Mechanical Cherry Keys

All keys are mechanical, in our case making use of Cherry MX Silent RGB backlit switches. The idea behind mechanical switches is that they give a key press a more perceptible feel than the standard rubber membrane used in cheaper keyboards. The side look is terrific, a white accent is in place with in-between then LED lighting.
 

Gamers seem to prefer mechanical key switch based keyboards very much over dome based keys and ever since the past year or two mechanical keyboards have been on the rise, and the one name dominating these switches is Cherry. The keyboard registers ALL keys pressed at once, as such this is full key rollover. 

The RGB Silent MX switches can withstand over 50 million key presses (I lost count after 34 key presses though). Each key switch is mounted directly onto a top metal (aluminum) plate that ensures structural rigidity, topped with a translucent ABS laser-etched keycap to enable back-lighting. 
 

Our keyboard houses red Cherry MX Silent switches. You however get to choose from the regulat MX Red and Brown flavah-flaf as well. There are actually four types in genera with the following specifications:

• Cherry MX Black - Linear switch with Actuation Force: 60g (40g-80g overall)
• Cherry MX Brown Switches - Tactile Switch with Actuation Force: 45g (55g Peak Force)
• Cherry MX Blue Switches - Tactile & Clicky with Actuation Force: 50g (60g Peak Force)
• Cherry MX Red Switches  - Linear Switch with Actuation Force: 45g
• For the Silent MX model switches we have are based on the red variant with 45g of actuation force.

Each color switch feels different and Corsair actually has this keyboard available in three color switches (for your personal preference). We have the red variety, this is also the most common preferred switch type. Hip at the moment is the per-key adjustable lighting, using RGB LEDs, so that you can customize which keys are lit, according to the game you’re playing versus a color or animation and even versys macro or recorded action. 
 

Cherry MX Silent switches are  MUCH more silent than other Cherry mechanical switches yet still use the proven and precise MX technology that users love. Cherry claims that "integrated 2-component tappets," reduce audible clicks "to the acoustic minimum at the top and bottom ends". Cherry has decided upon a timed exclusivity deal with Corsair. For the first six months you will only be able to find Cherry MX Silent mechanical keyswitches on Corsair keyboards. And yeah, I can tell you from experience now. There are much more silent opposed towards the regular model Cherry switches. much better really.
 

The Cherry MX Red (Silent) mechanical switches are intended for for fast, efficient gaming action with 45g actuation force. If you are in a computer store and can have a go at it, try brown switches as well, these seem to be my favorite lately. But red is good, very good and the MX Silent is based on red.
 

The keys overall are curved a little and are fairly slippery which gives them a unique feel. Here I replace the WASD keys with included curved and rugged ones. You can easily install the rugged keys by using the supplied key cap puller tool, just pull them up gently and they'll be lifted out of place. 

The included custom gaming keycaps offer a good feel. Personally, I don't particularly like the look or feel of these custom key caps as I do not like the contouring and well, they are very slick feeling. I'll stick to the normal factory installed ones, but it's good to have that option.  The keys are curved a little and are rubberized which gives them a unique feel. I should call them 'contoured' WASD keys I guess. And if you don't like them, just replace them back with the standard ones. It's all about customization with mechanical keyboards. Heck, if you game intensely and the letters fade away, you want to be able to replace the keys, right? Bada-bing Bada-BLING my man. But since we see them activated here, let's talk about the LED back-lighting a little shall we?