Any Cherry MX (or any other) switches that resemble membrane keyboards?

[PainkilleR]

I am currently looking for a new keyboard, and the problem is that I really don't like any mechanical switches I have tried so far... At the same time I really like tactile feedback of membrane keyboards but the construction of keys in membrane keyboards is so simple and rather terrible (wobbly keys; they are rather slow; get stuck on slim keyboards and I don't like slim form factor) that I have no other option but to go with the mechanical keyboard.

I have tried Romer G linear switches and they are rather unusable for me (as well as any other linear Cherry MX switches really). The problem is not an accuracy when typing, nor the speed of key presses in games, but rather the lack of resistance at the higher positions of keys (read unpressed keys), which results in an accidental key presses when the hand rests on keys.

I am also not a big fan of very clickly loud keys. I got so used to cheap membrane keyboards when it comes to sound that I really don't want to switch to blue nor green switches either.

So my question is are there any silent switches that simply have resistance when the key is unpressed? Something like Cherry MX red but with the added resistance on top? I haven't tried Cherry MX black but it seems like they don't really solve this problem either.

[Omega]

Membrane keyboards have no tactile feedback. A membrane keyboard is a simple straight push down and then it stops.

Mechanical switches are not any less wobbly. They are much more wobbly then the average membrane keyboard even.


Here is a list of the huge ammount of available switches with their characteristics;
https://mechanicalkeyboard.com/switches/

[PainkilleR]

Omega původně napsal:

Membrane keyboards have no tactile feedback. A membrane keyboard is a simple straight push down and then it stops.

Mechanical switches are not any less wobbly. They are much more wobbly then the average membrane keyboard even.


Here is a list of the huge ammount of available switches with their characteristics;
https://mechanicalkeyboard.com/switches/

Well, they actually kind of have a tactile feedback. Maybe that's not the right word when comparing to mechanical keys though. What I meant by tactile feedback is that once I put the hand on keys I can feel the resistance straight away, and as soon as I press the key I feel the actuation point is right there "on top" of the key, while on mechanical linear switches I can't feel any resistance at all. I thought Cherry MX browns would solve this problem for me, but it turned out that's not the answer either, since the actuation point still feels a lot lower compared to membrane...

As for wobbly keys, I have only checked some of the more expensive keyboards and they all felt way more solid than any membrane keyboards I have ever used.

[PainkilleR]

I have checked the switch specifications on the page you have provided.

From the looks of it I'd prefer the linear switch with a low operating force, a very high tactile force and a very short pre travel distance...

So, it seems like Cherry MX Low Profile Red, Cherry MX Low Profile Red RGB, Cherry MX Low Profile Speed and Cherry MX Low Profile Speed RGB are my only options.

Which non-slim keyboards offer these options?

NVM, they are exclusive to slim form factor keys...

[Talby]

did you mean scissor switches like the ones apple uses? here are a couple I found after a quick search

https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIBOARD-210-Full-Size-Keyboard-Desktop/dp/B08PTCPNKG
https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-Periboard-324-Wired-Backlit-Keyboard/dp/B07GPRJ97X

The only RGB one I know if is the Cougar Vantar, this is the original model

https://www.newegg.com/p/1B4-01DB-00007
https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar/

The newer models are the Vantar AX

https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar-ax/
https://www.techpowerup.com/270440/cougar-intros-the-ultra-slim-vantar-ax-gaming-keyboard-with-scissor-switches

and the more readable AX black model

https://www.techpowerup.com/278271/cougar-rolls-out-vantar-ax-black-you-can-finally-read-the-keycaps
https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar-ax-black/

[PainkilleR]

Talby původně napsal:

did you mean scissor switches like the ones apple uses? here are a couple I found after a quick search

https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-PERIBOARD-210-Full-Size-Keyboard-Desktop/dp/B08PTCPNKG
https://www.amazon.com/Perixx-Periboard-324-Wired-Backlit-Keyboard/dp/B07GPRJ97X

The only RGB one I know if is the Cougar Vantar, this is the original model

https://www.newegg.com/p/1B4-01DB-00007
https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar/

The newer models are the Vantar AX

https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar-ax/
https://www.techpowerup.com/270440/cougar-intros-the-ultra-slim-vantar-ax-gaming-keyboard-with-scissor-switches

and the more readable AX black model

https://www.techpowerup.com/278271/cougar-rolls-out-vantar-ax-black-you-can-finally-read-the-keycaps
https://cougargaming.com/products/keyboards/vantar-ax-black/

Yes, these are exactly the keyboards I don't want. The slim profile is absolutely terrible for gaming for me.

[Talby]

Agreed, I picked up a low profile brown switch board here[www.amazon.com] just to try out, using it right now on my game rig it's not too bad considering the price...

[Illusion of Progress]

Maybe Browns with rubber o-rings?

[PainkilleR]

Illusion of Progress původně napsal:

Maybe Browns with rubber o-rings?

Well, they kind of have the same issue as reds.

Give me a few minutes and I will draw a picture in paint to better explain my problem. Maybe you'll be able to name some switches that I am looking for that way.

[_I_]

these are the worst

Razer BlackWidow Mechanical
https://www.amazon.com/Razer-BlackWidow-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard/dp/B07NZX84HB

its a rubber dome with clicky feels

to get a mech to feel like a dome, get black/brown with orings
https://youtu.be/-WhmACL08RM?t=176

[PainkilleR]

Here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2407485908

So, my problem with mx browns is that you can press them without any resistance up until the point where the side spring reaches the bump on the brown key switch.

What would be ideal for me is if the side spring was already in that position where that bump is in a non pressed state. Kind of like when how the membrane keyboard keys already lie on top of the membrane bumps.

Is there such switch available?

P.S. A perfect switch would look like this for me:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2407503534

P.P.S. Not that picky, it's just that I have never used mechanical keyboards so I really don't know much about them.

[Autumn_]

Then you would want a switch with VERY low actuation distance, and high actuation force.
Tactile or linear, shouldn't matter, since the travel would be so small.

You want something with ~1.5mm of travel, with about 70-80g of force required.

And, I'm not sure if any are made, so you may have to make your own.
It's easy enough, just a spring swap, but it could be expensive.

Edit ; I should mention aswell, great drawing, explained exactly why you wanted.

[PainkilleR]

Autumn_ původně napsal:

Then you would want a switch with VERY low actuation distance, and high actuation force.
Tactile or linear, shouldn't matter, since the travel would be so small.

You want something with ~1.5mm of travel, with about 70-80g of force required.

And, I'm not sure if any are made, so you may have to make your own.
It's easy enough, just a spring swap, but it could be expensive.

Edit ; I should mention aswell, great drawing, explained exactly why you wanted.

Thanks.

But damn, I have never expected choosing a mechanical keyboard could be such a problem. It's been almost two weeks now and I still have no idea what keyboard should I get. In fact now I am at a complete loss, even more so than two weeks ago. Especially after testing a few key switches.

Wonder if Cherry MX Black would feel better... Though I can't find any Cooler Master/Corsair keyboards with MX Black switches. Nor any other brands in my local stores. :/

[Autumn_]

PainkilleR původně napsal:

Autumn_ původně napsal:

Then you would want a switch with VERY low actuation distance, and high actuation force.
Tactile or linear, shouldn't matter, since the travel would be so small.

You want something with ~1.5mm of travel, with about 70-80g of force required.

And, I'm not sure if any are made, so you may have to make your own.
It's easy enough, just a spring swap, but it could be expensive.

Edit ; I should mention aswell, great drawing, explained exactly why you wanted.

Thanks.

But damn, I have never expected choosing a mechanical keyboard could be such a problem. It's been almost two weeks now and I still have no idea what keyboard should I get. In fact now I am at a complete loss, even more so than two weeks ago. Especially after testing a few key switches.

Wonder if Cherry MX Black would feel better... Though I can't find any Cooler Master/Corsair keyboards with MX Black switches. Nor any other brands in my local stores. :/

Cherry switches are quite lower quality, compared to Gateron and Kailh (and derivatives of them.)

But, you may want to put some thought into making your own keyboard, it's not that expensive.

Then you can also get into custom switches then -- The custom keyboard market has so many more options, it should provide what you want, more than any pre-made 'gaming' keyboard could.

Downside is you have to know how to solder, and actually want to make the keyboard yourself.
And, because of that warranty won't be as good.

Blacks would feel better, in regards to resistance, however they have the same actuation distance as Reds, so they're not what you're looking for.
Clicky switches would also be a valid option, but you already said you hated the sound of them, so I guess they're off the table.

[Illusion of Progress]

PainkilleR původně napsal:

Here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2407485908

So, my problem with mx browns is that you can press them without any resistance up until the point where the side spring reaches the bump on the brown key switch.

What would be ideal for me is if the side spring was already in that position where that bump is in a non pressed state. Kind of like when how the membrane keyboard keys already lie on top of the membrane bumps.

Is there such switch available?

P.S. A perfect switch would look like this for me:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2407503534

P.P.S. Not that picky, it's just that I have never used mechanical keyboards so I really don't know much about them.

Not as versed with mechanical switch types as I've only every had one mechanical keyboard and my experience with them ends there on that one type so I'm afraid I can't help much further, but from your opening post, Browns (namely, with rubber o-rings) sounded like that may have fit the bill. They're among the quietest, and I have to press down to get them to activate on mine (Logitech G710+); they certainly don't lower on their own, but if you rest your hand differently/harder maybe they would (I don't have to be light/try to avoid resting on them to prevent them from activating though). The one thing is they definitely do activate before bottoming out (I'm okay with this) but for everything else you wanted I thought might make them fit.

As someone else said, maybe look at other (non-Chery) switch types.

[r.linder]

MX Silent is pretty close to membrane feeling IMO, because it's also horribly spongy trash.