My 7 years old membran keyboard just died and I am looking to find a good replacement keyboard that can last me for a long time.
I'm planning to venture into mechanical keyboard this round... and has been doing a bit of research last few days. Could you guys recommend which keyboard I should go for. My keyboard size requirement is TKL... No need the num pad, but i'll need the F1-F12 keys.

Im looking into Huntman TE vs Ducky One 2 TKL. May I know what is your take on these 2 keyboards compare side by side, quality wise vs value.

As for the switch. I wasn't very sure... I always like the tactile feel/sound from the Razer blackwidow greenswitches (which I always test play in all the computer shops whenever I have a chance), but at the same time , I am worry it will actually be too noisy for everyday use... My usage are 95% work (photoshop ,autocad, 3ds max etc) , and 5% casual gaming FPS ,csgo etc.

The more I research the more poisoned I am in this. I need to hold back... because honestly, any keyboard should b able to do what I want to do, but im just ... itchy for that .. feeellll.....

Thank you for sharing! They are short but informative! The reason I am checking razer n ducky is because I know they are more widely available locally, and I will be able to test them before I buy them.

I am actually looking at Leopold, because I simply love the simple look of it! But I wasn't sure where to get them. I check shopee /lazada and I am not sure if the those price has been hiked up. Or must I buy directly from china/taobao?

As for switches. I assume as long as they are cherry switches, they will feel exactly the same. Meaning I can just go lowyat/any IT shops to test any keyboard with the same Cherry switches?

I try to quickly get into the mkb rabbit hole, and OUT from it as soon as I found one satisfying one

I just went to Lowyat to check whatever Mechanical keyboard I can try on. Tried every razer & logitech products. I am surprise to find that I do not actually like the optical switch on the Razer Huntman TE. I seem to enjoy typing the most with the Razer green switch on Blackwidow... Does that mean the Cherry Blue switch will be the closest to my liking for other non razer keyboard?

I tried ducky, but the shop only let me try type on it with the plastic wrapper on top. so basically I cant really get the best feel out of it.

Other brand I came across is IKBC at Viewnet. The sample keyboard they have there is with cherry Red switch, which I can finally confirm is not to my liking.. Anyone using IKBC? is this brand "ok" to begin with?

Thank you for the feedback! I am looking into that. Just found out they have official distributor in Malaysia...

Bro, may I know what brand is this?

Ohhh this is built from scratch! cool. I actually like your keyboard size and keys arrangement. Very neat and compact! Got all the keys I need in the smallest form factor. Do you have any recommendation of case that has similar layout as this?

Thanks ! I begin to understand the 75% size. I looked into the 3 prebuilts you recommended , and I love the look of the Vortex Tab 75 the best. But seems difficult to find and buy. May I know for these prebuilt keyboard , I’ll still be able to buy/swap all the key caps in the future if I want to ? Also the switches, I’ll b able to swap if after sometime I like a change of feel.

Will go fully custom cost more than any of these prebuilt? Say my budget is below rm500. And also I’m fond with the idea of going wireless/ Bluetooth if possible to make my set up cleaner . So far I only know Ikbc offer the Bluetooth version . Is there much other option ? Sorry for asking so many questions 🤭 I think I started to get carry away

I probably just aim for TKL for this round as they are more option I can choose from. I found a used Durgod K320 at a reasonable price.. Currently my choice is between Durgod K320 and the IKBC CD87. Durgod used at around rm 250, IKBC new for Rm289. Which will be the better choice?
If I decided to play along in the future, I may pursue in finding my ideal 75%.... at the moment, I can't wait as I have no keyboard to use


Thanks for the recommendation. I looked into tecware phantom, it definitely is affordable option but I really don't like the "look" of it.. I hope to get one that I like, and can use it for a long time... Hopefully I won't get trap into this endless searching for the "endgame" ...
But..for tecware phantom elite, it means it is possible for me to swap all the switches & keycap in the future? They are using Gateron switches which I have not learn about them yet.. are they as good as Cherry Mx?

This post has been edited by clivengu: Feb 10 2020, 12:30 AM

Guys, I bought my first Mechanical Keyboard back in February, it was the Durgod K320- used one at quite a good price. Cherry red switches. Just want to share a bit of my experience. TBH it didn't turn up as how I thought it would be. The first impression is definitely good; well-made solidly build keyboard. Heavy. And the doubleshot pbt keycap simply is amazing attention to detail.

In term of typing experience.. I gave myself sometime to get use to it... I am only occasionally a gamer. Most of the time, I do normal typing(+-70wpm), and use with various softwares. After few months of using the keyboard, I think I can conclude that Cherry red Switch simply is not my favorite. I am not sure if I will like Blue or Brown switches. I thought gamer is swear by Red switches, but this 1-2 weeks I have been playing games more often, I found my finger rather tired, especially playing fps and car racing game, where I constantly have to press onto the "W" forward key. I feel like I need to use more force than i used to in compare to those typical membrane keyboard.

As for Typing, i also dont find it excel either... I think the best typing experience I had is the Razer Green Switch... I have tried a few Cherry Blue switch in the stores, and I still feel the razer green feels more "refined". I am thinking to replace my Durgod keyboard with smthing of a tactile keys... but I am a bit hesitate to go Razer as the build quality isn't as good , and the plastic keycap isnt doubleshot pbt which I really enjoy now. But at the same time, I think im more eager to trying out their green switch in my next keyboard.

Another mistake I made is that, I thought I will like the TKL layout... unfortunately for what I do, I really missed the numpad when needed, I always like smaller footprint keyboard such as the 65% or TKL, for its compactness and look. Unfortunately I need both the F1-F12 function keys and occasionally numbpad.. Look like i just have to stuck with a Full size keyboard.

Any advice on what keyboard i should look for next? I really have been thinking maybe mechanical keyboard isnt the thing for me, and I considering jumping back to normal membrane keyboard such as the expensive logitech mxkeys. Before doing that, I like to give mechanical one more try, as I probably just choose the wrong switch.

btw, anyone interested to swap keyboard with me? I wan to experience different switches before investing in one that I really like.




This post has been edited by clivengu: Jun 2 2020, 09:33 PM

Maybe im too excited when gaming, (thought press harder will run/drive faster ) , but I most probably im too use to low profile membrane switch.

Yeah been thinking to try O rings under the keycaps and hope it will give a better feel. May I know for O rings, if there is a difference is quality? I check lazada is around rm 50++ per pack

Thanks! Ordered! hehe




Thats so nice of you! Appreciate that! Really wan to poison me kao kao. But I don't dare to pinjam expensive keyboard... stress le .... but i'll be happy to have any blue switch keyboard can test to try out to see if i'll like it better

Guys, im looking at Tecware keyboard, since it is highly recommended , and not expensive. I figure it is worth giving it a try. I have a few question, particularly with its keycap... I definitely not a fan of its keycap and the gamer font they use.. I want to ask if these keycaps standardized , and I can swap them with custom keycap anytime? Also actually im more interested in the low profile switches like the Tecware Phantom L, same thing, is this low profile keycap easy to find replacement? Any other low profile switches mkb can recommend? I think i should like low profile better... tried the logitec G915, I like the low profile.. but the price can cost me an arm.

Nice! the pbt keycaps really very affordable! but they are not the slim kind like the one on Phantom L right? I hate the font too.. thats the only thing that holds me back from getting them at the moment.

Ic. thanks for sharing... I did a bit of research and seems like it is quite difficult to find any low profile keycap that can work with it...

Thanks for the diagram. So the one u ordered from Lazada is the normal Cherry keycap or the DSA? I have the Durgod keyboard with doubleshot pbt keycap... not sure if I can direct swap the keys with the one on the phantom L. , but letterings will not light up.

Ok Looking forward hearing from ur update!

Meantime Im reading this.. and got a bit more understanding on the suitable keycaps:

Tecware Phantom L Review

I tried in store before, and I do like the typing feel of the low profile ...looks+feel really premium in person too.. Is just too expensive for something that I wouldnt able to even swap the keycap.. since the keycap is plastic abs... and will result in glossy keycap after a long run...(Very annoying for me) It is "Almost" the keyboard im looking for tbh. Wireless, lowprofile with rgb.