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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: pab on Mon, 02 May 2016, 02:15:44

Title: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: pab on Mon, 02 May 2016, 02:15:44
I love my Topre Realforce 87u 55g, but I'm considering buying a ErgoDox EZ to help my poor wrists out while I'm programming at work. Unfortunately, there's no Ergonomic keyboard with a Topre switch, so I'm looking to y'all to tell me what would be the most comparable Gateron switch.

Some switches I've tried before, and my opinion of them (to help give an idea of why I like Topre 55g).

 - Cherry MX Brown: Scratchy and way too soft. I often find myself accidentally actuating keys by resting my hands on the keyboard. 72-78 WPM
 - Topre 45g: Similar to Browns but no scratchiness (still find myself accidentally pressing keys). 74-80 WPM
 - Cherry MX Clear: Super scratchy, and they tire my hands out within an hour. Way too stiff.  80-85 WPM
 - Cherry MX Green: Really enjoyable to type on (nice click!), but tire my hands our even faster than the Clears. WPM N/A
 - Topre 55g: Perfect switch. I can rest my hands on the keyboard without actuating it, but they don't tire my hands out. 85-95 WPM
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: bocahgundul on Mon, 02 May 2016, 02:20:41
What about zealios man  :thumb:

and there are an ergonomic topre keyboard the name of the keyboard is Utron  :thumb:
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: pab on Mon, 02 May 2016, 02:22:58
What about zealios man  :thumb:

and there are an ergonomic topre keyboard the name of the keyboard is Utron  :thumb:

I was under the assumption that if I found Cherry MX Clears too stiff, then I'd find Zealios way too stiff, but I'm happy to be proven wrong  :)
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: bocahgundul on Mon, 02 May 2016, 02:36:58
get zealios change the springs and done
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: demik on Mon, 02 May 2016, 06:54:51
You can't compare or even come close to topre 55g.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 02 May 2016, 07:19:24
I would agree that Zealios are the closest you will get to topre. That said, they feel nothing alike. The only similarity is that they're both tactile, but the nature of the tactile bump is completely different on both switches.

62/65g~ would be a good match for weight, I think.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: Vittra on Mon, 02 May 2016, 07:59:43
I love my Topre Realforce 87u 55g, but I'm considering buying a ErgoDox EZ to help my poor wrists out while I'm programming at work. Unfortunately, there's no Ergonomic keyboard with a Topre switch, so I'm looking to y'all to tell me what would be the most comparable Gateron switch.

Actually, it does exist!

http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 02 May 2016, 08:10:02
try to buy that thing
there is no mx like topre
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: kawasaki161 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 08:18:55
I was under the assumption that if I found Cherry MX Clears too stiff, then I'd find Zealios way too stiff, but I'm happy to be proven wrong  :)

Zealios are lighter than you think when first looking at the values. That is beacause they are rated for bottom out force and not actuation force. I think that 62g Zealios feel only a tad stiffer (in bottom-out weight) than Cherry Browns, but are way more tactile and a lot smoother.
I also just got my Gateron Browns from Massdrop and I think that those are very similar to Zealios 62g bottom-out weight wise (Zealios still are a lot more tactile though). If I were to rate the switches I have got here weight wise it would be: Cherry Brown < Gateron Brown = Zealios 62g < Zealios 65g < Zealios 78g. The biggest difference between the Gateron Brown and the Zealio 62 is that the force curve of the Gateron feels more linear, while the Zealio goes: pretty light -> strong bump -> light with transition to bottom out cushion the Gateron has a higher "base stiffness".

Damn switch feel is so hard to describe when the difference in weight is so minimal, sorry if it did not help you too much.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: pab on Mon, 02 May 2016, 08:52:50
I was under the assumption that if I found Cherry MX Clears too stiff, then I'd find Zealios way too stiff, but I'm happy to be proven wrong  :)

Zealios are lighter than you think when first looking at the values. That is beacause they are rated for bottom out force and not actuation force. I think that 62g Zealios feel only a tad stiffer (in bottom-out weight) than Cherry Browns, but are way more tactile and a lot smoother.
I also just got my Gateron Browns from Massdrop and I think that those are very similar to Zealios 62g bottom-out weight wise (Zealios still are a lot more tactile though). If I were to rate the switches I have got here weight wise it would be: Cherry Brown < Gateron Brown = Zealios 62g < Zealios 65g < Zealios 78g. The biggest difference between the Gateron Brown and the Zealio 62 is that the force curve of the Gateron feels more linear, while the Zealio goes: pretty light -> strong bump -> light with transition to bottom out cushion the Gateron has a higher "base stiffness".

Damn switch feel is so hard to describe when the difference in weight is so minimal, sorry if it did not help you too much.

This helped out a ton, thank you!

This is making me consider jumping on the ErgoDox Infinity drop with the Zealios Purples. :)
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: klennkellon on Mon, 02 May 2016, 09:03:37
No mechanical switch can really be compared to Topre. If you like the softer landing, you can get some O-Rings, but they only do so much.

Chryos said in his HHKB video that  tactile neon-green ALPS felt close, but he only had one loose switch.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: dante on Mon, 02 May 2016, 14:31:57
You can't compare or even come close to topre 55g.

Sure you can.  A Chinese made Dell Quietkey!
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: Malenky on Mon, 02 May 2016, 17:30:40
Get some Zealios, and you will love them just as you love your Topre board, but in a different way.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: klennkellon on Mon, 02 May 2016, 19:14:28
You can't compare or even come close to topre 55g.

Sure you can.  A Chinese made Dell Quietkey!
better yet, BTC Dome With Sliders
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: quasistellar on Mon, 02 May 2016, 20:26:02
Actually, Matias quiet clicks are probably closer than any MX switch to Topre. You can get the ergodox with them, too. Keycaps are limited, of course, so you'd want to order the, with the drop.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: romevi on Mon, 02 May 2016, 20:30:25
My Alps Orange feel more similar to Topre than any MX does, yet that too is different. It seems Alps has a shorter distance, and distance plays a lot if you happen to bottom out when typing, like I do.

I have 65g Zealios, and they actually feel much lighter than my 55g Topre. I'm already planning on spring-swapping for 78g. My fingers slam on the plate, so it's actually more fatiguing than my Realforce.

But I agree that no tactile MX feels like Topre, even if Zealios are the closest you'll get.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: jerue on Mon, 02 May 2016, 20:32:54
I would get Zealio switches, lube them; either 65g or 67g weights - 62g is too light to be compared to 55g Topre.
Title: Re: Most comparable Gateron switch to Topre 55g
Post by: pab on Wed, 04 May 2016, 10:50:45
I have 65g Zealios, and they actually feel much lighter than my 55g Topre. I'm already planning on spring-swapping for 78g. My fingers slam on the plate, so it's actually more fatiguing than my Realforce.

That's super interesting! Okay, this is cool. I think I'll try the 67g Zealios and go from there. I think the 78g would be too much (that's about the force of bottoming out Clears IIRC) for me personally.