Pros: Keys are responsive with positive tactile and click feedback. I like being able set key colors as I like.

Cons: Software is not intuitive. Programing macros takes a lot of experimentation. It isn't obvious and there is no useful manual for the keyboard. G.Skill really dropped the ball here.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Bruce

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you like the responsiveness of the Cherry MX Brown switches. They are very smooth and easy to use for long sessions. With individual LED lighting and full programming for each key, this keyboard can be customized for any purpose and any user. With regards to the need a user's manual, it is included with the software download package. An in depth manual will be available shortly for all the latest revisions and upgrades. The G.Skill Unified Driver System (GUDS) is fairly straight forward, but if you have any questions, please feel free to let us know. We will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Check the official G.Skill download page for all the latest updates and information.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

RIPJAWS KM780 RGB Downloads|

Pros: + Very solid construction
+ Sleek design
+ Matches the G.Skill MX780 RGB mouse
+ Easy to program macros
+ Easy to change effect lighting or per-key background lighting
+ Pass-through USB and audio jacks

Cons: - Can’t assign the full spectrum of colors to individual keys
- Limited effects, but they are nice looking
- Software not integrated with other products in the RGB line from what I can tell

Other Thoughts: The G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB mechanical keyboard is a thing of beauty. The construction is very sturdy. The lights are bright and they look amazing. Macros are easy to record, and you can also assign lighting effects to each of three “modes”, which can easily be toggled by pressing a dedicated key at the top of the keyboard. The brightness can also be set in the software or by using a brightness key which cycles through different brightness levels, including no lights. It has a full set of media keys, and the volume wheel and LED volume indicator is also a very nice touch. Lastly, it has an extra set of red key caps for commonly used gaming keys, namely W,A,S,D,Q, E, R, F, G, and C. These extra key caps are stored in a plastic compartment that clips onto the top rail of the keyboard. It also comes with a tool to remove the key caps from the keyboard.

As others have mentioned, the software is holding it back a bit. For one, you cannot access the full color spectrum to assign colors to specific keys. In order to see all of the colors, you need to apply an effect such as wave, ripple, reactive, etc. If you want solid lighting, you are limited to 24 or so colors. I was still satisfied with what I was able to create, but it would be nice if I had access to all possible RGB values. The software could have also been designed to be a little more intuitive. But once you learn what you need to do, it is pretty straightforward. My only other complaint with the software is that it cannot be used to also program other G.Skill RGB devices. I have one application for my Ripjaws MX780 RGB mouse, and now this one for the keyboard. It would be nice if I can have a single app to manage both devices (maybe I can and it’s user error, not sure).

After using one model of keyboard for about the last ten years, I have had to adjust a little to the subtle differences between this keyboard and my old one, but that is to be expected. Overall, the adjustment has been worth it. Minus one egg for the software limitations, but still a very solid keyboard. I will never go back to non-mechanical keyboards again.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Michael

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you like the design and solid build construction of the RIPJAWS KM780 RGB keyboard. With the many custom features and programmable options, this mechanical keyboard can be configured to each user's personal preference. Your feedback is greatly appreciated; you mentioned many good suggestions that will be found in future firmware/software upgrades. Keep an eye out on the official G.Skill download page for the latest updates and information. For any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

RIPJAWS KM780 RGB Downloads|

Pros: works great as long as its working. LED's keep going even when the keys dont.

Cons: software is clunky and at least once a month it completely stops working until i reinstall the everything for it. and all my lighting setting usually get deleted. sometimes they even disapear with reloading the drivers.

Other Thoughts: looks great next to my old keyboard i have to keep around to use to log in when it stops working.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Dustin

We will be glad to help with any issues you may have. In the future, please don't hesitate to contact us directly so we can help. The G.Skill support team is readily available to assist you and make sure the product is working flawlessly as expected. If the keyboard stops working, try unplugging and plugging it back in to see if that helps. You may need to check USB port settings to make sure they are configured properly. Also, check that you have the latest firmware and software for the device. It is not necessary to reinstall multiple times, once it is complete, it will work just fine. If there is any problem, we can troubleshoot and determine whether it is a defective keyboard. If so, send it in for RMA exchange and a replacement should work flawlessly. We will make sure you are fully satisfied with this keyboard.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

G.Skill RMA procedure|

Pros: To start, it feels great. Keys are fast, but responsive. Macro keys are in a good spot to be reached without hunting. Also looks really good. I wish more companies did the anodized look rather than the powder coat look. Also, one thing you don't see in the pictures is that the switches themselves are sitting right on top of the surface of the keyboard, so you can see all of the switches rather than having them recessed into the keyboard. Not only does this give it a good look that's different than anyone else's, it makes it easier to clean as well. Backlight have multiple brightness levels, not just on and off. Obviously choosing the backlight color is great. And it's super solidly built. Frame is really good (yes, it has a frame) and I'm pretty sure if I hit someone in the head with this, their skull would fail before the keyboard's structural integrity did. And the interface software is equally awesome. Every key can be mapped to something else. I'm not sure if it's possible to accidentally lock yourself out of fixing your keyboard back to default mapping, but that's what spare keyboards are for.

Cons: Can't change the media control light colors, and their kind of bright. So their red color kind of clashes with my blue everything else, but it's not bad enough to dock an egg. Just would be nice if they had extended color changing to those lights. The Cherry switches are a bit loud, but that is to be expected with a mechanical keyboard like this and isn't really a con, I'm just giving you a heads up if you aren't familiar with this style of switch.

Other Thoughts: I swear by G Skill for my memory, so when I saw they had a keyboard, my brain exploded and I bought it even though I wasn't specifically looking to replace my Logitech G510. I have no regrets. I absolutely recommend this keyboard for anyone for any purpose.

Pros: This keyboard is sturdy, well-made, good looking, and the keys are brightly lit with adjustable settings and a nice variety of color options including gradients. The media controls and profile buttons also have a nice smooth action and are nice looking. The pass-through microphone/speaker/USB options are nice and the detachable hand rest is decent. Macro programming on the fly is also a very nice feature. Overall I don't have any complaints about the hardware itself and am very happy with the physical aspects of this keyboard.

Cons: The software is terrible.
- I have to run it in administrative mode and it only opens in the background instead of pulling up the GUI right away, making it appear as though it didn't open at all. If I don't run it in administrative mode I can't get the GUI at all but the program shows up in the task manager. (I run Windows 10) Tech support has yet to help me figure out this issue.
- The lighting section of the software isn't intuitive at all. You have to create a lighting profile before you can apply lighting settings, which is not obvious at first glance. Then you have to go back and select the profile you've created in the other lighting menu. For some settings, if you don't hit the "Save to Device Memory" button you will end up with half a default rainbow and half a new effect. For other settings it doesn't seem to matter if you hit Save to Device Memory or not for your test settings to show up on the actual keyboard.
- There are no save buttons or undo buttons in the lighting section so you're never sure if you've properly applied a lighting effect and you can easily erase all the customization you've just done and can't get it back if you make a mistake when customizing.

Not a fan of the design of the optional keys:
- Red paint ruins the sleek black effect of the keyboard aesthetic.
- The key contours are strong enough to make it very awkward to type normally if you need to while gaming.

Other Thoughts: This would be an amazing keyboard if they fixed the software, but right now it's a pain to use and can get very frustrating. Considering that half the point of this keyboard is the lighting, I find it rather unacceptable that the software isn't better. At the very least they could include instructions for how to use the software. If you are looking for minimal customization or are willing to sit down for a while to figure out how to get exactly what you want, then buy this keyboard. If you are looking for easy customization, you might want to look elsewhere. However, the hardware is very nice and there's always the chance that the software will be improved in further updates. Overall, a solid purchase if you can handle the software problems.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Dear Customer

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you like the design and quality of the RIPJAWS KM780 Gaming Keyboard. With the many special features of the keyboard, it can be programmed for many purposes depending on your need. Using the G.Skill Unified Driver System, each key can be customized to output letters or control a command. It's purpose is much more than typing words. Also, with the RGB model, each LED under each key can be set to your desired color and effect of choice. The options are endless so the software can be overwhelming upon first look.

With regards to saving settings, you must choose "Save to Device Memory" in order for changes to take affect. Without doing so, it is only a preview, so if you are certain of changes and would like it to be permanent, make sure to "Save to Device Memory" so the settings can follow the keyboard even if it is used on another system. Firmware and software is consistently updated as we add more features and improve existing options, so please check back on the Official G.Skill download page for the latest upgrades and information. We do listen to each user's feedback so you may notice a revision with your suggestion in the future. For any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

RIPJAWS KM780 RGB Downloads|

Pros: First it's beautiful. Next it's easy to set up. The feel of the cherry mx brown is amazing. The volume controller is also is incredibly handy. In fact the layout and and the gaming keys are perfect for the games I play. Mostly MMOs and Ship to ship PvP. My games and my performance in the has really picked up. I love this keyboard. I was worried about how much I'd like it given the price. Now however, I wouldn't go back even if someone said they had a better one for less. I'd call them a liar. LOL

Cons: I ordered it with a 3-5 day delivery. Newegg had the nerve to get it to me in 2 days. I wasn't mentally prepared to be this happy that soon.

Other Thoughts: In all seriousness, this thing rocks. I moved from a 50 dollar gaming keyboard with zoned lighting and macro keys on the edge of each side. It worked fine for years the plunger type keys were ok and I can't rag on it at all. That said I would never go back to it from this. The feel and control are worlds apart. Hope this helps.

Pros: RGB Bright
Study / Rugged
METAL!

Cons: Red Keys (system keys) stay red , it's hard to color coordinate
Software is lacking, needs work (hope they fix it)
have issues with it within 90 days after software/firmware update 3/4/2016

Other Thoughts: This is the email i sent for tech support


SW:0.85 FW:46
After Software upgrade
KM780
USB3/2 tried both
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. MAXIMUS V FORMULA (LGA1155)
Webroot
Ripjaw RGB Mouse

issue with key "Chatter" the following keys keep doubling

S Key
G Key

also the arrow keys seemed "delayed" when you press them.

i've tried resetting / reinstalling software

please advise/assist

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Jay

Glad to hear you like the unique appearance of the RIPJAWS KM780 Gaming Keyboard. The vibrant RGB LEDs makes for a nice colorful theme that can be customized to your preference. Each individual key and LED can be programmed to your desired function and effect using the G.Skill Unified Driver System (GUDS). For the latest update, visit the Official G.Skill Download page. [direct link below] If you experience strange issues such as keys doubling output, please load keyboard defaults, save to keyboard, then try again. You should not have any issues at all, so if problem persists, send it in for RMA exchange to see if a replacement works better. For any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

G.Skill RMA procedure|

Pros: All components are well manufactured, It feels solid and durable. Nice thick cable and a good palm rest. No rubber on the “extended feet” is the only flaw on this side. But…

Cons: The keyboard has serious problems to be recognized at the start-up: sometimes it’s and sometimes isn’t and you have to disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to let it work again.

- The media controls light color can’t be changed or lowered in brightness, they are really bright and red.

- The Num, Caps and Scroll lock are in a so bad position that you can see them only if you are standing.

- Some colors as the withe or the grays are all the same, all light violet.

- The software crashed couple of time but it’s easy to use both for colors or for macros. (I’m hoping in a new driver and software release more stable in windows 10).

Other Thoughts: it’s very well manufactured but some defects are so stupid that the layout designer have to be fired. It’s a pity because the keyboard is full of space to use in more nice and intelligent ways.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Amedeo

Glad to hear you like the build quality and unique features of the RIPJAWS KM780 Gaming keyboard. Each key is fully programmable, and many other options can be customized to your preference, so you can be comfortable for long term use. With regards to the recognization issue during start up, please check the USB port settings for the motherboard in BIOS. ErP/EuP power saving options must be configured properly otherwise the keyboard may not receive sufficient power to work correctly. If you continue to have an issue, please contact us directly for assistance. Keep an eye out on the Official G.Skill Download page for the latest updates and improvements. [direct link below]

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

Quality and customer service are our top priorities.

Tech Support Email: ustech@gskillusa.com
RMA Dept Email: rma@gskillusa.com
G.Skill Forum: http://www.gskill.us/forum/

External Link(s):

RIPJAWS KM780 RGB Downloads|

Pros: -Brown keys are great, but I'm used to useing the browns on other keyboards. They are a little loud, but I'll put o-rings under each key like it did for my other keyboards

-I also love the look and design. This is build like a tank!

-lights look nice and easy to change

-wrist pad is comfortable

-like the volume control and media keys.

-macros look cool, but have not used them yet. Hope to soon.

-usb pass worked great on my Logitech g502 mouse. I did not use the mic/speaker pass.

Cons: -Software is just ok. It does what I need it to, but not very intuitive. I was able to figure it all out without looking at a manual, so I'm happy.

-Not sure if I like the extra curved keys or not. They look nice, but kind of slippery. I'm going to keep them for awhile and see how I get used them. It does make it really easy to find the wasd keys.

Other Thoughts: I was surprised to see Gskill had a keyboard. I thought they only sold memory. I have 2 other nice mechanical keyboards and this is my new favorite. I use a Razer Ultimate at work with blue keys. They seem to work better for typing all day, but I don't like them for gaming. I also have a Ducky with browns. This keyboard is replacing my Ducky for gaming. I wanted somethign with macros and really liked the looks of this.

Pros: 1. Looks great. Looks more conservative if you leave the palm rest off, and more aggressive with it on.
2. The Cherry MX Browns are music to my fingers.
3. USB port is great for connecting my wireless mouse dongle.
4. Wire holder if you use a wired mouse.
5. Braided cable
6. Volume Key is great. I have it on my other mechanical, but the wheel is great. No need to hit multiple keys
7. Macro Keys
8. Software is very easy to use
9. Can save profiles to the keyboard
10. Software is very easy to learn and use. Some have reported different, but not sure why.
11. Software update added some new keyboard affects.
12. Ability to change the colors is so needed for me. I can't stand that so many have gone to red backlighting only, so RGB was almost a must for me.
13. Raised keys
14. Extra keys for gamers (I don't like the shape and won't use them, but some will like it)
15. G.Skill responded to my email. Customer service is important to me, so this was important for me.

Cons: 1. Only get 24 colors to choose from if you are not using a lighting pattern. In other words if you use a solid color you can only choose from 24. Far from the 16.8 million. You can choose only from those millions on some of the lighting pattern options. Almost removed an egg for this, and would have if not impressed with most everything else.
2. Some lighting patterns will only allow you to start with a red led.
3. Forum was a pain to join. You request and account. Took 3 days for them to approve, and then they send you a PM that you have to reply back to in order to start posting.

Other Thoughts: This is not my first mechanical keyboard, but will say it is my favorite. I would have taken off an egg if not for this fact, because of the 24 colors only when using solids. G.Skill also returned my email which shows some customer service. This is definitely a "high end" keyboard compared to my others. You might not think you can tell the difference between this and the cheaper ones, but it is so much nicer than any I have had in the past, and can say there is a difference.