The Cherry Switch Try Gaming PCB's

[luke16]

Hello there CeeSA, I live in Germany. Is there still time to try them out? Or was I too late?

[CeeSA]

yes you made it, you are in

[kemerd]

Hello,

I (well my wife) received the package, I'll review the switches and post my results tomorrow as I am abroad now.

Cheers

[haiiyaa]

Hello,

I (well my wife) received the package, I'll review the switches and post my results tomorrow as I am abroad now.

Cheers

its been more than 1 week now?

[kemerd]

Hello,

I (well my wife) received the package, I'll review the switches and post my results tomorrow as I am abroad now.

Cheers

its been more than 1 week now?

Yes, I am sorry . I got a very heavy flu and still did not recover fully. Here is my verdict:

1. I like soft switches
2. I like tactile switches better.

I come to this conclusion because I liked the blues best, second comes reds, third greens. And I particularly disliked browns. they don't feel refined at all.

My only complaint about blues would be the clicky sound it generates. I wish it was a bit less loud. Perhaps, a bit of heavy grease would do the trick

Cheers,

[SBI]

Hey guys

The package from kemerd got here today, but I'll only get to testing on saturday, so I'll be mailing it to the next person on monday.

[cowabunga]

Hi CeeSA,

just joined this forum because of this switch bag Is it still possible to join? I live in Germany.

Many thanks!

[Khenra]

Hey CeesA, you can take me off the list. I decided to go with a MX Red keyboard, and I do not plan to buy another keyboard in the near future.

[CeeSA]

list updated

[SBI]

Hey Guys.

I mailed the package today. I had a bit of a rough weekend and had to pull two all-nighters the past two days because our lab-group was seriously behind on work (project that should have been handed in on Friday got finished today). Seriously sorry, but I just couldn't make it any faster. Should be there quick though, I chose the faster delivery. Gonna have a nap now and then post my review on the switches later on.

[Sir Paladin]

I come to this conclusion because I liked the blues best, second comes reds, third greens. And I particularly disliked browns. they don't feel refined at all.

My only complaint about blues would be the clicky sound it generates. I wish it was a bit less loud. Perhaps, a bit of heavy grease would do the trick

Havent you tested the self-made soft landingpads i put in the box?

[SBI]

Speaking of which, I think I forgot to take them out of the MX-Blue keycaps. Just for the next guy thinking it's weird.

Ooooh, forgot to edit in my switch rating.

As a little intro: MX-Blues are my favorite switch and have been my daily-driver for the past...nearly ten years I think. I've had the chance to try out every standard Cherry switch in the past, but I've always liked the blues best. So why order the PCB? Well, I wanted the chance to have a direct comparison of them all at the same time, and I especially wanted to try out ergo-clears, because I was very sure I would love them. I really enjoy MX-Clears, but they start bugging my hands quite quickly because of the force (I also love BS, but my girlfriend would kill me if I had them at home, and no chance at work either, so my Model M just rests at my parent's house for when I'm there).

I have to admit, nothing changed much since I had the chance to compare all the switches. My favorite still is the MX-Blues, closely followed, as I expected, by the Ergoclears. I'm really going to have to mod a keyboard accordingly. Just haven't decided on what it's going to be yet. Most likely a G80, simply for the ease of modding it, and the price.

Details:

MX-Blue: I've gotten so used to these. Love the light touch combined with the crisp feedback, audible as well as haptic. Noise isn't such a big issue here, because I don't usually go at 120wpm when I code, so I'm pretty controlled here. I like them PCB-mounted as well as plate-mounted, don't really have a favorite here. I think the only real alternatives for me here would be BS or Ergoclears. However, BS would probably even make me bleed from the ears if I used them 5 days a week.

MX-Clear: Like these a lot. Especially the good haptic feedback with hardly any noise. I flow very lightly when I type on these, but the hard spring is a deal-breaker for me. These kill my hands. And that's where the ergoclears come in.

Ergoclear: This is where I get the benefit from a light touch with good feedback. These will definitely be in my next keyboard, and could even be a blue-killer. But I guess that'll only show in the long-run.

MX-Red / Ghetto red: Fantastic linear switch. Couldn't work on these, but I figure if I gamed more, these would be great. Very soft touch, and if you can manage to touch-type really well, these are great. I could never control myself enough though Cloud of boobs for sure.

MX-Brown: I don't dislike them. But their just somewhere inbetween. They're not tactile enough to be a real alternative for me. I still don't quite understand why these are supposed to be such a good entry-switch. I mean, I can understand why some people like these. But for a beginner they're not defined enough, at least in my opinion. They have a bit of linearity and tactility, but not enough of either to get a perfect picture.

MX-Black: Total fucknugget, I would go insane if I had to use one of these. Too hard for anything. To me, they feel the hardest of them all because there's no response. My hands would want to strangle me rather than type if I bought a keyboard with these.

MX-Green. Same here, useless for anything but a space-bar. We quit using stone plates and chisel a while ago, don't know why I should start doing that again.

[mhinsch]

Hi all

I just discovered this list and the switch bag "chain letter". I would really like to join if it's still possible (I'm living in UK).

My main keyboard currently is an old NeXT keyboard (ADB), which is stylish and has a certain geek cred but unfortunately has only rubber dome keys. The best keyboard I ever used (IMHO) was the one NeXT produced before the one I have (i.e. the non-ADB one) which, as far as I know, had black ALPS.
Since I just last week decided that my next article submission is going to be rewarded by purchase of a new keyboard I am now looking for a way to find out which one I actually want...

[wtzOlt]

Hi CeeSA,

Can you add me to the list if possible? It would be so sweet to try some of the switches side by side.
I live in Ireland by the way.

Cheers!

[steinimbrett]

Hey Ceesa,

could you add me to the list too? I'd really love to try those switches. I live in Germany.

Great idea!

[loadsas]

Hey Ceesa,

great job.
Can you add me to the list too? I live in Germany.

[CeeSA]

list updated!

last status was from SBI 16.11.2011!

No status from receiver....

[SBI]

list updated!
No status from receiver....

Customs? Or super-slow receiver :/

[amasokin]

Hi,

Great initiative !
I'm a regular reader of these forums but I just registered today so that I can participate in this and finally try all the different switches. I'm from France. I hope I'm still able to get in the list

[CeeSA]

shure, you are welcome

[CanuckDE]

I found this thread linked by another forum in a post by CeeSa, I'm just thinking of getting into mechanical keyboards. I'm also in Germany, is there any chance I could get on the list?

[CeeSA]

yes, no problem!

[blackshuck13]

Really sorry for the long wait, ive been i'll for a while now and havn't had a chance to test them out.
There seemed to be a problem with one of the keys, the top blue key wouldn't click. I am reluctant to take the key apart to try and fix it, but all the other keys work just fine so you can still get a good feel for them with other 3 keys.
I'll post a mini review at the weekend.
Thanks for the chocolate (Havn't eaten it yet, thats not the reason i'm ill...)
They should get posted out later today, I just need to find the address for the next guy. Again im sorry for the delay, but they will get going again asap.

[SBI]

Like I mentioned earlier, I think I forgot to take out the soft-landing pads in the blue's caps. But that shouldn't actually stop it from clicking. Worked fine here. Did the box get a good beating? Hope not

[blackshuck13]

No its not them, ive taken the soft pads out. They seem to have developed a rattling sound as well
I'll send them onto the next person to see if they wanna try to fix them or just leave it. I suppose if the switch is broken you could get a replacement from mouser or someone?

[DalaiLameR]

I'd love to test them, too. I'm especially interested how ergoclears and ghettoreds feel
Can you please add me to the list

[zulios]

Hi,

Great initiative !
I'm a regular reader of these forums but I just registered today so that I can participate in this and finally try all the different switches. I'm from France. I hope I'm still able to get in the list

Welcome here, always nice to see more french members around
You should have a look at the ROUND4 mass order going on in the marketplace forum, the FR kits need more orders and that's a once in a while opportunity to get some !

[amasokin]

Welcome here, always nice to see more french members around
You should have a look at the ROUND4 mass order going on in the marketplace forum, the FR kits need more orders and that's a once in a while opportunity to get some !

Thanks, I'll be sure to look into it - but I don't think I'll order anything considering I'm using blank caps (on an Otaku Majestouch) at the moment.

[Spharx]

I received the package today.
My planning: The rating will be made tomorrow and the PCB's will be shipped Friday or Saturday

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Prequel: I mainly use my MX Brown Leopold at home for gaming and writing. To feel the tactile bump it is needed to type really slowly otherwise it is a linear too light switch. Because of this fact I don't really like them to much.

1# Greens / Clears
Greens are basically spoken just Blues with a heavier spring but this is making a great positive difference !
The spring makes them heavier to actuate and therefore it feels like there is a heavier tactile bump.
If you bottom them out there is not even much of a difference in terms of sound between brown switches
I personally like the click .. it is kinda enjoyable.

The clears have the strongest tactile feedback. Otherwise than the green\blue switches the bump while pressing is more equally to the bump while releasing the key. Greens\Blues tend to bump more if you release them.
While testing around with the PCB's I have decided that a mix of greens and clears would be the most suited for me.

2# Clears with brown springs
Lighter clears ... I cant decide weather I like the clears or the modded clears better . Just because clears are easier to obtain they are on the pole position.

3# Blues
Lighter green switches but a nuance to light.

4# Browns
The I can't decide whether I am a red switch or a weak clear switch.
A more linear switch with a weak bump. I don't like the fact that this switch is changing the feel if you alternate your typing speed. Nearly impossible to write fast and not bottom out.

5# Ghetto Reds / Reds
Light and linear. A combo that i don't like at all. I can imagine how much typing errors I would do with these. 0 feedback until you hit the bottom. Mostly what I hated about rubber domes.
The ghetto reds seem to be a little heavier.

6# Ghetto Reds / Reds
"Uhh !! Its a finger ... get of scumbag or I'm gonna push you back."
This switch is only pushing you finger back .. I can't feel the love
I like heavier switches but not heavy linear switches .. not my cup of coffee.

And now to a Cherry switch that nobody likes the MY.
The best thing about the MY is that it is getting heavier as you reach closer to the bottom. Therefore it is pretty the heaviest switch in terms of bottoming out. I could imagine that this switch would be superb with a tactile bump.

All in all the differences of the mx switches are pretty minimal.
Warning: this rating can't be compared to the feel of switches in a normal keyboard. There is difference in the feel and mostly the sound of plate mounted switches that should be considered!

In conclusion I finally want to thank CeeSa who made this rating possible

Someday I try to make Ghetto Greens ... Blues with a black spring

[Spharx]

Send them today to fsykop