Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar vs. Outemu Silent Yellow Jade
An in-depth look at the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, choosing the right one can significantly enhance your typing experience. The Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar, a linear switch, is celebrated for its smooth and reliable performance, making it an excellent choice for gamers and typists who prefer a clean keystroke without any tactile bump or auditory distraction. Its cost-effectiveness and satisfying poppy sound profile add to its appeal, allowing users to enjoy a responsive feedback with each press. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade presents a different allure with its tactile typing sensation paired with a quiet operation. As the third iteration of Outemu's silent tactile lineup, these switches boast a unique translucent jade yellow housing and a satisfying "thocky" sound, making them suitable for environments where noise is a concern but tactile feedback is still desired. Both switches have unique characteristics that cater to different preferences, whether it’s the smooth, uninterrupted flow of the Everfree Cedar or the tactile responsiveness of the Silent Yellow Jade. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the optimal switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
55g
Actuation force
50g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 mm
Total travel
3.30 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Double-staged spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade offer notable differences in their choice of housing materials, particularly in the top housing. The EF Cedar features a polycarbonate top housing that enhances sound clarity with its stiff material, resulting in a higher-pitched, crisper sound profile. This quality makes it particularly suited for RGB lighting setups, as the translucency of polycarbonate allows light to pass through effectively. In contrast, the Silent Yellow Jade relies on a nylon top housing, which is known for producing a deeper and fuller sound due to its softer nature. This material absorbs sound waves more effectively, leading to a duller acoustic profile that can offer a more muted experience when compared to the sharper tones of the Everfree Cedar.
Both switches utilize nylon for their bottom housings, which leads to a similarity in their overall sound profiles when it comes to the bottom-out experience. The nylon material's properties create a rounder sound that is less resonant than the typical sound produced by harder plastics. As such, the bottom housing in both switches provides rich sound dampening effects, enhancing the user experience when the key is fully pressed down. While nylon serves the same function in both switches, the differing top housing materials introduce unique sound characteristics based on how each switch interacts with keystrokes—drawing from the crisper sound of polycarbonate in the Everfree Cedar and the subdued tones of nylon in the Silent Yellow Jade.
The distinct combinations of materials in the two switches influence their acoustic profiles and the overall typing experience. With the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar, the polycarbonate top housing contributes a clear and vibrant sound upon key release, while the nylon bottom housing dampens the sound during bottom-out presses. Conversely, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade utilizes nylon in both the top and bottom housings, providing a more consistent deep sound throughout all actions. Despite the differences, users may find similar results in tactile feel due to the shared nylon bottoms, yet they will ultimately experience the diversity in sound profiles that each top housing material introduces, resulting in distinctly different auditory experiences for the typist.
Weight
When comparing the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar linear switch with the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch, there are distinct differences in their actuation forces. The Everfree Cedar has an actuation force of 55 grams, making it slightly heavier than the Silent Yellow Jade's 50-gram actuation force. This means that the Everfree Cedar requires more force to register a keystroke, which some users may appreciate for a more substantial typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Yellow Jade's actuation is lighter, potentially allowing for longer typing sessions with less fatigue. As for the bottom out forces, the Everfree Cedar's value is unavailable, while the Silent Yellow Jade has a bottom out force of 65 grams, classified as medium-heavy. This suggests that while the Cedar may provide a lighter feel at the actuation point, the Silent Yellow Jade offers a more substantial feel when bottoming out. In summary, users seeking a lighter switch may prefer the Silent Yellow Jade, whereas those who appreciate more resistance in their typing might lean towards the Everfree Cedar, especially if they find its unknown bottom out force to their liking.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar linear switch and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch, the Gateron Everfree features a travel distance of 3.6 mm, while the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade has a shorter travel distance of 3.3 mm. This means that the Everfree Cedar switch offers a more pronounced depth when pressing down, which can provide a more substantial tactile feedback for users who prefer a more traditional feel. On the other hand, the shorter travel distance of the Silent Yellow Jade may appeal to gamers seeking quicker response times, though some users might find the abruptness of shorter travel distances less satisfying. Ultimately, choosing between the two depends on personal preference; those looking for a deeper keystroke may opt for the Everfree Cedar, while those valuing rapid activation could favor the Silent Yellow Jade.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar has an MSRP of $2.99 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Everfree (EF) Cedar for $2.75.
The Outemu Silent Yellow Jade comes in at $3.10 per 10 switches.
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 Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar linear switch produces a satisfying, poppy sound profile that contributes to an engaging typing experience. This switch is designed to prioritize a smoother operational sound without the sharp clacks associated with traditional mechanical switches. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch delivers a quieter yet pronounced "thocky" sound, characteristic of its factory-lubed construction and tactile bump. Together, these options cater to different preferences—while the Cedar provides a more subtle auditory feedback, the Silent Yellow Jade allows for a satisfying but muted experience, ideal for those who work in quieter environments.
When it comes to feel, the Everfree (EF) Cedar offers a smooth and consistent keystroke, characteristic of linear switches, which is perfect for users who prefer a fluid typing experience without tactile interruptions. Meanwhile, the Silent Yellow Jade features a pronounced tactile bump that gives the user a tactile feedback during each keypress, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a more interactive feel while typing. The tactile switch is more suited for those who enjoy feeling the moment a key actuates, whereas the linear Cedar is ideal for those who favor uninterrupted smoothness throughout their typing experience.
In summary, the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar and Outemu Silent Yellow Jade switches cater to different styles of typing. Sound-wise, the Cedar provides a poppy quality, while the Silent Yellow Jade contributes a "thocky" sound. In terms of feel, the Cedar emphasizes a smooth, linear experience, whereas the Silent Yellow Jade offers a satisfying tactile bump. Choosing between these switches ultimately depends on individual preferences for sound and tactile feedback; however, depending on the keyboard setup and other factors like keycap materials, users might achieve similar sound characteristics with both options.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between the Gateron Everfree (EF) Cedar linear switch and the Outemu Silent Yellow Jade tactile switch ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing environment. If you prioritize a smooth and reliable typing experience with a high level of responsiveness, the Everfree Cedar is an excellent choice. Its linear design provides an uninterrupted keystroke without any tactile bump, making it ideal for fast typists or gamers who desire quick actuations without auditory distractions. On the other hand, if you seek a quieter yet tactile experience, the Silent Yellow Jade switch would be more suitable for you. Its tactile bump provides satisfying feedback without the loud click associated with other switches, making it a great option for office environments or shared spaces where noise is a consideration. In summary, consider the Everfree Cedar for a smooth, linear experience, while the Silent Yellow Jade caters to those who enjoy tactile feedback with minimal noise.
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