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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: gameaholic on Fri, 10 May 2013, 21:37:57

Title: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: gameaholic on Fri, 10 May 2013, 21:37:57
One of my two upcoming GH60's will be used mainly for FPS gaming.  I was wondering what you guys prefer.  I want the switch to be linear since I tried greens and they were too stiff, and didn't like blues.  I like reds for the hair trigger response but I like modern blacks for the faster reset time.  I have some vintage blacks I want to put in the GH60 because I heard that vintage blacks are smoother than modern ones.  I have 45g, 55g, and 62g springs.  I also plan on having the board lubed and stickered.  Which springs should I have put in so they are very light but reset quickly?  Another factor is o-rings.  I like having really these really stiff and thick ones on my ergo clears so they don't bottom out.  Would that help with the reset time if I go with a very light spring? 
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: The_Beast on Fri, 10 May 2013, 21:46:41
You answered your own question. You said you liked blacks, so go with blacks


it's all personal preference, I can't tell you what you'll like,
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: ApocalypseMaow on Fri, 10 May 2013, 21:50:42
Not linear, but I'm all about those MX Browns. I do have lubed and sticker'd blacks, I just wish they had Costar stabs and not Cherry ones. I'm thinking about changing out the black springs to something stupid heavy. I like for my keys to push back A LOT.
Go for the Blacks!
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: gameaholic on Fri, 10 May 2013, 21:56:36
I'm sorry I guess I'm pretty settled on the vintige blacks for the stem so my question should really be how heavy or light to go with the springs to get a light touch but still have the fast reset. 
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: ApocalypseMaow on Fri, 10 May 2013, 22:02:55
I'm sorry I guess I'm pretty settled on the vintige blacks for the stem so my question should really be how heavy or light to go with the springs to get a light touch but still have the fast reset.
Fast reset!
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: The_Beast on Fri, 10 May 2013, 22:04:29
I'm sorry I guess I'm pretty settled on the vintige blacks for the stem so my question should really be how heavy or light to go with the springs to get a light touch but still have the fast reset. 

A spring with less force than blacks but more than reds......
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: TreeSc2 on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:05:46
I would just stick with reds for gaming, but thats my opinion.. Ive used every switch known to man and somehow come back to the reds..
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:42:27
I prefer reds, especially when sniping because I tweak my left/right aiming with "micro strafing"
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: Grim Fandango on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:48:02
I like both reds and browns for FPS gaming. I like that they are very light, which makes button presses feel very immediate. I like the browns equally because the tactility is not enough to bother me when using the WASD cluster. When using blues, this does actually bother me a bit (though still not a huge deal once you get used to it).

The ones I like least are blacks. Just too heavy for me. I am constantly aware how much force it takes to use them.

Though truth be told, when it comes to FPS gaming, I do not feel that the switch used makes that huge of a difference. In the end, the keyboard controls used in the average FPS are so basic that any would suffice. I would not choose a switch based on some theoretical advantage. There really is no discernible difference in actual real world performance. Instead, just pick based on what feels best.
Title: Re: What linear switch/spring do you prefer for fps gaming?
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 11 May 2013, 13:45:55
I prefer hall-effect switches as linears, and will eventually modify my microswitch KB for gaming. It has NKRO, it's linear, and it (in theory) should have excellent debounce times.

For all the linear switches I've used, I like the hall effect ones best. Unfortuantely, in the late 1970's, microswitch (honeywell) changed the stems from round to the newer square shape, and the square ones respond much better to off-axis hits. This can be remedied on the earlier iterations with some lubricant, much like some peolpe like to lube their cherry MX switches.

Also, I would expect the RAFI switches to be good as well, provided one puts a linear spring in there (some RAFI switches have a buckling rubber sleeve supporting the switch)

All that said, I only game on ergo-clears and reds. My ergo clears actuate and reset right at the bottom of the tactile point, and since the reset force is so high, it's easy to "bounce" them at the activation point. This isn't necessary for most of the gaming I do, but it does come in handy once in a while. I find it much easier to do this on ergoclears than (say) reds.