While building a PC is by far the most popular ‘DIY’ activity for gaming, there is another crafty adventure that is becoming more and more popular: keyboard building. Mechanical keyboards have been around for decades, in fact mechanical keyboards (or keyboards with a PCB and individual ‘switches’ to create electrical contacts to be read by a controller) were the original keyboards, and were only replaced in the 80’s/90’s with the membrane keyboards that are ubiquitous today.

To build a keyboard, you need to be comfortable with soldering (or interesting in learning the basics), interested in working with small pieces, and ready to spend a few hours performing a repetitive motion. But if those things don’t scare you off, the advantages are immense: a fully customized keyboard that you build yourself and that you can invest your own wants and personality into. This guide, in two parts, is meant to first help you choose your pieces, then put them together the right way.

Final note: there are plenty of places to buy pieces, ranging from eBay to Alibaba to specialty stores like KBDfans or NovelKeys. We are going to stick with Amazon for the availability and customer service and look to known sellers in the keyboard world like YMDK or KPRepublic, but if you want to check out others for more exotic choices or to see pricing, do your research and go with a reputable buyer!

Mechanical Keyboard Components

Like a PC, building a keyboard is essentially combining a variety of (compatible) components to create the entire working item. Much of the selection of these components is personal and we can recommend ‘typical’ likes/dislikes, but it will be up to you to choose the most important aspects for your use and applying them to your choices. But the first choice you will have to make is what size you want your keyboard to be: compact (60%), TKL (arrows but no numpad, 75%) or full size (numpad, 100%). Surprisingly, the size with the most choices and the most common for a piecemeal build is the 60%, so that’s what we’ll focus on for this guide, although much of the information can be used at any size!

So, let’s walk through each piece you will need, and the important things to think of when picking out your choices:

1. The PCB

The PCB is the heart of the keyboard. PCB, or printed circuit board, is the easiest way to create the internal circuits and connections that will be completed by switches and read by the microcontroller to interpret the letters/numbers that are inputted. There are other more advanced options, like soldering resistors/diodes/chips to a blank PCB, or even more advanced options like handwiring, but we will leave those aside for now and focus on fully filled PCBs for this guide.

There are a couple of popular options for a 60% PCB, the most common of which are the DZ60 and GH60. Both are great PCB’s, offering a variety of layouts (key configurations) to match what you are looking for, including split-shift keys, shorter/longer space bars, and even some ways of including arrow keys on a 60% board (MiniLa style). Both use the same so-called ‘Pok3r’ screw layout to fix them to the case/plate, and both are equally reliable in terms of build quality. The GH60 has the advantage of coming in a few variations, such as with Bluetooth and a USB-C connector, so for the PCB, we recommend the YMDK GH60, with your choice of Bluetooth/underglow RGB options depending on budget. We would also suggest getting QMK vs bface as it is the open-source standard for keymapping (covered in part 2 of this guide), but both are fully functional.

2. The Case/Plate

One of the great parts of the 60% DIY market is the case selection. While enthusiasts will tell you about how a different case makes the keyboard sound different, and different plate materials will have different feels due to springiness, the main part of selecting a case/plate combo is to find the material you like and the case shape you want. There are two typical case profiles, high or low, that come in different materials and the plate is usually aluminum or brass. For a first build, we recommend getting an aluminum plate as the difference is small and aluminum is cheaper. In terms of case, we like the look of a wood case, but in terms of durability, plastic is always inexpensive and sturdy while there are plenty of high-quality metal cases as well. The choice comes down to your personal needs, and to make sure your case and plate are compatible with your PCB.

Specifically for this type of 60% build, we really love the quality/price of this aluminum plate from the same YMDK (they also have brass available if you want to pay more for the different metal). Important note! These plates support the traditional 60% ANSI (American-style) layout. If you want a more exotic layout or ISO-layout, check out the other offerings from YMDK/KBDfans and find the right plate as no matter what the PCB allows, the plate has to match it. If you aren’t sure, we recommend just sticking with the typical 61-key layout, it has the added advantage of the most compatibility with keycap sets for customization later on.

For the case, we are very partial to the design of the wooden cases, which are very difficult to find outside of the 60% format and are somewhat unique in that respect. For a light build, a bamboo case such as this one is always classic and the top closure is a nice touch, while the options for a darker wood like these cases are also very attractive (and include a wrist rest!). Of course, if that is a little too pricey or you simply want to show off the underglow/circuitry, a clear plastic case is inexpensive and transparent to show off the insides.

3. Switches & Stabilizers

The PCB may be the heart of your build, and the case will define the aesthetics (along with keycaps), but when it comes to typing experience, nothing is more important than the switches There are three main switch types: clickies (e.g. blue switches), tactiles (e.g. brown switches), and linears (e.g. red switches or black switches). Clickies offer a loud click on actuation, so by nature, they are not silent and should be avoided! Tactiles have a small bump or feedback on actuation, but no click. Linears have no bump or click and offer no physical acknowledgement of actuation. 

For gaming, the linear switch is by far the most popular as the lack of feedback on actuation can be easier for repetitive motions that often accompany gaming. The smooth travel and relative quietness are also well-liked as spamming ‘W’ on a clicky switch can get annoying quick! And within the linear switch family, Cherry MX Reds are by far the favorite and the classic choice due to the medium switch weight (not too hard to press and not too easy) and their quality. There are tens if not hundreds of other choices that can be heavier, lighter, ‘silent’, shorter travel to actuation, longer travel, etc., but Cherry MX Reds are the original and popular for a reason, so if you aren’t sure, these are a great place to start.

For mixed use or more typing heavy usage, some people prefer the tactile switch for the slight feedback that helps them type more accurately. Similar to linear switches, there are a huge diversity of tactile switches to choose from with different style feedback of differing size, shape, sharpness, and weight. But also like linears, Cherry has created the classic tactile equivalent to MX Reds: Cherry MX Browns. Similar to the Reds, these are not too heavy, not too light, and have a relatively light feedback that can be felt but isn’t too strong. If you like noise, you can of course consider Cherry MX Blues that are similarly tactile but with the audible feedback as well.

Finally, and relatively easily, the stabilizer choice is simple: original Cherry screw-in PCB mount stabilizers. You can occasionally find cheaper stabilizers, but they are almost always of lower-quality and rattle constantly when the key is pressed, which gets very annoying. So, keep it simple, and go with your preferred vendor but Cherry original screw-in stabilizers.

4. Keycaps & Cable

With all of the internal components and case selected, you’ve now arrived at the part that will dictate (along with the case) the look of your keyboard. Keycaps come in two main materials (ABS or PBT plastic), in a variety of profiles that are either shaped (sculpted) or flat, and either printed/lasered, dye-sublimated, or doubleshot for coloring/design. The choice between them is personal preference, although we would recommend to avoid printed/lasered as they tend to fade. ABS will eventually have some ‘shine’ that comes from oils on your fingers degrading the plastic, but will be smoother than the textured PBT plastic. There are high-quality choices in almost any profile/material, so once you’ve thought about how you want your keycaps to feel, you can get to the fun part: how they look.

Keycaps are the pinnacle of personal expression, and the best part is, they aren’t permanent! Due to the standardization around the MX stem, most keycaps are compatible with all major mechanical switches. Be sure to double-check that you are using an MX or MX-clone switch and MX compatible keycap, but 95% of the market is standardized around the MX format at this point. All this means you have a ton of choices at a variety of price points for keycaps. You can join a group buy and get a special design from a site like Drop, or go with a classic like the pink Sakura keycaps. There are knock-off options of famous designs like the ‘Carbon’ set, or the even older colorways that follow classics like the Dolch set that come from mechanical keyboards from the 80’s. No matter your choice, you can always swap later and keep things fresh so feel free to be creative and go for the type that best fit your aesthetic!

Similarly, don’t be afraid to go for a colorful cable to connect your new ‘keeb’. Be sure to get the right connector (USB-C, USB-Mini, etc.), but then go wild. We love some of the more exotic keyboard cables, like this USB-C/Aviator blue cable. 

Next Steps: Building & Assembly

Now that you’ve chosen all the individual components, check out the part 2 of this guide to get to the building and assembly to put it all together!

The post How to Build a Mechanical Keyboard (Part 1): Choosing Your Components appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

We’ve covered a few different types of switches within our different articles, from specialized gaming speed switches to more traditional red/black linear switches. And if you’ve read any of them, you’ll remember that there are three main types of switches (linear, tactile, and clicky) that have different types of feedback sensations: linear are smooth with no feedback, tactile give a bump upon actuation, and clicky have a bump as well as an audible ‘click’ upon actuation (actuation is when the key is registered as pressed). But while these are the types of switches, recent innovation has led to a change in the form factor of some switches to introduce a more compact version: the low profile mechanical switch.

Low profile switches were born out of the idea that many people enjoy the very short travel of ‘scissor’ or ‘chiclet’ laptop style switches, but still prefer the sensation of typing on a mechanical keyboard. With that in mind, Cherry, the largest manufacturer of mechanical switches, and Kailh, another one of the big players in mechanical switches, introduced low profile switches that used the same three types of feedback, but in a compact design that mimicked the short travel of laptop keyboards, reduced the size of mechanical keyboards, but maintained the same sensation. Cherry calls these switches MX Low Profile while Kailh simply refers to them as Kailh Low Profile switches.

So for the gamer that wants a short travel or more compact (in terms of height) keyboard, these low profile switches are an interesting option. And as the invention has caught on, other manufacturers like Logitech and Outemu have also introduced low profile options, meaning there are plenty of options to choose from. Custom keycaps are still harder to find, but we expect those to come in time. Like regular mechanical keyboards, we are looking for high quality switches and builds with nice features and good prices for our recommendations.

With those criteria in mind, these are our recommendations for best low profile mechanical keyboards:

Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards – Our Recommendations

Award	Design	Model
Best Budget Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard		Redragon K589 Shrapnel RGB
Best Mid-tier Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard		CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE
Best High-end Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard		Logitech G815 RGB
Best TKL Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard		HAVIT 87-key
Best 60% (& Wireless) Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard		CoolerMaster SK621

Best Budget Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

As we’ve shown in previous articles about mechanical keyboards, prices range from very expensive to very cheap. And while many of the cheapest options are low quality, there exist budget options that combine quality parts and design with less fancy features to create great keyboards. These options don’t always include all the bells and whistles of fancier designs, but they do offer strong reliability if you choose the right one. So for our best budget low profile mechanical keyboard, we recommend going with a known manufacturer and selecting the Redragon K589 Shrapnel RGB.

Redragon is a budget peripheral manufacturer that has made a name for good products at reasonable prices. This particularly keyboard includes some nice features like RGB backlighting, but most importantly offers good build quality and Outemu red low profile switches. Outemu might not make as great a switches as Cherry or Kailh in terms of quality control (wobble/scratchiness), but they still make good switches and red switches are perfect for gaming due to their linear (lack of) feedback and medium weighting. And because Redragon went with Outemu and a no-frills approach, they are able to offer the K589 Shrapnel at a very attractive $53 price point. At less than half of our mid-tier keyboard cost and 1/3^rd of the high-end, that’s a lot of low-profile keyboard for the price.

Best Mid-tier Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Beyond the budget-level, we start entering into the territory of very nice keyboards. Low profile periods still have a premium on their pricing as the switches are less popular and therefore more expensive to make, but a mid-tier keyboard still represents a step up in terms of features and reliability over the budget tier, even if the budget tier offerings are already quite good. One of the biggest advantages we see is the inclusion of Cherry MX Low Profile switches, which are more reliable in terms of quality control than their Outemu counterparts. Cherry MX switches also have other advantages, which we will get to in a second. But for all of these reasons, we recommend the well-known CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 RAPIDFIRE in its new low profile format.

Corsair needs no introduction, suffice to say that it is perhaps the biggest peripherals manufacturer (with Logitech) and produces high quality goods at reasonable (if slightly more expensive than budget producer) prices. The K70 Mk.2 is one of the keystone keyboards that Corsair makes, combining the classic full-size format with plenty of features and great high quality parts. And this particular low profile version is even better, using the unique Cherry MX low profile Speed switch. The travel on this switch is extremely short, making reaction times very quick and perfect for fast-twitch gamers that want immediate feedback. In addition, the Cherry MX low profile switch is compatible with regular MX keycaps, although be aware of Corsair’s non-standard bottom row when trying to customize your keys. In all, you are getting a specialized MX switch in keyboard packed with features (RGB, media keys, scroll wheel, iCue control, etc.) in a compact, slim low profile design. Not a bad deal for $130.

Best High-end Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

As always, after the mid-tier and budget tier, there exists the high-end of the spectrum. The keyboards in the high-end may not offer as compelling a price-performance value as interesting as the other budget levels, but they will be sure to include all the features you could want with a build quality and reliability to match. But what we really want at the high-end is something unique, something that sets apart the keyboard in this case and justifies its price. Luckily, we have a great keyboard to recommend that does just that: the Logitech G815 RGB low profile mechanical keyboard.

The G815 is an absolutely fascinating keyboard. It combines the low profile switch with an ultra-thin aluminum frame, but still manages to pack the keyboard full of features. From a media scroll wheel to programmable macro keys to profile programming to RGB Lightspeed syncing with your PC, the keyboard combines more features than you could ever need into a very slim and attractive package. And to top it all off, the keyboard features a unique Logitech low profile keyboard switch called a GL Linear (or GL Clicky/Tactile if you prefer a different switch type). These switches are unique to Logitech keyboards and promise half the height of normal switches, meaning that they will be hyper quick to respond and maximize the benefits of the low profile form factor. All of these aspects are what make this keyboard high end, and the price is correspondingly high at $200. But for someone that has the budget and wants the top low profile mechanical keyboard available, the G815 RGB is a very strong choice.

Best TKL Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

Outside of the traditional full-size keyboards with the numpad and F-row, typists are gravitating towards smaller form factors that remove the keys they don’t need. The most popular of these smaller form factors is the TKL (or tenkeyless) keyboard that removes the numpad in favor of a compact design. And as this form factor has become more and more popular, low profile mechanical TKL keyboards now exist. They aren’t as popular as the full-size so there isn’t quite the same diversity of options, but of the ones that are out there, we recommend the HAVIT 87-key low profile mechanical keyboard.

HAVIT is not a household name for producers, but they are not complete unknowns either. They are a budget space producer that focuses on peripherals and builds perfectly respectable keyboards, even if they might not have the tightest quality control or support like a Logitech or Corsair would. On the other hand, they are innovators and use quality parts with nice features. This particular keyboard combines a backlit 87-key (TKL) design based on the Kailh low profile switch, a very high quality switch that is every bit as well-regarded as the MX low profile design (aside from the different keycap compatibility, which is a shame). HAVIT includes some other nice features including a detachable USB and some built-in backlighting modes. It might not have the bells and whistles of a higher end model, but for someone looking for a TKL low profile mechanical keyboard, the HAVIT offers plenty to be excited about. And the cherry on top: the keyboard goes for a very compelling $60, making it a strong price-performance option for anyone that doesn’t need a numpad.

Best 60% (& Wireless) Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard

And if the TKL isn’t small enough for you, we are beginning to see the next most popular and even smaller form factor show up in the low-profile style. 60% keyboards remove the F-row and arrow keys/home cluster as well as the numpad, creating an even more compact keyboard that takes up very little desk space. For a gamer or pure typist that doesn’t need the number keys, the arrow cluster, or the F-row, these keyboards are very interesting options. While there aren’t a ton of choices with low profile switches, there is at least one that is a great keyboard from a known producer: the CoolerMaster SK621.

CoolerMaster, like Corsair and Logitech, is one of the major players in the peripheral/computing space. They produce keyboard and mice, but also PC cases, PSU’s, CPU coolers, and case fans that are well loved and well respected. This keyboard takes that experience and builds one of the most (subjectively) attractive keyboards, balancing features like backlighting and colored font on the keycaps with a subtle (non-gamery) font and low-profile case. And in that attractive design lies a whole host of interesting features: wireless via Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C detachable connectivity, macro programming and key customization support, and true Cherry MX low profile switches. For anyone that likes the 60% form factor and wants to try low profile switches, this keyboard is really well constructed, really well designed, and contains really great features. With black or white options and at $120, we really recommend it for 60% keyboard lovers in the market for a low profile mechanical keyboard.

Conclusion

While low profile switches offer the same types as regular switches (linear, clicky, or tactile), they combine an innovative design with thin chassis to create very compact keyboards with the short travel of a ‘laptop keyboard’ and the reliability/sensation of a mechanical keyboard. Whether you have a low budget or a high budget, there is enough interest in low profile switches that a variety of manufacturers and switch producers to create a relatively diverse selection to satisfy any individuals needs. Even for those looking to save some desk space with the TKL or 60% form factors should be more than satisfied with the recommendations above.

As always, be sure to think about what type of switch you are looking for, what type of form factor, and whether the short travel of the low profile switch is right for you. Then, use this guide to help pick the keyboard best for you and enjoy the innovation of low profile mechanical switches in your next keyboard.

The post 5 Best Low Profile Mechanical Keyboards appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

After all of our articles on keyboards, you might have realized that the single most important factor for typing sensation in any mechanical keyboard is the ‘switch’. The switch is the piece beneath the keycap that actually moves when pressed. Within the course of this movement, an internal leaf connects the two pins soldered into a circuit board, completing a circuit and allowing an electrical impulse to register and be read by a controller/chip. A spring will then push the key back up into its initial position.

And while almost all switches – basically any non-optical, non-magnetic mechanical switch – will use that type of design, they can use a different shaped stem/leaf to modify the feel of the switch and give either a tactile sensation, an audible click, or no feedback at all (linear). While keycaps and stabilizers and case materials will impact the overall sound and feel of a keyboard, the switch really is the most important factor in deciding what typing on your keyboard will be like, and in defining the use-case of your keyboard.

For gaming, we are lucky to have a variety of switches that are all specialized in allowing for the fast, repetitive key actions normally associated with PC gaming. Some gamers like to use tactile or clicky switches, especially for mouse-heavy games, but the majority of specialized gaming switches fall within the ‘linear’ category. 

As always, we recommend that you take the opportunity to find a local retailer that has a few switches to test (or buying an online switch tester) before purchasing a keyboard. But, once you’ve found your general preference, our recommendations below will guide you to the best mechanical keyboard switch in that area to ensure you have the best feeling, most accurate keyboard possible for all of your gaming needs.

Best Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switches – My Recommendations

Best Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switches	Design	Switch Type	Keyboard
Best Ultra-lightweight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Gateron Clear	Qisan Mini 49
Best Mid-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Red	HyperX Alloy FPS Pro TKL
Best Heavy-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Black	DREVO Excalibur
Best Specialized Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Speed Silver	HyperX Alloy FPS Pro RGB

Best Ultra-lightweight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch

Ultra-light in this context refers to below a 45g actuation weight. Importantly, when looking at switch weighting, there are two figures that matter: the actuation weight (how much force needs to be applied for the key to register as pressed) and the bottom-out weight (how much force is needed to fully press the key until the stem of the switch is completely depressed). In the ultra-light linear category, so switches that have an actuation weight of less than 45g and no tactile sensation when actuated, there is one mainstream switch that can be found in pre-built keyboards and is an all-around great switch: the Gateron Clear.

Gateron Clears have an actuation weight of 35g, meaning they are very easy to press and will not cause finger fatigue no matter how many APM you register or the length of your gaming session. Gateron Clears are also known for being quite smooth, having relatively little wobble, and use MX style stems to allow for a large variety of keycaps to be used easily. Many users like to add some lubrification to the stems for an even smoother usage, but thanks to the very light actuation force, gamers should have no problem moving Gateron Clears up-and-down in their stock form.

As a good example of a Gateron Clear keyboard for someone wanting a very minimalist gaming keyboard, we recommend the Qisan Mini 49. This keyboard will keep your desk clean, while maintaining the all-important WASD keys for gaming, and the fast key action of the best ultra-light mechanical gaming switch. And, because Gateron switches are very affordable, the keyboard comes in at a very affordable $54. For someone looking to keep things small and ultra-light, this is a good keyboard to consider.

Best Mid-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch

Into the more mainstream mid-weight category, there are quite a few options from different manufacturers. Almost always, the mid-weight linear switch offering from any major producer will be the same color: red. Red switches are also seen as the default gaming switch, and are used in the vast majority of dedicated ‘gaming keyboards’ because they combine a relatively safe actuation weight (45g typically) that is neither too heavy nor too light, with the classic gaming linear (lack of) feedback. But even if all red switches will be largely comparable, the original trendsetting Cherry MX Red switch is our switch of choice for mid-weight gaming.

Cherry MX switches are the industry leading mechanical switch, using the classic stem cross shape that has been the standard for keycaps for recent history and remain the standard for quality in terms of smoothness and wobble. Gateron Reds are also quite good, but are simply not as established as Cherry MX Reds. Similarly, Outemu Reds are not a bad choice, but tend to be scratchier feeling and have more wobble than both the Gateron or Cherry counterparts. At 45g, the actuation weight is neither too heavy nor too light and is a nice medium for most gamers in avoiding fatigue while also not enabling accidental keypresses due to light-weighting. And another small bonus is that Cherry now makes Cherry MX Silent Reds (sometimes called MX Pinks) with small rubber additions to help dampen noise.

Cherry MX Red switches are available in a huge variety of keyboards. Based on your budget, your preferred keycap material (ABS or PBT), and the case style you like (hi-profile, lo-profile, RGB underglow, etc.) you should be able to find a keyboard with the mid-weight gaming switch. One good example of a standard MX Red gaming keyboard is the well-reviewed HyperX Alloy FPS Pro TKL. At $70 that keyboard is a good buy with plenty of nice features, but do not be afraid to explore a bit within the Cherry MX Red switch category to find the keyboard right for you.

Best Heavy-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch

At the heavier end of the linear spectrum, there is another grouping of switches similar to the ‘red’ switches in the category above. They are nearly identical in nature (linear, MX style) except that they use black stems instead of red stems. The only major manufacturer that has a similar weighted but different stem color switch is Gateron, which has a Gateron Yellow offering that is largely the same. Due to availability, we have two recommendations for this section: the Cherry MX Black, and the slightly different Kailh BOX Black.

The reason we have two recommendations for this section is because the second choice, the Kailh BOX Black, is not easy to find in pre-built keyboards. It offers an interesting design improvement by protecting the stem through the BOX structure, avoiding dust and mitigating any liquid spills, but it is not as common as the still very solid Cherry MX Black. Between the two, the feel will be very similar with a 55-60g actuation weight (there is some spring tolerance differences, the Cherry Blacks tend to be slightly heavier) and a smooth linear action on depression. For an added bonus, like Cherry MX Reds, if you want a silent switch, the Cherry MX Blacks come in a silent version with small rubber additions to budget sound. 

As we said, the Kailh BOX Black is harder to find in prebuilts so it might be a great choice for anyone looking to build their own keyboard, but the Cherry MX Black is one of the industry standards and can be found quite readily. One great option using this switch is the DREVO Excalibur. DREVO is a relatively budget-name in the keyboard space, but makes solid keyboards and uses original Cherry switches for reliability and precision, meaning this keyboard will fit for any gamer wanting a heavy weight linear switch.

Best Specialized Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch

After the basic three categories above, with the ‘black’ and ‘red’ style switches being by far the most popular for gaming, Cherry released a specialized gaming switch called the ‘Speed’ switch. Basically, the speed switch makes the stem shorter so that the actuation point is higher, even if it uses the same weight. The switch has therefore less ‘travel’, allowing for quicker actuation and faster depression (or at least that’s the theory behind the shortened travel). As you might imagine, for gaming, this could be a considerable improvement. Kailh followed shortly after with a similar Speed Silver design, and also added Speed Copper, Gold, and Bronze switches, although they are either tactile or clicky designs and so slightly less adapted to gaming, even with the shortened travel. All this to say that if you want a truly specialized gaming switch and like the idea of very quick key presses with short travel, Cherry MX Speed Silver switches are ideal for you.

Similar to the black switch type above, the reason we recommend the Cherry MX Speed Silver over the Kailh design is really because of ease of access. It is much easier to find the Cherry MX Speed Silver in prebuilt keyboards, but if you do find one with the Kailh version, both are perfectly reliable switches. They have similar actuation weights (right around 45g, the same as the ‘red’ switch type) and similarly shortened travel. Cherry fans will tell you that genuine MX switches have less wobble and are potentially smoother, but differences are likely too small to notice between the two switches unless comparing side-by-side.

For a great example of a prebuilt keyboard using these specialized Cherry MX Speed Silver switches, we recommend the slightly larger version of one of our recommendations above, the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB. This full-size keyboard has plenty of features, including the specialized switches, and is very reasonable at right around $106. If you want to try some made-for-gaming switches, this keyboard will be a great option to consider.

Conclusion

Best Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switches	Design	Switch Type	Keyboard
Best Ultra-lightweight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Gateron Clear	Qisan Mini 49
Best Mid-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Red	HyperX Alloy FPS Pro TKL
Best Heavy-weight Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Black	DREVO Excalibur
Best Specialized Mechanical Keyboard Gaming Switch		Cherry MX Speed Silver	HyperX Alloy FPS Pro RGB

When it comes to finding a gaming mechanical keyboard switch, unless you know otherwise already based on your personal preferences, the best place to start is with the linear switches. Then, narrowing down to your preferred weighting can help you decide between the ultra-light Gateron Clear, the mid-weight Cherry MX Red (or other ‘red’ switch) and the heavy-weight Kailh BOX/Cherry MX Black. Once you know your weight, if you really want to go for specialized gaming, the Cherry MX Speed Silver switch is worth testing as well.

With all of that research done, our recommendations above should help you in choosing the perfect keyboard to fulfill all your gaming needs.

The post Best Mechanical Keyboard Switches for Gaming appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

If you read our article on the $1750 white gaming build, you might now have built yourself a beautiful, white-themed PC. And now, you’re thinking that you want your desk and peripherals to match to ensure that your entire battlestation falls into line with your clean-white aesthetic. Luckily, there exists a serious number of white mechanical keyboards in a variety of styles. This guide will help you choose the best white mechanical keyboard based on your needs.

Whether you are an exclusive gamer, a heavy coder, or a wireless fanatic, this guide will help you choose the best white mechanical keyboard available to match your beautiful white-themed PC, or any other color that you feel is best matched with a white keyboard.

As a refresher, or an introduction for anyone new to mechanical keyboards, we are looking for the right switches (clicky, linear, or tactile), good quality control and durable construction, and any specific features that will make our keyboard our best friend, while limiting our choices to the best white options available. Be sure to think about your needs before picking a keyboard as no matter how high quality it is, if it doesn’t satisfy your needs, it isn’t the best keyboard available for YOU.

With that in mind, let’s jump into our recommendations for the best white mechanical keyboards around.

• Related: Best TKL Mechanical Keyboards
• Related: Best 60% Size Mechanical Keyboards
• Related: Quietest Mechanical Keyboards

Best White Mechanical Keyboards – My Recommendations

Best White Mechanical Keyboards	Design	Recommendation
Best White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard		Magicforce68
Alternative High-end White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard		Corsair K70 Mk.2 SE
Best White Mechanical Keyboard for Typing/Coding		Durgod Taurus K320 TKL
Best Wireless White Mechanical Keyboard		Anne Pro 2
Alternative Wireless White Mechanical Keyboard		Royal Kludge RK61
Best Wildcard White Mechanical Keyboard		Redragon K550

Best White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

For gaming, a 65% keyboard is really about as good as it gets. And luckily, one of the single most popular 65% keyboards happens to be white (or mostly white). If you’re read our other mechanical keyboard articles, you may have heard it before, we’re talking about the one and only Magicforce68.

The Magicforce68 is perfect for gaming for a few different reasons. It comes in almost any switch variation imaginable (we recommend reds for gaming, but it is a personal choice!), is compact and does not keep any of the keys you won’t need for gaming while maintaining everything you could want like arrow keys, and offers some backlighting effects to help make sure you aren’t totally missing out on the RGB gamer effects that can be very elegant when done right.

And arguably the most attractive part of the Magicforce68, other than all the great features above of course, is its price. Coming in at anywhere from around $40-80 depending on the switches and backlighting options you choose, it really is hard to find a better deal. In fact, we aren’t sure there is one, which is why this is our recommendation for best gaming white mechanical keyboard.

Alternative High-end White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

So maybe you’re thinking, the Magicforce is great, but I’ve got some cash to spend and I’m looking for something fancy. In that case, we have an alternative recommendation: the very high-end special edition Corsair K70 Mk.2 SE with the specialized speed gamer switches. This baby is really top of the line, offering all the bells and whistles in a very cool white package. It ain’t cheap at $150, but if you have the cash, this keyboard brings the goods.

Best White Mechanical Keyboard for Typing/Coding (and Best Silent, too!)

If you follow our site and like to read our guides, you may be thinking that you’ve seen a lot of these brands before. You might say, give me something new! And we hear you! We recommend a lot of the same brands for the simple reason that they are known because they make great keyboards. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give some serious props to one of the newer players in the game. And that’s why for a great typing keyboard that doesn’t bother with that flashy RGB gamer stuff but focuses on a great typing machine, we recommend the Durgod Taurus K320 TKL.

Durgod recently came onto the mechanical keyboard scene and has made a pretty big splash in a short amount of time. With an emphasis on enthusiast features like key customization and macro programming, Durgod quickly became known for fair pricing and great quality, and the Taurus K320 is no exception. Now, it may not be 100% white (it has grey modifier keycaps), but keycaps can be changed and these ones are great quality double-shot PBT, so we think the touch of grey is worth it. And as a final interesting option, the Durgod has the choice of your typical MX Brown tactile for typing, or if you prefer a quiet typing machine for an office environment, MX Silent Reds.

All-in-all, this keyboard is nearly all white and still offers everything we could want in a typing focused keyboard. Great keycaps, plenty of customization, quality switches, good build quality, and all for right around $100…that’ll do Durgod, that’ll do.

Best Wireless White Mechanical Keyboard

If you’ve been reading closely, you might say, I know what the recommendation for wireless will be, and you would probably be right. Why bother with surprises when there is a clear-cut choice. When you have a keyboard that fits the bill, no reason to recommend anything other. And in this case, we’re doubly lucky because it comes in a white form that is just as beautiful. We are talking about of course, the queen of wireless keyboards: the Anne Pro 2 white mechanical keyboard.

With the choice of switches ranging from clicky to linear to tactile, the Anne Pro 2 is known as being a great choice for hybrid gaming/typing use and has enough customization to allow any keyboard user to find the board that perfectly fits their need. It has high-quality parts, good quality control, plenty of features, and allows the user to decide which switches are right for them.

Coming in at around $95, the Anne Pro 2 is a beautiful option for any wireless white keyboard searcher. Choose the switches that you enjoy most, whether its browns for typing or reds for gaming and simply enjoy the beauty of the white wireless queen of mechanical keyboards.

Alternative Option – Royal Kludge RK61

If you find yourself on a budget but still want a wireless option, we have a great alternative for you to consider: the Royal Kludge RK61. Again, this one has been featured in some of our other articles, but for good reason! Wireless capacity on a compact, mechanical keyboard with backlighting and a good reputation is not easy to find. And when you add the very modest price tag of $50 into the mix, you know you have found a winner. Anyone looking for an all-white wireless mechanical keyboard on a budget should look no further than the RK61.

Best Wildcard White Mechanical Keyboard

This is a bit of an overall category, but while we were looking at some of our favorite white mechanical keyboards, there was one keyboard that didn’t quite fit into any of the other categories. It’s got browns, so maybe not perfect for gaming; it is full-size, so not the best compact keyboard; it’s not wireless, but has a ton of other features….generally, it’s just a great keyboard. So we decided to make a ‘wildcard’ category just to be able to mention another great white mechanical keyboard that is going to be very popular for anyone looking for an inexpensive but high-quality full size white mechanical keyboard: the Redragon K550.

This keyboard is full of really great features, such as the detachable (white) wrist rest, the variety of media/macro keys, a scroll wheel, and plenty of RGB. As long as you don’t mind the very gamer-y font on the keycaps (which you can always replace), this keyboard provides a lot of very good features and comes from a well-known manufacturer in the budget-tier of gaming peripherals.

So we couldn’t quite call this the ‘best’ of any of the more specialized categories, because it doesn’t quite beat any of the specialized keyboards at their own game. It is overall very competitive in a lot of different categories, and fits the pure white build perfectly between the aluminum finish and all-white keycaps/wrist rest. With all that in mind, if you have $70 to spend and aren’t comfortable with the form factor of the RK61 or Magicforce68, there is absolutely no reason not to choose the full-size K550.

Conclusion

Best White Mechanical Keyboards	Design	Recommendation
Best White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard		Magicforce68
Alternative High-end White Gaming Mechanical Keyboard		Corsair K70 Mk.2 SE
Best White Mechanical Keyboard for Typing/Coding		Durgod Taurus K320 TKL
Best Wireless White Mechanical Keyboard		Anne Pro 2
Alternative Wireless White Mechanical Keyboard		Royal Kludge RK61
Best Wildcard White Mechanical Keyboard		Redragon K550

If you like a minimalist (or minimalist with lighting!) approach or want your keyboard to match an otherwise all-white aesthetic, there are plenty of great mechanical keyboards that are white for you to choose from. Whether you game or code, want to eliminate wires or are trying to keep noise to a minimum, the availability of white choices includes any switch imaginable and plenty of customization.

And as we always say in our mechanical keyboard articles, remember to find a retailer to test the different switch types if you have never used a mechanical keyboard before to determine which one you like best, and always put your needs first in terms of features when choosing a mechanical keyboard. Then, once you have decided on the basics, our recommendations will help you get the most bang-for-your-buck for your next TKL mechanical keyboard.

The post 6 Best White Mechanical Keyboards (for Gaming, Typing & Coding) appeared first on PremiumBuilds.

When asked about the most important part of a PC set-up, most people will point to the CPU or GPU because of their importance in dictating performance. Some people might say the motherboard, since it is the backbone of the entire system. But often we overlook the components more responsible for our enjoyment, the peripherals.

No matter which (modern) PC you use, no matter which usage from web browsing to intense gaming, there are certain constants when interacting with your computer: input devices. The mouse and keyboard (and to a certain extent the monitor) define our interaction with our computers, and investing as much thought into a strong mouse and keyboard combo as you do your core PC components can raise your satisfaction level and overall enjoyment of your PC usage and gaming experience. And recent advances in technology mean that wireless keyboard and mice are becoming affordable, offer latency as fast (or faster in some cases!) than traditional keyboard and mice, and provide a quality of life increase for PC users by eliminating unnecessary cords and keeping our battlestations clean.

This guide will help you choose the best wireless keyboard and mouse combination based on your available budget because we know that having the highest-quality mouse and keyboard you can afford will ensure your PC interaction is as satisfying as possible. Our recommendations are geared towards gamers, as workstation users will be able to enjoy almost any brand name wireless keyboard and mouse for basic usage, while gamers require some additional features that make researching your purchase more important.

With all that in mind, here are our recommendations for the best keyboard and mouse combos available today:

Best Wireless Gaming Mouse and Keyboard Combos – My Recommendations

Award	Design	Keyboard	Design	Mouse
Best Value Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Royal Kludge RK61 Wireless		Reddxragon M652
Best Mid-Range Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Logitech G613		Logitech G602
Alternative Mid-Range Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo		Corsair K63		Logitech G603
Best High-End Wireless Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Logitech G915		Logitech G Pro Wireless Mouse
Alternative High-End Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo		Anne Pro 2		Steelseries Rival 650

Best Value Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo

When it comes to selecting a value tier wireless keyboard and mouse for anyone with a tight budget, we are looking for a few main things: a good reputation for build quality and quality control, a decent wireless connection that won’t cut out mid-game, a battery life that will last for full gaming sessions, real mechanical switches (none of that ‘mecha-membrane’ stuff) for the keyboard, and at least mouse buttons and adjustable DPI for the mouse. At this price point, we don’t need any fancy bells or whistles, we don’t need fully programmable keyboards, we don’t need crazy quality keycaps or 32 bajillion DPI, we just need something reliable and nice to use.

And if with those criteria while keeping our combination to $75 or less, we recommend the Royal Kludge RK61 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard and the Reddxragon M652. These two devices come from well-known if not big-name manufacturers, have good build quality and quality control, fall within our price range (together they cost around $60), and offer some key features like 2.4ghz connection for the mouse and true mechanical switches (blue) on the keyboard. They both have good battery life, some nice backlight LED illumination, and while this is subjective, both have pretty good aesthetics that will not kill your battle station décor.

They might not be the absolute best of the best when compared to devices costing three times as much, but for their prices, these two devices will both serve you well in all your gaming needs.

Honorable Mention – Velocifire VM02WS

One alternative to the Royal Kludge RK61 that puts us just above the $75 dollar mark is the VELOCIFIRE VM02WS. If you have a bit extra to spend, prefer a full-size keyboard, or prefer brown switches to blue switches, the VM02WS is another great wireless option that will provide long battery life and reliability for both typing and gaming.

Best Mid-Range Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo – Logitech G613 + G602

At this price-range, we take a step-up and begin entering the realm of entry-level major manufacturer keyboard and mice combos. We can expect a few more features, a longer expected product lifetime, and lag-free connections for our wireless set-up. We still want good battery life and build quality, and should be looking for a combination in the $75-$125 range that will satisfy our needs.

Based on those aspects, we recommend the Logitech G613 Wireless Keyboard and Logitech G602 Wireless Mouse combination. Logitech is perhaps the single biggest name in gaming peripherals, and for very good reason. They have pioneered wireless technology for gaming with their Lightspeed system and ultra-low power sensors, and this mouse and keyboard combination take full advantage – compared to the budget-tier, we get 2.4ghz connection for the keyboard as well to ensure lag-free gaming. The G602 offers plenty of customizable options (as does the G613 for macros and in-app commands) and both should perform extremely reliable and last for years.

At approximately $110 together, this wireless set-up will be perfect for 80% of users looking to eliminate wires from their build.

Honorable Mention – Corsair K63 + Logitech G603

While for this category we really feel that the combination above is as good as it gets, the only alternative we can offer is for those that do not like the shape of the G602, which is not a small mouse. Mouse shape is a subjective discussion, but for those that prefer a less aggressive ergonomic design or want to spend a little bit more to get the most recent sensor, the Logitech G603 is a great choice for around $15-20 more. And for an alternative wireless gaming keyboard in this category for someone looking to avoid a full-size keyboard in favor of the more compact tenkeyless design, we recommend the Corsair K63 Wireless Keyboard.

Best High-End Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo

In the high-end section of the wireless gaming mouse and keyboard spectrum, we start seeing some very interesting options. State-of-the-art sensors and connectivity, along with some nice additional features and long-term reliability may not come cheap, but for those with the cash, can provide a very satisfying experience.

For this $125+ category, we recommend the Logitech G915 Wireless Gaming Keyboard and the Logitech G Pro Wireless Mouse. At this price range (and be prepared, this really is high-end as the total for these two devices comes out to around $350 depending on the final pricing for the brand new G915), we are getting the best-of-the-best available on the market today.

The G915 uses brand new low-profile mechanical switches designed by Logitech for short travel, perfect for quick key presses while gaming, and has almost any feature you could ask for: long 30 hour battery life, RGB illumination, macro programming, media keys, a scroll-knob, battery indicator, aluminum frame…..too many features to list without drowning in information.

And the Logitech G Pro Wireless matches it in every way. It has the newest sensor and connectivity technology, high-quality switches, completely customizable DPI, 4 removable side buttons for more customization, a 1 millisecond reporting rate, and all of it within an 80 gram package. For long gaming sessions, this mouse will never let you down and provides everything a gamer could ever want and more.

Bottom-line for this combo: you are spending a lot, but getting a lot and will not find a better wireless gaming combination available today.

Honorable Mention – Anne Pro 2 + Steelseries Rival 650

While the G915 and G Pro Wireless are hard to beat, if you are looking for a more compact keyboard and different mouse shape, we have a couple alternatives that are no slouches either. In terms of keyboard, and you may have seen it mentioned in our Quietest Mechanical Keyboards article, the Anne Pro 2 is a great wireless 60% mechanical keyboard at half the price of the G915. It is still not cheap at $120, but it offers a strong alternative to someone looking for a reliable mechanical wireless keyboard in a smaller factor or for a bit less cash. Similarly, the Steelseries Rival 650 Wireless Mouse is a strong alternative to the G Pro Wireless. It is much heavier (around 101g with no weights and can be customized by adding or removing up to 8 included 4g weights) so it may not work for those looking for a light mouse, but is also a much different shape and may be more comfortable to palm-grippers or those with bigger hands.

Conclusion

Award	Design	Keyboard	Design	Mouse
Best Value Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Royal Kludge RK61 Wireless		Reddxragon M652
Best Mid-Range Wireless Gaming Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Logitech G613		Logitech G602
Alternative Mid-Range Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo		Corsair K63		Logitech G603
Best High-End Wireless Mouse & Keyboard Combo		Logitech G915		Logitech G Pro Wireless Mouse
Alternative High-End Wireless Keyboard + Mouse Combo		Anne Pro 2		Steelseries Rival 650

With the beauty of technological advancement, wireless gaming is now available at almost any budget. Within each price range are a variety of options and mice and keyboard are personal, so be sure to think about your needs before buying, but our recommendations should help you avoid wasting your money on an unreliable wireless gaming set-up that will break soon after buying.

The keyboard and mouse are how you interact with your PC, so even if it means saving up a little longer, try and invest into a set-up that will make you happy as no matter how strong the computer, if you hate your keyboard and mouse, you will not enjoy your gaming (or any other!) experience.

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