Everglide Bamboo Green vs. TTC Gold Silver
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Gold Silver switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to take into account are the Everglide Bamboo Green, a tactile switch, and the TTC Gold Silver, a linear switch. The Bamboo Green is lauded for its distinctive clacky sound and pronounced tactility, providing users with a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Gold Silver stands out for its rapid responsiveness and smooth keystrokes, offering a seamless blend of speed and precision. While the Bamboo Green offers a more accentuated and resonant typing experience, the Gold Silver excels in providing a quick and fluid keypress with a low-pitched sound signature. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
NPI
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
18mm spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and TTC Gold Silver housing materials offer contrasting sound profiles due to their different compositions. The PBT top housing of the Bamboo Green provides a neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull, offering a balanced auditory experience. In contrast, the Gold Silver's polycarbonate top housing creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile, thanks to its stiffness and translucency which is beneficial for RGB lighting effects. These differences in top housing material result in distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences.
When it comes to the bottom housing material, the contrast between the Everglide Bamboo Green's PBT and TTC Gold Silver's nylon is clear. The PBT bottom housing in the Bamboo Green contributes to a neutral sound profile, similar to its top housing. On the other hand, the nylon bottom housing in the Gold Silver switch elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile due to its softer composition, absorbing more sound and creating a rounder sound. These differences in bottom housing material impact the typing experience and the resulting sound, offering users a variety of options depending on their preferences for sound and feel.
Overall, the combination of top and bottom housing materials in a switch influences the sound profile and feel of typing. The qualities of the bottom housing material are especially important for creating the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on a key, while the top housing material has a greater impact on the sound when releasing a key. While the Everglide Bamboo Green and TTC Gold Silver offer contrasting housing materials, each provides a unique typing experience with its own sound profile that caters to different preferences. Ultimately, users can choose between these switches based on their desired sound profile and typing feel.
Weight
In comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Gold Silver linear switch, it is clear that the Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams compared to the Gold Silver's 45 grams. The bottom out force of the Bamboo Green is also lighter at 62 grams compared to the Gold Silver, where the force is unknown. This means that the Bamboo Green switch would provide a lighter typing experience overall, making it more suitable for extended typing sessions or gaming. However, for those who prefer a more substantial typing feel, the heavier actuation force of the Gold Silver switch may be more appealing, even though the bottom out force is unknown. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preference for typing feel and force requirements.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the TTC Gold Silver linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm. In this case, the Gold Silver has a slightly shorter travel distance compared to the Bamboo Green. The 0.5 mm difference may not seem significant, but it can impact the feel and responsiveness of the switch. Gamers, in particular, may appreciate the shorter travel distance of the Gold Silver for faster response times. On the other hand, those who prefer a more substantial key press may opt for the Bamboo Green with its slightly longer travel distance. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference and the specific use case.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Bamboo Green has an MSRP of $9.67 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bamboo Green for $7.19.
The TTC Gold Silver has an MSRP of $6.11 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Silver for $2.90.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
When considering the sound of the Bamboo Green and Gold Silver switches, the Bamboo Green offers a high-pitched and resonant sound profile, providing a sharp and crisp auditory experience, ideal for those who prefer a more vibrant sound. On the other hand, the Gold Silver presents a thocky, low-pitched, and neutral sound, delivering a deep, rich, and satisfying keystroke sound that is more bass-heavy and mellow. The choice between the two would depend on personal preference, with the Bamboo Green offering a brighter sound and the Gold Silver providing a deeper, more satisfying tone.
Moving on to feel, the Bamboo Green is characterized by a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile experience, offering a medium level of tactility that is not overwhelming but still prominent. The Gold Silver, on the other hand, boasts a polished, silky, mild, and subtle typing feel, providing a smooth and refined typing experience with gentle resistance and minimal resistance when pressing keys. Both switches offer a polished finish, ensuring reduced friction and smooth key travel, but the Bamboo Green focuses more on pronounced tactility, while the Gold Silver emphasizes a gentle and smooth typing experience.
In conclusion, while the Bamboo Green and Gold Silver switches offer distinct sound and feel qualities, both provide a polished finish for reduced friction and smooth key travel. Those who prefer a high-pitched and crisp sound with sharp tactility may lean towards the Bamboo Green, while individuals seeking a thocky, low-pitched sound with a silky and gentle typing feel may opt for the Gold Silver. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches would come down to personal preference in sound and typing experience.
Conclusion
Therefore, in determining whether to choose the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch or the TTC Gold Silver linear switch, consider the following guidelines based on your preferences. If you enjoy a medium bottom out force and a clacky sound profile with crisp tactility, the Everglide Bamboo Green may be the optimal choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with rapid responsiveness, shortened travel for decisive key presses, and a harmonious sound signature, the TTC Gold Silver may be more suited to your needs. The Gold Silver offers a seamless blend of speed, sound, and fluidity in each keystroke. Ultimately, your decision should be based on whether you prioritize tactile feedback and moderate bottom out force (Bamboo Green) or swift action and resonant sound (Gold Silver) in your typing experience.
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