When shopping for a mechanical keyboard or building your own custom setup, you’ll often come across the terms north-facing PCB and south-facing PCB. While it may sound like a small technical detail, the orientation of your PCB plays a big role in how your keyboard feels, sounds, and works with different keycaps.
In this post, we’ll break down the difference between north and south-facing PCBs so you can decide which one is right for you.
What Do “North” and “South” Mean?
The terms north-facing and south-facing refer to the direction that the switch LED (or the top housing of the switch) faces once it’s soldered or installed into the PCB.
- North-facing PCB: The LED slot faces the top edge of the keyboard (toward the number row).
- South-facing PCB: The LED slot faces the bottom edge of the keyboard (toward the spacebar).
This simple difference changes how switches interact with keycaps and how lighting looks on your board.
North-Facing PCB Keyboards
Pros:
- Brighter RGB Lighting: Since the LED is closer to the top of the switch, the legends on your keycaps (especially shine-through caps) light up more directly and look brighter.
- Standard in Many Prebuilt Keyboards: A lot of mainstream keyboards use north-facing PCBs because of the stronger RGB effect.
Cons:
- Keycap Interference: The most common issue with north-facing PCBs is interference between Cherry-profile keycaps and the switch housing, especially on the R3 row (home row). This can cause keycaps to rub against the switch, leading to a scratchy feel or reduced travel.
- Sound Quality: Some enthusiasts argue that interference and positioning can negatively affect the sound, making keystrokes feel “harsher.”
South-Facing PCB Keyboards
Pros:
- No Keycap Interference: South-facing PCBs eliminate the Cherry-profile interference problem, so you can use almost any keycap set without worrying about rubbing or awkward feels.
- Better Sound Profile: Many custom keyboard builders prefer south-facing PCBs because they generally produce a deeper, cleaner sound.
- Preferred for Enthusiasts: If you’re into custom builds, south-facing has become the standard choice for compatibility and acoustics.
Cons:
- Weaker RGB Lighting: Since the LED faces downward, shine-through keycaps don’t glow as brightly. RGB effects are less visible compared to north-facing setups.
- Less Common in Prebuilts: You’ll mostly find south-facing PCBs in enthusiast and custom keyboards rather than mass-produced models.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you love RGB lighting and use shine-through ABS keycaps, a north-facing PCB will give you the brightest effect.
If you care more about keycap compatibility, typing feel, and sound, a south-facing PCB is usually the better choice.
For most keyboard enthusiasts—especially those who enjoy premium PBT or Cherry-profile keycaps—south-facing PCBs are considered the superior option. But if RGB is your top priority, north-facing might suit you better.
Final Thoughts
The choice between north and south-facing PCBs comes down to your priorities: RGB brightness vs. typing experience and keycap compatibility. There’s no “wrong” option—it’s all about what matters most for your build.
If you’re building a custom mechanical keyboard, consider going with a south-facing PCB for maximum flexibility. But if you’re grabbing a prebuilt with bright lighting effects, don’t be surprised if it’s north-facing—that’s often the norm.
