Chassis:- Aluminium, black anodized, brushed finish
Keyswitches:
- CHERRY MX RED,
- 45g actuation force,
- 2.0mm actuation distance
Backlight:- Individually lit and per-key programmable LED Color RGB, 16.8 million colors
Keycaps:
- Main Set: PBT double-shot keycap set, 1.5mm thick, backlight compatible
- Additional Keycaps: ABS PC FPS/MOBA Keys (textured and contoured)
Connectivity:- USB 3.0 Type-A to USB Type-C
USB Pass-through:- N/A
USB Report Rate:- Up to 8000Hz
Keyscan Rate:- Up to 4000Hz
Matrix:- Full key rollover (NKRO) with 100% anti-ghosting
On-Board Profiles:- Yes, up to 50 via 8MB of onboard memory
Media Keys:- Yes, five dedicated hotkeys (play/pause, stop, next track, last track, mute) and volume roller (volume up and down)
Brightness Key:- Yes
Windows Lock Key:- Yes
Adjustable Height:- Yes
iCUE (Software):- Supported in Windows 10 and macOS 10.15
Cable:- 1.82m / 6ft, braided fiber, USB 3.0 Type-A to Type-C, detachable
Dimensions:- 360(L) x 164(W) x 40(H) mm / 14.2(L) x 6.46(W) x 1.58(H) inches
Weight:- 0.93kg / 2.06lbs
Keyswitches:
- CHERRY MX RED,
- 45g actuation force,
- 2.0mm actuation distance
Backlight:- Individually lit and per-key programmable LED Color RGB, 16.8 million colors
Keycaps:
- Main Set: PBT double-shot keycap set, 1.5mm thick, backlight compatible
- Additional Keycaps: ABS PC FPS/MOBA Keys (textured and contoured)
Connectivity:- USB 3.0 Type-A to USB Type-C
USB Pass-through:- N/A
USB Report Rate:- Up to 8000Hz
Keyscan Rate:- Up to 4000Hz
Matrix:- Full key rollover (NKRO) with 100% anti-ghosting
On-Board Profiles:- Yes, up to 50 via 8MB of onboard memory
Media Keys:- Yes, five dedicated hotkeys (play/pause, stop, next track, last track, mute) and volume roller (volume up and down)
Brightness Key:- Yes
Windows Lock Key:- Yes
Adjustable Height:- Yes
iCUE (Software):- Supported in Windows 10 and macOS 10.15
Cable:- 1.82m / 6ft, braided fiber, USB 3.0 Type-A to Type-C, detachable
Dimensions:- 360(L) x 164(W) x 40(H) mm / 14.2(L) x 6.46(W) x 1.58(H) inches
Weight:- 0.93kg / 2.06lbs
Hardware Features
Cherry MX RGB Red Mechanical Switches
CHERRY MX switches are a tried and tested component of mainstream mechanical keyboards, and this particular model utilises the fast linear type with clear housing. Red-style switches have a 2mm actuation distance and low required actuation force, making a good gaming compromise and excellent style for those graduating from membrane switches.
The K70 RGB TKL can also be configured with either MX Speed or MX Silent switches. The former narrows each switch’s actuation distance to 1.2mm for yet-more responsiveness, while the latter cushions the keystroke within the switch housing to dampen the impact of a full stroke.
AXON Hyper-processing Technology
CORSAIR’s evocatively named ‘AXON Hyper-processing Technology’ refers to a new onboard controller that manages all aspects of the K70 RGB TLK’s operation, from reporting switch actuation to on-board lighting effects and more besides. It’s also part and parcel of another central plank to the new K70 variant’s design: 8000Hz USB and 4000Hz switch polling rates.
Peripherals have, for over a decade, been somewhat restricted by the limitations of the USB bus that maximizes polling rates to 1000Hz (i.e. 1 ms). That’s still exceptionally fast when the typical human reaction time to audio-visual stimuli is on the order of 170ms, but a renewed interest in minimising click-to-screen latency from game developers and GPU architects has put pressure back on peripheral manufacturers.
The K70 RGB TKL like the K100 before it transitions to a USB 2.0 datapath, unlocking up to 8000Hz polling on the USB bus. On the key switch side meanwhile, the AXON processor maintains a 4000Hz keyscan rate. A multi-threaded processor architecture allows the AXON to control all other aspects of the keyboard without impeding performance, pushing up the complexity of the underlying hardware and firmware.
And while they have their eyes fixed firmly on the future, they’re not forgetting legacy systems. A USB 1.1 datapath fallback mode for motherboards (and particularly older UEFI BIOS revisions) that aren’t equipped to handle this feature is available, but this mode will limit some other aspects of the keyboard’s functionality.
Hardware Tournament Mode Switch
The K70 RGB TKL is part of CORSAIR’s Championship Series of peripherals, designed with competitive esports very much at the forefront. In respect to this the designers have created a sort of Tournament Mode that disables iCUE functionality - including dynamic lighting and on-board button assignments - to ‘ensure that macros and other customised features are not unintentionally triggered’. This also has the effect of creating a level playing field for esport tournament compliance, although that’s not explicitly stated.
This mode toggle is a simple switch at the back, while a plastic mask flips over to ensure it can’t be accidentally switched back. The keyboard will then revert static lighting across the whole keyboard (default red, but customisable) and a red indicator LED just below the switch would handily also let tournament officials know that the keyboard is in a basic ‘rules compliant’ mode.
