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DailyProcrastinator

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Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Alberta, Canada
  • Occupation
    Technology Management
  • Member title
    A Semi, Semi-Pro

System

  • CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
  • Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix X570-I ITX
  • RAM
    Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 64GB (2x32GB) 3200MHz CL16
  • GPU
    EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 ULTRA GAMING 24GB
  • Case
    Lian Li Dan A4 H20 X4 - SFF ITX Mid Tower
  • Storage
    1x Corsair MP510 4TB NVME M.2 SSD (Boot Drive), 2x Kingston DC450R 3.8TB 2.5" SSD
  • PSU
    Silverstone SX1000-LPT 80+ Platinum SFX-L w/ Cablemod Custom Length Individually Sleeved Black Cables, CyberPower 1500 VA 900W UPS
  • Display(s)
    LG 34GN850-B Curved UW 160Hz HDR400 IPS Monitor - 3440x1440, Dell U3417W Curved UW 60Hz IPS Monitor - 3440x1440
  • Cooling
    Corsair H100i Pro, 2x Noctua NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.Black
  • Keyboard
    KBD Odin / Zealios v2 67g / GMK Boba Fett
  • Mouse
    Corsair SCIMITAR PRO RGB MMO
  • Sound
    Bose Companion 20 Multimedia Speakers, Audio-Technica ATH-M50xMG Limited Edition Headphones
  • Operating System
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-Bit)
  • Laptop
    Dell XPS13 2-in-1 (7390, 2020 Model), i7 1065G7, 32GB 3733MHz LPDDR4x RAM, 1TB M.2 NVME, UHD+ (3840 x 2400) WLED Touch Display, Dell D6000 USB-C Dock
  • Phone
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • PCPartPicker URL

Recent Profile Visitors

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  1. Consider the Kailh Box Heavy Dark Yellows, they are smooth even un-lubed, and the box switches add a lot of key stability.
  2. Blade 60 Angles looking good , but lack of perfect symmetry makes me anxious . Love hate relationship. Specs:
  3. It will provide enough wattage, however likely not the best option in terms of quality. Refer to this list: Aim for tier B at the least. Where are you located and what is your PSU budget? I an likely help to make a recommendation. Also check for the Corsair CXm (grey label) they are good value and relatively inexpensive.
  4. Long overdue on the GMMK Pro. Batch1 GMMK Pro, simple matching cable from Donut Cables. Gold rotary knob, Drop MT3 Camillo keycaps, Zealios V2 78g switches, and re-lubed the stabs with Krytox 205g0. Now that it is available for order (no longer pre-order) it is one of the better options in terms of value.
  5. GMMK Pro Review Pinnacle Value of the 75% layout? Intro: Lets begin with the main highlights of the GMMK Pro, when the launch of this went live in November 2020 it was highly talked about, Glorious was giving us all the features we wanted. 5-pin hot-swap sockets CNC aluminum case Gasket mount PCB Screw in stabilizers Per-key RGB Customizable layout via GloriousCore software or QMK (QMK compatibility may not be possible for later production models) And a highly coveted rotary knob All of this comes in at $170usd (pricing for batch1), and represents what is likely the best al-round value for a ready-built DIY mechanical keyboard, especially for a 75% layout. I placed a pre-order ($70 deposit) when first launched on Nov.11/20 for Batch1 and received my order on Apr.15/20 (paid remainder $100), there were some delays due to the global logistics being completely overwhelmed, and my order also had to ship to Canada. However, Glorious was very good about keeping the customers updated and even provided info on the ship which their container was on (sitting in the port of LA for more than 2+ weeks). All-in-all a positive buy experience, and despite some delays this was a relatively short turnaround time between pre-order and delivery. Especially for the custom keeb community where a 8-14 month wait time is not at all uncommon. Build: For a hot-swap socket build the process is always easy, as this board comes assembled it makes it even easier, I did not do much other than lube my stabs with Krytox 205g0. Once that is done you mount your switches, then keycaps and you are ready to go! My original build process was a little more lengthy as I decided to lubricate my Equalz C³ Kiwi switches, for more info on that process check my upcoming Switch Lube Guide. The C³ Kiwi tactile switches are one of my favorite switches and lubing has made a big difference, as noted in my C³ Kiwi VS Zealios V2 comparison. However by the time of this review I swapped out the switches for the heavier Zealios V2 78g, another highly recommended tactile switch. My keycap of choice was the Drop MT3 Camillo, lately I really like MT3/SA profile keycaps, and this is now my 3rd set. Originally, I was leaning towards the GMK Civilizations but ended up missing the GB and in some ways I am happy with this as the ‘White Ice’ is not as described (more on this later). The aesthetics with the additional gold rotary knob I purchased looks really good in my opinion. Parts: Thoughts On The GMMK Pro: Overall I am very impressed with this keyboard, it is well made and delivers on the pre-order promise. As stated earlier this board is assembled out of the box and ready to use. For new enthusiasts this can make the barrier to entry for custom mechs a lot easier, something the GMMK lineup is very good at. However unlike previous GMMK boards the Pro welcomes a healthy amount of customizing that we did not get with the past GMMK Full-Size/TKL/Compact keyboards. This includes desired features that the enthusiast community is demanding more of, and in the more desirable layout. So for first time builders it does not get any easier while still allowing for the base building experience, and the healthy dose of premium features. For my build I only made one change, and this was just a simple lube stabilizer mod, otherwise I left the board as is. Which oddly enough seems to be one of the main complaints with this keyboard, the stabilizers comes with a rather thick (described as glue like) lube, and the go-to mod is re-lubing them. I cannot confirm the type feel of the stabs with the original pre-applied lube as I removed mine for lubing thinking they were un-lubed, subsequently found out they were, but just went ahead with lubing them anyways as I assumed Krytox 205g0 would be better (turns out it is), and as I had just purchased the lube I wanted to try if for the first time. I will also note that the switch mounting is probably one the better experiences I have had. The switches click in with ease and are very easy to remove as well. Not something I get a consistent experience with for past DIY builds, especially budget kits, for an equal experience it often costs significantly more. Making the key switch swap more enjoyable and easy for newcomers to the hobby. The construction between the PCB and plate is very good, the gasket between the two is done well as far as I can tell and I have no obvious issues to report here. However, I did find a minor imperfection in the case aluminum, as it is on the inside edge no one would notice unless they took the board apart. Likely a tooling / QC issue with Batch1, I do not care as it is so minor. The GloriousCore Software works but is slightly annoying to use, for customizing your key-map each individual change needs to be applied then saved. The software is still a bit buggy and feels like another Corsair iCUE bloatware, but less intuitive. The good news is you can customize your layout and RGB, flash the board. And never touch the software again as it is not required for a profile that is flashed to the board. As this is a Batch1 board the PCB is also QMK compatible, I tested both GloriousCore and QMK compatibility. Using QMK is just as I have experienced with all my other QMK compatible boards, set your profile via QMK Config, export your profile, flash via QMK Toolbox, and you are good to go, no issues via QMK, which is very good. (As mentioned QMK compatibility may not be possible for later production models) When purchasing you have two colour options, Black Slate and White Ice. I chose White Ice, and in my opinion this should really be called ‘Super Silver’ the colour is not white and the stock photos used on GMMK’s site are not very representational of what this board looks like in real life. As shown: This is why I was happy about missing the GMK Civilizations GB. They would not match the silver colour of the board very well, But the Drop Camillo matches perfectly. Ultimately this does not sway any use or functionality of the board but the custom keyboard market loves aesthetics and style, I think that many would be disappointed by the colour of the ‘White Ice’, myself included. And while I do not mind the silver now that some time has passed, I am disappointed. The RGB is satisfying enough, while I set mine to static white I did play around a bit in GloriosCore and was content enough. The lightbars on the side are a unique touch that help distinguish it over competitors, and I like that they flash when Caps lock is ‘On’ although depending on the lighting of the room you are in this is not really visible. But a nice feature regardless. On final order (now in stock) you get to add options that were not available when the pre-order was made, this included coiled aviator cables in various colours for $50. Backplates options (ANSI), brass for $50, polycarbonate for $20 (aluminum plate included by default). Additional rotary knobs for $10 (black, white, and gold), a carry case for $25, and many keycap, switch, plus various other Glorious accessory options. All of these are optional and are not required in order to use the GMMK Pro, I only added an additional knob as I wanted another colour. The only two items required are switches and keycaps. For those looking into ISO layouts they do not seem to be available directly through Glorious on PCGamingRace, but instead through Authorized Retailers & Distributors listed on the main landing page for the GMMK Pro, CandyKeys is one of the many retailers in the EU. As of completing this review the ISO layout is now available directly through Glorious. I like the varying options you can get with your keyboard right at the time or purchase, and it gets users to buy more and customize their boards, which falls right into the hobby. A smart move by Glorious, but a pricey one as they charge a bit of a premium, although I can appreciate the ease of a one-stop-shop, I decided to get my accessories elsewhere. Type Test: Stock Zealios V2 78g switches, stabilizers lubed with Krytox 205g0. Zealios 78g Keyboard Type Test.mp4 * Amplified audio by 10db * (Audio recorded with a Blue Snowball Mic, at approximately 15cm from the keyboard) Pictures: Mixed in some Zilent V2 67g on the top row and right column. Simple matching custom cable from Donut Cables. This is a placemat on my dining table and not a desk mat, just to clear up some possible confusion haha. Not some limited edition GB. Shown here on my desk with a custom coiled cable from Zap Cables that I am using for another build. Conclusion: I think that for $170usd in the current mech market there is no direct competitor with the GMMK Pro. You either spend the same or less, and get a significantly lesser board in terms of quality and/or features, or you spend a considerable amount more to get one that has the same features. In an upcoming build with the KBD Bella 75% I will look back and compare that board to the GMMK Pro, but for about $120 more you get what is essentially the same board (options wise), other than the missing rotary knob. Thus at the time of writing this GMMK has nailed the market segment. They have included the most ‘wanted’ features of a custom mech in 2021, and at a price point nobody can touch at this time. You get a lot of board per $ and unless you are looking at a very specific layout, style, or specific feature, you are likely going to pay a significant premium, a $200-700usd DIY board is not uncommon and most equal competitors (in terms of features) with the GMMK Pro start at around $250+. The ID80 is probably the best direct competitor as it sells for the same price as the Pro, but it does not offer as many features, or equal build quality, making the decision easy now that the Pro is in stock. After several months of using this as my daily driver I can confidently recommend this keyboard. I am very happy with it and the features it successfully delivered on, it is by far the best value I have gotten from a keyboard and other than my issues with the “white” colour it is a very good option that I highly recommend.
  6. Also YouTube is a great source, just look for what you specifically want to learn.
  7. Dell XPS13 is a great Ultrabook it would top my recommendations, I recently upgraded to it from my previous 3-year old XPS13 and have been very happy with both. Not sure on EU pricing but other good alternatives would be the HP Spectre, Lenovo Thinkpad, or the Asus ZenBooks.
  8. Key Dot Co is restocking switches, for those interested they sell out fast. C³ Kiwi Today, June 22nd @ 3PM ET (in 1hr) & 9PM ET C³ Tangerine Friday, June 25th @ 3PM ET & 9PM ET I've been super happy with both of these, some of my favorite switches. The C³ Kiwi in particular is one the best Tactile switches I have typed on, based on the T1 stem but basically has been impossible to find in stock anywhere over the past 6-months.
  9. For total budget this will go over but hot-swap PCBs in a 75% layout are hard to find right now. The KBD Bella DIY kit has the features you are looking for and is in stock. https://kbdfans.com/collections/75-diy-kit/products/bella?variant=34248579350667 The GMMK Pro is going to be the best, it has all the features you are looking for and is the best value. However, it's not yet regularly stocked, and it seems that you have to order a separate plate for ISO support or order the ISO version. Either way ordering one could take a few months. https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black-reservation As of right now you cannot order an ISO version from Glorious, or the ISO plate. But sometime in Q2 they will update the options and one will be available, so it could be soon. https://www.reddit.com/r/gloriouspcgamingrace/comments/k8h88k/gmmk_pro_with_iso_de_layout/ Or it can be bought from other European vendors in ISO (assume a wait time). https://candykeys.com/product/gmmk-pro-iso https://mykeyboard.eu/catalogue/gmmk-pro-black-slate-75-tkl-barebone-iso-layout-black-slate_3620/ For PCB's only you could look for the YMDK YMD75 hot-swap PCB, but I think they sell out fast. Check BangGood, AliExpress, and Ebay. There could be some other options as well, but these are a few I am familiar with that offer ISO and hot-swap compatibly +RGB.
  10. Correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure this was an issue with the older Focus series, was it not? If so this is not an issue with the new GX and GM PSU's. Unless there is an issue with the new GX-series as well that I am not yet aware of?
  11. I also use 2x 140mm fans for intake without needing to remove any part of the PSU shroud.
  12. The GX is a very good PSU (Tier A) and 850w will be perfect. Refer to this list for PSU tiers:
  13. Clicky Switch Round-Up Click Clack THOCK! Intro: The base idea of testing out a bunch of clicky switches is to expand my switch repertoire. Clickys are not my favorite, as I do not particularly like the excessive click noise. I find the click sound already had from a tactile switch is satisfying enough, and for the most part all the clickys I have tried are linears that require very little actuation force, which is already my least favorite switch. This all said there is variation, and trying something different is fun and I can learn along the way! For this test I will compare 4 different clicky switches, naturally crowing my favorite, and giving my thoughts as I conclude my comparison. Test Material: For this test I will be using my KDB67Lite R1 (now in R2), a budget 65% layout with 5-pin hot-swap sockets, ABS case with a polycarbonate back plate, and I have lubed the stabs with TriboSys 3204. The 4 different Clickys I have gone with are: Gateron Blue - MX Blue Clones, this is the standard Clicky switch that most think of in terms of Clickys, 55g Operating | 60g Bottom | 5-pin | $0.20 / switch KBDFans Gateron Green - MX Green Clones, these offer a heavy actuation force with a tactile feel, 65g Operating | 75g Bottom | 5-pin | $0.20 \ switch KBDFans Kailh Box White - Likely one of the most popular Clicky switches, sometimes referred to as a Box Blue as it features similar characteristics to the Blue, but with a Box stem, 50g Operating | 55g Bottom | 3-pin | $0.38 \ switch KBDFans Kailh Box Thick Jade - Box Jades, or Box Thick Clicks, feature the same spring as the Box White, but with a thicker clickbar, creating a distinguished tactile feel, 50g Operating | 60g Bottom | 3-pin | $0.42 \ switch KBDFans Sound Comparison: This is a sound comparison of the switches held in a acrylic case switch tester with blank caps, none of the switches will be lubed for any of the completed tests. Gateron Blue: MX Blue Switch Test.mp4 Gateron Green: MX Green Switch Test.mp4 Kailh Box White: Box White Switch Test.mp4 Kailh Box Thick Jade: Box Jade Switch Test.mp4 * Amplified audio by 28db * (Audio recorded with a Blue Snowball Mic, at approximately 15cm from the switch) Type Test: Gateron Blue: MX Blue Type Test.mp4 Gateron Green: MX Green Type Test.mp4 Kailh Box White: Box White Type Test.mp4 Kailh Box Thick Jade: Box Jade Type Test.mp4 * Amplified audio by 10db * (Audio recorded with a Blue Snowball Mic, at approximately 15cm from the keyboard) Quick Thoughts on the KBD67Lite: Pleasantly surprised in the value of this board. It offers a lot of features for the price, namely per-key RGB and hot-swap sockets in a 65% layout, however the main draw back would be the construction. While implemented well for an ABS case you do not get the rigidity and sturdiness of a more solid material (aluminum, steel, even wood, etc), on top of that I personally do not like polycarbonate switch plates and combined with the ABS case it gives a mushy feel that I am not a particularly huge fan of. But this also comes with the objective views of a user who prefers an aluminum case with a brass plate, so take this with a medium-sized grain of salt. For many buyers of the KBD67Lite I expect this to be their first custom mech, and for that buyer I can strongly recommend this. It is a great entry board that gets you in the market with good features and they did some things very well. I like the gasket mount design and the case foam also greatly helps overall feel. The fully QMK supported PCB is a welcome touch and the 5-pin Kailh hot-swap sockets is a must in a 2021 entry board, especially for 1st time buyers, and this is all done properly. Now I will note that R2 is now in production and brings in a wireless version as well as wired, but you lose per-key RGB for the wireless board, and it no longer comes pre-assembled, which for many is likely not an issue, but for a few buyers it could be a deal breaker. All of this for $109usd (r1) is a great deal, and while R2 is coming in at $135, I still see this an attractive option for many buyers. My one some-what significant complaint is that many of the 5-pin switches are not able to fully click into place, or a lot of force is required, so they can either fall out (not that easily though) or come out when the keycap is removed. When I contacted KBDFans they did not elaborate much other than this could be a slight variance within manufacturing and that the updated Injection molding plate in R2 vs the CNC plate in R1 should address the issue. I am not sure if this is a one off or if this is somewhat wide spread, but I could not find similar complaints . At least this is not an issue with 3-pin switches and it my opinion this has something to do with the PCB and not the plate, but only time will tell. Full review of the KBD67Lite coming soon! Conclusion: Gateron Blue - Of the 4 this comes in dead last, the 'click' is loud enough that for those who like the sound it will suffice, however the light weight actuation and feel is not of my preference. They have a scratchy feel on keystroke and when typing slower the sound of the metal leaf is not pleasant, it sounds twangy and this feels like I am scraping the bottom of the barrel. Switch preference is all about what a user likes but I don't see how this would be a favorite of anyone's, if you like clickys the next on the list is far better, it has a similar actuation weight, but improves on the main drawbacks of the MX /Gat Blue. Kailh Box White - Between this and the Gat Green it was a very close call but the Box White is 3rd on my list, although objectively it is the second best switch here (will elaborate). This is everything a novel clicky switch should be, it gives off the right 'click' sound and has a similar feel to the Gat Blue however all the drawbacks of the scratchy keystroke feel and twangy sound from the leaf are not present. You get the stability of a box switch and this eliminates keycap 'wobble' making this a nice linear clicky typing experience, if that is your thing. Gateron Green - As mentioned, I have some elaborating to do. The Kailh Box White is objectively the better switch, but I prefer a heavier switch, and the MX / Gat Green is just that, a heavy clicky switch with a somewhat pronounced bump in the keystroke similar to a tactile (similar to a Kailh Pro Purple, the tactile bump is not very distinguished, but it is there). And this is why my bias places it ahead of the Box White, I prefer a heavier tactile switch. Now on to the sound, it has a similar profile to the Gat Blue but it does not sound or feel as scratchy, although the scratchy feel is still somewhat present. If you like a heavier clicky switch this is a great option, although our final candidate takes the cherry. Kailh Box Thick Jade - Lets take what's good about the Box White, and the Gat Green. Okay so no scratchy feel or sound, check. A nice loud pronounced 'clack', check. Stability of a box switch, check. A heavier switch with more actuation required, check. And lastly, a nice tactile bump, check-mate! This is my number one choice of the 4 tested, it is the best feeling for typing, with a very distinguished tactile bump about half-way through the keystroke, and with more actuation required vs the Box White, this nails it for me. Again I do not prefer Clicky switches over Tactile or Linear, but in terms of type feel this is without a question my number one choice of the 4 tested. To summarize, I can categorize this switch test into two easy recommendations, if you like clicky switches and prefer a linear switch, get the Box White, if you prefer tactile, get the Box Thick Jade. I will admit that there are other Box clicky switches, but these two are extremely popular for a reason.
  14. For good air coolers: Noctua NH-D15 / D15S, Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro4, Cryorig R1, Scythe FUMA 2, Scythe Ninja 5, Deepcool Assassin III, Deepcool Neptwin. Liquid: Arctic Liquid Freezer II, Corsair H100i / H115i, NZXT Kraken X-series / Z-series, EVGA CLC.
  15. Objectively, very good, somewhat overkill but overall good components and you will get good performance. Don't forget a CPU Cooler!
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