geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: roji on Mon, 20 July 2020, 12:11:16
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I am currently using Outemu Blues, and well... I want to upgrade, I am mostly a gamer, but I also type. Which brand and which switches would you recommend me to get?
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Do you like the click, do you want more or less?
Do you like the tactility? Do you want more or less?
Do you need a whole keyboard or just switches, if you have hot swap, are those Outemu hot swaps or something else?
If you need a keyboard, what form factor? RGB? Hot Swap?
How much are you willing to spend?
What kind of games do you play, most people don't recommend blues for FPS, but MMORPG seems to prefer them, but it's personal preference.
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I am currently using Outemu Blues, and well... I want to upgrade, I am mostly a gamer, but I also type. Which brand and which switches would you recommend me to get?
Leslieann's advise is always good. All I would add to the initial steps is to get a big switch tester with as many switches as you care to pay for. I always recommend KPrepublic's 130 switch tester (https://kprepublic.com/products/130-switch-switches-tester-with-acrylic-base-blank-keycaps-for-mechanical-keyboard-cherry-kailh-gateron-outemu-ice-ttc-ormon-ysa) because it is pretty comprehensive and provides a good value. It will not have (most) boutique switches on it, but it will help you narrow down and/or answer some of the questions asked above.
I don't think you can get much better than Outemu blues for MX and clones. Gaterons are just a bit more consistent, but I wouldn't swap the switches over the difference.
If you like the relatively stiff tactility that Outemu's provide, you might want to look at Kailh box jades, or even navies. If you want something less tactile, there are other switches in the box family with thinner click bars. I think most people consider the box family the best modern clickies that are compatible with MX boards and caps. If you want better than that ... you have to start going back in time, to different switch types with no compatibility, or deciding whether or not you want to try out a Matias board, with all of their reports of chatter issues (I haven't found a board, new or old, that exhibits that problem yet myself).
I add another vote for generally disliking using clickies at all for games, even ones with relatively light tactility. For games, linears are something to try out. Gateron yellows are particularly nice, and don't actuate from resting your fingers on them ... like MX reds. There's a massive boutique and custom linear rabbit hole I have not descended down though myself.