The Mechanical Keyboards Club

[Sir Beregond]

We bought a GMMK back this summer for the wife's rig and the thing just did not work. Was the strangest thing. Don't know if it was driver or software, but the keys wouldn't actuate except maybe once every 10 hits or something.

 

I will probably be in the market for a new keyboard soon. I have a nearly 10 year old K70 and its served its purpose well but is starting to have some issues. What would you recommend I look at? I will say the one requirement I have is a wrist rest of some sort.

Edited November 10, 2022 by Sir Beregond

[Fluxmaven]

That's weird I'd hit them up for a warranty replacement. I've had mine since they first came out because I wanted a cheap hot swap board to test switches. Never had an issue with it and it's been passed around as my loaner board to get friends into mechs for years now. 

 

Don't have any recommendations for off the shelf boards. I mostly use custom smaller boards with separate wrist rests.

[Supercrumpet]

  On 09/11/2022 at 22:09, neurotix said:

Wow lotsa work going into this thread. Nice spreadsheet. Attached are photos of my main board, pretty much my endgame, I love it. I could possibly make a YouTube vid demo of how it sounds if anyone is interested. I can post pics from different angles too.

 

Pictures at bottom. I can't figure out how to do inline images on mobile.

GMMK v2 fullsize 104 key

Custom white plastidip + plastidip pearlizer on the top, some white plastidip on the inside of the top plate to help rgb light diffusion

Kailh Box Jade switches, a few are Gateron Browns (like Caps so if I bump it I immediately know)

Cherry Blue o-rings

Filco Sakura keycaps

Stabs clipped and lubed with lithium grease

Case weighted and noise dampened with some small metal weights I had laying around as well as packed with crafters foam.. the kind you get at Hobby Lobby or whatever that comes in a big flat sheet.

 

I think thats about it for my main one. Secondary one:

 

E-Element or E-Yooso Z77 or whatever 

Removed stock Outemu Blue switches. They advertise it as being hot swappable but if that means using 50 lbs of force with a switch puller... Yeah my lovely hardworking wife removed them all. The switches are not soldered but the contacts on the switch are too large for the hole so yeah.

Replaced all switches with Kailh Box White switches. Each one needed the pins trimmed with a flush cutters to fit into the PCBs non standard hole size (too small for the right pin).

Cherry Blue O-rings

Stabs clipped and lubed

cheapo white and blue keycaps

Case packed with foam

Multiple Doraemon stickers from Ebay

 

In the spreadsheet just put modded E-Yooso Z77 with box whites. I will take pictures if anyone wants to see it. Additionally I could also do a test video. They do make these kbs in Tenkeyless and 60% versions for like $30, add in the cost of some switches, o rings and crafters foam and maybe some keycaps and you might be able to do a fully custom board for around $100. If you are brave enough to try lol

 

Additionally my wife has a GMMK fullsize with Kailh Box white switches. It might have o-rings but I don't remember. She's an accountant so she needs the numpad. Additionally she works 100% remote and that just got extended through June. This board sees heavy use. It has PBT pudding keycaps because she likes them.

 

Moms pc has a Rosewill something black board, RGB, fullsize, with Kailh Blue (non box) switches. She plays Tetris and some other games on it and loves it. I'd have to go look in storage for the model number. It has really nice lighting.

 

On top of that, in storage I have (and want to sell):

Corsair K70 Lux fullsize stock with Cherry MX Red switches..red backlighting. my first mechanical board before I realized I like clicky switches.

OCN Ducky with Cherry Blues. Switches need to be replaced, it was used heavily. Paint on keycaps is yellowed because the previous owner smoked.

Ducky One 2 RGB fullsize year of the dog edition with Cherry MX reds.

 

I want to try Topre switches but don't like the HHKB and a fullsize Realforce is like $300 that I would rather save to eventually get a new GPU.

 

Sorry for how long this was! Also good to see you here Fluxmaven.

 

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Thanks for the detailed post! I added your two main boards, and I'm curious about what your secondary board looks like. The GMMK turned out well in white!

 

  On 10/11/2022 at 05:46, Sir Beregond said:

We bought a GMMK back this summer for the wife's rig and the thing just did not work. Was the strangest thing. Don't know if it was driver or software, but the keys wouldn't actuate except maybe once every 10 hits or something.

 

I will probably be in the market for a new keyboard soon. I have a nearly 10 year old K70 and its served its purpose well but is starting to have some issues. What would you recommend I look at? I will say the one requirement I have is a wrist rest of some sort.

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Yeah I have a GMMK TKL and it's been nice, but after a year or two the B key and maybe one or two others have started double-inputting. Not sure if it's the switch or the board, I haven't messed with it to figure it out, but it's not my daily board anymore so I'm not as motivated lol.

[Sir Beregond]

  On 10/11/2022 at 14:31, Fluxmaven said:

That's weird I'd hit them up for a warranty replacement. I've had mine since they first came out because I wanted a cheap hot swap board to test switches. Never had an issue with it and it's been passed around as my loaner board to get friends into mechs for years now. 

 

Don't have any recommendations for off the shelf boards. I mostly use custom smaller boards with separate wrist rests.

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We returned it to Micro Center the next day lol.

[Supercrumpet]

  On 10/11/2022 at 05:46, Sir Beregond said:

We bought a GMMK back this summer for the wife's rig and the thing just did not work. Was the strangest thing. Don't know if it was driver or software, but the keys wouldn't actuate except maybe once every 10 hits or something.

 

I will probably be in the market for a new keyboard soon. I have a nearly 10 year old K70 and its served its purpose well but is starting to have some issues. What would you recommend I look at? I will say the one requirement I have is a wrist rest of some sort.

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To answer your question, what board size are you thinking about?

 

I've had a TKL-sized and a fullsize Grifiti Fat wrist rest that I've alternated between, depending on the main board I'm using, for probably the better part of 8 years, and they've held up really well. The top layer of fabric has peeled back very slightly on both on the corner under my left hand, but otherwise they're in great condition. No sagging or indentations, and they stand up to some minor spills as well. That'd give you a lot of flexibility as far as not having to look for keyboards that come with a wrist rest.

[neurotix]

  On 10/11/2022 at 15:57, Supercrumpet said:

 

Thanks for the detailed post! I added your two main boards, and I'm curious about what your secondary board looks like. The GMMK turned out well in white!

 

 

Yeah I have a GMMK TKL and it's been nice, but after a year or two the B key and maybe one or two others have started double-inputting. Not sure if it's the switch or the board, I haven't messed with it to figure it out, but it's not my daily board anymore so I'm not as motivated lol.

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Will take and upload a few pics of my secondary board later.

[neurotix]

There's one with the lights off (it's really bright) and one with the lights on.

 

For those who don't know Doraemon is like the Japanese equivalent of Mickey Mouse. Hes above my left arrow key.

 

I would actually like to get some dark blue and white keycaps as the logo for Doraemon is dark blue.

[Supercrumpet]

  On 10/11/2022 at 20:24, neurotix said:

There's one with the lights off (it's really bright) and one with the lights on.

 

For those who don't know Doraemon is like the Japanese equivalent of Mickey Mouse. Hes above my left arrow key.

 

I would actually like to get some dark blue and white keycaps as the logo for Doraemon is dark blue.

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Looks nice! Pic added to the spreadsheet.

 

How do you like the Kailh box whites? How do they compare to similar MX switches or box jades/navies, if you've used any of those?

[Sir Beregond]

  On 10/11/2022 at 16:03, Supercrumpet said:

 

To answer your question, what board size are you thinking about?

 

I've had a TKL-sized and a fullsize Grifiti Fat wrist rest that I've alternated between, depending on the main board I'm using, for probably the better part of 8 years, and they've held up really well. The top layer of fabric has peeled back very slightly on both on the corner under my left hand, but otherwise they're in great condition. No sagging or indentations, and they stand up to some minor spills as well. That'd give you a lot of flexibility as far as not having to look for keyboards that come with a wrist rest.

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Definitely a full size. Tried a TKL once and hated it. Also tried a 96% GMMK and again ended up not liking it. I'm definitely a full size. 

[neurotix]

  On 11/11/2022 at 00:03, Supercrumpet said:

 

Looks nice! Pic added to the spreadsheet.

 

How do you like the Kailh box whites? How do they compare to similar MX switches or box jades/navies, if you've used any of those?

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I like the Box Whites a lot. They have a lower activation force (like 30g of pressure to actuate) compared to the Box Jades which are around 55g. The click is higher pitched/less loud and since they require less pressure I can type more softly on them. Compared to MX Blues, I think they require less force to actuate and they sound totally different. Though I can't compare them properly to MX Blues because the OCN Ducky I have with MX Blues is pretty much shot and needs a full switch replacement which is beyond me as they are all soldered (I can solder and desolder but I'd need a $300 Hakko desoldering gun for a project like that).

 

I can, however, compare the Whites to the Kailh Blues (non Box- clone MX Blue switches) in saying the sound and feel is completely different and the clone Blues definitely take more force to actuate. Though not much more.

 

Basically I would recommend the Whites if you want clicky switches that aren't too loud and that you can type on very lightly, which seems to increase my speed. Essentially typing with your fingertips.

 

Compared to the Jades, well the Jades are perfection to me. Loud satisfying click, can type hard on them, basically a Jade kinda feels like a white or MX Blue switch that is sticky, and you feel that on the upstroke moving your finger away. This is not a bad thing but going from the Doraemon board to my GMMK, its the best way to describe it. (the sticky feeling) This sort of makes sense as a Jade was based on the White but with a thicker click bar and tighter spring.

 

I have NOT used Box Navy however it was what I was initially considering and interested in before building either of these boards. They are supposedly like Jades and came out around the same time. However the actuation force for them is crazy high, like 85g or something so you would really need to type HARD on them. I opted for the Jades instead and got like the last shipment of them during the early pandemic that took over a month to arrive from a Chinese Amazon seller, and after we bought them they were no longer available. They were also sold out on kbfans or whatever that site was that directly did the collab with Kailh to make them. I'm not sure if you can even get them anymore, as it was a limited time thing...

 

I am actually interested in doing a board or swapping the Jades in my GMMK for Kailh Box Rose. Which are also clicky. I don't know the actuation force for them but did see a YouTube video testing them around the time they became available and they seem interesting, I am curious to try them.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited November 11, 2022 by neurotix

[Supercrumpet]

  On 11/11/2022 at 19:04, neurotix said:

 

I like the Box Whites a lot. They have a lower activation force (like 30g of pressure to actuate) compared to the Box Jades which are around 55g. The click is higher pitched/less loud and since they require less pressure I can type more softly on them. Compared to MX Blues, I think they require less force to actuate and they sound totally different. Though I can't compare them properly to MX Blues because the OCN Ducky I have with MX Blues is pretty much shot and needs a full switch replacement which is beyond me as they are all soldered (I can solder and desolder but I'd need a $300 Hakko desoldering gun for a project like that).

 

I can, however, compare the Whites to the Kailh Blues (non Box- clone MX Blue switches) in saying the sound and feel is completely different and the clone Blues definitely take more force to actuate. Though not much more.

 

Basically I would recommend the Whites if you want clicky switches that aren't too loud and that you can type on very lightly, which seems to increase my speed. Essentially typing with your fingertips.

 

Compared to the Jades, well the Jades are perfection to me. Loud satisfying click, can type hard on them, basically a Jade kinda feels like a white or MX Blue switch that is sticky, and you feel that on the upstroke moving your finger away. This is not a bad thing but going from the Doraemon board to my GMMK, its the best way to describe it. (the sticky feeling) This sort of makes sense as a Jade was based on the White but with a thicker click bar and tighter spring.

 

I have NOT used Box Navy however it was what I was initially considering and interested in before building either of these boards. They are supposedly like Jades and came out around the same time. However the actuation force for them is crazy high, like 85g or something so you would really need to type HARD on them. I opted for the Jades instead and got like the last shipment of them during the early pandemic that took over a month to arrive from a Chinese Amazon seller, and after we bought them they were no longer available. They were also sold out on kbfans or whatever that site was that directly did the collab with Kailh to make them. I'm not sure if you can even get them anymore, as it was a limited time thing...

 

I am actually interested in doing a board or swapping the Jades in my GMMK for Kailh Box Rose. Which are also clicky. I don't know the actuation force for them but did see a YouTube video testing them around the time they became available and they seem interesting, I am curious to try them.

 

Hope this helps.

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Interesting, thanks for all of the info. I typically alternate between tactile and clicky switches to keep things fresh for myself, and my favorite of the clickys is definitely the box navy. Looks like you can still buy them on Drop:

 

Kailh x NovelKeys Box MX Mechanical Switches | 2.6K+ Sold | Drop

DROP.COM

---

Drop exclusive price and reviews: Kailh x NovelKeys Box MX Mechanical Switches | 2.6K+ Sold | Mechanical switches offer a physical typing...

 

I tend to prefer heavier switches (perhaps obvious by now) but I'm curious about the box whites now, maybe I'll pick up a set sometime. Would be a very interesting change of pace.

[Fluxmaven]

I need to do an inventory of all the different switches I have at my disposal with a quick note on my thoughts of them. 

 

My preference is definitely heavy switches. I have both BOX Jade and Navy and love them both but prefer the Navy. For a quieter option I like BOX Royal. 

 

Still enjoy buckling springs. Not really a fan of any of the common Cherry switches anymore. A lot of the clone switches are IMO better and cheaper. 

[Supercrumpet]

  On 11/11/2022 at 19:50, Fluxmaven said:

I need to do an inventory of all the different switches I have at my disposal with a quick note on my thoughts of them. 

 

My preference is definitely heavy switches. I have both BOX Jade and Navy and love them both but prefer the Navy. For a quieter option I like BOX Royal. 

 

Still enjoy buckling springs. Not really a fan of any of the common Cherry switches anymore. A lot of the clone switches are IMO better and cheaper. 

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Buckling springs are still at the top of my list of what I'd like to try. Been thinking about pulling the trigger on a Unicomp for years.

[Fluxmaven]

  On 11/11/2022 at 20:03, Supercrumpet said:

 

Buckling springs are still at the top of my list of what I'd like to try. Been thinking about pulling the trigger on a Unicomp for years.

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I live about an Hour and a half from Unicomp... Next time I'm down in Lexingon I'd like to swing by and see if they would give me a quick tour. 

[neurotix]

Buckling spring switches are awesome. I'm old enough and a school I went to when I was in 3rd or 4th grade had a computer room full of IBM systems that all had IBM model M keyboards. I can clearly remember doing typing class on them and thinking at the time that the keyboard was much higher quality than the Macintosh keyboard we had at home. Imo, if you want buckling spring switches just buy an IBM Model M keyboard on ebay (they ran around $90 last I checked) and a PS/2 to USB Adapter. Though they aren't pretty so I can understand wanting a modern kb, choice of size, choice of keycaps etc. An IBM model M has actually been on my wants list for quite a while but we've been trying to be frugal and our savings keeps getting depleted by having to give money to my sister nearly monthly since shes in between jobs and not making ends meet on her own..

 

Also, I read on reddit or something that a keyboard enthusiast used an IBM Model M at work for years, then built a board with Kailh Box Jades and ended up loving them enough that he considered them superior to the model M and switched.

 

Also, that's correct, the collab was Kailh x NovelKeys not kbfans. Never ordered anything from either site.

 

Supercrumpet, can't hurt to build a board or swap switches and try the Kailh Box Whites. I will try to take some short videos of my wife typing on my boards so you can hear the difference and put them on YouTube. If I remember to. Also both of us have been playing Grim Dawn over the LAN and its the weekend so we'll see because we're both heavily addicted, lol.

[Supercrumpet]

  On 11/11/2022 at 20:21, Fluxmaven said:

I live about an Hour and a half from Unicomp... Next time I'm down in Lexingon I'd like to swing by and see if they would give me a quick tour. 

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Ah man, I forgot they're in Lexington! My girlfriend lives there and I just visited her recently, but I don't think I will again before she moves in a month or so. Oops.

 

  On 11/11/2022 at 22:14, neurotix said:

Buckling spring switches are awesome. I'm old enough and a school I went to when I was in 3rd or 4th grade had a computer room full of IBM systems that all had IBM model M keyboards. I can clearly remember doing typing class on them and thinking at the time that the keyboard was much higher quality than the Macintosh keyboard we had at home. Imo, if you want buckling spring switches just buy an IBM Model M keyboard on ebay (they ran around $90 last I checked) and a PS/2 to USB Adapter. Though they aren't pretty so I can understand wanting a modern kb, choice of size, choice of keycaps etc. An IBM model M has actually been on my wants list for quite a while but we've been trying to be frugal and our savings keeps getting depleted by having to give money to my sister nearly monthly since shes in between jobs and not making ends meet on her own..

 

Also, I read on reddit or something that a keyboard enthusiast used an IBM Model M at work for years, then built a board with Kailh Box Jades and ended up loving them enough that he considered them superior to the model M and switched.

 

Also, that's correct, the collab was Kailh x NovelKeys not kbfans. Never ordered anything from either site.

 

Supercrumpet, can't hurt to build a board or swap switches and try the Kailh Box Whites. I will try to take some short videos of my wife typing on my boards so you can hear the difference and put them on YouTube. If I remember to. Also both of us have been playing Grim Dawn over the LAN and its the weekend so we'll see because we're both heavily addicted, lol.

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That'd be much appreciated! I have a couple hotswappable boards for just such a thing. Box whites just might be in my future then.

[neurotix]

 

 

 

 

There you go. Decided to include the non-Box Kailh MX Blue switches in the Rosewill K85 for reference, since they are clone Cherry Blues which everyone is familiar with.

 

Which do you like best?

[Supercrumpet]

  On 13/11/2022 at 18:40, neurotix said:

 

 

 

 

There you go. Decided to include the non-Box Kailh MX Blue switches in the Rosewill K85 for reference, since they are clone Cherry Blues which everyone is familiar with.

 

Which do you like best?

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Nice, thanks for the comparison. I forgot how clicky MX and MX clones really sound. I definitely prefer the other two as a result, probably moreso the jades, but the spacebar has an odd pingy-ness that I don't quite like.

[neurotix]

  On 15/11/2022 at 23:55, Supercrumpet said:

 

Nice, thanks for the comparison. I forgot how clicky MX and MX clones really sound. I definitely prefer the other two as a result, probably moreso the jades, but the spacebar has an odd pingy-ness that I don't quite like.

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Yeah, despite packing the case with foam to dampen sound and doubling up on o-rings for the space bar on both boards, there is a pingy metal sound from the spacebar.

 

Keep in mind my pc is in a very large finished basement room (like 1100 sq ft) so there's an echo down there which makes these sound worse than they are.

[Supercrumpet]

  On 16/11/2022 at 19:24, neurotix said:

 

Yeah, despite packing the case with foam to dampen sound and doubling up on o-rings for the space bar on both boards, there is a pingy metal sound from the spacebar.

 

Keep in mind my pc is in a very large finished basement room (like 1100 sq ft) so there's an echo down there which makes these sound worse than they are.

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Gotcha, that's fair. On my most recent board, a GK96X, with Holy Pandas, I actually am in the opposite boat with a great sounding spacebar but some annoying pinging and echoing on pretty much all of the other keys. Probably the worst I've had, so I'm considering actually doing something about it for once lmao.

[Fluxmaven]

  On 13/11/2022 at 18:40, neurotix said:

 

Which do you like best?

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Thick clicks for the win.

 

[Sir Beregond]

And see I don't like overly clicky boards.  For me the MX-Blues and similar are the worst.

 

But I totally get why many like them.

Edited November 18, 2022 by Sir Beregond

[The Pook]

  On 18/11/2022 at 16:47, Sir Beregond said:

And see I don't like overly clicky boards.  For me the MX-Blues and similar are the worst.

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how do you delete someone else's post

[neurotix]

  On 18/11/2022 at 15:36, Fluxmaven said:

 

Thicc clicks for the win.

 

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Yep, pretty much my endgame board, though I really enjoy the modded E-Yooso z77 with whites once in a while.

 

I'd use my OCN Ducky as well (which is what got me hooked on clicky switches and was the impetus for me building my boards, instead of using the others I had with MX Reds)... however the OCN Ducky is more or less shot and the switches barely have any click to them anymore due to heavy use from the previous owner.

 

Also hey there The Pook- good to see you here.

Edited November 18, 2022 by neurotix

[Fluxmaven]

  On 18/11/2022 at 17:19, neurotix said:

I'd use my OCN Ducky as well (which is what got me hooked on clicky switches and was the impetus for me building my boards, instead of using the others I had with MX Reds)... however the OCN Ducky is more or less shot and the switches barely have any click to them anymore due to heavy use from the previous owner.

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I'd say just swap switches but I've desoldered exactly one full keyboard without a desolder station (just used wick and a solder sucker). That experience took years off my life and is why I only want to buy hot swap PCBs now.