Switches such as the Cherry MX Speed are optimized to have a shorter actuation point, meaning that the key does not have to be pressed in as far to activate. This refers to the point at which the switch activates and is usually described in mm. The lightest linear switches tend to operate in the 30-35g range in terms of actuation force, while the heaviest switches can be 60g or more.Īnother characteristic which is very much associated with actuation force is the actuation point or pre-travel distance. Lighter switches also mean that users are more likely to ‘bottom-out’ on their keystrokes, which refers to pressing the switch all the way to the bottom. Lighter switches tend to be more preferred for fast-paced gaming applications, while heavier switches tend to be more preferred for highly accurate applications as it requires more force and accidental actuations are less likely to occur. This means that a larger number means that more force is required from the user to actuate the switch during a keypress.ĭepending on your preferences when typing or gaming, you may want to pick a ‘lighter’ switch with a lower actuation force, or a ‘heavier’ switch with a higher actuation force. Actuation force is exactly what is sounds like - the force required to actuate a mechanical switch. For example, from the Akko CS Jelly Pink switch is rated as 45gf ± 5gf, and a Cherry MX Blue switch is rated at 50 ± 15 cN. 1 cN is 1.01972 gf rounded to 5 decimal places, so they are roughly equivalent when it comes to differentiating switches. They are not identical in value, but they can be converted to each other. This is a value that you will normally find to be measured in either grams (g), grams-force (gf), or centinewtons (cN). There are so many different linear switches on the market, so we will look at what the differences are between them and how to pick something which will suit your needs.Īctuation force is the first key characteristic which differentiates switches of the same type. Another application of linear switches is streaming, where you want to pick up as little keyboard noise in your mic as possible when gaming. Linear switches are also the quietest and smoothest switches, so they are suitable for office use as well where minimal noise is necessary. Linear switches tend to be preferred for gaming, as they are generally the fastest compared to the other 2 types we will look at later, but their speed is also enjoyed by fast typists as well. The most well known linear switch is probably the Cherry MX Red, which is found in many mainstream mechanical keyboards on the market today. The user presses down on the key, and there is a smooth motion inside the switch until it activates. Linear switches are the easiest to understand from a mechanical point of view, as they have the simplest construction.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |