The Glorious PC Gaming Race GMMK-BRN Modular Mechanical Keyboard Review

Quality Testing

In order to test the quality and consistency of a keyboard, we are using a texture analyser that is programmed to measure and display the actuation force of the standard keyboard keys. By measuring the actuation force of every key, the quality and consistency of the keyboard can be quantified. It can also reveal design issues, such as the larger keys being far softer to press than the main keys of the keyboard. The actuation force is measured in Centinewton (cN). Some companies use another figure, gram-force (gf). The conversion formula is 1 cN = 1.02 gf (i.e. they are about the same). A high quality keyboard should be as consistent as possible, with an average actuation force as near to the manufacturer's specs as possible and a disparity of less than ±10%. Greater differences are likely to be perceptible by users. It is worth noting that there is typically variance among keyboards, although most keyboard companies will try and maintain consistency - as with other reviews, we're testing our sample only.

The machine we use for our testing is accurate enough to provide readings with a resolution of 0.1 cN. For wider keys (e.g. Enter, Space Bar, etc.), the measurement is taking place at the center of the key, right above the switch. Note that large keys generally have a lower actuation force even if the actuation point is at the dead center of the key. This is natural, as the size and weight of the keycap reduces the required actuation force. For this reason, we do display the force required to actuate every key but we only use the results of the typical sized keys for our consistency calculations. Still, very low figures on medium sized keys, such as the Shift and Enter keys reveal design issues and can easily be perceptible by the user.

This is the first time we've come across Gateron’s products, and a keyboard full of their Brown switches is an excellent specimen for determining and establishing a baseline of their quality. Overall, the quality of the Gateron switches is not bad at all. They are definitely less consistent than Cherry’s switches, with an actuation force disparity of ±6.24%, whereas Cherry-based keyboards tend to display a disparity under 4%. The average actuation force across the main keys is 43.3 cN, lower than the specified 45 cN, hinting that most of the keys actuate slightly before the 2 mm travel point, where the spring’s force is lower. These differences however are virtually imperceptible by touch. In summary, the Gateron Brown switches appear to be good quality products, with performance figures slightly better or comparable to their Kailh counterparts, yet undeniably worse than the original Cherry MX switches.