Cherry MX Black
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Manufacturer | Cherry |
---|---|
Family | Cherry MX |
Product code | MX1A-11xx |
Introduced | 1984 |
Switch type | Linear |
Sense method | Metal leaf |
Actuation force | 60 cN |
The Cherry MX Black switch is a medium stiff, linear, non-clicky mechanical keyboard switch in the Cherry MX family.
Keyboards with these switches often have the stiffer Cherry MX Linear Grey switch for the space bar.
Contents
History
The Cherry MX Black switch was one of the very first mechanical keyboard switches available to the mass market. Introduced in 1984, it first came in an open housing variant and was later introduced in a design very similar to the current one. Over the years there have been several slight adjustments to the Cherry MX Black switch. Earlier variants are reported to feel smoother and less stiff. Material tests have shown that Cherry indeed seemed to have changed the material of the Cherry MX Black switch. This is assumed to have happened sometime between 1994 and 1995, when Cherry also changed some data of their other MX switches in their product catalogs.
Keyfeel
Linear, medium-stiff.
Keyboard gurus say that older ("vintage") MX Blacks feel smoother than newer ones, but other users dispute this.
Availability
Cherry MX Black switches are widely available as parts or assembled in hundreds of keyboards. Being the preferred switch of most POS and industrial keyboard manufacturers, it is widely available in all variants.
Product numbers
- MX1A-11NN no diode, plate mount
- MX1A-11DN with diode, plate mount
- MX1A-11NW no diode, PCB mount
- MX1A-11DW with diode, PCB mount
Nixie
"Nixie" refers to an unusual and highly desirable MX Black variant only known in Nixdorf keyboards, such as the Nixdorf CT06-CT07/2 M Softkeys. The switch top is translucent instead of opaque black.
Keyboards
- Some Cherry G80-3000 keyboards, especifically those where the second letter in the model name is P, e.g. G80-3000LPCES-2.
- Cherry G80-2551
- Cherry G80-11900
- CM Storm Trigger from Cooler Master
- Kimtron KT-7
- SteelSeries 6G and 7G
- Thermaltake Meka G1
Gallery
Cherry MX Black switches with integrated diodes
Naked Cherry G80-3700
Nixie
See also
- Cherry MX Linear Grey: A stiffer switch used for the space bar on keyboards with Black switches
- Cherry MX Red: a lighter linear Cherry MX switch
- Cherry MX RGB Black
- Cherry MX Silent Black
- Cherry MX Silent RGB Black