Doomhammer Choc 96 Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - True RGB Backlit, Hot Swappable Key switches, NKRO (Blue Switches (RGB), Black)

First things first, despite the claim of hotswappable switches, these switches are actually soldered onto the board, so there are no quick and easy changes here.In spite of that, this is the only 96 key keyboard I've been able to find that has a full size right shift key and standard right alt/fn/ctrl keys, making it compatible with basic 108 key keycap sets without having to buy any special modifiers. Being able to switch between a tenkeyless mode and a full size numpad on the fly is incredible, and it's only 3/4 of an inch longer than my old TKL.There's plenty of RGB lighting modes and they're easily swapped between on the keyboard without any software, along with working media keys. Again, the biggest downside is the soldered Outemu Blue switches, which are similar to Cherry Blues but with a much louder and higher pitched click sound. I was looking forward to replacing them in the near future, but without the hotswap sockets, it'll cost even more money to invest in a soldering kit. If it wasn't for the unique layout, I'd probably return the board and buy a GMMK instead that has actual hotswap sockets preinstalled.

As a fan of the Cooler Master 96 key layout I've been having a hard time finding a nice replacement since they were discontinued. I was previously using the CMStorm Quickfire TK, which is the predecessor to the Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro M. I never purchased a Pro M model because I was waiting for the price on the RGB version to drop - And instead of ever dropping, it just simply went out of production. My bad, right?Cue me looking into alternatives to replace my old White LED Quickfire TK. First option was the Vortex Vibe, but the lack of F/media keys really rubbed me the wrong way. That and the absent lighting made it a hard option. My second choice would have been a DIY YMDK board kit. While this would have been a fantastic option, it also would have cost me over two hundred bucks when all was said and done. That's... A lot.That's where the Choc 96 came in. 96 key, RGB, identical layout to the Cooler Master, and more intriguing the claim that it's hot swappable. What I found out, however, is that it's only swappable with other Outemu switches - I've also read that people have had luck using Gaterons, but it seems as though MX and Kailh switches just won't fit. Frustrating, but with the Outemu Silent Sky switches available I figured it would still be a great fit for me.Currently I'm using the keyboard stock - I got the one with Outemu Dustproof Blue switches. I have to say that I'm actually really impressed by them. While they're noisier than their MX counterpart, they're a lot more stable - they don't wobble at all - and the tension is just a tad bit heavier which makes them feel great. The clicks are louder compared to other blue switches, but I find the feel of typing on these extremely satisfying due to just how tactile they are, and despite the louder clicks they still sound very pleasing. I'm not sure why Outemu has a bad reputation, because I definitely prefer these over the MX Blues. The only con is that they do have a mild spring ping, but it doesn't bother me. My MX Browns had it too.Moving on to the keyboard itself, it's shockingly well built. Sturdy without much flex, and the removable cover is a huge bonus. The cover itself snaps in place with magnets and stays put very well once it's set. Using it without the cover, of course, is also a viable option - exposing the orange backplate the switches are mounted in to. No complaints so far... But there are some.First of all, the cable it comes with is non-removable and attached to the PCB with a 5-pin. This could definitely be converted to a detachable cable if you're crafty with a soldering iron and use a USB pass-thru, but personally I'm choosing not to bother. I have no real problem with the cable even if it provides a slight inconvenience when cleaning the board. At least it's also orange to match the plate. The cable is about 6ft in length.Second of all, while the RGB functions are fantastic and look great, the board absolutely has the typical capacitor whine when the lights are active. In a quiet room you can definitely hear a high pitch squeal, and even more so if you put your ear to it. I was afraid my first one was defective due to this and ordered a replacement, but unfortunately the replacement had the same exact whine - in the same spot of the board. It's definitely a standard thing. If you don't have sensitive hearing you may not notice it, but rest assured it's there. It goes away if you turn off the lighting, however.More gripes:What you've heard is true. Getting the switches out of this board, even with a good switch puller, is dang near impossible. I believe they use an adhesive on the stock switches so they don't come loose during shipping. This means you *will* damage the stock switches if you choose to replace them. I wish this weren't the case, but it's simply the reality. In my case it's frustrating since I really like the Dustproof Blues and would have liked to preserve them. (Though if I went with clickies my first choice would be Kailh Box Navy.)Instead of 2 Windows Keys, the right sided key is a right click/context menu key. I really dislike this and would prefer to have another windows button. Unfortunately, this keyboard is not programmable so it's something I'll have to get used to. Either that or edit the w10 registry.That goes on to it's one major failing in comparison to the Cooler Master version: When you toggle between the numpad and the nav clusters, the keyboard disables your -, +, and return keys on the far right when switched to the nav cluster. This is extremely frustrating. The toggling is otherwise the same as the Cooler Master, however the CM leaves -, +, and return active which is a lot more useful. So now if I'm using the arrow keys and decide to hit enter, I first have to toggle modes, hit enter, and then toggle back. This makes very little sense and in my eyes is a huge design oversight. I really wish there was a way to fix it. Disabling 4, 5, 6, 1, and 3 makes sense while in nav, but the -, +, and return should absolutely stay active. It makes using this keyboard a lot more cumbersome than the CM.So would I recommend this board? Absolutely - At it's price point it's incredibly solid, and even stock it's impressive. The ability to swap switches is just a bonus, even if swapping them is a grueling task, but the stock switches - Well, at least the blues, are excellent and subjectively superior to the MX variant. The build quality is on par with the late Cooler Master version, with the only exception being the high frequency capacitor whine.Is it functionally as good as the Cooler Master? Unfortunately, no. Between the issue of only having a single windows key, and the numpad toggle disabling the return key while in nav mode, I find this board a lot more frustrating to use. What I wouldn't give to be able to reprogram it, then it'd be nearly perfect.Still, at the price, it's very easy to recommend if you're looking for a familiar 96 layout. Hopefully we'll see more 96 boards in the future.

While this keyboard is built well for the price, and it packs a lot of features for the money, I would not recommend purchasing this keyboard if you plan on taking out the keyswitches and replacing them. The switches are so tightly in the sockets that to pull them out you either damage the board or the switches.

Pulling out the switches with a switch remover took a lot of effort. I ended up swapping in from Outemu Silent's that I bought from a distributor. The RGB is fun and I like the layout.