My older mech keyboard finally gave up the ghost as several of the keys became unpredictable.  

I went to Walmart and picked up a Razer BlackWidow, model#: RZ03-0286.
 
Love the feedback of what they call 'green switches,' and the customization of the keys(colors).
 
However...
 
ONe issue I have is the sub-keys(shift activated keys on the numbers for example) don't get lit by the backlight.  I never thought about this before... but I realized I sometimes type in sub-optimal lighting, and find myself struggling to figure out various special characters.
 
THe MAJOR issue I have w/it is that the customization of the key colors, cannot be used UNLESS the Synapse software is running in the background.  THIs really bothers me.  For example, I have a G502 Logitech mouse, and I have various key configurations that are stored onboard, so that I don't have to have the logitech software running at all times.  
 
It is weird, as the software SAYS the profiles are stored onboard... but it seems the software still has to be running for the colors to take effect.
 
W/o the Synapse software running for this keyboard, the keys all light up as one color, and rotate and I have no control over it.  It's quite obnoxious.  I want to return it.
 
 
SO... do you guys have any recommendations for mech-keyboards that can save their color profiles onboard, so that you do not have to have software running?  THe other preference being that all of the two function keys allow the backlight to shine through.  I don't' necessarily care about the ability to store macros, just color customization.

THanks gents!

Must be my turn again for double posts and access denied.  I wish they could fix this.

I would recommend also a Corsair, and if you have money for a more premium version, I don't regret my K95 RGB platinum.
 
Although K100 is its successor, it has a higher price tag for a new design and some extra RGB. Whatever you chose you can't go wrong with Corsair.
 
Mine for instance has 6 programable macro buttons which come in handy and up t 3 onboard profiles.
 
I have mine for over 4 years and can say that the quality is premium.

Check out our Z15 and Z20 keyboards, both have linear and clicky switch options. You'll need our Unleash RGB software installed to get the initial set up such as macros, key remapping, and LED settings which will save to the keyboards memory and not required to be running in the background. However you wont be able to save any custom layered lighting effects just the presets and any color adjustments to the presets. 

What I have now is 3.38.61.  iCUE isn't the most intuitive software around.
 
I have to chuckle as I don't keep iCUE open, as soon as I opened it to check the version number, my keyboard went dark.

Yes, after rebooting, all three of my profiles were still there.  One thing, make sure you disable iCUE in Task Manager - Startup.  That way it is only open when you want it open.
 
The K70 Mark II does still store profiles.  As I said earlier iCUE can be a pain, but like you, I read information and then played with it to get it to do what I wanted.

forrestang
Just one other question though... My keyboard stored the ORIGINAL profiles, which were the various templates that the board shipped with.  As in, the keyboard would cycle through the presets that were available BEFORE I deleted them.  Are the profiles that you are able to use w/o ICUE ones that you created yourself, or are they the presets the board shipped with?

Yes, the profiles I made and stored on the keyboard are the three I can cycle through w/iCUE disabled

Good on you!  Congratulations, now you can write a how to article for the forums.  Of course, we may be the only ones that had trouble figuring it out.  My only excuse, I guess, is that I'm old.
 
Right after your post about using 4.xx, I went in to update and 3.xx is all that was available for my keyboard.  I have a hunch when I can finish my wife's new build (lacking GPU), I will be learning more as her machine has a Commander Pro, keyboard, and mouse.