Jump to content

Corsair STRAFE vs Corsair K70, whats better?

So I'm in abit of a pickle for choosing a Keyboard. A few things first, I'm looking at the STRAFE, the "Red" K70, and their RGB Variants. I have a few questions about each Keyboard.

How do the keys of the STRAFE compare to the Aluminum frame of the K70 when pressed?

Whats the difference between a Red MX Cherry Switch and a Brown with feel? I've never used Mech and I want to get into a quality keyboard. Id like to have something that isnt loud and has a good feeling of being pressed to it.

How does the quality compare between both boards?

Do RGB Boards have backlighting color quality issues compared to the singular red coloring of the Normal K70 and STRAFE?

Is a wrist rest benificial for gaming sessions or is it unneeded?

And over all, what is best for the price?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

i think you should go with the K70. you get those media keys that are super useful ( in my case ). if you like the feeling of pressing keys, i think you should go with the Brown, they says Reds are the lightest key, so it wouldn't be so satisfying as brown and blue. Also RGB is stupid. so K70.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

I personally prefer Ducky's line of mechanical keyboards. The difference between the blue/red/black/brown is the feedback/pressure needed to activate the key.

 

Red(Click/noise lowest)>Black>Brown>Blue(Click/Noise highest)

 

RGB boards tend to be of a higher quality due to the higher cost of the keyboard, I have heard some amazing RMA stories from there customers so I wouldn't not say to not go for a Corsair really. 

 

Never use a wrist support unless stated otherwise, they tend to cause more issues than solving. 

 

I'd recommend going to a store to use some of the various types if possible, like I say I've always preferred the look/feel of Ducky over Corsair.

CPU: i7 8700k   Motherboard: Asus Maximus Hero  RAM: 16GB @ 3600Mhz  GPU: MSI 980Ti 6G  Case: Fractal Design R5 (4 Intakes/3Exhausts)  Storage: Crucial BX100 SSD, Samsung 850 & Seagate 2TB HDD  PSU: Seasonic M12II Evo '850W'  CPU Cooling: Corsair H110i GT 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

i think you should go with the K70. you get those media keys that are super useful ( in my case ). if you like the feeling of pressing keys, i think you should go with the Brown, they says Reds are the lightest key, so it wouldn't be so satisfying as brown and blue. Also RGB is stupid. so K70.

I'll take that into consideration. Also, are Browns louder than Red MX Switches? I dont want anything too loud.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

So I'm in abit of a pickle for choosing a Keyboard. A few things first, I'm looking at the STRAFE, the "Red" K70, and their RGB Variants. I have a few questions about each Keyboard.

How do the keys of the STRAFE compare to the Aluminum frame of the K70 when pressed?

Whats the difference between a Red MX Cherry Switch and a Brown with feel? I've never used Mech and I want to get into a quality keyboard. Id like to have something that isnt loud and has a good feeling of being pressed to it.

How does the quality compare between both boards?

Do RGB Boards have backlighting color quality issues compared to the singular red coloring of the Normal K70 and STRAFE?

Is a wrist rest benificial for gaming sessions or is it unneeded?

And over all, what is best for the price?

Red's are a linear switch with no tactile feed back.

 

Where as browns have tactile feedback but without the click blues have.

 

From what i remember the K70 is a better buy in terms of quality and longevity. although I'm not too sure...

 

And wrist rests... I personally don't care weather or not a keyboard has one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'll take that into consideration. Also, are Browns louder than Red MX Switches? I dont want anything too loud.

louder than Reds, quieter than Blues. you can search on YT for how they sounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

I personally prefer Ducky's line of mechanical keyboards. The difference between the blue/red/black/brown is the feedback/pressure needed to activate the key.

Red(Click/noise lowest)>Black>Brown>Blue(Click/Noise highest)

RGB boards tend to be of a higher quality due to the higher cost of the keyboard, I have heard some amazing RMA stories from there customers so I wouldn't not say to not go for a Corsair really.

Never use a wrist support unless stated otherwise, they tend to cause more issues than solving.

I'd recommend going to a store to use some of the various types if possible, like I say I've always preferred the look/feel of Ducky over Corsair.

Okay thanks for your comment. I know I dont have to worry about a wrist wrest now. Still up in the air about choosing a Key Switch.

I've seen Duckys products and I'm rather impressed with them, but I happen to be a slight fanboy of how Corsair appeals to me. As long as the board is decent I wont be upset because Im coming from cheap membranes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Red's are a linear switch with no tactile feed back.

Where as browns have tactile feedback but without the click blues have.

From what i remember the K70 is a better buy in terms of quality and longevity. although I'm not too sure...

And wrist rests... I personally don't care weather or not a keyboard has one.

Ok so it sounds as though the K70 has more props for durability from what Im hearing.

And It seems its one of those Loudness vs Feeling for Red vs Brown for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

louder than Reds, quieter than Blues. you can search on YT for how they sounds.

Okay thank you. Ill check on that

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

summary on strafe and k70

strafe, pretty much al plastic, apparently colours are a bit better

 

k70 alumium body, media keys feels like a higher quality product

 

id go k70 

System Specs

CPU: Ryzen 5 5600x | Mobo: Gigabyte B550i Aorus Pro AX | RAM: Hyper X Fury 3600 64gb | GPU: ASUS RTX 2080TI | Storage: WD Blk SN750 NVMe - 1tb, Samsung 860 Evo - 1tb, WD Blk - 6tb/5tb, WD Red - 10tb | PSU:Corsair ax860 | Cooling: AMD Wraith Stealth  Displays: 55" Samsung 4k Q80R, 24" BenQ XL2420TE/XL2411Z & Asus VG248QE | Kb: K70 RGB Blue | Mouse: Logitech G903 | Case: Fractal Torrent RGB | Extra: HTC Vive, Fanatec CSR/Shifters/CSR Elite Pedals w/ Rennsport stand, Thustmaster Warthog HOTAS, Track IR5,, ARCTIC Z3 Pro Triple Monitor Arm | OS: Win 10 Pro 64 bit

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

summary on strafe and k70

strafe, pretty much al plastic, apparently colours are a bit better

k70 alumium body, media keys feels like a higher quality product

id go k70

Okay. Is the RGB Variant of the K70 worth the extra cash or should I just stick to the generic Red. I plan on mating the keyboard to a Corsair SABRE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Okay. Is the RGB Variant of the K70 worth the extra cash or should I just stick to the generic Red. I plan on mating the keyboard to a Corsair SABRE

Up to you really and how much you want that customizeable colouring, for some its worth it for others its moronic, I love mine, its very pretty and I like seeing the reactions of people when they see it lol.

The only major benefit is the regular k70 apparently has a habit of killing LEDS that doesn't seem to be present in the k70 RGB

System Specs

CPU: Ryzen 5 5600x | Mobo: Gigabyte B550i Aorus Pro AX | RAM: Hyper X Fury 3600 64gb | GPU: ASUS RTX 2080TI | Storage: WD Blk SN750 NVMe - 1tb, Samsung 860 Evo - 1tb, WD Blk - 6tb/5tb, WD Red - 10tb | PSU:Corsair ax860 | Cooling: AMD Wraith Stealth  Displays: 55" Samsung 4k Q80R, 24" BenQ XL2420TE/XL2411Z & Asus VG248QE | Kb: K70 RGB Blue | Mouse: Logitech G903 | Case: Fractal Torrent RGB | Extra: HTC Vive, Fanatec CSR/Shifters/CSR Elite Pedals w/ Rennsport stand, Thustmaster Warthog HOTAS, Track IR5,, ARCTIC Z3 Pro Triple Monitor Arm | OS: Win 10 Pro 64 bit

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Up to you really and how much you want that customizeable colouring, for some its worth it for others its moronic, I love mine, its very pretty and I like seeing the reactions of people when they see it lol.

The only major benefit is the regular k70 apparently has a habit of killing LEDS that doesn't seem to be present in the k70 RGB

Hearing that is enough for me to stray away from the Base K70. So basically Im looking at the 150$ Strafe or the 170$ K70 if I want RGB. Its pretty but...ugh thats getting up there. At that point the Base Strafe seems to shine in my eyes more due to pricing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, between red and browns, the main difference is there is a small click when the brown actuate. While the reds do not, you just press till the key bottoms outs, but it actuates way before then.


It's really a matter of feel, whether you like tactile switches or linear switches. I personally like Linear, some people find em mushy but I find them perfect for gaming, they're smooth, quieter than other switches, and as dumb as it sounds, don't distract me as much as blues or browns do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, between red and browns, the main difference is there is a small click when the brown actuate. While the reds do not, you just press till the key bottoms outs, but it actuates way before then.

It's really a matter of feel, whether you like tactile switches or linear switches. I personally like Linear, some people find em mushy but I find them perfect for gaming, they're smooth, quieter than other switches, and as dumb as it sounds, don't distract me as much as blues or browns do.

See thats the issue for me. I've never used a Mechanical Keyboard before and no store around me has them to try out. So Its all on faith that I chose between Red or Brown. Red seems to be the quite "mushy" key like you said but faster and easier to press while Brown sounds like its more prone to give finger feedback when pressed, at the cost of noise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

The Staffe also has a quieter key switch apparently over the K70.  If you want you can even get some o-ring dampeners to further quiet the keys.

 

The difference between Red and Brown is the red has no tactile bump feedback while the Brown does.

 

The K70 has media keys but has no USB passthrough.   The Straffe has no volume control but does have the USB passthrough.

 

In the end it comes down to preference.  I have the K70 RGB (with Cherry Reds and o-ring dampeners).  It has served me very well tho I do miss the USB passthrough of the K70/K95.  I'm going to try the G.Skill KM780 which has everything exactly like the K70 and K70RGB along WITH the USB Passthrough. The same keys and everything in Red or Brown.  It also has all the media keys and scroll Volume.  So it is because of this I think the G.Skill KM780 (you can get them in just red and not RGB) is superior than the Straffe.

Phanteks Enthoo Elite | Intel I9 - 7900X | Asus x299 Rampage VI Extreme | MSI 1080 TI 

32Gb Dominator Platinum Special Edition Blackout 3200MHz  | Samsung 960 Pro | 2x Samsung 961 Pro (Raid 0) 256Gb M.2 SSD  

Samsung 850 Pro 512Gb | WD Black 4TB | Corsair AX1200i

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

The Staffe also has a quieter key switch apparently over the K70. If you want you can even get some o-ring dampeners to further quiet the keys.

The difference between Red and Brown is the red has no tactile bump feedback while the Brown does.

The K70 has media keys but has no USB passthrough. The Straffe has no volume control but does have the USB passthrough.

In the end it comes down to preference. I have the K70 RGB (with Cherry Reds and o-ring dampeners). It has served me very well tho I do miss the USB passthrough of the K70/K95. I'm going to try the G.Skill KM780 which has everything exactly like the K70 and K70RGB along WITH the USB Passthrough. The same keys and everything in Red or Brown. It also has all the media keys and scroll Volume. So it is because of this I think the G.Skill KM780 (you can get them in just red and not RGB) is superior than the Straffe.

The KM780 is abit pricey and big for me. So far its looking to be the STRAFE Base with MX Brown Switches. A quick key id nice, but feeling the bump and knowing when its activating sounds alot more satisfying to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×