Driver

Even though we can use the keyboard without installing any software, you will want to install Corsair Utility Engine (CUE) to get the most out of it. Trust me, it is like the Swiss army knife of utilities.


To download the CUE software, visit Corsair's website here. Make sure to pick the latest version available; there is a pop-up that will ask you to register, but it is not compulsory and there is a skip button.


Installation is very easy. I didn't have to change any options at all, and it was just a case of clicking "next" a few times.


Upon loading the software, I had the following message appear: "CUE LINK ENABLED." This message is due to me having a Corsair M65 RGB plugged in at the same time as the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE. CUE LINK allows the peripherals to work together, which will apply any LED options I pick to both my mouse and the keyboard if I wish. It is quite an impressive function, even if it is a little gimmicky.


I am going to go through a few of the functions in the CUE software, but not all of them since the software is almost limitless in terms of customization. With CUE, you are able to assign almost any key to whatever you like. Just make sure you are on the "Assignments" tab. Once there, right click on the key you want to change and select what you want to do. If we click on "assign new action," we can program the key to do a number of tasks, including the regurgitation of a pre-recorded text string, a recorded macro, opening of a shortcut, or the controlling of media.


Moving on to the "performance" tab, we see an option to select what we lock when we press the Windows lock key.


Clicking on the "Lighting" tab gives us all the lighting options. The K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE utilizes a new RGB controller that enables the user to do far more than with the previous-generation K70. There is very little you can't do in terms of RGB lighting. You can, for instance, select single colors for each key, row, or pre-defined group of keys, or select one of Corsair's pre-made dynamic effects. If this is too easy for you, you can set up your own RGB dynamic effects you can even share with others, or download profiles that users have uploaded to Corsair's website; there are some very interesting ones, including a PAC-MAN effect that is awesome!


You can still change some options with the presets, such as speed or color, and you can edit the keys they effect. Above are some of the preset lighting modes I particularly liked.

Performance

We have covered some of the Corsair K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE's features, but haven't really talked about the main feature, the new Cherry MX Speed switches. Cherry is renowned for being one of the biggest names, if not the biggest, when it comes to mechanical switches. They use premium materials and are the creators of my favorite switch, the Cherry MX Green. Although there is a wide range of available switches already, Corsair partnered with Cherry to create something completely different to give gamers a keyboard that matches their reaction times.


The new switch has a clear surround, which allows LEDs to shine through, and a silver stem. It has the same operating force and bottoming-out distance as a Cherry Red MX, but its actuation point is 0.8mm shorter. This means your finger travels a shorter distance before the switch is activated and sends its signal, which is supposed to speed up your button presses. I am always a little dubious about such claims, so I used a normal Cherry Red MX switch keyboard for a few hours while playing CS:GO before switching to the K70 RGB RAPIDFIRE. The new MX Speed RGB switch did feel different, at first, and not in a good way since I was activating buttons I didn't want to activate. The switch felt like it was activating early. After an hour or so, I had become accustomed to the new switch, and although it didn't make me any better at CS:GO, I can imagine that it would make a huge difference to someone to whom split seconds really do matter, such as a competitive player. The WASD keycaps felt great while I used them in CS:GO. While I didn't notice their curvature much, I did feel the different texture, which told me exactly where my fingers were. When typing, I found myself to be very clumsy at first, but after having written this review on the keyboard, I can say that I have grown accustomed to these new switches. I have had to switch the textured WASD keys out for standard ones, however, as they kept me from getting used to this keyboard since they have a different feel and size to them than other keycaps. This could get annoying for those who use their keyboards 50% of the time for gaming and 50% of the time for typing, even though Corsair included a key puller for the swap. You could, of course, get used to the contoured keys, or just use the original keys. After spending a bit of time with the Cherry MX Speed switches, my typing speed was almost identical to what I get with Cherry MX Red switches, which is roughly 65 WPM.