Topre vs Cherry Red switches for FPS gaming?

[dmbr]

I've been using Cherry Reds for a while now, due to them having the lowest travel distance and activation force of the Cherry options. Recently, however, I've been told Topre switches are superior in this regard..

Is that true? If so, would there be any downsides to using Topres when FPS gaming? My main concern is key presses registering as fast as possible and double-tapping being easy.

Thanks! And happy holidays

[spiceBar]

I've been using Cherry Reds for a while now, due to them having the lowest travel distance and activation force of the Cherry options. Recently, however, I've been told Topre switches are superior in this regard..

Is that true? If so, would there be any downsides to using Topres when FPS gaming? My main concern is key presses registering as fast as possible and double-tapping being easy.

Thanks! And happy holidays

Technically, all Cherry MX switches have the same distance to activation point.

The difference is in the tactility and the strength of the spring. The tactility generally produces a small mechanical resistance just before the activation point, or a collapse just after the activation point.

I have been told that reds and blacks (same as reds, but stronger spring) are good choices for gaming. Browns should not be bad (same spring as reds, but a very subtle tactile resistance just before the activation point). I guess that blues would not be ideal. They are clicky with a tactile point, and they have a small moving part inside which produces the click and which causes a little bit of inertia that may be counter-productive for double-tapping.

I don't see why Topre switches would be superior for games. Not that I think they would be inferior either. They are subtly tactile with a collapse just after the activation point, which is supposed to be at 2mm, and is the same distance as Cherry MX switches.

My feeling is that it's not the kind of switch you use that will make you better at gaming, contrary to what the keyboards manufacturers marketing departments want you to believe.

I think a mechanical keyboard will help, but unless you select a very wrong kind of switch it will not make any further difference.

That's good news: you can choose the kind of mechanical switch you personally like the most.

[dmbr]

Ah, thank you.

So how does the resistance Topre has compared to reds?

[katushkin]

Well the resistance can be different depending on what board you use, but I believe they start at about 55g and go up usually?

I'm 90% sure most topre switches you get will be heavier than Reds.

[Puddsy]

This thread must get posted once a month.

ANYWAY.

I played invite-level TF2 for a few seasons. You'll want reds. Topre doesn't cut it. It's really hard to double-tap on Topre.

[Altis]

I play CS GO with a variety of boards. I only have the 55g Topre and the only thing I can say is that it's a little heavy to use for very extended gaming (at least for my hands). I only really use Topre for gaming when I don't feel like switching out the board. I'd be more inclined to use 45g Topre I think for gaming (FC660C, HHKB, RF87U 45g) than 55g (RF87U 55g).

In all honesty, I pretty much don't notice which keyboard I'm using while playing CS GO. I like MX Browns and Blues perhaps more than Red, but just as many people will tell you they prefer Blacks or Reds. I think it's because it's slightly less prone to accidental key activations and I like feeling the key being actuated.

[spiceBar]

Ah, thank you.

So how does the resistance Topre has compared to reds?

Topre comes in 3 weights:
- 30g and 45g on the "Realforce" ergonomic keyboards. 30g is used for the keys you are supposed to press with your weakest fingers, if you touch-type, 45g is used for the rest.
- 45g uniform. This is very close to the weight of reds and browns Cherry MX.
- 55g uniform. This is probably a little too heavy for gaming if you like reds.

I think uniform 45g is OK for gaming. Variable weight 30g-45g is probably OK as well.

I have just done the experiment with my CM Novatouch (Topre, uniform 45g) and a Poker 2 with Cherry MX reds, and if you press the keys quickly both are very close in feel. The subtle collapse on the Topre switch is still perceptible, but both switches require approximately the same amount of force to activate. When you type they feel quite different, naturally, as with the Topre switches you have the tactile confirmation that the key has been activated. They also sound very different, but I guess it does not matter for gaming, as the sound from the game may be quite loud, or you may be wearing headphones anyway.

[PointyFox]

I dislike reds because I'm always accidentally pressing them, especially the space bar.

[rowdy]

Reds are too weak for me.  Topre 45g is far more comfortable, even though they are also 45g, however they have a more tactile feel than the strictly linear reds.

[PointyFox]

Reds are too weak for me.  Topre 45g is far more comfortable, even though they are also 45g, however they have a more tactile feel than the strictly linear reds.

The tactility makes it much harder to accidentally press them.  I have no problem with 45g Topre as well.

[Kmynis]

MX red all day every day for gaming. Topre doubletap feels bad to me, even worse than a regular dome.

[tp4tissue]

If you play a game that could benefit from hit confirming..

SUCH AS    streetfighter, dancedancerevo, stepmania, osu...

Then you may want to consider the topre, or mx blue/ white/green    NOT brown, cuz brown = bad..


Topre... is not as versatile, and you're paying more for the fact that it's imported, you get far less keyboard for your money.

[dmbr]

This thread must get posted once a month.

ANYWAY.

I played invite-level TF2 for a few seasons. You'll want reds. Topre doesn't cut it. It's really hard to double-tap on Topre.

Cool, I play in Platinum...I bet I know you. Smaka swears by Topre.

Valuable input, thanks everyone.

[munch]

I couldn't stand topre, 35-45-55g, for gaming. it just made me feel really sluggish. also when typing. meh meh.
they're really not for me. tried HHKBpro2 and realforces

the mushy stop you get when pressing the keys down, just doesn't feel tactile at all, and it makes it really difficult to press repeatedly, for me.

[_PixelNinja]

I have used both to play a lot of Quake Live and there is no advantage in using either; they are simply different and require changing your habits from one to another. It ultimately boils down to what you are more comfortable with.

[Puddsy]

This thread must get posted once a month.

ANYWAY.

I played invite-level TF2 for a few seasons. You'll want reds. Topre doesn't cut it. It's really hard to double-tap on Topre.

Cool, I play in Platinum...I bet I know you. Smaka swears by Topre.

Valuable input, thanks everyone.

Yeah, but Smaka's a ****ter.

This isn't the place for this. If you wanna keep chatting, PM me.

[skuko]

been gaming on my new FC660C for the past few weeks (planetside 2, guild wars 2, etc.). i used mx reds before this for a good year and i don't have any problems whatsoever with the topre. quite the contrary, i love it

[RoflCopter4]

In practical terms you'll probably see a heck of a lot more of a difference with just plain old practice than you'll ever get from a keyboard. Get a board you like to type on. You type on a keyboard far more often than you game.

[demik]

no problem with my hhkb playing fps.