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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: vivalarevolución on Thu, 26 June 2014, 06:52:39
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Excuse me if this topic has already been discussed, but has anybody used Linear Alps switches for gaming? What was it like compared to linear Cherry switches?
If Matias came out with a linear board, would you buy it?
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I use to game a lot on complicated yellow linear Alps, particularly on a Zenith ZKB-2R. Linear Alps actually work quite well for gaming. I find them much more smoother than my lubed Cherry reds. I actually game on both linear Cherry switches and Topre, so best I can describe linear Alps switches for gaming is like if Topre made linear switches. Typing on Topre, for me anyway, felt like there was a magnet pulling the keys down after actuation. The feeling is very 'glidey' and smooth. Linear Alps is very similar in that regard in that it feels like there is a magnet pulling the keys down as your fingers lay and depress on them. I played mostly FPS, MMOs, and action RPGs on the Zentih. They all worked well. I wish I could tell you how it works on League of Legends, but I've yet to try playing League of Legends on it. I should probably game on this keyboard now, so I could give a better analysis after using so many other mechanical keyboards, but for now I'm just going to give you the impressions I felt when using it in the past.
I should note that the Zenith was around my third or so mechanical keyboard next to a Cherry G80 and a Dell AT101W. I absolutely hated the lightness of the G80's switches (MX browns) after moving from scissor switches. I kept making typos and pressing unwanted keys in games. However, I rarely made typos on the Zenith because of it's weighty keys, slightly larger spacing, and lower profile. The smoothness of the keys were what really opened my eyes to typing on more keyboards. After using the Zenith for a few months, every single key of the mechs I've tried after just felt way heavier. I made much less typos on my G80, and I made virtually no typos on my plate-mounted Cherry brown boards. However, I still didn't make the switch to Cherry for gaming until I tried lubed reds and blacks.
Coming back to Zeniths (both green and yellow linear Alps) every now and then, I still find linear Alps to be a great typing experience. I usually stick to my lubed Cherry reds (55g) and 45g Topre, but I like to bring out my other boards (the Zenith being no exception) to type on every now then. The Zenith has a unique key profile, but I've grown accustomed to Cherry profile keys. I've also grown accustomed to using only tenkeyless and 60% boards. Really it's just the profile and size of the Zenith that's holding me back from using it again for gaming.
If Matias made a switch similar to yellow or green linear Alps, I'd probably buy them. I haven't had the time or money to create a 60% linear Alps board, and I know Matias would probably feature a compact sized linear switch board if they were to create a linear Matias switch.
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My issue with Alps is that there is no after market support for customization. Linear stock MX is good, linear MX with spring mod (68g or Clear Spring) is amazing.
With alps...All I could do is steal springs from Matias switches.
Your use of Alps in gaming is more likely limited to whether the boards have 6kro or NKRO support.
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Linear green alps on my Kingsaver was one of my favorite gaming experiences. The travel is slightly less than mx and the actuation is higher up so I feel like I had faster reactions. And they're really smooth so it's a lot of fun to mash.
Yes I'd buy linear matias alps.
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Linear green alps on my Kingsaver was one of my favorite gaming experiences. The travel is slightly less than mx and the actuation is higher up so I feel like I had faster reactions. And they're really smooth so it's a lot of fun to mash.
Yes I'd buy linear matias alps.
I really need to try that Kingsaver with Green Alps, that sounds like a wonderful combo.
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Linear green alps on my Kingsaver was one of my favorite gaming experiences. The travel is slightly less than mx and the actuation is higher up so I feel like I had faster reactions. And they're really smooth so it's a lot of fun to mash.
Yes I'd buy linear matias alps.
Is that the Kingsaver that now had Blue Alps, or do you have two Kingsavers?
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Really surprised that not more people have used Alps for gaming.
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I don’t really play computer games, but I imagine that green Alps would be very nice for it. They’re smoother than “vintage” MX black switches, a nice switch weight somewhere in between MX red and MX black, and a slightly higher up actuation point. If you added a buzzer or solenoid for a slight bit of audio-tacile feedback, I can imagine them being very good for quickly and precisely pressing keys.
If you really want to get fancy, there are also some Alps linear double-acting keys, with an extra actuation at the bottom if you press hard, which I can imagine being put to some creative uses by game players.
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I like linear ALPS for gaming
it's nice
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Is that the Kingsaver that now had Blue Alps, or do you have two Kingsavers?
Originally my Kingsaver had linear green alps. I used them for two or three weeks before swapping the board to blue alps. Now I'm putting those linear green alps that I removed from the Kingsaver into my filco zero.
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Is that the Kingsaver that now had Blue Alps, or do you have two Kingsavers?
Originally my Kingsaver had linear green alps. I used them for two or three weeks before swapping the board to blue alps. Now I'm putting those linear green alps that I removed from the Kingsaver into my filco zero.
Cool, that will make for a nice Alps gaming board.
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Is that the Kingsaver that now had Blue Alps, or do you have two Kingsavers?
Originally my Kingsaver had linear green alps. I used them for two or three weeks before swapping the board to blue alps. Now I'm putting those linear green alps that I removed from the Kingsaver into my filco zero.
pictures plz when u b done ;D
sounds great
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My issue with Alps is that there is no after market support for customization. Linear stock MX is good, linear MX with spring mod (68g or Clear Spring) is amazing.
With alps...All I could do is steal springs from Matias switches.
Your use of Alps in gaming is more likely limited to whether the boards have 6kro or NKRO support.
Maybe, but two years ago there were no aftermarket springs for cherry either. People were getting POS with browns, and POS with clears and making ergo clears that way, which made them expensive.
Really surprised that not more people have used Alps for gaming.
I game just fine on anything I rotate through, and that now includes my dell with matias clicky.
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I really need to measure and spec out all the various existing Alps SKCL/SKCM springs (and Matias springs), so that we have an idea what kind of length and stiffness to look for. Then it would be really great to figure out a supplier to buy aftermarket springs from, possibly in a few varieties.
When you swap in the click/tactile leaves from Matias switches, plus an aftermarket spring, you can take most types of complicated Alps switch (white, black, salmon, whatever), even really worn out ones, and make it into something pretty nice (or e.g. nice linear switches out of any of the tactile/clicky kind).
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I imagine modding them to be linear would be the easiest way to make really worn out switches fairly nice, well, if you like linear anyway. Also, besides the adding instability stuff.