Review: Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 (silent switches)

#5562734 Posted on: 07/05/2018 10:17 AM

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I've got the original Strafe RGB and really like it. I can't stand the clicking sound of traditional mechanical keyboards which is why I held off for so long but after hearing (or not hearing!) about the silent switches on the Strafe I picked it up and it has been the best keyboard I've used by far.

I might pick this new one up as a couple of the keys on my one have broken. No fault of Corsair, just me being clumsy and dropping heaving things on it!

#5562750 Posted on: 07/05/2018 11:38 AM

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Once I was foolish enough to get a Corsair keyboard. The K65 RGB to be precise. I believe it was the first board to ever come out with Cherry RGB switches, which is why I got temped. But my god, wat a horrible keyboard. I need some bullet points for this one:

Thick non-detachable cable right in the middle. My god. Worst possible placement in my opinion, and no room for customization because it's not detachable. It takes up !2! USB ports as well.
The (first generation) Cherry RGB switches were scratchy as hell. Feels horrible. I guess Corsair doesn't deserve all the blame for this, but hey they chose to produce a keyboard with these horrible switches. I'll admit I've been too lazy to lube them to this day though.
The lighting on (at least the first generation of) Cherry RGB switches wasn't bright enough in my opinion. And I don't even like them that bright. Also, white wasn't 'white enough'; didn't look nearly as good as pure white led Cherry switches. Probably because of the Cherry solution of having the entire switch housing light up, thus not having light being focused on the key-cap legend.
The Corsair driver/software has been horrific since the start. I'm not a UI designer, but if I can't find my way around the software for a KEYBOARD, it's definitely not intuitive. I would have liked a hardware programmable option instead, even though that's probably not intuitive either. I've had bad experiences with the software that came with the H100 software as well, so I don't really trust Corsair with software at this point. Perhaps the most ludicrous thing is that the keyboard can only handle basic lighting settings from memory. You NEED the driver for the more fancy effects. So when I boot the PC, the keyboard sits in a solid color. When Windows loads, the effects start. It's just sad.
The brushed aluminum stains easily. It looks good at first, but looks rather dirty after only a little while. I've never liked the brushed aluminum finishes of Corsair due to this staining. The same goes for their enclosures, you'd better use gloves.
Mushy media keys. I'd rather not have them at all, or have an FN solution, than to have mushy media keys that feel totally different to the rest of the keyboard.
Corsair tramp stamp. What can I say. Luckily this has long been resolved.

Of course not all of these issues apply to this particular board, but too many still do. Each and every one of them would be a deal breaker on its own to me at this point. There are so many amazing mechanical keyboards out there to buy and/or build, that I can't see why anyone would even consider this anymore.

I know a lot of people are really satisfied with their Corsair boards. I just can't, for the life of me, ever recommend one of these boards to anyone.

#5562761 Posted on: 07/05/2018 12:08 PM

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Don't forget you are comparing a K65 to a Strafe RGB. Not sure but I think the Strafe is marketed as a better quality keyboard.

Not really had any of the issues you describe tbh with the Strafe, other than the 3rd party software which is not very good I admit but then no 3rd party software is very good.
Still functional though and I was able to work my around creating multiple lighting profiles for my keyboard..... although these days I prefer to just stick with a single solid blue backlight

I don't get the whole media keys things either, I don't need or want them really but others surely do as there's always a lot of comments from disgruntled people when keyboards don't have them.

#5562863 Posted on: 07/05/2018 05:12 PM

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I have the non-RGB version of the Strafe at home with the Speed switches. I definitely like this for gaming, though you really have to watch the sensitivity when typing.

I had a Ducky Cherry Blue at work that I loved, but there were many noise complaints. They switched me to the non-RGB version of the Strafe keyboard with only red lighting and Silent switches which are the sound-equivalent of a non-mechanical membrane switch with nearly the same mushy feel but a higher actuation point.

The Silent switches are definitely quiet compared to the Cherry Blues.

#5562889 Posted on: 07/05/2018 06:45 PM

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I hope they fixt those silent mx switches cause i'm on my second rgb strafe already and this one also has 7 keys double tapping.
I'm not ggonna send it back because it tookk 3 months to replace the first one
I wish there was a way to fix it myself damn it.
Never ever i'm gonna buy this again PPERIODD

#5562915 Posted on: 07/05/2018 10:10 PM

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I picked this keyboard up last week after deciding against the Tesoro Gram XS mechanical chiclet style keyboard, I really wanted to get a mechanical chiclet but the quality is just not there yet, but I have no regrets moving from a Razer Deathstalker chiclet keyboard to the Strafe, the response in games is so much better, my only issue is the spacebar is louder than the rest of the keys but overall there's not much difference noise wise compared to my deathstalker and the lighting is great, coupled with my logitech G903 this is an awesome setup.

#5562970 Posted on: 07/06/2018 05:28 AM

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@Inquisitor
?
only 2 things are "noisy" on a mech KB, the switch itself, and when the key bottoms out.

both can be "avoided" and not just since this KB came out (getting a non-clicky switch like red/brown) and putting o-rings on the keys to prevent them from hitting the frame.

so...

#5563101 Posted on: 07/06/2018 05:16 PM

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I hope they fixt those silent mx switches cause i'm on my second rgb strafe already and this one also has 7 keys double tapping.
I'm not ggonna send it back because it tookk 3 months to replace the first one
I wish there was a way to fix it myself damn it.
Never ever i'm gonna buy this again PPERIODD

If the chatter is being caused by a faulty switch they're pretty easy to replace yourself. You'll need to open up to board, desolder and remove the offending switches, and then solder in replacements. However, the problem could also be caused by a fault in the PCB itself, which would require an RMA.

I picked this keyboard up last week after deciding against the Tesoro Gram XS mechanical chiclet style keyboard, I really wanted to get a mechanical chiclet but the quality is just not there yet, but I have no regrets moving from a Razer Deathstalker chiclet keyboard to the Strafe, the response in games is so much better, my only issue is the spacebar is louder than the rest of the keys but overall there's not much difference noise wise compared to my deathstalker and the lighting is great, coupled with my logitech G903 this is an awesome setup.

Probably some rattling in your stabilizers. Pull your spacebar, then lift the stabilizer mount with a pair of tweezers and apply some silicone lube to the sides of the slider with a toothpick. You can't fix it completely without removing the switch, lifting the stabilizer assembly, and lubing the portion where the bar clips into the housing too, but just lubing the housing should help a bit.