Corsair has established a pretty good reputation in the world of mechanical keyboards. And they’ve just got their hands on something rather interesting, with the company announcing the world’s first keyboards with Cherry’s Speed switches.
What’s new about Cherry’s Speed switches is that the actuation time is shorter — 1.2mm compared to the standard 2mm. It doesn’t sound like much and … well, it’s really not. It’s literally 0.8mm, which isn’t a great deal of difference from Cherry’s standard Red switches.
The actuation force on the Speed switches isn’t anything special either: 45g, the same as Cherry’s Brown, Red and Silent offerings. The Speeds also have a lifespan of 50 million strokes.
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The one advantage is that it won’t cost you anything extra to pick up any of Corsair’s keyboards carrying the MX Speeds. They’re available in the K70 RAPIDFIRE and the two RGB versions of the RAPIDFIRE, the K65 and K70.
Minus the colour elements, which are exclusive to the RGB models, the three keyboards all have full key rollver, a USB pass-through port, detachable wrist rests, keycap sets for MOBA and FPS games, the Corsair software suite and multimedia controls.
You can order the K65 and K70 RAPIDFIRE today from selected retailers, with larger outlets to begin selling the RAPIDFIRE models soon. A StaticICE search reveals that the K70 RAPIDFIRE is going for just over $170 locally, which isn’t too bad given its priced internationally at US$129.99.
For the K65 RGB and K70 RGB, they’re going for US$139.99 and US$169.99 respectively. Local stores are selling them for around $185 and $215 at the moment, although that might change when more of the bigger names (MSY, MWAVE, UMart, PC Case Gear etc.) have stock.
Comments
15 responses to “Corsair Has The First Keyboards With Cherry’s New Speed Switches”
Dippaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
0.8mm is a fairly massive difference when your starting point is 2mm!
Here, let me help: The cherry speeds have a 40% shorter actuation distance.
You and your math, your assessment seems 100% correct.
It seems huge when you put it in percentages, but bugger all in practice. Also, Corsair were using the same 40% improvement in their press release.
Rule 1 of advertising, use the stats that make you seem the best haha.
But yeah if someone is describing an M&M to you and they say it’s 40% bigger, it’s still a tiny chocolate….. Good point.
It’s like sugar free tic-tacs. They’re not technically sugar free, far from it in fact, but due to their serving size of 1 tic-tac, the weight is small enough that it comes in under the required number to report the sugar content.
Eh, i’ve been making custom gaming controllers for fifteen years, and that kind of difference would be considered massive.
For keyboards I actually prefer a longer keystroke, I’m not a fan of laptop keys, but for gaming being given more options is always good. I’m key-n to try these out!
Actuation shorter than Steelseries M800? Wow…
I wouldn’t mind a buckling spring keyboard with all the bells and whistles of a Corsair. The Unicomp ones are fine, but definitely bland looking and basic, and not sure about nKRO and stuff.
USB pass through is a nice addition, my current K65 RGB takes two USB ports by itself, so I’m finding my PC a bit short on accessible USB ports since I got it.
Shame the K65 isn’t available with Brown switches. I’m honestly not that thrilled with the red switches overall, but it was the only option for an RGB tenkeyless mechanical keyboard at the time.
Brown and Red’s have always been the way to go for me. I found my typing was most accurate off the bat on browns, although I’ve slowly become accustomed to browns. (I find reducing the repeat rate slightly in Windows actually helped me a little when typing on Reds, although I’ve fucked up about 5 times writing this paragraph and I’m on Reds now soooooooooooo)
Are you sure you don’t have a pass through? My K65 (non RGB) has a passthrough at the back of the keyboard next to the cord.
Annnnnnnnndddddddddd I just bought a STRAFE RGB with Silent keys…….. DAYYYYYYYAMMMMM lol
Well, looks like I’ve found my new keyboard 🙂
Corsair K70 RGB Rapidfire
Dang, if only they were tactile.
Could you use a large O-Ring to make it bottom out just after actuation?