At first I would like to thank Corsair for sending a sample of their Vengeance K90 Performance MMO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for testing and reviewing.

 

About Corsair:

Meeting Performance Computing Demands since 1994

"Corsair is a global company bringing innovative, high-performance components to the PC gaming market. Specializing in very high performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, and other key system components, our products are the choice of overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere.

Founded as Corsair Microsystems in 1994, Corsair originally developed Level 2 cache modules for OEMs. After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market. In 2002, Corsair began shipping DRAM modules that were specifically designed to appeal to computer overclocking enthusiasts. From its roots in high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.

Corsair has developed a global operations infrastructure with extensive marketing and distribution channel relationships. Corsair’s products are sold to end users in over sixty countries worldwide, primarily through leading distributors and retailers."

Product Features:

Cherry MX Red mechanical key switches

Cherry® MX Red key switches are the best of the best — they provide the sensitivity and low operating force that professional gamers love. Reaction times are ulra-fast and responsive for quicker double and triple taps. The action is predictable and linear unlike lesser gaming keyboards that have a tactile bump or the annoying click of a typist’s keyboard.

 

18 dedicated, customizable G-Keys

Easily access to your most frequently used macros, presets and key combinations even during the most intense action. You can record up to 54 programmable functions accessible from three separate banks, ideal for grouping macros by function, or access. Macros can be created on-the-fly, customized, and activated with a single keystroke.

 

Full key matrix anti-ghosting

Our expertly designed anti-ghosting technology provides flawless control even when you're pressing multiple keys at once. The K90 has individual switches with dedicated diodes for each switch so every key press results in an input and is 100% ghost free without tradeoff or compromise.

 

20-key rollover (20KRO) on USB

Typical USB gaming keyboards are limited to the USB standard six-key rollover. The K90 features increased performance with a 20-key rollover implementation on USB at a blazing fast 1ms (1000 reports per second) reporting rate.

 

Professional grade brushed aluminum chassis with laser etched, backlit keys

The rugged aluminum chassis provides increased durability and stability compared those that are primarily plastic. The stiff suspension chassis and the laser etched keys are made for durability so they won't degrade over time. And the K90 has over 90 LEDs that provide outstanding illumination even in dim light.

 

Vengeance Gaming Keyboard Software

Create up to 50 profiles and share, import and export macros with the Vengeance keyboard gaming software. It's a free download at corsair.com.

 

On-board memory lets you take it with you

36Kb of memory built into the K90 lets you take your customizations and profiles with you and use them on any system.

 

Easy access multimedia controls

Control all of your music with the easy access media controls.

 

USB pass-through

A USB port on the back of the Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard makes connecting your mouse or other USB devices a simple task.

 

Soft-touch wrist rest

The soft-touch wrist rest helps you play for hours without fatigue.

 

Product Specifications:

 

The Vengeance K90 Gaming Keyboard from Corsair is shipped in a large cardboard box with a plastic window, so we can see how the keys and product body do look like:

 

 

 

On one of the box laterals, we are shown some of the product main features, like the extra 18 programmable keys, the Cherry MX Red switches and the easy to access multimedia controls:

 

 

The technical specifications are not left out, they are shown on the opposite box lateral:

 

 

On the back side of the box, we will find some words regarding Vengeance product line, along with the full list of specifications, further down, in multiple languages:

 

 

For security and to avoid accidental openings during transport, the box is sealed on both sides:

 

 

After removing the outside packaging, we can find the keyboard sitting inside a cardboard mold, the top being covered with a transparent plastic cover:

 

 

Thanks to the brush aluminum chassis, the keyboard has a professional, clean look and typing now seems a little more silent compared to the offering from Diatec we tested a while ago; the keyboard a combination of Cherry MX switches and tuned silicon dome key switches. The silicon dome keys are F1 though F12, Esc, PrtScn, Scroll Lock, Pause/Break, Insert, Home, Page Up, Page Down, Delete, End and the G keys :

 

 

On the left side, we can find no less than 18 programmable buttons, which have lower height compared to the rest of the keys; from my opinion, this is excellent because while using keyboards in the past with extra keys placed on the same left side, we can mistake the CTRL key as one of the programmable buttons and we may ask ourselves why operations like Copy or Paste do not work:

 

 

On the top of the keyboard, we can find the three memory banks (M1, M2, M3) and the MR (macro record button); thanks to the memory banks, we can assign 3 different functions to each G key, so in total we could set a total of 54 functions:

 

 

 

In the middle there is the Corsair logo, carefully covered with a thin and transparent plastic film, to avoid scratches during transport:

 

 

 

Further to the right, we can find the keyboard backlight button and a Windows key lock button:

 

 

 

Next, the Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock white LEDs can be located:

 

 

 

Finally, the top right side contains the multimedia controls, along with a volume control scroller, which is very easy to access:

 

 

 

All keys are laser-etched, backlit and have a rubbery feel to them:

 

 

 

After turning the keyboard on the other side, we can find the all-black portion of the chassis, made of plastic:

 

 

 

On the corners, we can locate small rubber feet, which keep the product steady on the table:

 

 

 

The keyboard is also provided with tiny plastic feet, which we can use to raise it a bit at an angle, if needed:

 

 

 

 

The central sticker lets us know about the product serial number and power rating:

 

 

 

To the left of this sticker we can also find a warning regarding health problems:

 

 

 

In the back of the keyboard we can also find a single USB 2.0 port, for plugging in the mouse or other peripheral/storage device:

 

 

 

Inside the packaging, a soft touch wrist rest can be also found and it can be attached to the keyboard with ease:

 

 

 

Here is a close look at the wrist rest texture:

 

 

 

To fix the wrist rest properly, we have to screw it into the keyboard chassis, on both sides:

 

 

 

 

Some plastic guides are also found on the back of the keyboard:

 

 

The screws can be operated only by hand and do not need to be over tightened:

 

 

 

 

Here is how the keyboard does look with the wrist rest installed:

 

 

 

On the 2m braided cable we can find a splitter with the Corsair logo on it:

 

 

 

At the end there are two connectors, one for the keyboard and one for the spare USB port, which can be easy identified by looking at the inscriptions:

 

 

 

The product comes with similar documentation as the M90, a warranty leaflet and the Quick Start Guide:

 

 

 

The small guide shows us the steps we need to follow for connecting the keyboard to our computer:

 

 

 

Thanks to the individual LEDs for each key and the aluminum chassis, we can see a very nice light effect under the buttons:

 

 

 

Here is how the LEDs are positioned under the keys:

 

 

 

After plugging in the keyboard and the additional USB into some spare USB ports, we can go ahead and download the latest available software:

 

 

A firmware update program is also available, which is recommended to install and use before using the main utility:

 

 

Before installing the firmware, we must follow the written instructions that pop up:

 

 

The firmware updater comes with a progress bar and some messages are displayed during the update process:

 

 

The application interface is very much alike to the one we have seen at the M90, and the good thing is that we can switch between the two interfaces right from the main screen (by using the left or right arrows on the top right side; the MR button along with the three memory banks are also located on the top; one of the 50 possible profiles can be selected from the same screen, and also on the top we have the option to modify the intensity of the LCD backlight (instead of using the button on the keyboard). On the left we can locate the 18 G programmable buttons and the macro recording procedure is exactly the same as on the M90. A Hardware playback option is also available; with it enabled, we can save the settings directly to the keyboard memory:

 

 

After assigning the respective macro, the keys (actions) will appear in the drop-down menu:

 

 

We can apply different settings to the recorded macro; the icons in the Playback menu have the following meanings:

 

-Playback once

-Playback n times

-Repeat while pressed

-Play until stopped

 

 

The delays can be also customized from the next menu:

 

 

We can assign certain commands to the programmable buttons; these are sorted into Basic Commands and Advanced Commands:

 

 

Basic Commands

 

 

 

Advanced Commands

 

 

 

The Manage Profiles tab allows us to see the currently saved profiles and perform actions on them, like renaming, previewing, copying, assigning a profile to a different application, lock or restore default values:

 

 

 

Corsair has done an interesting variation with K90 Performance Gaming Keyboard, by using a brushed aluminum chassis, which, besides the professional look, also minimizes the sound switches are making. As we have also seen at the Diatec keyboards with Cherry MX Red switches, these are very good for both office and gaming activities.

The manufacturer has used intentionally silicone domes for the keys that are not used frequently because they wanted these keys to have a heavier damping, so users will be sure to press the specific keys only once and not multiple times like it could happen when using the same switch type.

 

 

The 18 programmable G keys are located to the left and are placed lower compared to the rest of the buttons; thanks to the three memory banks, each key can have multiple functions, so we can record a total of 54 macros on a single profile.

 

People that use a lot multimedia applications like sound or/and video players have not been forgotten, so we have on the top right corner the necessary buttons: Stop, Previous, Play/Pause, Next, Mute, Volume Up/Down — with Solid metal, weighted volume “drum roller”.

 

The keys are lighted individually and we can adjust the luminosity on four different levels (one of the levels turns the LEDs off completely).

 

The keyboard also features full key matrix anti-ghosting, by having individual switches with dedicated diodes for each switch, so each key press results in an input and is 100% ghost free.

 

Compared to the keyboards tested in the past, we have now a 20-key rollover ability on USB, at a very fast 1ms reporting rate.

 

For added value, a rubberized soft wrist rest is also included, which can be installed really easy when needed.

 

The K90 can be found at online stores for values between 105 and 110 Euros.

Corsair Vengeance K90 Performance MMO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Recommended For:

I would like to thank again to Corsair for making this review possible!