Eschew

Introduction Hey there! Welcome to a second PC build log?! 'Tis not (primarily) for gaming, though. It’s main purpose is hosting smol home server / homelab experiments. And by “experiments,” I actually mean, “I don’t know what I’m doing, but hopefully I have enough brain cells to set something up.” Planned Projects If I call it a project, it sounds fancier. Proxmox VE Pi-Hole NextCloud Ubuntu VM WoW Private Server Windows 11 (Fallback OS) WoW Private Server (Fallback Plan) Docker was on the list, but Proxmox seems to have a built-in PXC Container Toolkit. Name 奇怪しい ⇒ おかしい ⇒ Okashī (奇怪しい = Odd / Strange / Unusual) Methinks it’s a fitting name... Seeing as nothing makes any sort of sense to me while I attempt to set up these projects. (Context: I'm a Windows baby. Never touched Linux in my life. ) Parts List Component Selection Price CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5600G $119.99 CPU Cooler Noctua NH-L9a-AM4 chromax.black $54.95 Motherboard ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ax $159.99 Graphics Card - - Memory G.Skill Trident Z Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 $162.99 Storage Inland Premium 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD Western Digital PC SN520 NVMe SSD $0.00 (Holdover) Power Supply EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GM (B-Stock) $80.99 Case Fractal Design Ridge (Black) $129.99 Case Fans 2 × Fractal Design Aspect 14 PWM $0.00 (Included) Operating System Proxmox VE VM: Ubuntu Dual Boot: Windows 11 (Unlicensed) $0.00 Grand Total (Shipping and Taxes Excluded) $708.90 + + Revision History Assembly Fractal Design Ridge Recommendation Points Dissatisfaction Points Design: Minimalist box with a very narrow profile, which can be set up vertically or horizontally. Removable Panels (5/6 Sides): Front panel is conveniently held in by four small magnets. Larger side panels are secured by thumbscrews, nubs, and rails. Smaller side panels are held in by screws and nubs, and may only be accessed after the larger panels have been removed. Cable Routing Layout: The case has multiple tie down points for velcro strips or cable ties. Several velcro strips and zip ties are included in the package. Pictorially-Detailed Manual: The manual details every step of case disassembly and hardware mounting very simply and very explicitly. Build Quality: Paint chips and scuffs easily from rough handling and from screws. Riveted Frame: While 5/6 of the side panels may be removed for physical access, the frame is riveted together and can obstruct cable management. (Compare against the Define 7 series and its removable top frame for mounting fans.) Cable Lengths: Cable lengths for the front I/O wires and the internal PSU extension cable are slightly too long (by ≈5 cm, IMO). Too long is better than too short, but it’s aggravating to keep tidy. Ambiguity in the Manual: For hardware mounting steps, screws are only shown pictorially and do not have their model numbers listed. ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ax Motherboard So smol. Okashī - Interior Have I mentioned. I really really really like matte black. Also, this took an ungodly amount of time (90% cable management) and finger pain. Please ignore the cable mess, it’s as good as I can get it with EVGA’s stock cables. Okashī - Interior I like this side. This side is so clean? Fractal Design Ridge - Front Panel Magnets on the front panel! Left a lasting first impression on me, I think this is one of my favorite features of this case, lol. Okashī - All Assembled! This is the point where I realized I forgot to flick the switch on the PSU. 'Chew’s Desk Off-Screen: 4 hours of rearranging desk cables. (ノ°Д°）ノ︵ ┻━┻ Still, WORTH IT. Maaan... To think that my desk started out looking like this. ...I need more surface area for my plushies, GDI. Current Desk Setup I love this space. Closing Comments The physical build’s not quiiite yet done -- still got those Noctua chromax.black case fans on my wishlist, and I haven’t put in the RX 5600 XT card in there. But the system’s been operational for a while now! Stable Proxmox OS, and stable Windows 11 OS. PC building is still really fun for me! That is, when I don’t have to think about how much it costs, and when I don’t have to fight cable snakes, and when I don’t have to carefully partition my time outside of work because of course we have a sale and of course I have to work on all the weekends. Figuring out Linux is more headbashing and quiet documentation reading than fun, but I’m finding it pretty interesting and it’s a new learning experience. I have a newfound appreciation for all these incredibly straightforward Windows installs. Also, suuuuuuuuuuper special thanks to Den! For the parts advice, the Proxmox suggestion, the NVMe SSD, THE DANBO!!!, and for being very, very sexy, all the time.

Hardware Haul - Part 1 New build, who dis? AMD Ryzen 5 5600G Processor Nifty lil' thing has an iGPU. ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ax Motherboard It’s so smol. G.Skill Trident Z Neo 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR4-3200 RAM Hardware Haul - Part 2 Western Digital PC SN520 NVMe SSD THIS IS THE BEST SSD. IT CAME IN A DANBO PAKIDGE. Danbo! THIS. IS. THE BEST. SSD. Noctua NH-L9a-AM4 chromax.black CPU Cooler I checked Noctua’s roadmap and it didn’t say NH-L12 chromax.black anywhere, sooo... Here we are. If they actually do come out with an NH-L12 chromax.black, I am... going to commit crimes. EVGA SuperNOVA 650 GM PSU (B-Stock) This box is barely larger than the palm of my hand. All set to start PC building! ...Psych, it's already built. Fractal Design Ridge pics are in the Build Log. Come check it out?

Yeeep. Ever since TROLLEY-PC's days: You can see it sitting on top of the EVGA GA 650 PSU, next to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X's box. Here it is again, in the EVGA DG-75 build: And most recently, it was in the Fractal Design Define 7 Compact case, up 'til now. Scrubbed through my pics and I don't have a good pic of the TEAMGROUP RAM in this case 'cos it's hidden by the chonkeh Noctua NH-D15 cooler, lol.

Hoshī Update - Forced Upgrades So, 'Chew actually hasn’t touched her desktop PC in over a month, being preoccupied with RimWorld and cozy laptop-in-bed times. PC silently borked on 1/16. The PC sat downstairs with it’s monitors dark, it’s fans were audible, and it’s RGB was still rainbow’ing. The only way I knew about it was thanks to XOC’s F@H charts: EXTREME Overclocking Folding@home Stats - Eschew The huge dip on 1/16 is when my main pointsgetter (Hoshī) borked. The tiny blips that continue after 1/16 is 'cos I installed F@H on my work’s office PC, lol. It’s shown similar symptoms before, and usually I interpret it as my PC needing to update it’s AMD drivers. Though, this time, I got constant BSODs immediately after startup, even when I tried booting into Safe Mode. Stop Code: CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED wasn’t very informative, so I brute forced it until I got a successful DDU through, and just as I started installing AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, the install process tells me it failed. After that, more BSODs. And restarts. And BSODs again. Next step for me was to nuke the OS and reinstall Windows 10... Except I couldn’t even get past the install process. Either the PC BSOD’d again, or Windows 10 simply refused to install to the wiped drive. Windows 10 Setup - Error Message I think I had a different Error Code, but the general message was identical. At this point, I’d concluded the issue was the physical drive itself. “I’m through with Inland Premium’s NVMe drives,” I said, “2/2 drives failed on me.” But before I could place an order for another NVMe SSD, Den sent one of his over -- Priority Shipping, too. WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD Installed It's under the black heatsink near the top of the pic. Turns out, the issue still persisted, even with the new SSD. God, FML. Okay, so the SSD isn’t the issue. Not any of my other drives either, 'cos I’d disconnected all of those. Not the graphics card either, or else I’d be seeing weird graphical stuff. And probably not the PSU, these don’t seem to be voltage-related issues I’m running into. Earlier in the day, Den suggested I run MemTest86 to see if RAM was the issue. I tried it, and... Attempt 1 (Both RAM Sticks): Test froze at Pass 33%, Test 50%. Attempt 2 (Both RAM Sticks, XMP Disabled): Test froze at Pass 33%, Test 50%. Attempt 3 (One RAM Stick): Test froze at Pass 33%, Test 50%. Attempt 4 (Other RAM Stick): Test FAIL. Test aborted due to too many errors. Did a quick search regarding MemTest86 – specifically what it means if the test froze (MemTest86: Freezing and Lockups), and whether a FAIL definitively meant faulty RAM (MemTest86: Troubleshooting Memory Errors). Well, great. Though, the pattern of errors above led me to believe that at least one – but most probably both – of my RAM sticks were faulty. In the event I was off the mark again, I was going to replace the motherboard and CPU and commit crimes. “If it came to that,” I thought to myself in the shower, “I’d have replaced every part of my original PC build.” Saturday: Tustin Actually my Saturday morning was awesome. Hike was pleasantly exhausting, Micro Center people were friendly and no-nonsense, gyros people were great, and the gyros and souvlaki were hella bomb. Could things finally be looking up?! After an entire week of nausea and low morale induced by PC troubleshooting? MemTest86 - PASS (One RAM Stick) Yes. Alright, but we’re not out of the woods just yet. Let’s do it with both sticks-- MemTest86 - PASS (Both RAM Sticks) Double yes. Sunday: Reinstall... Everything This is the boring part where I spend hours waiting for the progress bars on installations and game verifications to run across the screen. Here’s some success pics, instead. Hoshī - Interior My pride, my heart, my child. Had to relocate the NH-D15’s fans 'cos of clearance issues. If I put the fan over the RAM, the side panel won’t close up. ...I took an admittedly hilariously long time to re-figure out how those metal wires / fan hooks work. RGB Stupid shiny RAM. The RGB isn’t sync’d, and one of the few instances I really do not care to change it due to an intense aversion towards RGB mal-bloatware. OpenRGB doesn’t seem to detect / support the SAPPHIRE 6950 XTs. HWiNFO64 System Summary Let’s see... 32GB (2 x 16GB), DDR4-3600, CL16-19-19-39, 1.35V, check. CrystalDiskInfo - WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD Healthy 100% SSD. Thank you again, Den! EXTREME Overclocking Folding@home Stats - Eschew WE ARE. Back in business, babyyy! Also I guess I owe AMD, Lisa Su, and Inland Premium / Micro Center an apology, lol. Not that they care? In my technical inexperience and hot-bloodedness, I was unfairly blaming them and their products for this catastrophe. No, I should really be saying FucThank You to Newegg and TEAMGROUP. Thank you for selling me faulty RAM listed as new, Newegg! And if Newegg actually received faulty RAM to sell as new, thank you for manufacturing it TEAMGROUP! Really, capital F and capital U, Newegg and TEAMGROUP. I’m just happy that Hoshī’s back up and running, now. Good freaking Lord, what a week.

G.Skill Trident Z Neo RAM (F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC) 32GB (2 x 16GB), DDR4-3600, CL16-19-19-39, 1.35V G.Skill Trident Z Neo RAM Well, these used to be very low on the priority list, but PC shenanigans happened. My old RAM kit (TLZGD432G3200HC16FDC01) borked the PC. God damn instigator of Hoshī’s doom. Thank you, Newegg! Thank you TEAMGROUP! Very cool! GDI. The PC is up and running again, thank fuck. Story here, for those that are curious.

Herman Miller Embody Why am I like this. Take my wallet away from me. Secondhand Herman Miller Embody for a flat $900. Haggled it down from $995. No taxes, no shipping fees from the seller. Just had to bribe my friendo and her mom with lunch to use their car. Look, listen, a’ight, new Herman Miller Embodys retail for ≈$1,700 now – and that’s not even factoring in taxes. Now I can dump that old WorkSmart SMH2036-EC3 chair that was a (free) hand-me-down from the previous roommate / housemate.

Hoshī Update - Performance Stuff EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 + SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 6950 XT PURE + APC BE670M1 Performance, baaabyyy!!! APC UPS is for the modem and router at muh place. Hoshī - Interior (Before) So I don’t think I’ve opened 'er up since erm… Jan 28. Uh, this is a PSA-reminder to please clean your PCs. Repeat, please clean your PCs. There was a groooss amount of dust in there. Hoshī - Cable Management (Before) TBH, I lowkey dread getting new hardware. Because CABLE MANAGEMENT. Okay, so listen, I’ve been dealing with cable management at work – twice, because we got new tables in - and now I come back home, not to relax, but to deal with more cable management. Do you, like, have any idea how tired I am. Hoshī - Interior (After) CHONKAY. Erm, totally forgot to check whether the Define 7 Compact case had enough clearance for the card before buying it. Ah hah hah ha... Minor oh shid! moment, but it worked out, lucky me. Hopefully that Graphics Card Supporter does it’s job. Hoshī - Cable Management (After) Off-Screen: Aching Back, Sore Fingers, Intermittent Cursing, Bruises (Following Morning), Chaotic Mess of Open Boxes and Parts, Hiccups Post-Hardware Swap DDU’d it after I got Hoshī POSTing. Resources Wagnardsoft - Display Drive Uninstaller AMD Drivers and Support: For AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition Jayztwocents - This serious issue was a simple fix...: Step-by-Step DDU Tutorial Condensed Step-by-Step Download and extract the latest DDU and AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition to thier respective, separate folders. Restart the PC in Safe Mode (without Networking). Shift-Click on Restart. Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. From the DDU folder, run Display Driver Uninstaller.exe. Options: See below. Select Device Type: GPU Select Device: AMD Clean and Restart / Clean and Do Not Restart > Shut Down. After the PC restarts, from the AMD folder, run Setup.exe to reinstall AMD drivers. PC should undergo two restarts before drivers have been successfully reinstalled. HWiNFO64 System Summary Medium Potato CPU with Beeg Potato GPU. Folding@Home Client Let’s goooooooooo 2 mil PPD! (But am gonna be playing games so actual PPD’ll be lower.) Was getting approximately 900K PPD with the RX 5600 XT.

Hardware Haul EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 6950 XT PURE APC BE670M1 Ordered these on 10/10, Newegg shipped it the next day, lol. Free Overnight Shipping, let’s gooo! (Also $100 in sales taxes. ) EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 - Unboxed 1 × EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 PSU 1 × 24-Pin ATX Cable 2 × 8-Pin (4 + 4) EPS Cables 5 × 8-Pin (6 + 2) PCIe Cables 4 × SATA Cables 1 × Molex Cable 1 × Other Molex Cable 1 × AC Power Cable 1 × EVGA 24-Pin ATX PSU Self-Tester 4 × EVGA Velcro Cable Straps 1 × EVGA Cable Bag? 1 × Manual EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 P6 SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 6950 XT PURE - Fans IIRC GNSteve was a fan of liked these sortsa fans? Not for the design – more for the metal contacts-and-pins attachment, for easier serviceability by dum-dum derpdorps like me. SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 6950 XT PURE - Top? Why’s their product name and brand name in all-caps. It makes me sound obnoxious every time I try to write it. Very pretty shroud, though. SAPPHIRE NITRO+ RX 6950 XT PURE - Side Heatsink. Also 3 × VGA connectors sooo... New PSU time. APC BE670M1 UPS It’s hidden behind the TV. I could probably do better cable management here, but I've had a long week and am tired, m'kay. (Previously: Cable Spaghetti.) Build Log - Hoshī - Performance Update is up! Also, I need to not spend money for the next month(s?) now.

Hoshī Update - vBIOS Update As I understand it, when it comes to vBIOS and flashing, the mantra is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” [Proceeds to flash vBIOS.] Someone: Is the graphics card broke? ’Chew: Neu*. Someone: So, why? ’Chew: Yes. Flashing the vBIOS Specific for the ASRock AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT Challenger D, and written for Future 'Chew’s reference. Doubt that ASRock will pop out an updated vBIOS for this card in the future, but eh. Resources RX 5600 XT Challenger D vBIOS Downloads from ASRock Flashing Tutorial RX 5600 XT Driver Downloads from AMD Backup vBIOS: ASRock RX 5600 XT VGA BIOS Collection from TechPowerUp vBIOS Versions 113-EXT900162-L05: L05 vBIOS (Stock) 113-EXT900170-L07: L07 vBIOS 113-EXT40650-001: L08 vBIOS Checking the vBIOS Version vBIOS Flashing Tutorial Download and extract the latest vBIOS and AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition to their respective, separate folders. Restart the PC. On startup, check that AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition is running. From the vBIOS folder, run Update.cmd to update the vBIOS. Updating should take 5 - 10 min. SUCCESS: Restart System To Complete VBIOS Update. should appear with a successful update. Restart the PC. From the AMD folder, run Setup.exe to reinstall AMD drivers. PC should undergo two restarts before drivers have been successfully reinstalled. Successful Flashing AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition Apparently the L08 vBIOS brings with it an upgraded a 14 Gbps memory clock / bit rate (stock was 12 Gbps). Also higher power limit and GPU adjustment range? Oh... vBIOS info shows up here too. Awesome. I have no idea what that those numbers mean or how they apply to my use case. But I’m happy the flashing worked and didn’t brick my card? Not my first time flashing the card, but I didn’t realize I hadn’t written anything about it up 'til now. If vBIOS flashing solves the sporadic and unpredictable driver timeouts I’ve been getting (doubt it), all the better. If it doesn’t... Well, those graphics cards I’ve been window shopping are looking mighty enticing.

K-4398 Update - POM POM POM So... I have a one-track brain...? New Stuff! 1 × POM Ink Keycap Set 1 × POM Mounting Plate 1 × POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice POM caps and POM plate were from Den! Custom POM Plate by Green Door Geeks! It is B L A C K. And PERFECTLY CUT! Lotsa scratches / heat marks, which I’m told is the norm for custom-cut POM plates. 4398 Keyboard Polycarbonate Plate + Custom POM Plate This thing is shiiiny. Shiny = Fingerprint Magnet. [Slaps on gloves.] 4398 Keyboard POM Plate + Polycarbonate Plate Role reversal, kek. K-4398 + Switches IT LOOKS WAY BETTER IN PERSON. Spacebar Foam Squidgy. Also from Den! K-4398 + Keycaps POM Plate + Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) + POM Ink Keycaps I have a one-track brain okei, pls no bully lol. 4398 Keyboard + POM Ink Keycaps - Close Up OEM profile, best profile. Also, my photos and lighting are garbo, but the color match is freaking . Sound Samples Sound samples recorded with the Antlion Mod Mic and Audacity. Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Fast) K-4398, POM (Fast).mp3 Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Slow) K-4398, POM (Slow).mp3 Comments First time tasting POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice, though I’ve seen it around n’ about. Very dark in color (don’t spill on whites ), and very tart. Starts to smell more unpleasant the longer it’s left out in the air, but tastes fine (IMO). I’d... eh, still prefer good ol’ pulpy orange juice over pomegranate juice, lol. Apparently POM Wonderful is a Cali brand, neato. What? Keyboards? No, no more keyboards, this is endgame. End Game. エンド・ゲイム. E-N-D G-A-M-E. Please be endgame. Tho, I mean “endgame” with the best possible connotation, 'cos this build / recent update actually includes one of my personally most sought after item(s): the POM Ink keycap set. As far as I’m aware, they’re only available from ESC Keyboards, based in Australia. The price tag is whatever, but sweet mother of damn that shipping fee. I’ve sent polite emails to a handful of regional vendors with my interest in the POM Inks, but no one in the U.S. seems keen on stocking them. It is what it is, I guess. Then somehow one thing led to another and POM Inks arrived on my doorstep. Thaaaaaaaaaank yooooooooou Dennnnnnnnn! Saying that I’m incredibly happy with the K-4398 would be an incredible understatement. I don’t think I’ve derived this much satisfaction from a keeb build, not even after Eighty #391. Current Desk Setup Don’t say it’s the same picture, it’s not the same picture damn it. Look at those keycaps. It’s silent, it’s color coordinated, it’s heavy enough to cave someone’s skull in (probably?). Its layout feels comfortable and natural to my fingers, and in the event it’s not, it’s fixable with a quick hop into VIA. It is -- currently, at least -- everything I want from a keeb. Let this be endgaaaaaaaaame, please lmaooo. Absolutely do not come up with a full-sized, southpaw, QMK-compatible keeb.

’Chew’s Keycap Sets! (Left to Right, Top to Bottom) KAT Alpha Blank Keycap Set /dev/tty MT3 Keycap Set OEM Fog White Keycap Set POM Ink Keycap Set () SA Classic Dolch Doubleshot PBT Keycap Set () Classic Dye-Sublimation Keycap Set (Cherry Profile, ) XDA Gentleman Blank Keycap Set EnjoyPBT Blank Black PBT Keycaps (Cherry Profile, In Use: K-4398) Personally, would recommend these containers to save on storage space. Keycaps will be loose, but legended keycaps are easily identifiable, and blank keycaps can be sorted by rows. Generic Plastic Container Dimensions: 11.81" × 7.87" × 2.36" As far as I can tell, these containers are identical to Kinetic Labs’s Keycap Containers, sans the branding. Kinetic Labs: $10.99 (1 pk), $19.99 (2 pk) | MaxGaming: €17.89 (1 pk) | Amazon: $9.99 (1 pk) Alternative Container Options JTK Polycarbonate Keycap Tray (Various Vendors): Storage option that displays keycap sets side-by-side. Short height profile, but long length and width profile. Popular among keeb vendors, but often back-ordered or only available by pre-orders. Generic Keycap Tray (Amazon): Storage option that displays keycap sets side-by-side. Short height profile, but long length and width profile. A more accessible option (for Amazon US), if JTK keycap trays aren’t available. Notes Cherry, OEM, XDA, DSA, etc. profiles should be compatible with most aftermarket keycap trays. OEM profiles may not be compatible wtih trays specifically designed for GMK keycaps / Cherry profiles. SA profiles will need trays that are at least 16.5 mm in depth.

K-4398 Update - Remapping via VIA VIA is an application / program that lets users remap keys, toggle between layouts, add macros, and control lighting for supported QMK-compatible keyboards. VIA has a simple GUI and is intuitive to use for anyone that isn’t familiar with (or is daunted by) QMK MSYS, QMK Toolbox, and the process of flashing a keyboard. Any edits made in VIA will be immediately applied to the keyboard in use. As a tradeoff, VIA’s capabilities aren’t as extensive, compared to customizing keymaps with QMK. For instance (IIRC), VIA is limited to 9 layers, while QMK will work with up to 16. Not all QMK-compatible keyboards are supported by VIA. Supported keyboards are listed on VIA’s site (Supported Keyboards). For layout .JSON files, VIA’s .JSON files are not compatible with QMK Configurator’s .JSON files, and vice versa. Keymap .JSON files may be compatible between VIA and QMK Configurator – with some manual editing – but I haven’t tested this theory. VIA Website: https://www.caniusevia.com/ VIA Github: https://github.com/the-via VIA Releases: https://github.com/the-via/releases VIA Tutorial / Step-by-Step Download and install VIA from the-via/releases. VIA has an online configurator, but I couldn’t use it with the 4398 Keyboard. I suspect that only keyboards listed on the Supported Keyboards list will work with that configurator. Launch VIA (VIA.exe). Default file directory is C:\Users\...\AppData\Local\Programs\via. Import the keyboard’s .JSON layout file via File > Import Keymap. Start remapping keys to your liking. Changes are applied immediately. MO(1): Toggles between layers. Simply exit VIA when finished, no saving necessary. Save + Load: Options here will save and load .JSON keymap files specifically for the current layout. Attempting to File > Import Keymap .JSON keymap files will not work. Import the keyboard’s .JSON layout file via File > Import Keymap. Load the keyboard’s .JSON keymap file via the Save + Load tab. Remapping K-4398 Initially, I couldn’t find the 4398 Keyboard’s QMK files / VIA files. It was clearly advertised as QMK / VIA compatible, but curiously wasn’t listed on either QMK Firmware’s All Supported Keyboards or VIA’s Supported Keyboards lists. So I asked for help in qwertypop’s Discord server, aaand... I GOT THE GOODS. Download: 43_980.json Very thankful for qwertypop’s responsive team! The alternative was to install AutoHotkey but I *really* didn't want to have that running in the background all the time. 4398 Keyboard - Default Keymap (Layer 0) A pretty conventional layout, with some problematic placements in the top-right. Why is Delete and Home up there. Scroll Lock and Pause are useless, please. Excuse me, where is my End key? K-4398 - Edited Keymap (Layer 0) Much more to my liking and use case. Customization is such a blessing. K-4398 - Default Keymap (Layer 1) Nothing immediately offensive on this layer, so I’ll leave it be. Psych, made some slight edits to Layer 1. K-4398 - Edited Keymap (Layer 1) Honestly I don’t use Insert, Pg Up, or Pg Dn often, but sometimes games (looking at you, Dragon’s Dogma) insist on using these keybinds.

Introduction Hey there! Welcome to another build log. Took a peep at my Eighty #391 Build Log, and I’m realizing my tastes have expanded, but haven’t changed much over the years. 'Chew's Keeb Interests Sizes, Layouts: TKL, 90%, Alice (with F-Row) Non-Negotiable: ANSI, Function Row, Special / Edit Keys Case: Metallic Construction, High-Profile, Angled, Matte Black Plate: Black / Frosted / Transparent PCB: Hotswap, QMK / VIA Compatibility, Black Switches: Linear, Silent Stems, 150g Springs Non-Negotiable: Black Housings Stabilizers: Black Keycaps: Blank, PBT, OEM-Profile, Matte Black Acoustics: Silent, Thock / Clack TLDR: Black Aesthetic, Heavy Silent Linear Switches. qwertypop happened to advertise the 4398 Keyboards they had in stock on Mech Group Buy’s Discord, and I happened to be paying attention, and the 4398 Keyboard happened to check off my preferences. Fast forward a few days later, aaand it’s in my hands! 43 Studio - 4398 Keyboard Package I pity the fool that misses the in stock listing and Group Buys it later. Name 黒-4398 ⇒ くろ-4398 ⇒ Kuro-4398 ⇒ K-4398 (黒 = Black) Couldn’t think of any clever, meaningful wordplay with “98,” so I kept it simple. [Begrudgingly puts away list of 'Chewnibyō chūnibyō names.] Parts List Component Selection Price PCB 4398 Keyboard Hotswap PCB - Poron Switch Pads - Stabilizer Foam Pads ≈ $345.00 $2.00 Case 4398 Keyboard Case (Anodized Aluminum, Black) Mounting Plate Custom 4398 Keyboard POM Mounting Plate 4398 Keyboard Polycarbonate Mounting Plate Switches Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) - Durock POM Switch Housings - Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems - SPRiT MX Supreme Springs (210g) - Krytox 205g0 Lubricant $72.36 $23.25 $13.50 Stabilizers Durock Screw-In Stabilizers (V2) $25.00 Keycaps POM Ink Keycaps - Spacebar Foam EnjoyPBT Blank Black PBT Cherry-Profile Keycaps $39.00 Cable CableMod Custom Pro Coiled Cable - Dual-Sleeved (Black ModMesh Nylon, Black ModFlex Paracord) - GX16 Aviator Connector (5-Pin) - Cerakote Coating (USB-C, USB-A, Aviator QDC) Grand Total ≈ $520.11 (Shipping, Taxes, Foreign Transaction Fees Excluded) Parts Update History Assembly 4398 Keyboard Kit Keyboard Kit Parts 1 × 4398 Keyboard Top Case + Bottom Case / Weight 1 × 4398 Keyboard PCB 1 × Poron Foam (3.5mm) 120 × PE Foam Switch Pads 1 × Winkey Blocker 3 × Black Keyboard Accents 3 × Frosted Keyboard Accents 1 × 7U Stabilizer Wire Screws, Bumpons, Etc. Other Essentials (Separate Purchases) 1 × 7U Stabilizer, 6 × 2U Stabilizers 102 Switches (ANSI Layout) 102 Keycaps (ANSI Layout) USB Type-C Cable PCB + Switch Pads + Stabilizers Don’t look at the up arrow key. Now you can never unsee it. Assembled PCB + Poron Foam + Mounting Plate Instantly sold on plastic mounting plates. For one, they don’t attract fingerprints as much as polished metal does. Assembled PCB / Foam / Plate + Switches Keyboard Checker time! Branded cable (temporary setup) came from erm, a Razer Zephyr mask that I got for free. Assembled PCB / Foam / Plate + Top Case 4 × Tiny Hex Screws to mount the plate to the top case. Mounting feels easier and more secure compared to Eighty #391. K-4398 - Bottom Weight / Case 8 × Tiny Hex Screws to secure the bottom weight to the top case. K-4398 + Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) I’ll be honest, bottoming out is really difficult now. Oh, and the spacebar is actually 180g because I didn’t have enough 210g springs. K-4398 - Assembled! First order of business: Disable LEDs. Monkeytype Sound Samples Sound samples recorded with the Antlion Mod Mic and Audacity. Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Fast) K-4398 (Fast).mp3 Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Slow) K-4398 (Slow).mp3 Closing Comments It’s been a very long while since I’ve been excited about custom keebs again. Day in, day out, it feels like I’m staring at samey listings by vendors offering similar inventories. And if something’s locked behind a Group Buy, my interest falls off exponentially rapidly. The easiest way to rope me into another keeb purchase? In stock and immediate shipping. Also, have someone competent designing the keeb, lol. Even better if it’s limited in quantity. Mmm yaaaaaaaaaas, give me that intangible and trivial sense of self-worth that comes from possessing something that the greater majority does not or can not have. Current Desk Setup The plan for K-4398 was to deck it out as much as my patience allowed: Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems: Transferred all of these over from Eighty #391 to the new build, since I’ve grown incredibly fond of them. Oddly enough, I had 102 stems -- exactly enough to outfit K-4398 (ANSI layout). SPRiT MX Supreme Springs (210g, 180g): Finally acquired these. Only for the truly cultured and masochistic, kek. Switch Pads + Stabilizer Pads: Uncertain how significant of an effect the pads have on the 4398 Keyboard’s typing / acoustic experience, but it’s a cheap addition and doesn’t detract from the keeb, so why not? Stabilizers: Stabilizer rattle was, admittedly, one of the problem areas with the Eighty #391 that I never got around to fixing. Made it a point to tune K-4398’s stabs to my liking this time. Durock POM Switches: There’s a theme I’m going for here, the rest of the pieces haven’t reached my hands juuust yet. Now. To clean up my desk area. Also, at some point, gotta fiddle around with QMK / VIA, because Scroll Lock, Pause, and Num Lock are useless to me. Why does perfecting something have to take so loooooooooong, I just wanna play gaaaaaaaaaames.

MGK64 - More Silent Linears! The prelude to the main event. Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) + Modded Silent Oil King Switches (210g) Both Switches: Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems + SPRiT MX Supreme Springs (210g) POM Switches: POM Top Housing, POM Bottom Housing Oil King Switches: Nylon PA66 Top Housing + Gateron Ink Bottom Housing MGK64 - Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Fast) Modded POM, 210g (Fast).mp3 MGK64 - Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Slow) Modded POM, 210g (Slow).mp3 MGK64 - Modded Silent Oil King Switches (210g) (Fast) Modded Oil King, 210g (Fast).mp3 MGK64 - Modded Silent Oil King Switches (210g) (Slow) Modded Oil King, 210g (Slow).mp3 With Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems Acoustically, I can’t tell the difference between the Modded Silent POM Switch and the Modded Silent Oil King Switch. The 210g spring kinda... normalizes the playing field. In terms of feel, Modded Oil King Switches were smoother than the Modded Silent POM Switches, even when the latter was lubed. The difference was quite marginal, however. With Gateron Silent Ink Black Stems I did also try Durock POM Switch + Gateron Silent Ink Black Stem, and... immediately regretted it. The result was the scratchiest switch I have ever touched. No amount of lube can save that combination. Gateron Oil King Switch + Gateron Silent Ink Black Stem was more acceptable to my standards. Not nearly as smooth as the Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stem, but not excruciatingly terrible. Could benefit from lubing.