Gone are the days when the only thing that mattered to computer enthusiasts and gamers specifically was a functioning PC in a nice cabinet.
Gaming is an experience now and every little thing matters.
The mouse pad needs to be perfect, the PC must have just the right amount of RGB, the liquid cooling should be on point and no compromises on the power supply.
I think you catch my drift.
One very important part of this whole gaming experience is the mechanical keyboard.
No sir, gamers don’t want your average membrane keyboards anymore.
Mechanical keyboards are all the rage now.
Some of the most important qualities of mechanical keyboards include their responsiveness, robustness, ease, durability and versatility.
Most of these qualities are a direct consequence of the switches these mechanical keyboards are composed of.
In this post, let me tell you how should you go about choosing which mechanical switches your mechanical keyboard must be having.
I am creating this post with a general perception of gaming in mind.
But when we look at different switches, I will make it a point to imply in which use case which switch is apt.
So, if you are a gamer, a typing master or just a general tech and computer enthusiast this post is going to be full of value.
Therefore, read till the end.
Quick Glance: Switch Priority And Keyboard Combo
What Is A Mechanical Switch?
A mechanical switch is the fundamental unit of a mechanical keyboard.
These are discreet units that transfer electrical signals to your PC which then identify which key is being pressed and what response should be relayed back.
So why have mechanical keyboards with their fancy mechanical switches made their way into every gamers heart?
A mechanical keyboard functions with a discreet switch underneath each key cap, very similar to a typewriter.
The structure of a mechanical key is such that it gives a very profound feedback in the form of a bump or a satisfying click.
The structure in addition to providing a satisfying experience to the user also renders the mechanical keyboards to be more precise, versatile, responsive and rugged.
As opposed to your membrane keyboards in which that carry out their typing function by sending an electrical signal in between two plastic membranes.
Let’s go a little deeper into how a mechanical switch actually operates.
This is very important to understand because this knowledge snippet will actually help you know what key type serves what purpose.
And as such you will be able to decide ultimately which mechanical keyboard will serve the purpose you so desire.
How Does A Mechanical Switch Work?
Okay.
Let’s learn how a mechanical switch actually works.
The basic concept is pretty simple actually.
The mechanical arrangement of different parts of a mechanical switch is such that an electrical impulse is passed through to your computer when the applied force overcomes the switch’s spring resistance.
When the resistive force is overcome by the force applied by your finger, the metal contact happens and an electrical signal rushes through your keyboard telling your computer that a button press even has occurred.
We will see this a bit later in the post that how much of an actuating force a switch requires plays a key role in which use cases the keyboard containing that particular switch will be applicable, like typing gaming etc.
Parts Of A Mechanical Switch
Let me explain to you the different parts of a mechanical switch and you will see you have a lot of understanding into the world of mechanical keyboards and its switches.
I created this image which will make grasping the different parts of a mechanical switch amply clear.
1.Keycap: Pretty obvious, I think. The plastic top over which your word is engraved.
2.Stem: The vertical structure over the top of which the key is mounted. Different switches may have different shapes of their stems.
3.Switch Housing Or Casing: The outer structure that holds all the moving parts together and in its place.
4.Slider: Slider moves along with the spring and its function is to interrupt the contact between metal leaves. A switch signal is sent only when the contact happens. The slider ensures that happens only when the key is pressed.
5.Metal Contact Leaves: The registration of keystroke and the transfer of electrical impulses happen when these metallic leaves touch each other which otherwise are separated by the switch mechanism.
6.Spring: Spring leads the key back to its original position after a key stroke.
Mechanical Switch Technical Parameters
This section is particularly important because these parameters are what you need to be aware of so that you don’t mess up your purchase.
These parameters will pretty much define whether the mechanical switch you are looking at are ideal for gaming or typing or is a good compromise between the both.
Its very easy to understand but its perception is very important if you would like to choose the best mechanical switch for your needs.
Okay so here we go.
These are the three parameters or I guess you can call them switch behavior that you need to be aware of.
1.Linear
Linear switches are those in which the keystroke is as the name suggest linear, consistent and smooth.
Liner mechanical switches operate pretty much the same as membrane switches. In order to actuate a linear switch, you need to push it all the way down.
2.Tactile Switches
Tactile switches are those that offer a bump in the middle of the key travel which is also known as the actuation point.
In order to actuate a tactile switch, it only needs to b pushed half way down to its actuation point where you get an unmistakable feedback in the form of a bump.
You can also continue to push the key beyond the actuation point but you can also move on to the next key right away.
3. Clicky Switches
Similar to the tactile switches the clicky switches in addition to having a feedback in the middle of the travel are accompanied by a satisfying click.
Many gamers and people who do a lot of typing swear by the mechanical switches for these clicky sounds and find them utterly satisfying.
Similarly, there are people who like it quiet and prefer linear or tactile switches.
While it is true that it all comes down to personal preferences and the situation in which you are wish to use your mechanical keyboard.
There are some factors that one must definitely take into account while choosing mechanical switches or mechanical keyboards for that matter.
And in the subsequent sections that is precisely what we are going to discuss.
But before that section that is precisely what we are going to discuss.
But before we go ahead and discuss that let’s look into the major players in the mechanical switch market.
Major Players In The Mechanical Switch Market
Okay now that you know all the basic technical details about the mechanical switches.
Let me tell you the major players in the market that are putting all that technical stuff into good use and giving you good mechanical switches and of course keyboards.
1.Cherry
Started back in 1983, the Cherry MX switch family is without any doubt the most robust and successful mechanical switches ever made.
The different color switches directly reflect the different characteristics each of these switches express.
In the subsequent sections where we discuss different color switches and how relevant are they for gaming, I will be using Cherry MX colors and switches for reference.
2.Kailh/Kaihua
The Kailh or Kaihua electronics is a switch manufacturer based out of China.
The company started in 1990 and how has now spread its wings and presence all over the globe.
These switches can be seen as the direct competitors to the Cherry MX switches.
In addition to building in-house switches, Kailh also manufactures custom switches for device partners.
The Kailh switch designs are so identical in structures that they are popularly known as “Cherry MX clones”.
They even use the same color schemes as Cherry MX corresponding to the different characteristics offered by the switches.
The fact that the keycaps designed for Cherry MX switches are also compatible with Kailh switches make the end users very happy as they have more options if they wish to switch between them.
3.Razer
If you are a true gamer you know Razer knows how to find its way into almost every gaming gear.
Well, mechanical switches are no different.
Razer partnered up with Kaihua in 2014 to create Razer mechanical switches which became the part of its Black Widow gaming keyboard series.
Ever since then Razer has been coming out with its own switches partnering with multiple partners including Kaihua, Greetech and the likes.
Two primary line ups are seeing circulation from Razer: Razer Green And Razer Orange.
4.Logitech Romer-G
Logitech’s primary intention to create Romer-Gs was to provide an enhanced experience for gamers.
The argument was that many mainstream mechanical switches in circulation weren’t created with the need’s gamers on priority.
Their construction was such that it was trying to touch both typists and gaming domains.
So, Logitech wanted to be exclusive and created Romer-Gs.
A tactile quiet brand of switches that require 45g of actuation force.
The actuation point on Romer-Gs is 1.5 mm or 25% shorter than that on Cherry MX and Kailh.
These switches are receiving high praise from gamers who are into intense and long gaming sessions.
As of writing this post, the Romer-G switches are only available in Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum and Logitech G910 Orion Spark RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – 9 Programmable Buttons, Dedicated Media Controls.
5.Topre
They aren’t the most popular of the bunch in the United States but they are a big player in Japan.
The Topre switches can be seen as a meeting point between membrane and mechanical keys.
They are relatively quiet and have a very small actuating force of 5g, making them worth considering if you want something on which you can type at lightning fast speeds.
Which Mechanical Switch Is Best For Me?
Okay so.
Let’s talk you.
Which mechanical keyboard or mechanical switch is the best for you?
That is the beauty about this post.
With the knowledge you now have from here and a little bit more that will get now.
You can actually decide for yourselves which mechanical switch or mechanical keyboard you need depending on your situation.
As far as gaming is considered, irrespective of which type of switch you go for, mechanical keyboards are well suited for gaming and one deserves a place on your desk.
Having said that being aware of your needs and choosing one that precisely fulfils them is the right way to go.
So here is the blueprint for you to proceed.
With tactile and clicky switches, you get a feedback when pressed at the actuation point in the form of a bump or click.
At this actuation point the keypress is registered by your computer.
You can continue pressing the button or move onto the next one.
This directly means that the gamers don’t have to press down a key fully to register the keystroke, which means faster typing.
This can be particularly useful for RTS games where time bound rapid response is needed.
For high intensity fast paced action games like first person shooters you might be better off with linear switches.
Since there is no bump or feedback to overcome you can slam away at the keys and have your keystrokes register faster.
Mechanical keyboards are also inherently more robust and durable than rubber dome keyboards.
Cherry MX keyboards for example are rated to live 20-50 million key strokes as opposed to 5 million in rubber dome keyboards.
Now let’s get into individual color switches and see how they hold up in gaming.
In all of the subsequent sections unless otherwise mentioned, I will be referring to Cherry MX switches for the simple fact that they are the most widely used switches in the gaming world.
And you will be able to extrapolate the knowledge base to infer the benefits of any other switches that you might have your eyes on.
Are Red Switches Good For Gaming?
Without question the red switches or Cherry MX reds particularly are some of the most popular switches in circulation today.
The actuation force required to operate these red switches is 45g and there is no tactile bump in the middle of its traversal to overcome. For this precise reason gamers who are looking to get on fast paced action games get keyboards with this linear switch.
This directly also implies that the red switches may not be ideal for you if all you want out of your keyboard is typing because of the lack of tactile feedback.
Here are a few other properties and force graph of red switches.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tactile behavior | Linear |
| Actuation Force | 45g |
| Actuation Point | 2 mm |
| Total Travel Distance | 4 mm |
| Loudness | quiet |
| Rated Keystrokes (per key) | 50 million |
| Recommended For | Gaming priority purchases. |
This is the best force-travel diagram that I have found that will clearly show the comparative operation of these switches.
As you can clearly see during a down stroke the red switches follow a liner curve.
This means there is no additional force required during the traversal that the user has to overcome.
Look at the red switch curve in comparison to other color switches.
Looking at this comparative curve it is pretty clear why the red switches must be more popular among gamers who love fast paced titles.
Now does this at all means that red switches are only good for gaming and anyone who wants anything else should just completely look away from it.
Not at all see you have to realize there is no hard line that says this is good and that is bad in computer world.
There are people who use red switches for core typing tasks because you know it just feels right for them.
To each their own but if you are keen into really learning what should you get or you are like a beginner to all this stuff.
It’s better you make use of these guidelines.
Are Black Switches Good For Gaming?
Black switches are linear switches which have a higher actuating force than the red switches.
Therefore, if you are into fast paced gaming titles and are a hard hitter on keyboards the black switches will do the task for you just fine.
Black switches have short travel and high actuating force than the red switches which is clear from their force-travel graph here.
These are again linear switches. So, if you are the, spam your keyboard type, and love fast paced gaming titles, black switches are the ideal gaming switches for you.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tactile behavior | Linear |
| Actuation Force | 60 g |
| Actuation Point | 2 mm |
| Total Travel Distance | 4 mm |
| Loudness | quiet |
| Rated Keystrokes (per key) | 50 million |
| Recommended For | fast paced gaming titles. Ideal for heavy hands |
Look at the graph again and see how similar and how different the two curves are.
It is pretty clear that black switches differ from the red switches in the amount of force they require to actuate.
Apart from that the curve trajectory is pretty similar which makes them another popular choice for gaming.
I would not recommend the black switches to typing priority use cases though.
The extra force on keystrokes and no tactile feedback didn’t appeal to me.
Because I like things light and fast when it comes to typing.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t like it.
However, if you are picking them for the first time for typing purposes do so only after you have personally tested them on a keyboard on a pc hardware store or on a friend’s keyboard.
Are Brown Switches Good For Gaming?
Brown switches cover the best of both worlds, typing and gaming, and they should be your choice if you use your computer for both gaming and your daily typing tasks.
Their 45g of actuation force similar to red switches, quiet operation and rapid restoration to original resting key position make them a wonderful choice if you wish to do more than just gaming from your PC.
Brown switches form a good blend for gaming and typing tasks.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tactile behavior | Tactile |
| Actuation Force | 45 g |
| Actuation Point | 2 mm |
| Total Travel Distance | 4 mm |
| Loudness | quiet |
| Rated Keystrokes (per key) | 50 million |
| Recommended For | a good blend of gaming and typing tasks |
Let’s have a look at the force-position curves for the brown switches in relation to other switches that we have discussed.
The big bump in the middle represents the feedback these switches offer in operation.
Since the tactile resistance is produced by the bump in the interruption fin, the hysteresis in brown switches is relatively less when compared with the blue switches.
So who do I recommend brown switches for.
Honestly, if you haven’t personally tried the other switches with your own hands, and desperately want a mechanical keyboard.
Its very hard for you to go wrong with the brown switches.
They will serve you well for your gaming needs and will be a good partner as your daily driver in other tasks.
Are Blue Switches Good For Gaming?
I wouldn’t say blue switches are bad for gaming but when looked in comparison to other switches that are out there, I wouldn’t label them as the best.
The blue switches produce a distinct click sound when pressed beyond their tactile point which is why they are labelled as clicky switches.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tactile behavior | Clicky |
| Actuation Force | 60 g |
| Actuation Point | 2 mm |
| Total Travel Distance | 4 mm |
| Loudness | loud |
| Rated Keystrokes (per key) | 50 million |
| Recommended For | typing priority purchases |
If you give a closer look at the force-curve of the blue switches you will observe that the reset point is higher than the actuation point.
The idea behind this development is to stop double tap by accident.
The two-piece slider construction results in a very pronounced hysteresis which makes rapid firing in fast paced titles quite challenging when compared with the linear red switches.
In terms of tactile behavior the blue switches are more tactile than the browns.
It almost feels like they have a tactile bump on their way up too.
These switches are loud. They will make you feel their presence. Therefore, in group gaming sessions they may annoy your team mates as well.
With that being said, the blue switches are absolute love to type on. But if you are looking to get switches exclusively for gaming, I would suggest you to look into red or brown switches.
But if you are looking for a typing priority keyboard, blue switches is where it is at my friend.
Best Mechanical Switches For Gaming?
With the elaborate knowledge that you just went through, these are the things I am hoping you must have caught on.
What your immediate need is.
And what probably is the direction you need to direct your seeking towards.
See, here is the thing. When it comes to pc hardware or technology in general there is no hard outline as to this is right or that is wrong.
When talking about switches also you may most definitely find people using blue switches for gaming and maybe red for typing.
So, personal preference plays a big role here.
But let that personal preference take over when you have earned a little experience with mechanical keyboards.
If you are a beginner gamer or haven’t dabbled with mechanical switches too much.
I recommend you stick with the guideline we have discussed over here.
Plus, the next thing I want you to do is.
Explore.
Yeah, as I mentioned this in the previous section of this post there are a lot of switches out there.
The most popular companies we have discussed here but there are a lot more. You can look into them with the background knowledge we have here.
You will find it is going to be extra easy to navigate through those switches and pick the best suited to your needs.
So, this was my intention all along. To educate you so that you can navigate by yourself into the world of mechanical keyboards and switches.
Let me leave you with a table that lists out the different switches, what task they are inclined towards and the best keyboard that is rocking them.
You know so that things become even more easy for ya.
Take care of yourselves out there and I will see you in the next one.
