Corsair Vengeance K90 or Razer Blackwidow Ultimate? (or something else)

[Noobsicle]

Hello Geekhack.

I've lurked around the forums for a quite some time and am now interested in buying a mechanical keyboard. After reading and watching a few mixed reviews about the K90 and the Blackwidow Ultimate, I really don't know which mechboard to buy :s. I'm an hardc0re FPS / casual RTS gamer and I type quite a bit.

I'd prefer to get a mechanical keyboard that has:

• Backlighting
• Macro Keys
• Media buttons

The K90 and Blackwidow Ultimate fit my needs, but I want your opinions on either keyboard, both from gaming and normal everyday usage perspectives.

I've heard that the Blackwidow is obviously very loud due to the clicking of the blue switches, a few of the keys stick (?), and the build quality is horrid. However, other people have claimed the product to be a solid mechanical keyboard. :s

The K90 on the other hand, has red switches, but some of the keys are regular rubber dome keys, which I'm a bit concerned with. But it does have that aluminium finish and a crapload of macro keys xD

Owners of the K90 and Blackwidow, give me your opinions on whichever keyboard's better for gaming.

Thanks. :)

[Human]

Inb4 get a FILCO, f**k those 2.

[Rinx7]

Neither here is a little list of things to choose from.

If you want a backlight
- Noopoo
- Ducky Shine 9008S

If you need a Numpad
-WASD
-Rosewill

If you don't need a numpad
-CM Storm Quickfire
-Leopold Tenkeyless

Also I strongly suggest you look at some other threads and the wiki to find what kind of switch you want. I wouldn't recommend a Filco since it is hard to get them in some switch types. Your bugdet is probably around $130 judging by the two keyboards you said you wanted so all of these will be less than that.

[Typhaeon]

Did you really just replace the O in "hardcore" with a zero?

Anyway, here's the dome/keyswitch layout from Corsair's site.  Granted, I wouldn't trust Razer farther than I could throw their overpaid management staff, but Corsair products I've bought have been pretty solid.  Still not too thrilled about the corner-cutting in their design.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 44865[/ATTACH]

Can I ask why you need so many macro/media keys when you have an entire keyboard worth of keys you can bind to those functions anyway?
What about the backlight?

I honestly don't think you'll find much of comparable build quality to a Filco or even a Rosewill with those features, especially given the markup you'll be paying with anything with the word "gaming" pasted on like some bizarre appendix.

[IvanIvanovich]

You should buy my G80-2551. It has 26 keys (is that enough?) you can assign macro and media functions to. No backlight, but very high quality doubleshot keycaps instead and higher KRO than Razer, and all MX unlike Corsair.

[tp4tissue]

Did you really just replace the O in "hardcore" with a zero?

Anyway, here's the dome/keyswitch layout from Corsair's site.  Granted, I wouldn't trust Razer farther than I could throw their overpaid management staff, but Corsair products I've bought have been pretty solid.  Still not too thrilled about the corner-cutting in their design.

(Attachment Link) 44865[/ATTACH]

Can I ask why you need so many macro/media keys when you have an entire keyboard worth of keys you can bind to those functions anyway?
What about the backlight?

I honestly don't think you'll find much of comparable build quality to a Filco or even a Rosewill with those features, especially given the markup you'll be paying with anything with the word "gaming" pasted on like some bizarre appendix.

LOLOL,, kids do these th1ngs, 1 57111 D0 17 0|\|(3 1|\| 4 \/\/|-|113

Quickfire is a filco with slightly worse keycaps. for 65 bux.

you're gonna buy new caps eventually, a matter of time.


That asside, I would not recommend the k90 because you can't replace all the caps on that board, because of the rubber domed ones are special.

I would get a razer, except their quality sucks, and I hope they diaf.

[Noobsicle]

Thanks for the pic Typhaeon. I don't think I'll use the ESC -> F12 or the keys around DEL / Scroll Lock as much as the other keys, but it will feel weird just typing along normally then pressing page down to scroll down or something

LOLOL,, kids do these th1ngs, 1 57111 D0 17 0|\|(3 1|\| 4 \/\/|-|113

Haha yes, I'm still a kid at heart.

Quickfire is a filco with slightly worse keycaps. for 65 bux.

I'm from Australia, so the closest store around where I live sells them for 99 bucks, but still, very good deal. (I prefer not to buy from overseas, don't ask why :[)

That asside, I would not recommend the k90 because you can't replace all the caps on that board, because of the rubber domed ones are special.

I would get a razer, except their quality sucks, and I hope they diaf.

So I guess +1 to Razer..


Anyways, I will admit that the K90 does have a lot of macro keys, but I was hoping to use them as shortcuts for opening different programs (Steam, editing software, Microsoft Word etc). I will also admit that I just simply like the backlighting, but I do use it occasionally when gaming in the dark. It's not a necessity but it would be nice to have backlighting.

I am a pretty light typer and I don't hit hard or rage much at the keyboard (cause if I do, my parents will destroy me), so I guess the build quality shouldn't matter too much. Tried Black switches once on the 6GV2, hated it. :x

And guys, I'm sorry but I do want my keyboard to look nice (omgnoobsicle'saaestheticfreak). I know most of you would be thinking that Filco / Leopold / other quality brands are far superior than the K90 or Blackwidow, but I just don't like the looks of those keyboards.

I appreciate all your comments

Oh and to any Australians from this forum, I'm buying from PCCG because they're pretty close to me

[Typhaeon]

Heh.  If you don't think the people here care about their keyboards looking nice, you should check out some of the designs people have made with multicolored keycaps in the multimedia sections.

[Squelos]

Hum, yeah the razer build isnt the best. Plus the keycaps on the BW just suck. I would recommend buying something else.

[Roguemaster8]

Black Razerwidow.

Based on the OP, that board seems right up your alley.

[tp4tissue]

Heh.  If you don't think the people here care about their keyboards looking nice, you should check out some of the designs people have made with multicolored keycaps in the multimedia sections.

I didn't realize there exists people who fails art class until I went to the "multimedia section"..


I'm not saying everyone should be perfect color coordinators, but seriously,, WTF on almost ALL of these,,



New, theory of mine,, those who are addicted to buying new caps and boards are just one who keep screwing up their color schemes.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Anyways, I will admit that the K90 does have a lot of macro keys, but I was hoping to use them as shortcuts for opening different programs (Steam, editing software, Microsoft Word etc).

In a word, Autohotkey.

Losing the number pad is worse (OpenBVE for example has a lot of numpad bindings that would be a pain to put elsewhere), but for launching programs, there are many options. In Windows 7, just hold Win + n, where n is the position along the taskbar of the program, include shift if you need a new window. e.g. if Word is the 3rd pinned icon, Win+3 to open/focus Word, or Win+Shift+3 for a new Word document.

For example, this Autohotkey (AHK) binding maps Win+J to JujuEdit:

Code: [Select]

#j::Run, "C:\Program Files\JujuSoft\JujuEdit\JujuEdit.exe"

I've also mapped ctrl-alt-shift-home to restart my AHK script, ctrl-alt-shift-end to terminate it, and ctrl-alt-shift-insert to open it up in JujuEdit for review and editing. After altering and saving it, ctrl-alt-shift-home will close and re-open it and take the changes into effect:

Code: [Select]

^!+Home::Reload

AHK gives me − ™ • symbols (that's a real minus sign), macros (Win+V pastes as plain text, Win+X pastes a new GUID, written entirely in AHK itself), and window class–specific bindings, e.g. I can add and block shortcuts from any program, for example ^D to close cmd.exe, ^W to close JujuEdit, etc. To add UNIX-style ^D to close cmd.exe windows:

Code: [Select]

#IfWinActive ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass
  ^d::WinClose, A
#IfWinActive

This is from a bog standard 105-key layout.

There's no need for macro keys when you have plenty of normal keys within easier reach

[Noobsicle]

In a word, Autohotkey.

Losing the number pad is worse (OpenBVE for example has a lot of numpad bindings that would be a pain to put elsewhere), but for launching programs, there are many options. In Windows 7, just hold Win + n, where n is the position along the taskbar of the program, include shift if you need a new window. e.g. if Word is the 3rd pinned icon, Win+3 to open/focus Word, or Win+Shift+3 for a new Word document.

For example, this Autohotkey (AHK) binding maps Win+J to JujuEdit:

Code: [Select]

#j::Run, "C:\Program Files\JujuSoft\JujuEdit\JujuEdit.exe"
I've also mapped ctrl-alt-shift-home to restart my AHK script, ctrl-alt-shift-end to terminate it, and ctrl-alt-shift-insert to open it up in JujuEdit for review and editing. After altering and saving it, ctrl-alt-shift-home will close and re-open it and take the changes into effect:

Code: [Select]

^!+Home::Reload
AHK gives me − ™ • symbols (that's a real minus sign), macros (Win+V pastes as plain text, Win+X pastes a new GUID, written entirely in AHK itself), and window class–specific bindings, e.g. I can add and block shortcuts from any program, for example ^D to close cmd.exe, ^W to close JujuEdit, etc. To add UNIX-style ^D to close cmd.exe windows:

Code: [Select]

#IfWinActive ahk_class ConsoleWindowClass
  ^d::WinClose, A
#IfWinActive
This is from a bog standard 105-key layout.

There's no need for macro keys when you have plenty of normal keys within easier reach

Oh wow haha, I didn't know any of this :SSSSS, thanks for replying

Which key switches do you guys prefer or recommend for gaming? (red or blue)

EDIT: Is it a necessity to replace keycaps occasionally?

[mrmatt]

Oh wow haha, I didn't know any of this :SSSSS, thanks for replying

Which key switches do you guys prefer or recommend for gaming? (red or blue)

EDIT: Is it a necessity to replace keycaps occasionally?

Eventually you will need to replace them if you aren't good to them, but really you'll replace them way before then because you'll see all the cool group buys or someone will have a set for sale in classifieds and you'll just grab em because it would be silly not to at that price! (welcome to geekhack)

[Human]

Eventually you will need to replace them if you aren't good to them, but really you'll replace them way before then because you'll see all the cool group buys or someone will have a set for sale in classifieds and you'll just grab em because it would be silly not to at that price! (welcome to geekhack)

But there is literally no replacement for the Spacebar on K60 and K90. 6.5x spacebar is custom and never saw in other keyboard.

[tp4tissue]

But there is literally no replacement for the Spacebar on K60 and K90. 6.5x spacebar is custom and never saw in other keyboard.

This is very moddable... Hobby knife + some hot glue... Sturdy enough, and tweakable if you fvck up.

[Human]

This is very moddable... Hobby knife + some hot glue... Sturdy enough, and tweakable if you fvck up.

Mod the length, mod the stems position? Not sure if the outcome will be good...

[Logun]

just this week I was about to pick up a BW Ultimate for a steal when I read about the quality issues. I was turned quite off.

The K90 is a very good fit for me - although I don't mind the domes on the F keys I do wish the Insert, Delete, Home, End were mechanical for coding but oh well.

It should arrive next week and will be my first mechanical board too, so I am quite excited.

[tp4tissue]

just this week I was about to pick up a BW Ultimate for a steal when I read about the quality issues. I was turned quite off.

The K90 is a very good fit for me - although I don't mind the domes on the F keys I do wish the Insert, Delete, Home, End were mechanical for coding but oh well.

It should arrive next week and will be my first mechanical board too, so I am quite excited.

You're going to love the K90,, for a while,, however, then the itch to modify the keycaps creeps along,, and you start to hate the k90 because you can't change the full set of keycaps due to the rubber dome keys.... AUHUHUAHUAHU

[Human]

You're going to love the K90,, for a while,, however, then the itch to modify the keycaps creeps along,, and you start to hate the k90 because you can't change the full set of keycaps due to the rubber dome keys.... AUHUHUAHUAHU

And also the last row(Ctrl, Alt and Spacebar), with ease...