Cherry MX switches

VulgarDisplay

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2009
6,188
2
76
I have a keyboard on hand that has Cherry MX red's, and I'm wondering how much harder the key presses are on Cherry MX Black switches?

Anyone ever get to compare them?

I like the Red switches a whole lot more than any dome keys I have every tried, but I just feel like they may be slightly too soft for my heavy handed typing.
 

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
IIRC the actuation points are 45g for reds and 60g for blacks, with reds bottoming out somewhere around 60g while blacks top off at 80g. Basically 33% more resistance on the MX Blacks. I'm not won to get too caught up on trying not to bottom-out, I think its a silly obsession of some keyboard fanatics, however if you're really blowing through the actuation point on Reds and hitting the bottom hard, then the Blacks would likely be a good bet.

That being said, you might still want consider sticking with Reds, as even bottoming out on Reds would likely lead to less fatigue over time vs. Blacks, as Blacks actuate at the same force that Reds bottom out on.

IMO Blacks are a tad better for gaming, reds a tad better for typing, and its also easier to type quietly on Blacks because the extra resistance make it easier to no bottom out and get that "clack" of the key bottoming out. Of course in the end its all a matter of preference.
 

VulgarDisplay

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2009
6,188
2
76
I bottom out every keypress on the MX Reds, but I have a feeling it's from years of typing on dome switches. Perhaps I just need to adjust.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,188
401
126
For gaming, the Reds are better in situations where you need to double tap to dodge. That's all I do on UT3 and I came from the Blacks and it's 1000% better.

I was using a Steel Series 6Gv2 & 7G (Black switches) and then I recently switched to a Corsair K60 (Red switches), in-fact it's been a week with the K60
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
I have the blacks and wish I didn't. It's a little heavier than I wanted and some of the keys on the extremem ends of the keyboard (where I don't have my finger lined up on during normal typing) are harder to press than I personally care for. That said I'm glad I have the blacks over the blues, browns, or any of the other different actions, but for me red would have probably been best.