Durock Alpaca V2 vs NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow

The Durock Alpaca V2 and the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: smooth, muted clack versus smooth, muted; the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow costs less per switch ($0.30 versus $0.56).

Durock Alpaca V2 Linear · force n/a
NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow Linear · 45g

Choose the Durock Alpaca V2 if

  • you want a switch popular for enthusiast custom builds.
  • you want a switch popular for lube and film projects.

Choose the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow if

  • you want a switch popular for no-mod builds.
  • you want a switch popular for typing.
  • you want to spend less per switch.

Durock Alpaca V2 vs NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow, spec by spec

Durock Alpaca V2NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow
Type Linear Linear
Compatibility Standard MX sockets Standard MX sockets
Actuation force n/a 45g
Bottom-out force 62g 63.5g
Pre-travel 2 mm 2 mm
Total travel 4 mm 4 mm
Stem POM POM
Top housing PC PC
Bottom housing nylon nylon
Spring 62g gold-plated, bottom-out weighted n/a
Factory lube light full
Pins 5-pin 5-pin
Price / switch $0.56 $0.30 (stronger spec)
Sound profile smooth, muted clack smooth, muted
Released 2020 2021

Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.

Where they sit among all 227 switches we track

Actuation force lightest heaviest
NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow 45g

22% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.

Total travel shortest longest
Durock Alpaca V2 4 mm
NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow 4 mm

57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Durock Alpaca V2; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.

Price per switch cheapest priciest
Durock Alpaca V2 $0.56
NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow $0.30

81% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Durock Alpaca V2; 24% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow.

Where to buy the Durock Alpaca V2

No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.

Where to buy the NovelKeys NK Silk Yellow

No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.

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