The Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent Mechanical Keyboard Review: Updating a PC Classic
by E. Fylladitakis on September 20, 2017 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Keyboard
- Cherry MX
- Mechanical Keyboards
Final Words
The Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent is the latest iteration of the legendary Cherry G80-3000 keyboard that was initially released back in the late 1980s. Despite the decades that have passed since then, Cherry has changed virtually nothing except the color of the keyboard. If we do not take the more recently introduced Windows keys or modern USB connectivity into account, the new Cherry MX Black Silent switches are practically the only upgrade that our reviewed model has over the 80s version. Otherwise G80models that are using the classic Cherry MX Blue or other switches are virtually identical to the keyboards that were released years before the first Intel Pentium processor ever hit the store shelves.
Why is Cherry still placing so much faith on such an old design? The answer is simple: proven reliability. For professional applications, that usually is a very important, if not the only selection factor. Especially for applications where reliability is of utmost importance, such as machinery controls and medical equipment, a simple and proven device – and one that long-time users will be incredibly familiar with – outweighs the entirety of the competition with ease.
The inclusion of the new Cherry MX Black Silent switches makes the Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent the perfect keyboard for the busy workplace. It is great for professional typists and the noteworthy noise reduction greatly increases the comfort of both the user and everyone else in the immediate vicinity. The low noise output makes it particularly useful for people who work over the phone, minimizing the clicking noise that often disturbs the people on the other side of the line.
The flipside of that however is that because the Cherry G80-3494 is so similar to its classic forefather, it doesn't do anything to break outside of the classic office role it was originally designed for. Consequently, for casual and advanced gamers alike, the Cherry G80 offers little more than a cheap office keyboard. Not that Cherry has claimed any differently, but gamers looking for a retro or no-frills mechanical keyboard may be surprised by just how retro it is.
Otherwise, with a price tag of over $100, pricing is clearly the Achilles’ heel of the Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent. $100 places it towards the high-end of the market and well above a number of other mechanical keyboards, and it's a price that cannot be justified by such a simple design. The Cherry G80-3000 design has stood the test of time for a reason – it is a reliable, comfortable mechanical keyboard – but in 2017 it's also clearly one that's aimed at a niche audience. If you fall into that niche, be it because you're after a proven keyboard or are a long time Cherry G80 user that simply wants a quieter version, then the G80-3494 MX Board Silent fits that role nicely. Otherwise, users who are looking to buy a reliable keyboard for everyday use will most likely want to look at another model, as more modern keyboards equipped with the same Cherry switches can be found for less.
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imaheadcase - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
I don't understand why keyboards don't put dedicated media controls on them anymore. The problem with keyboards now is that they try to condense them down. Being able to mute/turn volume up and down, skip tracks, etc is fantastic when doing other things in full screen apps.The way they put them on keyboards now is very cheap way about it, not only that but because of it you have to disable some keys to make them work, and windows won't recognize the media keys to even use them! For example i like my CMstorm keyboard, but its media keys won't work with web based apps like google play music. Or it won't detect some windows borderless games.
However my old Logitech keyboard has no problem doing it. I mean come on, it can't cost much to put real media keys on keyboard, literally plenty of space to do so most mechanical keyboards have a huge height to them. You can put them on top/back and be easier to muscle memory remember location on top/back of them.
Biggest pet peeve of mine with keyboards. :P
imaheadcase - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
To clarify what i mean, if you are playing a game on my CMstorm for example, the F5-F11 keys are the media keys, but to use them you have to disable function button, then press them to use them. Being a gaming keyboard, people use those keys for other things in games. So its cumbersome to have to reach for two keytrokes back and forth to keep enabling/disabling them for each time you want to skip track, pause, etc.Given how many people play games with music you get how its annoying.
blackworx - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
Personally I'm glad the trend for media keys and replacing F keys' default function with media controls is on the wane. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. Gaming and media are both still vastly well catered for anyway. There's more choice than ever before, it's just that the rest of us are now less often forced to deal with keyboards that are half broken by default.jimbo2779 - Thursday, September 21, 2017 - link
I wouldn't really say that having dedicated media controls is a gamer keyboard thing, it is a convenience thing. Having the keys for things like media controls or calculator is just convenient.If you don't like these keys you don't need to use them but if they aren't there then the keyboard is missing something.
imaheadcase - Thursday, September 21, 2017 - link
Exactly, its silly spending as much for a one of these keyboards that is actually a regression in tech vs only membrane keyboards.Findecanor - Thursday, September 21, 2017 - link
Manufacturers have not settled on one consistent mapping on F-keys. They each have their own or sometimes a different mapping per keyboard model even.Personally, I use programs that put Skip<, Skip> and Play/Pause on PrtSrc, Scroll Lock and Pause. Those keys are on all keyboards and pretty much useless anyway.
ayabe - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
Good for what it is I guess, I think once you've laid your hands on a Topre switch keyboard, anything Cherry just feels terrible and chintzy by comparison.achinhorn - Thursday, October 5, 2017 - link
First time on a Cherry I dropped almost $200 for a das keyboard only to realize it was basically unusable. I mean really. It maybe that DAS keyboards are garbage but everything felt loose, and the sound, feel, and smoothness of the switches & my Topre were instantly missed. I often lug my Topre to and from the office and bench the Das it's that bad. I don't think I'll ever buy another switch.ithehappy - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
I'm all in for simple keyboards always, but without any backlight it's impossible for someone like me to consider :(grant3 - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
[X] Many pages of non-silence related critique[X] Detailed discussion of interior design of 'silent' keyboard
[ ] Noise output measured on 'silent' keyboard
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