Page 3 - Disassembly and Internals
I started the disassembly of the be quiet! Dark Mount Silent Tactile with the main keyboard, leaving the numpad untouched. Removing the keycaps was straightforward, and I immediately noticed how thick they felt. The translucent inner layer under each key is responsible for the RGB LED light diffusion and the translucent legends. As mentioned prior, the keys are made of PBT, or polybutylene terephthalate, double-shot keycaps, which allow the keys to be highly resistant to wear and tear. The PBT keycaps also produce a deeper, muted sound compared to their ABS, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, counterparts, due to the thicker walls and higher density. The keycaps support standard Cherry MX stems and have a Cherry profile. The larger keys feature plate-mounted stabilizers, which are pre-lubed and surprisingly solid. There was no rattling at all during testing.
With the keycaps removed, the switches became more visible. The Dark Mount Silent Tactile uses be quiet! Silent Tactile Black switches, which I personally found to feel most like brown switches. The Silent Tactile Black switches are Cherry MX, 5-pin hot-swappable, and PCB mounted, making key replacement or maintenance simple. Each switch has a POM (polyoxymethylene) stem, a PA66 (Nylon 66) housing, and a spring that measures 1.3 cm. As advertised, each switch was pre-lubed. No extra switches are included in the box.
More specific information, such as actuation force and travel distance, is not listed on the manufacturer's website. In addition to the be quiet! Silent Tactile Black switches, there is also the option for the be quiet! Silent Linear Orange switches.
**need better photo of switches and keycap removal**
Next, I removed the top plate by unscrewing it and carefully releasing the internal clips, taking care not to break the plastic clips, which are somewhat fragile.
The Dark Mount uses a plate-mounted switch design with the PCB sandwiched underneath, supported by multiple layers to dampen sound as stated on the manufacturer’s website. Two foam layers cover the PCB: the first sits between the brushed aluminum plate and the PCB, while the second lies between the PCB and a thick silicone layer that fills most of the case. These layers significantly reduce keyboard noise. As stated in the previous page, the keys feel quiet without being completely muted. While typing hard still produces some sound, it is much softer and cannot easily be heard from half a meter away.
Beneath all these layers is a daughterboard PCB that controls the modularity of the numpad. It connects via pin headers on either side of the keyboard. While GST or ribbon connections might have been safer alternatives, this design choice suggests the Dark Mount does not intend for users to frequently access the internals.
Overall, disassembling the Dark Mount gave me a greater appreciation for its hot-swappable switches, solid stabilizers, and layered sound-dampening. The internal design may feel slightly dated, but quiet, modular functionality remains the focus, and for the main keyboard, it succeeds.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion
