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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kohi on Wed, 09 July 2014, 16:35:39

Title: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: kohi on Wed, 09 July 2014, 16:35:39
just wondering, in terms of feel - which switch has a greater tactile bump?
I know some people prefer mx greens over mx whites - but aren't they pretty similar in terms of actuation force?  :confused:
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 09 July 2014, 16:43:36
I think whites are supposed to be slightly quieter than greens and blues. The tactility should be the same aside from clears which have a huge difference but no click
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: Defect on Wed, 09 July 2014, 16:56:08
Clears are more tactile, especially with a spring mod.

Green and White are very close in feel.  White is pretty inconsistent from switch to switch.  Some are exactly like greens, others may be quieter, and some (rarely) don't even click (sample of 50)

I haven't been able to determine EXACTLY what causes the quiet click in whites, but I've been able to mimic it on blues/greens by carefully lubing the slappy parts.  Hard to do, I ruin maybe 7 blues for every one I get right.  I'm sure it's easier with the right tools and with practice.
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: kenmai9 on Wed, 09 July 2014, 16:57:04
Clears with 60g-67g should be very tactile.
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: johndavis33 on Wed, 09 July 2014, 18:46:22
Some of my favorite switches. I actually wrote a pretty detailed review of every switch that I have a keyboard for.

Clears have a different kind of tactility than whites/greens. It's more of a smooth increase in force until you get to the bump. This makes them feel less tactile. Greens are always a crisp, sharp bump. The force is the same until it gets to the bump. It almost feels like hitting a wall when your finger gets to it. Because of this, to me, greens feel more tactile than clears, only because the increase in force is so sudden. Whites feel the same as greens, and my keyboard with whites has been my main keyboard for the past few months. However, the click on whites is less sharp than it is on greens, but not as "un-sharp" as clears. IMO, it makes them feel like BS switches to me. Also, they sound like raindrops hitting a window when typing at full speed. It's very soothing
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 09 July 2014, 18:49:41
To me, Clears are the only MX tactile switch. They're got a very noticeable and pleasant tactile bump. I like the actuation force it's a bit heavy but not as heavy as say Linear Greys. I think they feel like stock Blacks And the bottom out feels almost cushiony.

I have keyboards with both Greens and Whites. MX Greens feel like a heavier Blue. Same click, just more force to acutate. The Whites are curious. They have the same actuation force as greens but they have a smoother stroke to me and the click is a bit muffled.
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: kohi on Wed, 09 July 2014, 20:06:51
thanks for the replies!

Some of my favorite switches. I actually wrote a pretty detailed review of every switch that I have a keyboard for.

I checked out the review, thanks for the information. oh yeah, and do the mx white switches have that weird actuation reset point found in the blues - making it difficult to spam? would it be okay for, lets say, fps games?
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 10 July 2014, 04:10:10
thanks for the replies!

Some of my favorite switches. I actually wrote a pretty detailed review of every switch that I have a keyboard for.

I checked out the review, thanks for the information. oh yeah, and do the mx white switches have that weird actuation reset point found in the blues - making it difficult to spam? would it be okay for, lets say, fps games?

It's called hysteresis and yes, it would be okay, but Clears are better. You can use the bump as a reference point for where the switch actuates / resets and use it as a rest point for fast doubletaps and direction changes.
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: kohi on Thu, 10 July 2014, 17:02:24
anyone have sound comparisons between the two? can't seem to find any on youtube or elsewhere
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: johndavis33 on Thu, 10 July 2014, 19:50:12
thanks for the replies!

Some of my favorite switches. I actually wrote a pretty detailed review of every switch that I have a keyboard for.

I checked out the review, thanks for the information. oh yeah, and do the mx white switches have that weird actuation reset point found in the blues - making it difficult to spam? would it be okay for, lets say, fps games?

They do, but it's barely even noticeable simply because of the stiffer springs. They push your fingers past the reset point on the return trip, where at that same point on blues there's almost no force pushing against your fingers at all.

anyone have sound comparisons between the two? can't seem to find any on youtube or elsewhere

I can give you a description? Greens sound like popping bubblewrap, but about half as loud and more high pitched. Whites are like raindrops hitting a window.
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: kohi on Thu, 10 July 2014, 20:37:30
I can give you a description? Greens sound like popping bubblewrap, but about half as loud and more high pitched. Whites are like raindrops hitting a window.

from a purely typing perspective, which do you prefer (between clear and white?)
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: johndavis33 on Thu, 10 July 2014, 21:19:27
I can give you a description? Greens sound like popping bubblewrap, but about half as loud and more high pitched. Whites are like raindrops hitting a window.

from a purely typing perspective, which do you prefer (between clear and white?)

This is heavily personal preference, but whites. Clears are nice, but for typing I prefer a more crisp bump. Also, I don't really like the landing on clears, mostly because I don't bottom out. I prefer everything to feel the same after my finger has passed the bump on a switch. However, I feel like clears would probably be the best switch for someone who's new to mechanical keyboards, because they're incredibly easy to not bottom out on, and most complaints from new mech keyboard users that I've heard come from people bottoming out (e.g. "reds are too loud for me")
Title: Re: white/green vs clear switches
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 10 July 2014, 21:25:43
i gotta say

whites are REALLY REALLY inconsistent and i hate them more than any other switch because of that

please don't torture yourself