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02 / THE ESSENTIALS
Gateron CAP Black Crystal Red Switches — 10PCS at a Glance
Linear
Switch Type
4 mm
Total Travel
3-pin
Mount
Unconfirmed
Factory Lubed
45 gf
Operating force
Red: Linear feedback and 45±10gf actuation
A lighter linear than Black Crystal Yellow, for buyers seeking fewer grams of actuation without a tactile bump. Rated force, travel and intended mechanism are based on supplied exact-series charts; subjective typing feedback remains build-dependent.
Performance, sound and lube uniformity are not KeebPilot laboratory measurements; any community experiences are subjective and build-dependent.
CAP Black Crystal / CAP Crystal Red (supplier naming)
SeriesCAP Black Crystal / CAP Crystal Red (supplier naming)
Switch typeLinear
Operating force45±10gf
Pre-travel2.0±0.5mm
Total travel4.0mm max
Bottom-out force50gf
Pin configuration3-pin (supplier image family; exact fulfilment variant recheck)
Stem colorRed
HousingSmoky translucent top / black bottom (source images)
Factory lubricationSupplier-listed; batch-specific feel not independently measured
Should you choose these switches?
Builders specifically seeking Red CAP Crystal linear switches.
- A lighter linear than Black Crystal Yellow, for buyers seeking fewer grams of actuation without a tactile bump.
- Testing/replacing 10 switches in a compatible MX mechanical keyboard.
Different CAP Crystal colors have different forces and keypress characteristics; do not substitute one for another.
- Not suitable for a Hall Effect or optical-only PCB.
- No controlled sound or force measurement from KeebPilot; perceived sound depends on the full keyboard.
- Not compatible with 2-pin or 4-pin through-hole (plug-in) LED installations; only SMD (PCB-mounted) LEDs are supported per this supplier's CAP Black Crystal listing.
Choose your options
Before you buy: check the switch socket
These are conventional MX-style mechanical-contact switches. Check socket technology and your PCB/plate mounting arrangement; Hall Effect and optical-only boards are not compatible.
Mechanical socket
Confirm a standard MX-style mechanical switch interface; magnetic Hall Effect and optical-only sockets are different technologies.
Mounting
The supplier's CAP Crystal image family shows a 3-pin base, but the exact shipment's mounting leg count is not independently batch-verified. Check that your PCB/socket fits the received mechanical MX switch; do not infer a 5-pin version from a different CAP V2 line.
Keycaps and lightingSMD / surface-mounted PCB LEDs only. The supplier explicitly states that this CAP Black Crystal switch is NOT compatible with 2-pin or 4-pin through-hole (plug-in) LEDs; the LED legs or assembly may interfere physically. Confirm your PCB's LED type before ordering.
Before ordering, verify mechanical MX socket/plate fit and SMD-LED layout. Do NOT use with 2-pin or 4-pin through-hole plug-in LEDs; confirm the exact pin configuration if your PCB has restricted locating holes.
How many switches should you order?
Choose your keyboard layout to get a practical starting quantity. Then confirm the exact key count for your board and decide how many spare switches you want for testing or replacement.
Recommended for 65%
Select an available configuration
Recommendations require verified pack sizes, prices and availability from the current variation data.
Detailed specifications
Total travel
4.0mm max
Bottom-out force
50gf
Pin configuration
3-pin (supplier image family; exact fulfilment variant recheck)
Stem color
Red
Housing
Smoky translucent top / black bottom (source images)
Factory lubrication
Supplier-listed; batch-specific feel not independently measured
Quantity
10pcs
Brand
Gateron
Switch technology
Mechanical-contact
Sold pack
10 switches
LED compatibility
SMD LED only; 2-pin/4-pin through-hole plug-in LEDs not supported (supplier listing)
FAQ
Is the Red version linear?
Its intended feedback type is linear. The Blue is clicky, Brown tactile and standard Red/Yellow/Silver linear; the Silent Red uses damping.
Is this a magnetic switch?
No. This is a conventional mechanical-contact MX-style switch.
How many switches are in the pack?
10 switches of the selected color and type. No mixed-color switches are included.
Will 3-pin switches fit my PCB?
Supplier family photos depict a 3-pin mechanical base, but the delivered variant has not been separately pin-count verified. Check the actual PCB socket and exact mounting footprint before ordering; do not assume 5-pin variants from another CAP generation.
Is its sound guaranteed?
No. Sound depends on the keyboard assembly; even a silent model cannot eliminate all noise.
Can I use 2-pin or 4-pin plug-in LEDs with these CAP Crystal switches?
No. The supplying listing specifies SMD (surface-mounted PCB) LEDs only and excludes 2-pin and 4-pin through-hole plug-in LED installations. Verify your keyboard PCB and LED type.