Comparing Blue Switches

[Xplaced]

So after trying out keyboards (costly!) I am going with either brown or blue switches.

I currently own a Razer BlackWidow Expert with blue switches. It's the older model, not the new 2013 model. I like how the blues feel. It's the only blue board I've typed on though. I have a brown switch QuickFire Rapid and I like the tenkeyless size.

My question is for anyone who has had both these boards with blue switches and how does the feel compare? Does the BlackWidow and Rapid feel the same? Or are the Rapid's blues better in some way?

I already know that Razer's board is iONE and Rapid is Costar. The switch is the same in both though right? So would they feel very different? I want to pull the trigger on a blue Rapid if it will be better, and I may anyway because I like the smaller form factor (tenkeyless).

My wife will not like the noise, but she's not here during my heavy typing hours (I work from a home office). So I think she'll be OK with it. Ha! If not, I'll stick with the browns as they are a little more quiet - not much, but a little. I could always o-ring mod it!

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[khaangaaroo]

I haven't tried any Razers, so I can't say how they compare. But you should definitely try out the o-ring mod. It makes a huge difference IMO. Some people don't like the softer landing, but I think the noise reduction is significant.

[biochem]

Definitely recommend you try the 0-ring mod. Not just for noise but also for the feel.

[Neo.X]

In myy opiopn, O-ring mod works best with Blue Switch. Especailly BWU.

[Xplaced]

Do you guys think it would be worth o-ring modding the Razer? Blues are loud anyway, so I'm thinking about modding the brown board (Rapid) and see how that feels/sounds.

What o-ring from Lowes or Home Depot should I pick up? Is there a specific size that works best that you guys have experimented with? I'm looking for whatever would make it the most quiet. I think anything besides the key hitting bottom would make it quieter.

[Xplaced]

In myy opiopn, O-ring mod works best with Blue Switch. Especailly BWU.

Ok, I might try it on my Razer Expert then! What's the o-ring I should use that fits it? Will o-rings that fit the BW fit the Rapid since they are both Cherry switches? If I can, I'll head out at lunch and pick some up and try to modify my board while on lunch break.

[biochem]

I use the red o-rings from WASDkeyboards:
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html

[Neo.X]

The one I am using is 40A-R. I have 40A-L too, but 40A-R works better for me.

And O-ring fits all the Cherry switches. But I don't know if you can buy o-ring in any local store, I purchaed form WASD.

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-switch-dampeners.html

[samwisekoi]

I am about to do a keyboard comparison video review for my YouTube channel (724supportTV) in which we will compare various Brown-switch keyboards againsf buckling Spring (B/S) keyboards and a lone MX Blue with WASD O-rings.

I might also do an unboxing and quick compare of the WASD Blue with O-rings versus a stock WASD Brown .

I have a thread here somewhere that I will update as this progresses.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[IvanIvanovich]

So you already have the board and switch type you want, just on the wrong one. Are you handy with solder iron? If so, you could get what you want for 'free' by swapping the switches on each board.

[Xplaced]

So you already have the board and switch type you want, just on the wrong one. Are you handy with solder iron? If so, you could get what you want for 'free' by swapping the switches on each board.

Haha! ) Even suggesting I do that is humorous. Thanks though for trying to save me some money. 

Also I'm not 100% set on browns or blues yet. Back to the main question I guess, I'm wondering how different blues on the Rapid would feel vs. blues on the BlackWidow. The BW seems to have it's own feel, and I am guessing that's because it's an iONE board instead of Costar, which has been what the others I tried are. I like the click of blues, and the feel on the BW. I'm assuming the blues on the Rapid would be the same or of better quality, according to folks on this forum.

I may order a Rapid with blues and find out for myself. Seems to be the best way to make a decision, though costly with shipping and what-not. But, at least I'll find what I really want. I wish there was a store somewhere that I could try these things out. Just not a big enough market I guess. Plus there are zero computer stores around here that are not a Best Buy.

I'm currently shipping back my Rapid with reds. I couldn't get used to that. They are smooth, but for typing a lot, personally they don't work for me.

[tp4tissue]

First off, Black widow will feel different from Costar boards, because Costar boards are usually PLATE mounted, which means each switch is socketed in a "steel plate" This makes it very sturdy, and reduce left/right wobble, thus making the key travel "smoother"

I don't recommend o rings, because it feels like typing with a condom on. You just don't get that rawww feel... oh yea...

[Xplaced]

First off, Black widow will feel different from Costar boards, because Costar boards are usually PLATE mounted, which means each switch is socketed in a "steel plate" This makes it very sturdy, and reduce left/right wobble, thus making the key travel "smoother"

I don't recommend o rings, because it feels like typing with a condom on. You just don't get that rawww feel... oh yea...

Ha, funny. I'll probably try out the o-rings because the bottoming out noise is loud on my browns. They are very light and easy to press, so I bottom out basically every time. I'll give it a whirl and take 'em back out if I don't like them. I will probably go look at the hardware store sometime and see if I can find any o-rings. Not sure when I'll get around to that, but I'll let you guys know if I find anything useful.

So, what you're saying I think is that I need to buy a Rapid with blues... right? Right?

[Neo.X]

I don't recommend o rings, because it feels like typing with a condom on. You just don't get that rawww feel... oh yea...

I always like your metaphor. 

[Skull_Angel]

First off, Black widow will feel different from Costar boards, because Costar boards are usually PLATE mounted, which means each switch is socketed in a "steel plate" This makes it very sturdy, and reduce left/right wobble, thus making the key travel "smoother"

I don't recommend o rings, because it feels like typing with a condom on. You just don't get that rawww feel... oh yea...

Iirc the Blaclwidows are also plate mounted, but they use an inferior plate made out of plastic or something else flimsy like that.

[sovano]

I have the 40A-L O-Rings on both my blues and browns. It works pretty well on dampening the sounds on both switches, but you'll still have the audible clicky sounds on the blues. It seems rather pointless to put o-rings on blues in my opinion if all you're going to do is try to lower the sound, because most of it will be from the clicks, not bottoming out.

[rowdy]

I find that the bottoming out sound is actually louder than the key click on my Ducky Shines.

[sovano]

Really? Well I guess it's just different for some people. I don't bottom out too hard anymore ever since I got a mechanical keyboard. I only get back to that habit once I pick up a membrane keyboard for a few days, as a result of the difference in the amount of pressure needed between those two.

[samwisekoi]

I have the 40A-L O-Rings on both my blues and browns. It works pretty well on dampening the sounds on both switches, but you'll still have the audible clicky sounds on the blues. It seems rather pointless to put o-rings on blues in my opinion if all you're going to do is try to lower the sound, because most of it will be from the clicks, not bottoming out.

Hmmm.

I just today opened and tried two new WASD keyboards, a stock Brown and a custom Blue with 50A (black) O-rings.



The Blue with O-rings was noticeably quieter.

I took a video with sound that I will upload tomorrow.

FWIW,

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[bounce]

Since we are talking about O rings and stuff here ... i dont feel satisfied with the feeling of my SS 7G.
It feels inferior to my G80 while both have blacks, i dont know whether it is due to the plate mount vs pcb mount
or the rather cheap keycaps vs the cherry doubleshots but could the Oring mod improve the feeling?

[rowdy]

I don't know about "improve", but they will change the feeling somewhat if you tend to bottom out quite often.

Otherwise there are too many differences between the keyboards, and I would expect them to feel fairly different just as they are.

[lazerpointer]

Get a set of o-rings from WASD seriously, you've invested this much in keyboards you may as well spend the ~20$ to try the o-rings. I tried some and still have them, but removed them because.... Well I can't quantify why scientifically, It just feels a bit more cheapy with the o-rings. I had bought the rings with the hope and expectation that they would somehow increase my words per minute, because of the lessened key travel. The truth is, your muscle memory will automatically adjust to either.

The bottom line for me is, if you really need to reduce sound, the o-rings can help. Other reasons for using them, I found are not so valid.

[bounce]

well while typing i usually bottom out all the time, and yet i havent spent much on the keyboards since the g80 came for free (my dad found one laying around on work)
and i got the 7G quite cheap but i might try to trade it for a keyboard with blue switches it just seems impossible to find any german person to trade with/buy from
here on geekhack

[tp4tissue]

First off, Black widow will feel different from Costar boards, because Costar boards are usually PLATE mounted, which means each switch is socketed in a "steel plate" This makes it very sturdy, and reduce left/right wobble, thus making the key travel "smoother"

I don't recommend o rings, because it feels like typing with a condom on. You just don't get that rawww feel... oh yea...

Iirc the Blaclwidows are also plate mounted, but they use an inferior plate made out of plastic or something else flimsy like that.

oh a wise guy eh? yes you are correct. damn you, damn u 2 h311.

[tp4tissue]

Get a set of o-rings from WASD seriously, you've invested this much in keyboards you may as well spend the ~20$ to try the o-rings. I tried some and still have them, but removed them because.... Well I can't quantify why scientifically, It just feels a bit more cheapy with the o-rings. I had bought the rings with the hope and expectation that they would somehow increase my words per minute, because of the lessened key travel. The truth is, your muscle memory will automatically adjust to either.

The bottom line for me is, if you really need to reduce sound, the o-rings can help. Other reasons for using them, I found are not so valid.

On the subject of keytravel, I've found that I "need" the deep travel, because my middle finger is quite long.

[tp4tissue]

well while typing i usually bottom out all the time, and yet i havent spent much on the keyboards since the g80 came for free (my dad found one laying around on work)
and i got the 7G quite cheap but i might try to trade it for a keyboard with blue switches it just seems impossible to find any german person to trade with/buy from
here on geekhack

Really? I thought the Cherry MX switch was "German Engineered"? you'd think Germans would be all over that.

[bounce]

well when i look into gh marketplace there is nothing german whatsoever... and there is nothing
comparable for germans but ive been looking into deskthority and i might be abit more lucky over there.

[tp4tissue]

well when i look into gh marketplace there is nothing german whatsoever... and there is nothing
comparable for germans but ive been looking into deskthority and i might be abit more lucky over there.

LOLOL,, Your WTB thread would look hilarious, if it said something like "German wanted"   and people'd be like, Dis' dude be recruitin' for something........

[ih8]

blues on the QFR feel better than the BW because of the overall better construction of the keyboard

[tp4tissue]

blues on the QFR feel better than the BW because of the overall better construction of the keyboard

The only difference in construction that makes a difference is the steel plate. The rest of the housing.. meh... placebo

[bounce]

well when i look into gh marketplace there is nothing german whatsoever... and there is nothing
comparable for germans but ive been looking into deskthority and i might be abit more lucky over there.

LOLOL,, Your WTB thread would look hilarious, if it said something like "German wanted"   and people'd be like, Dis' dude be recruitin' for something........

haha, yea i guess you could be right
well im too new to GH and DT anyways to even open a topic in the marketplace

[ih8]

blues on the QFR feel better than the BW because of the overall better construction of the keyboard

The only difference in construction that makes a difference is the steel plate. The rest of the housing.. meh... placebo

cheap key caps?

[laffindude]

oh a wise guy eh? yes you are correct. damn you, damn u 2 h311.

One would think you'd know that after owning 4 of them.