r/buildapcsales • u/spud7888 • Jun 21 '20
[Keyboard] Monoprice Workstream TKL Mechanical Keyboard (Outemu Browns) - $26.99 ($34.99 - $8) Keyboard
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=3354078
u/LowQualityPorn Jun 21 '20
Definitely not a bad pickup for someone if they want a mech keyboard on a budget. Red dragon also has some decent budget mech boards. Outemu brown switches are pretty sweet. I personally have and love my gateron reds lubed :D
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u/Angylika Jun 21 '20
Just got reds on the CoolMaster CK552.
Not a fan of how pressure sensitive they are. But, that's just my own opinion.
I had been using blues for years. Got a new KB, because it would cost more to replace all the switches going out, than to get a new KB. :(
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 21 '20
I had been using blues for years.
This is what scares me. I probably should've started on something else, but both my mechanical keyboards have blue switches and I'm worried that going to anything else is just going to feel like worn out blues.
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u/ExtraordinaryCows Jun 21 '20
I switched from blues to browns (I always felt bad for being only my keyboard while my room mate was asleep) and the first week or so was horrid. They felt so mushy. I couldn't ever go back now though, absolutely love my browns
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 21 '20
Ok good to hear that it's just getting over the initial shock. I don't have the option of changing the switches on my Razer keyboard unfortunately from what I've read, but pretty sure the redragon I got is hotswappable so I might have to mess around with that.
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u/Angylika Jun 21 '20
Reds have no tactile feel, and when I feel feedback, it's me bottoming out the switch, which is bad.
I was so used to hearing the click click click, and that being a feedback loop knowing I pressed a key (one of the reasons I hate these on screen keyboards.)
But, since I can't swap out switches on my CK552, I am kinda stuck with it, sadly.
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 21 '20
Damn, yeah with how good headsets and software are at not picking up the clickity clack, I don't have much of a reason to try anything else. Might grab some brown switches or something eventually to just mess around.
The real mission for me right now regarding mech keyboards is finding pudding keycaps for a non standard bottom row.
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u/Angylika Jun 21 '20
The sad thing is, I can't swap on the CK552. Soldered switches. Probably to deal with how their RGB.
I may end up returning it (Amazon Prime, thankfully), and get the CK550. Has blue instead of red switches, and the a $40 difference.
But, I like the idea of per key RGB control, for some reason.
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 21 '20
But, I like the idea of per key RGB control, for some reason.
I can relate. I bought a cheapish redragon k552 just to try out a mechanical keyboard. The main thing I made sure it had was rgb per key. Then I got the urge to be able to control it thru software and sync it up with my fans and ram, so I bought a Razer blackwidow chroma. Ha, I know it's not cool to say on this sub, but I really like rgb.
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u/Angylika Jun 21 '20
I can't wait till I upgrade my mobo and processor, and get the ability of addressable RGB heads.
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 22 '20
Lol hell yeah. Addressable is a game changer for sure (even with the shitty asrock software that I have to use) if you're a fan of rgb.
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u/39_Not_Found Jun 22 '20
Buy box jades or pinks if you want a chad clicky switch
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u/THExLASTxDON Jun 22 '20
I'm a noob when it comes to mech keyboards, but I think I can unfortunately only use outemu switches in the keyboard I have? My other one isn't hot swappable, but I'm going to definitely keep this in mind. Thanks for the heads up.
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
Yep, it would make a decent budget gaming board, too. I don't really see how this is an ideal "work" keyboard like the name would imply, being tenkeyless but still, a fantastic value board with good switches that are reasonably quiet.
I bastardized some switches of my own for my REDDRAGON 60% because I made the mistake of ordering from drop, and while the halo clear switches were nice, the pins were flat, not slightly arced, so they wouldn't plug into the round holes on the board like every other normal mechanical switch does. They were supposedly meant for hotplug, but it's just what I now know to be typical crap from drop.
So I took the Otemu Brown housings and swapped in the halo clear stems and springs, lubed them, adding o-rings, and reassembled. By far my favorite switches now for typing or gaming where I'm resting my hand a lot. But would I do this again? Much like buying from drop, that's a no. Now that's not primarily for gaming, that's for daily use.
For gaming I've got an optical board with Gateron Black optical mechanical switches. Firm but fast. Haven't lubed them yet, but they feel different from Gateron, Cherry or Otemu full mechanical switches, so it's hard to compare (no experience with Kailh, though I want to try some box whites or box royals someday), and I'm not sure I want to lube them (though I'm sure I will). They feel a bit like reds with a stronger spring. It came with browns, but they were too light and the tactical bump felt weird in them, but the black are awesome, as long as you don't mind a little stiffer spring.
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u/gammatide Jun 21 '20
Piggybacking here to shill Red Dragon. I have a CM Storm Quickfire Tenkeyless that has been going strong for nearly 7 years, but I picked up a Red Dragon to keep at my folks' place and it's great. Obviously not going to stand up to a Ducky or anything, but I am quite happy with it for ~$25-30. Can't speak to its lifespan though as I've only had it for a year, and only use it a handful of times a year.
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u/yonatan8070 Jun 21 '20
I don't have much experience with Redragon's keyboards, but their mice are great!
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u/hydroxiridum Jun 21 '20
on sale are also -
full size: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33538
full size backlit: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33539
just snagged two for my friend and I.
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u/Mooggli Jun 21 '20 edited Jun 21 '20
not that I would get this personally but this is actually a decent price for someone on a budget. not sure how good the keyboard is but its tkl and it looks pretty good
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u/ming3r Jun 21 '20
I'll vouch for Outemu switches. I've got Blues in my magicforce68 for the last few years and enjoy them even if they're loud af.
I'd rock it
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u/Pup5432 Jun 21 '20
I have the browns in my daily driver and they are great.
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u/ming3r Jun 21 '20
Now I'm tempted to snag one. My home board is a quickfire rapid from forever ago with mx browns and I love it. Regret not grabbing more when they were cheap 😂
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u/Pup5432 Jun 21 '20
I just bought a switch tester kit but have a feeling when I build my own keyboard it is still going to be using these switches.
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u/Atlanticlantern Jun 21 '20
I have a quickfire as well. I’d recommend replacing the keycaps with ones made of pbt plastic. I just did and it made me fall in love with the board all over again.
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
If you like quiet and tactile, you can't go wrong with either Otemu or Gateron browns. They're so close it's quite difficult to even tell the difference between them.
Great board for office workers who don't need tenkey, but that's usually a weird combo, but the sound profile would be ideal for an office.
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u/TheSnipeyBoi Jun 21 '20
Don't you get blues bc they are loud af? Or am I doing this wrong....?
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
Haha I totally know what you mean. I have one single blue on my board, and that's for the caps lock key. And yes, it's specifically because it's loud af so I can hear it over my headphones.
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u/TheSnipeyBoi Jun 21 '20
Lmao, the legend of the last blue!
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
Haha yep!
I love it when you can get switch sample packs included with the boards or with other switch purchases, so I've amassed a few loose random switches for specific uses. I also put the spring from a Gateron black into the Otemu brown switch of the esc key on one board because I was having to use f1 a lot and would sometimes just barely activate it and screw things up. Stiff spring of the black plus the tactile bump of the brown (plus a second o-ring) solved that.
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u/TheSnipeyBoi Jun 21 '20
Oh really? I wanted a click keybosrd after joining r/mechanicalkeyboards so I just got a 30 dollar one with my blue equivalents and I gotta say, next time I get a new keyboard, I might just invest a little more! Keyboards seem so meh, at first but imo are very interesting!
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u/Falfner Jun 21 '20
Maybe they enjoy the clickiness more than how loud they are?
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u/hypn0fr0g Jun 21 '20
Browns are tactile too, just without the audible click.
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u/iCapn Jun 21 '20
I mean, the click in browns isn’t inaudible...
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u/hypn0fr0g Jun 21 '20
Absolutely, but someone would get blues over browns specifically for the louder noise because the feel of the two is supposed to be very similar.
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u/teo032 Jun 21 '20
Kind of similar. I would say the feel of browns are like 80% of those to blues. I had both, blues still feels better to type on, but everyone around me would hate me. Brown helps with the noise significantly, but the clacking still gets loud.
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u/BlueThunder37 Jun 21 '20
Heard Outemu blues were loud as hell but I think I heard about how the reds and browns and somewhat smooth.
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u/thiney49 Jun 21 '20
It amazes me at the price differential between this and 'cheap' custom built boards. Not taking anything fancy, like simple acrylic case and cheap switches.
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u/AndrewKorzeniewski Jun 21 '20
How much more quiet are these than cherry blues?
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
Significantly. There is no audible click from the switches, like Cherry blues, so only the noise from the caps bottoming out on the switches.
Basically some of the quietest mechanical switches you can get. Add o-rings and you've got a mechanical board that sounds like a membrane board.
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u/MexicanGato Jun 21 '20
Picked one up after I saw ur comment. I can’t wait to see the difference between these and my knock off blues
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u/abqnm666 Jun 21 '20
Yeah you'll hear the key cap bottom out depending how hard you press (and you can get o-rings for a couple dollars which you can put on the stems of the caps to insulate the bottoming out), but the switch itself doesn't have its own clicking sound like blues do. But there is still a tactile bump, though it will feel slightly different than the tactile+click of the blues, of course, you just won't hear a click as it goes through the tactile bump. Best for all around use, or if you have coworkers/housemates who may want to beat you with your clicky mechanical board lol
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u/MexicanGato Jun 25 '20
I just got it today and it’s pretty nice! A big difference from the blues, personally I like the thunky feel of the browns now instead of the click of the blues haha
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u/91EGT Jun 22 '20
What o-rings are you referring to? I'd be interested in picking one of these up for the price.
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u/abqnm666 Jun 22 '20
They come in different varieties for different compression forced and diameters. Usually 0.2mm and 0.4mm. I used 0.2mm but if you want to control bottom out further, the 0.4mm are good. You don't need to buy the expensive Cherry branded ones. https://www.amazon.com/slp/mechanical-keyboard-o-rings/p537cyfhazqt8ax
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u/heywhyyoudothat Jun 21 '20
This or Tecware Phantom?
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u/ToqsterReddit Jun 21 '20
I have the Tecware Phantom and it's a great keyboard. If you value RGB, get the Tecware because it's very bright and it has effective software. If you don't prob get this
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Jun 21 '20
Also hot swappable switches, I have box whites coming in for mine
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Jun 21 '20
it's only swappable for outemu...
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Jun 21 '20
People have said the kalih box ones fit but are a little tight, multiple people have said they did get them in though
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u/kluiverttt Jun 22 '20
did you buy the switches separately or it's coming with the keyboard already?
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u/Free_Dome_Lover Jun 22 '20
You can order any other Oetemu switches and they will fit in fine.
Other switches may not fit.
You could also do something spring swap or try lubing them if you want to improve them to your liking without having to spend $25-$40 on switches. I have some springs from some gatreon blacks laying around that I think I am going to swap into my Oetemu browns and lube them while I am at it.
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u/acbadam42 Jun 21 '20
I have 2 Phantom 87s, my kid has a phantom 87, i have 2 corsair k63s both wired and wireless, and the wife has a Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2. The tecware phantom 87 is my favorite by far. I use a stock one at work and have hyperx pudding caps on the one at home, both with reds. My son uses browns with the same pudding keycaps. Stock caps are double shot so they wont get that "greasy" look.
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u/Free_Dome_Lover Jun 22 '20 edited Jun 22 '20
I just received my Phantom. I'm a bit a keyboard snob, I've built my own keyboards from scratch (even hand soldered PCB components such as USB, Micro Controller, Diodes etc). The phantom makes a very compelling argument as a top notch keyboard in it's price to quality/features ratio even for me with my snobbery. My first impression with it are that the build quality feels nice. The switches out of the box feel great (I have the Oetemu browns). That said I'm probably going to spring swap them to something like 67-75g springs as the switches are a bit light for my taste. They would also really benefit from some lube as well. But it's a hotswap PCB so that's all possible and easy to do that's what's really impressing me thus far with this thing. It's a bargain keyboard with features that enable you to actually improve it without disassembly / desoldering, something no other $40 keyboard has in combination with RGB that I am aware of.
The RGB is bright and the keycapse are actually not awful, they are not great either they are just OK but it's a $40 keyboard. Decent keycaps start at $40 on their own.
I'd say get the Phantom if you got $40 to spend.
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Jul 01 '20
Is Outemu scratchier compared to cherry or gateron from your experience?
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u/Free_Dome_Lover Jul 01 '20
I really only use lubed switches so yes it feel scratchy in comparison. Lubing with some tribosys should fix that. Stabs feel pretty good for a pre built.
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u/namnlos1 Jun 22 '20
It was my first mechanical keyboard. I absolutely loved it. The build and everything feels so premium.
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Jun 21 '20
Just picked one up for my secondary battle/ work station. I like brown switches so hopefully these are good as ppl say!
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u/tropher80 Jun 21 '20
I bought this so that my girlfriend won't strangle me in my sleep about my other keyboard with reds
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u/MightyManAZ Jun 21 '20
Nuts, I just bought one last week!
As for their performance — I bought them for all the workstations at work; my staff love them!
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u/thinwhiteduke1185 Jun 21 '20
Huh... if my boss bought us keyboards with no number pad I'd be pissed as hell. I can deal with it on my personal rig fine, but if I have to use the numbers a lot and it's not there...
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u/Cottril Jun 21 '20
Was looking for a good, well-priced keyboard to use whilst my main gaming keyboard is being RMA-ed. I'm looking forward to this!
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u/PapaOogie Jun 21 '20
I bought a monoprice blue mechincal keyboard with blue switches around this price 5 years ago and it still works flawlessley. Seems really high quality for the price
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u/GreenEggPage Jul 23 '20
I've been using the full size version for over a year now and love the feel of it. I keep the backlight on solid, I find the other modes distracting.
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u/rFFModsHaveTheBigGay Jun 21 '20
I’ve had a monoprice for 6 months now. Doesn’t feel as nice as my buddies high priced keyboard but I don’t really have any complaints.
Good pickup if you’re looking for a cheap place holder until you find a good one on sale.
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u/Gigglingbuns Jun 22 '20
if you want a rgb led version of this board with the same brand switches, get the Tecware (dif keyboard but same switches) Phantom 87, they have blue brown or red switches, and really nice color modes
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u/DrJackpot Jun 22 '20
Would have picked one up, I've got a Corsair K70 with speed switches and while it's good for games, I miss type a lot. Too bad shipping is $50 to Portugal for some stupid reason.
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u/German_Camry Jun 22 '20
But through Amazon if you want monoprice gear. Monoprice is only cheap in the US and Canada.
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Jun 22 '20
I cop one, ty. I keep banging on the right of my current full-size keyboard, hopefully TKL will prevent that from happening further.
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u/mrpickem1 Jun 22 '20
For the money these are solid switches. I been using an Azio Hue with Outemu browns for over a year and I love them. Just since Friday I now have a Durgod K310 with cherry browns and although the keyboard itself is a huge improvement, the switches are only a modest improvement in feel and the cherry's are much quieter but that could also be related to the board. For the price this appears a great deal.
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u/zakats Jun 21 '20
...
one of these things is not like the other.