards office computers have, I don't feel I need anything super fancy. Just a full keyboard with numpad and good switches.

Any suggestions?

Hi, I'm looking for a budget hall effect keyboard. I'm choosing between smailwolf sk 11 and epomaker 68 lite right now. i generally like smailwolf's design more, but I've heard they have a bad software, and epomaker would be a better choice. what do you think?