Chess Clocks

Doing some research on digital chess clocks. Would welcome suggestions. 

DGT North American if you want a decent clock for a good price. Chronos if you want a clock that's built like a tank, and are willing to pay a little more and deal with minor ergonomic challenges (requires a screwdriver to change the batteries, slightly more complex to operate but once you learn it -- its great).

note: my recommendations are from the perspective of a uscf player playing in typical US time controls. Someone in a league with different time controls may prefer a different clock.

What Kponds said.

I do have he DGT N/A and it is great for the tournaments I play. Just played a G/30 d5 and it worked great. Doesn't show the seconds till you get down to 20 minutes (that bothers some people). In delay mode the word delay blinks for every second it is delayed before your time starts.  Very easy to use and set. Battery change would take you about 5 seconds. Despite many not liking plastic this plastic seems pretty durable. Comes with good instructions, I downloaded the booklet from the internet with bigger type which made it easier to read.

Price I bought it for about 3 months ago was $39.97 delievered via Amazon Prime. Lowest price I have seen on this. Prices usually vary from 39.99-59.99 + shipping. 

I noticed while surfing that all Chronos closk back in stock once again at Whole Sale Chess  WSC.

I have both a DGT & Chronos.  I bought the Chronos because it has (aside from the advantages mentioned above) the capability of multiple time settings including more than one time control.  However, it requires a lot of patience(button pushing/holding/dechipering the manual) to set up.  So, for instance, if you're in a tourney that starts with 40 moves in 2 hrs & then 90 minutes for the remainder; it transitions seamlessly.  That is once you have performed all the necessary actions.

But most local tourneys nowadays seem to be using a single time control.  For instance, G120 with either a 5s delay or 30s plus per move.  In these cases, the DGT is much easier to set up & use.  And if, on the odd chance there is a second time control, then it has a pause feature allowing you to add the additional time to each side & resume play without much inconvenience.

Yes, it's hard cast plastic & one would think that in the heat of battle that some brute will pound the button & ruin your clock.  But I have yet to experience that.  Once they realize only a slight press is needed; I've noticed that the clock becomes less an expression of emotion.

Just for the record you can program the DGT N/A for muti time settings, it has all the options. It just doesn't have the full display to show seconds from the start and made of plastic, but durable plastic. Depends what you are looking for.  If you are playing many tournaments a year you might want to pick up a Chronos at WSC right now, you can have your pick.  If you want to spend $60 less get the DGT N/A.  They also came out with the DGT 3000 99.95 shipped from the Chess House. Has the expanded time (seconds) and can be hooked up to the DGT board, which doesn't interest me. I like the looks but wonder how much I am paying for the DGT board hook up which I will never use.  

Thanks for all the replys, and well the Legend, Elvis, still has the title! ~

The Chess House just got in the Garde Digital today but not the Garde Turnier which might be in I was told in another couple months. It is a sharp looking clock. Not a whole lot of information on it though so I have no idea what it can and can't do.

Thanks Mike!

I recently purchased 2 ZMFII  clocks myself and they are great !  I bought both for the price of one Chronos , a deal I couldnt resist .  The 40 + page instruction manual for the Chronos was also a turn off for me and the less than 10 pages for the ZMF .... took very little time to learn how to set it for tournament play . 

Reb how much for the ZMFII's? Where? Thinking of getting them for grand kids. Are they durable? Just need the basics. Thoughts?

I have the Saitek Scholastic Blue clock. Multiple time controls pre-programmed, plus the ability to store one "coach's favorite" setting. The only downside I've encountered is that the seconds don't display until the time drops below 20 minutes. Other than that, it works great.

I have all the clocks mentioned in this thread and a few others.

I just received my DGT 3000 at the beginning of the week and used it on Monday night for our club rated tourney play of G/90, d/5.

The DGT 3000 has the numbers being about the same size as the Chronos.  The Chronos display has more contrast and the numbers are a bit darker, but the DGT 3000 still works fine in that.

The display of the DGT 3000, like the Excalibur GameTime II display, shows pretty much everything on the display at all times.  It even now shows the seconds at all times.

Some might not like the DGT rocker arm that is similar on all their models.  This newest one, 3000, has the outer edge of the rocker arm being thinner where you can now see more easily who is on the move from a distance.  It still isn't as easy to see though as the Chronos, ZMF-II or Excalibur GameTime II.  The first 2 mentioned have an LED light on te top of the clock body showing who is to move.  The Excalibur has the white stem and black or red button top.

The ZMF-II, Chronos Touch (obviously), and the yet to be released new Excalibur III (which will be under another name) all have the touch sensors instead of buttons or the rocker arm which works and feels like a button with motion and an audible "click".  It is really a matter of personal preference which is better.  I have clocks with all types of "buttons" and I only like the touch sensor for slower time controls where there won't be the time scramble button pushing, at least for most of the game.

The cost can come into it all as well.  The Chronos and DGT 3000 are over $100 and just at $100 respectively.

The ZMF-II, DGT North American, and the Excalibur GameTime II are all $10 above or below $50 depending on where you can find them available for sale.

If I didn't currently own any chess clock(s) at all here is what I would do:

1. I would buy a DGT 3000 at $100 instead of a Chronos as it has everything the Chronos has and more, excepting the darker LCD display and a metal body.  However the display contrast is not a problem at all and they have a 5 year guarantee on the DGT 3000 with its body design being the typical DGT desigh which has held up very well in all their models.

2. I would buy a DGT North American over the ZMF-II and Excalibur models at the lower price range.  Understand there is nothing wrong with the Excalibur clock but I just don't like its look and feel as much as any of the others.  The ZMF-II is alright but the bright LED displays just seem too gimmicky looking.  The touch sensor on it also is alright for slow time controls but when playing blitz and skittle play I prefer a button or rocker arm action.  One fellow mentioned buying a ZMF-II for his grandson and that seems fine for that.  I must warn though the blue LED display is hard on the eyes to look at.  A boy in our club has one and, whew, it really is blue.

I own or have owned, over the last 15+ years all the Saitek models, the Excalibur GameTime II, Chronos II touch and button and Chronos GX (or whatever that smaller one is called), a ZMF-II (in red LED with Black body), DGT North American, DGT 2010 Limited Edition, DGT Xl and DGT 3000.

There are 2 new clocks about to be released for sale in the next few months that I am aware of.

The first is by Frank Camaratta who had the patent on the Excalibur GameTime and is the fellow who started the House of Staunton and sold it about 10 years ago.  This will be an upgraded Excalibur with touch sensors and upgraded but not totally different software.  I believe it will still have the same or similar body design of the original Excalibur.  Because an Eastern European company bought Excalibur in product and name, this new one should not have the Excalibur name on it at all.  I am not sure whether Frank can name it GameTime or not.

The cost should be in the $45 - $70 range, from what I hear.

The second clock to be released in the next few months is a completely new one by Shelby Lohrman who owns American Chess Equipment, and a partner of his in Texas that is actually doing the engineering and software work and having them made in Texas.  From what I have heard this clock willl have a metal body like the Chronos.  It will come with your choice of button or touch sensor as the Chronos now comes.  I think he said the clock will stand taller than the Chronos.  The display will be LCD as all but the ZMF-II are.

There will be a USB or similar kind of port so the clocks can be set for a specific tournament time control by plugging it into a computer or another clock.  I'm not sure on the specifics of this.

The cost of this one should be in the Chronos price range and perhaps a little higher.

Thanks for your comments Eyechess~

Wow thanks for the updates on the new closk coming out.  I still like the looks of the Garde Turnier but I guess I like that wooden old fanshioned look. I do hjave the DGT N/A and it is a great clock, very durable, gets the work done.  Just got done playing  G/30 d5 5 games in a day with it using it every game. Not a problem.  

I love the zmf clock i did a lil customizing to the on and off switch.. I moved mine to the back to avoid accidental turn off during an intense game

Wiscmike, how do you like the tilting buttoms on top? I was concerned about if the DGT NA was durable as I was planing on playing with it with grandkids?

Thank you for an extraordinarily informative post.

I was wanting the DGT3000 but now I'll wait to see what Shelby Lohrman comes up with.

Well I palyed again some yougsters who were kicking my behind and I myself was hitting it a decent amount when I was in time trouble over & over again.  Held up great and it is guaranteed too. I feel it is pretty tough.  There is space age plastic that is tougher than metal but we know that now for the last 30 years. It is not junk.  I paid only $39.97 shipped for mine just 3 months ago but see it went up a touch. Bought it via Amazon Prime which I uase alot for video and items and now music.