Cherry MX Board Silent Keyboard Review

By Meng Vang

Manufacturer: Cherry GmbH
Product Name: MX Board Silent G80-3000
Model Number: G80-3494LTCEU-2
EAN: 4025112087158
Price As Tested: $138 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cherry.

Being the successor to the classic G80-3000, the Cherry MX Board Silent G80-3000 comes equipped with genuine Cherry MX Silent switches. The MX Board Silent features a standard 104 international key layout and a simple exterior design. Built for an office environment, the MX Silent switches provide silent keystrokes to keep keyboard noise down to a minimum. This keyboard does come in two flavors: MX Silent Red and MX Silent Black. Cherry has sent Benchmark Reviews the one with MX Silent Black switches. Let’s take a look at what this keyboard has to offer.

• CHERRY MX Silent switches with Gold Crosspoint
  contact technology
• Noise-optimized MX key switch version with patented
  noise reduction, using an integrated 2-component
  stem which clearly minimizes noise at bottom-out and
  top-out
• Over 50 million keystrokes per switch without
  compromising quality
• Long-lasting, safe switching performance with
  renowned “Original CHERRY Quality”, tried-andtested
  a billion times over
• N-key rollover: Simultaneous operations of up to 14
  keys without any key ghosting effects
• PC and Mac compatible over USB

• Approx. 935 g (without packaging)
• Approx. 1150 g (with packaging)
• Storage Temperature: -20 °C to 60 °C
• Operating Temperature: 0 °C to 50 °C
• Cable Length: approx. 1.75 m
• Current Consumption: Typ.15 mA
• Interface: USB (PS/2 via adaptor)
• System Requirements: USB or PS/2 connection
• Delivery Volume:
  • CHERRY MX Silent Keyboard
  • Quick Guide
  • PS/2 Adapter
• Dimensions (product): Approx. 470 x 195 x 44 mm
• Packaging Dimensions: Approx. 495 x 255 x 50 mm
• Reliability: MTBF > 80,000 hours, MCBF > 1 billion operations
• Keyboard :
  • Key technology MX Silent
  • Service life, standard key: >50 million
    key operations
  • Inscription technology: Laser
  • Inscription layout: EU
  • Number of keys: 104
• Warranty: 2 years

In terms of performance and functionality, I experienced no issues while typing or gaming with the MX Board Silent. Of course, you can still play lighter games on it and use it for video/photo editing. The MX Silent Black switches feel consistent across the keyboard making it suitable for an office environment.

Appearance is mainly subjective as every person is different. For an office environment, the keyboard looks great without any fancy LEDs or additional buttons. Without these distractions, the user can focus more on their work instead of their keyboard. It may not be the prettiest keyboard for a gamer, but for me personally, I would not mind loosing RGB lighting, profile storage, software support, etc. Because if a keyboard includes more features, those features are just things waiting to break. I have experienced dead LEDs and poorly implemented software with many gaming keyboards in the past, but with something simple like the MX Board Silent, there is no need to worry about those problems.

Body build quality could have been better with the MX Board Silent. A stiff back plate of some sort would have made it more robust, but the switches are something I cannot complain about. Cherry has been making mechanical key switches for over 30 years, so they had plenty of time to correct their mistakes and maximize the quality in their switches.

As of June 2017, the Cherry MX Board Silent G80-3000 mechanical keyboard is currently available online for $138 (Amazon | Newegg). I personally think the price is a bit steep as the body construction holds the keyboard back. The switches are something I do trust and hope will last a long time into the future. I do have some old HP and Dell membrane keyboards that are still working strong even after 10 years of using them, but the MX Board Silent should last just as long or even longer because of the genuine Cherry switches. If you need a long-lasting office keyboard that you won’t have to think about replacing for a very long time, go ahead and pay the extra premium for the MX Board Silent.
+ Simple yet elegant design
+ Genuine Cherry MX Switches
+ Perfect for a long-lasting office keyboard
– Expensive to most users
– Body construction is not the best

• Performance: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.00
• Construction: 8.00
• Functionality: 8.50
• Value: 8.00

Recommended: Benchmark Reviews Seal of Approval.