Disassembly

Disassembling the iKBC F108 is really simple since there are no screws keeping the top and bottom panel pieces together. There are instead multiple plastic tabs that hook into each other, and you need to take a thin, flat object to pry them apart. As per usual, be careful lest you scratch the plastic. Once done, remove the internal USB connector from the PCB to separate the middle piece from the bottom plastic panel piece.


This middle piece is the PCB with the steel plate on top through which the switches are soldered in, and the plate helps add structural integrity to the keyboard as a whole. The PCB is red in color and has the model name as well as the date of design finalization printed on it, and overall solder quality is good, aside from a solitary, out of place solder ball that was a shame to see. Each switch has otherwise neatly soldered points, as do the LEDs for such a configuration.


The component choices are well done, with the usual tantalum caps strewn in between as well. Powering the iKBC F108 RGB are three separate Macroblock MBIA043GP LED drivers, a 32-bit ARM Cortex Holtek HT32F1654 MCU, and 4 Mb of flash memory from the 25Q41BT flash module. The LED drivers have been used before with other RGB keyboards without any issues, and everything is limited to hardware lighting control only in this case, thus limiting the customization options and the complexity of the tasks these drivers have to handle. As per usual, the iKBC F108 RGB uses a multi-layered PCB.

Before we move on, be advised that disassembly will void the warranty and that TechPowerUp is not liable for any damages incurred if you decide to go ahead and do so anyway.