What is/are your preferred mechanical keyboard switch/es?

By mxyzptlk - updated: 4 years, 5 months ago - 30 messages

Greetings. I just wanted to know everyone's preference in mechanical switches. Mine are tactile, non-clicky switches like the browns.
By hsheirah75 - posted: 4 years, 7 months ago

Cherry MX Blues
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 7 months ago

Awesome. Have you used Razer Greens? If so, how would you compare the two?
By rayclaire - posted: 4 years, 7 months ago

Kaihua coppers, for speed typing.
By biggerlicious - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Topre. 24/7 365. Smooth as silk!
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Have you tried any of the Kailh box switches?
By pablo3d - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Light Tactiles.

I use gateron browns and aliaz 60g.
By vjsong02 - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Cherry MX Browns, although I've discovered the actual keyboard makes a difference too.
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Just looked it up. The sound (or lack thereof) is really something!
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

That much is true. Do you build your own keyboards?
By rayclaire - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

I bought a switch tester and I like some of them so far. Just ordered some Hako Violets.
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

That's good to hear. I've looked up the Hako Violets and they sound awesome. Kind of reminds me of MX Browns.
By patate42 - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Cherry MX Red. People say they're for gaming only because they don't have a clicky feeling, but I enjoy typing on them at around 80 wpm and when I'm on anything else, I feel sad I'm away from my desktop keyboard. After some practice it feels like you just get to know exactly where the actuation point is, and the fact that they don't click allows me to type as a continuous flow and to let my fingers fly back up from the key on to the next. But that's maybe only because of the Dvorak layout allowing me to be switching hands and to alternate fingers a lot in usual words.
By rayclaire - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

I've thought of going linear myself. Part of it is because there's silent linears out there, which can save my friends headaches when I'm on voice calls.
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

THIS! I haven't tried linears but I'm guessing I would be just as comfortable typing on them as I would with tactile switches. "I feel sad I'm away from my desktop keyboard" I totally get that, man. I get a mixture of anxiety and sadness when I'm away from my keyboard. The layout you mentioned, Dvorak, is interesting. I am not familiar with other layouts besides standard.
By pablo3d - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

There is also silent tactiles like gateron brown silent, aliaz and Zilent (zeal pc) switches.
By rayclaire - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

I just switched to Hako Violets. Holy cow these are fast, I finally hit 100 WPM with them.
By user78188 - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

hey how are u, Im Jaliness
By ze_or - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

I used the Zilent 67g on my Planck. Zealios are definitely one of the best, if not the best tactile switches. Topre is also great but I can't make a custom keyboard out of it.

For clicky switches any switch from Kailh that uses a click bar is in my opinion far superior than any mx blue jacket mechanism.

Cherry is overrated at this point and much better switches can be obtained for cheaper.

edit: I type at an average 120wpm
Updated 4 years, 6 months ago
By markrose - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

I have both MX Blue and Razer Green equipped keyboards on my desk. The MX Blues have a shorter actuation distance and a lighter actuation force. I much prefer the MX Blues for typing quickly; I'm about 10 to 20 WPM faster on the MX Blues at peak speeds.
By mxyzptlk - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Thank you for the comparison. I've always wanted to know the difference between the two clicky switches as I have only used the Razer Greens.
By _sadmad_ - posted: 4 years, 6 months ago

Just for the pure joy of typing, IBM buckling spring. I think I don't need to explain.

In second place I'll put my current setup: Wooting One KB with Adomax Flaretech "blue" switches (the clicky one). I'm just in love with it.

Then you have a world of flavors: Topre, Kailh, Gateron, Alps, Omron (Razr), etc, etc...

In last place, Cherry. Seriously guys, if you say you like Cherrys good for you but honestly, go try different brands and I bet you will change your opinion sooner or later.
By ferryfast - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

For general purpose, I don't think I've ever gone wrong with MX Reds. Helps me type light and fast. Variants like the speed silver are just fine too. If you find them to scratchy or use them on shallow keycaps, lube with Tribosis 3203/v0. Unlubed MX silents are pretty bad though. Too spongy...
Gateron Yellow is a fine option if you want a tiny bit smoother and a more progressive weight.
Tealios and their silent versions are the nicest one around if you'd ask me.

Kailh Box Pale Blue is choice in clicky switches. Nice and straight action, a weights that makes them feel more consistent and ever so slightly tactile.

Zealios V2 are the only switches with more tactility I really prefer. I hate tactility with a serious bump in the middle. Start all the way at the top like with these or just give me lineair. Best used with higher keycap profiles like OEM or SA, especially on the heavier spring versions.
By josephtule - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

Lubed Topre hands down 55 or 45g, put in an alu case sounds like heaven
By bladevampirektheethicalhacker - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

I have only tried the Corsair Gaming K66 Red Switch Mechanical Keyboard, you can check my profile for my speed, and links to my courses. I am also fast with the standard membrane keyboards, I find that the mechanical keyboards only boost my wpm by around 10 wpm.
Updated 4 years, 5 months ago
By xx4931xx - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

I'm sorry if I'm being stupid right now, but I don't think I know what "mechanical keyboard switches" are...can someone tell me what they are? It sounds like a modification to a keyboard, but I'm still unsure what it is...
By orber - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

My favorite ones are MX red, rn im typing on a crappy school keyboard but the reds are very smooth switches and they are great for gaming and typing and they wont wake people up if youre up late.
By mediocretypist - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

Browns, but I would choose any keyboard that you are more comfortable with as generally that keyboard will make you type the fastest. Once you buy a new keyboard you have to waste a few months adjusting to a new keyboard when you could have spent that time getting faster on your old keyboard.

If you're not into getting faster, then just stick with browns :)
By cnt_ply - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

Try Kailh Box navys, they are the best and better than blues because they have "thiccc clicks"
https://novelkeys.x…
By ferryfast - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

You could have just googled it I guess but:

Mechanical switches are just that; actual switches that push metal together to bridge contacts, which lets the keyboard send a keypress.

As opposed to Rubber domes and other quasi mechanical switches that have a in rubber suspended contact pad.
"Normal" cheap keyboards just have rubber domes that pop down if you apply enough force, which works just fine, but wears down a lot faster and feels far less consistent. Mechanical switches are usually plastic stems that move in a housing, which can have various spring weights and "profiles" to them, allowing for various typing experiences and weights. They are technically older than rubber domes, and much more expensive to manufacture.

You can't really turn a rubber dome keyboard into a keyboard with mechanical switches, but you can change (desolder and resolder new ones) switches on mechanical keyboards. The most common switches are made by Cherry, Kailh and Gateron.
https://www.cherrym…
https://kbdfans.com…
https://www.pcgamin…

But many many more exist.
By potatolegend69 - posted: 4 years, 5 months ago

Zealios V2 65G :D