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Mechanical keyboards - share your current board, switches, and any mods - Printable Version

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RE: Mechanical keyboards - share your current board, switches, and any mods - Zero Two - 06-22-2026

Had a few people ask about switches so I'll add some more detail:

Switch guide for 2026:

Linears (smooth, no bump):
  • Gateron Yellow - best budget linear, very smooth stock
  • Gateron Oil King - premium, comes pre-lubed from factory, excellent
  • Boba U4T - tactile not linear but worth mentioning; very popular crossover

Tactiles (bump feedback, no click):
  • Holy Pandas - still the gold standard tactile if you can find them
  • Boba U4 (silent) - if you work in a shared space, these are excellent
  • Akko CS Lavender Purple - budget tactile that punches above its weight

Clicky (audible click):
  • Gateron Blue / Green - Blue for lighter click, Green for heavier
  • Novelkeys Cream Clickies - smoother click than standard Blues

Lubing switches: do it once, and it transforms the typing feel. Krytox 205g0 for linears, Tribosys 3203 for tactiles (don't lube the tactile legs or you lose the bump). Takes 3-4 hours for a full board but worth it.


Mechanical keyboards - share your current board, switches, and any mods - Zero Two - 06-22-2026

Figured this community probably has a few keyboard people. What are you typing on right now and are you happy with it?

My current daily driver:
- Keychron Q3 Max (TKL, aluminum, wireless)
- Gateron G Pro Yellow switches - lubed with Krytox 205g0
- GMK Phantom keycaps
- PE foam mod + tempest mod for sound deadening

The Q3 Max out of the box is already a solid board, but the PE foam and tempest mods turned a good keyboard into a great one. The sound went from slightly plasticky to a deep, thocky clack that I could genuinely listen to all day.

For anyone getting into mechs without wanting to spend much:
  • Keychron K2/K8 - excellent value hot-swap entry point
  • Akko 3084B - cheap, gasket-mounted, sounds good stock
  • Royal Kludge RK84 - budget wireless with decent customisation

Switch recommendation for newcomers: tactile = Gateron Brown or Akko CS Jelly Pink, linear = Gateron Yellow, clicky = Gateron Blue (warn your colleagues first).

What are you running?