Corsair Vengeance K60 Keyboard and M60 Mouse Review @ [H]

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Corsair Vengeance K60 Keyboard and M60 Mouse Review - Corsair continues to expand its line of Vengeance-branded gaming peripherals with the addition of two new keyboards and two new mice. Today, we evaluate the two products optimized for first person shooters: the Vengeance® K60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the Vengeance® K60 Laser Gaming Mouse.
 
I bought the K90 and was not impressed with the Cherry MX red switches. The build quality was pretty good but I still thought that it felt cheap even with the aluminum top. I liked the idea of the keys being mounted above the top for easy cleaning. I ended up returning it and going back to my old rubber-domed G510. I'm kind of surprised that Logitech hasn't entered the mechanical keyboard market.

I tried the CoolerMaster Quickfire Rapid with the MX blues and loved it more than any keyboard I've used; unfortunately the wife could not stand the clickity clack. If I try another mechanical it will probably have MX browns since they seem to be in between the mushy reds and the loud blues.
 
I love my K60. Build quality is superb. I will be using it for a long while.
 
Bankie said:
I bought the K90 and was not impressed with the Cherry MX red switches. The build quality was pretty good but I still thought that it felt cheap even with the aluminum top. I liked the idea of the keys being mounted above the top for easy cleaning. I ended up returning it and going back to my old rubber-domed G510. I'm kind of surprised that Logitech hasn't entered the mechanical keyboard market.

I tried the CoolerMaster Quickfire Rapid with the MX blues and loved it more than any keyboard I've used; unfortunately the wife could not stand the clickity clack. If I try another mechanical it will probably have MX browns since they seem to be in between the mushy reds and the loud blues.
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Sounds like not much is up to your qualifications in the Cherry MX market. Not sure why you are pushing that way. Mech keys are not for everyone.
 
Nice review, not seen anything from Earl before but it was good. Perhaps not as cynical as some our other esteemed reviewers (well Kyle :p) but it was a good read.

Here in Australia I really miss having bricks and mortar stores with the higher end peripherals in, it's all the mainstream trash, I'm in the market for a replacement for my original G15 but it's a lot of money to spend on something that is very subjective for its user. I've got a Roccat Arvo and a box full of mice (including R.A.T 9 and Mamba) that illustrate the point, keep going back to my G15 and MX510

Maybe I should take another chance on the K90 :)
 
I saw no references whatsoever in the review regarding the lack of lighted keys. Guess the reviewer thought it was a non issue. For me it's a big issue and I don't see how this keyboard can be rated as a gamers keyboard without lighted keys. Lots of times games are played in a little or no light atmosphere. Having the keys lit up is a necessity for me. I use the Deck keyboard (Frost) and can not use a keyboard without lighted keys after using this.
 
Mike89 said:
I saw no references whatsoever in the review regarding the lack of lighted keys. Guess the reviewer thought it was a non issue. For me it's a big issue and I don't see how this keyboard can be rated as a gamers keyboard without lighted keys. Lots of times games are played in a little or no light atmosphere. Having the keys lit up is a necessity for me. I use the Deck keyboard (Frost) and can not use a keyboard without lighted keys after using this.
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It'd be interesting to see how much it is valued, on first consideration I thing it's just in the same group as led fans, i.e a bling factor but that's after a quarter of a century of typing and way too much mavis beacon at high school. I don't think I ever really look at the keyboard.

I'm going to try turning the backlight off to see how I do. It could be I make use of it and just am not aware of it.
 
I don't think the back light matters all that much for fast paced games (if you're looking at your keyboard during a a fps you're doing something very very wrong), I guess for MMORPGs and the sort it's useful...

I like having it on my K90 tho I've probably used it more while writing code at night than anything else. Pretty sure they mentioned the step up backlit K90 model in the review, and it's kinda obvious there's no backlight if there's no mention/pictures of it.
 
I don't think the back light matters all that much for fast paced games (if you're looking at your keyboard during a a fps you're doing something very very wrong), I guess for MMORPGs and the sort it's useful...
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The thing is you are not always playing games with the keyboard. Actually gaming time takes up the minority of keyboard use. I just like a backlit keyboard. I'm a traditional typist, around 50 wpm without looking at the keys. Still I do require looking at the board from time to time when I place my hands for instance or do not have my hands ready for 'typing' and I do not always use the keyboard in a well lit environment . Just a preference thing, got to be backlit for me. If it's not, I won't even consider it.
 
Mike89 said:
when I place my hands for instance
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There are bumps on the 'f' & 'j' keys for that :D

the article said:
If Corsair were to release a much improved software suite, the mouse would most likely receive our editor's choice "Gold Award."
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I didn't even bother installing the software with my M60. Previous experience with peripheral software has taught me that it is near universally crap; this seems to be a systemic problem in the hardware industry. The mouse works fine without it.
 
i had a m60 for about 10 days before I returned it... my hands simply didn't fit this mouse at all

the sniper button is useless (my fingers are long and I can't reach it w/ my thumb in any reasonably usable manner.

I got a G500 instead...and I guess I sort of agree that the m60 appears to be better built

but usablity, comfort and software are all much better (for me) w/ the G500


the g500 seems to be built in a similar quality as the G5 I had previously and it lasted for nearly 5 years before the side scrolling started going out. (faded and worn the finish may have been...it didn't effect usablity or comfort at all.. my G5 i definitely thought I got my monies worth and more out of.

I loved my G5 but I actually now after a few months with it think I like my G500 more (my G500 has no wear or fading (yet) and i've used it alot.


my 10 days with the m60 had me wanting to hit it with a hammer on pretty much every occasion i used it in games.
 
I'm surprised the K60 got a gold award considering the insane choice of putting membrane keys on what is otherwise an excellent keyboard. I tried it and didn't purchase it for that reason alone. Let's hope Corsair don't cheap out going forward, their excuse of "to provide a tactile difference for the user when he reaches outside the boundaries of the keyboard's standard alpha-numeric keys" is one of the worst I've ever heard.
 
slh28 said:
I'm surprised the K60 got a gold award considering the insane choice of putting membrane keys on what is otherwise an excellent keyboard. I tried it and didn't purchase it for that reason alone. Let's hope Corsair don't cheap out going forward, their excuse of "to provide a tactile difference for the user when he reaches outside the boundaries of the keyboard's standard alpha-numeric keys" is one of the worst I've ever heard.
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Did you read the article?

It clearly states the K60 has Cherry MX Red Mechanical switches, and the pictures of the stalks with the keycaps removed verify this...
 
I am considering one of these, but it is a tough choice for me.

I have been exclusively using IBM Model M type buckling spring keyboards on my computers since back when these where the type of keyboards XT and 286 computers came with.

Coming from these, any current mechanical keyboard (be it Cherry MX, or ALPS or whatever) is a step down I feel.

A Model M is tactile like a MX Blue switch, but with more resistance and more of a tactile bump. Perfect for typing, but I prefer them for games as well.

I currently use a IBM Model M13 (Trackpoint II) in black, with white lettering.


The IBM Model M by mattlach, on Flickr

It is pretty much the perfect keyboard, but unfortunately it is turning into more and more of a rare collectors item. Last year I refurbished it with new keycaps, as the white lettering was starting to wear off, and at that time I got Unicomps last batch of black keycaps with white lettering. They are not made anymore, and if I want to replace them again, I'll have to have something custom made, likely at some expense.

So, rather than wear out this keyboard which is rather collectible in its like new condition for which I can't get anymore replacements, I am considering a new mechanical keyboard.

A Unicomp Customizer would be ideal from a "feel" perspective, but they are just so damned ugly. Thye just haven't kept up with the times, and now that they no longer offer black keycaps I just can't picture myself getting one.

So my other option seems to be these new fangled mechanical keyboards, but here's how I feel about them.

MX Black: No tactility, tough resistance.
MX Blue: Medium to light resistance, some tactility, but not enough.
MX Red: Light resistance, not really tactile.

I have no experience with MX Browns or the rarer white cherry switches.

I guess MX blues would be the best for me, but I still don't feel they are good enough, and most of the keyboards that use them like the Razer BlackWidow have absolutely terrible keys and layouts which pretty much negate the great switches...

I want a buckling spring keyboard in black with white key lettering and a modern design, please! :p
 
Cakemeister said:
Is the wrist rest moveable for lefties? I use IJKL, not WASD.
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Good point.

I use neither, I use the arrow keys, but I'm a little bit of a weirdo in this regard.

My standard keyboard setup is loosely based on original Quake setup.

Forwards: Uparrow
Backwards: Downarrow
Strafe left: Left arrow
Strafe right: Right arrow
Fire: Left mouse button
Jump: Right mouse button

Everything else I bind to keys strategically placed around the arrow keys (rCTRL, rShift. Enter, \ , backspace, insert, delete, home, end, pgup, pgdwn and numeric keypad.

Oh, and I also invert my mouse, something that stayed with me since playing old flight sims without a joystick.
 
I had one of those old IBM keyboards (minus the trackpoint, useless IMO) from back in the day. I loved it. It was CLICK CLICK CLACK CLICK CLUCK and I could accurately type rapid fire machine gun style. My girlfriend from years past made me get rid of it. She could not tolerate the noise, it would wake her up even from a different room with doors closed and fans running.

I went from that to an old Keytronic which I still use on my test system. I call it "Whitey". Same shape/look/feel (except it's white) but doesn't click nearly as loud.

On my main rig I am now using a Logitech K800 wireless illuminated. I love/hate this thing. It is so cool to look at, and the backlighting is great. Sleek and smooth. But it is not great for accurate fast typing because the keys are smooth, small, and too close together. But I can live with it. Admittedly I don't do as much gaming as I used to.

I can't see spending $100 on a mechanical keyboard like this, but I would like to try one. But if it's noisy I'm sure I would hear about it from the wife.
 
Burticus said:
My girlfriend from years past made me get rid of it. She could not tolerate the noise, it would wake her up even from a different room with doors closed and fans running.
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Burticus said:
But if it's noisy I'm sure I would hear about it from the wife.
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Aye, there's the rub.

My wife hates it as well, but I just can't give it up. it frustrates me to no end typing on anything else I've experienced.

I still wish there were a good place to sample keyboards before buying. The feel is so important. it's not a product you can just buy based on specs, pictures or even reviews...
 
Zarathustra[H];1038737338 said:
Did you read the article?

It clearly states the K60 has Cherry MX Red Mechanical switches, and the pictures of the stalks with the keycaps removed verify this...
Click to expand...

Most of the keys are mechanical, but the ESC, F1-F12, everything from PrtScn to Page Down, and the media keys are all membrane.
 
I too am another IBM Model M user, I've never seen a keyboard that even remotely makes me want to switch either. The M60 looks nice but Sniping in TF2...seriously, who has time to press a thumb button to line up your shot. My head would be gone in that fraction of a second. Good thing TF2 has that built in.
 
atarione said:
i had a m60 for about 10 days before I returned it... my hands simply didn't fit this mouse at all

the sniper button is useless (my fingers are long and I can't reach it w/ my thumb in any reasonably usable manner.

I got a G500 instead...and I guess I sort of agree that the m60 appears to be better built

but usablity, comfort and software are all much better (for me) w/ the G500
...
my 10 days with the m60 had me wanting to hit it with a hammer on pretty much every occasion i used it in games.
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Seconded on the ergos! I love to looks, it seems solid and tracks well. The buttons click crisply, etc... But it's at least an inch to short, or maybe made for fingertip holders. Bummer! Back to the old Sidewinder (with the strange stacked thumb buttons), which fits me well.
 
Zarathustra[H];1038737338 said:
Did you read the article?

It clearly states the K60 has Cherry MX Red Mechanical switches, and the pictures of the stalks with the keycaps removed verify this...
Click to expand...

Did you read it? Corsair uses membrane switches on the function keys and the page/home/insert block... Also on the macro keys for the K90. Probably the only non-subjective flaw on their keyboards, but it's a big turn off for many (and at the $100+ MSRPs I'd agree).

There's tons of keyboards with blue switches that are significantly better built than Razer's BWU btw... DAS, Filco, Deck, hell even Ducky or Rosewill. Not sure there's many you can easily try in store tho but Amazon charges no restocking on keyboard returns.
 
Impulse said:
There's tons of keyboards with blue switches that are significantly better built than Razer's BWU btw... DAS, Filco, Deck, hell even Ducky or Rosewill. Not sure there's many you can easily try in store tho but Amazon charges no restocking on keyboard returns.
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Most of them aren't back lit. The only one I'm aware of that has blues and is backlit of the ones you spoke of is Deck, and that keyboard is ugly IMO. It is also lacking in media keys.

BWU may not be the best built keyboard, but IMO, its the most well rounded.

EDIT: Nope, I'm mistaken. But is it worth the price premium?
 
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BigJayDogg3 said:
Most of them aren't back lit. The only one I'm aware of that has blues and is backlit of the ones you spoke of is Deck, and that keyboard is ugly IMO. It is also lacking in media keys.

BWU may not be the best built keyboard, but IMO, its the most well rounded.
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Ducky Shine is backlit, available in every switch type and different lighting colors for about $150 from Tiger Imports. Pretty standard layout, only extra fluff is the three shortcut keys over the number pad (and the backlit Ducky logo on the front of the spacebar I guess), it has media functions tied to Fn+F keys and a dip switch below for disabling the Windows key.

I was about to get a Ducky before I ended up with the K90 because it was on sale at $81 after MIR. The BWU is a far cry from the most well model out there imo. Glossy plastic on a keyboard, seriously? It's easily available and easy to try out tho.

Monoprice's Xarmor/Nighthawk rebrands are also backlit and available with a few different switch types, not sure if they currently have blues tho (or if they're built any better than Razer's).
 
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BigJayDogg3 said:
EDIT: Nope, I'm mistaken. But is it worth the price premium?
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That's pretty subjective, I tried the BWU in store and wasn't impressed... The basic Rosewill RK900 mechanical I ordered felt more solid and it's like $80 for any switch other than browns, not backlit tho obviously. $50 more isn't a ton for something you may use day in day out for 5+ years tho.

The BWU also doesn't have the kind of 6KRO, 20KRO, or NKRO (over PS2) that those other keyboards have. The lettering font's kinda ghastly too.

I think if Corsair manages to offer a choice of reds & blues on their next pair of (fully mechanical) boards for the same price as the current K60/K90 they might hit it out of the park (at least for people that actually want some of the extra features/flair).
 
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Impulse said:
The BWU also doesn't have the kind of 6KRO, 20KRO, or NKRO (over PS2) that those other keyboards have. The lettering font's kinda ghastly too.

I think if Corsair manages to offer a choice of reds & blues on their next pair of (fully mechanical) boards for the same price as the current K60/K90 they might hit it out of the park (at least for people that actually want some of the extra features/flair).
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The Rollover on the K60 was exceptional. Using my Microsoft Natural 4000 USB, I could not get more than five or six keys to register at once. Using two sets of hands, I was able to get 18-20 to register on the K60.
 
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Are the arrow keys and number pad keys cherry reds in the K60?

I am one of those gamers who use the arrow and surrounding keys for gaming.... call me wierd.


I do however own the M60 and absolutely love it!
 
BigJayDogg3 said:
Most of them aren't back lit. The only one I'm aware of that has blues and is backlit of the ones you spoke of is Deck, and that keyboard is ugly IMO. It is also lacking in media keys.

BWU may not be the best built keyboard, but IMO, its the most well rounded.

EDIT: Nope, I'm mistaken. But is it worth the price premium?
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from my test typing on a friends BlackWidow it was horrible, so yes, I'd assume it was worth the price premium.

I'm actually liking the Ducky shine. Maybe that will be my next one.
 
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very nice write up. i actually bought the m60 to compete with my DA. i've had it for about a week and having a tough time deciding between the two. the DA is nice since its more ergonomic but it also feels almost mushy in comparison. the build quality on the m60 is incredible. everything seems so crisp. with the way i hold the mouse, i had to completely just forget the sniper button though.
 
Nice review, however I would have liked to see the units actual physical dimensions in the specifications area. I use a keyboard tray and 18" wide is about the max it will accept. Thanks!
 
K60 keyboard dimensions: 438(L) x 163(W) x 24(H) mm / 17.2” (L) x 6.4” (W) x 0.94 (H)
M60 mouse dimensions: 118(L) x 77(W) x 39(H) mm / 4.6” (L) x 3.0“ (W) x 1.5 (H)
Those numbers should be exactly what you need.
 
Mike89 said:
I saw no references whatsoever in the review regarding the lack of lighted keys. Guess the reviewer thought it was a non issue. For me it's a big issue and I don't see how this keyboard can be rated as a gamers keyboard without lighted keys. Lots of times games are played in a little or no light atmosphere. Having the keys lit up is a necessity for me. I use the Deck keyboard (Frost) and can not use a keyboard without lighted keys after using this.
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I sometimes play games in the dark and don't need back lit keys.
 
Mike89 said:
I saw no references whatsoever in the review regarding the lack of lighted keys. Guess the reviewer thought it was a non issue.
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On page three of the review, we made sure to highlight the differences.

"Corsair's K90 MMO/RPG keyboard has a full-length wrist rest, eighteen programmable macro keys, and backlighting for the entire keyboard, but it costs roughly $20.00 more than the K60. The feature differences between the two keyboards should definitely be considered before making a final purchase decision."
 
I had the K60 and ended up returning it - my issues with it were:

1. I had the keycap fading problem within 3 days of buying it.

2. The Cherry MX Reds were just too little force for me I think, I was constantly doubling letters accidentally.

3. I had an issue where the backspace key would get stuck on repeat - believe Corsair said it was a firmware problem, it definitely wasn't the switch doing it. Not sure if that was fixed yet.

4. The wrist rest is pretty uncomfortable and forces you to have the keyboard pretty far back on the desk - I took it off almost immediately.

5. The use of dome switches for the F keys and stuff wasn't a total dealbreaker for me but it is pretty lame in a high end keyboard. Their excuses/explanations were equally lame too once people found out and got upset over it. (we did this for a better user experience blah blah - bull lol)

I will say though that I did very much like the actual industrial design of the keyboard itself where the switches aren't recessed down into an enclosure the way they are on almost any other keyboard. This makes it extremely easy to clean out the junk that builds up under the keys after a while - you can just spray compressed air straight through and that's it. I really hope Corsair considers doing a full mechanical with Cherry MX Brown switches or something like that while still using the same industrial design. I'd buy that pretty much instantly.
 
Tabs said:
5. The use of dome switches for the F keys and stuff wasn't a total dealbreaker for me but it is pretty lame in a high end keyboard. Their excuses/explanations were equally lame too once people found out and got upset over it. (we did this for a better user experience blah blah - bull lol)
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Yeah I didn't buy that BS either.
 
I've got the K90 and honestly, having used it for awhile now, the F keys and a few others being dome doesn't bother me in the least. It is pretty lame that they didn't go all-out with the MX switches, but they did well in choosing keys you rarely use for them, IMO.
 
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