Novelkeys NK87 Entry Edition: A Custom Keyboard Build and what you should know
Channel: ireakhavok
Date: 2022-06-26

This is a review and build of a custom keyboard NK87 Entry Edition

Overview of the NK87 EE: (0:00)
Novelkeys NK87 Aluminum: (2:35)
Flesports MK870: (3:12)
Custom Mods Build for the NK87 EE: (3:43)
Sound test, Before and After: (4:14)
Decision on the Entry Edition: (5:34)

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 Even though it can be a great starter keyboard there are some small details that you might want to consider that make it less entry than the name suggests. This board has an F13 key, and a non-standard bottom row, so all of the cheaper keyboard sets, and some of the more expensive sets, will not work on this keyboard. 

The main features of this board are that it is hot-swap, RGB, south-facing, and comes with dampening not just for the PCB, but also the case. It is VIA compatible and Novelkeys also has some different plates that you can get. It doesn’t come with keycaps or switches.

This build was intended to showcase the alternative to getting a more expensive custom, so I chose to get some Kaihl pro purples from microcenter and some Knock off GMK keycaps to save some money. 

The one advantage this Entry edition has over the aluminum version is that the standoff’s for the tray mount can be entirely removed so that there is a tiny bit more flexibility while typing. 

My biggest issues with the board are the layout, and the quality of the case. There were distinct gouges in the plastic where they separated the mold. 

The “pre-lubed” stabilizer job on this board is utterly embarrassing. If you mod anything on this board it should be the stabilizers. In a little bit you’ll hear the difference.
 
The aluminum version of this board is better. The only drawback is that it has the same layout. It does have a completely different sound profile, but is just as pleasing to the ears. The aluminum version has a fantastic coating, is sturdy, heavy, and has all of the benefits of the EE, like hot-swap and south facing, but due to the materials it is almost twice the price.  If you are looking at the EE I would highly suggest the aluminum version over this board. The  Flesports MK870 is nearly identical visually, and even has dampening between the plate and PCB, the plate is aluminum, and doesn’t have case dampening, but is half the price, and doesn’t have any of the quality control issues that are so apparent on the EE. 

Although I have several gripes with the EE, after modding, I was very happy with how it sounded, and am glad to have this in my collection, but I would suggest going with a different board just for the fact that there are cheaper options that reduce it’s viability and reduce it’s benefits over the aluminum version. 

When I built this board, I removed the standoffs, re-lubed the screw in stabilizers, lubed the switches, and assembled the board. 

 It now has a soft and poppy sound, doesn’t rattle, and feels really smooth. 

Ultimately my biggest problem with this board is the fact that I can only use custom keycaps on it. Sure the gouges in the plastic were annoying, and it wasn’t as sturdy as I hoped, but I have something like 8 keysets that I am not able to use on this board. Don’t get me wrong, the board sounds and feels great, but ultimately I am a fan of standardization, and there is no reason and no benefit to this layout over a standard TKL layout. Other layouts like 65% require a custom bottom row, and can be looked past for the form factor requirements, but forcing this layout when you don’t need to is an annoyance for something labelled entry edition. 

Obviously I did know what I was getting into, so maybe I’m being a little harsh, but if you have a ton of custom sets, this board would be perfect for you. 

Even though this is a great board, for now I’m going to put this board away in its case, and save it for a rainy day, and maybe I’ll change my mind.


Novelkeys NK87 ALUMINUM:
https://novelkeys.com/products/nk87-aluminum-edition

Novelkeys NK87 Entry edition:
https://novelkeys.com/products/nk87-entry-edition

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