Corsair announced three new keyboards, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE and K70 RAPIDFIRE all of which use Cherry's new MX Speed switches which have an actuation distance of 1.2 millimeters and and activation force of 45 cN(centinewtons, or 45.887229584 gram force). 

All three keyboards have a brushed aluminium shell, the two RGB models are capable of producing almost any colour on the spectrum with the remaining model featuring red backlighting.  All three are compatible with CUE LINK, you can synchronize the LEDs of your Corsair keyboard, mouse and headset to compliment each other and perhaps as a distraction tactic during LAN parties.  100% Anti-ghosting and full key rollover over USB mean even in the heat of battle your death will not be caused by a keypress not registering.  Touch typists should also enjoy benefits when using the new keyboards, a light touch is all that is required for the keyboard to register a character, though the tiny amount of travel required may take some getting used to.  Many will be please to note that these keyboards do ship with a wrist rest.

They are available as of today, MSRPs are $169.99 for the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, $139.99 for the K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE and $129.99 for the K70 RAPIDFIRE.

Click to read the PRs, but do it lightly and quickly.

Corsair Takes Aim with Ultrafast New Mechanical Keyboards, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE and K70 RAPIDFIRE
World’s First Keyboards to use Cherry MX Speed Switches with 1.2mm Actuation

FREMONT, CA –April 21st 2016 – Corsair®, a leader in high-performance gaming hardware, today announced the newest entries to its celebrated line-up of mechanical keyboards, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE and K70 RAPIDFIRE. The first keyboards in the world to feature the all-new Cherry MX Speed switch, the Corsair RAPIDFIRE family’s linear mechanical key switches actuate at a distance of just 1.2mm. 40% Faster than a standard Cherry MX key switch, the Corsair RAPIDFIRE range gives gamers the edge when every millisecond counts and the outcome of a match rests on a single key press.

The RAPIDFIRE family of gaming keyboards build on Corsair’s legendary legacy of quality and innovation, retaining the aircraft-grade anodized brushed aluminium construction and German-made Cherry MX key switches that has helped make the Corsair K70, K70 RGB and K65 best-sellers among gamers, PC enthusiasts, or anyone who simply demanded more from their keyboard.

With the new Cherry MX Speed key switch, the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE, K65 RAPIDFIRE and K70 RAPIDFIRE offer a new choice for those who demand the fastest key switches available. An ultrafast 1.2mm actuation point and light 45g actuation force make them ideal for split-second key presses or clutch gaming moments where every millisecond counts. With the speed you need to stay ahead and the accuracy you need to win, Cherry MX Speed is the standout choice for gamers who demand the shortest path to victory and is exclusive to Corsair.

Beneath the brushed aluminium and exclusive key switches, the RAPIDFIRE range is just as smart as it is fast. The K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE and K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE feature upgraded per-key multi-color dynamic vibrant back-lighting, allowing users to customize the color, pattern or lighting effect of every single key, while the K70 RAPIDFIRE offers the same effects in single-color red LED lighting. Whichever gamers chose, they’ll benefit from a host of easily downloadable profiles online to instantly light up their keyboard, or a host of pre-sets built into Corsair’s powerful software, Corsair Utility Engine (CUE).

What’s more, the RAPIDFIRE range of keyboards can be paired with the rest of the Corsair Peripheral range to unlock the full lighting potential of CUE. Synchronize the lighting effects of both your mouse and keyboard with CUE LINK, compatible with any Corsair RGB mouse, or see your sound by turning your keyboard into a dazzling graphic equalizer with VOID Visualizer, compatible with any Corsair VOID USB Headset.

All three RAPIDFIRE keyboards are also packed with features to give owners the edge, whatever game they play. The entire RAPIDFIRE family use 100% anti-ghosting gaming-grade circuitry and full key rollover over USB to ensure every key press counts. Replacement textured and contoured key caps are included for FPS (WASD) and MOBA (QWERDF) layouts, alongside a key-puller to make removing keys for replacement or maintenance simple. A USB 2.0 pass-through port allows you to easily connect a mouse, headset or any other USB device to your PC, while a full array of dedicated media controls and volume scroller means your game doesn’t have to stop to skip a track or pause the music. Finally, the included detachable soft-touch wrist rest provides the comfort to game for long as your fingers can keep up.

Specifications

  • Ultrafast mechanical gaming keyboard: Ultrafast 1.2mm actuation and light 45g switch force for truly unrivaled response time.
  • 100% Anti-ghosting and full key rollover over USB circuitry: No matter how fast you go your keypresses will always register.
  • Aircraft-grade anodized brushed aluminum frame: Light weight and rugged durability you need for a keyboard that’s going to see a lot of action.
  • 100% Cherry MX Speed RGB key switches: Ultrafast performance with the precision and durability of Gold contact
  • Cherry MX mechanical gaming key switches. (K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE and K65 RGB RAPIDFIRE Only.)
  • Advanced lighting control and large font keycaps: Experience dynamic, vibrant multi-color backlighting.
  • The power of CUE: Sophisticated macro programming and fast, fluid dynamic multicolor illumination for an enlightened gaming experience.
  • Detachable soft-touch wrist rest: The comfort you need for marathon gaming sessions.
  • Dedicated multimedia controls: The control you need to adjust your audio without interrupting your game.
  • USB Pass-through port: Positioned for uninterrupted game play and ready for your mouse or wireless headset adapter,
  • FPS and MOBA keycap sets: Textured and contoured keycaps provide maximum grip and enhanced feel,

 

Auerbach, 21 April 2016 – CHERRY, the market leader and expert in mechanical switch keyboards, presents the new MX SPEED switch, which ensures high switching frequencies and extremely low response times, made possible by a very short travel. The brand-new MX SPEED is the fastest CHERRY switch on the market and is ideal for use in mechanical gaming keyboards, or keyboards for fast and frequent typists. The world's leading precision and unique Gold-Crosspoint contact technology rounds off the new switch. All this guarantees the highest performance of a CHERRY MX switch so far.

MX SPEED: the fastest CHERRY switch of all time
CHERRY expands its own portfolio of mechanical switches with the MX SPEED, a new top model which comes with a high performance. The name speaks for itself: thanks to an actuation point of 1.2 millimeters and the resulting, extremely short travel as well as a low activation force of only 45 cN, this high-precision linear switch is optimized for both low response times and high switching frequencies. In combination with the leading precision and unique Gold-Crosspoint contact technology, as well as a low bounce time of less than one millisecond typically, CHERRY has developed the fastest MX switch of all time. The feature set guarantees a proven durability of over 50 million keystrokes with constant pressure quality.

Optimal choice for gamers, and fast and frequent typists
The short key travel makes the MX SPEED ideally suited for gamers among others. The variants with transparent RGB covers are ideally suited for keyboards that fit perfect to the needs of gamers when it comes to haptics, yet also fulfill all the visual requirements of such a model. A switch cover with an integrated lens and large scattering surface combined with an SMD LED ensures a high luminosity of all 16.7 million colors of the RGB spectrum. The MX SPEED is also suitable for fast and frequent typists at the office or at home. For this usage scenario, the switch is available in a conventional variant with unobtrusive standard cover. Typing performance can be significantly increased due to the short travel, which benefits office use.

Corsair as exclusive launch partner
Corsair will be the exclusive launch partner of the world's first gaming keyboard equipped with the all-new high-performance MX SPEED switch. The exclusive cooperation runs for the first six months after the launch of the new CHERRY switches.