From 1e595b38b48dfd8e1860210fb0845d3a79900c17 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dan Frumin Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:18:31 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] update switches --- drafts/switches.md | 141 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----- 1 file changed, 126 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-) diff --git a/drafts/switches.md b/drafts/switches.md index 7773029..318e0b5 100644 --- a/drafts/switches.md +++ b/drafts/switches.md @@ -1,3 +1,126 @@ +title: Mechanical keyboard switchees +tags: computers, keyboards +date: 2022-04-24 00:00 +--- + +I am trying something new. Here I will be recording my thoughts about +various keyboard switches I tried. + + +# Tactile + +**Gazzew Boba U4** + +Silent high-tactility switch, 65g. Does not produce a lot of sound, but not +_completely_ quite. Great tactility with a sharp early bump. I tend to +bottom out easily when typing on these. + +My favourite switch so far, in terms of pure tactility. + +**Gazzew Boba U4T** + +High-strength tactile switch. All bump, no pre/post-travel. Feels very +nice. The sound is supposed to be "thocky", but I subjectively found +it more "poppy" than SP Star Magic Girl, for example, which tends to +have a more muted sound. Overall, a great switch with an amazing +tactile signature and a moreish sharp bump. + +**Durock T1** + +TBD + +**Glorious Panda** + +I have not tried the original Holy Pandas yet, but I was told that +Glorious Panda can be a sufficient replacement. So far I have been +enjoying those switches. They are on the more heavy tactile end of +things with a sharp bump (still not as heavy as Boba U4 dd, and not as +sharp as Kailh Box Royal). The sound is alright, not too annoying, and +it seems to improve with some lubing on the housing. However, under +heavy typing there can be a noticable ping. + +**Purple Panda** + +Mid-high-strength tactil from Tecsee, 68g. Another take on the "Holy +Panda" signature with a P-shaped bump. However, the stem is very long, +resulting in very short travel (3mm?). Because of that, the +post-travel is rather small, and it is not very hard to bottom out +with these switches. The upstroke also feels very fast. + +Initially when I got them, there was very little ping stock. However, +after using them actively for a week I think the ping has gotten +worse. + +Comparison with some other tactile switches: + +- Compared to Glorious Panda, Purple Pandas have shorter post-travel and +a more rounded bump. Purple Pandas also have less ping. + +- Tecsee Sapphire +Techsee Sapphire have a much shorter, lighter bump, and have way more post-travel. + + +- SP Star Magic Girl. +The Magic Girl switches have a generally similar tactile signature, +with almost no pre-travel before the bump. The bump on Magic Girl +feels longer than on Purple Panda. Despite of that, the post-travel on +Purple Panda is shorter than that on Magic Girl, probably due to the +stem length. + + +- Compared to SP Star Magic Girl, Purple Pandas have a way shorter .. + +**SP Star Magic Girl** + +Mid-to-high-strength colourful tactiles. A pronounced but rounded bump +with very little pre-travel. Smooth for the post-bump travel. Since +the post-travel is longer than on some other tactiles (probably the +most post-bump travel on this list, at the time of writting), it is +quite possible not to bottom out on every keypress. Sound-wise they +are kind of muted. Not silent, but with quiter typing force the sounds +of keycaps etc will easily drown on the switch-proper sounds. For +example, compared to Box Royals or Glorious Pandas, these have way +less ping. + +**Kailh Box Royal** + +Mid-strength tactile, on the more tactile end of the scale. These have +a really "fun" tactile bump, with almost no pre-travel. I don't think +it requires a lot of force for the bump, but since the bump is so +sharp it may feel heavier than it is. I find it hard not to bottom out +when using these switches. + +Soundwise, these can sound quite inconsistent (stock), and some +switches have really annoying ping. + +I do not think I will be using them for a full build, but I enjoy +having this switch on some of designated keys, maybe return or the +F-keys? + +**Tecsee Sapphire** + +Mid-strength tactile. Has a nice bumb and and very smooth travel +afterwards. Cannot really say anything bad about it. The sound may be +too high pitched for the connoisseurs, but I do not mind too much. + +**Gateron Brown** + +Hated among many. I actually do not think it is too bad, but it does +require lubing to sound more tolerable. Not a fan of such a "light" +tactile signature tho. + +**Cherry MX Brown** + +TBD + +**Frankenswitches** + +- Glorious Boba (?): Glorious Panda stem in Boba housing. Feels like +Glorious Panda with less pre-travel and easier bottom-out. Sounds +quite similar. + +# Linear + **Gateron Red** Linear switch. A bit too smooth for my taste. It feels like for some @@ -5,21 +128,9 @@ of these switches the actuation point is really close. I sometimes accidentally triggered a switch when i was resting my fingers on the keyboard. -Can be very clacky, but sound seems to improve with a tape mod. - -**Gazzew Boba U4** - -Silent tacticle switch, 65g. Does not produce a lot of sound, but not -_completely_ quite. Great tactility with an early bump. I tend to -bottom out when typing on these. - -My favourite switches so far. +Can be very clacky, but sound is drastically improved with a tape mod. **Gazzew Bobagum** -Silent linear, 62g. Nice linear switch, with good amount of force for -me. Produce very little sound. - -**Gateron Brown** - -TBD +Silent linear, 62g. Nice linear switch, smooth, but with a good amount +of force. Produce very little sound.