Backplate vs No Backplate

[Fragil1ty]

So recently I have made a keyboard switch and with that switch comes new typing feels.

Coming from typing on a backplateless keyboard or close to two years to one that has one .. is very strange for me and it doesn't feel as pleasant to type on in my personal opinion, the keys feel a lot more dense and overall heavier and it's just.. not as nice, that's the only way I can put it really.

What is your preference? Do you prefer having a keyboard with or without a backplate and if so, why?

[munch]

with backplate for cherry mx, without for topre. the bottoming out is pretty hard on topre switches imo. I have a lot softer typing on my mx red for some reason. and I just like it feels more 'solid' there.

[Oobly]

Plate mounted switches all the way!

PCB mounted switches do feel a little "softer" depending on the board design and support from the case, but plate mounted switches feel more "mechanical" and precise to me. Keycaps can have a very big effect on the switch feel, though, so a perceived difference between two boards may not be primarily due to the plate / no plate, but rather a difference in keycap mass / quality.

Also, almost every PCB mount board will feel different to each other. For instance, my KBT Pure felt almost like a plate mounted board compared to the mushy unsupported G80-3000 boards of mine. Same switches, same keycaps, both PCB mount, but very different feeling. I have since installed a plate in the Pure and it feels even better than it did before. I don't like the mushy bendy soft feeling of a poorly supported PCB mount board. Well supported PCB feels better, but going full plate mount with good keycaps feels best, IMHO.

[Sent]

Plate mount.  No contest for me.

[Grim Fandango]

I have not used enough keyboards without a backplate to really say with certainty that I always prefer to have plate mounted. But from what I have experienced it seems as though I have a strong preference for plate-mounted.

[user 18]

I've only ever used plate-mount boards, so I can't say for sure. What I do know is that I love the feel of plate mount MX boards, everything is so crisp and wonderful (unless I'm using linear switches).

[Sent]

I've only ever used plate-mount boards, so I can't say for sure. What I do know is that I love the feel of plate mount MX boards, everything is so crisp and wonderful (unless I'm using linear switches).

But but but linear switches are awesome.

[Findecanor]

I think it depends on how sturdy and silent the keyboard is otherwise in its construction. Most of Cherry's G80 series are flimsy and bad-feeling.

There are bad keyboards with plate-mount also. I built my own case for my Phantom (plate-mounted) and I somehow managed to make a quite loud keyboard ...

[noisyturtle]

Remember your ABP's:

A lways
B e
P late

[user 18]

I've only ever used plate-mount boards, so I can't say for sure. What I do know is that I love the feel of plate mount MX boards, everything is so crisp and wonderful (unless I'm using linear switches).

But but but linear switches are awesome.

Linear switches have always felt really weird to me, but tactile switches are fantastic.

[pichu23]

Plate for me.
I sorta slam my keys at times. I'm afraid I would break the pcb. lol.

[Puddsy]

i like plate over no plate

just because it's what im used to

[ajx]

It does not bother me since i owned both, yes plate seems to be sturdier, however pcb mounted doesnt feel bad either

[Hyde]

The only PCB mount board I've tried is Race II.  And I've also tried case mount HHKB briefly before.

I have to say in both cases I like the softer more comfortable feel of PCB/Case mount.

Unfortunately I need the full size layout since I use number pad a lot.  Otherwise I'd definitely go for PCB/Case mount.

[Novus]

Considering you've written half of the reviews on this site, how are we only having this discussion now?

[exitfire401]

Plate. Linear switches feel...acceptable without a plate, but tactile switches just feel wrong. After my pure, I'll never go back to a pcb mounted board.

[Fragil1ty]

Considering you've written half of the reviews on this site, how are we only having this discussion now?

Whom? o_o.

[Novus]

Considering you've written half of the reviews on this site, how are we only having this discussion now?

Whom? o_o.

You! lol
I see your reviews all the time on here
I'm just kinda surprised you never ran into this backplate or nobackplate before.

[Fragil1ty]

Considering you've written half of the reviews on this site, how are we only having this discussion now?

Whom? o_o.

You! lol
I see your reviews all the time on here
I'm just kinda surprised you never ran into this backplate or nobackplate before.

Oh! lmfao, I do like to write my reviews, kind of gives me a small way to give back to the community and what not, I like to be honest, I like to write what I'm feeling at the time and what not!

I've only ever had a backplate in the Keycool 84, which I couldn't tell any difference between because of the fact that I had never owned a MX Brown switch kb before and is the HHKB backplated also? If so, same thing applies there.

The main reason I made this thread was because at the moment I'm having a rather hard time adjusting from nobackplate to backplate while using reds, I much prefer NBP /w Reds, if I'm perfectly honest, but I just can't go back to a broken keyboard, doesn't really make sense. lol

[Hyde]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

[Fragil1ty]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

I've tried:

Noppoo Choc Mini,
HKKB pro 2.

Other options are here: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1xogye/recommendations_for_a_lightweight_pcb_mounted_75/

[Oobly]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

There are PCB mount full size boards. If you get a modern Cherry G80-3000 be sure to add a support plate of some sort, though, the PCB is not supported well and it's VERY flexible, so even if you prefer PCB mount it still won't feel good until you support the PCB a bit better. At least they come with decent switches and stabilisers and they don't cost too much Many of them only have 2KRO, though, since the cheap ones come without diodes.

[davkol]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

I've tried:

Noppoo Choc Mini,
HKKB pro 2.

Other options are here: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1xogye/recommendations_for_a_lightweight_pcb_mounted_75/

Huh? What do you actually mean here? Neither has strictly PCB-mounted switches. Choc Mini switches are mounted in a plate and HHKB uses case mount.

PCB mounting is used on only a few keyboards: most stuff by Cherry Corp. (usually G80-3000/1800/11800/11900), Poker X… and that's it, basically.

As I understand it, backplate is the plate under the PCB/membrane, e.g., on IBM Model M, old Cherry G81s or some vintage rubber-dome keyboards.

[hwood34]

For typing preference, definitely backplate. A plate helps hold the switches in place much better than just a PCB can.

[Fragil1ty]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

I've tried:

Noppoo Choc Mini,
HKKB pro 2.

Other options are here: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1xogye/recommendations_for_a_lightweight_pcb_mounted_75/

Huh? What do you actually mean here? Neither has strictly PCB-mounted switches. Choc Mini switches are mounted in a plate and HHKB uses case mount.

PCB mounting is used on only a few keyboards: most stuff by Cherry Corp. (usually G80-3000/1800/11800/11900), Poker X… and that's it, basically.

As I understand it, backplate is the plate under the PCB/membrane, e.g., on IBM Model M, old Cherry G81s or some vintage rubber-dome keyboards.

Then why does typing on my Noppoo feel completely different than when typing on my KUL which has an actual backplate? Am I confusing different things here?

[dante]

I prefer PCB; but that depends on the application.

G80-3000 / 1st Gen Poker are very flexy.  I had better luck with G80-18XX and Neo Zelia.  PLUM even makes/made some PCB keyboards too.

It's definitely easier on the hands IMHO - but I can understand where people are coming from regarding the flex.

[davkol]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

I've tried:

Noppoo Choc Mini,
HKKB pro 2.

Other options are here: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1xogye/recommendations_for_a_lightweight_pcb_mounted_75/

Huh? What do you actually mean here? Neither has strictly PCB-mounted switches. Choc Mini switches are mounted in a plate and HHKB uses case mount.

PCB mounting is used on only a few keyboards: most stuff by Cherry Corp. (usually G80-3000/1800/11800/11900), Poker X… and that's it, basically.

As I understand it, backplate is the plate under the PCB/membrane, e.g., on IBM Model M, old Cherry G81s or some vintage rubber-dome keyboards.

Then why does typing on my Noppoo feel completely different than when typing on my KUL which has an actual backplate? Am I confusing different things here?

Different case, different keycaps, different batch of switches.

Noppoo Choc Mini has a metal plate, as you have probably seen under keycaps. So does KUL and nearly any other mechanical keyboard in the market, but the difference is likely in different cases. The Noppoo housing is indeed flimsy, especially compared to something like QFR… or KUL.

[jonathanyu]

Personally I like the feeling of no backplate more

[paicrai]

bulletproof backplate

[Fragil1ty]

May I ask which PCB mount keybaords have you tried?

I've only recently discovered that I like PCB mount I need to see what other options I have lol.

I've tried:

Noppoo Choc Mini,
HKKB pro 2.

Other options are here: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/1xogye/recommendations_for_a_lightweight_pcb_mounted_75/

Huh? What do you actually mean here? Neither has strictly PCB-mounted switches. Choc Mini switches are mounted in a plate and HHKB uses case mount.

PCB mounting is used on only a few keyboards: most stuff by Cherry Corp. (usually G80-3000/1800/11800/11900), Poker X… and that's it, basically.

As I understand it, backplate is the plate under the PCB/membrane, e.g., on IBM Model M, old Cherry G81s or some vintage rubber-dome keyboards.

Then why does typing on my Noppoo feel completely different than when typing on my KUL which has an actual backplate? Am I confusing different things here?

Different case, different keycaps, different batch of switches.

Noppoo Choc Mini has a metal plate, as you have probably seen under keycaps. So does KUL and nearly any other mechanical keyboard in the market, but the difference is likely in different cases. The Noppoo housing is indeed flimsy, especially compared to something like QFR… or KUL.

Ah I see, that does in-fact make sense as the KUL feels superior in terms of build quality when referring it back to the Noppoo.


Damn.

[Razor Lotus]

For those who prefer plate mounted, how's the pinging issue???

[Puddsy]

For those who prefer plate mounted, how's the pinging issue???

nonexistant on my KUL

I deal with it on everything else by blasting music at myself

[davkol]

For those who prefer plate mounted, how's the pinging issue???

PCB-mounted switches in a plastic case can ping too.

[Fnzzy]

How about PCB mounted switches in an aluminum case? Does the feel differ a lot from the plastic cases or is it still as smooth? I would try it with my Poker 2 but it doesn't support PCB mounted stabilizers even though it supports PCB mounted switches :x

[pichu23]

How about PCB mounted switches in an aluminum case? Does the feel differ a lot from the plastic cases or is it still as smooth? I would try it with my Poker 2 but it doesn't support PCB mounted stabilizers even though it supports PCB mounted switches :x

that's the issue with the plate design. 

[rowdy]

Here's another question - are there any case-mounted MX-based keyboards?

HHKB, for those who don't know, has Topre switches, but there is no separate plate.  Instead the top half of the case acts as the plate.  This also explains why there are so few aluminium replacement cases for HHKB.

[Oobly]

For those who prefer plate mounted, how's the pinging issue???

I had some very minor ping on my Ducky G2Pro and my KBT Pure with added plate, but I don't notice it while using the board unless I specifically listen for it.

It goes away if you lube the springs.

I will be lubing my Pure springs once the switches have all worn in to my satisfaction. You can lube just the springs if you find it annoying, then lube the rest of the parts of the switch after wear-in. Of course this requires desoldering them twice, though.

How about PCB mounted switches in an aluminum case? Does the feel differ a lot from the plastic cases or is it still as smooth? I would try it with my Poker 2 but it doesn't support PCB mounted stabilizers even though it supports PCB mounted switches :x

There is a definite difference, but it depends on the original plastic case design and the new metal case design. Most aluminium cases are really stiff and provide good support to the PCB, so it feels almost like plate mounted.

I still find the thread amusing since the OP hasn't actually used a PCB mount board, only plate (Choc Mini and KUL) and case mount (HHKB). Started an interesting discussion, though.