Corsair Strafe Rgb Mx Silent Amazon

TweakTown's Rating: 95%

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The Bottom Line

The Strafe RGB MK.2 with Ruddy MX Silent switches is a strength to exist reckoned with. Well-nigh perfect in every manner, it is but the retail cost that kept this feature-rick mechanical keyboard from an Editor's Choice Award!

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

Continuing with the Corsair mechanical keyboard lineup, non simply did they remaster the K70, only they as well took another shot with the Strafe as well.

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Over again, the idea is to take some of their better selling products of years gone by, give them a refresh, merely at the aforementioned time rethink the overall plan and bring them up to the level of expectations buyers take today. Going over both products side past side, nosotros see more than than a dozen changes that have been made to the original, and all the changes done are for the meliorate.

This type of trend of reintroducing a product tin sometimes stop up no more than lipstick on a pig as it makes its 2nd appearance, but that is non what has happened here. Corsair has lightened the keyboard, added a wrist rest, and gone from scarlet LEDs to full on RGB.

The aesthetics are like, but many of the features have been moved, like the buttons on the acme-left border where the logo used to be, the add-on of dedicated multimedia keys rather than dual layers options on the F-Keys. There are a few more subtle changes to come across still, but some other important one is hidden under the keycaps. Not only have the LEDs been moved into the switches, and while the original came with ruddy switches, the new ane offers pink silent switches.

What you are almost to see is the Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, in the best configuration nosotros could imagine information technology to be. As nosotros carry on, we will bespeak out the differences that we take mentioned, as well equally many nosotros did not. All of it is coming together to deliver the masses a keyboard that can be proud to ain have full command over any gaming situation with its customizations offered in iCUE, and at the same time, is a keyboard that tin can make its style through the daily grind also. Typically we practise non give it away like this at the start of a review, but what you will see in this review is a solid answer to which keyboard you should try adjacent.

In the nautical chart provided on the product page, things outset with the ii-year warranty coverage and moves into the ane.46kg of weight. With no mention of the dimensions, nosotros pulled out the record and establish it to exist 447mm broad, 169mm deep, and stands 38mm tall. Nosotros also see no mention of the frame build, and to analyze, the frame is made of black plastic at the meridian and the lesser, but the steel plate inside is now white rather than scarlet like in the original.

Corsair mentions the RGB backlighting, but the layout is a 104-key design with a few added buttons. The extra buttons are dedicated ones for multimedia, besides as Windows lock, profile, and lighting buttons. In that location is a USB 2.0 laissez passer-through port at the back, the cable is permanently fastened, and this fourth dimension, we even get a wrist residue this time, along with the FPS and MOBA caps sets.

Built into the design are things like the 1000Hz report charge per unit, use of pink Cherry MX Silent switches, full NKRO support, and anti-ghosting. Much of this can be adjusted in the iCUE software suite, which is also where total control of the keyboard is achieved. Inside of iCUE, lighting, remapping, Macros, profiles, ability to disable keys, and much more is possible.

Another great feature of the iCUE software is the ability to take all of your Corsair devices, and rather than each components being an individual, lighting can be gear up to work with all of them, showing the aforementioned patterns and colors, working in sync.

Locating the Strafe RGB MK.ii is easy plenty, but looking at the listings, pricing makes no sense at all. On Corsair'southward product page, information technology shows that the Strafe RGB MK.2, no matter the switch type, has a $149.99 MSRP. Fair enough, and for what you become in features, nosotros exercise not experience that is all that bad.

Still, Newegg has a sale going on where the Cherry MX Red switch version is only $99.99, just if you want the version we take, wait to shell out an astonishing $180 or more. Amazon shows just the Cherry MX Crimson switch version, and it is too listed at $99.99 right at present, merely there is no list for the Cherry MX Silent option at all. Sadly, it appears the obvious choice is to settle and get the ruby-red switches, equally opting for anything else is worth way too much money.

Republic of chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

Motherboard: ASUS Prime number X299 Deluxe - Buy from Amazon
CPU: Intel Core i9 7920X - Buy from Amazon
Cooler: Corsair H150i Pro - Buy from Amazon
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3600MHz 32GB - Purchase from Amazon
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Hybrid SLI - Buy from Amazon
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB - Purchase from Amazon
Instance: Cooler Chief Cosmos C700P - Buy from Amazon
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower DPS Chiliad 1050W - Buy from Amazon
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-scrap - Buy from Amazon

Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation

The front of the box is brilliant and flashy, with the logo at the left, and a large image of the keyboard in the eye. To the left nosotros see mentions of the switches, amount of profiles, per-key RGB backlighting, and employ of Cerise MX switches. We also see, at the bottom, the switches are Silent, at that place is 8MB of storage, and once more with the backlighting.

On the more than extended panel, Corsair used the space to embrace things similar the onboard storage, lighting, type of switches, inclusion of a palm remainder, and dedicated multimedia keys.

The smaller terminate of the box is encircled with yellow, while the black section highlights the proper name of the product and the Corsair logo.

The second long side of the box is mostly black, but in that location is this department where the name of the keyboard is found. Adjacent, to information technology, there are the technical specifications in condensed form, package contents, and the system requirements.

Much similar the other terminate of the box, this smaller end also provides the company and product names. On this end, nosotros go the actress sticker at the bottom to explain that this keyboard is an English QWERTY layout.

There is a ton going on when nosotros look at the back of the box. The left edge covers features and includes a await at the optional keycaps. The heart is an image of the keyboard with the Windows lock, USB laissez passer-through, and defended multimedia buttons are pointed to. The correct edge is used to prove the iCUE software and explicate some of what can be washed, and at that place is even a mention of the palm residual at the lesser.

With doubled walls of cardboard on both sides, and a snug fit from forepart to back, the plastic bag is the only thing protecting the finishes. However simple, the Strafe RGB MK.2 is in great shape and is the cablevision and keycaps at the back, as well as the palm balance institute under the keyboard.

The palm residue is like what comes with many other Corsair keyboards. Using clips to attach to the front edge of the keyboard, this soft-impact palm remainder volition add together comfort to those who type or game for long hours at a time.

Along with sets of gray, highly textured, MOBA and FPS gaming keycaps, Corsair as well provides a key puller. The caps are angled for a more than comfy location, and will nonetheless let the RGB backlighting to shine through the letters.

The manual at the left explains what should be in the box and what information technology needs to function. After an installation guide, yous are besides given the address to obtain the iCUE software. Along with the larger warranty guide, there is an insert for Australian users, explaining the coverage and where to become if an issue arises.

Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The left side of the Strafe RGB MK.2 is of the black plastic lower half of the frame. Simply higher up it is the opaque plastic strip which lights upwardly white, and the meridian encompass is screwed on over that. The bodies of the switches are transparent and are exposed to flood the keyboard with RGB lighting.

All seventy-four of the primary keys is what we expected. At the height is a trio of buttons, shifting the Corsair name to the heart this fourth dimension. The font is easy to read, and the size is large, and we do like that Corsair kept the textured space bar too.

The 3 buttons in a higher place the first set of F-keys are marked with icons. The first is the button to swap between the three profiles; the 2nd is to turn off the lighting or accept information technology on in three levels of intensity. The terminal push is to lock out the Windows key, merely with software, tin can also lock out others.

On the right stop are the typical xxx keys with commands, arrows, and the number pad. Nosotros also see the three lock indicating LEDs at the top, the five multimedia keys and volume coil cycle, and we may too comment on the highly contrasting white steel plate.

On other models we take tested, we either received red or "sped" silverish switches. This is the beginning we have seen the pink "silent" option. The feel is linear, and tougher to utilize than silvers, mayhap even more than so than red switches also. Nosotros do know they are smooth, and most of the noise heard is from the key resetting, not when it is used.

The keycaps are the industry standard. These are single shot keycaps where the mold takes in white plastic. Once completed and free from the bound, they are then painted blackness, leaving the legends unpainted for lighting purposes.

Strafe RGB MK.2 Continued

The right edge of the Strafe RGB MK.2 is a near contrary image of the other edge, just nosotros have increased the angle of attack by extending the feet. Rather than flat keys, the higher levels of keycaps are now angled towards the user.

The cable to connect the keyboard to the PC is centrally located. To the left of it is the USB 2.0 pass-through port, and sends a point through the chief cable.

The i.8 meters of cable starts thick and braided. It reaches a grayness encompass where the thicker cable is split into two leads, which terminate in USB 2.0 connectors, one for the keyboard, and another for the port, both marked.

Corsair did not waste fourth dimension and energy making the bottom of the Strafe RGB MK.2 special. Every bit it sits, at that place are four tiny rubber pads, but they practice grip well, and the product sticker is found in the middle.

The flip out feet is angled towards the sides of the keyboard and then they volition not collapse when information technology comes time to motility the keyboard. Still, while covering 1 aspect, the feet are solid plastic, and with no rubber for grip, we found the Strafe RGB MK.2 will motility around more with the feet out.

One time power is sent to the keyboard, it comes to life in a brilliant brandish of RGB lighting. Both sides of the keyboard are glowing white while the rainbow consequence flows across the keys, and the profile and LED keys also illuminate and tin be inverse, but not the trio of white lock LEDs to the correct of the nameplate.

iCUE Software

Specific to the keyboard, we moved from the home screen to the profiles tab after clicking the icon for the Strafe RGB MK.2. This is where you can click on the plus icon to the right of the word profiles, and set up every bit many as you want to. Once names, you tin can and then import from the list, and have three of them at any time, useable with the profile button, stored on the keyboard. Profiles tin be linked to programs, they tin accept icons, images, and there is even a transparency slider for the paradigm that pops upwardly on the screen when the profile is selected.

The tab of Actions is where each key can exist remapped to nowadays text, set up or media launch, timers, everything including Macros and mouse buttons. Each of the ways to control keys has its menu, but we opened the Macros tab to see how it worked. Import, export, new creations, it can all exist done hither. Ensure you have the advisable boxes ticked on the right, start recording, and then edit if needed and enjoy.

Lighting can exist controlled globally, meaning all Corsair products use the aforementioned settings, or individually. In Lighting Effects, we see a live view of the RGB LEDs in the upper window, where we accept all of the options blocking half of it. All of this can be done on a per key bases, and depending on the mode of lighting used, the submenus will alter from RGB and colour wheel entry to things like what nosotros meet here for speed, direction, and power to tag profiles to RGB settings.

Performance may not be what you lot were expecting but is where one goes to accost what the extra buttons do, and even where to change the colour of said keys besides every bit other features. On the left is a group of checkboxes then that you lot tin disable whatever of them in the list with the printing of the Windows lock key. In the middle is a listing of color options for the Lock, the brightness button, whether the sidelights are on, and even the profile indicator color. Changing them is done past selecting information technology, then migrating to the colour wheel, RGB entry, or past selecting i of the 7 across the bottom.

If y'all look across the elevation of the window, you will see a settings tab, and in one case clicked in that location are a few more things the keyboard offers. You may adjust the polling charge per unit, and at that place is a slider to precisely adjust the LED intensity. Y'all tin change the layout, clear the onboard storage, and is also where y'all tin can see the firmware used, and with the click of a button, iCUE will automatically search for newer firmware if it is bachelor.

Gaming and General Impressions

DOOM & PUBG

We have played many a game, for many hours on this keyboard earlier getting to this review equally we wanted to give the new switches a off-white shakedown. What we liked initially is that we adopt stiffer switches in our keyboards, and the pink silent switches do just that. When moving effectually, we were not strafing by accident as our heavy hands prevarication on the keyboard.

Every cardinal we press, no affair how frantic we are, is recorded and sent to the PC, and no matter the combination of keys or fast-paced jiggling to go along from being shot in the head, it all works every bit intended. While the titles of this department of the review do not bode well for Macros and remapping as much equally others practise, and then we took some time with MOBA and MMORPG titles to examination out spamming commands and other types of Macros.

Nosotros found that no affair what we wanted of the Strafe RGB MK.2 when it came to customizing it to brand the game experience more than immersive, it handled every request we threw at it.

Windows and Productivity

In the time we have had the Strafe RGB MK.2, we accept besides written a few reviews to get the feel of it as a typist'due south solution. Hither, the only issue we take is our fat fingers. Our WPM did not get down, and aside from the tactile bump and loud click of our preferred blue switches, it took no time at all to become right into the mix with the pink silent switches from Corsair. Typically when looking at the Cherry MX Cerise or Speed switches, when information technology comes to writing long term, they but aren't suited well for that.

However, the Cherry MX Silent switches we take at present have added another option to those who aren't only gamers. Only as the iCUE software ups the level of possibilities for gaming, the same can be said for using Macros and such to make your day at work go by faster, and with less effort. While the Strafe RGB MK.2 is geared to the gamer, this is a product you lot could take to the office simply every bit easily, and not annoy anyone near y'all either.

Concluding Thoughts

We may have an elitists view of loving our blue and green switches, but the reality is we practise separate our days, gaming and typing as, and it is what works best for us. With many switches under our fingers over the years, in many of their various forms, nosotros tin can't honestly say nosotros have been shocked by their performance before.

While nosotros were not expecting super soft or anything really as to something to expect for, but as time went on, we establish the pink silent switches to be more than than simply another key type. It is hard to put into words, but it is a perfect mix of limited racket and at the same time will give users with a preference out of silvers and reds something to chew on. Switches are only a single aspect too, and the Strafe RGB MK.ii is hitting on all cylinders, with flawless functionality and a characteristic set up that goes on for days.

Whether looking at the fully customizable lighting, looking for dedicated multimedia keys rather than dual-layered, customizing the functionality down to nearly every central, Corsair jam-packed this keyboard with anything you could ever want. Existence that the Strafe RGB MK.2 is driven to the gaming market, things like a high written report rate, NKRO and anti-ghosting are all nowadays and accounted for. With over a dozen changes since we initially saw the Gaming Strafe years ago, Corsair stacks the odds in their favor that in that location are many things to appreciate in this design.

Even without software the keyboard is well congenital, with no vibrations or stress after many hours of utilize. With the software, in that location is no limit to what one can do other than what your imagination limits you lot to. Corsair scores nearly perfect in all of our aspects, except for two small details. The first is a lack of rubber on the extendable feet, and the second is the availability of the version we have, and if y'all can find it, information technology is outrageously priced, which is not Corsairs fault.

Hopefully, by the fourth dimension yous read this review, the Strafe RGB MK.two has leveled off in price, as the $80 retail prices nosotros see are just astronomical. At the $149.99 MSRP, we feel you get what you pay for, and if yous similar red switches, and human action fast, you can get this keyboard for a little less than $100. As it sits, we love the keyboard, only the cost is keeping us from our summit-tier honour.

While not Corsairs fault for the hike we are seeing, it is hard to recommend a product that has its toll increased out of nothing more than greed. It is a shame besides, as we desire to tout the Strafe RGB MK.2 as one of the meliorate keyboards we have tested in quite some time, and it took no time at all to appreciate the new switches. However, the reality is what it is, and unless you find a smoking hot deal somewhere for it, we take to pass at the cost we are seeing.

Chad's Peripherals Exam Arrangement Specifications

Motherboard: ASUS Prime X299 Deluxe - Buy from Amazon
CPU: Intel Cadre i9 7920X - Buy from Amazon
Libation: Corsair H150i Pro - Purchase from Amazon
Retentivity: Grand.Skill TridentZ RGB 3600MHz 32GB - Buy from Amazon
Video Bill of fare: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Hybrid SLI - Purchase from Amazon
Storage: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB - Buy from Amazon
Case: Libation Master Creation C700P - Buy from Amazon
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower DPS Grand 1050W - Purchase from Amazon
Bone: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit - Buy from Amazon