The Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent Mechanical Keyboard Review: Updating a PC Classic
by E. Fylladitakis on September 20, 2017 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Keyboard
- Cherry MX
- Mechanical Keyboards
With years of successful products behind them, Cherry is undoubtedly the most reputable manufacturer of computer keyboard mechanical switches. The company practically invented the mechanical keyboard switch, with their first products – under patent protection at the time – leaving assembly lines over three decades ago. At the same time, Cherry doesn't just manufacture keyboard switches, but myriads of items, ranging from basic electronic parts to complete retail products. During the recent market boom of mechanical keyboards, Cherry also released several retail keyboards of their own, such as the MX Board 6.0 that we reviewed last year.
Today we're taking a look at the Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent mechanical keyboard. This keyboard is an especially interesting item to review because rather than being a wholly new design, it's a new iteration on a classic design, following in the footsteps of the original iconic Cherry G80-3000 series keyboards that have been in circulation for decades. Unlike most of the keyboards that we usually review, the Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent is not a keyboard directly marketed towards gamers or even consumers in general – rather it is a keyboard that has been designed for workspaces, with an emphasis on office workers, public computers (kiosks, schools, etc.), and for applications where reliability is of the utmost importance (medical equipment, control systems, etc.).
Cherry G80-3494 MX Board Silent Mechanical Keyboard - Key features and specifications
- Mechanical Black or Red stem MX Silent keyswitches are rated at 50 million actuations to withstand harsh environments and ensure long product lifetime
- Patented noise reduction using an integrated 2-component stem minimizes noise at top and bottom-out
- N-Key rollover: Simultaneous operations of up to 14 keys without any ghosting effects
- Self-cleaning contacts, dust and dirt resistant
- Full QWERTY key layout in full-size 18.5″ form factor
- USB 2.0 Interface or PS/2 with adapter
- 104 Keys
- PC & MAC compatible over USB
Packaging and Bundle
Cherry supplies the G80-3494 MX Board Silent in a simple, no-frills, black cardboard box. With the exception of the company’s logo, there is virtually no artwork on the box, not even marketing hype. The box seems to have been designed solely to provide the keyboard with shipping protection. Cherry does not bundle anything along with this keyboard, only the keyboard itself can be found inside the box.
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Gothmoth - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
make on with illuminated keys (just white no RGB nonsense) and remove the in your face cherry logo.. and i would never ask for another keyboard again.kaidenshi - Friday, September 22, 2017 - link
Red would be easier on the eyes at night than white. I have a cheap Velocifire mechanical board and its blue-white is almost too much for night typing, which is exactly when it is lit up.SilthDraeth - Friday, September 22, 2017 - link
Exactly. I have an rgb keyboard on my clevo/sager but I keep it on red, for night vision, and I have a Reddragon mechanical keyboard. Not silent but red led, doesn't hurt eyes at night. Also thevreddragon was $31. And I've had it for a few years. Not to go off topic from the color red. But its a great economical keyboard. Redragon K552 KUMARA LED Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016MAK38U/ref=cm_sw_r_c...Silma - Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - link
I'd prefer white, especially if the intensity is configurable, which is what I have on my laptop.I have a red lit mechanical keyboard, which is ok though.
Zingam - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
How did I update my classic Cherry keyboard? I cut the PS2 cord then disassembled a PS2 to USB adapter. Opened the Keyboard put it in! Voila - a brand new updated Cherry classic keyboard! Now I can use it for another 20 years!HStewart - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
Interesting, It probably can be done on original IBM PC - but I would hate to alter such a collectors items. But then it just sits.JackNSally - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
Or use a ps2<->usb adapter?SteelRing - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
no nubs on J and F, according to a reviewer on amaz0n. that's a deal breaker for a blind typist like me.Inteli - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
If you look at the pictures, the F and J keys are "deep dish" keys. No nubs, but they have a deeper cut profile, so your fingers sit deeper in those keys than the others.SteelRing - Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - link
hmm they do look slightly different, i wonder how that feels and whether that would be identifiable easier by blind fingers than the raised nubs.... interesting.