Finally tried PCB mount...my thoughts

[zoolzoo]

Last night I realized I had never actually tried a PCB mount board. I was bored, and I happened to have a spare Poker X PCB and a set of PCB mount MX Brown switches so I built one up. These are my observations:

Set up reference: Poker X PCB, stickered MX Browns, lubed and snipped cherry stabilizers, TEX alum tray, stock Poker II thick PBT caps.


1. PCB flex as a "problem", at least on the Poker X is sort of a myth. I feel like this is some group think kind of thing that has been passed through the forums and the information has been shared by people who may not have had the chance to even try a PCB mount board (like me). If you put your finger on a key and press down really hard, yes you will see some flex. Dont do that. If you just type on it, there is no perceivable flex in the context of the PCB bending under your fingers, ruining the typing experience. When you solder in all the switches and mount to a tray (espec a alum tray), plenty of rigidity is added. Yes, a PCB is more "forgiving" than a steel plate, but I'm finding this to be a good thing.

2. As far as feel, I'm really liking this board quite a bit. I think that Ivan said that on a properly mounted PCB board, the switches are much more expressive. I can see what he means. First, MX Browns are much more tactile and have more "pop" on this board, in comparison to plate mounted. It is the deadening of the switch due to the plate that made me move from browns, to clears, to ergo clears searching for a tactile set up on a plate mount board that I liked. I never really did become satisfied with any of those options. Browns on the PCB are light and quick, yet the tactile aspect is much more "active" under your fingers.

3. The sound on this board is great. Its more of a broad "thock" kind of sound. It is not really more quiet than a plate mount set up, however the overall pitch is much lower.

Overall, I really like this little board that I have put together and will be keeping it this way, and probably using it quite a bit. I suppose that I made this post because, as most boards come plate mounted these days, many users may not have had the chance to ever type on a pcb mounted board. Im not knocking plate set ups, but if you are like me and want to try something different but have tried almost every switch combo on a plate...perhaps try a PCB mount Poker X.

[terran5992]

Like the HHKB vs realforce

[Wildcard]

That "expression" feel is why some of the korean keyboards were doing half plate for awhile. Kind of a hybrid mix where the alpha keys don't have a plate. IMO the modifiers feel better in a plate, but I agree that depending on the switch type, the PCB does have a unique feel that is very good. For switches that reverberate more, ie cherry blue, green, the plate IMO does a better job of making them feel more solid. The linear switches feel great on PCB, and tactile brown does as well. But again, it's always a good idea to try them both.

Also, pinging is usually the result of a improperly seated spring. So very easy to fix on a PCB board, or a plate with cutouts where you can remove the switch tops.

[zoolzoo]

That "expression" feel is why some of the korean keyboards were doing half plate for awhile. Kind of a hybrid mix where the alpha keys don't have a plate. IMO the modifiers feel better in a plate, but I agree that depending on the switch type, the PCB does have a unique feel that is very good. For switches that reverberate more, ie cherry blue, green, the plate IMO does a better job of making them feel more solid. The linear switches feel great on PCB, and tactile brown does as well. But again, it's always a good idea to try them both.

Also, pinging is usually the result of a improperly seated spring. So very easy to fix on a PCB board, or a plate with cutouts where you can remove the switch tops.

Im going to edit out the pinging bit, I was more so refering to the general higher pitch of the plate sound...not the seated spring issue. Good info on that though, I didnt know that is what caused the ping issue.

[ideus]

My first board was a Poker X with reds. I used it for more than a year. Now I am using a plate mounted one. I like both in general. I agree with the experienced reported by zoolzoo on the flex and pitch. However, I prefer the plate mounted overall. I like the pitch in the plate mounted better.


I've read on the addition of a sound dampener under the PCB in the Poker to add some rigidity and to improve the general feeling of the board. I haven't tried it yet.

[bueller]

I don't dislike PCB mounted clears on my Pure but I'm definitely keen to mod it with a plate. Something just feels missing compared to my Filco and I have a feeling a plate will fix that.

[laffindude]

1. PCB flex as a "problem", at least on the Poker X is sort of a myth. I feel like this is some group think kind of thing that has been passed through the forums and the information has been shared by people who may not have had the chance to even try a PCB mount board (like me).

The plastic case, even with its ribs, flexes. You are using my case, which has proper aluminum PCB support. Most other cases DON'T.

Properly stuffed case with aluminum support feels better than plate mounted boards. Any doubters is free to come to my office and play with my boards. I have plated boards in plastic case, stuffed plated board in aluminum case, PCB mount in plastic case, PCB mount in bare aluminum case, and PCB mount in stuffed aluminum case. PCB mount in stuffed case feels the best.

[ideus]

1. PCB flex as a "problem", at least on the Poker X is sort of a myth. I feel like this is some group think kind of thing that has been passed through the forums and the information has been shared by people who may not have had the chance to even try a PCB mount board (like me).

The plastic case, even with its ribs, flexes. You are using my case, which has proper aluminum PCB support. Most other cases DON'T.

Properly stuffed case with aluminum support feels better than plate mounted boards. Any doubters is free to come to my office and play with my boards. I have plated boards in plastic case, stuffed plated board in aluminum case, PCB mount in plastic case, PCB mount in bare aluminum case, and PCB mount in stuffed aluminum case. PCB mount in stuffed case feels the best.

It may be useful for the community if you elaborate a bit on the feeling and sound of each setup. I think very few would be able to try them at your office.

[absyrd]

I'm with you 100%. Poker flex was never a problem for me. And I enjoy browns pcb mounted more than plate mounted.

[laffindude]

Do you have the early Poker without the center screw? Those thing flexed like crazy. The PCB on Pokers and Pures do not sit flush on the plastic ribs. The screw standoffs protrude above the ribs. So it vibrates like crazy without the center screw.

PCB mount in plastic case: Hollow sounding and flexing. You can feel the entire thing vibrate when bottom out. Original Poker without the center screw is horrific in this regard. Pure slightly less so, but very flexible in the number row.

Plate mount in plastic case: feel and sound like any other plated board.
Plate mount in aluminum case: slightly stiffer than above. Less resonance if it has support ribs.
Stuffed plate mount in aluminum case: Very solid, but very dead feeling. Like slamming keycaps into concrete. Very dead sounding too. Just plastic hitting plastic sound. No resonance or anything.

Stuffed PCB mount in aluminum case: Made of win. Very solid but with a tiny bit of give. You can't really feel the flex, but the amount of the flex it does have give it a softer bottom out sound and slightly softer landing.

There are too much hype and group think around here. Anything contrary to the popular belief are shunned. I've mentioned plenty of things before here, and people treated it like BS. Some things can only be understood if they've tried it (most don't bother, and just spew the same crap). Costar stabilizers are treated like the yard stick here. I have quite a few Cherry stabilized board that feels better without the annoying Costar rattle.

[zoolzoo]

Do you have the early Poker without the center screw? Those thing flexed like crazy. The PCB on Pokers and Pures do not sit flush on the plastic ribs. The screw standoffs protrude above the ribs. So it vibrates like crazy without the center screw.

PCB mount in plastic case: Hollow sounding and flexing. You can feel the entire thing vibrate when bottom out. Original Poker without the center screw is horrific in this regard. Pure slightly less so, but very flexible in the number row.

Plate mount in plastic case: feel and sound like any other plated board.
Plate mount in aluminum case: slightly stiffer than above. Less resonance if it has support ribs.
Stuffed plate mount in aluminum case: Very solid, but very dead feeling. Like slamming keycaps into concrete. Very dead sounding too. Just plastic hitting plastic sound. No resonance or anything.

Stuffed PCB mount in aluminum case: Made of win. Very solid but with a tiny bit of give. You can't really feel the flex, but the amount of the flex it does have give it a softer bottom out sound and slightly softer landing.

There are too much hype and group think around here. Anything contrary to the popular belief are shunned. I've mentioned plenty of things before here, and people treated it like BS. Some things can only be understood if they've tried it (most don't bother, and just spew the same crap). Costar stabilizers are treated like the yard stick here. I have quite a few Cherry stabilized board that feels better without the annoying Costar rattle.

What do you use to stuff the case? I have the Poker X without the center screw hole, noticing no issues but also have an aluminum tray.

[ideus]

I think the point here is not only about PCB mount switches but about the overall assembly and materials that makes a board to feel and sound differently.

[laffindude]

What do you use to stuff the case? I have the Poker X without the center screw hole, noticing no issues but also have an aluminum tray.

Shelf liner works fine. Though, I would recommend you don't stuff it, since it will bow up in the middle if you don't have the center screw.