Windows mechanical keyboards - Razer vs. Das

[maflynn]

Given that many window's keyboards have compatibility issues with Macs, and the discussion is PC specific, I thought the location of this thread would be best suited in the alternatives to mac hardware.

I've owned the Das keyboard 4 professional since I bought my Lenovo, it uses cherry mx blue keys which is the clicky variant, its a great keyboard, but I have this against it - the keyboard lacks backlighting and it has no legs to prop up the keyboard. It sits mostly flat (there is a small magnetic wedge that helps). Given my current home-office situation, a backlit keyboard would be a huge plus.

Black Friday saw a nice price reduction of the Black Widow Elite - This version has the volume button, uses mechanical keys and wasn't horribly expensive.

Key travel:
While the specs are near identical, I am noticing a difference and I think its mostly that I'm used to the DAS keyboard but I do like the DAS keyboard's feel better than the Razer's. Its hard to put into words but there is a subtle but noticeable difference

Das
Type: Tactile & clicky switch
Tacticle: Yes, precise
Clicky: Yes
Actuation Force: 50g (60g peak force)
Key Travel: 2mm to actuation, 4mm to bottom

Razer:
Feel: Tactile and Clicky
Actuation Force: 50 G
Travel Distance: 4.0 mm
Actuation point: 1.9 mm
Actuation vs Reset Point: 0.4 mm


Quality:
The das feels more solid and well built. It definitely has a feel of being a tank. I don't know if this is a quality metric but there doesn't seem much wiggle with the keys

The razer keyboard for whatever reason feels a bit less sturdy, the keys do have slightly more wobble, the keycap size seems a scosh smaller and so far, the space, arrow and number pad enter keycaps have come off. A simple fix, but still nothing like that occurred on the Das.

Additionally, it seems, I received a defective unit, as the picture below, shows, I' getting random key repeats. A reboot failed to resolve this. Looks like i'll be sending this back.



Would I recommend the Razer over the Das? At this point its hard to justify spending the money on the razer, I may look at what DAS has to offer for backlight keyboards but those all use the cherry mx brown keys which are quiet, and I like the clicky sound ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[csurfr]

I’m actually really happy with my BlackWidow Elite. I, too, have the model with the green switches. The feel is great and the sound is...well you like it or hate it. I’m a fan.

You’re right in that there is just a tiny bit of wobble with the keycaps, though I wouldn’t say it’s a dealbreaker for me either. The volume knob (as trivial as it is) is what sold me on it. So much more convenient than having to find another button in the dark (a’la Logitech that I owned previously).

I’ve not used the Das, but they get up there in price pretty quickly, no? Ultimately if Razer could deliver me a wireless version of this keyboard I’d be on board for life.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

I've had my CODE Keyboard for a few years now, solid and simple design, media keys are in the home section above the arrow keys via a Fn key, dip switches on the back to change some keys including a Mac mode swapping the Alt and Windows keys around, and the new versions have programmable macro support. Comes with MX green, clear, brown, blue and zealios. Unfortunately they come with ABS keycaps, I replaced them with Tai-Hao PBT caps.

I've only used MX red, black, brown, blue and clear. Didn't like red and brown because they were too soft, or blue because the actuation and reset point difference while gaming annoyed me. Love black and the clears!

 

[maflynn]

I started the process of exchanging the razer keyboard, and I'll give the keyboard one more chance. I still like the DAS keyboard but my present situation is such that black lighting is a major plus.

 

[Silvestru Hosszu]

I have the DAS (Cherry MX Blue) and tried a Corsair RGB keyboard using Cherry MX Brown switches.
I truly love DAS and hate the gaming keyboard.
Everything is mushy with MX Brown switches and efficiency went down through the floor.
Although it was nice to have the illuminated keyboard I'll stick with DAS.
At least to me, the typing experience is much better on DAS.

 

[maflynn]

I've now had the replacement keyboard and I'm very pleased with it. The feel is off from the DAS but being backlight, I'm quite happy.

 

[c0ppo]

@maflynn
Check out Keychrone K2. I’m using it for all desktop OS. It’s really great, sturdy, well built.
Its TKL, I always use TKL, but if you need more...

 

[someoldguy]

I've got a DAS Prime 13 , backlit , somewhat clicky keys , and a Cooler Master , no idea what the model is , had it for a few years , but its more compact than the DAS , with a bit softer key feel , no numerical keypad , and white backlighting . RGB lighting would drive me crazy.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

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[maflynn]

Just an update on my Das vs. Razer

I've been rocking with the Razer keyboard now for about a week and its been pretty stable. I do like the chroma backlighting. Not that I'm changing the colors, as much as I can see the keys in low light situations.

Is it worth the 100 dollars? If I didn't have the DAS keyboard, I'd say yes. Since I own the DAS keyboard, I'm not as sure.

The keys are raised up higher then the DAS, and are more exposed if that makes sense. Its a minor annoyance, even my kids noticed and complained. Its minor, but its something to consider. I have until January to return it under the holiday return window, and I'm about 50-50 on keeping vs returning. Later today, I'll swap the keyboard with the DAS and do another compare/contrast.

One odd thing that I noticed with my Lenovo with the keyboard plugged in, when I reboot the PC, sometimes it seems to hang on the boot menu (press the enter key to go into the bios settings). I'm pretty sure its related to the keyboard because its never happened until the keyboard was plugged it. A second reboot fixes this, and the PC goes into windows. Since I got a new monitor recently, its possible that may be interfering. I'll see when I start using the DAS keyboard.

 

[cube]

There's a Logitech deal. The G613 does not feel bad if you're not a Cherry fanatic.

 

[cube]

 

[cube]

 

[cube]

The labels on my MK700/MK710 (non-mechanical) wore off very quickly. Let's see how it goes with the G613.