Grabbed a cheap switch puller. Works as advertised and should make swapping out switches a lot easier than the basic ones that come with keyboards.
Recommended replacement keyboard switches?
- Thread starter sswilson
- Start date
The most recent iteration of the GMK87. Set of YMDK Doubleshot Shine Through keycaps. It's a bit over the top, but I personally think it works, and the shine through works as advertised in spite of the south facing LEDs. (Thought I might have to go with a side print shine through).
edit: going to have to cut that screen dimmer a little bit cleaner at some point....
I've got one noisy stab (LH Shift) so I've taken a fit and ordered a relatively cheap set and some lube. The rest sound great so I may just replace the one, but we'll see how it goes.
Got my second order of Duhuks in and was able to compare two RK84s one with Oil Kings and the other with the Duhuks.
Overall, both have a similar weight, but the Duhuks feel like a "faster" typing experience, possibly due to the shorter throw. I'd call the duhuks smoother, and while they're still a deep "thock", they're quieter than the Oil Kings, and most definitely have a much less "clackier" bottom out than the Oil Kings have. I suppose it depends on personal preference for the sound profile, but I'm leaning towards the Duhuks and may end up swapping the keycaps between the two I've got so that I can use the Duhuks as my daily gaming keyboard.
On another note.... not sure if I'm just particularly ham fisted today, or if the Duhuk shipment I got was a bad batch with slightly bent pins, but I mucked up 1 in 5 switches by bending the pins on install..... I suspect it's a combination of both, paired with relatively thin pins, and my doing an in place switch replacement one row at a time without removing the keycaps.
As far as the noisy stab goes.... I don't think it's the stab. I salvaged a set off of a logitech G14 and the issue did not resolve itself when I swapped stabs. It also didn't resolve when I swapped in a non-rattling one from another spot on the board (and the issue didn't migrate to the new position). I also tried the "bandaid" mod on it with no change.
I've got some lube coming in so will try that when it gets here, but I'm starting to lean towards something like a slightly warped PCB (swapping keys didn't make a difference so it's not a warped keycap). It's not excessive and only noticeable on one end of the keycap if you're tapping the keys (like they do on keyboard sound videos).
Overall, both have a similar weight, but the Duhuks feel like a "faster" typing experience, possibly due to the shorter throw. I'd call the duhuks smoother, and while they're still a deep "thock", they're quieter than the Oil Kings, and most definitely have a much less "clackier" bottom out than the Oil Kings have. I suppose it depends on personal preference for the sound profile, but I'm leaning towards the Duhuks and may end up swapping the keycaps between the two I've got so that I can use the Duhuks as my daily gaming keyboard.
On another note.... not sure if I'm just particularly ham fisted today, or if the Duhuk shipment I got was a bad batch with slightly bent pins, but I mucked up 1 in 5 switches by bending the pins on install..... I suspect it's a combination of both, paired with relatively thin pins, and my doing an in place switch replacement one row at a time without removing the keycaps.
As far as the noisy stab goes.... I don't think it's the stab. I salvaged a set off of a logitech G14 and the issue did not resolve itself when I swapped stabs. It also didn't resolve when I swapped in a non-rattling one from another spot on the board (and the issue didn't migrate to the new position). I also tried the "bandaid" mod on it with no change.
I've got some lube coming in so will try that when it gets here, but I'm starting to lean towards something like a slightly warped PCB (swapping keys didn't make a difference so it's not a warped keycap). It's not excessive and only noticeable on one end of the keycap if you're tapping the keys (like they do on keyboard sound videos).
Sooooo.........
Somebody's considering grabbing themselves an aluminum base with part of their tax return.
I had initially been looking at barebone kits, but then came across the keychron Q3 barebones and decided that it would be worth the extra $30 to get a complete build with stock keycaps even if I intend on replacing the switches. Ok, sounds good... but the reviews on it are mostly negative sound profile (lot's of ping) so it's back to the drawing board.
Currently looking at the M1 Monsgeek possibly paired with a higher end set of keycaps (not sure I'm interested in paying $150 for a proper set though... ).
Somebody's considering grabbing themselves an aluminum base with part of their tax return.
I had initially been looking at barebone kits, but then came across the keychron Q3 barebones and decided that it would be worth the extra $30 to get a complete build with stock keycaps even if I intend on replacing the switches. Ok, sounds good... but the reviews on it are mostly negative sound profile (lot's of ping) so it's back to the drawing board.
Currently looking at the M1 Monsgeek possibly paired with a higher end set of keycaps (not sure I'm interested in paying $150 for a proper set though...
).
Lysrin
Well-known member
So Googling around a bit, but I thought I would lean on your newly acquired detailed experience, if I may!
Now that I have this ASUS keyboard coming, and I don't love the keycap font, I'm pondering replacements.
Have I got these pointscorrect?
- PBT is better than ABS.
- If I want LED lighting through the lettering they need to be shine-through.
- Referring to "north facing LED" design, a complaint by some against the ASUS, means the LED is placed at the top of the switch. So full illumination is more at the top of the keycap than the middle or bottom.
I like this set (did you buy these? They seem familiar), but I don't believe they are shine through. You agree with that?
Red Samurai keycaps - Amazon.ca
Now that I have this ASUS keyboard coming, and I don't love the keycap font, I'm pondering replacements.
Have I got these pointscorrect?
- PBT is better than ABS.
- If I want LED lighting through the lettering they need to be shine-through.
- Referring to "north facing LED" design, a complaint by some against the ASUS, means the LED is placed at the top of the switch. So full illumination is more at the top of the keycap than the middle or bottom.
I like this set (did you buy these? They seem familiar), but I don't believe they are shine through. You agree with that?
Red Samurai keycaps - Amazon.ca
You are correct, those are not shine-through. Shine Through keycaps are few and far between. The only shine-through keycaps I've purchase have been YMDK and they were decent enough. (I ordered mine through aliexpress)
North facing is preferred for shine through, but apparently north facing can be an issue for some keycap profiles. My most recent build was south facing with YMDK and the shine through works reasonably well, but is very dim on the upper row of keys.
As far as ABS vs PBT goes.... I don't have enough experience to make any recommendations other than to say that quality double-shot is currently my preference over dye sublimation.
And yes.... that "red black" set was the first one I threw on my main KB.
edit: If your leds are south facing you can also look at side print (should be called front print) shine through keycaps.
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Lysrin
Well-known member
Thank you Sir!
The ones you linked are nice. Why fewer shine-through I wonder? I'm not entirely clear on why I'd bother with LED lighting if I didn't have shine-through. But perhaps the keyboard purists don't want lighting? I love backlit now, on keyboards and laptops. Wouldn't want to go without it. I guess there's also those pudding keycaps. I think you had those too that shine around. But still not as good imo as clearly seeing the characters/symbols illuminated.
As far as I know the LEDs are north facing, but I do quite like the look of the side or front print keycaps. But didn't think of that before buying the ASUS. I wonder if you'd still get enough light through.
They just don't make as many. I'm guessing the manufacturing process is more difficult, and from what I've seen (both on the YMDK's I bought and the shine through ones that came with my keyboard(s)) they may be double shot, but they're nowhere near as beefy as non shine-through doubleshot keycaps.
Another thing to keep your eyes on WRT shine through is the contrast between the lettering and the keycap, especially in a less well lit area. Is it legible without the backlight? If not, then you won't be able to read the keycaps when the PC is in sleep mode, or if you're using it wirelessly and the backlight has timed out.
I've got one desk where shine-through is pretty much required due to very low direct light, but aside from that one particular work station I've come to the conclusion that I prefer non shine-through with high contrast lettering over shine through.
Lysrin
Well-known member
Good considerations for sure. Mine isn't often in complete darkness, it is sitting in front of a 43" monitor, but in a dark game for example, with low light in the room, I do still like the keys to be lit.
If I really don't like the keycaps on the ASUS, I could use the ones from my current Cooler Master TKL, but those wouldn't get all the keys on the new one. I'll see how the ASUS ones look in person and go from there. Just not a big fan of the gamer font, I don't think.
And yes, perhaps I should have gone with some of the keyboard base options you've posted about I liked most of the ASUS features though, so I went that route. Hopefully not a mistake.
Thanks for letting me hijack your thread!
If I really don't like the keycaps on the ASUS, I could use the ones from my current Cooler Master TKL, but those wouldn't get all the keys on the new one. I'll see how the ASUS ones look in person and go from there. Just not a big fan of the gamer font, I don't think.
And yes, perhaps I should have gone with some of the keyboard base options you've posted about
I liked most of the ASUS features though, so I went that route. Hopefully not a mistake.Thanks for letting me hijack your thread!
