Chess Clocks

Hi, chess.com. I am ready to make my first investment in a chess clock, but I don't know which one to get. I can probably invest anywhere from $15-$50 in my first one. Questions I have that need to be answered:

1. Analog or digital (and can an analog clock be set over 1 hour?)

2. What brand?

3. Any other input you may think is helpful.

Thank you!

My vote is for the Saitek, I have one and it is solid and a work horse.  At first, setting the time limits is a bit strange, but it will take 5-10 minutes to figure out and it has the charts on the bottom.

I have seen the Excalibur and it just seems a little on the flimsy side.  But that is just my opinion.

Hello All

I am also looking for a first time purchase of a clock and would like some feed back as to which of the two I was looking at would be best or neither of them. I can not decide on the DGT 2010 or the DGT XL? Any Ideas?

@Coyote 

Supposedly, the DGT XL has the same features as the DGT 2010 plus a few more, and it is larger to see.  They are both in the same price range so it is up to what you like.  Think about it as something you are going to use for the next 5+ years.  I personally like the bigger XL display, easier to see from across the room.

Thanks, The bigger display would be a bonus for a few dollars more.

The DGT XL a d 2010 are both geared more for the European player. They do not have the standard USCF style delay. They use Bronstien Delay which adds back at the end of move and the DGT NA is cheaper too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Hpj7wLY6olA

Edited: to correct typos an for clarity, sorry sometimes Smart phones aren't so smart.

Then what do you sugest for USCF play? Chronos? I have not been to a local club yet and I am about ready to try an over the board game.

Yes, I agree. I have  the DGT XL (I believe that's what Lew meant to type above) and don't use it becasue it does not have the 'standard' USCF delay but rather the Bronstein. I don't think that there's ultimately any real difference but I have seen players and Tournament Directors object to its use (perhaps mistakenly). I use my Excalibur Game Timer II and that has all the settings that at least I have encountered. I have the Saitek but found it too hard to set (and  also I see that with lots of people who have it as well - both the 'Blue' one and the more rugged 'Silver' one (which I have)). I also just recently got a DGT North American and that I believe was created, as the name implies, for the kind of time controls/delay customarily seen in the the U.S. and Canada at tournaments. Hope that helps a bit.

--Vic.

Will Chronos do increment properly?

DGT North American is probably best. The Saitek and Excalibur are both a bit too loud and slow to react, while other clocks like the DGT Easy lack a lot of features. The Chronos and DGT 2010/XL are too expensive. I've had a few, and the DGT North American is definitely the best.

It'd be awesome to have an electronic chess clock that used sand timers.  You could even get fancy and do add on if there was a reservoir of sand that was automatically added to a time-glass after each move... this would be so cool.

Shadowknight911 wrote:

Chronos is the gold standard.  Sturdy, has every setting possible, clear display.  Negatives - pricey, not that intuitive to set, customer support lacking.

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Chronos has every TC for chess but it won't do other games like scrabble. The Duel Timer is a nice clock ( my favorite) has every thing you will need to play almost any game & very easy to set. But it is pricey, in the range of the DGT XL and 2010 but it's about 20 bucks less than a Chronos.

I own a duel timer, both Saiteks and an Excalibur. I have also had experience with the DGT NA and the Chronos.

I think the DGT NA is probably you best choice in your price range.

One anoying feature of the DGT NA and the Saiteks is that seconds are only visible with less than 20 minutes! Why not show the seconds with less than 60 minutes, 20 seems rather arbitrary to me. The Duel Timer, Excalibur, and Chronos all show seconds at all times.

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Yes, I forgot that as well. That's why I still prefer the Excalibur - it has seconds displayed for all time controls and it is my one current gripe with the DGT NA - it only displays seconds for 20 minutes or less. The Excalibur is also much easier to set as it has something like 96 programmed controls already and all you do is switch to the program number you are wanting. Very easy as is setting delay etc. Though again, if the seconds display and the somewaht more involved time setting for the DGT NA are not problematic, it's a nice clock.

--Vic.

Save your money, if you have a laptop, netbook or tablet computer you can download a free chess clock that turns your computer into a chess clock!

Personally I have had years of enjoyment from a cheap old plastic analog one that you can happily slap in time trouble without fear of damaging the paddles.

Yy

frank124c wrote:

Save your money, if you have a laptop, netbook or tablet computer you can download a free chess clock that turns your computer into a chess clock!

.............

There are some quality chess/game clock apps for smart phones, tablets, and laptops. And they are fine for friendly games at home, in coffee houses, parks, or in formal skittles at a club. But I doubt the would be allowed in an OTB tourney. And I wouldn't want my phone or tablet violently slapped around in a blitz game. If you are not doing tournaments or blitz then I agree a 99¢ app is fine

The time has come for an economically priced, easy to set, dedicated chess/game clock with a full color LCD touch screen.

As far as analog, they are fine for games played in the 20th century but this is 2012!

 Coyote905,

You should read through the commentary in this thread. The ultimate decision on getting a DGT 2010 or XL is yours, based upon your needs and preferences, but there are pros and cons that have been discussed. I almost have never seen a DGT clock at a USCF event - yes at FIDE certified tournaments, but even ones that are FIDE certified, I have seen G120/40 with 5 sec delay being used as a first time control. As I said, I have a DGT XL and don't use it because of the Brontstein delay vs. the more USCF 'standard' delay setting and some objecting to it.

--Vic.

Review Object: DGT 'Easy' Game Timer (Kramnik edition (merely a color scheme, I think - oh, and also you get a nice picture of Vladimir on the box, innit?))

Functions: Abundant.
User interface: Easy to use.
Quality: Rubbish. The LCD display gets black spots when you operate the control button, slowly but surely ruining it.
Noise level: It practically sounds like someone is firing a pellet gun quite close to you when the pad snaps back.

I'm going for the XL when this one gets stolen.