| Corsair Vengeance K90 Mechanical Keyboard |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Input Devices | |||||||
| Written by Austin Downing | |||||||
| Monday, 16 April 2012 | |||||||
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Gaming Keyboard Final ThoughtsThe Corsair Vengeance K90 is a fine keyboard. The Cherry MX Red switches make for a great gaming experience with their linear force profile and low actuation force. Although I found the Cherry MX Blue switches with their haptic and auditory feedback better for typing overall, the Cherry MX Red switches still perform admirably and are infinitely better than their rubber dome competition
Still, the K90 is not in my view perfect and I would like to see some changes in future revisions of it. First at $130 I expect every key to have a Cherry MX Red switch, including the function keys and all of the G-keys. My second revision I would like to see is that the aluminum top covers the entire keyboard including the G-keys. I think this would look even better than the current one does, and might add a little more durability overall to the keyboard. Corsair Vengeance K90 ConclusionPerformance in a keyboard is about being able to type and game without the peripheral holding the enthusiast back. Thankfully, the Corsair K90 performs admirably in both gaming and typing because the Cherry MX Red mechanical switches are great to type on and allow for extremely fast reaction times in games. When compared to the Cherry MX Blues switches the Cherry MX Red switches which lack the auditory and tactile feedback are not quite as good for typing on but, compared to the typical rubber dome keyboards the Red switches perform admirably providing an overall great typing experience. The K90 is one of the most gorgeous keyboards I have laid my eyes on. The brushed aluminum exterior, raised keys, and blue glow come together to create quite a striking looking keyboard. Because of the of the brushed exterior fingerprints do not show up meaning that even after extended use the K90 still looks as beautiful as it was the first day. With its aluminum exterior the Corsair K90 feel extremely solid, and will not flex, or give in any way possible. Corsair also stands behind its product providing a two-year warranty to enthusiast who buys the K90. As with any Cherry MX switch, the Red switches are rated for 50 Million key presses, which gives the K90 a very long potential lifetime as long as users take care of it. The one area that I worry about for durability on the K90 is the G-keys and function keys as Corsair chose to use rubber dome switches instead of Cherry MX Red Switches for these keys. The Corsair K90 is adaptable to many situations, whether a user wants to make macros for a game or to make their administrative jobs easier the K90's G-keys and included software make it easy to setup. The integrated memory allows macros to move with the user without the need for complicated software, and means that users can record new macros on the fly as they are needed. did not make every key mechanical but instead chose to leave the G-keys and function keys as rubber dome switches. For $129.99 the Corsair Vengeance K90 is in the top 2-4% of keyboards on Newegg.com. For this prices I really expect perfection, and this means Corsair needs to make every key mechanical. Otherwise, the enthusiest get a great product out the K90 with its linear force switches, brushed aluminum exterior, and software that is easy to use. Overall though the Corsair K90 is a extremely expensive keyboard but it does provide many great features for users. Because of its beautiful design, Cherry MX Red switches, and longevity I am excited to reward the Corsair Vengeance K90 Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer award. Pros:
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Comments
Virtually no keyboard manufacturer in existence realizes that FPS/RPG gaming needs more than just a bunch of extra keys slapped to the left or top.
To me that is quite mysterious as FPS/RPG gaming is the major part of PC gaming.
If corsair could offer me such a device I would be prepared to dish out a lot of money, I don't even care whether the board is mechanical or not.
As it is now I still use my old Ideazon Fang, but I fear one of these days this superb device will break down after many years of service. I am in for a nice modernized back-lit replacement and I am prepared to pay for it.
I can not image those keyboard producing companies really overlooking this. There must be no market for improvement or something.
To me the Ideazon Fang is a miracle device. It is such an gigantic step forward in comfortable ergonomic FPS gaming that I expected every keyboard manufacturer to jump on board and produce something competitive. There is still some room for improvement and modernization.
If I had known that Steelseries would stop production after the take-over I would have bought several Fangs for backup. I dread the day it will die on me.
#overclock.net/t/1210473/another-corsair-k90-keyboard-review
@Andreas: I've heard about the Fang but never had the chance to play with it. IIRC, there was some incompatibility issues with newer games, with WOW mostly. Also the software was not the best in class. However, we shouldn't forget this is a Keyboard review, I mean a detachable gamepad might be a nice idea but if the main keyboard is junk it is not going to do much good.
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I assure you the Fang has no problems supporting WOW at all. Even without drivers it acts like a mini gaming keyboard with most used keys neatly and ergonomically grouped around the WASD keys.
The Fang, without drivers, is able to support any game that runs on windows until hell freezes over. The only prerequisite is that windows keeps detecting the Fang as a basic keyboard.
In general though the support for the Fang (and Merc Stealth) software has deteriorated since Steelseries took over Ideazon.
It is not a huge problem, because the Fang still can function without special drivers and software. But you do lose some of the cool remapping functions the Fang in principle is capable of. The software is actually quite good, but the lack of updates is causing the problems now.
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"However, we shouldn't forget this is a Keyboard review, I mean a detachable gamepad might be a nice idea but if the main keyboard is junk it is not going to do much good."
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But I agree wholeheartedly. That is why it would be great if a good keyboard manufacturer would create a modernized/upgraded high quality Fang-like device that could be attached to a high quality keyboard.
For example the Sidewinder X6 (I know it is not a mechanical keyboard, but it is still excellent quality) has a modular design.
You can detach the numpad and click it onto the keyboard left or right, or leave it off, whatever you prefer.
It is a unique concept that is great for what I have in mind, but apparently Microsoft does not realize the potential of their concept at all.
If Microsoft would also build a Fang-like module that I could click onto the left or right side of the Sidewinder X6 I would be a very happy gamer indeed. For me that would be the ultimate FPS/RPG keyboard design. For the Fang module only I would be prepared to pay a 100 bucks without hesitation.
I would pay $200 for a Merc Stealth that used mechanical key closures on ALL the keys, and a little more robust keycap material.
I have the Ideazon Merc Stealth as well. It is build like a brick, but I mean that in the best sense possible: It is an incredibly solid keyboard.
The reason I stopped using it and started using the Ideazon Fang instead, is because of the fact that I think the merging of the cursor keys and keypad keys on the right hand side is a huge mistake. For me it was fine when I was gaming, but when I was typing I got irritated by having to constantly use that damned switch key.
The Merc Stealth would have been perfect if it was constructed like any regular full keyboard on the right hand side with a full/normal cursor/keypad part.
I even preferred the way the 'space/jump' and 'P1' buttons of the FPS pad were done on the Merc Stealth.
SO if they would build a Merc Stealth II with a normal cursor/keypad and mechanical keys I would buy it immediately. No.... I would buy TWO!
We FPS gamers are in dire need of a true perfect FPS keyboard. At the moment nobody is making one.
Ideazon had it almost right with the Merc Stealth and the Fang and Steelseries should pick up on that, because they have a perfect product within reach.
Were it says '@iFlame' it should be 'Andreas'.
:)
"I suppose it wouldn't be for average users"
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I think that might surprise you. Perhaps not for those who exclusively use a keyboard for typing. Perhaps that is the average user? But there are so many FPS gamers out there, who already are dishing out huge amounts of money for fancy gaming keyboards, which in general and in fact have actually very little to offer to a FPS gamer. Most of these boards offer little more than backlighting, some extra keys and a fancy design.
I strongly believe that a board like we have been discussing here, is what these FPS gamers would really want if they had the choice, because:
.this system would give them a full high quality keyboard for typing,
.would offer them a perfect module for true FPS/RPG gaming,
.would give them a choice of interesting and useful other modules
.and because you can plug in the modules any which way you want, it would cater to right and left handed people equally.
The board should have backlighting, useful media keys, be programmable, and have 1 or 2 usb ports.
These properties are most important on the keys that are used in gaming, and that includes the function and macro keys which are only using rubber cups on this keyboard.
The fact is that there are plenty of other examples of similar keyboards using all mechanical keys, and at the same prices you see the K90 being sold for. So, IF they did this to save some money, that's inexcusable when I can purchase another keyboard with all mechanical keys for the same or lower price (which I and many others have done).
That, combined with the rubber keycaps on function, macro and media keys, makes me agree that Corsair still has some work to do.
I do love the aluminum chassis though, but personally I prefer Cherry Blue keys.