Corsair return with the popular K70 keyboard, this time armed with the quick CHERRY MX Speed switches with a 1.2mm actuation, as well as improved RGB lighting.
Product on Review: Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Corsair
Street Price: UK: £149.99, US: $169.99
The Corsair K70 has been one of the most popular mechanical gaming keyboards around, understandable considering its beautiful brushed aluminium finish and quality construction. It could also be because of fluid lighting effects and powerful CUE (Corsair Utility Engine) software which allows for advanced customisation and full programmability, giving the user a real sense of control.
This is where the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE gets a twist. Remixing the formula for 2016, Corsair have a timed exclusive deal with CHERRY to outfit their keyboards with the latest MX Speed switches. Featuring a 45cN actuation force and a 1.2mm actuation distance, they are the fastest and most precise switches available from CHERRY. That isn’t their only improvement, they are optimised for SMD LEDs with high output luminosities to give a brighter and more vivid experience.
Overview by Corsair
The K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE gaming keyboard has Cherry MX Speed RGB switches backed by a lightweight, durable aluminum frame. Advanced lighting control and large font keycaps deliver dynamic, vibrant multi-color backlighting. Harness the power of CUE for sophisticated macro programming and dramatic lighting effects and animations. 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover on USB helps ensure accuracy, so every keystroke translates directly into accurate gameplay. The USB pass-through port is positioned for uninterrupted game play and ready for your mouse or wireless headset adapter. Contoured, textured FPS and MOBA key sets keep you in control, and the Cherry MX Speed RGB switches give you linear response and fast actuation.
Technical Specifications
Key Switches: Cherry MX Speed RGB, mechanical, 45g actuation force, 1.2mm actuation distance, rated at 50M operations, gold cross-point contacts
Backlight: Individually lit and per key programmable
LED Color: RGB
USB Pass-through: Yes
Report Rate: Selectable 8ms, 4ms, 2ms, 1ms and BIOS mode
Matrix: 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover on USB
On-Board memory: Yes
Media keys: Six dedicated multimedia keys, incl. Volume Up/Down roller
Windows Lock key: Yes
Wrist rest: Full length detachable with soft touch finish
CUE (Software): Enabled
Cable: Braided Fiber
Dimensions: 436(L) x 165(W) x 38(H) mm / 17.2” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 1.50” (H)
Weight: 1.20 kg / 2.65 lbs.
Warranty: Two years
Package Contents
• Corsair Gaming K70 RGB RAPIDIFRE Mechanical Keyboard
• Detachable full length wrist rest
• Quick start guide
Backlight: Individually lit and per key programmable
LED Color: RGB
USB Pass-through: Yes
Report Rate: Selectable 8ms, 4ms, 2ms, 1ms and BIOS mode
Matrix: 100% anti-ghosting with full key rollover on USB
On-Board memory: Yes
Media keys: Six dedicated multimedia keys, incl. Volume Up/Down roller
Windows Lock key: Yes
Wrist rest: Full length detachable with soft touch finish
CUE (Software): Enabled
Cable: Braided Fiber
Dimensions: 436(L) x 165(W) x 38(H) mm / 17.2” (L) x 6.5” (W) x 1.50” (H)
Weight: 1.20 kg / 2.65 lbs.
Warranty: Two years
Package Contents
• Corsair Gaming K70 RGB RAPIDIFRE Mechanical Keyboard
• Detachable full length wrist rest
• Quick start guide
Packaging & First Look
The packaging comes in the yellow and black that has been in use by Corsair since they have settled on the Corsair Gaming brand. There is a large image of the product clearly showing what the product inside is, along with notation about its various features including information about the new MX Speed switch.
Inside we are greeted by the old favourite keycaps in WASD and MOBA layouts along with a keycap remover. Inside you will also find a quickstart guide and warranty information.
The K70 also includes a good quality, rubberised wrist rest which is always good to see. If you are sat at your desk for long periods, comfort and positioning are important to your health!
The K70 Rapidfire looks very similar to the older K70, though with a more attractive font on the keycaps, and features a more neutral grey USB connector ends rather than coloured. This may be to echo the colour of the switches in use.
Closer Look
The space bar is textured, giving a more tactile distinction when in use and it seems to be using the same high quality keycaps seen on the STRAFE keyboards.
The side view shows off the attractive profile of the K70 with the switches mounted into the top brushed aluminium plate. This allows for easy cleaning and maintenance.
The dedicated media keys are a big favourite, including a large volume roller mute, play/pause, skip, stop buttons as well as a windows lock key and a brightness button on the left.
At the back there is a USB 2.0 pass through as well as a manual report rate selector, giving a choice of 1-2-4-8ms and an option to enter BIOS mode.
Underneath there are various stands able to elevate the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE to adjust to preferred comfort, as well as mounts for the wrist rest and 4 rubber feet.
The complete K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE with wrist rest. As it has a thin bezel, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE seems much more compact compared to other full sized keyboards, something many will like.
Software & Lighting
The CUE GUI has received its fair share of criticisms, mostly about its complex nature and steel learning curve. This is also part of what makes the CUE so good. It has advanced per key programmability allowing you to assign various saved or recorded keystrokes in the action editor, including macros, keystrokes and shortcuts. To mirror this, there is also an advanced lighting editor for complete customisation. The saved profiles can then be uploaded and shared within the Corsair community. The most obvious rival to compare this software to would be Razer’s ‘Synapse’ software, though there is no need to sign up with Corsair, something that is a pain with Razer Synapse. This is because many Corsair products, including the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, features onboard memory that allows you to save your profiles to the item itself rather than to a cloud storage, allowing you to store all your settings on the go.
You can find and download from many lighting profiles within the Corsair community or create your own to use and share as you please. Alternatively you can choose the simple route and use one of the fluid and impressive preset effects. The lighting effects are smooth, colourful and vibrant. As observed recently with the ROCCAT RYOS MK FX, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE renders colours staggeringly well. White looks white, turquoise looks turquoise and yellow looks yellow. Though the colour doesn’t quite reach the vibrancy of the STRAFE RGB, this is because the switches are mounted on brushed aluminium, not plastic with a white background and that makes a difference. Overall whether it is various animated effects, or a simple customisation, the choice is yours.
Performance Testing
Setup, Design & Observations
The K70 requires two USB ports, one for the passthrough, the other to power the keyboard. It will function without installing the CUE software, but to get the full benefits, installing the CUE software is advised.
The K70 weighs in at a modest 1.2Kg and feels high quality. The keycaps feel great too, and if you use the provided extra keycaps, you get a much better tactile sense of positioning between the WASD and the space bar. I preferred to using the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE with the included wrist rest but as it isn’t so tall, some may find it unnecessary and prefer to free up that extra desk space.
The solid feel, and beautiful aesthetic of the thick, brushed, anodized aluminium really enhances the how good this product is, the customisation, lighting and software support adding to that, really makes an impression.
Now we move onto the party piece of the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, or of the RAPIDFIRE range in general. That is the latest switch technology from CHERRY, dubbed MX Speed. At first, when you type, they feel noticeably different from other mechanical switches. Though retaining a familiar linear element to MX Red the lower actuation point (1.2mm vs 2mm) literally makes them feel and respond faster.
The MX Speed switches are coloured silver (quick silver?) and are made specifically for high precision, short reaction times and high switching frequencies (Spammable). Having an actuation point of 1.2mm, they are 40% faster than standard CHERRY MX switches. This responsiveness in game actually shows within quick movements and split second calls. Fans of CS:GO will love the precision the MX Speed switches provide. If you are a fast typist, then you too will grow to love the MX Speed switches. I guess the only criticism could be that they are not silent, but only in the same way that most mechanical switches have that ‘clak’ sound while typing (bar the MX Silent), so it’s not a big deal.
Conclusion
The K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE does the Corsair brand justice with a mixture of top quality craftsmanship backed with intensely pedantic, yet gloriously comprehensive software. The MX Speed switches feel a little strange at first, but once you get used to them, they are something that can potentially give a competitive edge in games or a quick response time for speedy typing. The switches even provided an impressive lighting performance too, giving an accurate white, and fantastic colour rendering. To put it bluntly, the CHERRY MX Speed are the Rolls Royce of CHERRY switches, and at least for now, the Corsair RAPIDFIRE range is the only place you will find them.
There are some minor gripes that are worth discussing. One could moan about having to navigate the CUE software and its learning curve, but the main actions are simple enough and there are now various YouTube video guides to help along the way. Some may moan price, at £149, that is £10-20 more expensive than many good competing RGB mechanical keyboards, including Corsair’s own STRAFE RGB. Though not many of the said competition have a beautiful brushed aluminium finish on their keyboard with excellent RGB lighting that will charm its way into the hearts of many.
The stunning K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE is a beautiful keyboard with limitless possibilities that gains a deadly advantage thanks to the CHERRY MX Speed switches.
Pros.
+ Beautiful aesthetic
+ High quality construction
+ Excellent, highly customisable RGB lighting
+ Fully programmable keys
+ Dedicated media keys
+ FULL NKRO
+ USB pass through
+ Included wrist rest and extra keycaps
+ Thin bezels/compact
+ Cherry MX Speed switches
Cons.
– Price
– No dedicated macro keys
+ Beautiful aesthetic
+ High quality construction
+ Excellent, highly customisable RGB lighting
+ Fully programmable keys
+ Dedicated media keys
+ FULL NKRO
+ USB pass through
+ Included wrist rest and extra keycaps
+ Thin bezels/compact
+ Cherry MX Speed switches
Cons.
– Price
– No dedicated macro keys
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