Modularity
Modularity
Let’s get to the main feature, the switch sockets. Glorious have stated on various forums that the sockets should be good for around 70 switch swaps before wear and tear sets in. I’m thinking that, given the price of the GMMK, if I get 15 swaps out of it I’ll have gotten my money’s worth.
The real draw with modularity is that you would swap out switches until you find a switch (or combination) that suits your style, your endgame, and you just stuck with it. Previously, without a modular keyboard, you’d have to buy a whole new keyboard at $100 (or much, much more) just to try out a new switch type.
Being a keyboard enthusiast myself, I like purchasing the whole keyboard. With the GMMK, you can now just buy a switch pack for $40 and you have a whole new typing experience. If you like clicky MX Blues, you can swap those in. If you like soft linear MX Red, Glorious has you covered there too. If you go for more exotic, like the purple Zealios, you’ll have to get in a groupbuy, but at least the GMMK will be there, ready to take any MX compatible plate-mount switches.
The switch bays are socketed, and uses plate-mounted MX switches. The GMMK includes a metal switch puller, just grab the tabs and it should just pop out. Here we’ve swapped out for Gateron Yellows, which are smoother, lighter Cherry MX Blacks.
Here we have our first issue, the numpad switches for the enter and plus are mounted vertically. You have to use two small screwdrivers of a pair of very thin knives to extract the switch. The included metal puller doesn’t have enough room to clear the stabilisers.
MX switches are designed to either be soldered to a PCB, or soldered and clicked into place on a metal plate, providing a solid, rigid mounting. Almost all mechanical keyboards these days use plate mounted switches. With the plate-mounted switches and the sockets, provided the solder joints are well done, the GMMK should last for years of typing, gaming, and swapping.
Swapping switches totally transforms the GMMK. Gone are the wobbly and easily pulled keycaps. With the stock keycaps and linear switches, this board is very solid, and quite clacky. It just feels so good, man. Let me move on before I start raving.
