Mechanical keyboards: everything you need to know 

You forgot to mention about different size of mechanical keyboards: fullsize, TKL, 60%, and many more.

I'm still using the standard keyboard that came with my old Windows XP pc

You can also build a mechanical keyboard with custom pcb, plate, case, individual switches and keycaps.

Keep in mind that those niche switches are usually used for keys you hammer more, like Enter and Space.

I loved those IBM buckle spring keyboards. 5250 and 3270 terminals came thus equipped. The feel and feedback beats everything else in the ground.

He forgot to mention you will most likely to go broke after getting one.

Thank you so much. I've been learning about switches and this is by far the most helpful video to clear my understanding. Thank you so much!

Valuable material. No nonsense, pure information. Thanks.

Weird Manufacture such as Zealios, man.. As a Tactile Lovers, you should try Zealios board... you won't touch your MX Clear anymore...

my a4tech standard keyboard is now 8 years and i'm still using it. his brother, a4tech mouse died last december. served me well for more than 7 years. got them both for less than 16 usd.

Great video, thank you! I have an ergo pro split keyboard by Matias. I use it for data entry at work. My typing is fast and accurate. However, sometimes the keys, mostly the tab key, double strikes. So, if I press tab, it may tab 2 or 3 times. This is a problem for me. This is my first mechanical keyboard. Could it be the way I touch the keys, maybe too lightly or not lightly enough? Or perhaps it's defective? I have removed and re-seated the key cap from the tab key, and it worked great for a couple of days. I can't really spend a lot of time doing anything but typing, and this is totally annoying. Thank you for any feedback.

I've been using a mechanical keyboard since 1975!!

get topre if you type for work, cherries are nice but if you want clicky get buckling spring.

I use a late 1990's Keytronic. It has a ps/2 connector and most modern PC motherboards still have one.

I just bought a Cherry keyboard today, second hand from a computer shop because the new one that I bought from the same shop was a cheap rubbish membrane keyboard. You can tell the difference between mechanical and membrane keyboard just by feeling the weight. mechanical keyboard are solid and feels good to type on. Yeah some can be noisy but certainly does the job and last longer.

Honestly, I love my blues for gaming. I love that tactile feedback.

I've literally never had a non-mechanical keyboard fail on me over the past 30 years. That argument is such a terrible pro-mechanical argument.

Thank you so much for the content! I love your videos

Mechanical switches have a contact point while membrane boards have two PCBs that have to be depressed all the way to close the circuit. Mechanical switches are a lot more responsive since their actuation distance is shorter but you still get a lot of full travel distance.

Darn good video, with compact and complete info without explanatory nonsense!

I know everyone raves about cherry mx blues but I have to say I do love my razer orange switches in my blackwiddow chroma v2

You forgot to mention o-rings, very commom mod the mech keyboards. I personaly like because they limit the travel distance and reduce the noise of keycap bumping the switch. Some people hate because aproach to the bumpness of ruberdomes.

Very helpful and informative video. Thank you very much.

thanks for this video

Just the video I need. Thanks!

Thanks Porter J. Could you please tell me if different keyboards have different Clock speeds (Like PS2 Vs DIN5 etc.,). I have a 8051 Trainer kit that had a keyboard with din5 connector and now is gone bad and same is not available in the market. So, I just got a new Keyboard with PS2 connecter and replaced its wire(by means of soldering) with that of a DIN5 one right at the PCB end within the Keyboard itself. Here, I followed the VDGC schema of pin-out for the Male-Din5 connector. Now when I connect this modified one to that 8051 Trainer kit it doesn't do anything. When I ON the Trainer kit this keyboard flashes all LEDs (Numlock,scroll-lock,Caps-lock) at once but will not respond to any key that I press on it, Kindly answer me PLEASE. Thanks & Regards

Did you ever discover if the keyboard you evaluated had buffering, known as n-key rollover. I own an American mechanical keyboard that was a design used by IBM (buckling spring action). This keyboard only had 2 key rollover, which resulted in keyboard lockup, if you tried to use the keyboard while the system was booting. The lockup remedey, remove keyboard power temporarily.

>Zealio >Lower quality than Cherry MX Bruh

I'm so jelous of that whitefox, it's extremely hard and expensive to get in Mexico. I just recieved a pok3r and it's awesome, also the Novatouch with pbt keycaps it's great.

Great video!

Hi Jon - given this (arguably best and very helpful mechanical keyboard overview!) video was a while back, would appreciate your current thoughts on your WhiteFox with Cherry MX Clear - are you still happy? I'm going to buy a WhiteFox before they're gone for good and am torn between Hako Clear and Hako Violet switches (Cherry MX CLear out of stock) options. Maybe time to do a 2019 update on latest/greatest Mech KBs?! With Thanks!

This. Was. Perfect. Thank you 😊

I know its 2019 and this video was posted back in 2016, nonetheless, I just re-discovered my lost passion on back I the late 90s old school mechanical keyboards and how fun it once used to be. That being said, I honestly thought all those years (1996 to 2018) they disappeared. So thank you for the awesome educational video about these crazy Cherry Red MX insane keyboards. 🍒 am ready to buy me one!

I noticed that the blue and white keyboard is 60% size but still has the arrow keys. Can you tell me what build that is?

How do 'bucking spring' switches (IBM model M) compare with the cherry switches?

Awesome explanation, to the point, explained in simple terms, thanks!

Impressive stuff. Great summary.

So then, what is my 15 year old dell keyboard that came free with my old pc? I was thinking of finally upgrading because the spacebar feels soft now...but it still works great!

gonna try and make my own mechanical keyboard once i get my desktop fixed! thanks for this good intro!

Opinions on Kailh and Gateron vs Cherry aren't divided at all lol. Kailh and Gateron have beaten Cherry at their own game, because Cherry got complacent.

How do u activate the Scroll lock key on the Left-hand side next to the ALT key?

I have the Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja Tenkeyless Cherry Brown and I thoroughly recommend it. I recommend the Ninja keycaps more generally too. I sit at a lower angle to the keyboard, so they're more visible against the glare of my monitor, and the typography doesn't wear because the print is on the side of the key, as opposed to the top.

i dont know which one to get, because i can't imagine how it feels to type w diff switches?

How do you call the X switches like in Logitech UltraX? Are they mechanical, too? How do you compare These switches to the Cherry and compatible ones?

Fantastic review

I have a question, oh keyboard master: Where can I find a tkl membrane keyboard which is backlit? preferably in one color, not perma-rainbow mode. Does it exist, or am I chasing a unicorn? I'm also not going to cave for one of those "capacitive" keyboards; I want an old-school membrane. Where have they all gone? Must be tkl and must be membrane. backlit isn't a must; but I really do want the functionality.

now i can finally understand what my friends are talking about XD

Any information or links to the keycaps shown in this video?

Where can I get the key cap set on the das keyboard 4?

the orange and black one looks amaaaaazing!!! Where can I get those keycaps?

Bruh this video is so helpful!

atm i have a razer blackwidow chroma keyboard with green switches. when i typ i dont have like any issues, but when i play a verry tactical shooter like cs go, it lately realy feels like my movement is not registred correctly and it really starts to drive me mental! is it the keys??is it the keyboard that breaks down ?? is it my pc..... its driving me nuts!

whats the keyboard on the thumbnail? The white blue one?

LOL this must be the most technerdiest things ive seen.. I loved it. The nerdier the better.👍🏻

I hope someone can please assist me. I'm partially blind and want to get a mechanical keyboard with brown switches. I have to type for work, mostly on Excel. After researching, I'd like to find something like the Ducky 2 with black keycaps and white RGB letters. But for the love of God I'm having the hardest time finding something similar. The Ducky 2 had a great look, where the backlighting didn't bleed through around the keycaps. Can anyone help me with a recommendation? BTW the Craft keyboard would be perfect but I need a black keyboard with white letters, as I can see it better.

I have an old mechanical keyboard from my former machine that was working on Win XP, and I can't find a driver update for using it on Win 7. Even the brand name is not written on the keyboard. Only the model KB-9966 is written underneath.

What are kboards w/o f keys are xalled? Is there a term? (Like tkl)

Where can I buy these keyboards in the UK / online? Thanks

What about ROMER G switches, in my experience, they are pretty good, but they have a really low lifespan, and the connector between the switch and the keycap is extremely brittle, composed of 4 small pieces of plastic, if one of them breaks you can A, just use it as is, or B replace both the switch and the keycap. The plastic is stuck inside the switch its self and the keycap can no longer attach.

who had to replace a keyboard every couple years? wf

I have one of the razer keyboards with their proprietary switches, and I prefer the cherry mx.

It's nice video, plz make video about mouse everything you need to know

Informative, thanks!

2:27 So why do other article say that browns are the most tactile switches?

Very helpful!

Wat abaut the size of keybor meny keybord dot hav num pud

Yesterday, I watched a RU-vid video on this subject and got all excited and started looking for a replacement for my current (silent) board. I am not a gamer so am not interested in all the extras they are looking for, so that any board which included the word "gamer" or the like, I ignored. I was unable to locate a board which was USB and included multimedia keys. Note: I have found wireless ones temperamental and have given up on those especially as I have never had any problems with wired ones. True, I only spent an hour looking. Any suggestions?

What is the name of the orange and black keyboard at 4:34

Ok so I have a question hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice. I am a Starcraft 2 player and I currently use a Razer Cynosa Pro keyboard and honestly it works perfectly fine as any decent mechanical keyboard. BUT I kinda feel maybe is a bit too large and sometimes my fingers cannot reach the desired hotkeys during gameplay. So I was wondering if there is a good mechanical keyboard you can recommend that might be smaller. Specially I have trouble reaching fast with my left hand between the F1 and F4 hotkeys. Like I can obviously do it but not as fast as I was used to when I used a laptop. Thanks in advance

im pretty sure that the consensus on cherry switches is that theyre mid-low quality. They have decent lifetime but are pretty scratchy and relatively unremarkable. Zealios tactiles, Gaeteron yellow, and Kailh Box Navy are all generally considered superior to the red brown and blue switches respectively. But its a matter of opinion and thats whats great about mech keys, that and being gorgeous and sounding great.

The reason i dislike browns is whenever i type i feel like im typing on membrane keyboard cuz of that bump without tick sound. Membranes also have rubber bump

good to buy for gaming than normal keyboard?

The Pok3r looks awesome. I want it.

if it offers a better typing experience then it's golden.

good video! on point, not boring and filled with actual relevant information. Thank you.

whats the white blue silver one from the video called

I mostly care about switching caps. Do I have to look for words like ‘hot-swappable’ ? There are so many 60% boards out there but I'm confused on which ones can switch caps or compatibility

Forgot Cherry MX Silvers Personally my favorite

U didn't mention actuation points in the mx red

are there any oldschool designed keyboards out there? which are mechanical keyboards

make a video to update note 3 to note 7, but choose a good custom rom

Haven't had any luck on that "lasting a while" part. I've had to RMA my Tt Poseidon Z twice now and this third keyboard is beginning to show key chatter again. Meanwhile, my 5-year old membrane keyboard still works just fine. Hm...

I didn't really know that two types of keyboards existed. We some membrane keyboards in our dad's store. But there was TVS gold which was mechanical and only office people bought it. I didn't give af. It was years ago. But once I went to my bank for a student loan and saw that keyboard there. The employee typed on it, my ears were extremely satisfied. And now I think it's okay to spend a ton on keyboards if you like it.

Currently use the Cherry MX blacks, would like to build a custom keyboard with the best switches available for typing, which would those be? Talking absolute best here.

So how fast is your typing?

Which switch is in the intro

can anyone recognize the orange-black keyboard combo at 1:33 in the video? what's the name of it?

I love my old IBM mechanical keyboard, but the lack of the Super (Windows) key made me switch to a membrane keyboard.

Is there any ducky mechanical kdyboards

Forgot to mention ALPS / Matias.

Hello! Good information. I'm quite the typist at my job and miss my old mechanical Dell keyboard - I have it at work and bought an adapter so I could plug it into my new desktop with a USB. I do hope that works. If not - I'll be wanting to buy something: my question is - are the newer manufactured mechanical keyboards wireless? Thanks.

Been using my membrane for like 7 years now... Works perfectly. Will probably switch to a mechanichal soon

Gateron master race, mod some clears with 62g gold springs and lube, thick pbt keycaps and you're in heaven

Instruction unclear: File for bankruptcy after getting one.

Sorry but the Model M is not from 1985, there is a timestamp just at the left of the P/N, timestamp saying : 1989-11-02

Great introduction Reddit had me lost

I've never heard of "carl" and "top pray" switches before! Also, who the hell said Zealios and Gaterons are lower quality than Cherry?

I can't tell if my keyboard is a mechanical one or another type of keyboard... There is the rubber inside of the keyboard but it is slightly diffirent. I can press easily still... I don't have to press all the way down...

when i built my pc i forgot to buy a keyboard, and after i set it up i went on amazon and bought the cheapest keyboard for 25$ that id use for a week or two till i get the keyboard i want, its been 2 years and im still using that keyboard cause i never bother buying a new one cause whenever i had money to spend i'd spend on anything else i didnt have

Why are Mechanical keyboards much softer than membrane ones,please help me my new Mechanical keyboard seems too soft (after using an old membrane keyboard) should I replace it (Amazon) or keep it....