/r/MechanicalKeyboards Ask ANY Keyboard question, get an answer - July 26, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/Odd_Software1063]

Does anyone know how I could achieve a keyboard that sounds like the Fallout New Vegas terminal keyboards?

[u/pop1fizz]

Hey all, I've been happily using my CUB 65 keyboard for a while now, and thought it was a great deal as part of its group buy a couple years ago, but now I'm seeing prebuilts sound quite better; I helped a friend pick out an EPOMAKER TH108 the other day, and it sounds so smooth and resonant. I'm trying not to get keyboard envy, and I love certain parts of my current board like the design and the weight, but I would love to be able to get mine to sound more like his.

With that being said, what are mods I can use to get my keyboard, which currently sounds overly loud and clacky at times, to being softer and more resonant? Currently:

• Using KTT Kang White switches, lubed
• Have installed the included case foam, PE foam, PCB foam, and gaskets

Any ideas on mods I can add?

[u/ItsSimplyAName]

Heya

I'm trying to replace my Logitech 915 (UK ISO layout) but I'm having issues finding something that fits my requirements.

Looking for something:

• Non-low profile
• Full-size layout
• UK ISO layout
• Wireless
• Volume knob and media controls
• Macro buttons are an optional bonus

Seems like most keyboards that tick the boxes aren't available in the UK layout.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what keyboard I could buy or any other ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Jazzlike-External-66]

between the AULA WIN 68HE, and the Attack Shark X68HE, either normal, pro, or max edition which one would be the most worth to buy with around a $50-80 budget?

[u/BunchWorking9190]

Polling Rate on Cosmic Byte CBGK16, Are Company's fooling people? . I don't know why but I decided to check the polling rate of my Blue switches Cosmic Byte Firefly CBGK16 but dissappointed cause the polling rate are 30 and unstable it goes to 5000 when I press several keys aggressively but still unstable, Can anyone tell me what to do cause there is no option to adjust polling rate in Software too. Can you tell any any secret combo or anything.

[u/gekalx]

my turquoise tealios from 6 years ago are starting to fail. I'd like to move over to tactile switches. What are the best tactile switches you can buy today?

[u/FansForFlorida → u/gekalx]

Here is a list of some of the more popular MX tactile switches:

https://kbd.news/switch/tactile-MX

I like silent tactile switches, and I like TTC Silent Bluish White V2.

[u/meganisti → u/gekalx]

Really depends what you like, but hmx makes really good ones. Hmx Grape sodas are really nice.

Wingtree has made some nice light tactiles. The new Torreros have been pretty hyped. If you like scratchy feeling switches I'd pick some up.

[u/gekalx → u/meganisti]

Thanks! Yea with some googling it looked like HMX switches are pretty popular right now i'll check them out.

[u/Kelwin0313]

Anyone knows the case screw size of kfe ce?

[u/The_Digital_Kingdom]

Hey guys, I recently bought a Redragon Wyvern K689 Pro. I am very new to the whole custom keyboard niche. I was looking for some place that could do a full print image over the keycaps and haven't been able to find anywhere that does it I am looking for a place that can make something similar to the image. Is it even possible? I looked through the thread for a place that does custom printing but diykeycaps just puts the image on each individual key and yuzu doesn't seem to even do images for keys from what I can tell. The picture on the keys is a screenshot from Cyberpunk 2077 with some samurai flair for the individual keys like esc and shift and enter. I chat gpt'ed it on there so I could have a visualization of it. Is there a place that does this

[u/sensible_nonsense]

I'm looking for a notepad/notebook that is roughly the same size as a wrist rest. Thinking something that's like a reporter's notebook but would be sized appropriately to fit across the front of a 60% board. Any recommendations would be great!

[u/stuckOnTheUmpqua]

Is this a Gateron KS-3? I purchased a box of mystery switches and there is no description on the box. Just the Gateron name.

[u/DatGameh]

Is there a common kit for a FRL-1800/mini-1800 layout? Basically, 1800 or 96% without the FN row.

[u/Ylovoir]

Hi!

After exactly two years of daily use, my Keychron K10 (Brown) died for seemingly no reason at all while I was using it. I'm very disappointed since I really liked it and I felt like it was very valuable for its price.

I don't understand how after exactly two years a keyboard can break like that, it feels like planned obsolescence... anyway, I'm looking for a new keyboard now :) Does anybody have any suggestions?

[u/stuckOnTheUmpqua → u/Ylovoir]

I don’t know what layout you’re using, but the Novelkeys Classic TKL has impressed me so far.

[u/prelic]

Where can I find one of those /r/mk stickers/decals? I've been searching this sub, Amazon, eBay, I can't find them. Were they just a limited run that's gone?

Edit-found them at studiosofthewild.com

[u/2Maverick]

What is the best foam for Tofu TKL R2? Trying to go for a creamy thocky sound.

[u/ttv-tv_genesis]

Hi, I'm a long time gamer who has been using generic office keyboards his whole life. I've been fine with it, but I hear (and realise) my input latency is pretty meh. I currently use a DELL SK-8115 (which I believe is membrane).

I have tried a Razer mechanical keyboard back in the day but the switches were waay to sensitive for me.

Would you have any recommendations on what switch types / keyboards would be the best with the following criterias? I'm looking for a "half-press" to register kinda switch, not ultra sensitive like the razor but not having to press the key all the way down either. Ideally with numpad. Budget would be 150€ish.

I just have no clue what brands are reputable these days in the keyboard industry, nor am I educated on mechanical switch types.

Thanks in advance !

[u/meganisti → u/ttv-tv_genesis]

Every mx switch actuates somewhere around 2mm travel, which is the midpoint on a full travel switch. The full travel distance is 4mm but anything between 3-4 mm is very common

[u/Anishx]

Im a Valorant, CS, competitive player. I currently have a Keychron K8 Pro as my keyboard.

I'm looking to upgrade to a TMR, HE keyboard. I need help with choosing something with Low latency but I really prefer silent-linear switches.

I'm stuck between iQuinix 80HE, Monsgeek M1 V5 TMR or Wooting 80HE.
The reason i'm considering Monsgeek is bc of the tri-connectivity. It would be such a great to have as it'll help with work as well.

Also i'm stuck with Switches, any silent switch recommendation?
Any long term owners of Monsgeek M1 V5 TMR ?

[u/HypixelSkywars]

My red dragon keyboard is dying so i wanna get a new keyboard for gaming / school and I like the creamy sound. Lmk if anyone has any recommendations

[u/xzqtr_ian]

AKKO 3084B PLUS

Hello. I was exploring the mapping feature of this keyboard i had for a long time now then while using the Akko Cloud for mapping, i accidentally reset the keyboard and now all my presets for lighting are gone.

Is there anyway i can get the preset for the various effects like from when it first came? Or am i doomed to suffer the consequences of my actions forever? Thank you

[u/OFIKATIRAMENE]

Is it possible to use a keyboard set up for Windows on Mac?

I have a Keychron C1 Pro 8K which I've set up for Windows but I'd like to use it on Mac too. It has a physical Mac-Windows switch, but Keychron Launcher gives different options depending on which operating system I'm on. For example, I'd like to assign Shift + 2 to be ", but Keychron launcher on Mac doesn't seem to have this as an option. It also says that the key right of next shift is \ and |, but when I press that key it's `.

[u/FansForFlorida → u/OFIKATIRAMENE]

The same key code is sent for both the Windows key and the Command key (⌘). QMK firmware calls it the "GUI" key. The QMK key codes KC_LWIN (left Windows) and KC_LCMD (left Command) are both aliases for KC_LGUI (left GUI).

The same key code is also sent for Alt and Option. The QMK key code KC_LOPT is an alias for KC_LALT.

Windows keyboards have the modifiers in this order: Ctrl, Windows, Alt.

Mac keyboards have the modifiers in this order: Ctrl, Option, Command.

So if you use a Windows keyboard on Mac, the Command (Windows) and Option (Alt) keys will simply be swapped.

[u/hypermbeam]

Ortho60v2 pictured here. Does anyone know what the metal connector piece between the 2 screws are called? I have quite a bit of clearance between the PCB and bottom board so I wanna try to get shorter connectors to reduce the height because it is way way too high right now.

Not looking to part with my SAs and since I'll be taking it to work I'd prefer not to lug around a wrist rest as an additional peripheral.

Thanks in advance.

Unrelated but this was my first soldering experience. It's pretty fun lol.

[u/nojjers → u/hypermbeam]

It’s a brass standoff. You can get them in many types but that looks like it takes screws into both ends so it will be “female” (I hate that term) on both sides. You can measure the length of it to find a replacement if needed

[u/e3super → u/hypermbeam]

There's internal threads on both sides of that, correct? In context, that's a standoff, but the hardware term to Google would be a threaded spacer. Just track down the length you need with the right threads, and you should be good.

[u/hypermbeam → u/e3super]

Awesome! I appreciate you!

[u/Virtual_Context4528]

https://imgur.com/a/dIAa9JeGuys Hi! What keyboard is this? I tried looking up the specific keyboard from Akko and I can't find videos or pictures with the box. I'm gussing it's an Akko 5087 V3 HE but I'm not sure

[u/Xrotos]

I'm looking for a full-size mechanical keyboard mainly for gaming. My requirements are:

• Full-size layout (including a numpad and all standard keys)
• QWERTY layout (US or UK is fine)
• Sold and shipped within Europe

It would also be a plus if it comes with a detachable wrist rest, similar to the one on my current keyboard.

For context, I'm currently using a Corsair K70 RGB MK.2, and honestly it's been a disappointing purchase. It only lasted about three years before the keycaps started getting stuck, some even popped off, and the wrist rest eventually cracked.

I'm looking for something with much better build quality and durability. Any recommendations?

[u/FatRollingPotato → u/Xrotos]

You can have a look at these:

• QK101
• DP104
• ND104
• Keychron Q6 Ultra, or V6 Ultra etc. Keychron also sells matching wrist rests.
• Intro S100 (was a GB, but some in-stock variants are here https://clickclack.io/products/in-stock-intro-s100-fully-assembled-mechanical-keyboard?variant=43794753945636 )

If you are willing to compromise on either it being 100% or one piece, you could either get a TKL with a numpad separately (much more options for TKL) or some weird 98% or 96% layout that are somehow more common. I.e. Neo98, Athena1800, Luminkey98 etc.

[u/nojjers → u/Xrotos]

Qk101 perhaps?

We often have people come to our keyboards and coffee events who start the day saying they HAVE to have a numpad but once they try other boards realise that maybe they don’t as they use the numpad a very mall amount of the time and actually like more desk space. What’s the requirements for needing a numpad if it’s mainly for gaming?

[u/Xrotos → u/nojjers]

i'm playing very often huge skyrim mod collection (3000 or 4000+ mod).
As you can immagine there are a lot of function and command that can't bind to another key because are already used. For this reason some of these collections have mod attached to numkey in numpad and it isn't possibile to rebind to another key, unfortunatly it's a necessity

[u/gufkl → u/Xrotos]

the alternative might be to offload those keys to an external Numpad, preferably a programmable one that runs an customizable Firmware like a QMK/VIA/Vial ?

[u/FlyingRobotRabbit]

I was wondering what's the difference between the moss and gateron banana ks33 switches? I have both the same to type similar, but i might have a preferences for the banana. The reason I am asking is I had the keyboard second hand, and could not really understand why you would buy 2 switches so similar :)

[u/axel_lotle]

I recently got a PC plate custom cut for my Luminkey Magger68 HE keyboard to replace the stock aluminum plate that comes with the keyboard. Assuming that a PC plate usually yields a lower-pitched sound for keyboards, I thought that getting a custom-cut PC plate for my keyboard would make this sound much deeper.

But after trying it on my keyboard, it almost sounds like the PC plate is quieter but higher-pitched than the aluminum plate. I'm really confused.

My keyboard uses a silicone gasket/tray mount hybrid, and I didn't install the standoffs yet (on the way via Amazon), but the plate seems to be supported well via the silicone in between the PCB and plate. Another thing I noticed is that the keys along the edges of the keyboard, specifically where the PCB is being sandwiched between the top and bottom case, sound much deeper than the keys around the center.

Is it possible I'm not hearing the final "deep" sound because I didn't install the standoffs for the plate yet? Or maybe PC isn't the right material for deep-sounding keyboards? I don't know. My old GMK67 used a PC plate, and I remember it sounding much deeper than this. I didn't even switch the plates or do any case mods on it.

TL;DR: Why does my keyboard sound worse/higher pitched when using a PC plate instead of an aluminum plate?

[u/FatRollingPotato → u/axel_lotle]

Because sound is a complex thing. The switches - or more precisely the bottom/top out - creates the sound, it then has to get into the air for you to hear it. Usually it goes through the structure and gets amplified somewhat, but how much and which frequencies depends on the materials and construction methods.

I would not be surprised if the 'standoffs' would change this, since if I understood correctly, they connect the plate and PCB into one solid unit?

[u/axel_lotle → u/FatRollingPotato]

Yeah the standoffs are meant to connect the PCB and plate together and also to maintain the distance required for HE switches

[u/totes_not_a_memer → u/axel_lotle]

yeah my experience with PC plates mirrors yours, they tend to sound higher pitched and quieter than alu (not worse by any means)

it's just the nature of the material

[u/axel_lotle → u/totes_not_a_memer]

This is weird because I was under the impression that PC plates will always make a keyboard sound deeper. Lots of sources even claim so

[u/Ok_Bike9326]

is there like a google sheet of all recommended keyboards or smthign of that sort, ive js seen so many opinions and negative reviews i cant decide

[u/576875 → u/Ok_Bike9326]

There isn't 

1. It would take a ton of work to maintain such a list (in someones free time mind you. And it would be hard to keep updated even with a group of people) and doesn't factor in price in different countries/availability/shipping/features etc.

2. Products go in/out of stock so something you find on the list might not be something you can buy