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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 19:26:08

Title: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 19:26:08
I need a tenkeyless to hold me over for a while until GH60, then to use as a donor board.  So I guess it needs to be PCB-mounted.  I look on Taobao and see HPE, PLU, and lots of other Chinese brands.  Which ones are decent?

Thanks!

 :-*
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Mon, 04 March 2013, 19:31:54
There is only one PCB mount tenkeyless that I know of, the Neo Zelia and it is not exactly the cheapest thing to be using for a donor. The HPE and PLU are plate mount. Personally if I was looking at buying something as a hold over then donor I would be looking for a good deal on used Pure or Poker.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 19:58:00
I live in China, so used Pokers or Pures don't usually ship here. :(

I was assuming plate mount can't be a donor board.  Is that correct?
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: nullstring on Mon, 04 March 2013, 20:06:21
I live in China, so used Pokers or Pures don't usually ship here. :(

I was assuming plate mount can't be a donor board.  Is that correct?

Depends if you're going to get a plate for your GH60
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: The_Beast on Mon, 04 March 2013, 20:17:53
I live in China, so used Pokers or Pures don't usually ship here. :(

I was assuming plate mount can't be a donor board.  Is that correct?

You can use a plate mount board for donor board, but it will require desoldering to access the springs and stems. But if you want the whole switch, you would have to do that with a PCB mount anyways
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:10:37
You can use a plate mount board for donor board, but it will require desoldering to access the springs and stems. But if you want the whole switch, you would have to do that with a PCB mount anyways

I don't mind the desoldering, but I was mainly worried about recycling the stabilizers.  Maybe that's not possible anyways though.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: The_Beast on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:12:37
You can use a plate mount board for donor board, but it will require desoldering to access the springs and stems. But if you want the whole switch, you would have to do that with a PCB mount anyways

I don't mind the desoldering, but I was mainly worried about recycling the stabilizers.  Maybe that's not possible anyways though.

If we knew exactly what you were doing, we could advise you a lot better.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:34:20
If we knew exactly what you were doing, we could advise you a lot better.

OK, thanks.  Sorry for acting like such a noob.

I want to buy the cheapest tenkeyless board I can get with decent quality now that will allow me to harvest the switches (and hopefully stabilizers) later for a GH60.  I'm wondering which Chinese manufacturers are decent these days.  I guess I'm also now wondering if using that board to supply switches for my future GH60 is even possible.

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: gnubag on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:37:59
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.w4996320547.45.OiZ8m2&id=10436200122&

poker in china... if my chinese is correct....

brown switches
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: The_Beast on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:40:11
A rosewill 104 or a CM storm would make decent donor boards, but you'd need to find stabilizers unless you plan on plate mounting and using Costar stabilizers.

Or just buy switches, a little more expensive, but would save a lot of time
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:46:44
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.w4996320547.45.OiZ8m2&id=10436200122&

poker in china... if my chinese is correct....

brown switches

I chatted with all the sellers selling Pokers, and all of them (even the ones that say 现货 [in stock]) are out. :(
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:47:52
A rosewill 104 or a CM storm would make decent donor boards, but you'd need to find stabilizers unless you plan on plate mounting and using Costar stabilizers.

Or just buy switches, a little more expensive, but would save a lot of time

Thanks!  Do you know of any Chinese boards that would work as well?
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: laden3 on Mon, 04 March 2013, 21:54:39
Isn't that cherry g80-3800 only RMB399??
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Tue, 05 March 2013, 02:32:50
Isn't that cherry g80-3800 only RMB399??
It is, but I really prefer a tenkeyless board.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 05 March 2013, 11:26:54
Not a tenkeyless but almost as small, and it is PCB mount is the Plum 96 and I believe it have a good price in China.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Tue, 05 March 2013, 17:57:41
Thanks everybody for the suggestions.  I'll check them out.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: davkol on Tue, 05 March 2013, 23:02:13
Isn't the new PLUM96 plate mount?
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 06 March 2013, 10:52:33
No, but there was a version with plate available under another brand.
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: cagbagger on Mon, 07 October 2013, 13:29:18
Do you know what version has the plate mounted plum 96?  I only see pcb mounted.  THanks. 
Title: Re: Which PCB-mount cheap decent TKL?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Tue, 08 October 2013, 11:34:26
It was called Morphling MX96 the one with plate.