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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: deepalicious on Mon, 22 July 2019, 07:23:06
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So I've been trying to decide between three main linear switches and I would love to hear your opinions on them.
C3 Tangerine (I've heard these are just gateron yellows with an orange stem and a different spring)
Cherry Mx Black (retooled, not vintage)
Gateron Yellow
Cheers!
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I hate cherry mx blacks with a burning passion. They're too stiff.
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It's all pretty relative, and the biggest factor among linear switches (as they have few other differentiating factors if they aren't scratchy) is the force curve. Linear switches, by nature, linearly increase in force required. However, the force required for actuation (and, by extension, the rate of increase of force required) varies among switches. I'm not very well-versed in linears, but for someone mostly used to 45g Topre and MX Clears, modern MX Black switches were a little on the heavy side for me.
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MX red switches are my most hated switches, but I recently bought a Cherry G80-3494 with silent MX black switches, and I really enjoy typing on it. I didn't think I would, but it's now my daily driver at work. I have a 45g Topre Type Heaven at home, and it feels like the initial pressure required to press the Topre switches is higher than the Cherrys, but then they collapse more easily. I've never typed on a regular MX black keyboard, so I don't know how that would compare to the silent version. I don't have any experience with the C3 and Gateron switches mentioned, either.
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Just get gateron inks and you wont regret anything.
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
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But they are sold out!!
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But they are sold out!!
They will come back very soon, better to wait a bit and not mistake, the linears you listed are subpar.
Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk
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if you can get Retooled cherries i would go for them they are pretty smooth when i bought 200 pieces from Arrow. Gateron linears are also very smooth and with lube they feel amazing. If you don't like the weight there is always a option just to open the switch up and replace the spring.
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I first started with Cherry MX Red and I quite like them, but then I realize I get a lot of typos with them. Then I tried MX Black, too stiff and could never fully get used to it.
Currently using Gateron Yellow and it's a good middle ground, but sometimes I wish they were a tiny bit heavier, though I get much less typo on this compare to when I was using MX Red.
Too bad I've only tried a single switch when testing Gateron Black, so I don't know how it would feel on a full board. But based from logic and experience with other switches, I think Gateron Black should be pretty good.
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Many times I tried to get used to MX blacks, but those were always to scratchy for me.
Then tried reds, gateron blacks. Weren't perfect.
Then tried Tealios v2 - the smoothest linear I could imagine.
Their 67g isn't heavy, I think its pretty good like middle range weight.
What really those Inks are?
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My favourite thing about linear switches is the endless possibilities available for tuning them to your personal preference. For me personally right now I am loving TX 70g springs oiled in Tealios housings with 3204 greased stems. That preference has changed over time and I'm sure it will continue to develop. My point being don't just settle on the few switches you have initially listed.
I would agree that Gat Yellows are an excellent starting point and for me personally the general weighting and smoothness of Gat Yellows are just about what I'm targeting to improve upon in most of the linear frankenswitches that I make for myself.
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Stock, Gat yellows beat out MX blacks IMO, but once modded (spring swapped, filmed and lubed) blacks are the best MX style linear IMO.
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Stock, Gat yellows beat out MX blacks IMO, but once modded (spring swapped, filmed and lubed) blacks are the best MX style linear IMO.
Stock Gateron Yellow is the best stock switch.
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Stock, Gat yellows beat out MX blacks IMO, but once modded (spring swapped, filmed and lubed) blacks are the best MX style linear IMO.
Stock Gateron Yellow is the best stock switch.
Tealios and inks are best stock. 100%
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C3 would be the best pick.
Retooled Black takes the close second. The advantage is that they're infinitely easier to get.
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C3 would be the best pick.
Retooled Black takes the close second. The advantage is that they're infinitely easier to get.
Why c3 they are just recolored gateron switches with a custom spring :blank:?
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Like others have said, stock Gateron Yellows are pretty good, and compare favourably.
I don't use unmodded blacks, because they are too heavy [although I enjoy lubed vintage blacks on other people's keyboards].
I have a Cherry MX Red Ducky One, and it is great for gaming, but I don't think it is an ideal typing switch.
I recently tested Gateron Yellows. They feel roughly the same in actuation force to Aliaz 70G. Yellows occupy a middle-ground between Reds and Blacks, which is both a good and bad thing.
It's a good thing, because Gateron Yellows are at a relatively comfortable weight for typing. Reds are very light, and skittish for typing (they're one reason why MX Browns exist), and Blacks of course are uncomfortable for many. Yellows are not uncomfortable in their standard weight, and I say this as someone accustomed to MX Browns and similar weights. So you can get an unproblematic typing experience out-of-the-box.
However, the middle ground is also a weakness, in that Yellows fall outside the optimal usages of Reds and Blacks. Reds, as I said earlier, are an optimal gaming switch. You can depress or double-tap those light keys all day long. And the high stock weight of MX Blacks, if used correctly, can help prevent bottoming-out, leading to the optimal Cherry typing experience.
But with Yellows, they're not as light for gaming as the reds, and you will notice the difference when depressing the Yellows for a long period of time. They're probably not as 'swift-feeling' as retooled or Gateron Reds. And they are easier to accidentally bottom-out with than the Blacks.
But as others have said, it's one of the better stock linears, especially for general-purpose use. It's better for typing than Reds, and better for gaming than Blacks. It's also one of the smoothest stock linears, and probably smoother than even retooled Reds and Blacks [certainly smoother than pre-retooled]. There's a definite cost advantage, too, although you may have to shell out more for ones compatible with a particular lighting setup.
Gateron Yellows are probably the best budget linear, and do well with lube. However, if you are willing to pay more, the c3 Tangerines with the 67g springs / black bottoms would probably be a more premium experience. Especially lubed. Retooled blacks are still heavy, although they are likely to have slightly less wobble as compared to the other two switches.
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Get yourself Milky Gat Yellow. It’s essentially C3. Some good breaking in and decent lube job will make them just as thocky and smooth as some other high end linear switches (Tealios,...). It takes a whole lot more effort to make some good out of Retooled Blacks tho.
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For the price Gat Yellow Milky Top are the best imho.
I managed to break in my scratchy MX Black unlubed first, then after lubing they becam somewhat decent.
Having said that... Just buy Tealios.
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I mean, no hate to the creator of C3 Tangerines, but isn't it basically a novelty? Like, in the sense that it's basically a Gateron Yellow with different spring and a "tangerine" colored stem?
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Geekmaker creamy switches are delightful and super smooth.
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I mean, no hate to the creator of C3 Tangerines, but isn't it basically a novelty? Like, in the sense that it's basically a Gateron Yellow with different spring and a "tangerine" colored stem?
Yeah its just a RECOLORED Gateron switch. But some people just still claim that C3 is better then Retooled blacks. I really wanna know who spread that BS.
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i have a headache trying to decide what to use for my next build. So i have vintage blacks and gateron inks. my heart wants to say lubed vintage blacks with 67 springs but my mind says Gat Ink's with 63.5 springs. hmmmmm
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i have a headache trying to decide what to use for my next build. So i have vintage blacks and gateron inks. my heart wants to say lubed vintage blacks with 67 springs but my mind says Gat Ink's with 63.5 springs. hmmmmm
those are two completely different types of linear switches. I can’t stand mx blacks for their cushiony bottom out. Inks are just so expensive atm. Might wanna take that into consideration