What switches should I get?

[mdmme]

I know a decent amount about mechanical keyboard switches, but I need some help. I have a K70 mk1 with Cherry MX Reds. I can't stand typing on it anymore but I can't return it because I purchased it awhile ago. I'm looking to purchase new switches so that I can desolder the current switches and put in new ones. What kind of switches will fit and will all switches work with the iCue software? I was looking at the Kailh Box Royal switches from NovelKeys but their page says that only work with SMD lighting. What does that mean and are they compatible with the K70 pcb? 

[Jurrunio]

so you plan on doing soldering?

[seon123]

SMD lighting is when the LED is right on top of the PCB, instead of on top of the switch with a through hole LED. Cherry RGB switches also only support SMD lighting, so you should be fine. 

SMD

Spoiler

Through hole

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All the switches do, is closing a circuit. That's it. It's as simple as it can get. So that's not something to worry about. 

[geo3]

On 3/27/2019 at 9:14 PM, mdmme said:

I know a decent amount about mechanical keyboard switches, but I need some help. I have a K70 mk1 with Cherry MX Reds. I can't stand typing on it anymore but I can't return it because I purchased it awhile ago. I'm looking to purchase new switches so that I can desolder the current switches and put in new ones. What kind of switches will fit and will all switches work with the iCue software? I was looking at the Kailh Box Royal switches from NovelKeys but their page says that only work with SMD lighting. What does that mean and are they compatible with the K70 pcb? 

What switches do you want? Why don't you like reds? The Cherry scratch? Because they're linear? What qualities are you looking for in a switch?

 

You can use Box Royal with that PCB but I think you would have to give up lighting because I don't think it uses SMDs. A switch that feels similar to the BOX Royal  (but even better in my and many peoples opinion) are Zealios v2 which do support through switch LEDs. 

[mdmme]

On 3/27/2019 at 11:26 PM, Jurrunio said:

so you plan on doing soldering?

yeah. I have very little soldering experience but I'm still gonna try it

[mdmme]

On 3/28/2019 at 11:28 PM, geo3 said:

What switches do you want? Why don't you like reds? The Cherry scratch? Because they're linear? What qualities are you looking for in a switch?

 

You can use Box Royal with that PCB but I think you would have to give up lighting because I don't think it uses SMDs. A switch that feels similar to the BOX Royal  (but even better in my and many peoples opinion) are Zealios v2 which do support through switch LEDs. 

I'm not sure what switches I'm going to get. I'm thinking about trying out some kailh switches, like box royals, because I haven't used them yet. I personally barely notice the scratchiness of Cherry switches. I don't like the Reds because they're linear. When I bought the keyboard i knew what linear meant, but i bought it because people always say that reds are good for gaming, but I really don't like it. And I can't type on it. And I tried one at Micro Center and thought it felt really cool, but I don't like it very much anymore.
 

I like tactile switches and don't have a preference on weighting. Any switch recommendations?  

[geo3]

2 hours ago, mdmme said:

Any switch recommendations

If you don't mind the price ($1 per switch) you can't beat Zealios V2. Otherwise I'd go for the Kailh Royals which cost half as much. 

[seon123]

I think I misread K70 Mk 1 as Mk 2. If you have the non-RGB version it'll use through hole LEDs, and if it is the RGB version it'll use SMD LEDs. If you have the non-RGB version, you could still use through hole LEDs with the Box switches, as long as they're small enough to fit inside the switch. 1,8mm ones are small enough.