be quiet! enters the peripherals market: New Dark Mount and Light Mount keyboards on the way

With the release of the Dark Mount and Light Mount keyboards, be quiet! is expanding its portfolio into the area of gaming peripherals for the first time. This step comes at a time when the market seems saturated, but at the same time is open to new approaches – especially with regard to noise reduction and modularity. be quiet! is making targeted use of its established expertise in the field of quiet PC components to position itself in the highly competitive segment of mechanical gaming keyboards.

At the heart of the technical implementation of both keyboards are mechanical silent switches, which are available in two versions: linear (orange) with 45 g actuation force and tactile (black) with 55 g. Both types are lubricated at the factory. Both types are lubricated at the factory, which not only increases durability but also minimizes typing noise. In combination with three-layer insulation made of foam and silicone and lubricated stabilizers, be quiet! pursues an uncompromisingly low-noise design approach.

The main technical differences between Dark Mount and Light Mount are their functionality and modularity. The Dark Mount is a modular full-format model with a removable numeric keypad and a media dock with display that can be docked on either the left or right. The concept is complemented by eight freely assignable display buttons with a resolution of 140×140 pixels – a unique selling point in this price segment. The Light Mount, on the other hand, has a more classic design, dispenses with modular elements, but offers an integrated aluminum 3D media wheel and five additional macro buttons.

A central control element for both keyboards is the new be quiet! IO Center software, which is available both as a locally installable application and as a web solution. It can be used to reassign all keys, configure macros, customize RGB effects and manage device profiles. Support for Microsoft’s Dynamic Lighting is also available, whereby the IO Center settings are temporarily overridden when activated. The software is resource-friendly and also allows operation via a browser under Linux and macOS – a pragmatic approach aimed at professional users.

The choice of materials for both models reflects the brand’s premium aspirations: PBT double-shot keycaps, brushed aluminum on the top, magnetically attached palm rests and a fully detachable, textile-covered USB-C cable. While the Dark Mount comes with stackable magnetic feet for multiple tilt angles, the Light Mount uses classic foldable feet. At 456 × 174 × 52 mm, the Dark Mount is slightly larger and heavier than the Light Mount at 461 × 132 × 44 mm, which is not surprising given the modular design.

The pricing illustrates the different target groups. With an RRP of 259.90 euros, the Dark Mount is clearly positioned in the upper premium segment. The Light Mount is significantly cheaper at 169.90 euros and is aimed at users who can do without modular elements but are still looking for a quiet and high-quality keyboard. Both models are available in four layouts (DE, US, UK, FR) and each comes in two switch variants.

This launch is also interesting in terms of the development of be quiet! itself. The company has so far been known primarily for power supply units, cooling solutions and cases – all products in which acoustic optimization plays a central role. Against this background, entering the peripherals market seems logical, especially when you consider that many competitors in this sector have gone in exactly the opposite direction in recent years – namely away from acoustic quality and towards aggressive RGB dominance and cheap plastic processing.

A key element of this change in strategy is likely to be the acquisition of peripheral specialist Mountain. While the name Mountain is not explicitly mentioned in the official documents, the structure, features and the IO Center show very clear parallels to Mountain products such as Everest Max. It is therefore obvious that be quiet! has not only acquired know-how but also specific design components as part of the takeover. In this constellation, the Dark Mount looks like a technical and conceptual successor to the Everest series – albeit under a different flag and with a noticeable focus on noise minimization.

With this first generation of mechanical keyboards, be quiet! is venturing into a market that is saturated, but at the same time characterized by a multitude of interchangeable products. The difference here lies not only in the advertised features, but above all in the implementation: The Dark Mount is not a keyboard for casual gamers, but a tool for users who demand customizability, ergonomics and acoustic control at the same time. The Light Mount, on the other hand, is aimed at users with a classic setup who do not want to do without high-quality materials and quiet typing behavior.

All in all, it can be said that be quiet! is pursuing a coherent entry into a new segment with Dark Mount and Light Mount. The integration of modularity, high-quality materials and software adaptability shows that the manufacturer is expanding more than just a product category – it is attempting to consistently transfer its own brand promise to new areas of application. Whether this approach can prevail against established competitors will ultimately depend on the market response and the sustainability of the product portfolio. However, both models are clearly positioned as a technical statement.

Finally, it should be noted that we will of course be testing both keyboards – the Dark Mount and the Light Mount – ourselves. The corresponding test reports will be available online on our website in time for the official market launch on April 29, 2025. We will not only be taking a close look at the technical features, but also evaluating the noise behavior, typing feel, processing quality and functionality of the IO-Center software in everyday use. As always, the focus is on a practical and comprehensible analysis, so stay tuned 🙂