Purple Zealio vs Cherry MX Clears

[TheInverseKey]

Hi,

Just wondering what the main differences between these switches are. 

Also other places that sell these switches besides Massdrop.

Thanks

[davkol]

Purple Zealio switches are clones of Cherry MX switches, manufactured by Gateron for ZealPC (which is the answer to your other question). They use lighter springs compared to genuine Cherry MX Clear; the idea originated from "ergo clear" modification many years ago. Cherry Corp. required very high MOQ, when they were asked to mass produce such switch configuration, thus it didn't work out back then.

In terms of technical differences (besides stock springs), gaterons (including zealios) have had significant quality/consistency problems, but they're regarded as smoother (zeolios come lubed out of the box too AFAIK) and usually have clear covers/housings.

[TheInverseKey]

Thanks

[ThoughtArtist]

MX Clears have a special spring with spread out coils designed to match the larger tactile bump, force is not as flatly linear as other MX springs, so it's cushiony (light at top, heavy at bottom). Zealios have a plain spring (coils closer together like MX Red or Black) that bottoms out more sharply and feels more notchy since the flatter force curve doesn't accentuate the bump.

[davkol]

MX Clears have a special spring with spread out coils designed to match the larger tactile bump, force is not as flatly linear as other MX springs, so it's cushiony (light at top, heavy at bottom). Zealios have a plain spring (coils closer together like MX Red or Black) that bottoms out more sharply and feels more notchy since the flatter force curve doesn't accentuate the bump.

A switch (so-called "panda black") with a MX Clear's spring and a linear stem has linear action, only the coefficient is larger, thus the graph is steeper. Korean 78g have the same kind of slope AFAIK, and zealios are apparently available with these springs out of the box.

In that case, Purple Zealios are pretty much exact clones of OG MX Clears, except a bit lighter/smoother and transparent.

[Findecanor]

The purple Zealios are smoother than some genuine Cherry MX Clear stems that I have lubed and put into Gateron housings.

[zephyr11]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^


woah,  really???

that got me REALLY interested!!!

hopefully i can still get it for a decent price. 

[Lord of Narwhals]

Zeal has some macro shots of the switches in this thread.

[duhhey]

Zealios are super smooth compared to stock clears

[zephyr11]

just noticed something about the zelios switches.

that they are pcb mounted, I read that the additional 2 feets, can be cut, what do you use to cut them to make them plate mounted?

[Badwrench]

just noticed something about the zelios switches.

that they are pcb mounted, I read that the additional 2 feets, can be cut, what do you use to cut them to make them plate mounted?

Flush cutters: 
Hakko flush cutters

[zephyr11]

^^^^^^

Great!

Thanks!

[brighenne]

He also has a plate mount version if you want 65g and don't mind the milky bottom.

[zephyr11]

^^^^^^^^^^


that's def even better option!

thanks!

[zephyr11]

now just gotta wait for a flash sale or something, $100 for switches is a tad too much for me to dump in right now. 

[TheInverseKey]

Wow thanks guys for all of the info.

[brighenne]

now just gotta wait for a flash sale or something, $100 for switches is a tad too much for me to dump in right now. 

You're doing a full size board I take it? I'll have some leftover plate mounts that I'd be willing to sell at pre-order price ($.75/sw) but I'll only have ~65.

[zephyr11]

PM incoming.