Current Keyboard "ALT" key seems to be failing.

Mkilbride · 09 Mar 2018, 23:57

So, I was trying to use voice chat, which I have bound to ALT and it simply wouldn't work. ALT+TAB wasn't working. I restarted. Unplugged the Keyboard. Tried the other ALT key. It was working. Pulled the alt key-cap off that wasn't and cleaned anything under there, put it back on and it slowly started working again.

After booting up today though, it happened again until I removed the key. The Cherry MX Red Switch looks in perfect condition. Keycap is fine too. It's a CM Storm Quickfire XT from about 2014. It's served fine for years. It's disappointing that this is happening, and if it continues, it's out of warranty, so I may be in the market for another.

I've been looking everywhere from Logitech(Their G610 is CherryMX red, and I adore Logitech, and it's price is only 70$, quite reasonable, they've the best customer service I've ever experienced), to Filco, Corsair even, though I despise Corsair. I've used CherryMX Reds since my first one back in 2013, which was a Newegg Rosewill OEM which died quickly.

I know a "Good" one can go for 150-200$, but I'd rather keep it in say the 125$ max range. RGB, LED, doesn't matter to me. Build quality and feel do. I game mostly, and type a lot, so I went with Reds years ago because they were the "Gaming switch". Only issue I've ever had with them is typing fatigue since I tend to bottom out a lot. Anyone got any good suggestions?

Blaise170 · 10 Mar 2018, 02:24

Just replace the switch. A $5 soldering iron and 30 minutes of time are all you need.

Findecanor · 10 Mar 2018, 02:41

I have seen examples of where it was enough to just reflow the solder joints with a soldering iron and then it worked perfectly.

Mkilbride · 11 Mar 2018, 22:19

Well first I'd need a soldering Iron. Then I'd need to not fuck it up. I have poor muscle control. Delicate tasks are very hard for me.

I know it may seem like heresy around here, but how do people feel about Romer-G Switches? Never tested them. Hear mixed reviews, but I love Logitech.

digital_matthew · 11 Mar 2018, 22:31

Mkilbride wrote: Well first I'd need a soldering Iron. Then I'd need to not fuck it up. I have poor muscle control. Delicate tasks are very hard for me.

I know it may seem like heresy around here, but how do people feel about Romer-G Switches? Never tested them. Hear mixed reviews, but I love Logitech.

I tried them at the store once. Thought they were kind of meh. But I'm a big fan of buckling spring switches, so if you tend towards quieter, less tactile switches then you may like them.

Mkilbride · 11 Mar 2018, 22:39

I like the reds, but never felt they were really tactile. It's just I saw G910 Refurbished from Logi for 58$. That's really none too shabby for a keyboard of that build quality. Aesthetics aside, it interested me because of the build quality, though I hear reviews are also mixed about the concave key caps. RGB doesn't matter to me, nor does backlighting.

Logitech also makes the G610, in Cherry MX flavor. For about 69.99$ new. Which is a fair price. I can't find too many negative reviews about it, but I also can't find many reviews about it besides the Amazon ones honestly. Buckling Spring would be cool, but I'm a gamer mostly and I hear their high tension isn't good for that because of having to hold down on keys for long periods can be straining. For typing though I hear it's wonderful. I also hear NKRO is a problem for gaming with them.

Findecanor · 11 Mar 2018, 22:42

In short, the Romer-G feel kind of like Cherry MX Brown with less key travel.

Mkilbride wrote: I like the reds, but never felt they were really tactile.

You mean browns right? They have really low tactility, yes. The Reds are not supposed to be tactile at all.

Mkilbride · 11 Mar 2018, 23:25

I meant Reds, in his response about tactility. I never thought of it. I do like tactile feeling stuff, my mouse has Tactile switches (G903)

Still, never thought about anything but Reds before. I mean reds low actuation, smooth feel and decent sound. Browns seem like a middle ground from what I read, and with my constant bottoming out would probably work out in the long run, but I hate to be the type of person who buys something and returns it because he didn't end up liking it. But they are starting to interest me due to my bottoming out issue.

Blaise170 · 12 Mar 2018, 02:28

Romer-G are, in my opinion, terrible. Also you won't ever be able to replace the keycaps if that interests you at all since there is no third-party key support.

Elrick · 12 Mar 2018, 11:57

Mkilbride wrote: I meant Reds, in his response about tactility. I never thought of it. I do like tactile feeling stuff, my mouse has Tactile switches (G903)

Have a G903 as well and I do like using their (Logitech) software for their product line, simply superb. Also do have a G810 which has been worn out by me (heavy typist) here but have gotten another brand new RMA replacement.

There is something decent about their software that goes with every version of Microsoft Operating Systems.

If you like using Logitech gear then jump on it, I'm the last person to cast excrement upon your choice for keyboard and mouse. As long as you personally can enjoy using your input devices, then go for it. Be proud and never feel put down due to what you choose to type or click with.

This place (DT) tends to go HARD for noisy keyboards (my Favourite) but I tend to forget, not everyone out there is like me.

codemonkeymike · 12 Mar 2018, 11:59

Fixed a friends Das Keyboard 4 just a few days ago, the PCB was broken. He must have summoned the strength of Thor before hitting the enter key. Just had to bridge the broken PCB traces, this may be a problem you are running into. It is worth taking apart and looking.

Mkilbride · 13 Mar 2018, 01:51

Shame to hear the opinion on Romer-Gs. Also see Speed Silvers lately and hearing good things about them except they bottom out even easier. Probably not for me. Tempted to do Browns now after hearing about how it's easier to not make typos on them.

Mkilbride · 18 Mar 2018, 20:42

Went over to Geekhack and asked around there...not sure I care for them lol. They were very, very aggressive, almost every response I got was that every switch is shit and why their choice of switch is the best. I haven't had problems with the ALT Key the past few days. So I'm not sure.

But I did get interested in having new keycaps. Mine are quite shiny after all this time. Just some ABS ones I guess. So the Double-shot PBT interested me as potentially "Lifetime" keys to get. Saw lots of groups for 35-50$. Even one set for 14$, but white only, and it's out of stock, but good reviews. Still.

I thought about Browns, but I hear a lot of mixed things about them. Thought about TOpre, but the price + hearing they're domey makes me iffy.

I even thought about getting one of those Logitech Cherry MX reds + some Double Shot PBT Keycaps, but sadly people tell me they aren't compatible.

https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-CH-90002 ... LZVB6?th=1

Something like these. If my keyboard continues running fine, it'd be great and feel like an upgrade or so. I also saw Corsairs own K95 RGB Cherry MX red for 99$ @ BestBuy. That + Caps would be 150$~ - about the price of a Ducky or Filco really, but with the software support of Corsair / cooler aethstics.

Hard to say. Are PBT keys worth the hype? Will they really last years without shining?

Darkshado · 19 Mar 2018, 05:39

PBT keycaps take much longer to develop shine, possibly after a decade, or three.

Taste in switches, as you've surely realized by now, varies a lot. I myself like heavier tactile and clicky switches: MX Clears, IBM buckling spring in both membrane and capacitive styles, tactile Alps like the SKCM dampened cream.

The reason that many dislike Brown switches has to do with their faint tactility. Judging by your statement about bottoming out on Reds, you'll probably fly right past the bump without noticing it and keep on bottoming out on Browns.

I'll posit that repeatedly bottoming out on undampened discrete mechanical switches is going to be harder on your fingers than bottoming out on a "rubber dome" membrane over membrane design. I'd suggest you look at o-rings or landing pads; it's cheap and something you could try right away.

Second, try a heavier, but still linear switch like Cherry MX Black. (There are allegedly nicer, smoother linear switches out there. But these are almost the same as the Reds you're used to and are readily available.)

Don't be so quick to dismiss Topre, they are very nice keyboards, though I agree on the expensive aspect. I've tried both 45 and 55 gram weightings at a meetup two weeks ago and liked the latter.

The double-shot keycap set you link has two things you must be aware of:

non standard bottom row: "modern" Windows-key equipped keyboards have 1.25 u keys for Control, Windows, Alt and so on. this one has 1.33, 1.0, 1.33
profile: is it "OEM" or "Cherry" profile? you wouldn't usually mix and match between the two, assuming you're keeping the bottom row from your existing keyboard

I've gone through a few games on a Model M no problem, did not notice any ghosting or roll-over issues. The design has more hysteresis however, so you can't ride the actuation point like you could with MX or Alps, which may or may not matter depending on the game.

Mkilbride · 20 Mar 2018, 04:38

Aye. I'm looking aroudn for now, but perhaps finding some PBT Keycaps is the way to go. This keyboard is fine besides the Keycaps, but finding good PBT Keycaps seems to cost like 40$ or so...almost half the price of say, a Ducky One which already has em.

Been thinking about getting one of those Switch Tester things, saw a cheap one on eBay for 3$. Only has Browns, Blue and Black though. Would love to give Silvers a try. Black has always interested me as you mentioned, a stiffer key might be nice, but yeah. I also forgot how absolutely insane the MK community can be by visiting Geekhack and MK subreddit. Jesus, the people there...are barely human. Try telling them you don't want a TKL or 60% board and they call you the worst names. It's nuts.

CM also makes a nice 89.99 Keyboard these days with double-shot PBT Keycaps, but I hear the legends fade fast, even after only days of usage. So I'm unsure.

It's so damn difficult really to decide.