From Cherry MX Brown to Red

[Dext]

Hello everyone,

I'm just waiting my credit card to come before buying a new keyboard and i would like to know if it would be a good idea to go on cherry MX red. I would like to have them because they only need 45g, like the browns and that i don't particulary use the tactile feedback of the cherry mx brown switches when i'm playing starcraft. Apparently they are really good to play starcraft. I've never use Cherry MX red before but i'm really interesting in getting a cherry mx red keyboard.

So first question : Is it a good idea to change? Or should i stay on brown

Second question : Is it hard to go from brown to red?

Thank you for your help and your answers

[Snagg57]

Personally I would say stay with your  MX Browns, getting a MX Red Keyboard won't help you play any better than you already do. I also highly doubt that the small tactile bump in Browns is the thing that is messing you up.

As for going from Brown to Reds, It honestly depends on how heavy you press the keys. If you are bottoming out, then its not going to be super different, all you will be missing is the tactile bump. But if you rely on that tactile bump to know when the key has been pressed, its going to be a slightly weird learning curve.


So for now, spare your wallet.

[Dext]

Actually, it's not to become better at starcraft...
Yeah, I press on my keys very hard and often bottom them out.
The other thing is that i really want to get a leopold and that widebasket only have them with red switches. Browns arn't available anymore.

[Snagg57]

Well if you do not mind spending the money, I don’t see why you should not. Maybe if you were going to take your current board to work or something it would make more sense than just buying a keyboard for gaming.

If you really want the Leopold go right for it, they make really nice boards, and it can never hurt to have many different types of boards lying around.

[Dext]

I mind a little bit as i'm still a student so that's why i'm asking if it's not risky to get mx reds.
Yeah, i know how good they are, that's why i want one.

[Defect]

For StarCraft, switching will have little impact on your play.

But reds feel much nicer for FPS games.

If you have the money for it, why not?  Life's too short--be happy.

If finance is tight, stick with the browns and abuse them until they're linear

[Dext]

For StarCraft, switching will have little impact on your play.

+200apm?

If finance is tight, stick with the browns and abuse them until they're linear

You're talking to a Top master Terran, i already rape my brown switches nights and days.
I have to money for it but i hate buying things that i wouldn't use (even tho i would like to buy every single keyboard in the world)

To have a leopold is one of my dream, and add rainbow color keycaps on would make my life complete.

[ajx]

Personally I would say stay with your  MX Browns, getting a MX Red Keyboard won't help you play any better than you already do. I also highly doubt that the small tactile bump in Browns is the thing that is messing you up.

As for going from Brown to Reds, It honestly depends on how heavy you press the keys. If you are bottoming out, then its not going to be super different, all you will be missing is the tactile bump. But if you rely on that tactile bump to know when the key has been pressed, its going to be a slightly weird learning curve.


So for now, spare your wallet.

I have switched brown to red long time ago
My thoughts, red are sightly lighter but hard to tell the difference imo
But its linear while brown have a slight tactile bump
Now i find brown quite unpleasant because of that slight tactile bump (but its still my second fav switch after red)
Some people claim brown its like dirty red with tiny grain (tactile bump) that would give you a taste, either good or bad
I think you can go on red if you don't particularly use the tactile feedback

[jerue]

I just helped a friend (and big gamer) buy a mech.

His concern wasn't even switch type (it was partially of importance, but not all), but it was about the layout due to muscle memory, specifically with the positioning of FN and the number row. Is your new board identical to what you're using now? You probably don't want to have to retrain yourself...

That being said, it's not a big jump. I personally do not recommend mx reds, but YMMV. I'm just one in a few that don't like them at all, that's what makes the world go 'round.

[nuzey]

I have both reds and browns and I love them both for gaming. It's just that I find myself game on the reds much more than the browns just because I feel that reds are quicker to register key presses than the browns. This is purely my opinion though.

If you're afraid you will not get used to the jump from browns to reds then you should not worry because it will make very negligible difference while playing. I assume so just because you will be very focused on the game instead of the keyboard just like I do )

Once in a while I do switch to browns for gaming because I feel bored with the reds so they always go in a cycle.

For typing though; it is different story. Browns are much better to type on than the reds. But then again if I need a keyboard for heavy typing I use my 55g Topre 

[Dext]

I think you can go on red if you don't particularly use the tactile feedback

Thanks I don't really use it so i think i can

His concern wasn't even switch type (it was partially of importance, but not all), but it was about the layout due to muscle memory, specifically with the positioning of FN and the number row. Is your new board identical to what you're using now? You probably don't want to have to retrain yourself...
That being said, it's not a big jump. I personally do not recommend mx reds, but YMMV. I'm just one in a few that don't like them at all, that's what makes the world go 'round.

The thing is that actually, I use an AZERTY french layout and I want to go on a QWERTY. It's something I really want to do because i feel like it will be useful in the future to know the qwerty layout. On the top of that most keyboards arn't available in AZERTY. One of my starcraft 2 friend switch to a QWERTY keyboard and he told me that it didn't take it a lot of time to get used to it. I'm not afraid of that.

I have both reds and browns and I love them both for gaming. It's just that I find myself game on the reds much more than the browns just because I feel that reds are quicker to register key presses than the browns. This is purely my opinion though.
If you're afraid you will not get used to the jump from browns to reds then you should not worry because it will make very negligible difference while playing. I assume so just because you will be very focused on the game instead of the keyboard just like I do )
Once in a while I do switch to browns for gaming because I feel bored with the reds so they always go in a cycle.
For typing though; it is different story. Browns are much better to type on than the reds. But then again if I need a keyboard for heavy typing I use my 55g Topre 

Thanks you ^^
Aha, when i play, I am very very very focused even tho when i'm not I make sure the environment is PERFECT. If my mousepad move a little bit, I immediatly put it back. I love to have a clean desk where everything is alays at the same place.

[ajx]

I am french too and love qwerty layout (in us-intl)^^
What keyboard size are you looking for?
There aint many qwerty choice within Europe, be aware if you wanna buy qwerty keyboards from us webshop or any foreign country outside Europe, you may expect custom fees
There are few webshops that sell qwerty keyboards such as Alternate, Amazon.de, .uk, .es, .it

[quake4mhg]

I have 2 x KBT Race, one is mx red, one is mx brown. When I game either broad, I don't fell the different, don't feel the brown tactile, may be I'm too intense inside the games
I play BF4, hardline, payday2, insurgency, cod, aram3 ...etc.

[Dext]

I am french too and love qwerty layout (in us-intl)^^
What keyboard size are you looking for?
There aint many qwerty choice within Europe, be aware if you wanna buy qwerty keyboards from us webshop or any foreign country outside Europe, you may expect custom fees
There are few webshops that sell qwerty keyboards such as Alternate, Amazon.de, .uk, .es, .it

BAGUEEEETTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROMAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE
I will buy a Leopold This keyboard is my dream

I have 2 x KBT Race, one is mx red, one is mx brown. When I game either broad, I don't fell the different, don't feel the brown tactile, may be I'm too intense inside the games
I play BF4, hardline, payday2, insurgency, cod, aram3 ...etc.

Thanks, Do you feel red are faster like someone said before?

[ajx]

I find them pleasant in-game because linear feels linear, no surprise lol 
It's a tad lighter: its faster somehow
For typing, tactile feedback makes the charm of mechanical keyboard (although in case of brown switch, its slight one) imo

MX-Red

PROS
+ linear
+ lighter switch
+ suitable for gaming

CONS
- More mistakes when typing due to its lightness
- Brown feel better for typing (subjective)
- too light for some people

To sum up, if you prefer lighter switch than these browns and linearity doesn't bother you, go on red

[Dext]

Based on what you all said, it should be okay for me,
Thanks everyone

[quake4mhg]

Thanks, Do you feel red are faster like someone said before?

nope, cos I press so super fast & super hard, bottom out with double orings 

[Hyde]

I find them pleasant in-game because linear feels linear, no surprise lol 
It's a tad lighter: its faster somehow
For typing, tactile feedback makes the charm of mechanical keyboard (although in case of brown switch, its slight one) imo

MX-Red

PROS
+ linear
+ lighter switch
+ suitable for gaming

CONS
- More mistakes when typing due to its lightness
- Brown feel better for typing (subjective)
- too light for some people

To sum up, if you prefer lighter switch than these browns and linearity doesn't bother you, go on red

^ Basically what he said.  I prefer red for gaming and brown for typing.

However I still like them both not saying one is bad for either task.  Just like red better for gaming and brown better for typing.

Though I also like Topre for typing but not so much for gaming, it's not bad but Cherry switches are just more fun for gaming.

[Dext]

I just ordered my Leopold with cherry MX red, i should have it in one or two weeks, i will say if it was difficult for me or not

[Sencha]

I loved the switch from MX browns to reds. Browns are poor tactile switches IMO and reds are superb linears.

[Polymer]

Browns feel perfectly fine when you actually type with them...they feel like crap if you press on them slowly like you're testing them...

People should stop looking at the actuation force..that just means the force at actuation...the force necessary to get to actuation for browns is higher and so they'll feel significantly different from reds....

Reds, if you haven't used them, will feel really light at first...but you'll eventually get used to how they feel..

Personally I like slightly heavier reds with custom springs..or blacks with lighter springs..same thing..

[zars15]

Browns feel perfectly fine when you actually type with them...they feel like crap if you press on them slowly like you're testing them...

People should stop looking at the actuation force..that just means the force at actuation...the force necessary to get to actuation for browns is higher and so they'll feel significantly different from reds....

Reds, if you haven't used them, will feel really light at first...but you'll eventually get used to how they feel..

Personally I like slightly heavier reds with custom springs..or blacks with lighter springs..same thing..

Have you tried lubing mx blacks? I'm wondering whether the smoother movement would make it feel less stiff.

[pr0ximity]

Have you tried lubing mx blacks? I'm wondering whether the smoother movement would make it feel less stiff.

Maybe a little if you were hyper-sensitive, but more than likely it would be negligible.

I highly recommend lubed Blacks, my favorite linear switch. I'm currently replacing the Reds on my Filco with lubed 62g Gateron Blacks, I much prefer a bit heavier actuation & bottom-out than Reds.

[Dext]

So I have my Leopold FC750R for two days now and what i can say is that I feel the difference but it doesn't disturb me at all. Some people say Cherry MX red are lighter than brown but once again the difference is very small. I made a few mistakes while typing like i miss one or two letters where i pressed the key but not enough.

For starcraft I can say that I have the feel that I'm not as fast as before but when i look my apm, it's the same, it's probably because i still have to get used to the cherry MX.

[ajx]

In term and weight, brown and red belong to the same league, you wont notice brown is actually heavier on the paper
The whole difference is tiny

[rowdy]

So I have my Leopold FC750R for two days now and what i can say is that I feel the difference but it doesn't disturb me at all. Some people say Cherry MX red are lighter than brown but once again the difference is very small. I made a few mistakes while typing like i miss one or two letters where i pressed the key but not enough.

For starcraft I can say that I have the feel that I'm not as fast as before but when i look my apm, it's the same, it's probably because i still have to get used to the cherry MX.

The tactile bump on browns is very slight, so it's not surprising that reds feel prett ymuch the same, especially when you are concentrating on something else i.e. a game

[Dext]

During my last games i felt like it was easier to spam, i had the feel that once i bottom out the key I was immediatly bottoming out the key again, we will see how things go from now