The lovely people at Corsair have been nice enough to let me use and most importantly review the Corsair Vengeance K65 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Through my times playing at tournaments and being thrown hardware left right and center you start to get an idea of what works and what doesn't I’ve mainly used Razer and Logitech products whilst playing professionally as these were the organisers sponsors, so using peripherals was compulsory. Seeing Corsair enter the gaming market and having never used their products before, I feel I can give a non-biased review on this keyboard, having been using it for nearly a month.
Let’s get straight into it, all the areas I talk on will be given a mark out of 10, and I will say these are my own opinions these are no way influenced by others. To the unboxing!
When receiving the Corsair K65 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard your presented with great information on the front with the points which every gamer would like to know;
- Cherry Switch Type
- Type of Keyboard
- Anti – Ghosting
I feel for a gaming keyboard these are going to be what a person looks for in an entry level mechanical gaming keyboard.
Once opening the box, the packaging of the item is basic although they've made the box the right dimensions to allow the keyboard to fit in snug and secure, which is always good so you don’t end up with damaged goods.
A manual is a compulsory part of any product showing you how to use your new Corsair gaming keyboard, also the warranty is there just for people who might have problems or something happen further down the line. I will say that even though this packaging isn't the most glam or the most “awesome” in terms of unboxing I feel that Corsair have got their heads screwed on and know how to market their products for the right audience, you can tell a mile off that with the information plastered on the box, it’s a keyboard for gamers. For that I give Corsair a reasonable 7/10, a good well packaged product from Corsair.
Unboxing: 7/10
For any keyboard, the build quality is the most important as its going to get a beating especially In gaming, this can be from rolling your head on the keyboard when your derping to a new game or smashing it when your friend team kills you. I've gave this keyboard a few fist hammers and the thing still works and to my excitement no keys have gone missing.
The keycaps are of a good build quality, they aren't laser engraved or some form of luxurious silk rolling on your fingertips this is an entry level gaming mechanical keyboard. Let’s be honest we aren't looking for that in this keyboard, but what I can say these keys and the build quality of them and how they are snug on the Cherry switch, gives me no doubt that this is going to take some beating.
Unlike some keyboards *cough* Steelseries I’ve lost more Keycaps with Steelseries than I can count.
The space bar has a fairly nice rugged engraved pattern on it which helps keep your thumb nicely on there when repeatedly hitting the space bar in First Person Shooters, I do feel over time though the keyboards keycaps will start to fade as they seem to be transfers but really, when gaming you’re not looking at the keyboard you’re watching the screen for the enemy to pop up, or the next pick up to appear.
The whole keyboard is garnished in a sleek gunmetal anodized aluminium chassis; I feel this adds to the rugged and professional look that comes with all Corsair products, this helps bring a nice contrast and a durable plate so your chances of snapping the board in half isn't likely which I feel is a good piece of mind when carrying it in your bag to a LAN event, you’re not going to be losing keys or breaking it.. Great stuff!
Key spacing is vital in keyboards and some companies I feel lack in this area especially in gaming keyboards the spacing of keys and the overall height can sometimes make keyboards feel uncomfortable, the more a keyboard is used. I feel that Corsair, with their raised keys in some areas help benefit and reduce strain, this is because the low columns of the keyboard are slanted inwards for your finger to have a good footing on the shift and control keys, then from there it if evens out and then raises up to the numbers across the top so that the fingers don’t have to dip down as much, I feel for myself this keyboard is comfortable as I use it both at work and home. Work for typing and at home for gaming; I used to use a TteSports Meka which is another mechanical Cherry keyboard. And maybe it’s just me but I prefer the K65 over the Meka, but then again its personal preference.
Overall the build quality of the K65 for the price that it retails at you can’t ask for much more for the price! It’s a good all round keyboard, and built to take some beatings, overall for the build quality I’m going to give this keyboard 8/10 as I feel that the gunmetal anodised aluminium chassis helps give it better build quality and a good foundation for the switches.
Build Quality: 8/10
With compact keyboards you think to yourself… what features do you I need, as really adding macro keys is just going to increase its size, then really its not going to be compact anymore is it, I feel that Corsair have looked at what really is needed, you have the gaming features in the board, which help towards the game but Corsair, think of what a gamer would want;
Windows Key Lock – Every keyboard manufacturer that has this needs their hand shaking, if this isn't on a gaming keyboard I don’t class it as one. These are needed more than people think, half the time you would go to a LAN event seeing keyboards with people pulling their windows keys out so they don’t accidentally hit the key in the heat of the moment, which can be the difference between a frag and a death.
Multimedia Keys – When raving to your latest Justin Beiber tunes and blowing heads off, it’s annoying when you need to minimize and change song, when the song is putting a damper on your momentum. Corsair have come and solved that problem throwing the Multimedia keys on there.
Volume Control – Gaming is coming more immersive, maybe so that when mums shouting you downstairs for your tea or your girlfriend are screaming for you to do something, constantly tweaking with volume adjusters on headsets can burn the resistors out and minimizing just isn't what you want. You want to keep yourself in the game whilst multitasking…. Because let’s face it, the chair only turns 180 degrees when a drink or toilet break is needed. So Corsair has that covered with their Simple Mute and Volume Controls.
Multimedia Keys – When raving to your latest Justin Beiber tunes and blowing heads off, it’s annoying when you need to minimize and change song, when the song is putting a damper on your momentum. Corsair have come and solved that problem throwing the Multimedia keys on there.
Volume Control – Gaming is coming more immersive, maybe so that when mums shouting you downstairs for your tea or your girlfriend are screaming for you to do something, constantly tweaking with volume adjusters on headsets can burn the resistors out and minimizing just isn't what you want. You want to keep yourself in the game whilst multitasking…. Because let’s face it, the chair only turns 180 degrees when a drink or toilet break is needed. So Corsair has that covered with their Simple Mute and Volume Controls.
Overall I feel Corsair for the price tag have once again looked at what a entry Level keyboard needs in regard to features and ticked every box for me. Yes the keyboard hasn't got back-lit keys or a disco raving off as you frag, but I only see that as a distraction. So for me Corsair get a nice comfortable 7/10 I feel I’d of maybe gave them an 8 if the keys themselves as they are transferable could glow in the dark… now that would be cool.
Features: 7/10
I feel I've covered the bases which people look for when looking at a cost effective gaming mechanical keyboard without the premium price tag. Corsair can give themselves a pat on the back for making a great entry-level gaming mechanical keyboard, the features they've included please me, the build quality is top notch. Even though Corsair are just getting there footing in the gaming market with Vengeance range to challenge the market I feel they are on the right tracks to stand toe to toe with the big boys.
Unboxing: 7/10
Build Quality: 8/10
Features: 7/10
Overall: 22/30