Capsule Review: Corsair's Vengeance K60 and K90 Keyboards
by Dustin Sklavos on February 18, 2012 9:22 PM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Peripherals
- Corsair
- Cherry MX
- Input Devices
Conclusion: Strong Out of the Gate
I'll come right out and say that I've been looking for a new keyboard to replace my aging and decrepit Microsoft Reclusa for a long time, and for me, the Corsair Vengeance K90 is it. The backlighting, the wrist rest, the mechanical switches, the recessed configurable keys, the USB 2.0 port built into the top using a passthrough...the K90 is definitely an excellent piece of kit, and it feels like it was designed by people who used other gaming keyboards and felt like those products just weren't cutting the mustard. With all that in mind, I think there are still some reservations.
I have concerns about the paint and treatment used for the keycaps on the K90 being able to hold up over time, and I feel like the software definitely does need a little bit more work and fine tuning. The USB passthrough is appreciated, but with a dedicated connection wouldn't it have been just as easy to offer more than one USB port on the keyboard itself? Right now I'm using the single port for the Vengeance mice I'm testing, but it would be nice to have a second port: one for the mouse, and one for flash drive and other USB peripherals.
The price difference between the K90 and K60 is also a little too small; in my opinion the K90 is just more preferable to the K60 and absolutely worth the extra $20 for the substantially improved functionality, comfort, and aesthetics. If anything the K60 just seems to exist to make the K90 look like a better deal, which is impressive when you're talking about keyboards that cost north of $100.
With all that in mind, it's pretty clear that despite these nitpicks Corsair has once again entered a brand new market with some very strong products. For first attempts, the Vengeance K60 and K90 both get an awful lot right, and the typing and user experiences on both of these keyboards are definitely a step above what you'll get from a garden variety membrane keyboard.
It's up to you to decide if they're worth the investment; I think the $109 and $129 price tags are both a little too steep and the keyboards would both be more compelling at $89 and $119 respectively, if not $79 and $109. If you're willing to shell out for one, the K90 is pretty much directly superior to its less expensive sibling and worth the extra $20. But really, I wouldn't fault anyone for buying either one despite the prices: these are excellent keyboards and, in my opinion, a cut above any gaming keyboards anyone else is producing.
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kyuu - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
What? There's a Cherry keyboard there with 8 ratings with a combined score of *5* eggs. The one on top is the only one I see with a poor rating, and *that* is by *one* user whose complaint had nothing to do with the switches (it seems it rattled, a reasonable complaint, and also the keys were small, not a reasonable complaint when you've purchased an ultraslim keyboard).Also, user ratings on Newegg are not a reasonable foundation for making any kind of objective evaluation of a product or company.
Beenthere - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
The good rated Cherry mobos are a MEMBRANE style, not a mechanical key, except for the one person I mentioned who liked one model.People's opinions are their opinions. Who are you to say if their opinion is not valid?????
Mr Perfect - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
People do complain about the build quality of Cherry OEM boards, but it's the quality of the case, PCB, caps, etc. Put the same MX switches in a Rosewill board and everything is roses.http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Sub...
Conficio - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
Does anyone know of a mechanical keyboard that is more in the $100 range with a split keyboard design like the Microsoft Natural Keybaord Elite?I love those and would trade it in for a mechanical, but all I can find is $250+ and that is too steep a price.
adamantinepiggy - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
When I am busy doing work on the PC, not one damn person ever comes up and asks me stupid questions lie whether I'm busy at the moment. People KNOW when I'm busy working from the auditory carnage!!!Zds - Monday, February 20, 2012 - link
Interesting review!Being a person who likes his UI devices respond perfectly, I have long been fan of switch keyboards, and it's nice to get reviews of then. My habit of having drinks at desk also goes through membrane keyboards at rate of one per 1.5 years..
Anyway, the keyboard that I've relied upon for past 5 years is Raptor Gaming keyboard, based on gold-plated cross-point switches. It does not have macros or leds, but the *keyboard* in it is very, very good. So I am skeptical on Corsair being on different level.
Cygus - Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - link
i have seen in a long time! Yuck! Corsair, you need a new design team!Vepsa - Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - link
I would love it if a company made an ergonomic keyboard with mechanical switches. I cannot really type on a standard keyboard w/o pain (not from carpal tunnel, from arthritis in my fingers) so it would be a godsend to be able to get a solidly built mechanical switch ergonomic keyboard.methudman6 - Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - link
When I was 5 years old my dad gave me a computer with a mechanical keyboard. The keyboard lasted me for 10 years before it broke. I was then 15 and very disappointed to find out that stores did not sell mechanical keyboards anymore. As others have mentioned here, once you get used to a mechanical keyboard you just can't go back. Not only does it feel much better but it also significantly improves your typing accuracy and speed.Anyways I'm really happy to see that more companies are starting to make mechanical keyboards. I would like to see one that is designed for professional use in the office - maybe one that is a little bit softer so as not to be extremely loud and I don't need any of those extra gaming keys and flashy LED lights.
ddecker902 - Friday, March 23, 2012 - link
Bought a K90 keyboard around the end of February. Had a stuck key, I'd hit backspace and it'd keep backspacing. This was consistent.Returned it and got another one about two weeks ago. Same behavior, only more keys were affected.
Can't recommend it. Seems to me to be badly made.