Please keep the novelty accounts, memes, motivational posters etc. to a minimum.

This subreddit is primarily about keyboards with mechanical switches, but we are also open to all other keyboard types such as membrane and scissor switches.

Sticky Threads

• /r/keyboards feedback thread
• What Keyboard Does X Use?

In-depth Resources

• Search /r/gamingpc for Gaming Keyboards
• Search /r/buildapc for Keyboards
• overclock.net’s mechanical keyboard guide
• Das' Mechanical (and more) Keyboard Guide
• Keyboard Lover - a great place to start
  
• Tom’s Hardware reviews five mechanical keyboards and provides some good theory and myth-debunking
• Mechanical Key Switch Keyboards Demystified. (Check out the video at the end to hear what the different keyboards sound like.)
• Something Awful’s keyboard thread

The following requires login to geekhack geekhack’s guide to mechanical keyboards geekhack’s plethora of other articles

Sellers (no affiliate)

• Cheap rubber switch dampeners

Europe

• QWERKeys
  
• keyboardco. (Has the kindest people to answer all your questions.)

USA

• EliteKeyboards
• Das Keyboard
• WASD Keyboards. (Coloured caps and spare parts.)

Buyer’s Guide (WIP)

Things to Consider

• What is your budget?
• Are noisy keys viable in your environment?
• Home country / Language needs?
• What size would you like?
• Do you need Windows/Apple/Unix compatibility?
• Do you need media/macro keys or volume controls? (Advanced vs. Simple.)
• How many keys do you need to be able to press simultaneously?
• Do you have a preference for cylindrical, flat or spherical keys?
• Do you want wireless (Bluetooth/RF)?
• Do you want a numpad?
• Do you want a backlight?
• Do you want etched/engraved or dye sublimated keycaps?

What keyboard switch types are typically good for ...

YMMV, to each their own!

RTS games?

Keyboards with MX Brown switches most often, but occasionally MX Blue for some.

FPS games?

Keyboards with MX Black or MX Red switches.

Programming?

Keyboards with MX Blue, MX Brown or Topre switches

Writing?

Keyboards with MX Blue switches or buckling springs

That laptop feel?

Keyboards with Scissor Switches

Invincibility?

Membrane Keyboards

General Computing?

Rubber Dome, Buckling Spring, Scissor Switch

Cherry MX switch types

Sorted by actuation force
* Red (45 centiNewtons)
* Brown (55 cN)
* Black (60 cN)
* Blue (60 cN, clicks)
* Clear (65 cN)

Terminology (UNDER CONSTRUCTION, HARD HATS MANDATORY)

*Rollover *Ghosting *Blocking *Actuation, Tactile, and Reset points *USB/PS2