Difference between Razer Green switch and Cherry MX Blue - A Short Noob Story

[tecknoize]

Hey guys, first time poster and noob here. Here's my little story.

I started a new job a couple of months ago, and I was given a Razer Black Widow Ultimate as my main keyboard. It was my first time using a mechanical keyboard and I really liked the way it felt. Quickly, typing on my old rubber dome keyboard at home felt weird so I decided to shop around a bit. I didn't want to spend too much so I settled on a Gigabyte K83 with Cherry MX Blue switches. Razer green switches are pretty similar to MX Blue in specs, so I guessed it would feel almost the same.

However, after using it for a while, I feel like there's something wrong, or different compared to the Razer. It seems like Gibabyte has a much weaker spring, especially passed the bump. Sometimes, it feels like the switch gets stuck on the bump when released. Also, The Gigabyte feels a bit scratchy, and the difference between the activation and reset point is pretty wide. There's also a pretty loud "thwack" when bottoming out the keys, which I suspect is caused by the open design.

So, I was wondering if all of this is normal for a MX Blue keyboard, or if something is wrong with it. Does anybody else had this experience, and could compare with Razer greens?

Thanks!

[Findecanor]

Some Cherry MX switches are scratchier than others. Vintage switches tend to be smoother, and many newer switches tend to be smoother as well, but not all new keyboards. The real reason is known only by Cherry. It has been speculated that the scratchier switches would have been made with old tooling, that is more worn.

The difference between activation and reset point on the Cherry MX switches is intentional and also a by-product of how the click-mechanism works. They had been designed for typing, originally.
The phenomenon is called hysteresis. IBM buckling spring also exhibit hysteresis as do most clones of cherry Cherry MX switches, including Razer Greens.

Razer Green switches are actually two different types made by two different manufacturers: Kailh and Greetech.
At least Kailh-made Razer Greens have the actuation point slightly higher up / earlier in the key stroke.

[tecknoize]

Hi Findecanor, thanks for the reply, it's really appreciated.

After further analysis, it seems like the Razer Green switch has quite a different profile than the Cherry MX Blue.
https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/tactile-clicky/cherry-mx-blue/
https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/tactile-clicky/razer-green/

Mainly, the lack of push back force after the bump on the MX Blue is what I dislike and makes it "hang there", sometimes giving me trouble double tapping. Also, the pressure needed to pass the bump on the MX Blue is bit higher than the green. Finally, I noticed that some keys on the Gigabyte feels very different than others.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to order a switch tester board or go shopping a bit just to test at least the MX Brown. I  really enjoy the tactile feedback of both of those switches, so I wouldn't go with a linear one, unless it has an very short travel. I really like "light typing", trying to release as soon as I pass the bump. I know this is a pretty wide shot, but do you have any recommendation of other tactile (clicky or not) switches? Maybe the Hako Violet or True? I'm a programmer, so this keyboard will be mainly used for typing.

Take Care.

[Wazrach]

Hi Findecanor, thanks for the reply, it's really appreciated.

After further analysis, it seems like the Razer Green switch has quite a different profile than the Cherry MX Blue.
https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/tactile-clicky/cherry-mx-blue/
https://input.club/the-comparative-guide-to-mechanical-switches/tactile-clicky/razer-green/

Mainly, the lack of push back force after the bump on the MX Blue is what I dislike and makes it "hang there", sometimes giving me trouble double tapping. Also, the pressure needed to pass the bump on the MX Blue is bit higher than the green. Finally, I noticed that some keys on the Gigabyte feels very different than others.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to order a switch tester board or go shopping a bit just to test at least the MX Brown. I  really enjoy the tactile feedback of both of those switches, so I wouldn't go with a linear one, unless it has an very short travel. I really like "light typing", trying to release as soon as I pass the bump. I know this is a pretty wide shot, but do you have any recommendation of other tactile (clicky or not) switches? Maybe the Hako Violet or True? I'm a programmer, so this keyboard will be mainly used for typing.

Take Care.

I really wouldn't recommend Cherry MX Brown if you're looking to change your keyboard. It's so barely tactile that it feels like a scratchy linear switch, and leaves you wondering what the point of the "tactile bump" is in the first place. If you want to try short travel linears, you could always try Cherry MX Speeds or Razer Yellows, which are both similar in spec.

If you want to try a switch much better than any Cherry switch, you could try the Matias Tactile Pro - or a keyboard that uses Matias Click switches. They are modern updated clones of the old simplified White Alps switches from the 90s, with a more refined key feel and better sound. The tactility is stronger, and the metal click leaf gives a cleaner, more metallic click than Cherry's plastic, rattly click jacket.

I have a Matias Tactile Pro with clicky switches, and it destroys any Cherry keyboard I've used by a mile. Then again, I wouldn't ever use it over this delicious IBM Model F XT keyboard I'm currently typing on. It's built like an absolute tank and the switches are as crisp and clicky as ever.

It all depends on what you want in a keyboard. If you absolutely need the most solid tying experience, build quality and clicky feedback, then your only option is to go vintage. Matias probably do the best clicky keyboards you can buy brand new, but even then, they aren't perfect. The keycaps are fairly cheap and not easy to replace, unlike most Cherry MX keyboards which you can customise pretty easily.

[tp4tissue]

Put 10,000 strokes on each key,  smooth it out.