Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

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Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
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By Steven Iglesias-Hearst

Manufacturer: Corsair
Product Name: Vengeance K70 Black Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Model Number: CH-9000011-UK
UPC: 843591028691
Price As Tested: $129.99 (NewEgg / Amazon)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Corsair.

The K70 is the third attempt by Corsair at making mechanical keyboards, and I think that they have finally nailed it this time. Their initial release featured a mix of mechanical keys and rubber dome keys that many users didn’t approve of. Their second release featured backlit keys and macro keys but still had a mix of mechanical and rubber dome keys. Now we meet in the middle – we have a full set of illuminated mechanical keys with per-key illumination, and there is a choice between red, blue and brown Cherry MX switches to boot. Available in Black/Red or Silver/Blue color combinations, the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is arguably one of the best looking mechanical keyboards available today. In this article Benchmark Reviews will be testing the Black/Red model CH-9000011-UK variant with Cherry MX Red switches, in a variety of scenarios including gaming and general productivity applications.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Illuminated

A detachable wrist rest, Multimedia keys, an extra set of textured and contoured keys for WASD and 1~6 keys, and a USB 2.0 pass through port, give the Vengeance K70 extra functionality and value when comparing to other mechanical keyboards. The K70 also features full N-Key rollover and 1000Mhz polling rate for maximum response when it really counts. All of this in encased into Corsair’s signature aluminium chassis for extra strength and quality that you won’t find everywhere else. The main downside for this keyboard, of course, is the cost. Sure it’s a high grade product (with features gamers want and all) but $130 is going to be hard to swallow for most.

Features & Specifications

  • Light, responsive Cherry MX Red mechanical switches for fast, efficient gaming action
    • 45g actuation force
    • 2mm to actuation and 4mm to bottom
    • Rated for 50 million operations
    • Gold contacts
  • Laser-etched, backlit keys with four illumination levels (off, 66%, 75%, and full illumination) selectable from the keyboard
  • Six multimedia keys — Stop, Previous, Play/Pause, Next, Mute, Volume Up/Down — with Solid metal, weighted volume “drum roller”
  • Windows Lock key for uninterrupted game play
  • Metal top plate for increased strength, durability and rigidity
  • USB pass-through connector giving easy access to a USB port on the back of the keyboard (USB 2.0/1.1/1.0)
  • USB Connector with gold plated contacts
  • 2m non-tangle cable Adjustable feet tilt for optimum personalization and positioning

Package contents

  • Vengeance K70 gaming keyboard
  • Detachable soft wrist rest
  • Warranty card (Two years warranty).

System requirements

  • PC with USB port
  • Windows 7/8, Windows Vista, or Windows XP

Designed for performance gaming
Cherry MX Red mechanical key switches provide fast, linear response and low-noise operation. Since the K70 is fully mechanical, you’ll get that response with any key you press. There’s a full key matrix anti-ghosting mechanism for perfect signal quality, and the full-key rollover ensures accuracy no matter how fast you play. The aluminum frame is lightweight and durable for hours and hours of intense play.

Customizable to your style of play
The all-important WASD and 1-6 keys are contoured and textured, so you can find them fast, and enjoy fast gaming action with less chance of your fingers missing their mark. You can use the software to program back-lighting for each key independently, so you can set up custom-lit key bindings for each game you play. And, once you’ve tweaked it to your tastes, the on-board memory lets you take your settings with you.

Looks great on your desktop
Not only is the K70 a remarkable gaming keyboard – it looks amazing, too. The brushed aluminum frame is black anodized for an impressive look, and the brilliant red backlighting gives it the unmistakable look of serious gaming machinery.

100% Cherry MX Red Mechanical Key Switches
You get smooth, linear key response for ultra fast double and triple taps without the audible click.

Key-by-Key Customizable Backlighting
Deep red LEDs with adjustable brightness and key-by-key programmability to light up just the keys you need. It’s great for illuminating your key bindings for each game, and you can store multiple presets. They’re saved directly to the K70 onboard memory, so you can take your light maps with you.

Brushed Aluminum Chassis
The K70 frame has a professional-grade look and feel, plus the rugged durability you need for hours of gaming.

Full key Matrix Anti-Ghosting with full-Key Rollover
Every keystroke translates into accurate gameplay—even when multiple keys are pressed. There’s no signal degradation, and it keeps up with you, no matter how fast you play.

Contoured, Textured WASD and 1-6 Keycaps
Keep your eyes on the action with easy to locate FPS keys. An extra set of standard typing keycaps and a keycap replacement tool are provided for general typing.

Easy-Access Multimedia Controls
You don’t just play games – you play music and video, too. Play, stop, pause, skip tracks and adjust volume directly from the K70.

USB Pass-Through
An extra USB connector is provided. It’s great for attaching a Vengeance gaming mouse or headset.

Soft-Touch Wrist Rest
Give your wrists a break, or take it off if it gets in the way.

Closer Look: Corsair Vengeance K70

Now we’re going to get into the heart of this review. In this section we look at and talk about the visual aesthetics of the Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Front_01

The Vengeance K70 is a full size keyboard measuring 436mm x 165mm x 38mm (without wrist rest). The top surface is made from brushed anodized aluminum while the rest of the shell is made from good old plastic. The end result is an overall weight of 1.2kg (without wrist rest).

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Top_02

The look and feel of the Vengeance K70 is enhanced greatly by the detachable wrist rest shown above. I say wrist rest because that is how Corsair refer to it, maybe if you are very young or have tiny hands it’s a wrist rest. My large man hands mean that it is more of a palm rest than a wrist rest because my wrists are actually resting on my desk as I game (minor niggle). The white type on the black keys stands out nicely and can be seen well in low light conditions too. There is a nice design feature to these keys that we will look at later which means the letters on the keys won’t wear out over time.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Bottom

The above image shows how the wrist rest attaches to the keyboard body, allowing for movement when you use the height adjusting feet. In addition to the traditional back height adjusting feet, the Vengeance K70 also features front height adjusting feet. Finding the right comfort zone for your particular gaming style won’t be an issue with this keyboard. The rubber pads in the corners of the keyboard and edge of the wrist rest do a great job of keeping the keyboard in place. However, with all the feet retracted you will find quite the opposite is the case, and the keyboard moves more freely than Mr Snowdon with an official pardon.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Side_View

The keys feature a nice contour for more comfortable and ergonomic usage. The Vengeance mechanical keyboards from corsair all feature the same unique style where the keys don’t sit within the shell, Instead they sit ‘on’ the top plate. Apart from aesthetical value this also will allow for a much easier and thorough cleaning as and when the time comes.

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One benefit of a mechanical switch keyboard is removable/swappable key caps. Below the key cap we see a Cherry MX Red mechanical switch with built in LED. The Key caps used on the Vengeance K70 keyboard start out as translucent white plastic which is then coated before the type facer is laser etched out. This design should ensure that the letters on the keys won’t simply fade out or rub off due to prolonged use.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Keycaps

For extra eCool points, or for ease of access, users can swap out the standard WASD and 1~6 key caps for these uber stylish red contoured and textured key caps that also ship with the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Keyboard.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Illuminated

The Vengeance K70 features a full host of LED backlit keys. Thanks to the countersunk design of the Vengeance mechanical keyboards, the back lighting of the keys also gives an ambient glow on the top surface of the keyboard body. There are four illumination settings: Starting with off, followed by 66%, 75%, and finally 100%. The illumination of the keys is so vibrant and it is very difficult to accurately replicate this with my camera. The LED’s are a very deep (650nm) red that show no signs of pinking at all.

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Corsair Vengeance K70 Detailed Features
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In this section we will look at the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard in much more closer detail and pick out the individual interesting features.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Media_Buttons

Shown above are the unique function keys and also the media keys. The media keys include: Stop, Previous, Play/Pause, Next, Mute, and a textured volume up/down scroll wheel. The unique function keys are as follows: Key illumination program button, Key illumination brightness button, and the Windows key ‘Lock’ button.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Per_Key_Illumination

You can decide which keys you want illuminated by simply holding down the illumination program button for a few seconds until it starts flashing, then simply hit the keys you want lit or visa versa. When you selected the keys you want illuminated you once again hold down the program button until it stops flashing. You can then use the program button to switch between full illumination and custom illumination modes.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_USB

The Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard features a thick tangle free braided cable which splits into two separate USB connections. One is for the USB pass through port and the other is for the keyboard itself (each are labelled as such).

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Back

On the rear of the K70 is a backwards compatible USB 2.0 pass through port for connecting other peripherals, headsets and USB flash drive storage etc. The switch to the right of the USB port is for selecting polling rate of the Vengeance K70 Keyboard, and there is also a setting for legacy BIOS compatibility. The number of each setting equates to latency in milliseconds; 1ms, 2ms, 4ms and 8ms.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Textures

The detachable wrist rest included with the Vengeance K70 has a textured soft touch rubber coating for added looks and comfort. The textured space bar is a nice touch as it’s the one key that is not illuminated on top.

Corsair_Vengeance_K70_Mechanical_Gaming_Keyboard_Info

On the underside of the Vengeance K70 keyboard is the product info sticker with ratings and compliance info. Corsair have also printed info on the underside that pertains to repetitive strain injury (RSI) and other conditions that can occur through bad posture and such.

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Testing & Results
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Testing Methodology

Testing an input device is simple, all one needs to do is use it, unfortunately there are no quantitative benchmarks to run, no numbers to compare, and no software used that can test the quality of the hardware. Testing an input device like the Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is going to be based around personal opinion and preference. For instance; I really like the ability to choose which keys I want illuminated, but this is a novelty and will not be considered useful by everyone. In this section I will present my unbiased opinion with regards to the use and operation of the Vengeance K70, and report back any improvement benefiting directly by its use in various games and programs listed below. Your mileage may vary slightly and as such this should be taken as a guide only.

Test System

  • Motherboard: MSI Z77A-G45 Gaming
  • System Memory: 8GB Corsair LP CL9 1600MHz
  • Processor: Core i7 2600K @ 4.2GHz
  • Video Card: MSI N560GTX-Ti Hawk
  • Mouse: ROCCAT Kone Pure 8200 DPI
  • Disk Drive 1: OCZ Vertex 2 60GB
  • Disk Drive 2: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB
  • Enclosure: Lancool PC-K63
  • PSU: Corsair HX750W 750 watt Modular
  • Monitor: HKC 22″ Widescreen (1920×1080)
  • Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (SP1)

Test Software

  • Firefox and Internet Explorer web browsers
  • Microsoft Office applications
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (zombies)
  • Battlefield 3
  • GRID 2
  • Saints Row: The Third
  • Just Cause 2
  • Left 4 Dead 2

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Results

I have tested other mechanical keyboards prior to the Vengeance K70 but they have always featured Cherry MX Black switches. Cherry MX Red switches are so much lighter and more responsive than MX Blacks and the difference is very noticeable. This will be great for games where you will benefit from a fast response time.

There are no real gaming features to the K70 as such, really the features are all novelties. To be called a gaming keyboard, things like macro’s and bindable keys are important. Since the K70’s main features are backlit keys and replaceable keycaps, it must be aimed at novice gamers who struggle to remember the keys needed to play any given game. The per-key illumination comes in handy for illuminating just the keys for your favorite game, this is handy for low light visibility and for remembering key layouts etc. The more you look at the keyboard the less you are looking at your screen so all these novelties won’t count for much in the heat of battle.

The main problem I have with this keyboard is apparent when I am typing, maybe it’s the adjustment period of the keyboard or maybe it’s just me. I find that Cherry MX Red switches are definitely for the nimble fingered. I found myself accidentally hitting the keys next to the keys I intended to press, which results in a lot of typo’s. Caps Lock is the most frequent which is never good when typing. A slight brush stroke from a stray finger is all that is needed to actuate a keypress. It has got better with time though, so maybe I am getting used to the keys after all.

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Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Final Thoughts
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If this review was based on looks alone then the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard would get a gold award straight up. Regular readers will know that’s just not how we do things here at Benchmark Reviews. Although the K70 is extremely easy on the eye, it doesn’t really have too many features (other than lights and Cherry MX switches) that will serve to class it as a ‘Gaming’ keyboard. The wrist (palm) rest and unique height adjusting feet allow you to find the perfect comfort zone whether you are typing or gaming.

The media keys are handy but their location means it is just as easy to grab the mouse and use that instead. Overall the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is extremely well constructed and feels as though it will last many years into the future. Typing with cherry MX Red keys is not the most forgiving task. A slight brushing from a stray finger will actuate an unintended key press. Great news if you are very nimble fingered, but not great for me.The backspace key has seen more than its fair share of use during the writing of this article.

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Vengeance K70 Keyboard Conclusion
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In this section I am going to write a brief five point summary on the following categories; Performance, Appearance, Construction, Functionality and Value. These views are my own and help me to give the Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard a rating out of 10. A high or low score does not necessarily mean that it is better or worse than a similar gaming keyboard that has been reviewed by another writer here at Benchmark Reviews, which may have got a higher or lower score. It is however a good indicator of whether the Vengeance K70 is good or not. I would strongly urge you to read the entire review, if you have not already, so that you can make an educated decision for yourself.

Before using one, I was sceptical of any performance advantage that might be gained from using a mechanical keyboard, but they are making a massive comeback in recent years. Once you have had the pleasure of using one you will not want to go back to your regular keyboard. All of the mechanical keyboards I have tested prior to the K70 have featured Cherry MX Black switches so I was keen to try the MX Red Switches too. With regards to gaming though, I cannot really say if I have noticed any real benefit. I only play FPS style games so I won’t notice the anti-ghosting or increased actions per minute afforded by the K70, but I really appreciate the overall quality feel while gaming and typing.

I may have dropped hints here and there throughout this review to let you know just how I feel about the appearance of the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Simply put, there is not one part of the K70 that does not look good. If scoring was based on looks alone then there would be no contest, even from its siblings – the K60, K90 and K95.

The Vengeance K70 is built for purpose and then some. as with all peripherals there is the use of plastics but the K70 finds the right balance. The top cover is made from a single piece of brushed anodized aluminum and really sets the K70 apart from other mechanical keyboards available.

This pony has only a couple of tricks where functionality is concerned, and even those are essentially just novelties. A gaming keyboard should have macro keys as standard and bindable keys are the next ‘must have’ as far as I am concerned. The latency adjustment switch has no perceivable benefit but the USB pass-through port makes for a great place to attach your mouse or headset. The Windows key lock has it’s uses, it is a real pain when you are in the middle of a game and you hit this key by mistake.

The high price of the Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard will mean the value rating is going to suffer. I am really struggling to find a good reason to justify the $129.99 (NewEgg / Amazon) price tag.

There are many factors taken into consideration when giving out ratings, and this is possibly the hardest part of the review to conclude. After giving a lot of thought to the individual ratings I have decided to give the Corsair Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard a Recommended Product award.

Pros: Benchmark Reviews Recommended Product Award Logo (Small)

+ Back lighting is awesome
+ Full mechanical key layout
+ Extra key caps are a great novelty and will be useful for beginners
+ Full N-Key roll-over
+ Media keys
+ Wrist (palm) rest
+ Very sturdy and well constructed
+ USB 2.0 pass through port
+ Programmable lighting of individual keys
+ Easy to clean and maintain
+ Also available with MX Blue or Brown switches.

Cons:

– No Macro/bindable keys
– Extremely expensive input device
– Not the best keyboard for typing, MX Reds are too sensitive
– Novelty enthusiast product

Ratings:

  • Performance: 8.50
  • Appearance: 9.75
  • Construction: 9.50
  • Functionality: 8.00
  • Value: 7.00

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Final Score: 8.55 out of 10.
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Recommended: Benchmark Reviews Seal of Approval.

COMMENT QUESTION: Do you prefer mechanic keyboards over standard membrane-style versions?