Author Topic: Monoprice "Pro" Backlit Gaming Keyboard (Read 11594 times)

jameslr · « **on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:10:57 »

Never seen this one before. Looks pretty nice - has aluminum body but only comes in red switch type. Has macro keys but I like the nice low profile.

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?ab3=b&utm_expid=58369800-11.R-enhtUGRrSdHz5vzpVS2g.1&c_id=114&cp_id=11401&cs_id=1140102&p_id=10579&seq=1&format=2&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.monoprice.com%2F%3Fref%3Dcj

thesentinel · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:13:04 »

Looks pretty cheap for an aluminum body.

Lastpilot · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:14:55 »

It can't be solid 6061 at that price though, that's for sure.

Melvang · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:16:16 »

Actually looks pretty nice considering the exposed plate design.

I would like to see an exposed PCB mount design. That might be kind of cool.

Quote from: Lastpilot on Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:14:55

It can't be solid 6061 at that price though, that's for sure.

My guess would be stamped aluminum. The 6061 alloy is one of the cheaper alloys most likely due to being one of the most common and relative ease to work with.

jameslr · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:18:54 »

I think this is new. I can't seem to find any reviews on it anywhere. If anyone ends up buying one please post a review!

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:15:08 »

Huh, that's a a fun little keyboard. I like that low profile aluminum case. I'm not so sold on the macro keys (or keycaps) but at least they're not set far from the alphas like the Blackwidow has.

Melvang · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:16:01 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:15:08

Huh, that's a a fun little keyboard. I like that low profile aluminum case. I'm not so sold on the macro keys (or keycaps) but at least they're not set far from the alphas like the Blackwidow has.

plus it looks like a pretty standard layout. So cap replacement should be fairly painless.

CPTBadAss · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:17:54 »

That is very true, they did get the keycap sizes right

. I meant more that they look like that rubber coated ABS material that QFR caps seem to use. I'm not a fan of those caps or of that font.

HendyZone · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:25:22 »

Monoprice OEM from dearmo i think

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43588.0

jameslr · « **Reply #9 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:40:00 »

Nice find Hendy! It does look like the Dearmo one. I can't find any reviews on that one either though

I did find a white w/ brushed aluminum top that looks really slick. I kinda want one...

simon_C · « **Reply #10 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 13:43:12 »

I like that style, along with the K65, but as was said before, they only have reds, which is disappointing.

Roibhilin · « **Reply #11 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 17:41:19 »

looks like it has even modifiers so it should be easy to get replacement keycaps

has anyone published reviews for it yet on Youtube or something?

Internet Friend · « **Reply #12 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 18:15:22 »

I like that Dearmo appears to be the company behind that Levetron Mech5 monstrosity, and now they're selling this design.

If this thing has any quality control at all I see it selling all right with people just dipping their toes in mechanical keyboards.

thesentinel · « **Reply #13 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 18:46:38 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:15:08

Huh, that's a a fun little keyboard. I like that low profile aluminum case. I'm not so sold on the macro keys (or keycaps) but at least they're not set far from the alphas like the Blackwidow has.

I'd say macro keys on the keyboard are useless. The only macros I find useful are the ones on your mouse or... I suppose foot pad.

C5Allroad · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 26 February 2014, 20:57:35 »

Looks pretty damn good...

lexroad · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 27 February 2014, 13:10:08 »

If you're looking for an aluminum keyboard have a look at this one, it seems pretty nice too. http://www.banggood.com/Flashget-G600-Wired-Mechanical-Keyboard-Cherry-MX-Black-Switch-p-78658.html

Photoelectric · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 27 February 2014, 13:12:32 »

I like the design. Now if only they sold separate wrist rests, I'd be all over those!

C5Allroad · « **Reply #17 on:** Fri, 28 February 2014, 19:26:48 »

Quote from: lexroad on Thu, 27 February 2014, 13:10:08

If you're looking for an aluminum keyboard have a look at this one, it seems pretty nice too. http://www.banggood.com/Flashget-G600-Wired-Mechanical-Keyboard-Cherry-MX-Black-Switch-p-78658.html

Someone posted a review on it... Showed the internals and soldering looked like crap.

katushkin · « **Reply #18 on:** Fri, 28 February 2014, 19:49:55 »

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Wed, 26 February 2014, 12:15:08

Huh, that's a a fun little keyboard. I like that low profile aluminum case. I'm not so sold on the macro keys (or keycaps) but at least they're not set far from the alphas like the Blackwidow has.

If anything, the macro keys are further away from everything else than on the Blackwidow...

blighty · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 24 March 2014, 15:16:02 »

I have this board. It didn't come with the software to program the back-lighting or macros, although the scroll wheel controls the volume right out of the box (clicking volume wheel will allow one to increase or decrease backlight intensity). I've rar'd up the driver install ".exe" in 2 parts if anyone ends up with this board and wants it to actually work properly (without driver back-lighting just "breathes/heartbeats"). I got it to try plate-mounted MX reds. I'm a now a fan. Built quality is decent, no pinging or echos when bottoming out.

Monoprice MP-GBL4 Gaming Keyboard Driver_Single EXE Image V1.09_20131203.part1.rar (5859.4 kB - downloaded 202 times.)

Monoprice MP-GBL4 Gaming Keyboard Driver_Single EXE Image V1.09_20131203.part2.rar (5137.2 kB - downloaded 190 times.)

jjay · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 04 April 2014, 15:50:24 »

Quote from: blighty on Mon, 24 March 2014, 15:16:02

I have this board. It didn't come with the software to program the back-lighting or macros, although the scroll wheel controls the volume right out of the box (clicking volume wheel will allow one to increase or decrease backlight intensity). I've rar'd up the driver install ".exe" in 2 parts if anyone ends up with this board and wants it to actually work properly (without driver back-lighting just "breathes/heartbeats"). I got it to try plate-mounted MX reds. I'm a now a fan. Built quality is decent, no pinging or echos when bottoming out.

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Thanks for the dl- prob a newb question tho... how do I make use of / rejoin the 2 parts of the exe file?

IvanIvanovich · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri, 04 April 2014, 20:29:52 »

Hey blighty, if you have time could you do a review and tear down photos? I have been keeping an eye on this model since it was teased at computex last year and would like to know a bit more about it and the build quality before buying one. Since I would likely want to modify it out of the box I am especially interested in the PCB/soldering quality.

absfac · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 04 April 2014, 21:34:26 »

Quote from: blighty on Mon, 24 March 2014, 15:16:02

I have this board. It didn't come with the software to program the back-lighting or macros, although the scroll wheel controls the volume right out of the box (clicking volume wheel will allow one to increase or decrease backlight intensity). I've rar'd up the driver install ".exe" in 2 parts if anyone ends up with this board and wants it to actually work properly (without driver back-lighting just "breathes/heartbeats").

If you don't mind me asking, does that mean this is pretty much Windows-only then? Do you need the drivers in regular operation, or can you plug the board into a Windows box, program it up, and then disconnect it and plug it into another machine?

Also, where do these drivers come from? People should be a little wary of running random EXEs off the Internet. Not that I think you'd be trying to infect people, but I don't necessarily trust the place it came from & it would be nice to know. It looks like people are passing this thing around in forums like a piece of folklore.

blighty · « **Reply #23 on:** Sat, 26 April 2014, 18:40:10 »

I kind of forgot I posted in this thread. I can try and do a more in depth review. As for the source of the file, it was from another forum? Damned if I don't remember where. I'll have to look.

Razor Lotus · « **Reply #24 on:** Sat, 26 April 2014, 19:16:40 »

looks really sweet!

kittykatmax · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 22 May 2014, 14:43:14 »

Bit of a necro, but the keyboard is available on Massdrop again. Drivers can be downloaded at http://www.monopricehub.com/files/drivers/10579_Drivers_Win_v1.09_131203.zip.

Razor Lotus · « **Reply #26 on:** Thu, 22 May 2014, 15:04:01 »

Quote from: kittykatmax on Thu, 22 May 2014, 14:43:14

Bit of a necro, but the keyboard is available on Massdrop again. Drivers can be downloaded at http://www.monopricehub.com/files/drivers/10579_Drivers_Win_v1.09_131203.zip.

No worries. I was thinking of necro-ing this thread myself lol

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Author Topic: Monoprice "Pro" Backlit Gaming Keyboard (Read 11594 times)