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Corsair Vengeance K90 Review (Red Switches)

Forum Index > Tech Support
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velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-25 10:17:24
January 24 2012 14:26 GMT
#1
Hey guys. I'm a technology blogger and reviewer in the UK, and I've just finished off a review of the Corsair K90. I thought I'd post it here since I know mechanical keyboards are a big draw for most StarCraft II players these days, and I couldn't find anyone posting their experiences with the keyboard. Let me know what you think, and feel free to ask questions. I've got a few other keyboards on hand, so I can comparisons, videos or what-have-you. Thanks

[image loading]

Corsair has been a major player in the RAM market for some time now, and has slowly been introducing new lines in related fields. After launching a line of headsets in 2010, it's now moving fully into the peripheral space with the launch of its Corsair Vengeance line of gaming keyboards and mice.

This keyboard, the Vengeance K90, is being marketed towards RTS and MMO gamers. With a heavy complement of macro keys and Cherry MX Red mechanical switches they've made a great start, but will Corsair's debut keyboard stand up to the competition? With Razor's BlackWidow and numerous other mechanical keyboards beginning to flow from Western peripheral manufacturers, it'll certainly be a hard fight.

Features and Specifications (as listed by Corsair)

- Cherry MX Red keys - the perfect keys for gamers
- 18 Macro Keys and 3 Macro-Set Keys for up to 54 Macros - ideal for MMO and RTS games
- 100% anti-ghosting technology and 20 KRO on USB - hit as many keys as you want!
- Blue backlighting with 4 levels of illumination - ideal for LANs and late night gaming
- Removable, full sized wrist wrest for optimal comfort and longer gaming times
- Rapid key response - 1ms response rate - faster than even the fastest gamer needs
- Media keys - easy access to your music controls, for when you take a break from owning (lol)
- Super build quality - metal top-plate provides unmatched durability and stability, as well as a premium look and feel

Physical Features

The Corsair Vengeance K90 has a unique look, with black etched keys mounted on a brushed aluminium back-plate. The left hand side of the keyboard is dominated by the eighteen macro keys in three equally sized groups, backed with hard black plastic. As you'd expect from a mechanical keyboard of quality, the K90's high weight lends it a very comfortingly solid feel. This is certainly a keyboard you could use as a club in the zombie apocalypse.

[image loading]

Let's have a closer look at the keyboard itself. On the left, we've got those eighteen macro keys. They're slightly lower than the main keyboard keys, meaning that there is little danger of pressing them - something that happens annoyingly often with keyboards where the macro keys are indistinguishable by feel from the main keyset, as on the BlackWidow. The keys are rubber domes here instead of mechanical, making them slightly more difficult to press. Corsair have told me that this is to prevent accidental double-tapping.

There are also MR, MR1, MR2 and MR3 keys along the top of the keyboard. They are small, but easy to press and come with backlighting to let you know which macro set is active.

[image loading]

In the center, we've got the main key cluster. With the exception of the function keys (e.g. F1 - Print Screen) and the Insert/Delete cluster, these all use mechanical key switches. As stated earlier, these are Cherry MX Red switches, which give the keyboard a light feel. We'll take a longer look at the implications of this later on.

The mounting of the black keys above the aluminum chassis is a very cool look; it almost looks like the keys are floating in place. This dos mean that the keys are a bit easier to clean as well, as you can get in from the bottom with a duster.

[image loading]

On the right hand side of the keyboard, you'll find the media keys. As well as a row of standard media playback controls (stop, skip back, play/pause, skip forward), there's another row just above that has a mute button as well as a volume roller. This analog input is a great touch, being both space efficient and classy.

[image loading]

Just to the left of the volume wheel are the status lights, which are rather nicely done in a straight up white light instead of the more common green. There's also a key to toggle the level of backlighting between its four levels and a gaming key that disables the Windows key.

[image loading]

At the very top of the keyboard, there's a rather nondescript Corsair logo. Looking from the other side, you'll find a single USB port, which is passed through the double USB cable into your motherboard. This allows you to plug in your mouse or a flash drive, and goes a long way in reducing the number of cables sprawling behind your desk.

[image loading]

Now, let's have a look at those mechanical switches. I've taken off the arrow keycaps to show you. As you can see, each see has a mechanical Cherry MX Red switch, as denoted by its red colour. Each key also has its own LED to provide backlighting.

[image loading]

If we take off one of the function keycaps, we can see it's a different story. Instead of a mechanical switch, we find a lower quality rubber dome. While this not entirely desirable, it does make the function keys quite distinguishable from their main-cluster peers.

[image loading]

Here are the keycaps themselves - you can easily see the difference between the mechanical switches and the rubber domes.

[image loading]

And here's the USB cable. It contains two lines to allow that integrated USB port to be fully powered. It's protected with a very durable-feeling cover; one of the best I've seen on any keyboard.

[image loading]

Finally, we've got one last picture of the keyboard in action, with the backlights on full. As you can see, it's quite a nice display.

[image loading]

Software

Let's have a look at the software that powers this keyboard. Edit: Corsair have provided a rather comprehensive software guide, which you can read here.

The first tab is termed ‘Assign Keys’ and is the meat of the keyboard software suite. On the left is a visual representation of the macro keys. If you click on any of them, you can see which macros are assigned. Keys that have macros assigned to them are highlighted in teal, so you can also see which keys are free for binding. You can also change profiles here by clicking the picture M1, M2 or M3 buttons, or by pressing these buttons on the keyboard.

[image loading]

You assign a key by pressing the ‘MR’ (macro record) button on the keyboard, the G key you want to assign the macro to, and then the keys that you want the macro to be made up of. This is pretty easy to do quickly. You can also make macros in the software by selecting common actions (e.g. copy, paste, find, launch program, lock PC). The delays in each macro are also customisable – 50 ms by default, but can also be ignored or set to have a random delay time.

Once the macro is recorded, you can also set what happens when you press down the macro key. By default, the macro will be performed once, but you can also set it to be performed a set number of times, to be performed as long as the key is held down, or to be performed until the key is pressed again. This gives you good flexibility in the macros that you can construct. Another option is the hardware playback option; once checked, this will ensure the macros are played back in hardware so that they bypass software macro checks which are common in many games.

Finally, you can change the brightness level of the keyboard here, as well as switch to other Vengeance peripherals that are plugged in (as they all run from the same program).
The second tab is the Manage Profiles tab, which is quite bare. You can save, load, import and export profiles; pretty much what you’d expect.

[image loading]

Now that’s concluded, let’s have a look at how this keyboard performs.

Testing

Methodology

The best way to test a keyboard isn’t with benchmarks or statistics – it’s about real world use. I used the keyboard for two weeks, using it for every game I played as well as all of my work as a blogger. Indeed, this very review was written on it.

These games were used:

StarCraft II (of course)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Battlefield 3
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Unreal Tournament 2004
World of Tanks

Results

Gaming

The most important feature for any mechanical keyboard is the type of switches used. According to the Reviewer’s Guide issued with the K90, Cherry MX Red switches are the best kind of switches for gaming, compared with Blue, Black or Brown. This is a highly debatable point – things are much less cut and dry than this, and it’s mostly a question of personal preference. For more information, have a look at my guide to mechanical switches.

Red switches are characterised by their low actuation force and linear action. That means that the keys can be pressed down quite easily, reducing the latency. It also means that it’s more important to be accurate in your key presses; as the keys can be pressed accidentally more easily due to the lower force required. Linear action is also perfectly acceptable for a gaming keyboard, but it is again a question of taste – you might prefer additional feedback via an audible click (Blues) or a tactile bump (Browns).

With this in mind, I personally found the Red switches quite fine. While my preference is for the tactile bump found in Brown and Blue switches, the light touch of Red switches are a nice bonus that make rapid actions very easy. While I made more mistaken keypresses in StarCraft II, I was also able to maintain a slightly higher APM then I did normally which counteracted this. The keyboard’s red switches seemed slightly more at home in shooters, where making mistakes due to a typo was less likely.

While I’m not a massive fan of macro keys, these seemed to be the best possible implementation. They’re hard to hit accidentally, still within easy reach, and give you more than enough options with 18 keys and 3 profiles for 54 keys in total. The software is also quite powerful, allowing you to easily construct as complex or as simple macros as you require.

The decision to spend more on the PCB to allow for 20 KRO, the maximum possible over USB, elevates the K90 over cheaper keyboards from Western brands such as the Razer BlackWidow. While WASD-optimisation is acceptable, it’s sometimes problematic for gamers that use a different cluster or play games that require more simultaneous key use than others.

The back-lighting is also a small benefit for late-night gaming. A choice of four levels is also welcome, as it means that you’re not forced to choose between being blinded or not seeing the keys at all. The disable-Windows-key button is also a welcome addition, as many games don’t offer this functionality as standard and there’s nothing worse than accidentally being booted back to the desktop at a critical moment.

One disappointment is that not all of the keys are mechanical switches, with the function keys, macro keys and insert/delete cluster instead using more normal rubber domes. While it’s easy to see why this decision has been made with the high cost of mechanical switches, it still does make it difficult to hit that odd function key or macro key during gameplay. It’s not the end of the world by any means, but it is a point against the Corsair K90.

Overall, this is an excellent keyboard for gaming, sporting effective red mechanical switches and a solid design. If you’d prefer a keyboard without macro keys, then the lower-priced Corsair Vengeance K60 may appeal to you (review on that forthcoming).

Typing

As with all other mechanical keyboards I’ve tried, typing performance far exceeds that of a rubber dome keyboard. While Red switches aren’t ideal for typing, as they lack the tactile bump of Browns or the audible click of Blues, their lightness does make them a good choice for long typing sessions.

While writing this review on the K90 has proceeded just fine, upon using my Filco Majestouch 2 with Browns, I’ve got to say I prefer the typing experience of the Filco overall. Still, if you’re upgrading from a rubber dome keyboard, then this certainly going to make writing more comfortable and satisfying. They say once you go mechanical you never go back, and the K90 is no exception.

Comfort

The low actuation force of the Red mechanical switches makes this a good keyboard to recommend for comfort. The wrist rest also plays a large part in ensuring that long-term use is quite comfortable, so I’d advise using it if you’ve got the space. As far as the design goes, there’s nothing to complain about in terms of comfort – indeed, I’d say this is one of the most comfortable to use keyboards I’ve yet tried.

Media Keys

The media keys are one area which I cannot praise enough on this keyboard. As well as being well placed on the right hand side of the keyboard, making them easy to access, they’re also arranged quite logically. I’m not a big fan of buttons of differing sizes, so having all five buttons be the same size is a great benefit.

Where typical keyboard volume buttons have a tendency to be imprecise because of their digital input, the roller works excellently to provide proper analog input. This means you can move quickly from maximum to minimum volume, as well as perform more fine-grained adjustments by rolling slowly. This is also a very space efficient design, and I’m surprised it’s not found on more high-end keyboards.

Conclusion

The Corsair Vengeance K90 is one of the finest keyboards I’ve ever used. I can think of very little that I could improve on this keyboard, with it scoring highly from everything from performance, features and style. This is one of the best examples I’ve found of across-the-board upgrades to the simple power of a well-made mechanical keyboard, including macro and media keys, well-designed software and a distinctive look. Simply put, the Corsair K90 is the best gaming mechanical keyboard available.

Corsair have done well in their first attempt at a gaming keyboard, and I hope the Vengeance K90 becomes available with different switch options to allow for greater personal taste – with a full complement of Blue, Brown, Black and Red switches, the Vengeance series would be hard not to recommend. Even with a large amount of well designed gaming extras, it still proves to be the same cost as more basic mechanical keyboards.

Pros
- Cherry MX Red switches work well for gaming, and are better than rubber domes for typing
- Full 20 KRO rollover
- Cleverly placed macro and media keys
- A distinctive and classy look
- Solid construction

Cons
- Not all keys are mechanical
- Only Red switches are available

Final Score
9 / 10


Would recommend to StarCraft II players who aren't prone to accidentally hitting keys in game and are looking for speed. If you're more prone to errors, then a stiffer Black switch or one with some feedback (e.g. Brown or Blue) may be more suited to you.

Edit: Amazon seems to be the cheapest place to get one, let me know if you can find it anywhere cheaper:

Amazon US
Amazon UK
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
January 24 2012 14:33 GMT
#2
That was a pretty nice review, can't say if I agree with it or not but it was pretty well written and it seems logical enough to me, now what I wonder is who you are? I'd like to see some kind of an introduction as I'm wondering if you're some sort of semi-professional reviewer or just a random lurker who happened to post a review on teamliquid(very unlikely in my opinion)...

I liked the pictures, though I kind of wonder about the build quality as it doesn't seem super top-notch from the pictures, however you naturally can't determine everything from just looking at pictures >_>

Good job either way and the final score makes sense and pros and cons make sense as well.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 24 2012 14:42 GMT
#3
Thanks Shikyo! I've added an introduction per your suggestion

I am indeed a semi-professional reviewer - I'm employed as a blogger / social media person for a smartphone accessories company, but I get to branch out a bit into reviews for some of the sites I write for.

The keyboard does seem quite sturdy; the metal chassis seems quite a nice touch, and it seems to make it feel stronger rather than weaker in my opinion. Maybe I should do some stress tests later
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
MCMXVI
Profile Joined August 2010
Norway1193 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-24 14:48:05
January 24 2012 14:44 GMT
#4
Looking good! I'm usually not too fan of corsair peripherals, but this seems like a well thought out product.

Make no mistake though, I own Corsair memory and their 700D case, which are phenomenal products.

Personally I would do without the macro keys, and of course I would prefere a fully mechanical keyboard to a partly one (like this is), but it intrigued me enough to consider the K60!

Nice review, enjoyed reading it

edit: Media keys are what I miss the most on my Das Keyboard Silent. That, and laser etched nordic keys.

Btw, you say the keys are etched. With laser?
In capitalist America, bank robs YOU!
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 24 2012 14:47 GMT
#5
Cheers 1916 for the kind words I was quite surprised by how good it was, given that it's their first go at a keyboard, but they do seem to have done a lot right.

For StarCraft II the non-mechanical function keys aren't a big issue - the only thing I can think of that uses them is the map location feature, which I don't use (as much as I should) but will doubtless be a turn-off for those that do.
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
MCMXVI
Profile Joined August 2010
Norway1193 Posts
January 24 2012 14:49 GMT
#6
I dont use the map location functons at all (which I should, too) so it wouldnt be that much of a turn-off.

Do you know if this will come as a 105 scandinavian layout?
In capitalist America, bank robs YOU!
iKill[ShocK]
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Vietnam3530 Posts
January 24 2012 15:25 GMT
#7
personal opnion: keys were a little too far apart for my liking, my finger seems to get stuck between keys. other than that the keyboard is perfect.
<3 Kim Taeyeon
nam nam
Profile Joined June 2010
Sweden4672 Posts
January 24 2012 15:27 GMT
#8
On January 24 2012 23:49 MCMXVI wrote:
I dont use the map location functons at all (which I should, too) so it wouldnt be that much of a turn-off.

Do you know if this will come as a 105 scandinavian layout?

I'm pretty sure it's already out on the market as with nordic layout.
Shikyo
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Finland33997 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-24 18:47:43
January 24 2012 18:47 GMT
#9
On January 25 2012 00:27 nam nam wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 24 2012 23:49 MCMXVI wrote:
I dont use the map location functons at all (which I should, too) so it wouldnt be that much of a turn-off.

Do you know if this will come as a 105 scandinavian layout?

I'm pretty sure it's already out on the market as with nordic layout.

Definitely is yep:
http://www.jimms.fi/tuote/CH-9000003-ND


By the way I think that right now the MK-80 with the switches of your choosing is probably a better idea for a backlighted keyboard, but after the offer on QPADs site runs out and you need to pay 20€ more for MK-85 for backlightning and red switches, I believe that the Corsair keyboard becomes a lot more attractive. It still is, in my opinion, plagued with the membrane ESC key. My Topre has a 55g acutation force escape key and even that feels a bit stiff at times when you're used to the other keys, I imagine that a membrane ESC would be quite troublesome to press if you're used to the red switches. A huge oversight in my opinion.
League of Legends EU West, Platinum III | Yousei Teikoku is the best thing that has ever happened to music.
ilikeredheads
Profile Joined August 2011
Canada1995 Posts
January 24 2012 20:27 GMT
#10
When I see the small left shift button and the backslash button next to it, I will instantly look for something else.

The blackslash button should be either next to the backspace or in between the backspace and enter button.
jwcdis
Profile Joined January 2012
7 Posts
January 24 2012 20:53 GMT
#11
Hi thanks for the review! I have to give this keyboard a 7/10 from my experience with it.

I've had this keyboard since day 1 of its release and I have to point out the following things.
- The keys are laser etched which is good but the inking on the keys fades really fast. Seems like other people are having this issues too.
- Halting/Canceling/Stopping with the Esc is difficult to press at times (and most times miss) because of the non-mechanical key.
- The keyboard has firmware bugs that have not been addressed yet. Pressing scroll lock + home + shift turns on capslocks for you I think.

If corsair releases a second revision of this keyboard I'm sure gamers will fall in love with it. So far it falls just a bit short in terms of quality you would expect from Corsair.
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-25 09:06:52
January 25 2012 08:54 GMT
#12
On January 25 2012 05:27 ilikeredheads wrote:
When I see the small left shift button and the backslash button next to it, I will instantly look for something else.

The blackslash button should be either next to the backspace or in between the backspace and enter button.



This is because this is a UK layout keyboard. An American-layout keyboard will have a long shift key and misplaced backslash, just like you're used to

Regarding the escape button, I don't find it to be much of an issue as pressing escape isn't generally an in-game command. It matters what games you play, though
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
MerciLess
Profile Joined September 2010
213 Posts
January 25 2012 20:38 GMT
#13
Your apm increased with the keyboard? I don't think so. And definitely not your effective apm
MHT
Profile Joined August 2010
Sweden1026 Posts
January 25 2012 21:04 GMT
#14
On January 26 2012 05:38 MerciLess wrote:
Your apm increased with the keyboard? I don't think so. And definitely not your effective apm

Ofc it can, keys are pressed quicker with mechanical keyboards so you can make units faster.
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 25 2012 21:26 GMT
#15
On January 26 2012 06:04 MHT wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 26 2012 05:38 MerciLess wrote:
Your apm increased with the keyboard? I don't think so. And definitely not your effective apm

Ofc it can, keys are pressed quicker with mechanical keyboards so you can make units faster.


It's certainly not going to make you into a pro-gamer, but it helps that each key can be pressed down very quickly; you very quickly get the feedback of each key and you can therefore consciously move your hands faster. Of course, this means that if you're prone to typos more will occur, but the trade-off for me was a net gain, with the increased speed not unduly affecting my accuracy.
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
nam nam
Profile Joined June 2010
Sweden4672 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-25 21:33:11
January 25 2012 21:32 GMT
#16
Weirdly enough I experienced the opposite, slightly lower but more accurate apm. It was different switches though. I had some weird flat rubber dome board before also.
OverZero
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States271 Posts
January 25 2012 21:51 GMT
#17
Is the macro part detachable in any way?
PLAGUUUUUUU <My Stream: twitch.tv/paullolol > Check it out some time!!!
InsidiA
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Canada1169 Posts
January 25 2012 22:14 GMT
#18
Quick question, I've got a K60 because i think the Macro keys look ugly as hell on the K90 and because of the half shift bar on the left side. My keys are wearing down like mad right now, are you getting that at all yet?
GraphicsInsidiA | StarCraft 2 Manager for Team eLevate | Graphic Designer for Red Bull eSports & HTC | @iamjasonpun
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 25 2012 22:23 GMT
#19
On January 26 2012 06:32 nam nam wrote:
Weirdly enough I experienced the opposite, slightly lower but more accurate apm. It was different switches though. I had some weird flat rubber dome board before also.


The switch type would make a difference I reckon; for higher weighted switches (e.g Black, Blue) I'd postulate slower-but-more-accurate. Of course, a lot of it is up to you.

On January 26 2012 06:51 OverZero wrote:
Is the macro part detachable in any way?


Nope, it kind of looks like it might be but it seems quite well affixed.


On January 26 2012 07:14 InsidiA wrote:
Quick question, I've got a K60 because i think the Macro keys look ugly as hell on the K90 and because of the half shift bar on the left side. My keys are wearing down like mad right now, are you getting that at all yet?


Cool. I'm not seeing any key wear, although it's possible yours has seen more use than mine?
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
InsidiA
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Canada1169 Posts
January 28 2012 17:13 GMT
#20
On January 26 2012 07:23 velocitygirl wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 26 2012 06:32 nam nam wrote:
Weirdly enough I experienced the opposite, slightly lower but more accurate apm. It was different switches though. I had some weird flat rubber dome board before also.


The switch type would make a difference I reckon; for higher weighted switches (e.g Black, Blue) I'd postulate slower-but-more-accurate. Of course, a lot of it is up to you.

Show nested quote +
On January 26 2012 06:51 OverZero wrote:
Is the macro part detachable in any way?


Nope, it kind of looks like it might be but it seems quite well affixed.


Show nested quote +
On January 26 2012 07:14 InsidiA wrote:
Quick question, I've got a K60 because i think the Macro keys look ugly as hell on the K90 and because of the half shift bar on the left side. My keys are wearing down like mad right now, are you getting that at all yet?


Cool. I'm not seeing any key wear, although it's possible yours has seen more use than mine?

Well I've had it for a good 4 weeks now, and my fingers pretty much always oily (should probably wipe my hands before gaming ) but i'm seeing faded letters on my S and D keys (obviously play Zerg :p) But also on lettters such as C,V,B, L, F, A, E and even my shift key. It's really bothering me because i feel such an expensive keyboard should atleast have the better printed keys and it looks sorta ugly now. Might have to invest in new keycaps ALREADY..
GraphicsInsidiA | StarCraft 2 Manager for Team eLevate | Graphic Designer for Red Bull eSports & HTC | @iamjasonpun
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 29 2012 02:10 GMT
#21
Hmm, interesting! Could you post a picture of your keycaps showing the wear?
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
haduken
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Australia8267 Posts
January 29 2012 03:21 GMT
#22
Nice OP. Btw, no PS2 converter for the USB?


Kinda funny we here in Australia speaks and writes UK english yet our keyboard is American :/
Rillanon.au
jwcdis
Profile Joined January 2012
7 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-29 09:53:34
January 29 2012 09:53 GMT
#23
On January 29 2012 12:21 haduken wrote:
Nice OP. Btw, no PS2 converter for the USB?


Kinda funny we here in Australia speaks and writes UK english yet our keyboard is American :/


Unfortunately this keyboard does not come with PS2 Converter for USB.
The reason why is because the this keyboard uses 2 USB connectors rather than 1 giving this keyboard 20 Key rollover.

For anyone familiar with the ps2 protocol a data packrat contains about 8 bits of relevant information. This usually allows for 8 keyrollover which is what you typically see for standard USB keyboards. Using 2 USB buses... well gives you more.

In the end, by whatever firmware means they were able to develop something really nice that no one has done yet for their ASIC/Microcontroller.
jwcdis
Profile Joined January 2012
7 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-29 19:30:21
January 29 2012 19:28 GMT
#24
[image loading]
Pictured above is the K60 which is pretty much the same

The keys were you can easily notice fading are S and L.
Additionally, D F C V O are starting to fade out a little but its hard to see. Compare to a key like G which hasn't started to fade yet.
Cinim
Profile Joined April 2011
Denmark866 Posts
January 29 2012 20:23 GMT
#25
Key structure design is a complete copy of any Logitech keyboard(gaming ones). I'm atm sitting with a g110, and completely the same.
Haven't tried it, but doesn't looks like anything for me, at all :s
Hell, it's about time
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 29 2012 23:58 GMT
#26
This key structure is common to almost all keyboards with macro keys; it's just the most logical arrangement.
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
Medrea
Profile Joined May 2011
10003 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-01-30 01:06:08
January 30 2012 00:41 GMT
#27
Rubber dome function keys instead of mechanical is cheesy beyond all get out.

For a keyboard of that price, this is just stupid and a huge waste of consumer money. I have no idea what they were thinking. The keycaps on the mechanical keys are not even double injected! Shameful at that price.

Response time of 1 ms, they are practically lying here because debounce time on most keyboards is about 5 ms with each keyboard also being polled approximately 200hz, rendering true 1hz response time an impossibility. Pure marketing fluff in my eyes.

Also doesnt come with a PS/2 adapter, and I suspect it wont work with a PS/2 connection, so that's a point to consider as well for those that appreciate full NKRO, or basic hardware interrupting.

These would all be fine since the keyboard itself seems to have no issues at all, but for the cost there are way better products out there. Especially for users who can get away with tenkeyless or without macro keys, which Blizzard has banned the use of in SC2 anyway.

Well written OP by the way. Don't let my criticism make you think otherwise.
twitch.tv/medrea
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 30 2012 17:08 GMT
#28
On January 30 2012 09:41 Medrea wrote:
Rubber dome function keys instead of mechanical is cheesy beyond all get out.

For a keyboard of that price, this is just stupid and a huge waste of consumer money. I have no idea what they were thinking. The keycaps on the mechanical keys are not even double injected! Shameful at that price.

Response time of 1 ms, they are practically lying here because debounce time on most keyboards is about 5 ms with each keyboard also being polled approximately 200hz, rendering true 1hz response time an impossibility. Pure marketing fluff in my eyes.

Also doesnt come with a PS/2 adapter, and I suspect it wont work with a PS/2 connection, so that's a point to consider as well for those that appreciate full NKRO, or basic hardware interrupting.

These would all be fine since the keyboard itself seems to have no issues at all, but for the cost there are way better products out there. Especially for users who can get away with tenkeyless or without macro keys, which Blizzard has banned the use of in SC2 anyway.

Well written OP by the way. Don't let my criticism make you think otherwise.


Yeah, 1 ms polling is quite useless - you know that the majority of the time you poll nothing will occur. It doesn't come with a PS/2 adapter because most of its functionality won't work over PS/2... lighting, USB port, macro keys, etc. I do have a PS/2 adapter from one of my Leopolds (or Filco, I don't know), but I can't test it out as I don't have a PS/2 port on my motherboard. I'll have to try it on my flat-mate's later.

Do get in contact with Corsair regarding this keyboard - if the response they get is "Great keyboard, but rubber dome function keys is a bad idea", then you can bet their next model will have a full set of mechanicals.
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
GreEny K
Profile Joined February 2008
Germany7312 Posts
January 30 2012 17:36 GMT
#29
Great review. Personally, I think there is too much on this keyboard. I wouldn't need all those macro keys and the wrist support and all that stuff. I like my keyboards simple, which is why I love the Zowie Celeritas, it's simple and gets the job done. If I come across this board at some point, then I would try it out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one.
Why would you ever choose failure, when success is an option.
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
January 31 2012 13:48 GMT
#30
On January 31 2012 02:36 GreEny K wrote:
Great review. Personally, I think there is too much on this keyboard. I wouldn't need all those macro keys and the wrist support and all that stuff. I like my keyboards simple, which is why I love the Zowie Celeritas, it's simple and gets the job done. If I come across this board at some point, then I would try it out, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one.


The M60 also exists; it's the same keyboard without the macro keys and full wrist rest, and it's a lot cheaper.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CH-900004-EU-Vengeance-Performance-Mechanical/dp/B005ZNR05A/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1328017668&sr=1-1
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
Josh_rakoons
Profile Joined December 2011
United Kingdom1158 Posts
January 31 2012 13:57 GMT
#31
Macro keys are pretty much useless and are banned from competitive offline tournaments
velocitygirl
Profile Joined September 2010
United Kingdom64 Posts
February 01 2012 09:16 GMT
#32
On January 31 2012 22:57 Josh_rakoons wrote:
Macro keys are pretty much useless and are banned from competitive offline tournaments


True, true. There's little you'd need to use macro keys in starcraft for, though. Or at least, there's nothing that you would need that couldn't be rebound to one of the main board keys.
Team Acer Editor-in-Chief | @AcerWill
kleetzor
Profile Joined April 2011
Germany360 Posts
March 01 2012 22:38 GMT
#33
For those having issues with the K60 keys fading, Corsair is offering RMAs and the K90 (around 20-30 USD/Euros more expensive) in exchange for free.

Go to: http://www.corsair.com/support/ and fill the RMA.

I did this and got an answer about 10 minutes later. Im still waiting for the formular that needs to be filled and sent to them.

Anyone think this info is threadworthy? If so, open a new one, or just post this info in any other thread were the issues with the K60 have been discussed.

Ps: i LOVED the k60 , sucks Corsair didnt get some stuff straight from the get-go
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