Durock Mamba vs. Gateron Mountain Top
An in-depth look at the Durock Mamba and the Gateron Mountain Top switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Durock Mamba and the Gateron Mountain Top are both linear mechanical keyboard switches, but they offer different typing experiences and cater to different user preferences. The Mamba switches provide a gliding typing sensation and a rich auditory experience, making them ideal for those who enjoy a smooth and creamy typing feel. On the other hand, the Mountain Top switches are engineered for discretion in office environments, offering a quiet yet light actuation for unobtrusive typing. While the Mamba switches are categorized as 'Neutral', 'Mild', 'Thocky', and 'Polished', the Mountain Top switches are categorized as 'Bouncy', 'Easy-to-press', 'Mild', 'Neutral', 'Snappy', and 'Subtle'. 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
N/A
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
60g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
Ly
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Extended long spring
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Durock Mamba and the Gateron Mountain Top switches offer unique sound profiles due to their different compositions. The Mamba's blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the top housing creates a bright and pleasant sound that is not overly sharp. In contrast, the Mountain Top switch uses nylon for its top housing, resulting in a fuller and deeper sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, leading to a duller and rounder sound compared to the Mamba.
In terms of their bottom housings, the Mamba utilizes POM material to create a deeper and muted sound profile. This is in contrast to the Mountain Top's use of nylon in the bottom housing, which again contributes to a fuller and deeper sound experience. Both switches benefit from the unique qualities of their bottom housings, with POM emphasizing a deeper sound for the Mamba and nylon providing a fuller sound for the Mountain Top.
Overall, while the housing materials of the Durock Mamba and the Gateron Mountain Top switches differ in composition, they both offer distinct sound profiles that enhance the typing experience. The split between the top and bottom housings allows for a balance of impact on the bottom-out sound and feel, as well as the sound when releasing a key. Whether it's the unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the Mamba or the classic use of nylon in the Mountain Top, both switches provide a satisfying typing experience with their respective housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch, it is clear that the Mountain Top is the lighter switch, with an actuation force of 40 grams and a bottom out force of 50 grams. In contrast, the Mamba has a bottom out force of 60 grams, making it slightly heavier. Both switches provide a smooth linear typing experience, but the Mamba offers a more substantial feel due to its higher bottom out force. If you prefer a lighter touch for longer typing sessions or gaming, the Mountain Top would be the better choice. However, if you prefer a bit more resistance for a firmer typing feel, the Mamba would be the ideal option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Durock Mamba linear switch has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.4 mm. Both switches fall within the range of shorter travel distances, catering to users who prefer faster response times. Gamers, in particular, may appreciate the shorter travel distances of these switches for quick key presses during gaming sessions. The difference of 0.1 mm between the two switches may not be significant in terms of feel, but if you prefer a slightly deeper key press, the Durock Mamba may be the better choice. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference for travel distance and the level of responsiveness desired.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Mamba has an MSRP of $6.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Mamba for $5.17.
The Gateron Mountain Top comes in at $6.00 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
In terms of sound, both the Durock Mamba and Gateron Mountain Top switches are described as having a neutral sound profile, making them suitable for a variety of environments and users. The Mamba switch offers a thocky sound profile, producing a deep and satisfying sound when pressed, while the Mountain Top switch aims for a quiet yet not entirely silent typing experience, ideal for professional settings. Ultimately, the sound produced by these switches will also depend on other factors such as the keyboard and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Durock Mamba provides a mild and polished typing experience, offering a gentle and refined feel that is approachable to most users. On the other hand, the Gateron Mountain Top switch is described as bouncy, easy-to-press, mild, snappy, and subtle, providing a lively and responsive typing experience with minimal force required. Both switches aim to offer a comfortable and smooth typing feel, with the Mountain Top switches emphasizing a low-impact and effortless typing experience.
In conclusion, both the Durock Mamba and Gateron Mountain Top switches offer unique qualities in terms of sound and feel. While the Mamba switch provides a thocky sound and a polished typing experience, the Mountain Top switch focuses on a quiet and easy-to-press typing sensation tailored for professional use. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on personal preference and the specific typing environment, but users can expect a high-quality typing experience with either option.
Conclusion
To sum up, when deciding between the Durock Mamba linear switch and the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch, consider the differences in bottom out force, sound, and feel. If you prefer a switch with a slightly heavier bottom out force of 60 grams that provides a gliding typing sensation and a thocky sound profile, the Durock Mamba may be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a lighter bottom out force of 50 grams, a neutral sound profile, and a bouncy, easy-to-press feel, the Gateron Mountain Top might be more suitable, especially for office environments where quiet typing is essential. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your personal preferences in terms of typing experience and sound profile.
Mentioned in this article
