I just got a Blackwidow Elite with orange switches last week and I'm mostly loving it. I also bought the o-rings to go with it, as my wife is often sleeping in the next room when I am still up working or gaming. Unfortunately, the o-rings seem to make no difference at all due to the sidewall design of the new switches. They bottom out before the sidewalls go below the level of the switch housing, so the o-rings can't keep the keys from bottoming out loudly. I have tried with multiple o-rings, but all that does is make the keycaps not insert as far and wobble a bit more. This could very likely be a deal breaker for this keyboard and it will have to get returned if I can't figure out how to make it quieter when the keys bottom out.
The puzzling thing to me is that the Blackwidow Lite comes with these same orange sidewall switches and o-rings. My niece recently bought that keyboard and tried the o-rings with the same results. There seems to be a logical disconnect if Razer is shipping these exactly switches with o-rings as a package, but I can't figure out how they could work together like the pre-sidewall switches.
What am I missing here? Is the lack of compatibility with o-rings just a side effect of the more stable sidewall switch design? Should I go ahead and get this Blackwidow Elite on its way back to Razer and start my search for a used Blackwidow V2 with orange keys that o-rings will work on?
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Also, is it possible that I just need really thick o-rings so the larger diameter will protrude down enough to touch the top of the switch housing where the current ones, even with multiple stacked, won't?
Hi,
I have the exact same problem. O-rings dont work with the new switches. Same goes for the Blackwidow lite. From the pictures I saw, the O-rings can not work on the lite model as well. It just doesnt makes sens, as the o-rings sit on top of the switch. I really dont know, how razer would ship these o-rings with the lite model.
Heres the solution I came up with:
https://imgur.com/a/2Vrv0RX
It works, but its not consistent. I think a thicker o-ring, which will sit around the sidewalls is the only way. Although it could effect the lighting, as is will be between the LED and the key cap.
I have the exact same problem. O-rings dont work with the new switches. Same goes for the Blackwidow lite. From the pictures I saw, the O-rings can not work on the lite model as well. It just doesnt makes sens, as the o-rings sit on top of the switch. I really dont know, how razer would ship these o-rings with the lite model.
Heres the solution I came up with:
https://imgur.com/a/2Vrv0RX
It works, but its not consistent. I think a thicker o-ring, which will sit around the sidewalls is the only way. Although it could effect the lighting, as is will be between the LED and the key cap.
That's not a bad idea, but I'd worry about the o-rings on the sides falling out if the keys get hit really often or a bit harder. I'm an engineer and like to think of myself as relatively creative, but I can't figure out a good way to make this keyboard quieter when the keys bottom out without modifying it in a way that would void the warranty and require many hours of effort. I have even gone to the point of designing an o-ring-like dampener with a protrusion on the bottom that would impact the switch housing without otherwise interfering with key travel or RGB lighting. The sidewall design of the switch that makes plain o-rings not work would actually make my design that only contacts on one side work due to the enhanced stability the sidewalls provide. The cost to patent the design and/or tool up to manufacture isn't something I'm going to pursue, though. I wonder if I could get Razer to take the design to refine and produce. I wouldn't even demand a cut of the profits. I'd be happy with a few Razer products in return, especially the dampeners. :)
Since I need a keyboard for work (assuming that I eventually go back to the office to work) in addition to one for home, I have one of the Blackwidow Chroma V2 keyboards with the orange switches on its way to me now. I'm not a huge fan of the USB passthrough and headphone jack on the right side of the keyboard that the V2 has, but it will be nice to have the dedicated macro keys. I definitely like the stability of these new Razer switches, but I'd trade that stability for an easy way to make it quieter in a second. If I like the Blackwidow V2 better, this Blackwidow Elite will be getting returned and replaced with another Blackwidow V2. I might also pick up one of the Blackwidow V2 keyboards with the yellow switches just to see if I like that. I have come from membrane keyboards fairly recently and type fast, so I might even like the yellow switches better.
Since I need a keyboard for work (assuming that I eventually go back to the office to work) in addition to one for home, I have one of the Blackwidow Chroma V2 keyboards with the orange switches on its way to me now. I'm not a huge fan of the USB passthrough and headphone jack on the right side of the keyboard that the V2 has, but it will be nice to have the dedicated macro keys. I definitely like the stability of these new Razer switches, but I'd trade that stability for an easy way to make it quieter in a second. If I like the Blackwidow V2 better, this Blackwidow Elite will be getting returned and replaced with another Blackwidow V2. I might also pick up one of the Blackwidow V2 keyboards with the yellow switches just to see if I like that. I have come from membrane keyboards fairly recently and type fast, so I might even like the yellow switches better.
Hey, that sounds really interesting. Hope you'll find a way to produce these things. 
Would be great to see Razer spending some more time thinking about keyboard dampening. It was so easy back in the days with the old standard switches.
I will also try to find a better solution. By now non of the o-rings fell out. But it just doesnt feel right and its still an inconsistent feeling.
The V2 might also be an option. I'm coming from the old Blackwidow 2014 model with green tactile (Kalih) switches and I just wanted to have something more modern. I have the linear switches now and I definetly like them better.
Would be great to see Razer spending some more time thinking about keyboard dampening. It was so easy back in the days with the old standard switches.I will also try to find a better solution. By now non of the o-rings fell out. But it just doesnt feel right and its still an inconsistent feeling.
The V2 might also be an option. I'm coming from the old Blackwidow 2014 model with green tactile (Kalih) switches and I just wanted to have something more modern. I have the linear switches now and I definetly like them better.
Final update on this thread:
I gave up on the Blackwidow Elite. I found a Blackwidow V2 with orange switches. It's much quieter with o-rings on it, and it has the macro keys. I do miss the wheel from the Elite a bit, but I like the macro keys and quietness of this keyboard much better. If I happen to find a Blackwidow V2 with yellow switches, I'll probably grab it just to see if I like it better. I need a keyboard for home and for work, but won't be physically going back to work for at least a couple more months so I have some time to find one.
I gave up on the Blackwidow Elite. I found a Blackwidow V2 with orange switches. It's much quieter with o-rings on it, and it has the macro keys. I do miss the wheel from the Elite a bit, but I like the macro keys and quietness of this keyboard much better. If I happen to find a Blackwidow V2 with yellow switches, I'll probably grab it just to see if I like it better. I need a keyboard for home and for work, but won't be physically going back to work for at least a couple more months so I have some time to find one.
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