The Cherry MX Board 6.0 Mechanical Keyboard Review
by E. Fylladitakis on January 27, 2016 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Cherry MX
- Mechanical Keyboards
Quality Testing
In order to test the quality and consistency of a keyboard, we are using a texture analyser that is programmed to measure and display the actuation force of the standard keyboard keys. By measuring the actuation force of every key, the quality and consistency of the keyboard can be quantified. It can also reveal design issues, such as the larger keys being far softer to press than the main keys of the keyboard. The actuation force is measured in Centinewton (cN). Some companies use another figure, gram-force (gf). The conversion formula is 1 cN = 1.02 gf (i.e. they are about the same). A high quality keyboard should be as consistent as possible, with an average actuation force as near to the manufacturer's specs as possible and a disparity of less than ±10%. Greater differences are likely to be perceptible by users.
The machine we use for our testing is accurate enough to provide readings with a resolution of 0.1 cN. For wider keys (e.g. Enter, Space Bar, etc.), the measurement is taking place at the center of the key, right above the switch. Note that large keys generally have a lower actuation force even if the actuation point is at the dead center of the key. This is natural, as the size and weight of the keycap reduces the required actuation force. For this reason, we do display the force required to actuate every key but we only use the results of the typical sized keys for our consistency calculations. Still, very low figures on medium sized keys, such as the Shift and Enter keys reveal design issues and can easily be perceptible by the user.
The quality testing of the Cherry MX Board 6.0 gave us unnaturally good results, smiting every other mechanical keyboard that we have tested to this date - including those made with Cherry's own switches. Our instruments recorded an average force of 43.5 cN, with a disparity of just ±1.61% for the main keys. Even the force of the larger keys is abnormally close to that of the smaller keys, as their force figures are usually significantly lower due to the size of the keycap.
Although this is just an assumption on our part, we believe that these abnormal figures are a product of more than just the lack of variability in Cherry's mechanical switches. Our testing equipment is set to hold the force value once a key has been actuated, but it can only realize that it has actually been actuated once the keyboard sends a signal to a computer. Inherently, this process has a latency of a few milliseconds, during which the analyzer keeps increasing the force. Cherry claims that with the Realkey technology of this keyboard, it can signal the system every single millisecond. Again, this is a mere educational guess on our part, but it may be that Cherry effectively minimized the latency of the keyboard, which is now signaling our test system to stop more consistently. This could explain the abnormal consistency of the results, as a latency of even a few ms would increase every recorded value slightly.
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BurntMyBacon - Thursday, January 28, 2016 - link
@BrokenCrayons: "As long as you end up at your desired destination, the point of a car is accomplished."For most people I've met, including myself, you're not wrong. For some people, the point of travel isn't necessarily where you are going, but how you get there. Often times this is an emotional response, but sometimes this is a calculated, well thought out process. Presentation can be extremely important, for instance, to a CEO or politician. I don't really think it's applicable to keyboards, but it is something to consider in other areas.
Another point of interest is that a car may get you from point a to point b just fine, but it can be stressful if it sounds like it is going to fail while driving, one of your cylinders are misfiring, brakes squeal every time you brake and don't work well, gas stalls initially on acceleration, horn honks when you turn on your blinker, etc. Putting potential safety issues aside (cars aren't a great comparison here) you can still make it from point a to point b for years with one or several of these problems.
@BrokenCrayons: "The other things a car imparts are emotionally driven. The idea that you feel better about your drive or look better in other peoples' minds when they see you and so forth are all secondary feelings."
I never really got into the whole emotional purchasing that seems to be a deep and prevalent first world problem, but it is quite common and you shouldn't be surprised when some manufacturers take advantage of it.
@BrokenCrayons: "In the case of an economy car that'd sell for $15k new, then the comparable car would not be a "decent mid-range" one but something that retails for $200k."
This actually is a good enough comparison to illustrate the merits of a mechanical keyboard in general (leaving out the comparison between this keyboard and other mechanical keyboards). People who buy $15K economy cars tend to be people who use it to get basic tasks done (drive to work, pick up groceries, etc.). People who buy $200K cars (lets use muscle/racing cars as an example) tend to be people who have excess money such that cost isn't an issue, are emotionally driven and want what they want regardless, or people who drive vocationally ($200K is a bit low in this case). We've discussed the first two, but the professional driver buys the expensive car because the better acceleration, handling, resistance to breakdown, etc. all affect his vocation. Similarly a semi tractor trailer driver buys his multi-hundred thousand dollar rig for its towing capacity, high torque, resistance to breakdown, etc. that a budget car driver has no need of. Professionals in the keyboard space may be typists or sponsored gamers that can appreciate the consistency, tactile response, durability, etc. that a mechanical keyboard may provide to help them get their job done more efficiently. Given the relatively low cost (even at $200) compared to other tools, many amateurs find these keyboards desirable and easily accessible. In some cases, it may even improve their experience similar to how acquiring a Ford F-250 will allow you to haul something that a Ford Ranger would not, despite the fact that they are both capable of hauling things.
All that said, I think these higher end mechanical keyboards will eventually make their way below the $100 mark given the number of mechanical keyboards already typically going for $80 and sometimes as low as $50. They would certainly be more interesting to me at this price point.
JohnMD1022 - Saturday, February 13, 2016 - link
I spent many years writing code on high quality IBM keyboards, so, I prefer the feel of a good mechanical keyboard rather than the feel of the rubber dome switches.It is as simple as that.
We have 12-15 IBM Model M keyboards here, one DAS, and 2 Razers. There are a pair of rubber dome keyboards for use at the workbench and i keep a few around in case someone needs a keyboard.
zeeBomb - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
What is the best Cherry MX Brown or Red keyboard I can get for under 100?baobrain - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
Cooler Master makes some good ones, you sometimes can find a K70 red for under $100. I got a Rosewill keyboard for 80 bucks with MX blues a few years ago and it's real solid.kent1146 - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
>> What is the best Cherry MX Brown or Red keyboard I can get for under 100?Coolermaster CMStorm keyboards. I'm very partial to the tenkeyless (TKL) versions, like a CMStorm Quickfire TK.
A TKL keyboard is intended for gaming. It chops off the NumPad, so that your left arm (WASD) and right arm (mouse) sit closer together in a more natural position. I'm particular to the CMStorm Quickfire TK, because it has a dual-function NumPad / NavKey area in case you need to ever use the NumPad.
Choice of Cherry MX Red, Brown, Blue, Green:
http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-TK-Mechan...
Murloc - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
without the NumPad you can't use many of the trainers out there.Although I agree that for any other use (except data insertion of course but only office drones do that anyway) not having the numpad would really help the ergonomics.
ImSpartacus - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
See http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/keyboard/#s=3&so...I own a coolermaster tenkeyless ("Rapid" maybe?) with mx browns. I got it for like $60 and it's a nice simple keyboard. No fancy gaming stuff, just a solid keyboard.
ImSpartacus - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
Nevermind, I own a quickfire tk. It's surprisingly sturdy and hasn't failed me in its two years.theduckofdeath - Thursday, January 28, 2016 - link
I have the Cooler Master Storm QuickFire TK with brown switches. It's a really nice keyboard with backlit keys. The subtle and compact design are the main reasons I got it. You get 3 LED light settings, which is one more than I need, on/off/"pulsating". The build quality is really nice. Extremely sturdy (no flex at all) and nice, distinct feel to the keys. I probably would have preferred the red switches, for the minimal sound level but the brown switches are quiet enough. I opted for brown keys simply because that model comes with white backlight instead of red.buxe2quec - Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - link
You don't have to buy the top-end. I bought a Cherry MX 2.0 (no LED, no rest, basically the same for everything else) at 60 Euro (European layout too). I won't go back. Of course no customisation. If you want it customised there are alternatives like WASD keyboards.You don't need to be rich to buy a good mechanical. People brag about the expensive ones and justify themselves with "but it was worth". Well, the 60 Euro one (with the same switches and same sturdy metal frame) is 1/3 and worth anyway.