TheOverclocker Issue 39 | Page 43

GAMING GEAR AWARD Hardware Award speed switch could very well be a viable option for many users which seek both high performance, but of course silence as well. Given the shorter actuation distance, the K70 will of course take a little getting to used too, especially if you are coming from a competing vendor or even CORSAIR’s own earlier offerings. Once you do though, you’re unlikely to want to use another keyboard or at the very least it won’t be better than the Rapidfire. It is a subjective claim, but not only was the typing speed improved with the Rapidfire, so was gaming performance or at the least seemed to be. Some may suspect this to be imagined as I’m far from a competitive gamer let alone competent in any FPS game. However, the comfort with the Rapidfire was unexpected and it is why it ended up being the choice keyboard over the MX-Silent despite my certainty that this was the quintessential CORSAIR offering at the time. As you are well aware, the bulk of my analysis on the Rapidfire is about how it feels and the reason is quite simple. With the K70 range of products, the design is near identical between offerings. The changes that exists are mostly in what application environment the macro keys, lighting and switches deliver to the end user. The USB 2.0 hub is there, and I still find it odd that there’s only one port and it is 2.0 spec instead of 3.0 (even better 3.1). Having said that, if you’re not a fan of the aesthetic of CORSAIR keyboards, the Rapidfire is not likely to change your mind at all. For those of you who are happy with Corsair keyboards already you should seriously consider the Rapidfire. Yes it costs a little more than the average gaming keyboard, but then again it will last you a lot longer and deliver a better experience. After all is said and done you’ll just appreciate having a solidly built keyboard that has near unlimited configuration options through the CUE Software. There’s really nothing to dislike here in the least. As such I’ve no qualms again giving this keyboard the HARDWARE award. Never would I have thought that a simple thing such as changing to a shorter switch could make such a remarkable change in feel and usability. It may get tiring reading this, but once again CORSAIR has provided a keyboard that few others can match in just about all respects. The price may seem high but for the quality product you end up with, it’s worth every dollar and you’ll not be disappointed at all. Impressive in all respects. [ The Overclocker ] Issue 39 | 2016 The OverClocker 43