The PCB (printed circuit board) gets placed inside the case and lets the switches communicate with your computer. This is some next-level customizable, and if you’re willing to put in the work (unlike me) it’s totally possible to create some very unique keyboards. Apparently, it is possible to build your own PCB board from scratch. If you’re skilled and more DIY-inclined, this option will be for you. I thought this was super cool, but does not exactly fit in my area of expertise. You can find the GH60 on kprepublic for $30, making it the most affordable option on the list. The GH60 lacks a lot of the features that come standard on most PCBs nowadays, but there are some who may find it a great fit for their needs. This model does not come with RGB underglow and requires you to solder a lot of the parts yourself. Unfortunately, this model is now out of date and not the best option unless cost is really a factor in choosing a design. This PCB was developed through community efforts with geekhack and is quite reliable.
GH60ĭuring my research I stumbled upon the GH60, apparently the OG of the mechanical keyboard PCB world. If cost was not an issue though, I could see this one being a good option. Once I saw the price tag, however, I couldn’t look at this thing without my wallet hurting, but I suppose that’s what you would expect from Zeal. With a nice gold/black aesthetic look to boot. The Zeal60 seemed like another great option, coming with lots cool features such as individual RGB lit keys and pre-soldered LEDs, diodes, resistors, and controllers.
PCB key layout supportįor power supply, you have the option to choose between a mini and Type C USB.īased on my research this seemed like the most cost-efficient option that will fit most people’s needs. The DZ60 also supports a wide variety of key layouts such as a split space bar or the addition of arrow keys on the right side of the keyboard. More and more PCBs are coming with these socket types as they are super convienent and make it possible to build a keyboard in an hour after unboxing. In addition, the PCB comes with hot-swappable sockets, making it super easy to change out the switches (as mentioned before). The RGB alone almost made me pull out my credit card. The DZ60RGB V2 comes standard with RGB under glow and is fully programable with QMK firmware which are some really nice features to have. One of the most popular PCBs currently is the DZ60RGB from. The price of this PCB is a bit on the higher-end, which doesn’t make it the best option, and there is no hot-swap sockets so you’ll be stuck with soldering. Usually a USB-C port is preferred because the head is reversible and you don’t need to waste time when accidentally plugging in upside-down. The keyboard comes with USB-mini port, which is a little outdated, but can be overlooked by most. The PCB is fully programmable up to 16 layers and supports 200+ media keys. The C³ PCB is nother great option that comes with in-switch and underglow RGB lighting, perfect for an acryllic case or pudding keycaps that can really show off lighting. The PCB also comes with support for multimedia keys, which make changing your music on the fly a breeze.
The 1UP PCB comes in standard ANSI layout, is fully programmable with QMK and VIA software, which allows you to remap your keys easily.
Keyboard pcb how to#
Hot-swappable sockets are perfect for those who don’t have the time to learn how to solder or have the money and space for a soldering kit. The best feature that comes with the 1UP PCB is the hot-swappable sockets which allow for easy installation and removal of switches without the need of soldering. The 1UP RGB PCB is an excellent option for those who need RGB underglow and a light show every time they start up their keyboard. You can read about the best 60% mechanical keyboards if you want something that’s already complete for you. There are several different layouts, PCB types, RGB, underglow, and programmable options, so we’ll explain the features of each type and where to buy them. Picking out the best PCB depends on what features you’re looking for in a PCB. Building a custom mechanical keyboard is a really fun project, but it can be difficult sorting through all of the different PCB’s for a 60% keyboard.