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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Hyde on Mon, 09 April 2018, 21:30:47

Title: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 09 April 2018, 21:30:47

I'm thinking to pick up some Gateron Yellow, but now I'm looking at the different types and I'm wondering if there's any difference in feel.

I figure you can never be too sure when it comes to this kind of stuff, I know some people would mix top housing with different bottom housing and different stems from different companies (when you get very very technical, since different plastic has different hardness).

But in this case is there any perceivable difference when typing?

Original:
https://kbdfans.cn/collections/swtich/products/gateron-swtich-3pin-or-5pin

SMD Compatible:
https://kbdfans.cn/collections/swtich/products/smd-gateron-swtich

Milky:
https://kbdfans.cn/collections/swtich/products/gbgateron-switch-milky-switch-housing-1pcs

I was gonna say milky looks nice though it's PCB mount (I guess I can clip the extra legs) and cost 50 cents more lol.

If there's no perceivable difference in typing feel I might go for the SMD compatible ones (cheaper and looks nicer lol).

Thanks.

Title: Re: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: captsis on Mon, 09 April 2018, 21:41:35

IIRC people would swap Cherry with Gat tops before clear rgb housing existed OEM. Going to get corrected probably but I have felt no noticeable change in switch feel from swapping tops.

When it comes to stock Gats I doubt you'll feel any difference. Just different cutouts.

Title: Re: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 09 April 2018, 23:40:30

Ok so I did some research and this is what I gathered:

Milky Housing = Gen 2 Gateron, rumour is that there is 10% chance that GMK keycaps will not have enough clearance and get caught, POM top material (more slippery).

Clear Top Regular and Clear Top SMD = Gen 3 Gateron, the issue with GMK keycaps are fixed, no clue what top material is but the clear top is the standard top now.

So people suggest get either of the clear top gen 3 versions. The black bottom one can be either plate mount of PCB mount while the SMD version is plate mount only.

:thumb:

Title: Re: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: Blaise170 on Tue, 10 April 2018, 09:46:58

I have all three varieties (black shell, translucent shell, clear shell) and they feel the same to me. Other than appearance there aren't really any major differences that I know of.

Title: Re: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: Hyde on Tue, 10 April 2018, 10:38:45

Nice that's good to know, I went for the SMD version because it's cheaper and looks nicer lol.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Is there any difference between Gateron switch housings?
Post by: vootcaboot on Tue, 10 April 2018, 11:07:47

Milky Gateron housings have no significant difference on the bottom-out, but they do affect silence quite a bit. Milky housings are terrible to put silent stems in in my experience.