Building a Keyboard 3: Glorious GMMK PRO, Ocean PBT Keycaps & Panda Switches

[VSG]

The GMMK PRO is a long-awaited keyboard kit that bridges the gap between keyboard enthusiasts and mainstream gamers yearning for customization and quality. Today, we build an all-Glorious keyboard using the black GMMK PRO, Glorious Panda switches, Glorious PBT keycaps, and Glorious coiled cable!

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[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I really like the ice white (white, rgb, mechanical keyboards with smaller than TKL layout, but still with arrow keys are my favorite), but it costs $224 from their site with gateron blue switches, and for some reason I just can't bring myself to pay $200+ for a keyboard.... Maybe someone can help me, do $200+ keyboards give such a markedly better experience than a good $100 to warrant the price?

 

[VSG]

I really like the ice white (white, rgb, mechanical keyboards with smaller than TKL layout, but still with arrow keys are my favorite), but it costs $224 from their site with gateron blue switches, and for some reason I just can't bring myself to pay $200+ for a keyboard.... Maybe someone can help me, do $200+ keyboards give such a markedly better experience than a good $100 to warrant the price?

Depends on what you mean by experience. The main selling point of the GMMK Pro is it is probably the most rounded enthusiast keyboard with a gasket mount. I can't think of any other pre-built 75% keyboard kit as good as this to feel and type on, and the customization options help elevate it further. If you just want a hot-swap keyboard with a custom keycap set, you can look at the likes of Akko which will be far lower in cost.

 

[EzioAs]

The main selling point of the GMMK Pro is it is probably the most rounded enthusiast keyboard with a gasket mount.

I don't care for gasket mount but this is a highly debatable topic among the mech keyboard enthusiasts. Most of them don't really consider the gasket mount in the GMMK Pro to be functional, but again, it's a preference thing, as always.

I really like the ice white (white, rgb, mechanical keyboards with smaller than TKL layout, but still with arrow keys are my favorite), but it costs $224 from their site with gateron blue switches, and for some reason I just can't bring myself to pay $200+ for a keyboard.... Maybe someone can help me, do $200+ keyboards give such a markedly better experience than a good $100 to warrant the price?

The custom mech keyboard prices can go much, much higher than this and the GMMK Pro is a relatively somewhat budget-friendly considering the features it comes with. However, there are plenty of other options available if you're really interested.

 

[VSG]

^That's mostly it, whether or not you appreciate the gasket mount design the GMMK Pro is one of the least expensive of its kind. So while it might be a lot relative to many pre-builts, it's actually just knocking on the expense door when it comes to more custom keyboards.

 

[Tartaros]

The lack of support for ISO standard and more languages is infuriating. There is a plethora of mechanical keyboard brands that sell to Europe but blank any non US ANSI configuration. In the end you have to rely on prebuilt gaming brand keyboards and modify them, this is useless for me.

 

[EzioAs]

The lack of support for ISO standard and more languages is infuriating. There is a plethora of mechanical keyboard brands that sell to Europe but blank any non US ANSI configuration. In the end you have to rely on prebuilt gaming brand keyboards and modify them, this is useless for me.

There is an ISO version of the GMMK Pro as far as I know.

 

[VSG]

There is an ISO version of the GMMK Pro as far as I know.

There is an ISO plate: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/thieaudio-legacy-2-in-ear-monitors/, but that still means needing an ISO PCB as well.

 

[EzioAs]

@VSG

From https://www.pcgamingrace.com/blogs/news/gmmk-pro-to-become-an-in-stock-item

GMMK PRO ISO ANNOUNCEMENT​

We've heard you, and rest assured it is finally on the way! Soon, we plan to launch the GMMK PRO with an ISO layout. The boards are already on the way. Our international partners will be receiving this version before domestic retailers, and we will provide more information regarding its launch as soon as possible.

 

[VSG]

@VSG

From https://www.pcgamingrace.com/blogs/news/gmmk-pro-to-become-an-in-stock-item

Ah so sometime in the future then, either way that's good.

 

[Mescalamba]

Wouldnt mind if they had full size ISO core version in white somewhere in EU.

But they dont. Whats wrong with ppl that everyone wants black..

 

[EzioAs]

Wouldnt mind if they had full size ISO core version in white somewhere in EU.

But they dont. Whats wrong with ppl that everyone wants black..

You can always paint them yourself.

 

[Mescalamba]

You can always paint them yourself.

Think its anodized. Painting black over with white? Eh, not so good idea..

Easiest is probably buying pre-built and just ripping it apart.

 

[EzioAs]

Think its anodized. Painting black over with white? Eh, not so good idea..

Easiest is probably buying pre-built and just ripping it apart.

Sand it, prime then do a couple coats, I think it would be fine. If you really want the white version, you can keep pushing them to release the white version with ISO as well. Sometimes, manufacturers do budge if there's enough demand.