Welcome back to nearlucid. Today  we’ll be reviewing the gamakay K77,  
Welcome back to nearlucid. Today  we’ll be reviewing the gamakay K77,  

a budget friendly and very very bright  keyboard. This board was provided by banggood,  
a budget friendly and very very bright  keyboard. This board was provided by banggood,  

but as always, that will not influence  our opinion or statements in any way.
but as always, that will not influence  our opinion or statements in any way.

Let's start with unboxing. There's nothing  special. The board is inside a plastic bag here,  
Let's start with unboxing. There's nothing  special. The board is inside a plastic bag here,  

and included is also a USB to USBC cable, keycap  and switch puller, and a brush of some sort.  
and included is also a USB to USBC cable, keycap  and switch puller, and a brush of some sort.  

These are going into the trash immediately,  I would always recommend using your own tools  
These are going into the trash immediately,  I would always recommend using your own tools  

and cable. And here is the board itself. For  a prebuilt of this size, the weight is fair,  
and cable. And here is the board itself. For  a prebuilt of this size, the weight is fair,  

and it looks really interesting with its  unusual layout and stacked acrylic case.
and it looks really interesting with its  unusual layout and stacked acrylic case.

So onto some basic specs. The k77 comes  with your choice of gateron black,  
So onto some basic specs. The k77 comes  with your choice of gateron black,  

blue, brown, red, or yellow  switches, and is hotswappable,  
blue, brown, red, or yellow  switches, and is hotswappable,  

but unfortunately with north facing sockets.  I’ll get to why this is an issue later.  
but unfortunately with north facing sockets.  I’ll get to why this is an issue later.  

It uses USBC on the right side, which is  always good to see. The plate is acrylic  
It uses USBC on the right side, which is  always good to see. The plate is acrylic  

and only supports plate mounted stabilizers.  Every configuration is roughly 80 dollars.
and only supports plate mounted stabilizers.  Every configuration is roughly 80 dollars.

Today our k77 has gateron yellows, and  before we get into the review and modding,  
Today our k77 has gateron yellows, and  before we get into the review and modding,  

let’s perform a stock sound test,  right out of the box, unmodified.
let’s perform a stock sound test,  right out of the box, unmodified.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s too bad. I find that stacked acrylic cases sound  
Honestly, I don’t think it’s too bad. I find that stacked acrylic cases sound  

very muted, since it’s just plastic on  plastic. The stabilizers are very rattly,  
very muted, since it’s just plastic on  plastic. The stabilizers are very rattly,  

but since they’re plate mounted, they’re easy  enough to swap out. And the feel of stock gateron  
but since they’re plate mounted, they’re easy  enough to swap out. And the feel of stock gateron  

yellows isn’t too bad, and I would say they’re  decently smoother than some other stock switches.
yellows isn’t too bad, and I would say they’re  decently smoother than some other stock switches.

Before we start modding, let's do  a quick review of the features,  
Before we start modding, let's do  a quick review of the features,  

starting with the exterior design and layout. The board itself is four pieces of acrylic,  
starting with the exterior design and layout. The board itself is four pieces of acrylic,  

all screwed together with these screws on the  bottom. It’s slightly angled, but only due to  
all screwed together with these screws on the  bottom. It’s slightly angled, but only due to  

the massive rear bumpers that look kinda weird  from the side. I would definitely prefer for  
the massive rear bumpers that look kinda weird  from the side. I would definitely prefer for  

these to be acrylic, like on the gentleman, so  it would match with the rest of the board better. 
these to be acrylic, like on the gentleman, so  it would match with the rest of the board better. 

And with this semi transparent case, RGB is  diffused incredibly well, allowing for extremely  
And with this semi transparent case, RGB is  diffused incredibly well, allowing for extremely  

bright lighting effects. These can be controlled  through gamakay’s own lighting software,  
bright lighting effects. These can be controlled  through gamakay’s own lighting software,  

which is linked in the description below. This didn’t install correctly for me, and I  
which is linked in the description below. This didn’t install correctly for me, and I  

ended up just having to use the key combinations  found in the manual to change the lighting. 
ended up just having to use the key combinations  found in the manual to change the lighting. 

This layout is very unique, and I actually  quite like it. I’ve always liked the look of  
This layout is very unique, and I actually  quite like it. I’ve always liked the look of  

the function row-less boards, just because of  how wide they look, and this board takes that  
the function row-less boards, just because of  how wide they look, and this board takes that  

up a notch and replaces the nav cluster with a  full on number pad. For practicality purposes  
up a notch and replaces the nav cluster with a  full on number pad. For practicality purposes  

I guess this varies a lot, and since it still  retains the arrow keys I ultimately don’t mind. 
I guess this varies a lot, and since it still  retains the arrow keys I ultimately don’t mind. 

Typing feel is fairly stiff because of  the rigidness of the stacked acrylic,  
Typing feel is fairly stiff because of  the rigidness of the stacked acrylic,  

but not super solid like a metal plate. Like all  stacked acrylic boards, there’s no room for flex,  
but not super solid like a metal plate. Like all  stacked acrylic boards, there’s no room for flex,  

so soft board enjoyers may feel disappointed,  but if you’re coming from a prebuilt with a  
so soft board enjoyers may feel disappointed,  but if you’re coming from a prebuilt with a  

very solid plate, the step down in  stiffness may be a welcome change. 
very solid plate, the step down in  stiffness may be a welcome change. 

The included keycaps are OEM profile ABS  shine through, and are pretty thin and  
The included keycaps are OEM profile ABS  shine through, and are pretty thin and  

cheap feeling. I would definitely swap these  out for a set of your preference. The issue  
cheap feeling. I would definitely swap these  out for a set of your preference. The issue  

with the hotswap socket being north facing is  that if you want to use cherry profile keycaps,  
with the hotswap socket being north facing is  that if you want to use cherry profile keycaps,  

which I recommend for the most optimal sound,  you will have to find a switch with a long pole,  
which I recommend for the most optimal sound,  you will have to find a switch with a long pole,  

which is a switch that doesn’t go  all the way down when fully pressed.  
which is a switch that doesn’t go  all the way down when fully pressed.  

Otherwise, you’ll run into keycap and switch  interference, and it’ll sound and feel awful.
Otherwise, you’ll run into keycap and switch  interference, and it’ll sound and feel awful.

And with that we can start modding. We’re going  to ditch both the plate mounted stabilizers and  
And with that we can start modding. We’re going  to ditch both the plate mounted stabilizers and  

stock gateron yellows and replace them with  tuned everglide pandas. For switches I’m going  
stock gateron yellows and replace them with  tuned everglide pandas. For switches I’m going  

to use holy bobas, which do have a long pole so  I am free to use any cherry profile set I want.  
to use holy bobas, which do have a long pole so  I am free to use any cherry profile set I want.  

I'm going to be using GMK white on black, just  because I want a neutral set that can match with  
I'm going to be using GMK white on black, just  because I want a neutral set that can match with  

any RGB setting the board is set to. Now, let’s take the screws out 
any RGB setting the board is set to. Now, let’s take the screws out 

And do the tempest tape mod on the PCB. This is a  great mod for improving sound on beginner boards,  
And do the tempest tape mod on the PCB. This is a  great mod for improving sound on beginner boards,  

and we did make an in-depth video explaining  how to perform the mod and how it affects sound,  
and we did make an in-depth video explaining  how to perform the mod and how it affects sound,  

so be sure to watch that first if you want more  information. I’m going to use around 3 layers.  
so be sure to watch that first if you want more  information. I’m going to use around 3 layers.  

The PE foam mod doesn’t really work on this board  since the plate is extra thick and the switches  
The PE foam mod doesn’t really work on this board  since the plate is extra thick and the switches  

will just pop out, but I did manually PE foam by  cutting tiny foam squares for every switch socket.
will just pop out, but I did manually PE foam by  cutting tiny foam squares for every switch socket.

Now here’s a sound test with tape mod, PE foam  mod, tuned everglide pandas, Holy Bobas, and GMK.
Now here’s a sound test with tape mod, PE foam  mod, tuned everglide pandas, Holy Bobas, and GMK.

Not sure if I entirely like it. The sound  seems super inconsistent across each row,  
Not sure if I entirely like it. The sound  seems super inconsistent across each row,  

which is quite interesting. Black keycaps on polycarbonate looks alright,  but I think I would still rather have something light gray like modern dolch light,  
which is quite interesting. Black keycaps on polycarbonate looks alright,  but I think I would still rather have something light gray like modern dolch light,  

or better yet, ascii. And because of the LED  placement, even though the keycaps aren't  
or better yet, ascii. And because of the LED  placement, even though the keycaps aren't  

shine through, the lighting still looks great. So with this board having a thick plate and  
shine through, the lighting still looks great. So with this board having a thick plate and  

north facing switches, it’s not the easiest  in the world to mod. But if the extreme RGB  
north facing switches, it’s not the easiest  in the world to mod. But if the extreme RGB  

of the k77 is something you’re into, I would  definitely not knock it as a budget option.
of the k77 is something you’re into, I would  definitely not knock it as a budget option.

And that’s all I have for you today. Thanks for  watching this episode of nearlucid. If you liked  
And that’s all I have for you today. Thanks for  watching this episode of nearlucid. If you liked  

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