"Silent" mechanical keyboard for <€150

[Segus1992]

Bit of background: I've currently got a Logitech G15 from back in early TBC (very worn), and I've tried to upgrade to a mechanical keyboard in the past, when I got a 6gv2 with black switches, which was far too loud for me (ended up selling it and going back to my G15).

Since then I've occasionally looked for "silent" mechanical keyboards, and all I can find are "gaming" keyboards with heavy backlights and other fairly useless functions just to tack on a higher price tag for the "gamers" who want "gamer" gear.

My question is simple: are there any good mechanical keyboards that don't cost half a fortune and are also silent? If not, what non-mechanical keyboard would you suggest?

[Sorshen]

You are probably looking for Matias silent switches, some variant keyboards of Red MX or the new Cherry MX Silent (Corsair RGB Strafe Silent is ~150$ afaik). I do agree the prices are somewhat high, you're probably better off buying the switches separately.

[Segus1992]

You are probably looking for Matias silent switches, some variant keyboards of Red MX or the new Cherry MX Silent (Corsair RGB Strafe Silent is ~150$ afaik). I do agree the prices are somewhat high, you're probably better off buying the switches separately.

How exactly does that work? Are all keyboards compatible with any switch, or what?

And if I can't reach the right price with a mechanical keyboard, are there any good non-mechanical keyboards?

[nbm02ss]

Get a KB with brown, or red, switches, then add o-rings to the switch and that should quiet it down.

[Ealyssa]

Any red switches will do it. Don't smash your keys pointlessly (on mechanicals switches without responding "clicks", the only sound is the keys touching the bottom which isn't needed to register the key press), or add o-rings like allready said.

[Segus1992]

Any red switches will do it. Don't smash your keys pointlessly (on mechanicals switches without responding "clicks", the only sound is the keys touching the bottom which isn't needed to register the key press), or add o-rings like allready said.

With the rings, how loud are they compared to rubber dome keys? I haven't really been able to find a video of that.

[mrgreenthump]

With the rings, how loud are they compared to rubber dome keys? I haven't really been able to find a video of that.

Depends a bit on the board, but the bottoming out is pretty quite silent. My K95 is rather decent and the only real sound is when I initially land on the key as they are a bit loose fit.

[Denkou]

I have the Strafe RGB Silent, it's pretty quiet compared to other switch types. You can see a comparison of Cherry Browns, Reds, and Silents in this video (starts at 4:43):

https://youtu.be/4-0Z6PDxJz4?t=4m43s

[Segus1992]

I have the Strafe RGB Silent, it's pretty quiet compared to other switch types. You can see a comparison of Cherry Browns, Reds, and Silents in this video (starts at 4:43):

https://youtu.be/4-0Z6PDxJz4?t=4m43s

I've seen this, and it would be an interesting keyboard if it wasn't for the very "GAMER!!" kind of backlighting etc. Not to mention it costs €150+, which I'd like to avoid.

[Denkou]

I've seen this, and it would be an interesting keyboard if it wasn't for the very "GAMER!!" kind of backlighting etc. Not to mention it costs €150+, which I'd like to avoid.

You know you can turn it off, right? With the LEDs off there is nothing that screams "gamer" about it, it's just a plain black keyboard with a Corsair logo.

What country are you in? The board sells for $139 USD in the States which is far less than $150 Euros, although I suppose pricing in your country is different. See if you can find one on ebay or something?

[Segus1992]

You know you can turn it off, right? With the LEDs off there is nothing that screams "gamer" about it, it's just a plain black keyboard with a Corsair logo.

What country are you in? The board sells for $139 USD in the States which is far less than $150 Euros, although I suppose pricing in your country is different. See if you can find one on ebay or something?

Sweden, in which it costs 1689kr, which is $199. Feels a little over the top just to have a silent mechanical keyboard.

[chooi]

- Matias Quiet Pro

- any MX Red (or even Brown) keyboard if you don't mash your keys hard to the bottom

- any other keyboard with non-tactile switches plus O-Rings (though, I don't see the point in buying an expensive mechanical keyboard and gimping it by using O-Rings...)

- non-mechanical: Cherry keyboards all the way (€ 15-25 and you're done if you don't need fancy extras)

[Segus1992]

- Matias Quiet Pro

- any MX Red (or even Brown) keyboard if you don't mash your keys hard to the bottom

- any other keyboard with non-tactile switches plus O-Rings (though, I don't see the point in buying an expensive mechanical keyboard and gimping it by using O-Rings...)

- non-mechanical: Cherry keyboards all the way (€ 15-25 and you're done if you don't need fancy extras)

The Matias Quiet Pro seemed interesting, but pretty expensive, and it isn't even sold in Sweden. It doesn't really seem like "quiet" mechanical keyboards go for less than €150 anyway, so I guess I'll have to settle for that price range.

As I said in the OP, I have a G15 so I currently always press my keys to the bottom, so that would be pretty unavoidable with a mechanical one, I reckon, meaning the "avoidable" noise is pretty much unavoidable.

Seems like a non-mechanical keyboard or a €150+ keyboard is what I've got to choose from.

[Kagthul]

DasKeyboard has a quiet model and is no-frills (you can even get one with no printing on the keys if that's your style).

Otherwise, dont be put off by backlighting. The Corsair Strafe RGB Silent is a solid keyboard. Dont like the backlight? Turn em off. Though, once you get used to typing on a backlit keyboard, you wont want to go back. I find it quite a bit easier to type in a dark/dim room, despite not actually "looking" at the keys. You dont have to set it to some flashy pattern or anything.

[Segus1992]

Otherwise, dont be put off by backlighting. The Corsair Strafe RGB Silent is a solid keyboard. Dont like the backlight? Turn em off. Though, once you get used to typing on a backlit keyboard, you wont want to go back. I find it quite a bit easier to type in a dark/dim room, despite not actually "looking" at the keys. You dont have to set it to some flashy pattern or anything.

About the Corsair Strafe RGB Silent, I looked at it again with my revised budget (seems I had no choice) - it seems the switches are non-clicky, and having clicky switches seems like it'd feel better. Are they?

- - - Updated - - -

Decided to get a Corsair Strafe RGB Silent despite originally being reluctant. Byebye 180€, and thanks for all the input.

[Afrospinach]

About the Corsair Strafe RGB Silent, I looked at it again with my revised budget (seems I had no choice) - it seems the switches are non-clicky, and having clicky switches seems like it'd feel better. Are they?

That depends on what you are doing. I think for typing clicky switches are substantially better, and for gaming the smooth switches(black/red) are better.

Overall for general use I side with the non clicky switches because you *can* type on them even if I do think is it slightly slower and less accurate especially when you are new to them.

[Lightwysh]

I love my clackity razer black widow. Normal slow typing is ok, just a satisfying click, but angrily typing sounds awesome like you can hear the emotion flowing. So can everyone else in the house. But normal gaming it's really reasonable.

[Kagthul]

About the Corsair Strafe RGB Silent, I looked at it again with my revised budget (seems I had no choice) - it seems the switches are non-clicky, and having clicky switches seems like it'd feel better. Are they?

- - - Updated - - -

Decided to get a Corsair Strafe RGB Silent despite originally being reluctant. Byebye 180€, and thanks for all the input.

Clicky pretty much means noisy though. You can get keys that have the tactile bump but not the click (browns), but even those are quite a bit noisier than the purely linear keys (reds and blacks).

I have several mech keyboards. On my gaming rig i use a Corsair K65 RGB with MX Reds. The Reds actually extremely easily, making them good for gaming, but if you fat-finger even a little, you get like 5 keys.

On my daily driver here i use a Razer Black Widow Tournament Edition Chroma, which has Razer's "green" switches (knock-offs of MX Blues) and they are substantially better for typing (with both the tactile bump at actuation and the "click". You learn eventually just through use to not have to bottom the key out once you feel the click. They also require a great deal more actuation pressure than the Reds.

Blacks are like Reds but much stiffer (much higher actuation pressure) and Browns are basically blues that require just a tad more pressure and dont have the click but do have the tactile bump.

The Strafe RGB Silent actually uses a new custom Cherry MX switch - ive never had any hands on with it but several people i know have and say they are as quiet as Reds or even quieter.

[Denkou]

Clicky pretty much means noisy though. You can get keys that have the tactile bump but not the click (browns), but even those are quite a bit noisier than the purely linear keys (reds and blacks).

I have several mech keyboards. On my gaming rig i use a Corsair K65 RGB with MX Reds. The Reds actually extremely easily, making them good for gaming, but if you fat-finger even a little, you get like 5 keys.

On my daily driver here i use a Razer Black Widow Tournament Edition Chroma, which has Razer's "green" switches (knock-offs of MX Blues) and they are substantially better for typing (with both the tactile bump at actuation and the "click". You learn eventually just through use to not have to bottom the key out once you feel the click. They also require a great deal more actuation pressure than the Reds.

Blacks are like Reds but much stiffer (much higher actuation pressure) and Browns are basically blues that require just a tad more pressure and dont have the click but do have the tactile bump.

The Strafe RGB Silent actually uses a new custom Cherry MX switch - ive never had any hands on with it but several people i know have and say they are as quiet as Reds or even quieter.

Check out the video I posted earlier, there's a sound test comparison. Definitely quieter than any other Cherry switch out there. I have one myself and I enjoy it very much.

Actuation force is about the same as a red (I think the Silent is somewhere 40-45g), which to me is a perfect weight for both typing and gaming. I find blues too light and blacks way too heavy.