INTRODUCTION
Razer Huntsman Elite
There’s nothing on planet earth that travels faster than light. Common knowledge no? Anyway, you know what else moves at speeds like that? Razer’s new optomechanical switches. These switches are what drive the Huntsman Elite peripheral from Razer. The company manufactured these mechanical keys in-house and the Elite keyboard was one of the pioneer products that were graced with this new feature. This new switch type of theirs is extremely comfortable and is something Razer says will be relevant in the gaming world ten years from now. These key switches are simply a joy to use.
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
If Cherry MX switches are more your thing and you’re in search of a mechanical keyboard that uses one the K70 Mk.2 board by Corsair is the one for you. This gaming keyboard product has many rainbow illumination settings as well as an elegant, sophisticated and clean overall look. Corsair has invested quite a number of years on the fine-tuning process but it seemed to have paid off seeing as how they managed to bring to the world such a fresh, new and innovative product. This is one of those gaming boards that’s both functional yet still easy on the eye. The price tag it has will definitely scare off some folks, however, the Cherry MXs and top-tier chassis make it worth every dollar.
DESIGN
Razer Huntsman Elite
The Elite gaming board looks like something that came from the union of a membrane and a mechanical keyboard. In fact, it really looks like its cousin the Ornata, which is also from the Razer camp and is a membrane/mechanical hybrid. Its aluminum-based chassis carries keys that have been raised a little. This slight elevation makes it look distinctive, futuristic and sophisticated. It’s very pleasing to the eye with an overall aesthetic that’s considerably understated but still as striking and eye-catching as you would expect to get from something that has come out from the Razer stable. That being said, you can still use it on office workstations without worrying that it looks out of place. If you’re familiar with gaming keyboards, then you know how difficult it can be to incorporate them into office setups.
Why the Elite gaming keyboard beats other gaming boards on the Razer camp is largely because it comes with discrete media key features. The aesthetically-pleasing, circular buttons are for playing, pausing, rewinding and forwarding audio files. The ridged dial function controls volume levels, although you can also use it to customize the board’s illumination settings. These days, a lot of the hardcore PC gamers can’t operate at peak capacity if they don’t have access to discrete media keys. Many of them won’t even consider getting a keyboard that doesn’t provide them with this. In fact, a board that lacks such key function can’t consider itself a premium product. Razer themselves just started including them in their keyboard products.
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
The Strafe Mk.2 and the K70 RGB Mk.2, both by Corsair, have almost and identical outward appearance. The K70 Mk.2 is in the fll-size category of keyboards, just like its cousin the Strafe is, and measures 17×6 inches. However, this measurement is without its wrist rest attached. With it on, it’s about 17×9 inches. The board’s chassis is eye-catching and Corsair seemed like they didn’t want any wasted space. In fact, it is a lot more compact than what you’d expect a full-size gaming keyboard to be. The good thing is, though, it ensures you have all this and still gives comfortable key spacing.
Okay, how the body looks alone is not the only reason why it costs so much. That being said, the aluminum does help encourage that sturdy, clean and refined look it’s going for. If you want it for the office, don’t worry. It’ll look just fine. Not many gaming keyboards can confidently say they can achieve that. Its slightly raised caps help add that flair. In addition, this gaming peripheral also uses USB pass-through connectivity as well as extra media keys. Its textured caps are something fast-paced, high-octane tournament games will love.
KEYS
Razer Huntsman Elite
The optomechanical key feature on the Elite is arguably the board’s main attraction. When you remove the caps, you can see the purple switches attached to the springs (metal). Plastic cylinders stand behind them and this is where all the good stuff is. The actual switches themselves are basically there just for the feel. Rather than employ the use of mechanical forces to instigate the electrical connections, similar to what’s there on irregular-old mechanical gaming keyboard products, the optomechanical key switch types on the Huntsman Elite ensure connections are made via infrared-lighting. When actuated, the optical switches by Razer send signals that are transported to the hardware via light rays. The signals then eventually reach the computer through the same process.
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
Corsair doesn’t release gaming keyboards without putting a lot of consideration into what keys they’ll be using for each. In the case of the Corsair K70 Mk.2, this gaming peripheral uses Cherry MXs. However, though most Corsair gaming keyboards use these types of mechanical switches, most products only come with the option of two types. But the K70 RGB Mk.2 has taken things a step further and gives users a pick of 5 Cherry MX switches. Pretty cool, right? You can get your hands on a board that either uses quiet, linear switches to noisy, clicky, tactile ones. There’s literally everything for everyone. This is something you shouldn’t take lightly or for granted considering most other gaming keyboard products out there that use Cherry switches don’t offer you more than two options to pick from.
FEATURES
Razer Huntsman Elite
The Synapse is what drives the Huntsman gaming keyboard. This is the software Razer came up with in-house. It’s a software product that’s truly way above-average and, when opened for the first time, it’ll explain what the screens are meant to do. Yes, this is incredibly helpful, however, it has some disadvantages that you might want to keep in mind. For starters, to complete simple tasks, like reprogramming keys or creating profile settings, you’ll need to sit and toggle through several screens. With that said, the Synapse 3 actually gels well with the Elite and it’s what will allow you to change and customize the board’s backlighting profile settings to your liking. That’s not all though. It’s also what’s going to help you program macro keys as well.
Razer developers love to integrate their own in-built profiles for certain games. Certain popular titles, such as Diablo III, and Overwatch, use the built-in custom illumination presets they came up with. True, these onboard profiles are actually a nice touch and have their own unique beauty, like the way color themes in Overwatch are determined by who the character chosen is. Bt, it’s not that easy getting to know about the titles that will trigger the board’s built-in backlighting presets. Furthermore, if you’re the type that wants to use profiles you;ve come with yourself, unfortunately, it’s not easy creating these said individual profiles.
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
If you are a fan of keyboards by Corsair, then there’s a very high chance you already know about their proprietary software the Utility Engine, also commonly referred to as the iCUE. This is what drives this gaming board. The software’s opacity is something people hate about it, however, it’s a good thing this opacity comes alongside a wide variety of interesting feature qualities. It’ll take you a bit of time before you can use all the programs seamlessly without any problem.
Honestly speaking, Corsair developers should have spent a bit more time on the innovation part as far as the keyboard’s overall layout is concerned. However, when you can use the software without a problem, you will be able to change the RGB illumination profiles on the board, reprogram and restructure all the key functions it has and to program your own unique, individual profiles.
Why gaming keyboards from Corsair manage to be superior to many of its other competitor products out there is because of the power of the Corsair Utility Engine. It makes you god over the board basically, in control of almost everything about it. However, the part you’ll most likely really enjoy the most about it is what it allows you to do with the keyboard’s RGB backlighting settings.
PERFORMANCE
Razer Huntsman Elite
Razer will tell you that their optomechanical key switches are way better than your regular-old mechanical switches but, truth is, it still can’t be definitively confirmed just yet, especially on the gameplay side. Although, the one thing you can’t question them about is whether they’re outstanding performers. They work extremely well. Wading through your map in overwatch will never be the same for you with this keyboard. If you know all about how Razer gets down with their keyboards then you’ll know that the company would rather die than sell gaming peripherals that offer above-average performance to their customers. Thankfully, things haven’t changed with the Elite keyboard.
Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
Games such as Final Fantasy and Overwatch shouldn’t be a problem for the Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 device. It’ll run these titles with relative ease. In fact, there’s really no PC game out there that can’t be run by this gaming peripheral. The outstanding Cherry MX switches on the board don’t disappoint, which was probably the only outcome when dealing with these German-manufactured powerhouses. Bring down foes and enemies in titles like Overwatch will never be this easy for you. In addition, its extra discrete media features help make it way easier for folks to run songs and podcasts that they like during gameplay. However, we know not everyone does this so not everyone will really appreciate this feature.
Hardcore massive multiple-player online PC gamers won’t like the idea of not having access to macro keys, which is something they’ll have to keep in mind when going the K70 Mk.2 keyboard route. Although, the Utility Engine can help you program macros key features as well as restructure all the board’s key functions themselves meaning there’s a way you can avoid letting the lack of macros be a disadvantage to you.
VERDICT
If you’re in search of a gaming keyboard that has key switches that work at super speeds, then what you should be concentrating mostly on is what the Razer Huntsman Elite has to offer. Not only will you be getting arguably currently the fastest mechanical switch in Razer’s purple optomechanical switch but you’ll be getting an aesthetically-pleasing keyboard device. This peripheral can do almost everything. In fact, not many keyboards can claim to be near-perfect, though this one can.
On the other hand, if you’ve got money to blow, then getting the Corsair shouldn’t be a problem. It has a simple software product that drives it and there aren’t many bad things one can say about it. If you want something almost perfect, the MK.2 RGB is one such device. Not only is it both beautiful and functional but it also gives you the chance to pick between 5 Cherry MXS. This is just too hard to beat for any keyboard and that’s why we say if you had to choose, then you best go for the latter option, the Corsair K70 Mk.2.
