My New Panda-Powered Keyboard

 

Hello, this blog was one I put together when I was gifted a voucher from work. I was presented with the opportunity to buy an unprecedented upgrade for my setup. After some research, which I have shared below, I put together an enthusiast grade keyboard which exceeded expectations!

Foreword

After my Corsair K70 with Cherry MX Blues started having issues, I found myself in the market for a new keyboard. I'd seen countless custom builds online, particularly on communities like r/MechanicalKeyboards, where people shared incredible designs that both looked and sounded amazing. Inspired by these creations, I decided that when it was time to search for a new keyboard, I would try my hand at building one myself.

After some exploring I decided that I would go for a GMMK build. (https://www.gloriousgaming.com)

Frame

 

The GMMK Pro is a 75% keyboard with 87 keys, which was perfect for me since it retains dedicated function keys and arrow keys. I was also drawn to its aluminium body with a sleek anodised finish. The chassis alone cost $200.

Switches

 

With a name like Holy Panda, I had high hopes for these switches—and they didn't disappoint. The snappy, tactile feel was excellent.
 

However, they came at a price. Sold in batches of 35 for $42 each, I ended up spending $126 on switches alone.

 

Needless to say, my expectations for the final build were pretty high.
Here they are in hand

Result

  

The hot-swap switches made assembling this board quick and easy. I also picked up a coiled cable and double shot PBT keycaps, which I highly recommend—they're durable and of great quality. By this point, I had spent around $300, but the build turned out fantastic. It's an incredible keyboard both in feel and sound. For now, I can't see myself spending this much on another keyboard anytime soon. My poor wallet! :(