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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: alne on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:01:58

Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: alne on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:01:58: i was wondering if it is possible to replace the cherry mx brown switches in my steelseries 7g on certain keys to the black switches?

i use my keyboard for gaming and the brown switches I like for my movement keys, but I would like the (i think they are the black switches??) for the keys I use to crouch and walk (i play fps games).

also is it possible to replace them with other types of switches that are not made by cherry?

i'm looking for the most low force switch if possible?

thank you for your suggestions in advance.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: zwmalone on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:07:45: I was under the assumption that the 7g had black switches for everything...
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:07:45: Are you sure about them being Brown? Last I checked, the Steelseries used Black switches. Black = high force and linear. Brown = low force and tactile.

Either way, it is possible to swap switches by de-soldering the old ones from the board and soldering in new ones. The different switches are electrically compatible so there's no more effort required there.

Swapping switches from other vendors is for all intents and purposes impossible, as the circuitry has to be adjusted to deal with the specific type of switch. The exception to this may be some Cherry-like switches like the white SMKs.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: alne on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:09:17: i'm sorry i'm very new to keyboards. I believe you are right they are the cherry black. and I believe i want to switch them to the cherry brown (which are the ones with the tacticle feedback?)

anyways I found this post: http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:7486 , is this a suitable guide to swapping the switches? I'm now in search of where to order them. my soldering skills are just ok so hopefully i won't screw this up!

well poster above got me! man, you guys sure are fast!

i have one other question, i have never owned a keyboard with the cherry brown switches.. how would they compare to the razer arctosa keyboard? i know the artcosa is like a cheap rubber dome keypad type but I was wondering if they cherry black switches are as low force as compared to the artcosa?
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:12:48: Your biggest issue would be finding the appropriate switches. Compaq MX11800s are the cheapest and most common Cherry brown boards. You can usually find one on eBay in decent condition for about $20-30.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: alne on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:18:23: i'm curious which cherry switch is the most low force, the blue or the brown?
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: zwmalone on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:27:57: the browns are like a lower force blue.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:32:08: Supposedly they're a bit more different than that in terms of feel. But yes, the brown is lower by 5g, a figure which is more noticeable than it might sound.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: Rajagra on Thu, 24 December 2009, 20:36:14: Quote from: zwmalone;145162
the browns are like a lower force blue.

I thought the same, but according to the data sheet they have a similar actuation force and final slope! I think the browns are just smoother, making them feel lighter.

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical+Switch+Keyboards+Sorted+By+Switch (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Mechanical+Switch+Keyboards+Sorted+By+Switch)
http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0146/0900766b8014611b.pdf (http://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0146/0900766b8014611b.pdf)
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: alpslover on Fri, 25 December 2009, 09:07:40: Quote from: ch_123;145152

Swapping switches from other vendors is for all intents and purposes impossible, as the circuitry has to be adjusted to deal with the specific type of switch. The exception to this may be some Cherry-like switches like the white SMKs.

the smk's are only cherry-like in terms of keycap compatibility. internally, they're very different.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ricercar on Fri, 25 December 2009, 15:33:41: If you're looking for Cherry clones with a lower actuation force than Cherry browns, send me a PM or post here. I have 99 clones that I just removed from a PC board, and I'd be willing to trade them 1-for-1 for Cherry browns.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 25 December 2009, 15:57:44: Quote from: ricercar;145242
If you're looking for Cherry clones with a lower actuation force than Cherry browns

that must be a very light key.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ricercar on Fri, 25 December 2009, 17:11:07: Too light for me. I need to find some nickels.

Kishy, did you ever weigh the force needed before you removed the keycaps?
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 25 December 2009, 17:57:48: no doubt, the browns are light to begin with. can't imagine something lighter.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 25 December 2009, 18:11:05: Well, there's those 35g Topre boards.
Title: modifying steelseries 7g
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 25 December 2009, 18:28:06: the touch of a feather, the wisp of a breeze, the faint touch of a butterfly upon landing.