Good Custom Keyboard parts

[John_Trollinski]

I've been using a membrane keyboard to game and it is finally starting to break and the keys don't always register. I went to a few different stores and they had red switches but they did not fit what I need. I need a small keyboard preferably with rgb that has interchangeable key and switches, also I need quiet switches because I have been keeping people awake in the house with my cherry red switches.

[jiyeon]

6 minutes ago, John_Trollinski said:

I need a small keyboard preferably with rgb that has interchangeable key and switches, also I need quiet switches because I have been keeping people awake in the house with my cherry red switches.

The one mainstream available keyboard I can think of is the Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard, or GMMK. It comes in full-size, TKL, and 60% form factors, as well as ISO or ANSI layouts. The GMMK can be had for under $100.

The keyboard has a hot-swappable PCB which allows you to swap out switches without sodlering and de-soldering. Because of this, you can easily buy the barebones set, and purchase some Silent Reds or any switches of your choice as well as get the keycaps that you would like for yourself.

 

There are other keyboard kits such as the GK61 and GK64 which include a case, plate, stabs, and a hot-swap PCB which shares the same traits as mentioned above for the GMMK, but that is if you're okay studying Chinese to use the software correctly.

[Tristerin]

Haha was about to tag @sowon

[seon123]

Do you have a budget...? 

How small? 27 key, 30%, 40%, 60/65%, 75%, TKL or 96 key?

For switches, you're probably looking at something like a Zilent, Healio or silent Ink Black, if you want a fairly high end modern option. 

[b emoji]

If you need something really small I suggest checking out this GB,  https://kb.ai03.me/projects/equinox.html, it's a staggered 40% layout but there is no hot swap pcb avail. Most hotswaps either use tray mount or an integrated plate which is another word for crap. The plate mounting method imo has the biggest impact on sound, and gasket/isolation mounted plates/pcbs have the best sound as in the case of the equinox, and tray mounts like the newer tofu boards have very inconsistent feel and sound and integrated plates such as the alt or gmmk have very pingy sound. Learn how to solder and solder in some mill max sockets if you need hotswap. For silent switches I suggest you check out silent inks, healios or make mx zilents (MX silent red slider in zeal housing).