Glorious GMMK Pro
Rotobox Philippines, a distributor of Glorious PC Gaming Race, sent these products as sample which is enough to assemble a Mechanical Keyboard.
Please click the arrow or slide the photos. Best viewed on mobile phones.
Glorious Panda Switches
These are tactile switches with 67g spring weight. Bone dry. No need for wiping.
I lubed them using Miller-Stephenson Tribosys 3203 on rails (bottom housing) then donut dip the springs. This method prevents accidentally lubing the legs. Its easier/faster too!
Top and bottom housings are tight. No need for films.
Glorious Coiled Cable
Gold plated USB 2.0 cable
6 ft coiled + 4 ft straight
White aviator connector
Velcro strap
Honest opinion - Cable is very stiff. But if it stay on a single position, no biggie.
GPBT Keycaps
Closeup photo of the Dyesub Print
Comparison
Top (L-R) - HK Gaming and GPBT
Bottom (L-R) - HK Gaming, GPBT, Varmilo, JTK, GMK
Packaging
GMMK PRO
(the main purpose of the review)
Packaging
Out of the box
Disassembly
Lots of owners encountered issues while disassembling the board. Screws are overtightened and easy to strip.
When unscrewing, be sure to apply force downwards then twist. Do not apply force on twisting alone. Use exact size of screw driver.
PCB
Main PCB and breakout board
Microcontroller - STM32 and capable of QMK. But a friend told me that lights will not function
Hotswap Sockets - Made by Glorious. One of the socket is not soldered properly
MODDING
Remove the dampeners and clean the surface of PCB. These added to the sticky feeling of the stabilizers.
Goat Stabilizers
Replaced with gold wires and bandaid-wrapped it. Housing, inserts and wires are lubed with Krytox 205g0
Stabilizer Housing
I'd cleaned C3, Durock, Everglide, Cherry stabilizers housings with 99% alcohol. The same solution I used in Goat.
To my surprise, a chemical reaction happened. The lube hardened and like feels like tallow. You cant rub it off. After brushing with 99% alcohol, I soaked and brushed it on warm soapy water. Clear plastic turns foggy. Soaking them again to alcohol and let them rest, turns back its color. Though there are traces left, no issues on usage.
Below is a test of the modded Goat Stabilizers
In case you will replace the stabilizers, the plate can use C3, Zeal and Cherry brands. Everglide and Durock are wide and either you sand/file the plate or the stabilizer housing.
GMMK Pro plate (either PC or aluminum) can accommodate up to 6.6mm wide of screw-in stabilizer housing.
Goat - 6.3mm
C3 Equalz - 6.4mm
Cherry - 6.4mm
Zeal - 6.6mm
Everglide/Durock - 6.9mm
Cheaper alternative is using a Plate Mount stabilizer. They are completely compatible.
Plate modding (optional)
I removed the top and bottom standoffs that holding the PCB and Plate together. These standoffs is preventing the main purpose of the plate dampeners and also transfers the vibration to plate and case.
But . . . .
You need to install these center standoffs to keep the PCB and Plate together and preventing switches to go off the plate.
The holes for the pegs are too big. Switches won't lock even you use PCB mounted switches. Half plate is not an option to this board.
Center Standoffs
These standoffs will not make your plate stiff. It plays along with the plate during keypress.
I suggest to install it back specially if you remove the top/bottom bent standoff or unscrewed them.
Installing Switches and Assembly
Before installing switches, be sure to check if the pins are straight.
You can insert switches on plate first then install on PCB. But installing one by one with plate on PCB is better.
Typing test
Comparison of Aluminum and PC Plate. As well as with and without foams. I added 2 layers of gaskets on left and side of the bottom case. Screws are tightened about 50%.
Bonus
For pure awesomeness!
Thank you very much for your support!
I am very happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions about this review.
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