Fifth Generation

Overview

The external appearance of the NMB fifth generation is a reduced footprint of the fourth generation.

The fifth generation is the most modern generation and removes the pencil tray from the forehead of the keyboard. Also, the bezels around the entire keyboard have been reduced most noticeably on the sides of the keyboard. Additionally, the fifth generation keyboards is the generation that fully moved to PS2 plug. The FCCID in this generation also changed later on in the generation to support different languages. The fifth generation is a 101 key layout. Molded feet are flush when collapsed into the back of the lower case. When extended they raise the back of the keyboard slightly. Four rubber feet help the keyboard from moving.

This is the first time that the plates in NMB keyboards wouldn't come with a painted switch plate from the factory. Also, this is the first time that the switch plate would be tinner in order to reduce costs.

The fifth generation of NMB Hi-Tek 725 series keyboards have the following seven main components introduced:

Switches
Keycaps
Upper Case
Mounting Plate
PCB
Back Plate
Cable

Switches

Keycaps

The keycaps are made out of PBT with dye-sublimated legends. The keycaps for the fifth generation include clips on the sides of the keycaps to secure them properly to the switch.

The keycaps on generation five boards contain wire stabs similar.

Upper Case

The upper case is made out of a single piece of beige ABS plastic. The plastic is textured due to the molding process that is used to create the upper case.

Lower Case

The lower case is molded from the same ABS plastic as the upper case. A set of slots are located in the lower case that joins the two halves together. The feet that are integrated into the lower case are flush with the lower case when retracted.

Switch Plate

The switch plate is made out of stamped steel. The plate has deeper stamping around the switches so that the entire switch plate could be produced with less material. The plate is only coated with a clear coat.

PCB

The PCB is a double-sided PCB with all traces on the backside of the PCB. The controllers found on the PCB vary, some later models have been found with both Toshiba and Mitsubishi controllers.

Cable

The cable is approximately 1 meter long for the coiled variant and stretches up to 2 meters easily. It contains a molded 6 pin PS2 connector with 6 pin headers using a molex connector on the PCB.