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Preview: Corsair Vengeance K60

by Parm Mann on 5 October 2011, 10:00

Tags: Corsair

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qa7hx

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The mechanics

We've mentioned that the Vengeance K60 is a mechanical keyboard, but it's worth expanding on that for readers who are new to the term.

Many of today's keyboards utilise dome- or scissor-switch mechanisms that consist of multiple membrane layers. When squeezed, the layers touch to complete an electrical circuit and the key press is registered. It's an effective technique, and it's relatively cheap to manufacture - hence why similar methods are used in remote controls.

In contrast, mechanical keyboards utilise independent spring-based mechanisms for each key, resulting in an intricate design that's costly but of higher quality. Each key will typically travel up to 5mm and will actuate before bottoming out, so the user needn't fully depress the key in order for it to register.

The short actuation point is said to minimise fatigue and there are other benefits to mechanical keyboards, too. The keys spring back up to their normal position consistently, and the typist can feel the resistance. Perhaps most importantly, the movement of the keys results in audible and tactile feedback - allowing the user, in theory, to touch type at greater speed.

Mechanical switches, then, are a good thing, but they too come in various shapes and sizes. For the Vengeance K60, Corsair has opted to use linear MX Red switches from German manufacturer Cherry.

Cherry switches can be found in various gaming keyboards, but the MX Red variety has become something of a rarity - and with good reason, too, as it is Cherry's premium gaming solution.

This particular brand of switch allows each key to travel 2mm to actuation and 4mm to bottom, and requires just 45g of force to actuate. That's 15g less than the more common Cherry MX Black, and it makes the MX Red keys feel notably light and responsive.

Like the MX Black, Cherry's MX Red switches offer a linear key press with no tactile feedback. Having a light bump at the actuation point can be useful when typing, but Corsair has decided that the smooth action of the MX Reds is the best bet for enthusiast gamers.

And there are other gamer-specific benefits, too. By using individual switches and an integrated keyboard micro-controller, the K60 is 100 per cent ghost-free so you needn't worry about specific key combinations. And there's little reason to fret over simultaneous key presses, too, as Corsair's implemented a custom device driver that allows the K60 to register up to 20 simultaneous key presses over USB.

What's interesting, though, is that the entire keyboard isn't strictly mechanical. The K60's top row (Escape through F12) and centre block (PrtScn to Page Down) are in fact equipped with silicon-dome key switches. Corsair claims this is a design decision, and not a cost-cutting measure, as quick double taps are "undesirable on those keys". Instead, these 22 keys have been tweaked in force and linearity to provide extra damping that helps prevents accidental actuation.

What's it like to use?

The fact that mechanical switches come in various forms suggests that the Cherry MX Red configuration of the Vengeance K60 won't be for everyone.

We initially found the keys to be a little too light for our liking, and the low actuation force led to a few accidental key presses. But after a few days of acclimatising, the consistency of the mechanical switches began to feel like second nature, and the keyboard became seriously enjoyable while gaming.

There's something about the Vengeance K60 that feels right in a first-person shooter. It's comfortable in use, the contoured keys feel fantastic, and it's ultimately a great tool for FPS gaming.

Yet herein lies the dilemma; Corsair's paid so much attention to the first-person shooter, that other considerations have fallen by the wayside. With no tactile feedback, the Vengeance K60 isn't great for everyday typing, and with no backlight, it isn't particularly useful in the dark. But this is an FPS gaming keyboard first and foremost and it excels in catering for this market.

Bottom line: the Vengeance K60 is an excellent tool for extreme FPS gamers, but our advice would be to try before you buy as mechanical keyboards aren't for everyone.

The Good

MX Red switches
Sturdy aluminium top plate
Contoured keys are excellent
20-key rollover and ghost-free
Integrated USB port for mouse

The Bad

No backlit keys
Not suited to everyday typing

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Corsair Vengeance K60 gaming keyboard is available to purchase from scan.co.uk*.



*As always, UK-based HEXUS.community forum members will benefit from the SCAN2HEXUS Free Shipping initiative, which will save you a further few pounds plus also top-notch, priority customer service and technical support backed up by the SCANcare@HEXUSforum.



HEXUS Forums :: 12 Comments

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Still not sure I get ‘gaming’ mouse+keyboards - I see them as nothing more than overpriced, over-marketed input devices (usually of a lower quality than a decent ‘normal’ brand). I'm perfectly happy playing with my wireless laser mouse (MX620) and Cherry keyboard - I see none of teh dreaded input lag or ghosting! :O

When you expect easily ~10ms between input and display on screen because of processing/screen latency and such, I'm not sure 1μs less from a ‘gaming’ keyboard is going to make much of a difference. ;)
It's a shame that alot of “gaming keyboard” manufacturers don't copy the layout design of the roccat ARVO. The arvo is a really cheapo execution but an awesome layout, I love the shortened width of it and the thumbster keys … I wish that design would become standing for gaming keyboards.

The problem with the corsair K60 is it is about 5 years too late. Would have maybe been worth while for serious CS 1.6 gamers at lan but with the current generation of fps titles (can't comment on other game types) just not worth it. Playing 1.6 you could never get away with a wireless mouse but with the current popular fps titles like mw2 where snail like reactions are fine I don't see the point in decent peripherals (although n key rollover is important but any decent keyboard should give you sufficient rollover).

EDIT: just noticed your reply watercooled … I couldn't agree more. I remember in 2005 when tournaments first switched from CRTs to LCDs and the lots of teams (the top ones and the amateur ones) described the input lag as horrendously. That would have been about 30-60ms on the early LCDs I would have thought? Can't see a keyboard like this making too much difference back then and zero now. But it does look pretty and the mechanical keys would be good for touch typing I guess!?
Did I read this correctly? £89 for this?
Those red topped keys look like crap and, perhaps the pictures don't do it justice here, it generally looks cheap.
Is it just me that's fed up going to this site to see another story about yet another Corsair product release?
Corsair should focus focus on doing some things really well (I own a H50 and Dominator RAM) - not lots of things things done poorly. Too many firms think they have to get into too many other areas and quality and/or customer service slides as a result.
I'll stick with Logitech…
george i think you have missed a key point…. logitech arent mechanical and KRO is far superior on corsair/other mech keyboards, quality is another factor as your membrane based keyboards will last like <5 years? contacts get harder to press whereas mechs last atleast 5x longer and are easy to fix and dont get harder to register they just die at the end :D.

Good preview, nice you picked up on the top row being membrane… as much as i love corsair im going to have to call BS on their comment about it not being about cost as it really is! If they wanted the actuation force higher and stuff (as they make it out) then they should have just changed the switch type for them keys, i.e put mxblacks are they are just stiffer reds. Its not hard to do at all, infact i bet it was more of an effort to add in a membrane piece rather than changing to another mech switch. I also dont get how you accidently press esc f1-12??? its well away from typing area lol.
Any keyboard built well enough to batter justin beiber into a bloody pulp, then provide me with an amazing gaming experience - strait after the aforementioned “productivity” - is on my short-list.