Opinions on linear switches

[ANightOnCloudNine]

Got my first mech a few days ago and I decided on a linear in the store cause I got to try a bunch of different switches and I don't like blues or Browns as much as blacks or reds, I settled on reds cause the only keyboard with blacks was not on sale and was on for show, otherwise I would have chose blacks, what are your guys' opinions on linears? Also if anyone could hook me up of some names of keyboards that offer black switches that'd be cool.

[klennkellon]

I like them a lot for gaming, I always felt the tactile bump of MX Blues or Browns sort of felt "slow" when I was gaming.

For typing, I don't like them as much, there's no feedback at all and it makes me feel like I'm typing slower. Heavy linear switches especially, lighter ones are better but I find myself making mistakes more often.

This is why I have my FK-2001 with clicky ALPS on my keyboard tray, for typing for extended periods (like this post) and have my Keycool 87 with Kailh Reds above it for gaming or typing out quick messages.

As for recommendations, Keycool makes some pretty solid boards in a variety of switch types. Their quirk is that many of them come with a set of decent PBT keycaps instead of the usual ABS, all while not breaking the bank.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

I like them a lot for gaming, I always felt the tactile bump of MX Blues or Browns sort of felt "slow" when I was gaming.

For typing, I don't like them as much, there's no feedback at all and it makes me feel like I'm typing slower. Heavy linear switches especially, lighter ones are better but I find myself making mistakes more often.

This is why I have my FK-2001 with clicky ALPS on my keyboard tray, for typing for extended periods (like this post) and have my Keycool 87 with Kailh Reds above it for gaming or typing out quick messages.

As for recommendations, Keycool makes some pretty solid boards in a variety of switch types. Their quirk is that many of them come with a set of decent PBT keycaps instead of the usual ABS, all while not breaking the bank.

I'll take a peek at them, thanks

[spanyam]

I use a KBP V60 with Matias Linear ALPS, and it's by far the smoothest and quietest switch I have ever typed on. I also love the feel of the dampened switches when you bottom out.

[hashbaz]

My daily driver is a KMAC with 62g black switches. Slightly heavier than stock reds, still lighter than stock blacks. The feel is so good.

[ander]

My opinion: They're not tactile or clicky.  :?)

Actually, there's no way anyone can recommend what kind of switches are best for you. Everyone has different typing styles and preferences. You have to try them—and I don't mean in one of those inane one-finger "testers", but in a real board connected to a real computer.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

My opinion: They're not tactile or clicky.  :?)

Actually, there's no way anyone can recommend what kind of switches are best for you. Everyone has different typing styles and preferences. You have to try them—and I don't mean in one of those inane one-finger "testers", but in a real board connected to a real computer.

I don't need switches recommend tho, just keyboards with mx blacks being offered

[raymogi]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

It's the only MX switch I enjoy typing on beside my Topre now.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

It's the only MX switch I enjoy typing on beside my Topre now.

I only felt real mx switches in these past few days and I have to say blacks are my favourite mx switch, I settled for reds cause I couldn't get the blacks, blacks will be mine though, same with topre in realforce form

[suicidal_orange]

My first board was my Ducky with reds, I hated them with a passion and eventually got round to replacing the alphas with clears - a big improvement, but still not ideal.  My most recent build is linear and currently has 120g springs in the middle section, 100g in ring finger switches, and black springs in pinky ones and I'm loving it for forum use, just hoping I won't get finger ache when I type something big.

The floaty lack of bottom out is the feeling I've been looking for, but I'm yet to try it with tactiles to see if that's even better.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

My first board was my Ducky with reds, I hated them with a passion and eventually got round to replacing the alphas with clears - a big improvement, but still not ideal.  My most recent build is linear and currently has 120g springs in the middle section, 100g in ring finger switches, and black springs in pinky ones and I'm loving it for forum use, just hoping I won't get finger ache when I type something big.

The floaty lack of bottom out is the feeling I've been looking for, but I'm yet to try it with tactiles to see if that's even better.

That sounds awesome

[chyros]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

[ANightOnCloudNine]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

Didnt feel scratchy to me but mx browns and blues def are scratchy to me

[chyros]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

Didnt feel scratchy to me but mx browns and blues def are scratchy to me

Have you tried any switches that aren't made by Cherry?

[ANightOnCloudNine]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

Didnt feel scratchy to me but mx browns and blues def are scratchy to me

Have you tried any switches that aren't made by Cherry?

no because they're more expensive and rarer than cherry, I don't wanna spend time looking for a good deal on alps yet, I'm getting the glorified rubber dome switch though

[chyros]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

Didnt feel scratchy to me but mx browns and blues def are scratchy to me

Have you tried any switches that aren't made by Cherry?

no because they're more expensive and rarer than cherry, I don't wanna spend time looking for a good deal on alps yet, I'm getting the glorified rubber dome switch though

Well that explains it . If you don't know the alternatives, how can you put a quality stamp on something? XD

See many people nowadays seem to think Cherry is the only one making mechanical keyboards or that they were first or that they invented it somehow. Yet the truth is everything Cherry ever did had been done already by someone else before, and most of them did it better .

Also, don't delude yourself, older keyboards with other switches aren't rare nor are they inherently expensive. In fact older keyboards are WAY cheaper than modern Cherry boards.

[Photekq]

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

New ones maybe...

[hwood34]

MX blacks is also known as the ButterySmooth switch. Can't go wrong with that.

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

Didnt feel scratchy to me but mx browns and blues def are scratchy to me

Have you tried any switches that aren't made by Cherry?

no because they're more expensive and rarer than cherry, I don't wanna spend time looking for a good deal on alps yet, I'm getting the glorified rubber dome switch though

gateron

[TalkingTree]

Have you tried any switches that aren't made by Cherry?

no because they're more expensive and rarer than cherry, I don't wanna spend time looking for a good deal on alps yet, I'm getting the glorified rubber dome switch though

If you want Gateron Blacks (which are intermediate between Cherry Reds and Blacks) PM me, I know a chinese store with good prices.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

Isn't gateron a knockoff cherry brand or am I misled?

[TalkingTree]

Isn't gateron a knockoff cherry brand or am I misled?

A clone, and they're doing a good job.

[ANightOnCloudNine]

Isn't gateron a knockoff cherry brand or am I misled?

A clone, and they're doing a good job.

well then hmu with that link

[bocahgundul]

Isn't gateron a knockoff cherry brand or am I misled?

a really good cherry knockoff I hear 

[xondat]

I love the bump of MX browns, the bump on a zealio switch. When I tried a 67g linear zealio a couple of months ago, I really liked it. Gateron blacks in the mail so I'm waiting to see how these feel.

[jaffers]

G A T  B L A C K S
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B        B
L          E
A           D
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[hwood34]

Honestly, even Greetech is better than new Cherry

[CPTBadAss]

Definitely agree with what chyros and hwood34 is saying. MX Blacks are at like the bottom of the heap in my opinion. To me the king of all linear switches is Hall Effect. Followed by SKCL Green Alps.

And before someone says it, I think Gateron Blacks are as good as Nixdorf Blacks at a better price and more accessible.

Edit: Corrected the Green Alps thing because Alps so hard to keep track

[bocahgundul]

Definitely agree with what chyros and hwood34 is saying. MX Blacks are at like the bottom of the heap in my opinion. To me the king of all linear switches is Hall Effect. Followed by SKCM Green Alps.

And before someone says it, I think Gateron Blacks are as good as Nixdorf Blacks at a better price and more accessible.

Its SKCL green alps sir 

[Dernubenfrieken]

Definitely agree with what chyros and hwood34 is saying. MX Blacks are at like the bottom of the heap in my opinion. To me the king of all linear switches is Hall Effect. Followed by SKCM Green Alps.

And before someone says it, I think Gateron Blacks are as good as Nixdorf Blacks at a better price and more accessible.

Its SKCL green alps sir 

SKCC Green alps> SKCL 

[Vittra]

My daily driver is a KMAC with 62g black switches. Slightly heavier than stock reds, still lighter than stock blacks. The feel is so good.

I've been contemplating de-soldering my reds on my Filco to put in 62G or 65G springs to see how it is by comparison. They've now seen 4 1/2 years of use, I'd hate to see them go to waste at this point by getting Gaterons.

I'd love to get my hands on a green alps or hall effect board as some of you are touting, but I don't see that happening ever

[chyros]

Definitely agree with what chyros and hwood34 is saying. MX Blacks are at like the bottom of the heap in my opinion. To me the king of all linear switches is Hall Effect. Followed by SKCM Green Alps.

And before someone says it, I think Gateron Blacks are as good as Nixdorf Blacks at a better price and more accessible.

Its SKCL green alps sir 

This is why we need to rename SKCM Green to SKCM Neon Green .

[klennkellon]

You've got to be ****ing kidding me xD . They're one of the worst and scratchiest linear switches out there xD .

New ones maybe...

I have to agree, I have a set of MX Blues from a BlackWidow I used for nearly three years every day, I don't think it's possible for there to be a smoother switch.

[ander]

My opinion: [Linear switches are] not tactile or clicky.  :?)

Actually, there's no way anyone can recommend what kind of switches are best for you...

I don't need switches recommend tho, just keyboards with mx blacks being offered

My first line's a joke based on your thread's Subject. It's like the guy whose doctor tells him he has a certain medical condition, and the guy says, "Well, I want a second opinion," and the doctor replies, "Okay, you're ugly, too."

Re the rest, "Opinions on linear switches" doesn't seem like a topic someone would start who'd already decided what kind of linear switches they wanted. You did eventually ask about boards with MX Blacks at the end of your OP—but you did it in such roundabout way, I couldn't assume that was the only thing you were interested in:

Got my first mech a few days ago and I decided on a linear in the store cause I got to try a bunch of different switches and I don't like blues or Browns as much as blacks or reds, I settled on reds cause the only keyboard with blacks was not on sale and was on for show, otherwise I would have chose blacks, what are your guys' opinions on linears? Also if anyone could hook me up of some names of keyboards that offer black switches that'd be cool.

[My emphasis]

This may all seem immensely trivial, and it probably is, but I'd like to thank you for giving me something to do here in the suburbs for a couple more minutes.

[grav3serker]

I just got my first board with Gateron Yellows. All of my previous boards have had tactile switches, and I'm really digging them. I wasn't sure if I would like them, but I'm pleasantly surprised!

Look for a board with Gateron Blacks or Gateron Yellows

Do you want a 60%, TKL, or Full Size?

[ANightOnCloudNine]

I just got my first board with Gateron Yellows. All of my previous boards have had tactile switches, and I'm really digging them. I wasn't sure if I would like them, but I'm pleasantly surprised!

Look for a board with Gateron Blacks or Gateron Yellows

Do you want a 60%, TKL, or Full Size?

tkl

[xondat]

Kind of dead post but my gateron blacks I mentioned before feel bloody amazing - can't imagine what lubing would do.

[klennkellon]

I gotta agree with what Chryos said. older vintage boards are wonderful deals. A functional but dusty Model M can sell at Ebay for $60 on a good day, and you get a board that's probably built better and more reliable than many high end modern keyboards (sans the damned rivets!)

Also ALPS are really fun and easier to tinker with than Cherries, and they sound way nicer, although I have a soft spot for my MX Blues 

[Lurch]

65g linear is ok

[rowdy]

I gotta agree with what Chryos said. older vintage boards are wonderful deals. A functional but dusty Model M can sell at Ebay for $60 on a good day, and you get a board that's probably built better and more reliable than many high end modern keyboards (sans the damned rivets!)

Also ALPS are really fun and easier to tinker with than Cherries, and they sound way nicer, although I have a soft spot for my MX Blues 

Buckling springs are hardly linear

[klennkellon]

I gotta agree with what Chryos said. older vintage boards are wonderful deals. A functional but dusty Model M can sell at Ebay for $60 on a good day, and you get a board that's probably built better and more reliable than many high end modern keyboards (sans the damned rivets!)

Also ALPS are really fun and easier to tinker with than Cherries, and they sound way nicer, although I have a soft spot for my MX Blues 

Buckling springs are hardly linear

just meant vintage boards in general

buckling springs are only surpassed by mx blacks in terms of linear switches, just saying.

[Crossfire]

I have some vintage mx blacks...any recommendations for the springs? Some say 62g gold are the real deal, some even put the 55g's in...maybe 65g? Heck, I might even leave them be with the stock springs
Any experiences?

[bocahgundul]

I have some vintage mx blacks...any recommendations for the springs? Some say 62g gold are the real deal, some even put the 55g's in...maybe 65g? Heck, I might even leave them be with the stock springs
Any experiences?

55g or gtfo

[chyros]

I have some vintage mx blacks...any recommendations for the springs? Some say 62g gold are the real deal, some even put the 55g's in...maybe 65g? Heck, I might even leave them be with the stock springs
Any experiences?

In my experience, 50-55 gf is the perfect weighting for linear switches.

[oneproduct]

I like extremely light keys, whether they be linear or tactile.

I like browns, but I dislike blues.

I like reds, but I dislike blacks.

I like beam spring, but I dislike buckling spring.

My daily driver uses lubed Cherry MX browns with lighter than stock springs arranged in a variable fashion like the Topre variable weight keyboards. I'm quite into speed typing and without a doubt I type faster on these with the lesser force required. They have just a little bit of tactility.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

Reds are just too soft and easy to accidentally press for myself for typing gaming or otherwise.  I could see MX Blacks for a pure gaming usage but for long periods of typing would be uncomfortable IMO.  Plus for typing i really need some sort of tactile feedback.   So all in all i'm not a huge fan of linear personally speaking.

[FLFisherman]

Reds are just too soft and easy to accidentally press for myself for typing gaming or otherwise.  I could see MX Blacks for a pure gaming usage but for long periods of typing would be uncomfortable IMO.  Plus for typing i really need some sort of tactile feedback.   So all in all i'm not a huge fan of linear personally speaking.

The first keyboard I got was a K70 with Reds. The linear switches felt horrible for me. When I first heard of mechanical keyboards I associated them with "clicky" switches, so this may have affected my opinion.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

Reds are just too soft and easy to accidentally press for myself for typing gaming or otherwise.  I could see MX Blacks for a pure gaming usage but for long periods of typing would be uncomfortable IMO.  Plus for typing i really need some sort of tactile feedback.   So all in all i'm not a huge fan of linear personally speaking.

The first keyboard I got was a K70 with Reds. The linear switches felt horrible for me. When I first heard of mechanical keyboards I associated them with "clicky" switches, so this may have affected my opinion.

While not necessarily needing clicky i also have definitely always associated mechanical keyboards to have some sort of tactility and it may have also early on affected my opinion.

[Vittra]

I have some vintage mx blacks...any recommendations for the springs? Some say 62g gold are the real deal, some even put the 55g's in...maybe 65g? Heck, I might even leave them be with the stock springs
Any experiences?

55g or gtfo

I have some vintage mx blacks...any recommendations for the springs? Some say 62g gold are the real deal, some even put the 55g's in...maybe 65g? Heck, I might even leave them be with the stock springs
Any experiences?

In my experience, 50-55 gf is the perfect weighting for linear switches.

Would this not be lighter than MX Red, which bottoms out at 60G?

[Crossfire]

Wow, 55g...that's a soft touch even the vintage blacks with stock spring feel quite light to me...i'll try 65g which I have at hand and report...

[G-Dubs]

I thought reds were amazing, but later got Gateron blacks and prefer the stronger actuation force. Matias linears are definitely on the lighter side, but I like their feeling vs. a lighter Cherry.

I'm hoping to get try out Gateron yellows in the next few months. I'm really curious what the difference between yellow and black are, since the specs appear to be identical.

[chyros]

I like extremely light keys, whether they be linear or tactile.

You should try Fujitsu magnetic reed, 35 gf XD .

[ANightOnCloudNine]

I like extremely light keys, whether they be linear or tactile.

I like browns, but I dislike blues.

I like reds, but I dislike blacks.

I like beam spring, but I dislike buckling spring.

My daily driver uses lubed Cherry MX browns with lighter than stock springs arranged in a variable fashion like the Topre variable weight keyboards. I'm quite into speed typing and without a doubt I type faster on these with the lesser force required. They have just a little bit of tactility.

I like blacks the most out of the common cherry switches I tried, when I tried blues I wanted a more definitive bump feel but neither blue or brown felt bumpy enough and browns kinda felt sandy when the bump happened IMO so I wanted blacks the most

[Crossfire]

After trying 65g gold spring in my lubed vintage black against stock lubed vintage black I came to the next conclusion - I need 62g and maybe even 55g to try them feels. I mean stock springs are quite harder than the korean 65g and the softer feel is really pleasing. Little do I know where to get those nasty 55g's...

[funderburker]

Reading through this thread made me realize I really want to try Gateron Blacks. Well, I know what'll I be using for my next build. 

[ANightOnCloudNine]

Reading through this thread made me realize I really want to try Gateron Blacks. Well, I know what'll I be using for my next build.

Same

[axtran]

I bought a ton of 55g SPRiT springs from mechanicalkeyboards.com -- they seem to be my absolute favorite for linear switches. That being said... anything Gateron Linear is epic, including the beautiful Linear Zealio switches (which I convert to 55g!).

If you're a Cherry fan, hunt for Vintage Black switches, else modern switches are horridly scratchy.

[funderburker]

I bought a ton of 55g SPRiT springs from mechanicalkeyboards.com -- they seem to be my absolute favorite for linear switches. That being said... anything Gateron Linear is epic, including the beautiful Linear Zealio switches (which I convert to 55g!).

If you're a Cherry fan, hunt for Vintage Black switches, else modern switches are horridly scratchy.

I only have one board and it's with Gateron Browns. Haven't even had a change to try Cherry MX. But again, Gateron for the win!

[LiquidEvilGaming]

I thought reds were amazing, but later got Gateron blacks and prefer the stronger actuation force. Matias linears are definitely on the lighter side, but I like their feeling vs. a lighter Cherry.

I'm hoping to get try out Gateron yellows in the next few months. I'm really curious what the difference between yellow and black are, since the specs appear to be identical.

As someone who has been a long time Cherry fan until converting to Topre it's hard to deny how much smoother Gaterons really are in every color i have thus tried.  Really makes you realize how over Rated Cherry switches can be sometimes.

[Rad]

They're pretty cool.

[axtran]

I've been using Krytox 105 during my spring swapping, with DuPont Teflon Silicone Lubricant as the spring oil. It is a feeling just blissful on the fingers