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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: haticK on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:41:13

Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: haticK on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:41:13: I'm about to buy my first mechanical keyboard and can't decide whether or not to get black or brown switches. I primarily will be using it for gaming (mainly FPS, some RPG/RTS) and currently have a Logitech G15. I was wondering if the black switches are more similar to what the G15 keys feel like when being pressed and if the tactile in the brown switches makes a big difference. Kind of hard to make a decision when you can't actually test them all out so I was just wondering what you guys have found from personal experience coming from a regular keyboard.
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: CeeSA on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:49:52: have a look here:
The Cherry Switch Try Gaming PCB's (http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=780)
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: aggiejy on Sat, 23 July 2011, 16:51:09: Welcome to GH!

Don't have blacks, so can't advice. I will say I enjoy playing FPS with my browns. But some folks say linear is the way to go for FPS. Perhaps you'll fall into the addiction and end up with both. (plus others) ;)
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 23 July 2011, 18:02:06: blacks are my favorite switch and type of man

what?
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: haticK on Sat, 23 July 2011, 18:13:56: My biggest concern with mechanical keyboards is the shine effect that occurs and the fading of the lettering so I'm leaning towards a Ducky from Overclock.net since they are pretty much the only keyboards I could find that come with PBT/laser etched keys without having to buy a set and swap them myself. Is this a good choice?
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: noodles256 on Sat, 23 July 2011, 18:17:19: who knows? want me to spoon feed you soup as well?
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: RiGS on Sat, 23 July 2011, 18:43:05: Quote from: haticK;385967
I'm about to buy my first mechanical keyboard and can't decide whether or not to get black or brown switches. I primarily will be using it for gaming (mainly FPS, some RPG/RTS) and currently have a Logitech G15. I was wondering if the black switches are more similar to what the G15 keys feel like when being pressed and if the tactile in the brown switches makes a big difference. Kind of hard to make a decision when you can't actually test them all out so I was just wondering what you guys have found from personal experience coming from a regular keyboard.

The G15 feels lighter than Cherry blacks, and have a tactile bump. Cherry browns are very similar, probably it has the closest feel to the G15.
Though I prefer linear switches for gaming. Cherry reds would be the best candidate for you.
It has the advantage of linear switches and has similar resistance to the G15.
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: hella on Sat, 23 July 2011, 19:02:33: Whaddup hattick,

I'm a big time fan of the former TF2 complexity team and I've been following them for a while now. Dropping carnage's team after S8 lan was a total bummer, but luckily the old coL. team found sponsorship and now plays under classic mixup.

Onto the keyboards dude. I play TF2 with buckling springs and yesterday I picked up two boards, a razer blackwidow with blue switches and a steelseries 6gv2 with black switches.

I like the blues because I like the clicky sensation. The cherry blues the audible and tactile click occurs right before the electrical impulse is sent, and it's extremely hard to double tap without fully depressing the key. Despite being a problem for others this did not bother me at all. The keys rebound relatively fast.

Cherry blacks don't feel like any other keyboard I've typed on before. There's no tactile feedback at ALL until you bottom out and I find this extremely weird feeling. Even rubber membrane keyboards offer more tactility and you can anticipate when the switch is going to fire.

I'm sure the blacks will be natural with timebut. But for now I really enjoy the blues much more. You're going to have to spend some time to feel out when and where the actuation point is. Once you do this double tapping will be easy.

Regardless, linear switches are fine but it doesn't feel good with a 60g~~70g~~ actuation force. Now, my hands aren't weak by any means and I can type on a Model M with it's 70g actuation force all day. But the switch is barely palpable and the boardfeel doesn't appeal to my tast

I would only suggest the cherry reds if you really like soft keyboards. The cherry blues feel extremely soft compared to my G15 and I wouldn't want to go any lighter. to avoid accidental keypresses.

I would go for the brown switches if you don't like the clicky sound of the cherry blues. The keys are easy to double tap, aren't clicky, and feel more solid.

Hope this helps bud! Best of luck this season.
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: RiGS on Sat, 23 July 2011, 19:05:30: The black switch has an actuation force of 60cN.
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: hella on Sat, 23 July 2011, 19:06:38: Thanks bud.
Title: Can't decide between switches
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Sun, 24 July 2011, 02:03:01: I think for cherry switches I'd almost prefer a spring in between blues and clears.