Performance

The MSI Vigor GK60 keyboard supports N-key rollover (NKRO) USB in gaming mode and 6KRO in regular mode. These modes can be toggled through using onboard controls, and there are very few use cases requiring 6KRO, so I suggest leaving the keyboard in gaming mode. NKRO in gaming mode tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either.


When first connected, the Vigor GK60 lights up in a static red for all keys at max brightness. Should you not want to use the software driver, there are plenty of onboard controls for lighting. Fn + Ins toggles through the various lighting effects, and Fn + Del changes the direction of dynamic effects, as applicable. The speed of dynamic effects can be increased/decreased using Fn + Home/End respectively, and the speed at which type-responsive effects fade out can also be increased/decreased using Fn + Pg Up/Down. MSI put front-facing legends on the keycaps for these functions. Despite the floating keycap design, light bleed is not really a big deal here because there is only a single-color option with five brightness levels to choose from.

Here are some of the dynamic lighting effects demonstrated, making full use of the hardware and software available. All of these can be configured without either software driver as well. We end up with a smooth transition between effects, which are fairly bright at the highest setting. Finer overall brightness control would have been nice, especially to allow for a more effective custom-lighting mode.

For those who prefer to work without a software driver, the onboard functionality comes in very handy. Aside from the lighting controls seen above, MSI has pre-programmed functions for media and volume control. Fn + F9-F12 helps with playback control, as described in the manual, and Fn + Prt Scr/Scr Lock/Pause provides volume control. For those who don't want to activate the Win key inadvertently while gaming, the menu key (MSI dragon logo as the legend) + Win key toggles Win lock on/off.


The MSI Vigor GK60 keyboard only comes with Cherry MX Red switches. This is a linear switch rated at 2.0 mm actuation with 45 cN and 4.00 mm total travel, and it has quickly become the most popular mechanical switch in use today. This can be attributed at least partially to many keyboards marketed as "gaming keyboards" using linear mechanical switches instead of tactile or clicky switches. Actuation and peak forces were well within rated values based on my testing of twenty random switches with a tension gauge.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the MSI Vigor GK60 sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out, which is not hard to do because of the relatively light spring in the Cherry MX Red linear switch.