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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: T42 on Sat, 21 March 2020, 15:09:48

Title: Which Gateron silent switch is closer to red in actuation force?
Post by: T42 on Sat, 21 March 2020, 15:09:48

My current keyboards are X-Bows ("no name" generation before Nature / Knight models) with Gateron red (non-silent) switches. I like them, but not the rather high-pitched sound. So I'm tempted to replace the one at work with a silent one, but don't know whether 35 or 45 cN actuation force.

The switches I know are:

Cherry MX red silent: Used them for ~ 1 year.
Gateron red: I prefer their feel to Cherry MX red silent, because they feel lighter.
Gateron brown: Briefly tested on a collegue's board. AFAIR, force was okay like Cherry red silent. The tactility was not noticeable enough to be of any use.
Cherry (?) MX black: Briefly tested on a collegue's board. Much too heavy.

I wonder: If Gateron non-silent 45 cN "are less than" Cherry silent 45 cN, is that
(a) because of the often claimed Gateron smoothness, or
(b) because silent feels heavier than non-silent?
I'd like to stick with same force as the Gateron reds. So if it's (a), I'd choose 45 cN silent silver (or maybe silent red). In case of (b), 35 cN silent yellow.
Thanks!

Title: Re: Which Gateron silent switch is closer to red in actuation force?
Post by: Sup on Sat, 21 March 2020, 16:55:37

Gateron silent red has issues with sticky rubber and is less smooth then Cherry silent switches. Only thing it has going for it that it has the 4mm travel. They have both the same actuation and weight.

Title: Re: Which Gateron silent switch is closer to red in actuation force?
Post by: T42 on Sun, 22 March 2020, 11:33:54

Thanks for your advice. So you suggest to choose the lighter switches to account for the missing smoothness?

Please note that the X-Bows (https://x-bows.com/products/x-bows-nature-ergonomic-mechanical-keyboard) is available with Gaterons exclusively. So if your advice is to generally prefer Cherry (at least for silent switches), that's unfortunately not an option.

Title: Re: Which Gateron silent switch is closer to red in actuation force?
Post by: Sup on Sun, 22 March 2020, 17:30:44

Quote from: T42 on Sun, 22 March 2020, 11:33:54

Thanks for your advice. So you suggest to choose the lighter switches to account for the missing smoothness?

Please note that the X-Bows (https://x-bows.com/products/x-bows-nature-ergonomic-mechanical-keyboard) is available with Gaterons exclusively. So if your advice is to generally prefer Cherry (at least for silent switches), that's unfortunately not an option.

Yeah Cherry silents are just better then Gateron silent linears,. The normal non silent ones are just as good or even better then Cherry switches depending on manufacturing dates. Gateron silent switches may not be better then Cherry silent linears it still does what it supposed to do make your typing more silent.

Title: Re: Which Gateron silent switch is closer to red in actuation force?
Post by: T42 on Sat, 20 June 2020, 19:00:55

My X-Bows keyboard finally arrived (on 2020-06-08). I love those Gateron silent yellow switches. I cannot tell a difference in activation force compared to Gateron non-silent red. It's definitely not too light for my taste.