Cherry MX Green first impressions (CMStorm Quickfire Stealth)

[Bwappo]

After a two month backorder on Amazon, my CMStorm Quickfire Stealth with green cherries finally arrived. For reference, I used an IBM Model M for a long time, then spent the last couple of years on a Razer Blackwidow (blue cherries). I write articles and play MMO computer games.

Green cherry switches bring considerable resistance, and the keyboard bore that out. I haven't typed on switches this heavy since the Model M. While the buckling springs in the Model M felt like they had more "launch" to them (more resistance as you got closer to bottoming out), green cherries feel even all of the way through a keystroke.

The actuation points of the keys sit really high -- the highest I've ever used on a keyboard. Clicking at maybe 30% down, this keyboard seems bent on teaching me not to bottom out on my typing.

Overall, I like the feel of these switches better than the Model M. Green switches offer the same resistance but a smaller "click"/actuation. To put it another way, the lesser "rebound" of the green cherries feels a little more comfortable.

Honestly, I'd like to find a switch with resistance between blues and greens. Even after I break in this keyboard, I think it's going to remain a bit too strong for me.

The keyboard itself made a great first impression: very compact (tenkeyless) with a minimal border, quality non-slippery plastic, and I love the key caps printed on the side instead of the top. My one complaint comes from the LEDs for indicating Windows-key disable, caps lock, etc., which are unbelievably bright. I don't think the brake lights on my truck are that bright. Also, the spacebar seems a little more loose than the rest of the keys, but that may simply come from comparing it to the firmness of the other keys.

Special thanks to the many residents of Geekhack -- I've learned so much lurking here over the years!

[joneslee85]

sprit is now selling 70g spring, that might be what you are seeking for

[regack]

sprit is now selling 70g spring, that might be what you are seeking for

You might also have luck with springs from Originative in the 65-67g range...

[legodt]

Gosh the process of replacing all of the springs in a board seems ridiculous. Have you tried MX Clears, OP?

[Bwappo]

Thank you for the suggestions, all!

Replacing all the springs in my keyboard is beyond the time investment I want to make, though I appreciate the information on springs to pursue if I change my mind.

I haven't yet tried cherry clears, though I'm getting conflicting information about them. I read that they clock in 65 cN of resistance, which is pretty close to the Cherry Blues I experienced before at 60 cN. However, I read that Cherry blues are supposed to be 50 cN instead. Perhaps 60 cN is not the same as 60g of resistance? Again, this goes beyond my knowledge range.

[Polymer]

I thought greens were 80g at actuation (but that will be less than what it takes to overcome the tactile bump) and like 105g at the bottom.

Blues are 50g at actuation, 60g to overcome the tactile bump and 65g at bottom out. 

I'm not sure what the force needed to overcome the bump on greens is but my guess is somewhere around 90g. 

[legodt]

All I know is that greens/blacks require hammer fingers to type on for extended periods of time.

[geogga]

Aren't greens heavier than blacks? And blacks are just heavier versions of reds if memory serves right.
Greens are heavier versions of blues too right?

And to OP, you mentioned you had blues, and you said that you would rather have a switch inbetween green and blue, presumably because greens are a bit too heavy. Do you feel like greens are heavier versions of blues?
I was also inquiring about clears although I havnt gotten a full understanding of what makes it so special/rare and enjoyable.
Topres are fortunately my next keyboard

[CPTBadAss]

Perhaps 60 cN is not the same as 60g of resistance? Again, this goes beyond my knowledge range.

Just FYI, 1 cN of force is about 1g force.

1g = 1.02 cN

[Photoelectric]

I've not typed on Greens (I just have one Green switch on my CM switch tester), but I've typed on Blacks a lot, and I feel that Greens would require a lot more effort overall to type on vs. Blacks.  All the tactile switches add a bump that one needs to overcome before reaching the actuation point, and the force required to overcome that bump is higher than the force of pushing down on the switch at the actuation point.  So you do more work with tactile switches vs. linear, even if both use the same spring. 

Blues use the same spring as Reds and Browns, but I could definitely feel a significant amount of resistance from typing on Blues vs. a very relaxing experience of typing on Browns and even too-light on Reds.

[Linkbane]

Oh goodness, someone broke all the taboos and said that they liked Greens more than a Model M. I am impressed. 
Nice review. I had Greens for a time and they definitely taught me not to bottom out, but I sold mine after I realized that I'd like a clicky switch lighter than Blues.

[rowdy]

I like my greens, although I haven't used them for a few weeks now as my one and only MX green keyboard is at work.

I seem to recall that they felt little different to blacks to me.

If anything, perhaps marginally lighter.  Although I might have been distracted listening for the clicks (having migrated to greens from blacks).

[Bwappo]

Aren't greens heavier than blacks? And blacks are just heavier versions of reds if memory serves right.
Greens are heavier versions of blues too right?

And to OP, you mentioned you had blues, and you said that you would rather have a switch inbetween green and blue, presumably because greens are a bit too heavy. Do you feel like greens are heavier versions of blues?

Greens definitely feel heavier than blues. Significantly heavier. I prefer greens over blues at this point, but yeah, greens are heavy. I remember trying blacks at one point, and not liking their lower resistance. The lack of actuation made me feel like I really crammed keys to the bottom. To be sure, I still have serious bottoming out habits, but the greens are slowly reforming me.

[rowdy]

Aren't greens heavier than blacks? And blacks are just heavier versions of reds if memory serves right.
Greens are heavier versions of blues too right?

And to OP, you mentioned you had blues, and you said that you would rather have a switch inbetween green and blue, presumably because greens are a bit too heavy. Do you feel like greens are heavier versions of blues?

Greens definitely feel heavier than blues. Significantly heavier. I prefer greens over blues at this point, but yeah, greens are heavy. I remember trying blacks at one point, and not liking their lower resistance. The lack of actuation made me feel like I really crammed keys to the bottom. To be sure, I still have serious bottoming out habits, but the greens are slowly reforming me.

Greens are definitely heavier than blacks.

At the moment I am enjoying greens at work and blacks at home.

[terrpn]

heavier and even sound different...........better to be exact- very crisp

i like them better than blues at the moment, but that will only last for a day or so

the only blacks i have r vintage and very smooth, so probably not a good measuring stick

[rowdy]

I have three keyboards with blacks now.  One is old enough to have vintage blacks, but the switches don't look vintage.  The second is a QFR about a year old (since I bought it).  The third is a new Ducky Yellow Edition.  The oldest and newest have smooth black switches, the QFR always seems a bit ... gritty.

I am typing this on a QFS with greens.  The greens feel smooth, have the same sound as blues, but probably overall sound different because they have thicker PBT keycaps than my board with blues, and because I use a bit more force when typing and thus bottom out differently.