Can anyone who owns any Quickfire Rapid clarify for me...

[KillVolume]

I've never felt PBT keys before, but I've heard they have a textured, almost chalky feel. I own a Quickfire Rapid, and noticed that the red WASD keys they come with seem to have a different texture than the rest of the keys, and don't quite feel like regular ABS. It's especially easy to tell if you run your nail along them. Can anyone more knowledgeable than me clarify whether the red keys are PBT, or why they feel different than the other keys that ship with the board?

[squarebox]

They are still ABS but probably uncoated.

[KillVolume]

They are still ABS but probably uncoated.

That makes sense. Is it similar to the feel of PBT? Because whatever it is, I don't think I like the texture.

[Terrorsathan]

I am typing this response on a CM STORM QFR... the stock keys are low quality/printed ABS keys....  I do not mind ABS if they're decent quality/profile. 

[KillVolume]

the stock keys are low quality/printed ABS keys....

I am well aware of that. I'm just wondering why the included red WASD keys feel different than the rest of the stock keycaps.

[alaricljs]

No they don't feel anything like PBT

[HRS2K]

they are bad keys. i didnt use them long, maybe a month with typical use everyday use. They already need to be replaced. Looks like they get dirty.

[dorkvader]

The replacement "Cooler / Master" modifier keys are made differently than the normal ones. I'm not sure about the red WASD arrow ones, but I think they are, too. I'd say this is just a difference in ABS.

You should get PBT for it. I have SP PBT on mine, and it's awesome.

[Lu_e]

The CM WASD set that came with my kb was 'rubberized' much like the QFR's case/chassis. I wouldnt doubt its the exact same process.

[WhiteFireDragon]

The CM WASD set that came with my kb was 'rubberized' much like the QFR's case/chassis. I wouldnt doubt its the exact same process.

Oh is this so? This is news to me. The 3 that I have are not rubberized.

[Rinsaku]

the cm keys are pretty slick. Pbt feels better

[rowdy]

Fwiw the extra keys that came with my CM QFR seem to be identical to the black keys, except red, and with slightly different markings.  Certainly not rubbery in any way.

[KillVolume]

the cm keys are pretty slick. Pbt feels better

The black keys on my Rapid are slick. The red keys are a little more textured.

Fwiw the extra keys that came with my CM QFR seem to be identical to the black keys, except red, and with slightly different markings.  Certainly not rubbery in any way.

I couldn't really get a good picture. It's really more how they feel. Try scratching both of them with your fingernail and see if you feel a difference.

[modulor]

I find the texture of PBT to be quite nice for both typing and gaming, they seem to have just the right amount of texture.  This is not to say I don't enjoy my ABS keys, though.  I never checked the stock QFR keycaps, as I took all of the originals off as soon as I got the board to modify it and then added PBT caps.  Texture varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but maybe the red keys have a slightly rougher texture for gaming.  I'll have to compare and contrast this weekend

[laffindude]

Mine has different red WASD as well. They're stiffer ABS than those on the regular keys (and no rubberized coating). Regular keys have a softer feel to them much like the Ninja keys. Incidentally, they're both black lasered keys. Could be something to do with that. I know there is different compound they use for lasering. May be they only use that on black keys so the legends come out whiter. Multicam is also lasered, though they don't feel as soft as those previous keys. Not sure why. Red WASD is also lasered, but not may be they don't need the different mix for the lasering to come out white.

[rowdy]

Fwiw the extra keys that came with my CM QFR seem to be identical to the black keys, except red, and with slightly different markings.  Certainly not rubbery in any way.

I couldn't really get a good picture. It's really more how they feel. Try scratching both of them with your fingernail and see if you feel a difference.

Exactly the same.

[Lu_e]

Mine are DEFINITELY different than the oem keycaps, and I stand by my rubberized statement.

I just checked again and they look nowhere near as glossy as rowdy's, they look and feel matte. They also feel very similar to my QFR's rubberized case.

[dorkvader]

Mine are DEFINITELY different than the oem keycaps, and I stand by my rubberized statement.

I just checked again and they look nowhere near as glossy as rowdy's, they look and feel matte. They also feel very similar to my QFR's rubberized case.

How similar ore they to the Corsair rubber keycaps? Can you take a picture comparing the "rubberized" cm keycaps to a normal one?

[suprsmo]

Odd. My wasd caps are the same as rowdys. I didn't even take them out of the bag until now!

[rowdy]

Maybe Aussie-distributed ones are the same?  Or an older batch of keyboards?  I do know that my QFR was the last one in stock at CPL in Melbourne.  The day after I picked up mine the item was out of stock, and a couple of weeks later came back in stock.

Now I am wondering whether this new batch has branding or not.

And rubberised WASD replacement keycaps.

[laffindude]

Mine are DEFINITELY different than the oem keycaps, and I stand by my rubberized statement.

I just checked again and they look nowhere near as glossy as rowdy's, they look and feel matte. They also feel very similar to my QFR's rubberized case.

It could be PU/UV coated like Filco pad printed caps.

[Lu_e]

[rowdy]

^ That one has something stuck on top of the keycap.

Mine does not.

[dorkvader]

Maybe Aussie-distributed ones are the same?  Or an older batch of keyboards?  I do know that my QFR was the last one in stock at CPL in Melbourne.  The day after I picked up mine the item was out of stock, and a couple of weeks later came back in stock.

Now I am wondering whether this new batch has branding or not.

And rubberised WASD replacement keycaps.

I don't think it's anything older/newer. I have one of the older QFR's in Red, and a pretty new (Not brandless, though) QFR in blues. Both have the same keycaps.

[Lu_e]

Maybe Aussie-distributed ones are the same?  Or an older batch of keyboards?  I do know that my QFR was the last one in stock at CPL in Melbourne.  The day after I picked up mine the item was out of stock, and a couple of weeks later came back in stock.

Now I am wondering whether this new batch has branding or not.

And rubberised WASD replacement keycaps.

I don't think it's anything older/newer. I have one of the older QFR's in Red, and a pretty new (Not brandless, though) QFR in blues. Both have the same keycaps.

Well my brandless qfr red came with a rubber coated WASD set

I'm sure others (who got brandless) just haven't noticed.

[rowdy]

I didn't like the font on the keycaps, so the first thing I did was replace everything (except the space bar) with alternative keycaps, thus I did not even look at the red WASD keys.