Switches

When you get into mechanical keyboards, you quickly come across words such as thock, clack, poppy, creamy and marbly. Of all these terms, thock and clack are probably used most often. But what exactly is the difference between a thocky and a clacky keyboard? Thock usually refers to a deeper, lower and fuller sound, while clack generally describes a brighter, sharper and higher-pitched sound. However, the final sound is never determined by one component alone. Switches, keycaps, plate, case, mounting style, foam, stabilizers, desk mat and even your typing style all have an influence. Quick explanation Thock = deep, low...

With mechanical keyboards, the word clacky is often used to describe a bright, sharp and relatively high-pitched sound. But what actually makes a keyboard switch sound clacky? Does it come from the material, the stem, long-pole design, the spring or mainly the keyboard in which the switch is used? The answer is: multiple components play a role at the same time. A switch can sound relatively bright by itself, but the final sound is strongly determined by the combination of switch, keycaps, plate, case, mounting style, foam and even the surface the keyboard sits on. Quick explanation A clacky switch...

With mechanical keyboards, the word thocky is often used to describe a deep, full and relatively low-pitched sound. But what actually makes a keyboard switch sound thocky? Does it come from the material, the stem, the spring, lube or simply the keyboard in which you install the switch? The answer is: all of these factors can have an influence. A switch can sound relatively deep by itself, but the final sound is strongly determined by the combination of switch, keycaps, plate, case, mounting style, foam and even the surface the keyboard sits on. Quick explanation A thocky switch usually sounds...

With mechanical keyboards, you will regularly come across the terms north-facing and south-facing switches. But what do they actually mean? And does it really make a difference to how your keyboard feels, sounds or which keycaps you can use? Yes, sometimes. North-facing and south-facing mainly refer to the orientation of the switch and LED on the PCB. The biggest practical difference is usually RGB lighting and possible interference with certain Cherry-profile keycaps. Quick explanation On a north-facing keyboard, the LED is usually positioned at the top side of the switch, toward the top of the keyboard. On a south-facing keyboard,...

A hot-swap keyboard makes it very easy to replace switches without soldering. But does that also mean you can simply install any keyboard switch? No. A hot-swap keyboard only accepts switches that are compatible with the socket, footprint and switch technology being used. A standard MX mechanical hot-swap keyboard often supports many different switches, but optical, Hall Effect, low-profile and proprietary switches are not automatically compatible. Quick explanation You cannot use every switch in every hot-swap keyboard. First check whether the keyboard uses standard MX mechanical, optical, Hall Effect, low-profile or a proprietary system. Then check the footprint, 3-pin/5-pin support...

With mechanical keyboards, you will often see the term hot-swappable. But what exactly does that mean? And is a hot-swappable switch actually a special type of keyboard switch? No. Hot-swappable mainly refers to the keyboard and the socket on the PCB. It means that you can remove and replace compatible switches without soldering. Quick explanation A hot-swappable keyboard uses sockets on the PCB into which switches can be installed directly. This allows you to pull out a compatible switch and replace it without a soldering iron. The switch itself does not have to be specially “hot-swap”; it mainly needs to...

You have found new keyboard switches, but before ordering them you naturally want to know whether they will actually fit your keyboard. How do you check that? The appearance of a switch alone is not enough to determine compatibility. You need to look at switch technology, footprint, 3-pin or 5-pin mounting, PCB, plate and hot-swap system, among other things. Quick explanation First check which switch type your keyboard uses. If it supports standard MX-style mechanical switches, many Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, TTC, HMX and similar switches will fit. Then check whether the PCB supports 3-pin or 5-pin. Optical, Hall Effect, low-profile...

If you want to buy new switches for a mechanical keyboard, it can sometimes seem like you can simply put any switch into any keyboard. After all, many switches look almost identical. But are all mechanical keyboard switches universal? No. Many standard MX-style switches are interchangeable, but not all keyboard switches use the same dimensions, mounting, electrical connection or technology. Quick explanation Many traditional MX-style mechanical switches are interchangeable if the keyboard supports the same footprint and mounting. But low-profile, optical, Hall Effect and proprietary switches can use completely different connections. Always check the switch type, PCB, 3-pin/5-pin support and...

You have a keyboard that only supports 3-pin switches, but the switches you want to buy are 5-pin. Can you still use them? Yes. A 5-pin switch can usually be modified so that it fits in a 3-pin keyboard. The two additional pins on a standard 5-pin MX-style switch are plastic stabilizing pins. They have no electrical function and can carefully be removed. Quick explanation A 5-pin switch does not fit directly into a 3-pin PCB because the PCB has no holes for the two additional plastic stabilizing pins. By clipping off those two outer plastic pins, you can usually...

When buying mechanical keyboard switches, you will often come across the terms 3-pin and 5-pin. But what exactly do those pins mean, and does the difference affect compatibility with your keyboard? The main difference is simple: 5-pin switches have two additional plastic stabilizing pins. They do not have more electrical connections than a standard 3-pin switch. Quick explanation A standard 3-pin switch has two metal electrical pins and one central plastic pin. A 5-pin switch also has two additional plastic stabilizing pins. 5-pin switches are more stable when mounted directly to the PCB, while 3-pin switches are mainly intended for...

If you spend several hours every day at a keyboard, switch weight becomes more important than how a switch feels during a short test. A switch that feels great for five minutes can feel very different after thousands of keypresses. So what switch weight is best for long work sessions? For many users, around 40–55 gf is a practical starting range. It provides relatively low resistance without becoming extremely light and sensitive. Quick choice For long workdays, around 40–55 gf is a comfortable range for many users. If you type very lightly, 35–45 gf may suit you. If you type...

When choosing mechanical keyboard switches for typing, switch weight has a major influence on how comfortable, light or firm the keyboard feels. You may see switches rated at 35g, 45g, 55g, 60g or even 70g+. But what switch weight is actually best for typing? For many users, around 45–55 gf is a useful all-round starting point. It is not extremely light, but it also does not require as much effort as heavier 60–70+ gf switches. The best choice still depends on how firmly you type, how often you bottom out and how much resistance you prefer. Quick choice If you...