Best Cherry MX switch for my purposes?

YusifGerard

Reputable
Jul 6, 2014
2
0
4,510
I am planning to purchase a Corsair Vengeance K70, which is available with Cherry MX Red, Brown, or Blue switches. Although I am searching for an outfit best suited for gaming, I use my hands to write a fair amount of code; more than I plan mashing the WASD keys in-game.

It's important to note that I have never used a mechanical keyboard before. My experience with keyboards so far has only been with Topre switches, both on laptops in a flat style and cylindrical on desktops. Based on what I've read, it seems the Cherry MX brown switch best matches this feel. But hey, I may be wrong; that's why I'm asking here.

What I'm asking can be summed up with two points:

1) Is the keyboard I've selected well known for use with both gaming and long typing sessions comfortably, and if not, are there better options within its ballpark?

2) Which Cherry MX switch is best for both gaming and typing?
 
Solution
Topre switches are like Browns, in that they have a tactile response, but like Reds in that you can't feel the actuation point. Topre's the tactile feel is near the beginning of the stoke, where as Browns it is at the actuation point.

If your doing a lot of typing i would recommend Browns. The slight extra force required to push past the actuation point will probably reduce mistakes as you are used to having a bit of resistance in your keys. You'll also learn where the actuation point is, so you will find you'll start bottoming out less and typing faster. This will happen with Reds too, but you'll probably make more mistakes initially, as you'd be used to having a bit more pressure in your key presses, and it will take longer to learn...

ferooxidan

Honorable
Apr 15, 2013
427
0
10,860
brown

quick edit: I skip reading all of your story and go straight to your question, after I reread the whole thing, yes you are correct. Brown is the best for your needs. I use K60 red for gaming, it feels a little weird for typing.
 

byza

Honorable
Topre switches are like Browns, in that they have a tactile response, but like Reds in that you can't feel the actuation point. Topre's the tactile feel is near the beginning of the stoke, where as Browns it is at the actuation point.

If your doing a lot of typing i would recommend Browns. The slight extra force required to push past the actuation point will probably reduce mistakes as you are used to having a bit of resistance in your keys. You'll also learn where the actuation point is, so you will find you'll start bottoming out less and typing faster. This will happen with Reds too, but you'll probably make more mistakes initially, as you'd be used to having a bit more pressure in your key presses, and it will take longer to learn the actuation point. Before their rise in gaming, Reds were getting pretty rare.

In your case I would start with Browns, and maybe move to Reds once you are proficient if you want to remove the tactility. Most people who type a lot don't like Reds as they are too light, especially when transitioning to a mechanical keyboard. As for gaming, a lot of people tend to say Reds are better for FPS due to the lack of hesitation in the keys giving slightly better response times, but really it doesn't matter too much and both are very good gaming switches. I use Reds, and while my typing was instantly faster, it took a short while to bring down my average mistakes to what it was on a membrane keyboard. If I have to type more I would had gotten browns.

Also look a getting a pack of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Rubber-O-Ring-150pcs-Key-Cap-Switch-Dampeners-For-Cherry-MX-Replace-Part-G-/191144186479?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8114d26f
They reduce the clacking of the keys bottoming out considerably, as well as reducing the key travel distance resulting in faster typing.
 
Solution