Backlit TKL (greater than 60%, less than full-size) with LEDs below the switch?

[Art of Payce]

Dear GH,

Do you know of any backlit boards with LEDs below the switch as opposed to what is commonly seen with the LEDs above the switch?

I'm thinking of getting backlit caps, but the legends would be far better lit with the LED behind the bottom half of the keycap.

Muchas gracias por adelantado.

[Lpwl]

It looks like that both placement are possible !

You should take a look at Kaliet custom keyboards :

Below the switch



Above the switch



(credits : http://22kbd.com/)

[Puddsy]

you can do either, just depends on the PCB

[Hyde]

I can't think of too many options if you want go the stock / cheap route.

The only one I can think of is KBParadise V60 or CM Storm SI (not available yet).

[Art of Payce]

Thanks, everyone. Still looking. I'm actually getting those Vortex keycaps in the second picture that Lpwl shared (except in black). I want to specifically light up the Korean legends. I am looking at stock options. No time or desire to make it more custom.

In addition to KBParadise V60, I found the Ducky Mini and Ducky Year of the Horse. Unfortunately, this 60% thing is killing me. I can buy a numpad, but I need the navigation cluster (arrow keys, pgup/pgdn, home/end). Are there any TKL or even full size boards with bottom LEDs?

[Oobly]

My KBT Pure has the LED's at the bottom. The only ones I can think of are all 60% except for a Kaliet A.87 custom, like this one: http://22kbd.com/125

[suicidal_orange]

You could always buy a plate with a layout you like and handwire a matrix if no options show up.  Are you wanting individually controlled RGB LEDs or would bright/dim/off single colour be good enough?

[Art of Payce]

You could always buy a plate with a layout you like and handwire a matrix if no options show up.  Are you wanting individually controlled RGB LEDs or would bright/dim/off single colour be good enough?

Although dual LED or more is a major plus, the basic one-LED option will suit me just fine. I'll settle for color changers. I appreciate your suggestion to custom build, but I don't have any experience or enough knowledge about parts to do this even if I went out and bought a soldering kit. It's a lot of extra work and I'm not sure I've reached that level of enthusiasm yet. Let me know if it's easier than I'm thinking... but it all depends on me, right?

My KBT Pure has the LED's at the bottom. The only ones I can think of are all 60% except for a Kaliet A.87 custom, like this one: http://22kbd.com/125

Oobly, thanks for letting me know. I prefer the Pure's layout over the KBParadise V60. The Pure doesn't seem to be available anywhere right now though. I like the layouts of Pure Pro and Race/Race II even more, but the LEDs are out of position for me. I requested a quote for the Kaliet. Thanks again!

[RavenII]

My "daily driver" Monoprice MP-GBL4 (which is really a Dearmo Blade or Greedwolf) has bottom in switch LEDs. I wrote a review on it here.... http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2offy9/review_monoprice_mpgbl4_pro_backlit_macro_gaming/

[Oobly]

ah, GON TKL also has "correct" switch orientation: http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/

[Art of Payce]

Thanks, Oobly. GON is quite nice but probably too expensive for me at this point (4x more to be exact). Then again, I'm not a collector... I just need one good keyboard. ("They all say that", I know, but I mean it.)

My "daily driver" Monoprice MP-GBL4 (which is really a Dearmo Blade or Greedwolf) has bottom in switch LEDs. I wrote a review on it here.... http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2offy9/review_monoprice_mpgbl4_pro_backlit_macro_gaming/

Thanks RavenII. This is exactly the kind of board I'd take a risk on. Your review (thanks for writing it) is pretty positive even with the issues you mentioned that I've also read elsewhere. Once again, the tough part is availability. Massdrop had these not too long ago, Monoprice is sold out, and none on eBay.

If anyone reading this comes across other unmentioned options and below $250, please let me know. You guys are super helpful!

[RavenII]

Thanks, Oobly. GON is quite nice but probably too expensive for me at this point (4x more to be exact). Then again, I'm not a collector... I just need one good keyboard. ("They all say that", I know, but I mean it.)

My "daily driver" Monoprice MP-GBL4 (which is really a Dearmo Blade or Greedwolf) has bottom in switch LEDs. I wrote a review on it here.... http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2offy9/review_monoprice_mpgbl4_pro_backlit_macro_gaming/

Thanks RavenII. This is exactly the kind of board I'd take a risk on. Your review (thanks for writing it) is pretty positive even with the issues you mentioned that I've also read elsewhere. Once again, the tough part is availability. Massdrop had these not too long ago, Monoprice is sold out, and none on eBay.

If anyone reading this comes across other unmentioned options and below $250, please let me know. You guys are super helpful!

Ah, sorry bud, I didn't realize it wasn't available. I have 3 of them, and love them all! Overall, I've yet to find a keyboard with its functionality. Keep an eye out for it though, I've seen them as low as $68 with coupons and such. I paid full price for mine.

[Art of Payce]

Ah, sorry bud, I didn't realize it wasn't available. I have 3 of them, and love them all! Overall, I've yet to find a keyboard with its functionality. Keep an eye out for it though, I've seen them as low as $68 with coupons and such. I paid full price for mine.

Three?! Well, that's reassuring. Have you looked at the internals? How's the soldering? Think it can withstand switch replacements? If you don't know that's cool. I'd take it with Reds. Amazon has it for ~$130 total...

[Art of Payce]

4/13/15 Update: Ordered the MP-GBL4 from Amazon. Arrived with mini-USB port broken off and floating inside the case. Returned. I still want to try this board, but no one's selling it for <$125. Most are priced >150.

Here's an updated list of TKL boards with LEDs beneath the switch stem:

Monoprice MP-GBL4 (rebranded Dearmo Blade)
Dearmo Blade, Greed Wolf (White)
Cooler Master Quick Fire Si
Varmilo VA87M

If anyone knows finds anything bigger than a 60% and less than full-size with this configuration, please post!

[saturnotaku]

If anyone knows finds anything bigger than a 60% and less than full-size with this configuration, please post!

Unless you're specifically looking for a 75% keyboard, you can just say TKL instead of "bigger than 60% and less than full-size." We'll know what you're talking about.

[Evo_Spec]

There's a decent selection of TKL's under 125 on MD right now but there'll be a bit of a wait.

[Novus]

There's a decent selection of TKL's under 125 on MD right now but there'll be a bit of a wait.

Which one strikes your fancy?

[Evo_Spec]

There's a decent selection of TKL's under 125 on MD right now but there'll be a bit of a wait.

Which one strikes your fancy?

Me personally?
At the price point I'd go for a Varmilo VA87M due to the fact it comes with cherry MX switches, PBT caps, has a standard layout if I want to change caps, and has the floating style case, and is back-lit. Like op requires.

From there would be thermaltake Poseidon since it's cheap, back-lit and has cherry MX switches.
But the non-standard layout really turns me off and I would definitely get the Varmilo instead.

[Art of Payce]

Thanks for the tip, saturnotaku. I'll keep that in mind.

Thanks for the recommendation Evo_Spec. These ETAs are killing me, but I think the Varmilo is the most promising alternative. It's rather expensive if I want MX Greens though...

[Dark_wizzie]

Dear GH,

Do you know of any backlit boards with LEDs below the switch as opposed to what is commonly seen with the LEDs above the switch?

I'm thinking of getting backlit caps, but the legends would be far better lit with the LED behind the bottom half of the keycap.

Muchas gracias por adelantado.

What keycaps are you using? I have the opposite problem: Leds under switch, keycaps wants it above.GON pcb has it below.

[Art of Payce]

Bought these Vortex doubleshot PBT with backlit Hangul through Widebasket (there's got to be a better proxy, for anyone else who's interested...). Unfortunately, some of the
Korean legends are covered underneath by the crossbars, but there's literally no other option for backlit Hangul except the nKeyboard 89 LED, which doesn't look bad, just the caps are ABS and irregular. Also don't care for the Hanja button on it.

[skuko]

how about.....

[Art of Payce]

I looked more into the Varmilo and I came across this review. Reviewer said, "One thing I want to mention is the LEDs shut off after five minutes of inactivity." Not sure I like that.

[skuko]

i want to get that varmilo without the leds, as i don't care about backlighting. i want it purely for the form factor, it's genius. will be putting some nice imsto PBTs or GMK doubleshots on it anyway my only dilemma is now brown vs red.

[Evo_Spec]

i want to get that varmilo without the leds, as i don't care about backlighting. i want it purely for the form factor, it's genius. will be putting some nice imsto PBTs or GMK doubleshots on it anyway my only dilemma is now brown vs red.

That "form factor" is a TKL layout or tenkey-less layout and can be had on a lot of other boards. Unless you're talking about the floating key design along with it.

[Dark_wizzie]

Bought these Vortex doubleshot PBT with backlit Hangul through Widebasket (there's got to be a better proxy, for anyone else who's interested...). Unfortunately, some of the
Korean legends are covered underneath by the crossbars, but there's literally no other option for backlit Hangul except the nKeyboard 89 LED, which doesn't look bad, just the caps are ABS and irregular. Also don't care for the Hanja button on it.

Strange, I have the Vortex PBT/POM backlit caps and they want it above. 

[skuko]

i want to get that varmilo without the leds, as i don't care about backlighting. i want it purely for the form factor, it's genius. will be putting some nice imsto PBTs or GMK doubleshots on it anyway my only dilemma is now brown vs red.

That "form factor" is a TKL layout or tenkey-less layout and can be had on a lot of other boards. Unless you're talking about the floating key design along with it.

yeha i am talking about the case design