This compact gaming keyboard is only $50 and has a 93% rating in a review. It comes with dozens of switches and colors.

$69.99 Save $20 on Amazon's $49.99 price Dave James, our hardware overlord, is a huge fan of this keeb. It's easy to see why. Pre-lubed hot-swappable switches. Foam that dampens sound and actually works. PBT keycaps are available in many different flavors. This is a keyboard for enthusiasts, but without the price.

Price check: Mountain $49.99 | Newegg $139.99

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Choices, choices. It's not a question of whichcompact gaming keyboard you purchase, at least in terms of the model. You have a lot of choices, but we recommend the Mountain Everest-60. What about the color variations and switches? It's up to you.

Amazon has a plethora of keyboard combinations for just $50. You'll get a keyboard that Dave James, our hardware overlord gave a 93% rating in his review. Dave is very particular about his keebs. This one has a high score. If you can wait a moment, I'll explain why.

Let's start with switches. Our review model used Mountain Tactiles 55s, the most important part of a good keeb. Dave is the type of person who swaps out keyboard switches for a bit of fun (and these are hot-swappable), but we were so impressed with the pre-lubricated Tactile 55 set that they stayed.

If tactile switches aren't for you, there are also Linear 45 and Linear 45 Speed, which look more like Cherry Red and Cherry Speed. Want to try something new? The Everest 60 is a great choice, as it accepts any other 3-pin or 5-pin PCB-mounted switches.

But you shouldn't just be concerned with switches. The Mountain Everest 60's build quality is as solid as the name suggests. It should last through multiple setups and can easily be thrown into a backpack for the office. Its compact size is perfect for it.

There's also sound. There are many keyboards that have sound dampening layers. Here, you get two layers (one of foam, one of silicone) to provide a quiet, dampened typing experience. It's as premium sounding and feeling as a proper enthusiast keyboard should be. This keyboard is now cheaper than anything else in its category.

What could you be put off by? It's a 60%-board, which is not a good thing for many. You can purchase a convenient modular numpad (currently priced at $25) which can be attached on either side. Oh, and the program is just fine,almost.

The Mountain Everest 60 keyboard is one of our best-tested keyboards. It's a great addition to any system. What more can you expect for $50?