Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my keyboard again. You know how it is, always chasing that perfect feel. This time, I got my hands on some Cherry MX Speed Silver switches, and I was curious about just how light they really are – specifically, what’s their actuation force?
First, I dug around online. Lots of folks were saying different things, it was a mess! Some said 45g, some swore it was lower. I needed to know for sure.
Getting Down to Business
I grabbed my trusty (and slightly dusty) switch tester. It’s nothing fancy, just a little contraption with a bunch of different switches so you can test them out with your keyboard.
- I popped out one of my old switches.
- Then, I slotted in a Speed Silver.
Right away, I could feel the difference. These things are light. Like, really light. I pressed it down, feeling for that point where it actually registers the keypress – the actuation point. With Speed Silvers, that point is higher up than most switches. It’s a really short travel distance.
But I still needed a number. So I borrowed my son’s weight scales. The one that he’s using for measuring his rock and mineral samples. Started applying pressure to the keys until my keyboard got registered, and noted down the number. I did this a bunch of times, just to be extra sure. My readings were all over the place – some a bit higher, some lower. But they mostly hovered around that 40-45g mark.
My Verdict
So, after all that, what’s the verdict? Well, from my super-scientific testing, I’d say the Cherry MX Speed Silver actuation force is pretty close to what most people say. It’s somewhere in the 40-45g range, maybe even a touch lighter, depending on how precise my measuring instrument is. They’re definitely light, and they actuate fast. Whether or not that’s a good thing is up to you. I’m still on the fence, to be honest!
If you’re thinking about trying Speed Silvers, just be prepared for a very sensitive switch. You might find yourself accidentally hitting keys at first. But if you’re looking for speed, and you have a light touch, they might just be your thing. I kept on testing and playing with those.