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Keyboard switches?

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Remonwater
I bought my BlackWidow a while ago because it didn't seem all that expensive compared to the other keyboards. It feels great, but when it came my spacebar was loose and kind of came off; afterwards I put it back on and its completely functional. My 1 key is easily removable as well, but still completely functional. Despite those complications, it's a great keyboard and worth the money
WASSHOI
If you wanna know if blues are right for you, many large electronic branches such as Best Buy will most likely have the BlackWidow in stock, and you can literally feel the arrow keys on them since the box has a small window for you to test out how they feel. (For this reason I recondite not getting a BlackWidow from a store like that caus who knows who's disgusting fingers have been on your brand new product before you got to try it. Order BlackWidow online if you're going to buy one.)
thelewa

WASSHOI wrote:

Blues are great for gaming and good for typing. I prefer them over any other switch. It's really a matter of personal choice, because the switches really are about just adjusting key presses to your comfort level. If you're getting BlackWidow, might I also recomend you look into Cool Master Quickfire Rapid, a great competitor for the BlackWidow.

If you really want reds, then there's also a slightly more expensive red switch version of it too.
Fuck my life, I want that blue switch version, but they don't sell it in Finland. They only sell the version that has red switches.

I can buy the red switches version for 65€ in like 4 days, might just buy a new one since this current keyboard has a few broken keys.
WASSHOI

N y a r u k o wrote:

I bought my BlackWidow a while ago because it didn't seem all that expensive compared to the other keyboards. It feels great, but when it came my spacebar was loose and kind of came off; afterwards I put it back on and its completely functional. My 1 key is easily removable as well, but still completely functional. Despite those complications, it's a great keyboard and worth the money
That's because Razor products are built in Chinese sweatshops and occasionally have build issues. My old keyboard was a Razor Arctosa and the left shift key's spring came out of place after about a month of use. Lots of Razor products have random build issues, from my personal experience as well as online testimonials.

Quickfire Rapids are Costar built, same company that makes other high quality mechanical keyboards such as Filcos. Only problem with Quickfire Rapid is their obnoxious logo placed all over the keyboard.
Wishy

Frizz925 wrote:

Wishy22 wrote:

Cookiezi, White Wolf, Niko-. KeigoClear, and pretty sure Rucker too use blue switches (BlackWidow).

Black ones are too hard compared to blue/red/brown.
However the combination of their high actuation force and close operating/reset points make them easier for double tapping. I've tried Blacks myself and they're much better than Blues for me.

Also don't forget that val0108 uses Blacks too.
Black switches are HARD to press, which reduces your potential endurance.
Espionage724
Buckling Spring on IBM Model M = best*

*best if you like noise, tactile feedback, and a decent amount of force needed to press the key down
thelewa

WASSHOI wrote:

N y a r u k o wrote:

I bought my BlackWidow a while ago because it didn't seem all that expensive compared to the other keyboards. It feels great, but when it came my spacebar was loose and kind of came off; afterwards I put it back on and its completely functional. My 1 key is easily removable as well, but still completely functional. Despite those complications, it's a great keyboard and worth the money
That's because Razor products are built in Chinese sweatshops and occasionally have build issues. My old keyboard was a Razor Arctosa and the left shift key's spring came out of place after about a month of use. Lots of Razor products have random build issues, from my personal experience as well as online testimonials.

Quickfire Rapids are Costar built, same company that makes other high quality mechanical keyboards such as Filcos. Only problem with Quickfire Rapid is their obnoxious logo placed all over the keyboard.
I broke a BlackWidow by hitting it once

RAZER = QUALITY
kriers
From all the switches I've tried, I really prefer the brown. It feels as light as red ones, but feels tactile (not so much as blue, but almost), pretty much taking the best from both switches into one.
jesse1412

Wishy22 wrote:

Frizz925 wrote:

However the combination of their high actuation force and close operating/reset points make them easier for double tapping. I've tried Blacks myself and they're much better than Blues for me.

Also don't forget that val0108 uses Blacks too.
Black switches are HARD to press, which reduces your potential endurance.
I don't think the endurance hit is actually that noticeable personally but maybe that's because I have never tried blues. Really I think any mech KB will do. Me myself didn't notice any change between mech and rubber dome until a few days in, now I can't stand rubber domes.
WASSHOI

thelewa wrote:

I broke a BlackWidow by hitting it once

RAZER = QUALITY
Just saying, Razer isn't exactly known for quality builds. They advertise like hell to get their name around, and BlackWidow is actually a good keyboard, but it's always good to look at what competitors offer in the same price range. Rapid Fire overall receives better reviews all around with less complaints of defects and such.

If Rapid Fire was more expensive that BlackWidow (RF is actually slightly cheaper from some sellers), I'd have no issue going with the BlackWidow since it's not a bad keyboard.
lolcubes
Razer was really good back in the days when ball mice were popular, they were simply the best, and that's why they get so much attention. Today they are just crap, well not really, but surely overpriced.

Wishy22 wrote:

Black switches are HARD to press, which reduces your potential endurance.
It all depends on the person. Black switches really aren't that hard to press, atleast for me. And trust me, I can stream fairly well, as well as keep decent accuracy.

Tom94 also uses blacks I think, just saying.

In closing I just wanna say that if you want to buy a mech keyboard, be sure to FEEL all of the switch types before purchase. Some people were disappointed and then they just gave a certain mech switch a bad name, when in reality it's their error to not check what they are buying.
I tested blackwidow and steelseries 7g next to each other. I was much more comfortable with 7g. Just sayin'.
WASSHOI
Yeah, it's pretty much just preference. No switch is particularly better than the other, they're made to suit different tastes, but in the end if you get a certain switch that everyone states is the "best" and don't personally enjoy it then you're just missing out in the end. It's way I advised testing blue switches at a local electronic store with BlackWidow in stock.
Wishy

Espionage724 wrote:

Buckling Spring on IBM Model M = best*

*best if you like noise, tactile feedback, and a decent amount of force needed to press the key down
I have those but I'd rather have blue switches since they are softer.

jesse, yes, they are.

lolcubes, Tom94 uses cherry black and has issues with long fast streams, I myself tried black switches and that's the result I got. Using softer switches = less force required = it takes longer for your fingers to get tired.

Thing on black and red switches is that you ALWAYS bottom out the switches, so it's kind of similar to using a random rubber-dome keyboard and there isn't really any need to develop any new kind of streaming/tapping technique. I'm saying that because of my personal experience with them. But then, when using blue/brown switches you gotta develop/get used to the technique that implies not to bottom out the key, which makes some players hate them since they never get used to that.

It is not a matter of preferences, black switches are harder to press and that has consequences, there's a reason why most top players use blue/brown/red switches and just a few use black. For the record, fastest/best streamers all use red/blue and some brown, but almost none use black, the only one I know is Tom94 who has a 6gv2 and as I said (he told me this) he can't really hold fast streams for long, his burst speed is fast but he gets tired of long streams. A single rare case isn't really proof of anything though since afaik he's circumstances are special (he played the piano for a decade and shit, meaning he pretty much worked out his fingers for a while already hah).
lolcubes
Not bottoming out is very dodgy. You can get great potential speed with that, but we're still human, so in most cases that will backfire and will lead to accuracy loss or instability.

WASSHOI wrote:

but in the end if you get a certain switch that everyone states is the "best" and don't personally enjoy it then you're just missing out in the end.
Why is that? Since Cookiezi and Rucker play with a tablet, does that mean that anyone with a tablet will be as good as them? Ofcourse not. IIRC even Doomsday said that he tried tablet and didn't like it and went back to mouse. Everyone is different and noone is really missing out on anything here.

Wishy22 wrote:

long fast streams
I think everyone has a problem with those. :>
Not trying to be mean or anything, just saying. It's all about the training and experience really. I haven't tried reds but I am afraid that I wouldn't like them because they are too soft for my taste (I guess?). Even blacks feel quite light once you get used to them. Now, I am not saying that black is the best, I am just saying that I am most comfortable with them. I really don't like blues and part of the reason is stated at the top of this post. I came from a flat scissor switch keyboard, and trust me, while they are decent for accuracy, they are a real pain to stream with.

Wishy22 wrote:

Tom94 who has a 6gv2 and as I said (he told me this) he can't really hold fast streams for long, his burst speed is fast but he gets tired of long streams. A single rare case isn't really proof of anything though since afaik he's circumstances are special (he played the piano for a decade and shit, meaning he pretty much worked out his fingers for a while already hah).
Fun fact, exactly the same here. :P Except that I have a 7G, because 6GV2 is like impossible to get here haha.

tldr; I don't like blues because of my first sentence in this post, and I am afraid that reds (although highly unavailable here) would be too light for me, because streaming is not everything I would be doing with them.
Wishy
But still, softer switches = less effort required = better endurance, which in the end is just a good help if you can get used to it.
lolcubes
Completely true and agreed with.
Frizz

Wishy22 wrote:

Frizz925 wrote:

However the combination of their high actuation force and close operating/reset points make them easier for double tapping. I've tried Blacks myself and they're much better than Blues for me.

Also don't forget that val0108 uses Blacks too.
Black switches are HARD to press, which reduces your potential endurance.
Blue switches are HARDER to press thanks to its tactile clicky nature, it requires the user to put it in a lot more force into them before they actually reach their actuation point. Leave alone the peak force of both switches.

And just wanted to add that you don't always need tactility to not bottom-out, if you know the right force needed to register keys without bottoming-out that is.
ziin
I don't always bottom out on my cherry blacks or white alps. I don't really like the white alps, since the actuation point seems to be at 0.5 mm, before the click.

I only bottom out on things I hold, not really on streams or when typing.

scissor switches imo are the best to stream fast with. you need that low bottom to single tap 180 bpm 1/4ths.
Topic Starter
Pacemaker
Thanks everyone. In the end, I think I'll just get the BlackWidow. I was testing the keys at a store earlier, and I really liked them, so I really don't see why not.

WASSHOI wrote:

If you're getting BlackWidow, might I also recomend you look into Cool Master Quickfire Rapid, a great competitor for the BlackWidow.

If you really want reds, then there's also a slightly more expensive red switch version of it too.
Looks neat, but unfortunately, those aren't available anywhere in Germany, so the shipping costs could end ub being quite a pain lol

Wishy22 wrote:

But still, softer switches = less effort required = better endurance, which in the end is just a good help if you can get used to it.
I can't really tell if the Blues are any softer than the Blacks, since the clicking mechanism supposedly makes it harder. Also, I have yet to play a song that really has my finger-fatigue kick in, but I know for a fact that eventually this will be the case, and because of that I'm a bit scared of getting Blacks.
WASSHOI

lolcubes wrote:

WASSHOI wrote:

but in the end if you get a certain switch that everyone states is the "best" and don't personally enjoy it then you're just missing out in the end.
Why is that? Since Cookiezi and Rucker play with a tablet, does that mean that anyone with a tablet will be as good as them? Ofcourse not. IIRC even Doomsday said that he tried tablet and didn't like it and went back to mouse. Everyone is different and noone is really missing out on anything here.
I worded this wrongly. What I meant was you are the only one missing out in the end (because you purchased switches that you're not comfortable with just because everyone said they're "the best.")
Wishy

Frizz925 wrote:

Blue switches are HARDER to press thanks to its tactile clicky nature, it requires the user to put it in a lot more force into them before they actually reach their actuation point. Leave alone the peak force of both switches.

And just wanted to add that you don't always need tactility to not bottom-out, if you know the right force needed to register keys without bottoming-out that is.
Wrong.

Blacks: Actuation Force: 60g (40g-80g overall) (Force Diagram)
Blues: Actuation Force: 45g (55g Peak Force) (Force Diagram)

And of course it doesn't mean 45+55.
Tanzklaue

lolcubes wrote:

WASSHOI wrote:

but in the end if you get a certain switch that everyone states is the "best" and don't personally enjoy it then you're just missing out in the end.
Why is that? Since Cookiezi and Rucker play with a tablet, does that mean that anyone with a tablet will be as good as them? Ofcourse not. IIRC even Doomsday said that he tried tablet and didn't like it and went back to mouse. Everyone is different and noone is really missing out on anything here.
as far as I remember, Doomsday liked the gameplayfeeling of a tablet, but he was really bad with it, so he only would use it for funpurposes.

On Topic: I found the Coolermaster CM Storm Quickfire Pro for 85€, which is relatively cheap for a keyboard with red switches.I actually kinda think about buying it.
RusselG
bottom out or remain scrub

also blues
val0108
Black switch is my best!!
Nessuka
Yeah, I'm buying a new mechanical keyboard soon, and I want to get a somewhat cheap-ish but good for the money keyboard, so before you all tell my to get a razer blackwidow, I'd like to clear up some things.

1. I'm looking for at best a keyboard with Cherry Red MX switches.
2. Low profile keys if possible (less switch travel distance above the main frame).

I'm not keen on going with Razer because they do not meet those requirements really and I've heard they aren't the best for general use too.

So yeah, if anyone could point me in the right direction here, I'd be very greatful.
jesse1412
I use a meka g1. Uses black switches though so not sure you would want one. It's worked fine for me, arm rest is really handy and no shitty ass rave light bullshit. It was delivered rather fast aswell (UK here).

Really I can't say for certain whether blacks are better than reds; I'll probably try reds in the future. I doubt I'm a special case that can stream amazingly well with little problems whilst using blacks but it does appear that most extreme streamers don't use blacks. There was another topic on this about a week ago, let me find it.

here: t/92602
Frizz
ITT: Mechanical keyboards

Also any and all MX Cherry switches have the same travel distance. And I heard mechanical keyboards which use MX Cherry Red are harder to find compared to any other switches.

On a side note, I don't even think that this thread belongs to General Development.
lolcubes

Frizz925 wrote:

On a side note, I don't even think that this thread belongs to General Development.
Moved and merged.
druidxd

Wishy22 wrote:

Frizz925 wrote:

However the combination of their high actuation force and close operating/reset points make them easier for double tapping. I've tried Blacks myself and they're much better than Blues for me.

Also don't forget that val0108 uses Blacks too.
Black switches are HARD to press, which reduces your potential endurance.
So ffin true, I bought a 6g v2 (that I found by luck in Spanish layout in an Argentine store) and, while it's better than rubber dome kbs, it really is difficult to pass long/really long streams that are >= than 200bpm, i'm also not that good at streaming, but I can "deathstream" at 210-220 bpm at least until my fingers "die"

I wasn't able to try blue, brown or red just 'cause of the fact that I live in Argentina and it's really expensive to buy mechanical keyboards here and the gamma of mechanical kbs is really low, pretty much you only have BlackWidows or 6gv2s (blue and black).
Sup A Noob
I should start considering getting a red switch keyboard. I'm on black switches at the moment but I didn't realise it until now.
jesse1412

druidxd wrote:

So ffin true, I bought a 6g v2 (that I found by luck in Spanish layout in an Argentine store) and, while it's better than rubber dome kbs, it really is difficult to pass long/really long streams that are >= than 200bpm, i'm also not that good at streaming, but I can "deathstream" at 210-220 bpm at least until my fingers "die"

I wasn't able to try blue, brown or red just 'cause of the fact that I live in Argentina and it's really expensive to buy mechanical keyboards here and the gamma of mechanical kbs is really low, pretty much you only have BlackWidows or 6gv2s (blue and black).
I really want to try reds if people actually seem to find blacks hard to press; not sure what I would do with this kb though, maybe give it to a friend?
thelewa
Save it for use as a weapon
MayBee
imo, I don't think kb or switches matter, a diffrent keyboard won't make your fingers faster or more accurate
kriers
Please stop buying expensive reds. They aren't worth it.

REALLY, YOU'RE WASTING YOUR MONEY
MayBee
funny fact, i play better with cheap flat rubberdome keyboard than any mech
thelewa
yeah my streaming endurance is better with a cheap flat rubberdome too
G0r

MayBee wrote:

imo, I don't think kb or switches matter, a diffrent keyboard won't make your fingers faster or more accurate
A balanced hammer won't make your arm any stronger, but it sure might help an experienced arm swing more smoothly.
MayBee

G0r wrote:

MayBee wrote:

imo, I don't think kb or switches matter, a diffrent keyboard won't make your fingers faster or more accurate
A balanced hammer won't make your arm any stronger, but it sure might help an experienced arm swing more smoothly.

Yes it will support you, but won't make it easier
Wishy

MayBee wrote:

funny fact, i play better with cheap flat rubberdome keyboard than any mech
Getting used to mech kbs takes time. I sucked at first too.
Sup A Noob
It's all about the feel-good factor. If you don't feel good using mech keyboards, you won't ever feel good playing osu! with mech keyboards.
Aeonian Sonder
I'm actually quite curios, is the Razer Anansi any good for Osu?
lolcubes
Since it's not a mechanical keyboard, not really. Any keyboard is "good" for osu as long as it works, however mechanical one will give you the most stuff you would want in such a game though.
Considering that one is expensive as a mech keyboard and isn't mech, stay away from it in a really wide radius imo. :p
Aeonian Sonder

lolcubes wrote:

Since it's not a mechanical keyboard, not really. Any keyboard is "good" for osu as long as it works, however mechanical one will give you the most stuff you would want in such a game though.
Considering that one is expensive as a mech keyboard and isn't mech, stay away from it in a really wide radius imo. :p
"Radius imo"?
Chokladboll
lel
Hello Skitty
so for someone with shitty weak slow fingers reds would be the best option? mi max speed is 160 bpm (i looked it trying the long stream practice maps, the max i can fc is 160), though i can fc maps with short streams up to... 190 bpm or around
buny

skiter43 wrote:

so for someone with shitty weak slow fingers reds would be the best option? mi max speed is 160 bpm (i looked it trying the long stream practice maps, the max i can fc is 160), though i can fc maps with short streams up to... 190 bpm or around
reds are the lightest so yes.
though you could try getting blacks and just practicing your stamina. I would just get reds though especially if your fingers aren't as strong

kriers wrote:

Please stop buying expensive reds. They aren't worth it.

REALLY, YOU'RE WASTING YOUR MONEY
this

don't buy any mech kb with fancy LED or extra keys, just get what you're buying it for - the switches, which should cost roughly $50 (or less)
nrl

Wishy wrote:

But still, softer switches = less effort required = better endurance, which in the end is just a good help if you can get used to it.
This is true on a literal level, but one could make the argument that because blacks require more effort they'll build your endurance faster. If we take that as given then it's a guarantee that you'll eventually be able to stream faster and for longer with blacks than with reds, it's only a question of how long it takes to reach that point.
LightTheHedgie
Sorry to revive a dead post but I just thought I'd say that blue switches work very well for Osu! because of the tactile feel they give off insures a key hit and the sound they make also helps with timing (well in my cases at least).
E m i

LightTheHedgie wrote:

Sorry to revive a dead post but I just thought I'd say that blue switches work very well for Osu! because of the tactile feel they give off insures a key hit and the sound they make also helps with timing (well in my cases at least).
Especially on maps where you have to make your own hitsounds... if you don't know these maps, good for you ;)
-Atri-
I know this might be out-topic but....

I'm gonna stick to rubber dome keyboard

Mechanical keyboard is way too expensive and NOT WORTH for anything

So even you buy a mechanical keyboard, what's the point? it's the same as rubber dome! (even i never touched mechanical keyboard before)
Oinari-sama
Don't bump an old thread if you're gonna go off topic
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