Keyboard recommendations?

Hey everyone, quick question
what kind of keyboard should I grab for around $200-$83? (The only dealbreakers are a massive left Shift key and some kind of backlight, even if it's just one color 😁). Obviously looking for a standard US layout 😬

I've got a few options on my shortlist, but I want to hear what you guys think 😉

Robert Rodriguez2, who are you backing? 🍿
When you say backlighting, you mean the keys glowing in the dark, right?

Drew Sanchez82 said:Robert Rodriguez2, what options are you looking at? 🍿
By backlighting, you mean keys that glow in the dark, right?

Totally. There were a few options. In the end, I'm probably just grabbing a keyboard from a buddy for $40. He bought one a couple of months ago at $100 😁
. It doesn't work for him though, too big. 😁

Otherwise, I had these in mind (links below) since they're close by and I don't feel like paying $10 for shipping.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gaming-keyboard-usb-101200218

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gaming-keyboard-usb-101200219

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gaming-keyboard-usb-101200348

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/gaming-keyboard-usb-101200224

I saw some fancy Roccat one on Craigslist, but the Enter key is too small. I've been using a keyboard with a tiny Enter key at my job for over a year and I still can't get used to it... I miss the key constantly. 😁

So I'll just take this one from my friend:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/gaming-keyboard-1-128109.html

If I had to pay full price, definitely not. But for $40, it's decent enough. 😁

There was also that Cooler Master Devastator III set, but I called Best Buy and Micro Center. The guy at Micro Center actually unboxed the whole thing to confirm the Enter key was too small. Pathetic. 😁

So, I hit my 10-year anniversary on this forum two days ago 🕺🕺

I'm really digging these Scorpion K-series keyboards, but the link doesn't actually say what the real differences are between the K9 and the K20 models.
If I were in your shoes—especially with that budget—I’d honestly just go for the K9.

Also, that Speedlinak one your buddy is trying to sell you? It doesn't have that big left Shift key you're looking for.😁

Mine is a Razer Marauder StarCraft ii gaming Keyboard. I picked it up for $100 right before some tournament at Walmart during a massive sale from $267. Man, I felt like such a sucker when I was hunting for those flashy LED gaming boards.

I actually just hit my 10k milestone here recently too 🤣

Drew Sanchez82 said:I'm eyeing those Scorpion K-series keyboards, but the link doesn't say what actually separates the K9 from the K20.
If I were you—especially with that budget—I'd just grab the K9.

That Speedlinak one your buddy is trying to flip on you? It won't have that big left Shift key you're looking for. 😁

Mine. The Razer Marauder StarCraft ii gaming Keyboard.Took her for... $100 Keep an eye out for any tournaments at Walmart during those big sales. $267I felt like a total idiot searching for those LED gaming keyboards.

Just hit my 10k milestone here recently too. 🤣

I can handle a small shift, but I’m not making any compromises on the core. 🤣

I think maybe a few keyboards are a little bit smaller than mine 😁

Drew Sanchez82 said:I think a few keyboards might actually be smaller than mine 😁

Gotta admit, this new one is decent. It almost feels like typing on a mechanical. I just realized I keep hitting ESC instead of my first macro key, lol.
It’ll probably be fine once I get used to it. Everything else is solid. 😁

Oh yeah, and when you've got all those extra keys sitting right next to the important ones like ESC, it’s way too easy to fat-finger the wrong thing. 😁
My keyboard isn't even mechanical, but whenever I'm typing, people on Discord tell me it sounds just like one. 🤣
Back in the day, if someone was helping me find a driver or something online, they'd spend half an hour just squinting at my keyboard trying to find specific letters or symbols. 😬 It's because the layout is just totally different from what most people are used to.

Drew Sanchez82 said:Yeah, having extra buttons right next to the important ones like ESC makes it way too easy to mess up. 😁
Mine isn't even mechanical, but whenever I type, it sounds like one on Discord. 🤣
Back in the day, if someone needed a driver for my PC, they'd spend half an hour just staring at the keyboard trying to find specific letters or symbols. 😬 The layout is just off.

I mean, you could always just rip those macro keys out and tape some black electrical tape over the holes so dust doesn't get in. 😁 hahaha

Just put some black electrical tape 🤣
Honestly, I think it’s actually better when a keyboard doesn't have that annoying underglow lighting everything up under the keys. If you can't see the glow, it's way easier to spot all the dust and crumbs hiding in there. 😁

Drew Sanchez82 said:Use some black electrical tape 🤣
It’s actually better if the keyboard doesn't have that underglow beneath the keys. If you don't have light bleeding through the whole alphabet, it's easier to spot the dirt 😁

Nah, no way, the light just shines right through the keycaps 😁 😉

Robert Rodriguez2 said:By the way, I actually just hit my 10-year anniversary on this forum two days ago! 🕺🕺

Are you seriously expecting an online community site to just buy you a keyboard? 😬

Brandon Patel852 said:You really think Reddit is going to buy you a keyboard? 😬

I mean, that would be pretty sweet 😁 🤣

Anyone got a solid keyboard recommendation for under 300 bucks? $117

Nothing crazy, just looking for:
- Wired
- Big Enter key (standard US layout)
- US layout (stickers are fine if needed)
- Anti-ghosting (is that even a thing at this price point?)

Thanks!

You might want to check out that Microsoft mechanical keyboard; people say it’s an absolute steal for the price—provided you don't mind the RGB lighting and the loud clicky switches of a mechanical board.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=MS+Thunder+Pro

Timothy Kim60 said:Maybe that Microsoft mechanical keyboard they claim is such a steal—assuming you don't mind the RGB and how loud those switches are.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=MS+THUNDER+PRO

Forgot I said I wanted a tenkeyless setup... and that's a dealbreaker for me. 😁

That big MS Thunder Pro with the numpad is honestly too pricey, plus it looks like everyone's selling the version with the weird ISO layout—huge Enter key and that tiny left Shift. :/

Just grab yourself a classic from Logitech or Genius—whatever the top-tier model is that fits within your budget. You really can't go wrong with those.

Anyone got a solid recommendation for a wireless keyboard combo? Looking for something with backlit keys and a matching mouse included in the set.

Can anyone recommend a solid gaming keyboard for under $500$200? I need a mechanical one, ideally with a US layout and a big Enter key.

RGB lighting is a nice little plus.