The Biggest Old Update to Mechanical Switches
Hall Effect: What is a Hall Effect switch and will it turn you into a gaming god? TL;DR: Nope, but there are reasons why you may want to use a Hall Effect Keyboard. Hall Effect switches are the newest trend in mechanical keyboard switches. From Gateron to Geon, switch manufacturers are starting to release HE switches. With Wooting at the forefront and seemingly the best implementation of Hall Effect technology, many other brands seem to be playing catch-up. We’ve seen releases like the RAKKA, BOOG75, DrunkDeer, and MOD007 HE start to stir up competition. But do you need another keyboard? Is this one going to be the end all be all for you? Is HE Endgame? If you’re like me, a keyboard enthusiast, your answers will probably be: no(yes), no, and no. Do I think that an HE board deserves a spot in your collection? Maybe… Let’s dive into the latest technological update to mechanical switches in a long time, and you can make that decision for yourself. First, we need to know...
Jun 18, 2024
Interestingly, I was initially upset because doing a single key comparison between a switch with the clip and one with an O-ring, the clip sounded louder, but I realized it was because I was bottoming out, and the ring (being a bit cushier and thicker) was doing a better job on the downstroke. Once I got them all on and started typing more naturally (not bottoming out, or at least not as hard), you can totally hear a difference - nice and quieter, and a slight but noticeable increase in travel (feels more mechy :) ). Since I have the alphas clipped, the numbers and some of the modifiers ringed, and some (like the bigger mods/space bar) with no dampening, the whole thing has an interesting sound to it. Fun times. Anyway hope everyone gets their boxes soon too.
1. Travel Distance: GMKs seem to reduce less travel distance, but I think it can differ vastly depending on the switches/keycaps/and perhaps the LEDs used. B.mini.ex has 3mm LED with GMK keycaps and it could be the 3mm+GMK stems combination penalizing the travel distance, but GMKs with no LED and SP's DSA on LS3 types much deeper. 2. Noise Reduction: Zs seem to be slightly superior on this, but neither I have a sound meter to reference nor is this a fair apples-to-apples as I've said above (acrylic seems to dampen the bottom-out sound better). 3. Installation: I actually had a tough time installing Zs as they didn't come with an installation tool as these have. Although clip-on mechanisms are similar, I had to use a needle-nose plier to put Zs on, and in order to do that the switches need be pre-solder. I am sure you can still install the Zs post-solder, but I found that very very difficult to do. As @Gagl said, I also broke two of GMKs because the tiny bar on the side that encloses a square hole snapped, but didn't have any of that on Zs. 4. Removal: I think this is very important. I've found Zs ALMOST impossible to remove with the switches soldered. GMKs, using the small screw driver, was much easier to remove.
Hope this helped...
PS: I got the plate version of the GMK
I dont have any other GMK kits to test this with though so it could also be an issue with the overall depth of the cap vs the added "girth" of the clip.
I also have a few caps with malformed walls but they only were an issue on the top row.