Gateron Mountain Top vs. Outemu Silent Ocean
An in-depth look at the Gateron Mountain Top and the Outemu Silent Ocean switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the Gateron Mountain Top and the Outemu Silent Ocean mechanical keyboard switches, it's evident that both switches offer unique features and benefits to cater to different user preferences. The Mountain Top, a linear switch from Gateron, is designed specifically for office environments, providing a quiet yet not entirely silent typing experience. With a light actuation and subdued sound signature, it ensures unobtrusive and continuous typing, making it ideal for professional settings. On the other hand, the Outemu Silent Ocean is a linear switch that is categorized as silent, providing a noise-free typing experience. While the Mountain Top offers a bouncy and snappy typing experience, the Silent Ocean emphasizes complete silence during typing sessions. 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
40g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
65g
Pre-travel
1.40 mm
Pre-travel
1.60 mm
Total travel
3.40 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Nylon
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
22mm double-stage spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Gateron Mountain Top and the Outemu Silent Ocean both use nylon for their bottom housing, providing a deeper and fuller sound profile due to the softer plastic absorbing more sound. However, the Silent Ocean features a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper and crisper sound profile compared to the Mountain Top's nylon top. The use of polycarbonate in the Silent Ocean's top housing also allows for RGB lighting due to its translucency, providing both aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Both the Mountain Top and the Silent Ocean share the use of nylon for their bottom housing, resulting in a similar typing experience with a deep and full sound profile. The difference lies in their top housing materials, with the Mountain Top featuring nylon for a duller and rounder sound, while the Silent Ocean utilizes polycarbonate for a clearer and more resonant sound. This contrast in top housing materials showcases how different plastics can impact the overall sound profile and feel of a switch, catering to different preferences among users.
In terms of functionality, the top and bottom housing materials play a crucial role in determining the sound profile and feel of a switch. The qualities brought by each housing material are split between the top and bottom of the switch, with the bottom housing impacting the bottom-out sound and feel, while the top housing influences the sound when a key is released. Whether opting for the Gateron Mountain Top or the Outemu Silent Ocean, users can expect a unique typing experience based on the combination of nylon and polycarbonate in the housing materials, highlighting the importance of material selection in switch design.
Weight
The Gateron Mountain Top linear switch has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams and a lighter bottom out force of 50 grams, making it a good choice for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. In contrast, the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch has a slightly heavier actuation force of 45 grams and a heavier bottom out force of 65 grams, providing a more substantial typing feel. For users who enjoy a lighter touch for extended typing sessions or gaming, the Mountain Top switch would be the better option. However, for those who prefer a firmer keystroke and a more pronounced push feel, the Silent Ocean switch would be the more suitable choice. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will depend on individual preference for actuation and bottom out forces.
Travel distance
The Gateron Mountain Top linear switch has a travel distance of 3.4 mm, while the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch has a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that the Silent Ocean switch has a longer travel distance compared to the Mountain Top switch. In general, a shorter travel distance, like the one found in the Mountain Top switch, is preferred by gamers for faster response times. On the other hand, a longer travel distance, like the one in the Silent Ocean switch, can provide a more satisfying depth to the keypress. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on individual preferences for key feel and responsiveness.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
For 10 switches, the Gateron Mountain Top comes in at $6.00, whereas the Outemu Silent Ocean comes in at $3.10.
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
Overall, the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch is designed to provide a quiet and comfortable typing experience ideal for office environments, with a balance of subdued sound and light actuation. In terms of sound, it offers a neutral profile suitable for various purposes, while the feel of the switch is described as bouncy, easy-to-press, mild, snappy, and subtle, providing a responsive and low-impact typing sensation. On the other hand, information regarding the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch is currently unavailable. Given the qualities of the Gateron Mountain Top switch, it can be inferred that the Outemu Silent Ocean switch may offer similar results in terms of sound and feel. Ultimately, both switches aim to enhance typing experiences while catering to different preferences and environments.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Gateron Mountain Top linear switch and the Outemu Silent Ocean linear switch, you should choose the Gateron Mountain Top if you prioritize a light actuation force and a subdued yet not entirely silent typing experience, particularly in a professional office setting. The Gateron Mountain Top is ideal for those who value quietness and a comfortable typing experience. On the other hand, you should opt for the Outemu Silent Ocean if you prefer a slightly heavier actuation force and are looking for a switch with a medium-heavy feel. The Outemu Silent Ocean may be suitable for those who do not require complete silence and enjoy a slightly more pronounced typing experience. Ultimately, your choice between these two switches should be based on your personal preference for actuation force, sound profile, and overall typing feel.
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