CHERRY G80-3000LQCEU-0 with MX clear switches - review

[filimonovici]

Hello

I' almost proud to say that I got my first mechanical keyboard a week ago, and after using it for a while, I thought I should present it to you. Why ALMOST?
Because without the possibility of trying out some mechanical switches, and only by reading some threads, I went and bought this keyboard - the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU-0.

The Cherry corporation states that this model has a soft tactile feel, and I went for it, but I'm a little bit disappointed because the keys are not so soft, and honestly, it feels close to a rubber dome keyboard. Don't get me wrong, you still have that pleasant sensation that you get from a mechanical keyboard when typing, but the force required to depress the keys, cumulated with the force required to "beat" the bump that gives you that tactile feedback, makes you bottom out eight times out of ten. Your fingers won't get to hoover over the keyboard, or dance like many like to say. You almost always will end up bottoming out.

There is also a frictiony sound that drives me crazy. Someone on the Geekhack forum says that this sound should dissapear in 3 or 4 weeks, so let's hope so.

I have also fooled myself because I was looking for something more linear, but I was afraid of buying the black switches because everybody says that the black ones are too stiff. Reds, don't do for me because I like a switch that don't bottoms out easily, blues either because they are really too loud and I really want a mechanical keyboard that is as quiet as possible.

Anyway, this is it, the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU.
But before inserting the photos, let me tell you something about this board.It has a standard (I think it's called ANSI) layout, with the € sign.The design of the case is classic, yet sexy and appealing. It's just a basic keyboard, with no USB hubs, lights, macro keys ... etc. Well, to be honest I have to say there aren't any DEDICATED macro keys, because by using the Cherry software, you can assign macros to the F row.
The keyboard uses PBT keycaps and PCB mounted Cherry MX Clear switches, which are tactile NON clicky switches. Seems that the clear switches are an enhanced version of the browns, and require more force to be depressed. Browns need 45g and clears need 55g. Actually someone says that the clear switches feel like the blacks but with a bump (the tactile feedback that tells you the switch has actuated).
The keyboard comes in a simple cardboard box, it has a USB connection but they provide a USB to PS2 adapter, for those who want to use a PS2 connection, and there is also a manual with some technical details and how to connect a USB and PS2 keyboard to a PC.

The photos I made are not frontal, because for that kind of pictures you can go and visit the producers site.
I tried to take some pictures with the inside of the board, just to have an idea of the switches, controller and the PCB board. And of course the construction of the keyboard.

The stripped keyboard.

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The upper case of the keyboard. Note that there are no screws. The hole keyboard is kept in place by the clips that you see.

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Here is the PCB mounted Cherry MX clear switch.

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This is the PCB. No screws for that either. I think this makes it more MOD friendly.

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I think this should be the controller of the board.

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And this is something that I don't understand. I don't know what those colors and and letters mean. Someone can explain it to me?

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[JBert]

I' almost proud to say that I got my first mechanical keyboard a week ago, and after using it for a while, I thought I should present it to you. Why ALMOST?
Because without the possibility of trying out some mechanical switches, and only by reading some threads, I went and bought this keyboard - the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU-0.

The Cherry corporation states that this model has a soft tactile feel, and I went for it, but I'm a little bit disappointed because the keys are not so soft, and honestly, it feels close to a rubber dome keyboard. Don't get me wrong, you still have that pleasant sensation that you get from a mechanical keyboard when typing, but the force required to depress the keys, cumulated with the force required to "beat" the bump that gives you that tactile feedback, makes you bottom out eight times out of ten. Your fingers won't get to hoover over the keyboard, or dance like many like to say. You almost always will end up bottoming out.

That sounds about right. You can avoid bottoming out or at least land softly if you're used to it, but it does take some adjusting.

Maybe you should try out the keyboard for a month or so? A week is a really short time if you are new to a particular kind of switch - and that means any switch.

There is also a frictiony sound that drives me crazy. Someone on the Geekhack forum says that this sound should dissapear in 3 or 4 weeks, so let's hope so.

Sadly, the way the Cherry switch works is that the slider rubs against the switch contacts, so it can't be avoided. Even linear Cherry switches will have it, but the volume of the sound depends on type of swich, the amout of grease in the switch and how much the switch has been worn smooth. Older switches might have less of this sound, given they still contain some grease.

I have also fooled myself because I was looking for something more linear, but I was afraid of buying the black switches because everybody says that the black ones are too stiff. Reds, don't do for me because I like a switch that don't bottoms out easily, blues either because they are really too loud and I really want a mechanical keyboard that is as quiet as possible.

Maybe you want vintage blacks (that is, MX black switches from before 1997 or so, ask Sixty). These were produced using a slightly lighter spring than modern MX blacks, which are already lighter than MX clears.

Also, when you buy a used keyboard it might mean the switches are worn smooth, reducing friction and sound. Of course, this is specific for each keyboard sold, so you don't know how much it has been used before.

Anyway, this is it, the Cherry G80-3000LQCEU.
But before inserting the photos, let me tell you something about this board.It has a standard (I think it's called ANSI) layout, with the € sign.The design of the case is classic, yet sexy and appealing. It's just a basic keyboard, with no USB hubs, lights, macro keys ... etc. Well, to be honest I have to say there aren't any DEDICATED macro keys, because by using the Cherry software, you can assign macros to the F row.
The keyboard uses PBT keycaps and PCB mounted Cherry MX Clear switches, which are tactile NON clicky switches. Seems that the clear switches are an enhanced version of the browns, and require more force to be depressed. Browns need 45g and clears need 55g. Actually someone says that the clear switches feel like the blacks but with a bump (the tactile feedback that tells you the switch has actuated).
The keyboard comes in a simple cardboard box, it has a USB connection but they provide a USB to PS2 adapter, for those who want to use a PS2 connection, and there is also a manual with some technical details and how to connect a USB and PS2 keyboard to a PC.

I own 2 G80-3000LQCDE keyboards and I'm not afraid to call them cheap mechanicals. But you get exactly what you pay for, and the mechanical switches do make it a long-lasting no-nonsense keyboard.


Thanks for your fine review, personal oppinion and inside photos. Now I don't have to open up these Cherry keyboards to see what they look like on the inside.

[filimonovici]

@JBert

So, you say that the Cherry MX Blacks are lighter then the clears? You just made me want to buy another keyboard.

About the usage of my Cherry G80-3000LQCEU, I thought that a week of intensive use (like 4-5 hours a day), it can be enough to have an impression of the board. Of course I will try it for a longer period, and then come back to this thread an share my opinion of how it does in time.
I think that this is the way to make a good and valuable review. By building it in time. Give yourself a week or so and then do the main part of the review. Then in two to three months you can turn back and add information about the wear, changes in how the board feels and so on. The first impression has the greatest impact. If you'll wait for a few moths, it wont be a fair review, because you'll get used to some aspects, you'll forget others and so on.

[webwit]

And this is something that I don't understand. I don't know what those colors and and letters mean. Someone can explain it to me?

Looks like the dots on IBM Model M labels (there are more markings inside the board). Simply seems to be a sticker used for the various stages of production and quality control. K probably stands for Kontrolle. So the people working around the production line wield markers of various colors. It is produced, someone marks it with red marker. Keycaps on top. Marked yellow. Quality control step 1. Marked blue. Etc. The last entry is probably checked when there's a fault in one of the earlier steps.

Spoiler:

Blue, black and red dots...

[filimonovici]

You might be right, but only for the internal controls. Once you close the case, if you find some defects you'll have to open it again to mark it. This means time and of course money lost.
I have looked on the outside of the case and found no sticker for quality controls. So if you are right about the controlling, it is only for the switches and PCB controls.

And BTW we haven't found out what that 10VCD on the sticker means.

[webwit]

This seems like a board that snaps together as the last part of production. If it fails then, it will probably be tossed.
10 VCD is probably the production line code.

[JBert]

@JBert

So, you say that the Cherry MX Blacks are lighter then the clears? You just made me want to buy another keyboard.

Mind you, it's not a lot but there is a difference alright.

Some people have even opened up the black switches, stole the spring and put in a clear switch to get some lighter hybrid (I believe they're called panda clears, for their black+white parts).

About the usage of my Cherry G80-3000LQCEU, I thought that a week of intensive use (like 4-5 hours a day), it can be enough to have an impression of the board. Of course I will try it for a longer period, and then come back to this thread an share my opinion of how it does in time.
I think that this is the way to make a good and valuable review. By building it in time. Give yourself a week or so and then do the main part of the review. Then in two to three months you can turn back and add information about the wear, changes in how the board feels and so on. The first impression has the greatest impact. If you'll wait for a few moths, it wont be a fair review, because you'll get used to some aspects, you'll forget others and so on.[/quote]Good point and I agree with you. I'll patiently wait for your update.

In the mean time, you can read up about vintage blacks if you want.

[off]

So, how do you feel about it now?

[filimonovici]

Well, the keyboard (or the switches) feel a little bit less frictiony,and I've learned not to bottom out. It seems that when coming from a rubber dome keboard, bottoming out on each key press is printed in your memory, but after a while you learn how to type. Actually when I have to write a large document and I don't actually think about how the typing feels, I realize that I don't bottom at all. Just think about the text you have and go on.
I had also the occasion to compare these switches with the red ones. I know it's like apples and oranges, but still you can have an idea about how a linear switch will feel in your hands. And I realized that I love MX Clears.
MADE FOR REAL MEN BY REAL MEN!

[off]

Damnit, now you're making me want to add a ton of clears to my order...
Good to hear you're not bottoming out (much) anymore!
I am, constantly, on my banged up black alps (that resistance point up in the top is getting on my nerves); browns and reds are incoming, so I'm almost saved

[filimonovici]

Well, I can tell you that the reds are light as a feather and very creamy. To be honest, I really like this aspect of the reds, but only this one.
I think the clears are the prefect compromise in this type of switches.

[off]

yeah, thanks

[kbdfr]

This thread given as a reference in the small ads section of eBay Germany: link

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Reading the strip-down, I can see why the stupid thing is so flimsy :) If I have one hand resting on the keyboard and I hit a key with the other, I can feel the vibration from it, which is not a good thing. I've also seen all the keys dip inside the case when striking a function key (and not particularly hard, it's just bendy).

It does have a really good sound though: it flex takes the edge off the feel and the sound of the MX switches compared to a solid plate mount keyboard.

I would still be willing to consider one with browns (clears are usable, but weird), except that Cherry won't make one.

[davkol]

I would still be willing to consider one with browns (clears are usable, but weird), except that Cherry won't make one.

IIRC some G80-3000s were made with browns, but only to be sold in Asia.