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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: FoxWolf1 on Sat, 14 February 2015, 17:27:30

Title: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Sat, 14 February 2015, 17:27:30: I thought we could use a central place to list and discuss the various MX-style RGB switches currently on the market in keyboards. Here are the ones I have found so far:

Note: This list not guaranteed to be complete.

Kailh:
Stem Varieties: Red, Brown, Blue, Black, Razer Green, Razer Orange
Used in: Razer Blackwidow Chroma, Keycool Hero RGB, V-OX G11, Hansung MKF10 RGB, Tesoro Lobera Supreme, Tesoro Excalibur RGB, Rosewill RGB80, QPad MK-10, Xenics M10TFL, QPad MK-90
(http://article.fd.zol-img.com.cn/t_s640x2000/g3/M0B/0A/04/Cg-4WFRgOCKIcETtAAK7-pXyTW4AARGGgJ3gwIAArwS670.jpg)

Cherry:
Stem Varieties: Red, Brown, Blue
Used in: Corsair K65 RGB, K70 RGB, K95 RGB
(http://gaming.corsair.com/en-us/~/media/042252FA26D94CBDB78DF00C3839E082.ashx)
Note: Blue stem MX-RGB may be hard to find, as Corsair has stopped using them due to low yield.

Greetech:
Stem Varieties: Red, Brown, Blue, Black
Used in: RK RG928 RGB
(http://image.tianjimedia.com/uploadImages/2015/028/44/4Q01W2Z4V1A7_DSC09953.JPG)

Gaote, a.k.a. Outemu:
Stem Varieties: Red, Brown, Blue, Black
Used in: FL-Esports GT104 "Armor", E Element Z-77
(http://www.inwaishe.com/data/attachment/forum/201502/05/173337ro67x670wvu0qmg7.jpg)
Note: Available in a number of variants: all black plastic (but still compatible with RGB LED), translucent top with black bottom, or translucent top with white bottom. Sometimes referred to as "GT" for Gaote, other times as "OTM" for Outemu, but these appear to be the same company. GT104 uses the translucent-top switches, while E元素Z-77 uses the black-top switches.

Do let me know if you have any to add.
Title: Re: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: exitfire401 on Sat, 14 February 2015, 17:45:57: Wow! I haven't seen the FL board until now. I need one of those :cool:
Title: Re: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: Merranza on Sat, 14 February 2015, 19:38:36: Just wanted to let you know Corsair officially stated they won't sell Cherry MX RGB Blue switches anymore in their KXX series.

Official reply from Corsair's representative:

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showpost.php?p=751211&postcount=86
Title: Re: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: hwood34 on Sat, 14 February 2015, 19:41:53: Dang, I didn't even know that so many companies made their own RGBs
Title: Re: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Sat, 14 February 2015, 19:57:11: Quote from: Merranza on Sat, 14 February 2015, 19:38:36
Just wanted to let you know Corsair officially stated they won't sell Cherry MX RGB Blue switches anymore in their KXX series.

Official reply from Corsair's representative:

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showpost.php?p=751211&postcount=86

Yes, I should clarify...the list reflects which switch manufacturers are currently making an RGB switch that is actually in use. Not every keyboard with switches from a particular manufacturer will be available with every stem type, though, and some stem types might therefore be unavailable in production models at the moment.

Another clarification...Outemu may or may not be the same entity as Gaote. Not sure; will gather more information.

EDIT: Pretty sure they are actually the same. List has been modified to reflect this.
Title: Re: MX-Style (Cherry + Compatible) RGB Switches
Post by: Lastpilot on Sun, 15 February 2015, 12:10:57: I guess this might be helpful here. Maybe. lol.

Quote from: Lastpilot on Sat, 01 November 2014, 22:05:22
Quote from: nubbinator on Sat, 01 November 2014, 21:48:06
Quote from: Lastpilot on Sat, 01 November 2014, 20:51:08
Also, as far as I can tell the top part is a new, stiffer material from the black housings we know. It was a bit harder to take them apart.

That's interesting. Are they like the AboStudio tops then?
They are actually much better than the AboStudio tops. They are made from a harder material but have similar levels of transparency.

Cherry is on left and AboStudio is on right.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/fLhhIDD.jpg)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ky3sPul.jpg)

Unfortunately I can't put them through stress tests because I need every cover that I have lol.

EDIT: Sorry, allow me to explain a bit further. You are probably wondering how I know that the Cherry tops are made from a harder material. When I take apart switches I use two small flathead screwdrivers to simultaneously loosen the "legs" from one side of the bottom housing. I found it much harder to flex the legs on the new cherry tops. Also, when I am taking apart switches using AboStudio tops I can almost ALWAYS find bend marks (white lines or auras) where the legs were flexed. This has yet to happen with me regarding the Cherry tops. :]