I can't believe I didn't put this in the video (well I did, but I guess it wasn't too clear): OPTICAL AND MECHANICAL SWITCHES DO NOT MIX. They are exclusive to their respective boards. Optical keyboard? ONLY optical switches. Mechanical keyboard? ONLY mechanical switches. End of sentence. No BUTS. Cheers, mates!
Do you know if Gateron has a patent on these PCBs that accept their switches? Is it possible more switch manufacturers could make compatible switches or is this a Gateron switch only kind of thing?
I made a standard outemu blue optical because I was bored. You can take off the pins and cut off the stub that makes space for the bottom of the stem. This is rather dumb but it does actually work, with the click actually being in tune with the actuation. Wouldn’t work with box switches i think though.
he left out the part where if the mechanical switch fails you simply exchange it for a new switch. if the laser fails, you exchange it for a new keyboard.
Keyboard Used: SK68 with DSA PBT keycaps (review coming soon) P.S. I hate typing on DSA keycaps. Note: I couldn't find the bottom out force for the Optical Silvers anywhere on the internet, so I just used the 15g increase found in most of the other switches. But regardless of the switch springs, they don't feel any heavier bottoming out than your typical Gateron switch.
Excellent comparision. I don't usually comment but the depth and breadth you went into really made the differences between the switches clear to me. keep up the good work and stunning videos!
I can't afford any key switches. I hope my pencil tip will suffice. Wait. Optical yellow is 35 grams and optical brown is 55 grams? Wth is going on here, Gateron?
@@JubbsEntertainment It seems that optical yellows actuate at 35 grams; Whereas mechanical yellows actuate at 50 grams. So optical yellows function like mechanical clears. I am so confused.
@@3shottzz optical silver are the same thing just 10grams more of force needed. imo silver switches are slept on and they sound the same as yellows too
@@luvvjd I can’t speak on that myself since I’ve never owned a keyboard with silvers. But my friend who did own silvers tried my keyboard with yellows and ended buying yellow switches for himself
Thank you! I have never come across such a comprehensive, satisfying, and cheery video on mechanical/optical switches, and I have been looking! It's like you typed all that information right into my grey matter at a gentle yet fast 100wpm!
I have watched dozens of videos about the differences between mechanical keyboards, and yours was the most rigorous regarding the concepts and most thorough regarding demonstration. Thank you very much!
I just picked up an Epomaker SK61 with Gateron Optical Brown switches and I love it, the switches are absolutely perfect for me. I just had a board with reds but found they were too light and couldnt really get used to them after moving from blues so I ordered one with Gateron Optical Browns, they're really nice to type on very smooth and sounds great
Thank you! I just learned about mechanical keyboards 2 weeks ago and now am trying to make a decision on which to get for my first setup. This was a huge help!
thanks bro... I've used cherry mx blues, reds and even tactile Romer Gs. I've recently switched to optical yellows and I'm not ever turning back to traditional mech switches...
i only tried cheap blue's cherry mx brown/red and not optical gateron reds. I must say this is the best switch i've experienced so far but i've noticed i bottom out alot especially on the spacebar so i might try blacks even tho my usage is mostly gaming-oriented. The cherry mx clip-in stabilizers dont really like em but i can only see screw-in durocks so maybe i'll just start building from scratch again xD It's just so damn hard to find good keycaps in stock especially for 64 layout.
I like the way you explain and compare switches. So keep it up. For me, I learn something new today from you that my Keychron K8 is an optical switch keyboard. At first I pulled the switch out to see if its 3 or 5 pins so I can by the right one to replace them (for fun). Turn out it has no pin and I was like... what is going on here. Do some research and come to your video and enlightened. Everything is clear to me now. Thanks.
i have an anne pro 2 with gateron browns and a sk64 w/ gateron brown optical switches. the opticals sound way better ngl. it sounds 'thockier' than the gateron browns and feels way smoother too.
Passing by to know if optical black silent are as good as mechanical ones (i guess youtube hasn't much vids about it) just 2 cents on the way : top/stem already compatible with mechanical Gaterons will be compatible with optical bases. It wont be the exact same thing as a full mechanical combo as the base isn't the same as anything, but it should be pretty darn close.
@@j.uliekim6411 Nice! It’s awesome. Love how compact it is on my desk because it gives me more mouse space and it makes for an aesthetically pleasing setup. The RGB looks great with the white one and the keycaps feel pretty good. I got the optical blue switches :)
Im confused. Is there a difference with the Gateron optical switches compared to the Keycrhon Optical switches? or are they the same thing? I want the best one.
lubed gateron optical yellows with milky tops are endgame material. Optical linears have no contact leaf and that inherently makes them smoother. Optical tactiles and clickies use a dummy leaf to generate tactility, and optical blues have a VERY tactile leaf.
If you have used both optical and mechanical switches please answer this. How do mechanical and optical switches feel when typing. And which feels better for long period typing.
It's probably too late but he failed to mention that there is no practical or perceptual advantage gained. The performance gap will be changed much more by choosing a lighter spring. We're taking fractions of fractions and fractions of milliseconds of input advantage. It's cool tech but that's about it.
which is better gateron optical bleu or gateron mechanical bleu? Cuz many people say that the optical version feels a little cheaper than the mechanical version, is that treu?
That was very well explained. I have a question though, can you switch the top housing of Gateron mechanical switches with Gateron optical switches? Like are they the same?Because you only get transparent tops on optical ones, and I want to switch them with opaque.
Hmm.. I wish there was a metal case version of the optical epomaker boards. I think the SK68S would be perfect for me and the metal makes it look very retro/nintendo style which is pretty cool imo.
Just so everyone knows, breaking a beam of light is not faster than closing two electrical contacts. Both of these actions take place at the speed of light, the gaming advantage is purely marketing and placebo.
Simply put, if you like mechanical keyboards go with pure mechanical, if you're not really into keyboards go with optical. Just a little trivia on why Optical switches are faster (and probably better): Optical switches have benefits as mentioned in the video, but also optical switches don't "bounce". Metal contacts don't transition from no-contact state to contact state cleanly, it will bounce several times before settling. This means that optical switch don't need de-bouncing thus giving you instant response. Not to mention longer lifespan due to less moving parts.
If you have used both optical and mechanical switches please answer this. How do mechanical and optical switches feel when typing. And which feels better for long period typing.
@@vishnumantena9334 For longer period typing that would depend more on the variant of the switch (linear, clicky, or tactile). But I have used both optical gateron linear and mechanical gateron linear and to me, the optical ones feel smoother. Needless to say I prefer the opticals due to the smoothness (and it wasn't even lubed!)
@@AFreezer ok one final question. Which feel good when we type? Gateron optical or mechanical. I am a writer i write for 2-4 hrs and i play 1-2 hrs of gaming. Which one should i choose. I want a good feeling in a wrong run without getting bored. Thank you.
why are silent versions impossible to find ? i mean i don't have time to make my own keyboard and mod it, i just want a damn silent mechanical keyboard, is it too much to ask ?
Don't you make any mistakes when you use optical linear switches? In my case, I do a lot but I don't know what is the best without any clicky sound (maybe brown). Any recommendations?
I would suggest Brown as it has the bump to let you know when your key has been registered when you press it -> suitable for gaming and typing. Black it's linear just like Red but heavier, and it's really depends on the user who like it or not.
Hey guys, I’ve been wanting to buy key caps but idk if it’ll fit into my Razed Huntsman. Can I buy any key cap or am I limited to razer’s optical key caps?
Which one is better gateron optical or gateron mechanical switch... sk64 or GK 64 ... i want to buy that keyboard but i confused both this two keyboard switch
Thank you SOO much! I went round and round on the web and couldn't get a solid answer. I went with the optical switches (red) to replace the Optical Blue that came on the board. I will only be swapping the keys needed for gaming to the Red and leaving the rest of the keyboard (60%) on the typing keys. . .
im confused AF. Ive got a keychron k6 pro... can I put opical switches in it or only regular mechanicals? It seems that a keyboard's PCB is designed for one or the other and not both?
I just switched to mechanical optical from a 60% membrane keyboard and I like the tactile feeling. especially the space bar, since it feels like one solid button. not floppy. My biggest impression is the USB- C to USB cable. as my dog likes to tangle in my cables and throw everything when he gets trapped. This is how my membrane keyboard died, as it was hardwired into the keyboard. but this way if any1 trips over my cables the USB-C should just release from the keyboard, without throwing it or having to resolder loose connections. But honestly I think membrane has less key travel giving it a performance edge and clicking your keys is a meme. Also all my key heads get rubbed off. So I guess I get my moneys worth. vs. buying and crying as all my keyboards seent some stuff and ready to be replaced. Also I rub raw chicken on them with my fingers. Update: I opened the old membrane keyboard and alot of trash dumped out and all positioning pins where broken and dumped out. But I re situate the wire after looking for where I can solder and not finding any loose connections. So its gotta be a broken angel hair wire in the main cable. But just re situating the wires let off tension and it stopped cutting in and out when I wiggle the cable reassembled. I tried to see if its good as a spare for a scrap top but theres no advantage to the built in keyboard. So its just trash tier scrap now. I think I might hoard it, since its fine. Except still covered in chicken grease and raw chicken juice. I will give more updates if anything changes. UPDATE: I like the extra long USB-C cable that pops out of the keyboard as I can use it to quickly data dump from my phone. As I dont need a keyboard. Just a mouse to do some quick transfers and can never locate a data cable. Then spend at least 15 minutes getting upset about my cables and which one is a USB-C data, and not just a charge cable. UPDATE: Im going to keep the membrane one and try to foresee when Im going to rub chicken on it and hot swap and just keep that one for reserve so I can rub more chicken on it and spare the mechanical opticals from my abuse. UPDATE: I think theres actually a high potential for getting meme'd on and spending the amount of money on this keyboard for just the data cable, if youre not smart. So 10/10 review so far.
thank you so much for this video I didn’t know that there were different switches when I got my keyboard I want to customize it because I really dislike the sound of the optical blues and I was so confused why there were switches with pins while mine don’t have pins . This just saved me a lot of frustration by buying the right switches right away
Optical browns feel nice but I keep accidentally pushing down my wasd while I'm standing still in video games. Kinda weird since some people say its hard to push down the keys.
I'm using red switches and they're pretty much great. No accidentally pushed buttons, but i would like to try out more heavier switches or tactile ones. What concerns me the most is the actuation point of 2mm though. Gonna buy some silver switches for qwer and see if there srill be moments when i push button long enough for it to work but it didn't.
Just to correct you have way more options in the Gateron Mechanical Switches Category than 7. You forgot all the Milky Switches Inks and the linears have also silent switches So its around 20 different kind of Gateron Switches
@@PrestonTo of course there are these option but I am just talking about his statement at 3:18 which is just wrong. Keyboard enthusiast will tell you that one of the reasons why optical switches are still inferior than mechanical switches is, that there arent many options. You have at max 11 Gateron plus max of 11 Kailh optical switches. Where with mechanical you have atleast 20 different switches just by the brand gateron alone. If we would include all the other switches from other brands and group buys you would be at 100+ different switches from Clicky to Tactile to Linear. So the statement feels just wrong to say that you have way more option because its just not true at all. My comment was just stating that this will protray maybe a wrong belief that you have more option if you buy optical which is just false.
I've never seen anyone do this (prolly bc no one is crazy enough to do it)- but what would happen if you put a mechanical stem into a Gateron optical housing? If the legs on the stem were cut off would it work- if the stem is long enough to trigger the keypress in the first place
i have optical blacks on my KB and they have crazy amount of wobble , without the extra pins + the build tolerances you will not have as consistent a feel and sound vs pinned switches. i noticed after modding my switches they do not fit as snug on the PCB prior to being pulled out.
Hey I have a quick question, I got optical brown switches with the gk61 and was wondering would I get a good advantage in terms of latency for gaming compared to a mechanical brown switches
Hi can I ask if you know the differences between gateron switches.. like, clear top black bot, full milky, clear top white bot, or white top black bot? thank you so much!!!
There are currently 5 main variant of Gateron switches ( aka. KS variant ) that are: 1. KS-3 series: Black top housing, black bottom housing . 2. KS-3X1 series: Milky top housing , milky bottom housing aka. Full milky. 3. KS-3X47 series: Milky top housing , black bottom housing . 4. KS-8 series: Clear top housing , black bottom housing . 5. KS-9 series: Clear top housing , white bottom housing . There are more variant of Gateron switches but mostly it's discontinued or optical variant so I'm not gonna list it here. What's the differences between them: 1. KS-3: the most smoothness type of Gateron switches, in my opinion it's even smoother than Cherry MX linear switches. But due to the different in housing material. It sounds is not too good compare to the Milky variant. Another worth to mention is this type doesn't support SMD led. 2. KS-3X1: The Cap Milky or Full milky variant. This one in my opinion has the best sound than other variant ( especially when you lube + film it properly ). But it's a double edged blade, it sound maybe the best but it scratchiness is beyond terrible. So you will have to lube it no matter what. This type doesn't support SMD led too. 3. KS-3X47: This type of switches is a combination between Milky top of KS-3X1 and Black bottom housing of KS-3. The reason why Gateron produce this type of switches is to give the user the balance smoothness and good sound. But imo it's just a "Jakc of all trades" type of switches, it does it role good but not that well. This type doesn't support SMD and other led type due to it Black bottom housing will made the led dimmer. 4. KS-8: One of the most popular and well know switch type of Gateron, it support 4 pin led. It Clear top housing made by different material so it sound is not that good compare to the other three variant above. It smoothness is so-so, not that good but also not so bad compare to other cheap switches such as Outemu, Huano, Redragon. 5. KS-9: Also know as SMD Gateron, another popular type of Gateron switche aside the KS-8. Support all type of led including SMD. But this type imo is the most scratchiness switches ( maybe the same level of KS8 ).
@@huunhanle3809 wow thank you so much for this very informative reply. I actually got the full milky pro yellows. I haven;t attached them yet on my KB. hopefully I made the right decision.
@@CeanKeys You're welcome, I have tried the Pro Milky Yellow and I would say it's a very good upgrade. It fix the annoying stem wobble as well as improve the smoothness of the switch more than the original Milky one :D.
I have both gateron reds and the new razer reds, out of the box the razer feels way better! Ok yes you get the rattling sound when you shake the keyboard but seriously that’s not normal use. The gateron switches have a small scratchy feeling out of the box and a hard bottom out, whereas the razer is like landing on a cloud. After applying lube to both switch types my favourite by far is the razer still, it’s so silent and smooth! Don’t get me wrong the gaterons still feel good, but I assume the rubber lined switches of the razer help a lot with it’s over all feel.
That's an interesting take, a mechanical switch SHOULD be scratchier than an optical switch, especially if it's linear. But I'm pressing X to doubt the fact you (properly) lubed the Razer Optical switches. I also don't know where people keep getting these false specs on the switches. There's no rubber lining. It's just plastic. btw, its*, not "it is overall feel"
@@Romsicle I forgot to add the gaterons are optical as well... anyway yes the new razer switches have silicone inserts, watch randomfrankp’s video about the huntsmen mini where he opens a switch and shows it. Ok and it’s not lined but two strips that act as damper make the bottom out of the key feel soft. To lube such a hard to open switch I use a needle to drop down some ptfe dry lube into the slides, then on the outer spring I used a dielectric grease on all the contact points of the wire spring.
I see. They only advertise the dampeners for the Gen2 Linears for the huntsman mini only...what's interesting is that Razer doesn't publicly share the fact that the switches are lubed, which begs the question whether they're really lubed or it's a marketing ploy told to reviews to make the switches seem better. Thanks for letting me know, appreciate it!
if you get a board that comes with opticals does the board change at all to cater just to optical switches or can you switch them out and put in traditional mechanical switches?
Guys I have a problem and I need ur guys help. I recently purchased a MK61 with Optical Yellow switches. With no prior experience with hotswaps I tried to remove a switch out of curiosity and I pulled the switch from the wrong way. When I put the switch back in I got no response. Turns out the IR sensor was twisted since I grabbed the switch the wrong way with the puller, I twisted it back to its normal position and it seems to work temporarily, it randomly registers the key when a press another key near it. So I tried to twist the IR sensor more to its original position and it broke off, so now the key wouldn’t register at all. I put the IR sensor back in its original position and it seems to work the same as before, it randomly registers without me pressing it. I was wondering if there was something safe I can do to keep that sensor in place with out Sautering, i was wondering if something like glue was safe to use instead of sautering.
Die optical haben keine Beinchen unten. Ich hatte so ein Board. Es war geil. Leider gibt es nur 60 prozen Boards mit diesen geilen switches. Jedoch kann man für 40,00 eins bekommen bei Amazon.
hey man i am soo glad that i found this vid, please can you tell me which are better for my first time and for both gaming and typing, i can not spend alot thats why i want to make the best decision please help
Hello, so my sk64s is coming. And i have picked gateron optical yellows, and wondering if i can switch any switches with it?? Planning to change it to C³ Banana Splits.
![Don’t get the Gateron Optical Yellows! Get these instead! [GK61]](/img/1.gif)
I can't believe I didn't put this in the video (well I did, but I guess it wasn't too clear): OPTICAL AND MECHANICAL SWITCHES DO NOT MIX. They are exclusive to their respective boards. Optical keyboard? ONLY optical switches. Mechanical keyboard? ONLY mechanical switches. End of sentence. No BUTS. Cheers, mates!
Do you know if Gateron has a patent on these PCBs that accept their switches? Is it possible more switch manufacturers could make compatible switches or is this a Gateron switch only kind of thing?
@@justinc8157 Not sure if it's patented, but Kailh has optical switches with a base that will fit a Gat optical board.
@@Romsicle wait what, optical blues and optical browns are the same?
I made a standard outemu blue optical because I was bored. You can take off the pins and cut off the stub that makes space for the bottom of the stem. This is rather dumb but it does actually work, with the click actually being in tune with the actuation. Wouldn’t work with box switches i think though.
but but
Never understood this topic until you told me so clearly. Great content.
he left out the part where if the mechanical switch fails you simply exchange it for a new switch. if the laser fails, you exchange it for a new keyboard.
Keyboard Used: SK68 with DSA PBT keycaps (review coming soon) P.S. I hate typing on DSA keycaps.
Note: I couldn't find the bottom out force for the Optical Silvers anywhere on the internet,
so I just used the 15g increase found in most of the other switches. But regardless of the switch springs, they don't feel any heavier bottoming out than your typical Gateron switch.
Which one is good optical or mechanical in your expirience
Im honestly very sorry for necroing but is the sk68 better than the hk61 in your opinion?
@@aryanb5749 In terms of performance, the SK series are better. But for flexibility, the GK series would be better, ie. trying different switches.
Excellent comparision. I don't usually comment but the depth and breadth you went into really made the differences between the switches clear to me. keep up the good work and stunning videos!
I can't afford any key switches. I hope my pencil tip will suffice.
Wait. Optical yellow is 35 grams and optical brown is 55 grams? Wth is going on here, Gateron?
i cant tell if you mean the weight of the switches or the force needed to actually actuate/bottom out the switches XD
@@JubbsEntertainment It seems that optical yellows actuate at 35 grams; Whereas mechanical yellows actuate at 50 grams. So optical yellows function like mechanical clears. I am so confused.
@@CaveyMoth optical yellows are the fastest switches in the world as of right noe
@@3shottzz optical silver are the same thing just 10grams more of force needed. imo silver switches are slept on and they sound the same as yellows too
@@luvvjd I can’t speak on that myself since I’ve never owned a keyboard with silvers. But my friend who did own silvers tried my keyboard with yellows and ended buying yellow switches for himself
Thank you! I have never come across such a comprehensive, satisfying, and cheery video on mechanical/optical switches, and I have been looking! It's like you typed all that information right into my grey matter at a gentle yet fast 100wpm!
[From the UK, September 2022] This has got to be the best summary & examination of keyboard switch tech on the Internet, full stop! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I have watched dozens of videos about the differences between mechanical keyboards, and yours was the most rigorous regarding the concepts and most thorough regarding demonstration. Thank you very much!
I just picked up an Epomaker SK61 with Gateron Optical Brown switches and I love it, the switches are absolutely perfect for me. I just had a board with reds but found they were too light and couldnt really get used to them after moving from blues so I ordered one with Gateron Optical Browns, they're really nice to type on very smooth and sounds great
Thank you! I just learned about mechanical keyboards 2 weeks ago and now am trying to make a decision on which to get for my first setup. This was a huge help!
Holy shit man I learned so much about mechanical keyboards from this one video! Thanks for making it. Your channel is really under appreciated.
Bro ily keep up the great work you are so underrated only 6k subs?!? get this man to at least 30k by the end of the year
Bless LOL gotta get the word out
This was really helpful you need more fame thanks for the help! definitely going to subscribe~
thanks bro... I've used cherry mx blues, reds and even tactile Romer Gs. I've recently switched to optical yellows and I'm not ever turning back to traditional mech switches...
i only tried cheap blue's cherry mx brown/red and not optical gateron reds. I must say this is the best switch i've experienced so far but i've noticed i bottom out alot especially on the spacebar so i might try blacks even tho my usage is mostly gaming-oriented. The cherry mx clip-in stabilizers dont really like em but i can only see screw-in durocks so maybe i'll just start building from scratch again xD It's just so damn hard to find good keycaps in stock especially for 64 layout.
I heard the yellow is SUPER light and too easy to press down. Is this true for u?
I like the way you explain and compare switches. So keep it up. For me, I learn something new today from you that my Keychron K8 is an optical switch keyboard. At first I pulled the switch out to see if its 3 or 5 pins so I can by the right one to replace them (for fun). Turn out it has no pin and I was like... what is going on here. Do some research and come to your video and enlightened. Everything is clear to me now. Thanks.
i have an anne pro 2 with gateron browns and a sk64 w/ gateron brown optical switches. the opticals sound way better ngl. it sounds 'thockier' than the gateron browns and feels way smoother too.
Im about to order a gk61 with brown gateron switches, should i get mechanical or optical switches for overall feel and gaming?
Love the video man , keep it up
Came across this video researching Keychron's low profile optical vs Gateron's. Subbed!
literally same lol
Passing by to know if optical black silent are as good as mechanical ones (i guess youtube hasn't much vids about it) just 2 cents on the way : top/stem already compatible with mechanical Gaterons will be compatible with optical bases. It wont be the exact same thing as a full mechanical combo as the base isn't the same as anything, but it should be pretty darn close.
OMG every since I bought a GK61 and it came with optical switches I had no idea what they were!! Thanks for this video :D
Omg, I just got a GK61 yesterday. Was wondering the same thing!
@@Ryeric1 my gk61 is coming in the mail! how is it so far ? i got the gateron optical reds
@@j.uliekim6411 Nice! It’s awesome. Love how compact it is on my desk because it gives me more mouse space and it makes for an aesthetically pleasing setup. The RGB looks great with the white one and the keycaps feel pretty good. I got the optical blue switches :)
This channel is very underrated
What are your opinions on the lubed gat optical blacks? Do they sound nice? Good typing experience?
Im confused. Is there a difference with the Gateron optical switches compared to the Keycrhon Optical switches? or are they the same thing? I want the best one.
Gateron no.1
@@s1l3nt40 thank you
lubed gateron optical yellows with milky tops are endgame material. Optical linears have no contact leaf and that inherently makes them smoother. Optical tactiles and clickies use a dummy leaf to generate tactility, and optical blues have a VERY tactile leaf.
If you have used both optical and mechanical switches please answer this. How do mechanical and optical switches feel when typing. And which feels better for long period typing.
best 8 min vid on youtube no cap!! Even helpful today thank you!!
Thank you I was getting second thoughts about getting a optical keyboard THANK YOU!!!!!!!
It's probably too late but he failed to mention that there is no practical or perceptual advantage gained.
The performance gap will be changed much more by choosing a lighter spring. We're taking fractions of fractions and fractions of milliseconds of input advantage.
It's cool tech but that's about it.
Wow, a keyboard reviewer and a touch typist! Youre the best! Subbed!
So the gateron reds are optical? Because it dosent specify on banggood for the gk61 if it’s optical
@Coji I get it but idk which keys the keyboard comes eight
@Coji ya I’m switching over to the womier 60% keyboard, it comes with optical gateron choices and I love the rgb better than the gk
which is better gateron optical bleu or gateron mechanical bleu? Cuz many people say that the optical version feels a little cheaper than the mechanical version, is that treu?
Can I use optical switches from different brands? Or is it just for Gateron?
Do gateron blues sound and feel the same to the gateron optical blues? Btw great video 👍🏼
That was very well explained. I have a question though, can you switch the top housing of Gateron mechanical switches with Gateron optical switches? Like are they the same?Because you only get transparent tops on optical ones, and I want to switch them with opaque.
Hmm.. I wish there was a metal case version of the optical epomaker boards. I think the SK68S would be perfect for me and the metal makes it look very retro/nintendo style which is pretty cool imo.
You could probably just buy a 3rd party case
Amazing straight to the point video, and super helpful! Subbed subbed!
Just so everyone knows, breaking a beam of light is not faster than closing two electrical contacts. Both of these actions take place at the speed of light, the gaming advantage is purely marketing and placebo.
FACTS.
You deserve more subs :) great video !
Simply put, if you like mechanical keyboards go with pure mechanical, if you're not really into keyboards go with optical.
Just a little trivia on why Optical switches are faster (and probably better):
Optical switches have benefits as mentioned in the video, but also optical switches don't "bounce". Metal contacts don't transition from no-contact state to contact state cleanly, it will bounce several times before settling. This means that optical switch don't need de-bouncing thus giving you instant response. Not to mention longer lifespan due to less moving parts.
If you have used both optical and mechanical switches please answer this. How do mechanical and optical switches feel when typing. And which feels better for long period typing.
@@vishnumantena9334 For longer period typing that would depend more on the variant of the switch (linear, clicky, or tactile). But I have used both optical gateron linear and mechanical gateron linear and to me, the optical ones feel smoother. Needless to say I prefer the opticals due to the smoothness (and it wasn't even lubed!)
@@AFreezer Hey do Rgb Wired mechanical/Optical keyboards damage laptop battery in long run?
@@vishnumantena9334 AFAIK it shouldn't damage anything..
@@AFreezer ok one final question. Which feel good when we type? Gateron optical or mechanical. I am a writer i write for 2-4 hrs and i play 1-2 hrs of gaming. Which one should i choose. I want a good feeling in a wrong run without getting bored.
Thank you.
Which keyboard is better SK61 or GK61? And which rgb is lighter and better between the two?
Explanation was too good! Loved it Romiscle bro
3:04: Typo: Blue and Browns say “Acutation” instead of “Actuation”.
why are silent versions impossible to find ? i mean i don't have time to make my own keyboard and mod it, i just want a damn silent mechanical keyboard, is it too much to ask ?
Don't you make any mistakes when you use optical linear switches? In my case, I do a lot but I don't know what is the best without any clicky sound (maybe brown). Any recommendations?
which one is better for both gaming and typing? browns or blacks?
I would suggest Brown as it has the bump to let you know when your key has been registered when you press it -> suitable for gaming and typing. Black it's linear just like Red but heavier, and it's really depends on the user who like it or not.
7:15 gateron switches? meaning regular mechanical or optical?
Hey guys, I’ve been wanting to buy key caps but idk if it’ll fit into my Razed Huntsman. Can I buy any key cap or am I limited to razer’s optical key caps?
As far as I know, Razer switches use the same Cherry style stem design ( the cross shape ) so you can slap on it any keycaps set you want on it.
@@huunhanle3809 yea I sent on some blue and red caps and they look great! thanks!
Wow. Very helpful and insightful video. I'm ready for my first keyboard. Thank you, Romsicle!
This video is too good. Had to turn off my adblock & refresh. Thank you for posting this!
is there a cherry profile interference with optical switches?
I think so since most optical keyboard is north facing PCB and eventually you will have to push the stem to the bottom to register the key.
the black luped switches sound great, will get them for my keychron, thanks for the vid
should i buy sk61 with optical switched or buy gk61(mechanical ) which costs 20$ more than the optical one
Sk61
@@direntechtips1714 okay thanks
The root of the optical 9 months later🤰🤰🤰🤰🤰
Is there a difference in lubing a gateron optical?
what keyboard are u using
Which one is better gateron optical or gateron mechanical switch... sk64 or GK 64 ... i want to buy that keyboard but i confused both this two keyboard switch
Thank you SOO much! I went round and round on the web and couldn't get a solid answer. I went with the optical switches (red) to replace the Optical Blue that came on the board. I will only be swapping the keys needed for gaming to the Red and leaving the rest of the keyboard (60%) on the typing keys. . .
im confused AF. Ive got a keychron k6 pro... can I put opical switches in it or only regular mechanicals? It seems that a keyboard's PCB is designed for one or the other and not both?
so i have a budget of about 75$ what keyboard do i get. mechanical tenkeyless or 60$
Is there a difference of battery life bc of the lasers?
Yeah. I recently discovered that optical switches are MUCH MORE different that traditional mechanical switches.
If I want to build my own keyboard, where can I buy the Gateron Optical pc boards?
can i put in mechanical switches in my optical keyboard plz help i bought a bunch of milky yellows and i have no use now
No you can't, sadly. Optical mechanical keyboard's PCB are completely different from normal mechanical keyboard's PCB.
@@huunhanle3809 then I'm fucked
hey could u pls tell me how long the stem od an gateron brown is ?
definitivamente el video que buscaba. gracias campeon
I just switched to mechanical optical from a 60% membrane keyboard and I like the tactile feeling. especially the space bar, since it feels like one solid button. not floppy. My biggest impression is the USB- C to USB cable. as my dog likes to tangle in my cables and throw everything when he gets trapped. This is how my membrane keyboard died, as it was hardwired into the keyboard. but this way if any1 trips over my cables the USB-C should just release from the keyboard, without throwing it or having to resolder loose connections. But honestly I think membrane has less key travel giving it a performance edge and clicking your keys is a meme. Also all my key heads get rubbed off. So I guess I get my moneys worth. vs. buying and crying as all my keyboards seent some stuff and ready to be replaced. Also I rub raw chicken on them with my fingers.
Update: I opened the old membrane keyboard and alot of trash dumped out and all positioning pins where broken and dumped out. But I re situate the wire after looking for where I can solder and not finding any loose connections. So its gotta be a broken angel hair wire in the main cable. But just re situating the wires let off tension and it stopped cutting in and out when I wiggle the cable reassembled. I tried to see if its good as a spare for a scrap top but theres no advantage to the built in keyboard. So its just trash tier scrap now. I think I might hoard it, since its fine. Except still covered in chicken grease and raw chicken juice.
I will give more updates if anything changes.
UPDATE: I like the extra long USB-C cable that pops out of the keyboard as I can use it to quickly data dump from my phone. As I dont need a keyboard. Just a mouse to do some quick transfers and can never locate a data cable. Then spend at least 15 minutes getting upset about my cables and which one is a USB-C data, and not just a charge cable.
UPDATE: Im going to keep the membrane one and try to foresee when Im going to rub chicken on it and hot swap and just keep that one for reserve so I can rub more chicken on it and spare the mechanical opticals from my abuse.
UPDATE: I think theres actually a high potential for getting meme'd on and spending the amount of money on this keyboard for just the data cable, if youre not smart. So 10/10 review so far.
thank you man, definitely getting that gk61 with optical brown switches, thanks for the help!
I’m getting the sk64
@@amuuusing6713 nicee
@@blondst7372 thanks u too!
IM getting the gk61 with the optical red switches. Or should I get brown. Does color even matter?
@@yaziyah4001 bruh
are gateron yellow switches optical?
It have both optical and normal mechanical version btw :D.
thank you so much for this video I didn’t know that there were different switches when I got my keyboard I want to customize it because I really dislike the sound of the optical blues and I was so confused why there were switches with pins while mine don’t have pins . This just saved me a lot of frustration by buying the right switches right away
my switches arrived and they fit perfectly! thank you so much again for this video !!
Optical browns feel nice but I keep accidentally pushing down my wasd while I'm standing still in video games. Kinda weird since some people say its hard to push down the keys.
I've only had that issue with 35g springs. If it keeps being an issue, you can always buy some heavier springs for cheap on AliExpress.
yes I also have brown switches but mine are lubed and for me they are fine but it is true that they are very sensitive to the touch
When I'm tired I always accidentally press the a or w key and I suddenly wake up because my character magically moved lmao
I'm using red switches and they're pretty much great. No accidentally pushed buttons, but i would like to try out more heavier switches or tactile ones.
What concerns me the most is the actuation point of 2mm though. Gonna buy some silver switches for qwer and see if there srill be moments when i push button long enough for it to work but it didn't.
Which is the 2nd clickiest switch beside blue
Just to correct you have way more options in the Gateron Mechanical Switches Category than 7. You forgot all the Milky Switches Inks and the linears have also silent switches So its around 20 different kind of Gateron Switches
There are also Kailh optical switches available for boards which come with Gat opticals
@@PrestonTo of course there are these option but I am just talking about his statement at 3:18 which is just wrong. Keyboard enthusiast will tell you that one of the reasons why optical switches are still inferior than mechanical switches is, that there arent many options. You have at max 11 Gateron plus max of 11 Kailh optical switches. Where with mechanical you have atleast 20 different switches just by the brand gateron alone. If we would include all the other switches from other brands and group buys you would be at 100+ different switches from Clicky to Tactile to Linear. So the statement feels just wrong to say that you have way more option because its just not true at all. My comment was just stating that this will protray maybe a wrong belief that you have more option if you buy optical which is just false.
Are EQUALZ Tangerine Linear 5 pin POM Material Newest V2 Mechanical Keyboard Switches (70 pcs, 67g) optical or non-optical?
imoh the opticals switch aren't faster because you ad the delay to detect the light interruption, it's just a way to sell new thigs...
hey what gateron optical switches sound the most like omnipoint switches
Man, Im 3 years late on this tech. This is awesome!
Hey, can you recommend any keyboards that take optical switches, but are also hotswap?
Thanks for the vid, very informative
epomaker sk61
I've never seen anyone do this (prolly bc no one is crazy enough to do it)- but what would happen if you put a mechanical stem into a Gateron optical housing? If the legs on the stem were cut off would it work- if the stem is long enough to trigger the keypress in the first place
The stem pole is simply too short for it to work.
@@Romsicle not even stems that are rougly the same length such as Akko CS Rose Red switches?
Are the Gateron Optical Switches better than Keychron Optical Switches?
i have optical blacks on my KB and they have crazy amount of wobble , without the extra pins + the build tolerances you will not have as consistent a feel and sound vs pinned switches. i noticed after modding my switches they do not fit as snug on the PCB prior to being pulled out.
i have sk61 and i hope in the future that they will make a lot of more custom optical switches
i hope u replied
Excellent comparison. Thank you!
so the reason you cant switch btween optical and macnaical is the optical switch is imbeded in the keyboard PCB not in the actual switch.
Excellent guide. Thanks!
amazing exactly what i was looking for and more for sure
Should I get the gateron brown optical or mechanical? I need a quiet and lighter keyboard when pressed
Definitely mechanical, optical switches are genuinely louder than mechanical due to their design.
@@huunhanle3809 oh ok thx, Im planning to get ghost ibm68k with gateron red
Are there still no other branded optical switches out there since the release of this video, other than Gateron?
There are a rare few out there, but most of the keyboards only support Gateron opticals.
Hey I have a quick question, I got optical brown switches with the gk61 and was wondering would I get a good advantage in terms of latency for gaming compared to a mechanical brown switches
Theoretically, yes.
You mean optical switch is better than mechanical switch
Lol no, all is marketing
What game do you play?
Does it require high APM?
Hi can I ask if you know the differences between gateron switches.. like, clear top black bot, full milky, clear top white bot, or white top black bot? thank you so much!!!
There are currently 5 main variant of Gateron switches ( aka. KS variant ) that are:
1. KS-3 series: Black top housing, black bottom housing .
2. KS-3X1 series: Milky top housing , milky bottom housing aka. Full milky.
3. KS-3X47 series: Milky top housing , black bottom housing .
4. KS-8 series: Clear top housing , black bottom housing .
5. KS-9 series: Clear top housing , white bottom housing .
There are more variant of Gateron switches but mostly it's discontinued or optical variant so I'm not gonna list it here.
What's the differences between them:
1. KS-3: the most smoothness type of Gateron switches, in my opinion it's even smoother than Cherry MX linear switches. But due to the different in housing material. It sounds is not too good compare to the Milky variant. Another worth to mention is this type doesn't support SMD led.
2. KS-3X1: The Cap Milky or Full milky variant. This one in my opinion has the best sound than other variant ( especially when you lube + film it properly ). But it's a double edged blade, it sound maybe the best but it scratchiness is beyond terrible. So you will have to lube it no matter what. This type doesn't support SMD led too.
3. KS-3X47: This type of switches is a combination between Milky top of KS-3X1 and Black bottom housing of KS-3. The reason why Gateron produce this type of switches is to give the user the balance smoothness and good sound. But imo it's just a "Jakc of all trades" type of switches, it does it role good but not that well. This type doesn't support SMD and other led type due to it Black bottom housing will made the led dimmer.
4. KS-8: One of the most popular and well know switch type of Gateron, it support 4 pin led. It Clear top housing made by different material so it sound is not that good compare to the other three variant above. It smoothness is so-so, not that good but also not so bad compare to other cheap switches such as Outemu, Huano, Redragon.
5. KS-9: Also know as SMD Gateron, another popular type of Gateron switche aside the KS-8. Support all type of led including SMD. But this type imo is the most scratchiness switches ( maybe the same level of KS8 ).
@@huunhanle3809 wow thank you so much for this very informative reply. I actually got the full milky pro yellows. I haven;t attached them yet on my KB. hopefully I made the right decision.
@@CeanKeys You're welcome, I have tried the Pro Milky Yellow and I would say it's a very good upgrade. It fix the annoying stem wobble as well as improve the smoothness of the switch more than the original Milky one :D.
Can the optical switches go on my rk61 ?
I have both gateron reds and the new razer reds, out of the box the razer feels way better! Ok yes you get the rattling sound when you shake the keyboard but seriously that’s not normal use.
The gateron switches have a small scratchy feeling out of the box and a hard bottom out, whereas the razer is like landing on a cloud.
After applying lube to both switch types my favourite by far is the razer still, it’s so silent and smooth! Don’t get me wrong the gaterons still feel good, but I assume the rubber lined switches of the razer help a lot with it’s over all feel.
That's an interesting take, a mechanical switch SHOULD be scratchier than an optical switch, especially if it's linear. But I'm pressing X to doubt the fact you (properly) lubed the Razer Optical switches. I also don't know where people keep getting these false specs on the switches. There's no rubber lining. It's just plastic.
btw, its*, not "it is overall feel"
@@Romsicle I forgot to add the gaterons are optical as well... anyway yes the new razer switches have silicone inserts, watch randomfrankp’s video about the huntsmen mini where he opens a switch and shows it. Ok and it’s not lined but two strips that act as damper make the bottom out of the key feel soft.
To lube such a hard to open switch I use a needle to drop down some ptfe dry lube into the slides, then on the outer spring I used a dielectric grease on all the contact points of the wire spring.
I see. They only advertise the dampeners for the Gen2 Linears for the huntsman mini only...what's interesting is that Razer doesn't publicly share the fact that the switches are lubed, which begs the question whether they're really lubed or it's a marketing ploy told to reviews to make the switches seem better. Thanks for letting me know, appreciate it!
and can we applied film on optical gateron?
if you get a board that comes with opticals does the board change at all to cater just to optical switches or can you switch them out and put in traditional mechanical switches?
An optical keyboard can only use their own exclusive optical switches. And vice versa. They don't mix at all.
Yiu didn't even thank him smh
Guys I have a problem and I need ur guys help. I recently purchased a MK61 with Optical Yellow switches. With no prior experience with hotswaps I tried to remove a switch out of curiosity and I pulled the switch from the wrong way. When I put the switch back in I got no response. Turns out the IR sensor was twisted since I grabbed the switch the wrong way with the puller, I twisted it back to its normal position and it seems to work temporarily, it randomly registers the key when a press another key near it. So I tried to twist the IR sensor more to its original position and it broke off, so now the key wouldn’t register at all. I put the IR sensor back in its original position and it seems to work the same as before, it randomly registers without me pressing it. I was wondering if there was something safe I can do to keep that sensor in place with out Sautering, i was wondering if something like glue was safe to use instead of sautering.
wow
best video of detailed explaining
thanks
Die optical haben keine Beinchen unten. Ich hatte so ein Board. Es war geil. Leider gibt es nur 60 prozen Boards mit diesen geilen switches. Jedoch kann man für 40,00 eins bekommen bei Amazon.
You should check out the ROG RX optical switches as well
this is the video that ive been looking for
Can i put optical gateron on a outemu optical keyboard?
hey man i am soo glad that i found this vid, please can you tell me which are better for my first time and for both gaming and typing, i can not spend alot thats why i want to make the best decision
please help
Great short explanation. Thanks a lot!
Hello, so my sk64s is coming. And i have picked gateron optical yellows, and wondering if i can switch any switches with it?? Planning to change it to C³ Banana Splits.
Absolutely will not work. If you wanted to use Banana Splits, you should have gotten the GK64S.