Cherry MX keyswitch preferences

[PiercingGoblin]

Hello LTT forums!

 

I have been recently thinking about buying the new Corsair K70 RGB keyboard. The main component of my decision, somewhat obviously, is the keyswitch type used. I know the current model is using Cherry MX reds, and that in the near future browns and blues will be released. I have a Ducky Shine III with browns right now, and have used a keyswitch tester, so I understand what reds feel like, but have never used a full red keyboard before.

 

When I type, I usually type pretty fast and I'm pretty sure I bottom out the keys most of the time. I'm trying to decide if reds might be fine, or if browns are actually helping my typing in any way.'

 

Does anyone have opinions, specifically people who have switched from red to brown, or brown to red?

 

Thanks!

[79wjd]

I prefer reds to browns as I don't particularly like the bump, but I sometimes find myself hitting surrounding keys every once in a while due to how easy they are to press.... For me, I think blacks would be perfect. 

[twoscoops]

Browns are better for typing, reds for gaming is the general consensus (of course for some people it could be vice versa).

 

I spend a lot more time gaming then typing and so would go reds. Either are fine though.

[Flyguygamer]

I have a k70 with blues. I like blues the best. 

For most people blues and browns will be better for typing then reds. 

I would get blues or browns.

[PiercingGoblin]

I prefer reds to browns as I don't particularly like the bump, but I sometimes find myself hitting surrounding keys every once in a while due to how easy they are to press.... For me, I think blacks would be perfect. 

 

I like the bump in some scenarios, but I feel like most of the time I probably don't even notice it because I'm typing fast / bottoming out the key anyway. The one thing I am scared of is what you mentioned though... is it very easy to press other keys due to reds being easier to press?

 

I have a k70 with blues. I like blues the best. 

For most people blues and browns will be better for typing then reds. 

I would get blues or browns.

[Captain_Slow]

I like browns. blues are too noisy, reds I accidently actuate while resting my fingers on the keys

 

and blacks are too damn hard (that's what she said)

[Flyguygamer]

I like the bump in some scenarios, but I feel like most of the time I probably don't even notice it because I'm typing fast / bottoming out the key anyway. The one thing I am scared of is what you mentioned though... is it very easy to press other keys due to reds being easier to press?

I don't have that issue. If you think you might blues are harder to press then reds or browns.

Blacks are even harder then blues but are like heavy reds.

 

So   

 

Red == lighter black

brown == lighter blue

[cae]

I'd go right for the Reds if you bottom out and aren't looking to change. Even if you were looking to type to the actuation only, Browns didn't have enough feedback to really stop me, and it looks like that was the case with you as well.

[ionbasa]

Blues for typing, otherwise browns for everything else. MX Blues have a quirk in that once you get past the actuation and release upwards, the switch may not deactivate. This isn't a problem for typing, but it is for gaming, especially if you don't like to bottom out your key and don't release completely. This is most obvious on the WASD keys. 

 

If you can get past that quirk, then MX Blues are pretty much good for everything. I personally hate MX Reds. With Red key switches, I cant even hold my fingers on the home row without accidentally causing a keystroke.

[DildorTheDecent]

I tried my friends K95 and he tried my BWU2013 (MX Blue). 

 

Conclusion. Love the build on the K95. But dislike Reds since they are pretty light. He liked the MX Blues on my Blackwidow Ultimate 2013, which most of you children will be blew away by. 

 

I don't see how there is a problem when one uses the blue keyswitch for gaming. 

[ionbasa]

I tried my friends K95 and he tried my BWU2013 (MX Blue). 

 

Conclusion. Love the build on the K95. But dislike Reds since they are pretty light. He liked the MX Blues on my Blackwidow Ultimate 2013, which most of you children will be blew away by. 

 

I don't see how there is a problem when one uses the blue keyswitch for gaming. 

Blues have a quirk in the actuation point when the switch is depressed. Look up MX Blue double tapping.

[chilicheeseburger]

No Poll?

 

i have blues, and I like them

[DildorTheDecent]

Blues have a quirk in the actuation point when the switch is depressed. Look up MX Blue double tapping.

I've had no problems with double tapping so far. Any game i have played doesn't really require fast double taps. 

[ionbasa]

I've had no problems with double tapping so far. Any game i have played doesn't really require fast double taps. 

Good, I've heard problems about double tapping, but I have personally never experienced it. I know that this is generally the only quirk about MX Blues that people usually complain about.

[PiercingGoblin]

I'd go right for the Reds if you bottom out and aren't looking to change. Even if you were looking to type to the actuation only, Browns didn't have enough feedback to really stop me, and it looks like that was the case with you as well.

 

That's what I was considering. With Blues, I could feel and hear the actuation point (and blues you can feel it more than browns), but with browns, it just doesnt really feel like its even there, sometimes just feels like im hitting something on the way down.

[cae]

That's what I was considering. With Blues, I could feel and hear the actuation point (and blues you can feel it more than browns), but with browns, it just doesnt really feel like its even there, sometimes just feels like im hitting something on the way down.

 

I think I'd still recommend Browns as a great starting point for someone that isn't sure of what they want from a mechanical keyboard; they're a pretty good sample switch, and some people love them. After using Browns for a couple years, their bump just became a hindrance, so I started to look for a Red or Clear replacement. I went with a Clear in the end, but I was also impressed with the Reds when transitioning from a Brown.

[PiercingGoblin]

I think I'd still recommend Browns as a great starting point for someone that isn't sure of what they want from a mechanical keyboard; they're a pretty good sample switch, and some people love them. After using Browns for a couple years, their bump just became a hindrance, so I started to look for a Red or Clear replacement. I went with a Clear in the end, but I was also impressed with the Reds when transitioning from a Brown.

 

Well, I have had this keyboard for quite a while, and I used to have a Keyboard with blues (which were too loud, which is why i moved to browns in the first place). I guess what I'm not sure about is if, while typing, not having the bump would screw up my typing or not (even though I hardly notice it when typing anyways)

[cae]

The bump's there to tell you where the actuation and reset are, and unless you're worried about bottoming out, it doesn't serve much of a purpose while typing. I found it marginally useful in gaming when represses were needed and I could hover around the actuation point, but even then I was usually dealing with a quicker pace and ended up bottoming out as well. The springs are the the same in the Reds as they are in the Browns, so I wouldn't expect typing feel to be altered much. Reds are basically Browns without the bump.

[PiercingGoblin]

I actually got one of my friends keyswitch testers, and tried it out a bit. Decided to go with reds