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Corsair K70 Review

As usual, I made a video review as well as a written.  I think my video editing skills are improving, but with the way the past week has been (waifu in hospital, work, etc)  I wasn't able to do all that I wanted with it.  I'm going to start working on a proper outro and start working on custom thumbnails for future videos as well.  Any constructive criticism is welcome! Oh, and @HowIStarted on youtube, whoever you are. This is as good as my hair gets. :P

 

 

In Depth Review:

What is the Corsair K70?

The Corsair K70 is a mechanical keyboard made by Corsair.  It features red, blue, and brown keys in a black finish with red illumination. I personally own both the Cherry MX Red and Brown switch versions.  

Small Backstory

I had originally bought a “gaming optimized” (marketing bull crap) keyboard that I thought would be awesome because it had awesome “features” that made me think it would be an easier switch.  I ended up smashing it due to frustration.  My wife told me I needed to invest in a good keyboard and that I did not need to settle.  After a lot of research  and seeing what was out there, I found the K70.  It seemed a bit overpriced compared to the competition, but reading further, I realized where that money was going it was definitely going straight into the production of the keyboard.

 

Is the K70 good for gaming?

With three different switch types, the K70 aims to please almost every gamer. Not only that but they include curved keycaps for WASD and 1-6.  This may not seem like a big deal, but I can tell you it definitely saved me a few times while I was in the middle of a match. For instance, when I would go to throw a grenade, and before I would have to look down to see what keys I was about to start pressing again.  Thanks to these keycaps, that was no longer an issue because they felt different and over time I knew by feeling. The kepcaps also made it an easier switch for me since I came from console.  The feature set is also great for gaming.  The ability to mute or turn down volume right in the middle of a game without going into a menu or alt-tabbing is awesome.  Have some screaming kid on your team that’s just trying to troll everyone?  

I’m not going to  claim that the K70 improved my gaming by 300% or whatever else some companies may tell you, but I will tell you that it made the switch from console gaming to PC gaming much easier.

Is the K70 good for typing?

Why would anyone spend their hard earned money on a keyboard if it was not good for typing? I spend a lot of my free time at my computer desk typing. Not only do I spend a lot of my free time typing, but I also spend a fair amount of the rest of my day typing up papers and responding to discussions on my online classes, therefore good keyboard that does not create fatigue is an absolute necessity. My original purchase of the K70 was very gaming focused and after reading many reviews about the mechanical switches, it was apparent that reds would be the absolute best option.  Now, I game quite a bit less and work more. While the Cherry MX Reds did work as well as I wanted for this I found myself double clicking letters fairly often which decreased productivity. I spent a lot of time backspacing to fix those little errors.

 

Here is where the K70 with browns come in.  After I was losing productivity, I started reading more and more about switch types again.  It was very apparent that browns would be my next best medium.  After all, it’s a great switch for both gaming and typing.  I thought about getting the blues, because I have heard they are great for typing, but the clickity clack is not something that I want to listen to.

My switch to Cherry MX Browns

After using the browns for about a day now, I can already tell that my typing speed has improved because of less double clicking.  I also have found myself being a bit too accustomed to the reds and occasionally missing a letter due to not pressing the key down far enough to actuate.  I enjoy the tactile feel to these, and Browns will be my key of choice from now on.  Some people will like the linear feel of the Reds or the tactile and clicky feedback of the Blues, but Browns are my choice because they are a great middle ground compared to the coveted Blue’s typing ability and the Red’s greatness for gaming.

 

What does the K70 bring to the table?

The K70 is an astoundingly sturdy keyboard.  Occasionally,  I will have my son in my lap and because he is a toddler he thinks it’s okay to bang on  the keyboard as hard as he can. Thankfully the keyboard is made from black anodized aluminum and does not miss a beat.

It has media controls which I find are extremely handy because my wife constantly talks to me in the middle of a gaming session or while I’m trying to get some actual work done.  (Like on this review!)  Using the dedicated scroll wheel built into the top right of the keyboard lets me quickly adjust the volume.  There are also dedicated controls for the backlight, brightness of the LEDs, and a Windows key lock.

What are the Pros to this keyboard?

  • One of the major advantages to this keyboard is Corsair’s legendary support.  I know some may not agree, but most everyone I have talked to have nothing but good things to say about their support team.  They are all very professional, helpful, and honestly care about helping you.

  • The build quality is awesome.  The K70 has little to no flex thanks to the aluminum construction.  

  • The keys feel great and don’t have a cheap plastic feel.  

  • It comes with a palm rest, rarely included by default with other manufacturers.

  • The K70 also comes in three different Cherry MX switches: red, blue, and brown.  

  • The media keys are extremely handy. The scroll wheel is actually metal as well!  

  • It includes slanted key caps for gaming.

  • They keyboard just honestly looks great.  As custom built PC’s continue the trend of not only being very powerful but also being works of art, it is great to see that Corsair is also taking mind to aesthetics.

  • The cable is thick and braided.  It just screams quality.  Having a dedicated cable for the pass-through USB port is a great addition.

What are the Cons to the the K70?

  • The major downside to the K70 is the non-standard keycaps.  It ultimately limits the user experience and the user’s ability to change out the keycaps and make the keyboard truly their own. However, this is not the case with every key. I believe this is limited to the space bar, alt, control and shift keys.

  • Price can be steep to some, but I feel it is justified due to Corsair’s support and the quality of the keyboard.

  • It only comes with a red backlight and in black.  It used to come in a gunmetal grey with blue backlighting but that model has been discontinued. While disappoint, I under the reasoning for having fewer Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) in streamlining production.  While this can be disappointing, it is much better to have different switch types versus having more colors.

  • The stop, back, play/pause, and forward keys are not in an optimal position because you could accidentally hit the top row of the number pad. Once you are used to it, it is not much of a concern.

  • The position of the USB pass through is less than optimal. It is nice that is out of the way on the back, but sometimes it can be difficult to access. It would be nice to see if implemented on the left side so as to not interfere with your mouse. I do occasionally have to stand up and look while I’m plugging in whatever USB device I need to plug in.

 

What would I change?

  • There is very little that I would change about this keyboard. Aside from only being red backlit, I would love to see it changed to standard key cap so the user has the additional customization option of using a preferred keycap.

  • I’d also like to see them implement USB3.0 for the USB pass through.  It could definitely be useful for some users and could potentially reduce a lot of clutter so that user’s high-speed devices can get their full bandwidth.

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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Reported for using cute cats as thumbnails to make me watch the video.

 

I mean, great review.

It's pretty expensive and I've already got a CM Storm Quickfire Ultimate but if I had more money I would've bought a K70 ( RGB maybe ) instead.

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I have the K70 with blue switches and I agree with you on the media controls; they feel even deeper due to the keys essentially hovering above the aluminum base.

 

The volume roller isn't metal but it simulates textured metal. It adjusts the volume in real time (if that makes any sense) compared to my G710+ where there was a slight delay between rolling the wheel and it adjusting the volume.

 

Another thing to add about the palm rest is that it has a rubberized dotted texture and is way more comfortable for me compared to the G710+'s which is narrow and steep...not to mention it's not rubber.

 

If you like having a consistently clean keyboard then this is the keyboard for you because the swithces are not inside the keyboard...they're on top and the keys are hovering above the base; a few blows gets rid of anything beneath the keys.

 

Nice review

Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow; Motherboard: MSI ZZ490 Gaming Edge; CPU: i7 10700K @ 5.1GHz; Cooler: Noctua NHD15S Chromax; RAM: Corsair LPX DDR4 32GB 3200MHz; Graphics Card: Asus RTX 3080 TUF; Power: EVGA SuperNova 750G2; Storage: 2 x Seagate Barracuda 1TB; Crucial M500 240GB & MX100 512GB; Keyboard: Logitech G710+; Mouse: Logitech G502; Headphones / Amp: HiFiMan Sundara Mayflower Objective 2; Monitor: Asus VG27AQ

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I have the K70 with blue switches and I agree with you on the media controls; they feel even deeper due to the keys essentially hovering above the aluminum base.

 

The volume roller isn't metal but it simulates textured metal. It adjusts the volume in real time (if that makes any sense) compared to my G710+ where there was a slight delay between rolling the wheel and it adjusting the volume.

 

Another thing to add about the palm rest is that it has a rubberized dotted texture and is way more comfortable for me compared to the G710+'s which is narrow and steep...not to mention it's not rubber.

 

If you like having a consistently clean keyboard then this is the keyboard for you because the swithces are not inside the keyboard...they're on top and the keys are hovering above the base; a few blows gets rid of anything beneath the keys.

 

Nice review

 

 

Thanks for the mini review to add to the topic! :P

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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Nice review!

 

Anyone else problems with spotify when spotify is in focus? cant change volume :( Win 7x64 with Corsair K70.

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Nice review!

 

Anyone else problems with spotify when spotify is in focus? cant change volume :( Win 7x64 with Corsair K70.

I'll download it and try it out.  :)

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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  • 2 weeks later...

my g110 is still good for me, but i want to switch to mechanical , and this is just another positive review that makes me even more want to switch :P

I7 3930K @4.4 GHz  /  Asus rampage 4 formula  / 4x 8gb kingston hyperx blue low profile / gtx 980  / 2x ssd 500gb samsung 840 / 500gb 840evo ssd   /  500 GB WD blue /  windows 7 ultimate
my build: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/133477-750d-finished/

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Nice review, definitely helps me out as I'm searching for my first mechanical board as well. I've got my eye on the upcoming RGB model.

Git Gud.

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As usual, I made a video review as well as a written.  I think my video editing skills are improving, but with the way the past week has been (waifu in hospital, work, etc)  I wasn't able to do all that I wanted with it.  I'm going to start working on a proper outro and start working on custom thumbnails for future videos as well.  Any constructive criticism is welcome! Oh, and @HowIStarted on youtube, whoever you are. This is as good as my hair gets. :P

 

 

I'd lower the music at the beginning. Thank you for not using metal. Tech of tomorrow is the best example I can think of... but I won't go near those videos, especially with people around. I don't like getting assaulted the moment I start a video.

 

The screenshots of reviews, benchmarking, custom mods could be made into links to playlists on your channel of reviews, benchmarks and custom mods. You'll need to create them first though.

 

That decent looking mic should be positioned so it doesn't sound like you're recording your voice on a webcam. Instead of doing the overview with the camera focused on you, you could do some product shots, and do a voiceover... or position the mic closer to the front of the camera and crop the shot if you don't want it in the shot/blocking you... Try not to look down at the product so much.

 

But it'd be better if you did crop the shot regardless, good videos don't usually show pants/rubbermaid containers/floor. If you want to sit instead of stand and don't want to crop the shot, try adding another table to make a U shaped desk. Then you could properly showcase the product in front of you. Laps are only meant as props in one type of video.

 

Good review overall, but make good use of the screens behind you. Have a Corsair logo behind you (or logo of whatever company you're reviewing), or a giant pic of the product, and turn off the sleep function of your monitors while recording. Have a cup of coffee or two, it will help you be a little more energetic... I'm not saying you're monotone, but there should be enough variation in your voice that people don't feel they're listening to a college lecture. At the end, you could ask for viewers opinions of the product, what other reviews they'd like to see... engage your audience. LTT does this beautifully... as you may have noticed. It also helps take away a bit of youtube fracknuts if they actually have something to answer... They're going to post something regardless, you may as well help steer them into some constructive instead of "shit video" or "corsair sucks" or "blah blah blah something racist".

I always guarantee that no more than 50% of what I say is useful.

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I'd lower the music at the beginning. Thank you for not using metal. Tech of tomorrow is the best example I can think of... but I won't go near those videos, especially with people around. I don't like getting assaulted the moment I start a video.

 

The screenshots of reviews, benchmarking, custom mods could be made into links to playlists on your channel of reviews, benchmarks and custom mods. You'll need to create them first though.

 

That decent looking mic should be positioned so it doesn't sound like you're recording your voice on a webcam. Instead of doing the overview with the camera focused on you, you could do some product shots, and do a voiceover... or position the mic closer to the front of the camera and crop the shot if you don't want it in the shot/blocking you... Try not to look down at the product so much.

 

But it'd be better if you did crop the shot regardless, good videos don't usually show pants/rubbermaid containers/floor. If you want to sit instead of stand and don't want to crop the shot, try adding another table to make a U shaped desk. Then you could properly showcase the product in front of you. Laps are only meant as props in one type of video.

 

Good review overall, but make good use of the screens behind you. Have a Corsair logo behind you (or logo of whatever company you're reviewing), or a giant pic of the product, and turn off the sleep function of your monitors while recording. Have a cup of coffee or two, it will help you be a little more energetic... I'm not saying you're monotone, but there should be enough variation in your voice that people don't feel they're listening to a college lecture. At the end, you could ask for viewers opinions of the product, what other reviews they'd like to see... engage your audience. LTT does this beautifully... as you may have noticed. It also helps take away a bit of youtube fracknuts if they actually have something to answer... They're going to post something regardless, you may as well help steer them into some constructive instead of "shit video" or "corsair sucks" or "blah blah blah something racist".

 

Can't blame you for not watching ToT.... I can't stand him.  I don't mind the metal; I just can't really stand him as a "tech" reviewer.  

 

Thank you for all the suggestions.  I am really just working to improve each video as I go.  I know I can't become a LTT over night, but sure do have some high hopes. ;)

 

Some of the things you mention like my voice and looking at the product are just nervous reactions.  I'll get better at it over time with the continued positive feedback.  It definitely throws me out of my element to talk to a camera for 5+ minutes.  You should see what I edit out. :P  Maybe for a special "video" or milestone I'll edit up some of my outtakes so you can see what I mean. 

 

The mic is something that I kind of have to deal with for now.  It has to be close otherwise it could pick up a fly on the other side of my house.  It's a great mic, but not so great with video reviews.  It'll have to stay in the video shot until I can afford to get something that is actually meant for video production like the Rode shotgun mic.  I do plan on getting better lighting (currently using a 500w Halogen as my only light source.... )  and a better lens (currently using kit lens) and a mic as I said.  But those things come with time as this is just a hobby and not something I would ever plan on doing full time. I am a gear whore though, so expect some better lighting and such in the semi-nearish future. I've got to finish up my second build before I have money to be spending on that though. 

 

I like the idea of adding links to videos in the intro, but I'm trying to keep the intro short and sweet, so I don't think I'll be adding that.  I'm just trying to show fairly quickly what type of content will be showcased on my channel. When I work on the rebuild of my second machine, I might do some vlog type stuff for that like JayzTwoCents recently did with Red Myst and Project Skunkworks.  I really like how he went over all of his choices and stuff and it would help "justify" the costs going in if I made a video about it. 

 

I definitely will be adding a way for viewers to interact more in my videos.  It's honestly something I haven't even thought of. That's why I asked for constructive criticism though, and you have definitely helped me plan for future videos!  Granted, not the one that will go up within the next few days as I shot that quite some time ago, but with a new job and a bunch of other things going on in my life I wasn't able to get it editied with a timely fashion. I can already tell that it isn't my best work, but maybe some good editing and a proper outro will help. ;)

 

I seriously can't thank you enough for taking the time to give all of those helpful thoughts.  I definitely am going to be using them!

 

 

Nice review, definitely helps me out as I'm searching for my first mechanical board as well. I've got my eye on the upcoming RGB model.

 

I've got my on that one as well.  I don't really need another keyboard though, so unless Corsair decides that they want to send me one or I come into some extra cash after I already have what I want done with my build(s) then maybe I'll buy it.  I already know it is going to be great keyboard since it is using the K70 as a base.  I also like that the LEDs are built into the keycap so there is less chance for an ESD shock to cause LEDs to go out.  That's not very common, but people who live in arid environments where ESD can  be a problem with computer components (and have owned the K95) know well that LEDs can go out because of that.  We'll know soon enough though, it releases next month!

 

 

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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Hey guys!  I know some people have been asking for me to do a proper outro, so I took some time last night and actually made one! :D

 

 

I should have a new review up either later tomorrow night on the next. It really just depends on how much I have to edit! 

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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I got this keyboard with reds around a year and half ago. Very disappointed with the reds, but that's not a problem with the keyboard itself. More of me just plain not liking the feel of red key switches (To the point where I'd rather type on my Macbook Pro or break out my custom keycap Razer Blackwidow).

 

 

 

Wrist rest is god tier though.  

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I have a Silver, Blue backlight K70 with Cherry MX Red switches and they still sell that (not discontinued) other than that great review keep it up!

CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K @4.5GHz - CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i - Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus VI Hero - Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 8GB (2x4GB) @1600 - Storage: WD Green 2TB, 128GB Corsair Force Series SSD - Graphics Card: Asus MATRIX R9 280x OC Case: Corsair Graphite 600T - Power Supply: Be Quiet Power Zone 650W - Monitor: 2x Acer S240HLbid - Keyboard: Corsair K70 (Cherry MX Red) - Mouse: Perixx MX-2000 - Audio: Logitech G430, Logitech Z506

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I have a Silver, Blue backlight K70 with Cherry MX Red switches and they still sell that (not discontinued) other than that great review keep it up!

it is discontinued; It's on corsair's forums. And I have spoken to my corsair rep about it.

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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it is discontinued; It's on corsair's forums. And I have spoken to my corsair rep about it.

 

In which case I do apologise. Must have been a recent dicontinuum.

CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K @4.5GHz - CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i - Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus VI Hero - Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 8GB (2x4GB) @1600 - Storage: WD Green 2TB, 128GB Corsair Force Series SSD - Graphics Card: Asus MATRIX R9 280x OC Case: Corsair Graphite 600T - Power Supply: Be Quiet Power Zone 650W - Monitor: 2x Acer S240HLbid - Keyboard: Corsair K70 (Cherry MX Red) - Mouse: Perixx MX-2000 - Audio: Logitech G430, Logitech Z506

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In which case I do apologise. Must have been a recent dicontinuum.

Yeah. :/ I really wish it wasn't but the K70 RGB fixes my one real complaint with this keyboard. Can't wait for it to release!

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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Yeah. :/ I really wish it wasn't but the K70 RGB fixes my one real complaint with this keyboard. Can't wait for it to release!

 

I'm seriously considering a K70 RGB as a replacement for my current K70 but im struggling to find a justification to replace my current K70 because there is nothing wrong with it, it's just so good! worth the £120 I paid

CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K @4.5GHz - CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i - Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus VI Hero - Memory: Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 8GB (2x4GB) @1600 - Storage: WD Green 2TB, 128GB Corsair Force Series SSD - Graphics Card: Asus MATRIX R9 280x OC Case: Corsair Graphite 600T - Power Supply: Be Quiet Power Zone 650W - Monitor: 2x Acer S240HLbid - Keyboard: Corsair K70 (Cherry MX Red) - Mouse: Perixx MX-2000 - Audio: Logitech G430, Logitech Z506

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The only justification I have is I want another with brown switches.... :

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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It's not my fault. D:  

 

Oh, and guys don't forget to check out my next review in the member reviews section.  

 

@felixthemaster1 Maybe just watch it on youtube and maybe even comment. ;)

You can see all of my reviews posted in the Member Reviews Section! 

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