Glorious Gaming - GMMK 2 (96%)

No apology necessary! I wouldn't have thought anything of it if you left me hanging, but super appreciate you taking the time to give all the details. This is super helpful! The GMMK modular sounds perfect for getting started. I'll likely start with that and some tactiles with the goal of leveling up before too long. Thanks again dude!

Nice! There's a microcenter about an hour and a half away but that barebones you linked was perfect for me haha. I forced myself to get used to tkl for the extra mouse room, but glad for the options if anyone else needs help getting started. Then I'll probably grab the tactile switches and grey keycaps and see how we're feeling. Pretty stoked to start building it!

Sorry to leave you hanging here. I've been out of the buying loop for a bit and my go-to redragon low profile isn't sold anymore. It was hot swappable, and had decent low profile switches, cheap feeling keycaps, but ran $50 new, $40 on sale. They sell a few, but some aren't hot swappable. And if you intend to modify them, you want that hot swap. (tend to hober $40 to $60) There are a bunch of low profile keychrons, and it seems like one of them is on sale every month. They always seem to have brown switch versions, and a lot of people seem to like the brand. (See them a lot around $80, have seen as low as $50) Nuphy aren't exactly low budget, but retail for the same as the G915 does when it's on sale (around $120ish) My current one is as follows: [GMMK modular](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YZ43NRR) (96% keyboard, most of the keys, yet takes up less space) I got this for $30, it's $40 right now though. There's also [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093CFFXMC) if you want more compact. [Tecsee low profile yellows](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZGV48BQ) I did linear, but they have tactile too. Then I got some Gateron low profile stabilizers, and some poron stickers for under the switches. I took the default foam out of it, and put three thin but dense sheets of shelf liner (cutting holes for the screws and one cable) out in the interior. Out the door I think it cost me maybe $120, and it is simply the best mechanical keyboard I have ever used. Mind you, this is even without lubing the switches. I think they feel great without the extra lube, something I've never done on a mechanical before. The RGB on the board is very nice, no flicker like some cheaper keyboards have. (granted, I do just keep it on solid red most of the time) And no, it isn't wireless. But that trade is 100% worth it to me. (I thumps instead of clacks. It's very quiet. Quieter than some scissor switch keyboards out there.) EDIT: Oh, and one very important note on the stabilizers if you or anyone does this combo - I removed the metal stabilizer bar on some of them. It was too tight. Some people bend them to try to fit them when this happened, but I tested it without them, and it honestly feels plenty stable without them, reduces some chatter sound, reduces some friction, and still has plenty of bounce to it. And my keycaps of choice are [Womier Low Profile](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKTFB5JM) (make sure it says shine-thru if you want that) They are totally flat, so like a laptop with proper scissor switch (not chiclet) as I grew up on that, and prefer the feel.

You're welcome. Also, I don't know if you have a microcenter near you, but last time I went that had a barebones one for dirt cheap, though it was a 60% keyboard though. I at LEAST need my arrow keys. I prefer having a numpad too. Also, I linked you the wrong GMMK!!! [THIS is the one I meant](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YZ43NRR) more compact, but has the numpad. $40 EDIT: And edited the other post to have both versions of the GMMK barebones.

I have a gmmk2 96% keyboard and it's great. I know glorious isn't popular because people say the pro version is expensive without justification which I agree with but the gmmk2 generally is fantastic for the value and you can buy it on Amazon for around $45-75 I think. (At least it was during Black Friday)...it used to be $160ish I think before they released gmmk3??? It comes in 2 sizes also depending on your preference. Generally speaking you don't even have to mod it either as it comes pretty good out of the box unless you really are picky about it being crazy thocky which you aren't.

I think all the suggestions above are pretty helpful, but I do want to give a small warning about trying out keyboards at Best Buy. The big “brand name” mechanical gaming keyboards (Razer, Logitech, Corsair, etc.) are generally considered subpar quality for the price. Personally, I find them mostly to have cheap plasticky cases and keycaps, and their switches are hollow feeling (I like a good, heavy tactile) there are exceptions though, like the gmmk2 and keychron brand. but last time i was there they didn't have keychrons on display. I see that Northgate BB has sells the Keychron Q6. Definitely ask if they can open one up for you if it's not on display. It's the closest thing they have to what a nice premium office keyboard feels like. It's built and weighs like a tank. So it’s definitely good to visit Best Buy to get a sense of the basics (what kind of switch or what size board feels best), but just keep in mind there’s a huge world beyond Best Buy with a bazillion variety of keyboards and switches, most that are better quality for the same or lower price. I used to use a service from [milktooth.nu](http://milktooth.nu) that lets you rent out a bunch of switches with a little test board to try out. Doesn't look like they do that anymore? You should inquire about it. I buy from them sometimes, they have a informative (tho prolly biased) youtube review channel (here's a [bunch of rundowns of silent switches](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=milktooth+silent+switches)) they don't charge sales tax for some reason and shipping is free if you spend $50ish.

I despise the factory switches on my GMMK 2 (not sure if they’re different on the 3) - it’s my work/office keeb so I have some Durock Ice Kings otw 🫶🏼

I mean realistically the most you want a keyboard to be is durable and responsive. I personally use Glorious's fullsize keyboard.

There are far better alternatives than Glorious. This is coming from someone who's first build was a GMMK Pro, the first version of this keyboard. I had to purchase a seperate flex kit from them and finish it off with new stabs in order to make it sound and feel relatively decent. Despite buying the board AFTER the overlubing issues were fixed, I still got one with insanely sticky stabs. I just replaced them with durock V3 stabs but I had to file down the polycarbonate plate to get them to fit. The overall build was over 300 dollars, including the price of the top frame, flex kit, new stabs, and new switches and caps. Compare this to a several other keyboards I bought for way less and sounded and felt much better out the gate. I have a GK Gamakay SN75, Akko 5075B, and Batknight BK75, and all of them sound and felt better for the price they were at. And the best part is they came complete at less than 100-110 usd. The gmmk barebones I bought was 134 usd and didn't have switches or caps. Don't buy from these gaming companies unless value for money is truly just not a concern.

I had an old membrane Logitech and got a K70 as my first mechanical. I wasn’t happy with the MX browns and the lack of an edge boarder. I returned it for a Glorious barebones and Akko linear switches. I’m very happy with the hardware but the glorious software is basically unusable.

I use a GMMK also and I love it. Why do you want to switch?

You can get one from a 3rd part, like gmmk, which have some nice palm rests. Currently using their wooden one.