Did the "switch scene" change over the last few years ?

[Norz]

Basically, I bought a Filco tkl MX Red few years ago and am very happy about it. I've also tried an MX Blue which I LOVED but couldn't keep due to it being great to type but definitly suboptimal to play (according to my taste anyway).

I've always felt like trying some MX Brown keys as they seem (in theory?) to be the middle ground i'm looking for: Very soft like Red but with a little bump/click. Sadly I couldn't find a single shop to let me try Brown switches. During my quest for those switches to try - and this is what the title of this thread is refering to - I found many gaming keyboards (Razer mostly) that didn't specify the kind of switch they had on the box, or just basically "razer switches". Is this a thing now ? Are colors type a thing of the past and is it now about the brand ?

What should I looking for if I want something very soft but with an actual small click/bump ? The Razer keyboards I have tried felt both soft and clicky, while easily bottoming out (which i think is a good thing). Thing is, I have no idea what I was actually testing in terms of switches lol

Thoughts would be really appreciated !

[harjoat]

Every manufacturer has their own colour coding for switch types. Colour coding switches isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[AMongoose]

AFAIK razer switches are blue copies, slightly softer, manufactured by kailh.

The colours aren't a thing of the past they are still used. The difference is that there are more manufacturers of MX-Compatible switches as cherry lost the patent of the mx switch. You might want to look into gateron switches.

There are also more switch offerings with logitech offering romer switches and more availability of matias boards.

[Norz]

Alright, I see thanks.

Have my eye on both K70 MX Speed & Brown at the moment. Gonna try to find a "Speed" to try.

[klennkellon]

Alright, I see thanks.

Have my eye on both K70 MX Speed & Brown at the moment. Gonna try to find a "Speed" to try.

Don't get anything Corsair.

Also, why does blue ALWAYS mean clicky?

[Norz]

What's wrong with Corsair ? Seemed to be one of the good brands amongst the less "underground/specialized" ones ?

[chyros]

Is it fair to say the mech scene is slowly starting to shift from Cherry MX?

What's wrong with Corsair ? Seemed to be one of the good brands amongst the less "underground/specialized" ones ?

Hmmm, quite expensive maybe?

[trenzafeeds]

Is it fair to say the mech scene is slowly starting to shift from Cherry MX?

I mean I would say between gaterons and zealios, vintage blacks are probably the only cherry switch whithout a better (and in the case of gateron, cheaper) alternative.

[Spopepro]

What's wrong with Corsair ? Seemed to be one of the good brands amongst the less "underground/specialized" ones ?

They are fine from a pure construction standpoint. The warning is likely about thin keycaps + bottom row that won't have replacement sizes. Most enthusiasts would be unhappy with the caps, and there's few to no options for a nice replacement set. It's one of the reasons people recommend manufacturers like Ducky for the non-boutique options.

[Norz]

Is it fair to say the mech scene is slowly starting to shift from Cherry MX?

I mean I would say between gaterons and zealios, vintage blacks are probably the only cherry switch whithout a better (and in the case of gateron, cheaper) alternative.

That's interesting, I didn't know about Gaterons and Zealios. So let's say I like keycaps that are very soft but with a small bump/click, one of the two you listed should be of interest to me ? I have been always using Red, I like Blue too but I feel like I can only type with them, not really play. (I have very sensitive fingers joints, so I'm not even sure I could type for hours with Blue). Actually tried Razer green in shop for a minute (so it doesn't mean much) and they felt rather good. Like Blue but much softer, right ?

What's wrong with Corsair ? Seemed to be one of the good brands amongst the less "underground/specialized" ones ?

They are fine from a pure construction standpoint. The warning is likely about thin keycaps + bottom row that won't have replacement sizes. Most enthusiasts would be unhappy with the caps, and there's few to no options for a nice replacement set. It's one of the reasons people recommend manufacturers like Ducky for the non-boutique options.

Okay, I see, thanks. When you say "thin keycaps" you mean all of them ? I have a custom Escape keycap I love, I wouldn't be able to put it on a K70 keyboard ?

[klennkellon]

TBH I don't really think there is a single reason to go with MX switches over Gateron unless the little extra wobble really bothers you.

The only two MX switches worth getting IMO are MX Blues (because some find the Gaterons clickies too loud) and MX Clears (for the unique force curve)

And just stay far away from MX Linears unless they're vintage.

[Norz]

TBH I don't really think there is a single reason to go with MX switches over Gateron unless the little extra wobble really bothers you.

I only started looking but couldn't find much with Gateron switches. Are those mostly for non very "commercial" brands ? What's the color code for Gateron ? Anything in particular close to MX Brown ?

Thanks !

[Spopepro]

Is it fair to say the mech scene is slowly starting to shift from Cherry MX?

I mean I would say between gaterons and zealios, vintage blacks are probably the only cherry switch whithout a better (and in the case of gateron, cheaper) alternative.

That's interesting, I didn't know about Gaterons and Zealios. So let's say I like keycaps that are very soft but with a small bump/click, one of the two you listed should be of interest to me ? I have been always using Red, I like Blue too but I feel like I can only type with them, not really play. (I have very sensitive fingers joints, so I'm not even sure I could type for hours with Blue). Actually tried Razer green in shop for a minute (so it doesn't mean much) and they felt rather good. Like Blue but much softer, right ?

What's wrong with Corsair ? Seemed to be one of the good brands amongst the less "underground/specialized" ones ?

They are fine from a pure construction standpoint. The warning is likely about thin keycaps + bottom row that won't have replacement sizes. Most enthusiasts would be unhappy with the caps, and there's few to no options for a nice replacement set. It's one of the reasons people recommend manufacturers like Ducky for the non-boutique options.

Okay, I see, thanks. When you say "thin keycaps" you mean all of them ? I have a custom Escape keycap I love, I wouldn't be able to put it on a K70 keyboard ?

Your Esc key will work. You could use 90% of any standard keycap set and it will fit--it's just the bottom row that is strange on many mass production keyboards. Thin keycaps isn't an issue about fit, it's just a statement about quality and how most people around these parts do not like lasered, pad printed, or painted thin caps.

[ghostjuggernaut]

TBH I don't really think there is a single reason to go with MX switches over Gateron unless the little extra wobble really bothers you.

I only started looking but couldn't find much with Gateron switches. Are those mostly for non very "commercial" brands ? What's the color code for Gateron ? Anything in particular close to MX Brown ?

Thanks !

Gateron makes a brown switch, that is similar to cherry brown. The real benefit of gateron over cherry is that you lose all the scratchiness of new cherry. They do have different spring weights when compared though.

Hwood did a review, iirc, on the various gateron offerings. I'd start there and see what you think. I don't believe there are many big brands using gateron right now, but could be wrong. You can typically get loose switches for fairly cheap though.

[FrostyToast]

Corsair is nice if you just want to harvest MX silent switches or MX speed switches. Especially when modded, they can be good switches. Except the PCBs for those keyboards are garbage.

Linear gateron switches are nice and vintage linears are still as good as they ever were.

Zealios are basically mx clears but not as elusive and somewhat better in quality.

Really it's up to you what switches you like but other good options include: Aristotle switches, jail house blues, binned and tuned MX whites.

[klennkellon]

TBH I don't really think there is a single reason to go with MX switches over Gateron unless the little extra wobble really bothers you.

I only started looking but couldn't find much with Gateron switches. Are those mostly for non very "commercial" brands ? What's the color code for Gateron ? Anything in particular close to MX Brown ?

Thanks !

Color coding should be exactly the same as MX except for Gateron Clears which feel nothing like MX Clears and Gateron Yellow which are similar to MX Black but the weighting is slightly different.

[Norz]

Alright, thanks everyone for your precious informations.

Guess I'm going for some standard Cherry MX Brown as it's going to be difficult to find the new(er) kind of switches. Also it's my understanding Cherry is still fine for non linear ones.

[DALExSNAIL]

In reference to people saying corsair has decent build quality, I just can't say that's true anymore.

Recently purchased a strafe for the pink switches and used it for about 2 weeks. The case itself is creaky and plasticky, the cable is so thick that it will barely bend and just gets in the way, not to mention it is non detachable, in addition to previous things mentioned( non-standard bottom row, terrible caps).

As far as I'm concerned they are overpriced overstylized switch housings built purely to harvest speeds and silents.

Buy a qfr for half the price if you ever consider buying corsair.

[Crapbag]

In a year other vendors will be shipping MX Speeds.

[Norz]

In a year other vendors will be shipping MX Speeds.

I'll revaluate in a year or two then, in the mean time I settled for a Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro S RGB (MX Brown) !

I should probably use some lube right ? It's my understanding it's a good thing to do with new brown switches

[menuhin]

I hope that we can still rely on Gateron (for me their blacks & clears), Zealios, and MX Clear in the future 10 to 20 years.

I also want to see Matias' switches get more popular, while wishing them to re-introduce the 'pine' top-housing instead of using the 'bamboo' design.
More and more keyboard makers create duo (MX & Alps) compatible PCBs and plates.

[PollandAkuma]

I just want someone to regularly create ALPS springs and remake all ALPS switches

[dante]

In a year other vendors will be shipping MX Speeds.

Ehh?  Poker and Ducky boards are being sold with MX Speeds (Silver) now.

I'm curious if these are smoother than normal.  If I recall correctly the only difference with Speeds/Silvers are longer legs to raise actuation.  If that's the case then these could be brand new molds.

[trenzafeeds]

I hope that we can still rely on Gateron (for me their blacks & clears), Zealios, and MX Clear in the future 10 to 20 years.

Honestly Im more worried about how the gaterons I have right now will be doing in 10-20 years. Sure, there doesn't seem to be a big concern, but the only selling point that cherry really still has is the fact that they're the only switches actually proven to stand the test of time.

[dante]

I hope that we can still rely on Gateron (for me their blacks & clears), Zealios, and MX Clear in the future 10 to 20 years.

Honestly Im more worried about how the gaterons I have right now will be doing in 10-20 years. Sure, there doesn't seem to be a big concern, but the only selling point that cherry really still has is the fact that they're the only switches actually proven to stand the test of time.

After trying MX Whites I started taking Cherry a lot less seriously.

[jcoffin1981]

TBH I don't really think there is a single reason to go with MX switches over Gateron unless the little extra wobble really bothers you.

The only two MX switches worth getting IMO are MX Blues (because some find the Gaterons clickies too loud) and MX Clears (for the unique force curve)

And just stay far away from MX Linears unless they're vintage.

I will say that with Gateron Browns vs MX Browns, the Gaterons are more tactile, which many will favor.  I like the less tactile MX and they are smooth.  What really bothers me about the Gaterons is the pinging.  Some of them are incredibly noisy.