Everglide Crystal Violet vs. Gateron Silent Ink Black
An in-depth look at the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Silent Ink Black switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options are the Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Silent Ink Black. The Crystal Violet is a tactile switch, offering a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a light operating force of 45g. It provides a gentle and comfortable feel, accompanied by a pleasantly mellow sound profile that leans towards the lower-pitched spectrum. The use of ABS in the switches' housings contributes to this unique auditory experience. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black is a linear switch, perfect for environments that require quieter typing. It offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback, making it ideal for those seeking a silent and polished typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your keyboard setup.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
60g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
70g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
ABS
Top housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Bottom housing material
ABS
Bottom housing material
Proprietary INK blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Color coated
Housing materials
The Everglide Crystal Violet and the Gateron Silent Ink Black have distinct differences in their housing materials, particularly in their top and bottom housings. The Crystal Violet features an ABS top housing, which is a relatively rare choice for switch housings. This ABS material gives the Crystal Violet a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black utilizes Gateron's proprietary INK blend for its top housing, resulting in a pointed and relatively high-pitched sound profile. This higher-pitched sound is often described as clacky but not overly sharp.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both the Crystal Violet and the Silent Ink Black use ABS material. ABS, although commonly found in keycaps, is not frequently used in switch housings. This choice of material contributes to a relatively low-pitched sound profile when typing on switches featuring ABS. Similarly, the Silent Ink Black's bottom housing, also made of ABS, will provide a similar low-pitched sound profile.
It's worth noting that when the top and bottom housings differ in a switch, the qualities of each material will be divided between the top and bottom. When pressing down on the switch, you will feel the impact of the bottom housing, which influences the bottom-out sound and feel. On the other hand, the top housing has more impact on the sound produced when releasing a key. Therefore, while the Crystal Violet and Silent Ink Black differ in their housing materials, they ultimately offer similar results in terms of sound profile, with the Crystal Violet leaning towards a lower pitch and the Silent Ink Black favoring a higher pitch.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch, there are notable differences. The Crystal Violet has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams, requiring a relatively gentle push to trigger a keystroke. In contrast, the Silent Ink Black has a heavier actuation force of 60 grams, providing a stronger push feel for those who prefer a more substantial typing experience. Similarly, the bottom out force of the Crystal Violet is 55 grams, while the Silent Ink Black requires 70 grams of force to fully press down. This makes the Silent Ink Black the heavier option in terms of bottoming out.
Considering the weight of the switches is important for various reasons. For individuals who prefer a lighter typing experience, allowing them to type for longer periods without fatigue, the Crystal Violet would be a suitable choice. This lighter actuation and bottom out force make it ideal for keyboards used during work or extended gaming sessions. On the other hand, those who desire a more pronounced and solid keystroke may prefer the Silent Ink Black with its heavier forces. This provides a satisfying push and might be favored by individuals who appreciate a more substantial typing feedback.
In summary, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch offer different actuation and bottom out forces. The Crystal Violet provides a medium-light feel with its 45-gram actuation force and 55-gram bottom out force, while the Silent Ink Black offers a medium-heavy experience with its 60-gram actuation force and 70-gram bottom out force. The choice between the two largely depends on individual preferences for typing experiences and desired weight of keystrokes.
Travel distance
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch and the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch share the same travel distance, both measuring 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience a consistent travel distance of 4 mm. Both switches offer a satisfying tactile experience while typing or gaming, with the Crystal Violet providing a tactile feedback and the Silent Ink Black delivering a smooth linear feel. While their travel distance is the same, these switches differentiate themselves in terms of their actuation and force requirements. The Crystal Violet requires a force of 50g for actuation, while the Silent Ink Black necessitates a slightly heavier 60g. This distinction may influence user preferences based on their desired typing or gaming experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Crystal Violet has an MSRP of $7.08 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Crystal Violet for $4.19.
The Gateron Silent Ink Black has an MSRP of $8.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Ink Black for $8.35.
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
The Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is best known for its light operating force of 45g, providing a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience. In terms of sound, the Crystal Violet switches have a pleasantly mellow profile, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum. This creates a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience, thanks in part to the special use of ABS in the switches' housings. The Crystal Violet also offers a creamy and mild feel, providing a smooth and gentle typing experience. The switch has a stepped feel, allowing users to feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel.
On the other hand, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch is ideal for environments that require quieter typing. The switch offers a cushion-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. The sound of the Silent Ink Black switch is described as muted, meaning it produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular switches. In terms of feel, the Silent Ink Black switch is described as silky and polished. This indicates that the switch provides an exceptionally smooth typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
In conclusion, the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches offer different subjective qualities. The Crystal Violet provides a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a mellow sound profile. It offers a creamy and mild feel, with a stepped sensation. On the other hand, the Silent Ink Black switch excels in providing a quiet typing experience with its muted sound profile. It offers a silky and polished feel, ensuring smooth and effortless key presses. While they have their distinct qualities, both switches provide enjoyable and satisfying typing experiences. Depending on your preference for sound and feel, you can choose either switch to achieve similar results in terms of typing comfort.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are seeking a relaxed and stepped tactile typing experience with a light operating force, the Everglide Crystal Violet tactile switch is the way to go. With a bottom out force of 55 grams, these switches offer a gentle and comfortable feel. The sound profile of the Crystal Violet switches is pleasantly mellow, leaning towards the lower-pitched spectrum, creating a subtle and non-intrusive auditory experience. Additionally, the Crystal Violet switches have a creamy and mild feel, offering a smooth and buttery typing experience. On the other hand, if you prioritize a quieter typing experience, the Gateron Silent Ink Black linear switch would be a better choice. With a higher bottom out force of 70 grams, these switches provide a cushy, pillow-like bottom-out feel with minimal audio feedback. The sound profile of the Silent Ink Black switches is muted, producing a softer and quieter sound compared to regular switches. Moreover, the Silent Ink Black switches have a silky and polished feel, ensuring an exceptionally smooth typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Crystal Violet and Gateron Silent Ink Black switches depends on your preference for tactile feedback, sound profile, and typing feel.
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