Pros: It's colorful and a great product overall. The newly updated software is straightforward as well. The keyboard itself is comfortable and is really sturdy due to the metal bars and aluminum plate.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: When I first plugged in the keyboard I i started fooling around, testing it. Then I realized 'M' key didn't work and all writing would just get out of control (randomly inputting things I already typed). Since this is my first mechanical keyboard, I was afraid of a faulty product. But then I downloaded the driver system on the website (as the instructions say) and everything was fixed. Mistake on my part for being to excited to try this out!

Pros: -Looks very nice the look is either going to be a love it or hate it but I personally like it
-Genuine Cherry keys
-Love the multimedia buttons on it
-Software isn't nearly as bad as people said a while ago
-The wrist rest feels good to type and to game on and over 3 months doesn't show any signs of wear at the left hand spot where my hand is constantly rested on.

Cons: Here is what made me take off an egg
-Save to device memory option takes extremely long sometimes and can bug out to show an invalid screen and not work
-After a while the wave lighting option had a bug by the keypad area where it is extremely out of sync with the rest of the keyboard
-Occasionally on computer restart they keyboard will not work having like 5 keys on a specific line light up instead of all forcing to re plug the keyboard for it to be resolved

Other Thoughts: Got this keyboard around Christmas time for relativity cheap compared to other options for my first mechanical keyboard and am very satisfied with the product and would recommend it as long as you can get over the minor gripes listed in the cons.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Dear Customer

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you like the unique design and appearance of the new RIPJAWS KM780 keyboard. It is designed for heavy duty use and long term abuse. As you may know, the high quality construction allows for minimum wear and tear so the keyboard looks brand new even after many months/years. With regards to the restart/boot up inconsistency, this can happen depending on USB power settings, so check this in BIOS if you would like more stable results. Also, keep an eye on the official G.Skill download page for all the latest upgrades and information. Updates are frequently released to improve functionality and enhance features. 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 MX Downloads|

Pros: G.Skill has been known for years for their excellent RAM kits, but recently they've ventured into the Gaming peripheral market, and the Ripjaws KM780 is an amazing first effort from this enthusiast brand.

G.Skill builds their line-up around the super popular mechanical Cherry MX switches; there are numerous which makes it a daunting decision for a novice, so I will do my best to simplify your decision-making process.

Do you want RGB Lighting? If Yes, you will want to go to the KM780 RGB section and this will cost you more money for this option. The default option on the KM780 MX line-up is RED ONLY.

What kind of switch do you want? The 3 offered by G.Skill are the 3 most popular for gaming, Brown, Red and Blue. Blue is the loudest and has an audible and tactile "click" that reminds many of old IBM or even typewriters. Brown has no "click" but has a tactile "bump" about halfway through the keystroke and will make an audible noise when the key bottoms out. Red has no tactile bump and has the least friction but still makes an audible noise when the key bottoms out. All mechanical keyboards will be noisier than rubber dome or chiclet style keyboards, so keep that in mind.

This review is of the Cherry MX Red switches, which are the best imo for fast typing and gaming. There are many Pros of this keyboard that rival even industry stalwarts like Corsair and Logitech, I will mainly compare against Logitech since I am a self-professed Logitech fanboy.

+Amazing build quality. The keyboard is heavy duty and solid feeling. Ther keyboard has an industrial design with a beautiful brushed aluminum body. There's a G.Skill decal that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has bought their RAM kits and some nice piping trim along with some debossed accents on either side.

+Keys are flush to the body of the keyboard. This is a really nice feature and differentiator compared to Logitech, which have a "well" where all the keys sit. On the KM780, the switches are flush with the keyboard body and the keycaps are elevated above the keyboard body. This makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping your keyboard clean, especially if you have pets. Just a quick spray of compressed air will keep your keyboard clean!

+Braided and gold plated cable connectors. Really super high quality here, nice and long and wonderfully built.

+USB passthrough and Mic and Headset ports. There are cable inputs that extend the cable from the back of your PCs I/O plate to keep this all near the keyboard to keep your cabling nice and clean.

+Built-in Mouse Bungie- Again great attention to detail, Logitech used to offer stuff like this but have since stripped everything down. On one of the back rails, there is a little flip up clip that allows you to keep your mouse bungied which gives it some slack and reduces drag/resistance on the mouse itself. Great feature!!!!

+Wrist rest is enclosed. Its not completely solid, but it is finished on both the front and back and feels much more solid than many hollow backed wristrests. Texture is nice as well.

+Gaming keys. This version comes with gaming keys and a keycap removal tool that can be used to replace the standard key caps to help you find your FPS homekeys faster. Great for those who do a LOT Of gaming, although for standard users not sure how useful or desirable this is.

+Backlighting and key caps look excellent. Very clearly lit, all main function lights show up clearly on numpad and F keys. Remember, if you want something besides Red, you will want to pay the extra for the RGB.

+Standard media keys and 6 Gaming keys. No gaming keyboard is "complete" without these and both Corsair and Logitech, the originator of the Gaming keyboard have these features.

Cons: While the keyboard is excellent overall, there are a few cons that I found, nothing worth taking points off for.

-The software is not "universal" meaning the RGB and Red versions have different versions of software. The update did go off flawlessly however.

-The backlighting can be controlled, but the increments are not very granular and overall, the dimmest setting was still bright imo. From what I saw it only does 0/33/66/100 for intensity.

-While the wristrest is wonderful quality, it still uses the "pincer" style insertion which can break and it is built to be symmetrical which isn't that functional when your right hand is in the center of the keyboard when actually typing.

-The spacebar does not feel like the rest of the keys but most mech keyboards I have used have this same problem. There is just 1 mechanical key in the middle and 2 fake keys balancing it on either end. It would be nice if Cherry made a wider, more sturdy spacebar key.

-The gaming keys are comical imo, they are so exaggerated I could not see myself using them unless I ONLY used the keyboard for FPS gaming. The slopes of the keys are so extreme that you might bruise your fingers when typing WASD, its just weird imo. Obviously they are optional, I would be more inclined to use them for the "G keys" so my pinky knew instantly what they were hitting.

Other Thoughts: What can I say, I am incredibly impressed with G.Skill's first foray into the gaming keyboard market. They got pretty much everything right and even managed to beat some of the more well established industry stalwarts like Corsair and Logitech in some feature areas. Build quality is on par and maybe even better (the brushed alum is awesome!). Price is right as well, currently this keyboard is on sale for $85ish and a great deal imo.

Main thing is to do some homework first on the type of Cherry MX switch you prefer, and you should be all set!!!

Pros: I got this sweet keyboard so I can see to do school work and major gaming. Also love the audio controls on the side when i study I don`t need to click the mouse to another page to change my music.

Cons: So far i haven`t found a thong wrong with it! Thanks newegg

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Justin

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you are enjoying the keyboard for school work and gaming. The Cherry MX switches are fun to type with so writing papers will be nice and easy. There are many features on this keyboard you may not know of a purpose yet, but we are certain you will find some useful in the future. With the G.Skill Unified Driver System (GUDS), lighting can be personalized to your liking and profiles can be made for quick changes between school and gaming mode. Keep an eye out on the Official G.Skill Download page for the latest upgrades and information. We will continue to improve the firmware and software to fully enhance capabilities. 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 MX Downloads|

Pros: The G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 MX
Mechanical Keyboard is a keyboard that offers a lot for a low price ,excellent bang for the buck. The features are as followed;

-Switchable gaming key caps. These helped me so much for gaming. It offers a cool look and great texture! It also has its own carrying case that attaches to the metal bars on the keyboard.
-Comfortable wrist rest.
-Macro recording. This is very helpful for those games that are repetitive with the keyboard strokes. I used it in fighting games for my combos.
-LED Back-lighting for each key. With the program you can select which keys you want to illuminate . Great for playing fps games,because I can put my wired gaming mouse in the keyboard.
- Extra USB port. This is such an amazing set up because one of my cons would have been that it takes up two USB ports. The extra USB makes up for it. This creates less of a clutter with wires, which I appreciate.
- 5 Media controlling buttons for Stop, Rewind, Play/Pause, Fast forward and mute.
- Dedicated volume key roller to make things loud or soft.

Cons: The cons of this keyboard are few. The software at first is very difficult to use. I had to watch you tube tutorials just to figure out how to turn off lights on keys, make patterns and make macros. The program at first seemed unstable. It kept crashing on me on first use, but after the first time ,and now after 6 weeks of heavy gaming use I have had zero problems, it just works seemlessly.

Other Thoughts: This keyboard is a solid item. If you don't care about changing the lighting of the keys or creating patterns , this keyboard is very easy to setup. The button press is so crisp and with a comfortable wrist rest..And tech support from G Skill is excellent, as always.
To sum up my review in one sentence
THIS KEYBOARD WILL MAXIMIZE YOUR GAMING EXPERIENCE!

Pros: Packaging is pretty good for a company who is new to making keyboards. Keyboard feels well built, has good weight and all around sturdy. Cables are nicely braided and thick, this should prevent kinking and premature wear on the cables. I personally use a Corsair K70 and would say the keyboard performs similar but that's a given since both share cherry mx red switches. I love the led volume indicator on the G.Skill and the what it seems to be metal bar that goes around the keyboard, it makes the keyboard feel like tank. The usb pass through should be a must on gaming keyboards and other manufacturers should include it in all their keyboards, maybe even a built in sd card reader onto the keyboard? (*hint)

The extra contoured keys are a nice feature and addition with the keyboard, however they didn't work for me. The angle is wayyy to aggressive. If you're like me, I don't want to change em back and forth. What I am saying by that is when you're done playing a game, you will not be able to type with the contoured keys installed. It throws off the feel when typing. I can see them working if the angle on them weren't so strong. Overall keystrokes feel good, keyboard is rather quiet vs my K70 then again maybe I just haven't broken in the keyboard yet.

Cons: Application needs work, not user friendly and I personally had to watch videos on youtube to get it working. Also takes getting used to.

Whoever wrote/developed the app didn't consider the ease of use nor think to provide some sort of tips/tutorial.

Other Thoughts: -Price is reasonable.
-Cherry Red MX switches at this price is again more than reasonable.
-Spend time watching a few videos on how to make lighting effects, you'll need to anyway.

Would I recommend? Sure, but honestly if you ca get something better for cheaper than please do so.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Vandee

Glad to hear you like the high quality construction of this keyboard. You will not find another one better made. The RIPJAWS KM780 is designed to sustain heavy usage for long periods of time so you can expect it to last many years without a problem. It is built to last, and with the many special features, you can customize it to your personal preference as you feel most comfortable. With regards to the G.Skill Unified Driver System (GUDS), the latest version can be found on the Official G.Skill Download page. [direct link below] Updates are continuously released to fix bugs and improve functionality. We will look into implementing a 'tips' index or basic start up tutorial to answer any questions or confusions you may have. Your suggestion and feedback is very valuable to us, so if you have any other 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 MX Downloads|

Pros: Features that I really like on this keyboard include:

-A row of volume indicator LEDs. This is probably my favorite feature, actually.
-Cherry MX red switches. Can’t go wrong here.
-Per key LED backlighting, which allows you to illuminate only the keys you need.
-Five large backlit media keys for basic playback control – stop, play, pause, forward, backward, mute.
-Anodized diamond textured aluminum volume scroll wheel. It typically requires 4-5 thumb strokes to travel 0-100% volume, but can be done in 3 if you roll your thumb across the wheel for a long travel.
-On-the-fly macro recording, which can be assigned to almost any key.
-A broad and sturdy detachable palm/wrist rest.
-A set of high-angle high-textured red gaming key caps and a key cap puller that store neatly in a detachable case. However, I found the A and D key caps a little too aggressive for my gameplay, so the only one that I have been using is the W.
-The USB2.0 pass-through port is very handy (when it works. Read cons below.)
-The gunmetal aluminum frame is very sturdy, making for a very heavy (in a good way) keyboard. The lighter colored tubular aluminum trim piece that wraps around the majority of the frame is interesting to look at, but doesn’t get in the way. It provides the rail on the backside of the keyboard for the detachable key cap case, as well as a pop-up mouse cord clip.

Cons: Now for the bad news…

I have the Timer feature set for on-screen display for 30s. The keyboard button blinks, but I see nothing on my display for either in-game or on the desktop. The documentation has almost zero info about this feature. I made a timer setting change, and attempted to save it to the keyboard while a 60s timer was still running on accident… the save didn’t complete and now no other saves will go through. I think I broke it!

I attempted to create a simple macro assigned to the L.Shift key: <left-click, delay 0.1s, release left-click> I then set the macro to “play while assigned key is pressed”. I quickly discovered that while this macro is running, all other keystrokes are ignored!! Any keys that are already depressed while the macro starts to run will cease to work. After the macro stops, you can then use your other keys again but you must release them first if they are still being pressed. This exact same macro is something I use on a Corsair K70 every day while playing FPS games to provide rapid fire rates on semi-automatic firearms. I consider this ability to run macros concurrently with other keystrokes a CRUCIAL part of a gaming keyboard.

At one point, I lost all keyboard input and USB pass-through to my mouse. I moved the mouse to another USB port on the PC which regained mouse input. The issue was only resolved after disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard from the PC (both cables plugged into USB2.0 ports). On another occasion, after going into the Windows lock screen, I lost all keyboard and mouse input again even while the mouse was not using the pass-through port. I discovered that this “lockup” only occurs when the G.SKILL software is installed and running.

By the end of day 2 using this keyboard, the G.SKILL Ripjaws application had crashed giving the Windows event code CLR20r3. Over the next few days, I attempted several fixes, including reinstalling the program and even .NET framework (per user advice on tech forums). I also e-mailed the main global G.SKILL tech support address as well as the USA tech support address on February 6th. The global address had an auto-reply that all offices were closed for a week for the Chinese New Year, and the USA address just told me to e-mail the main address with my problem. I even tried getting support through posting on the G.SKILL Facebook page. They responded quickly on facebook, but only with some tier-1 troubleshooting suggestions and then told me to e-mail global tech support. However, regarding the macro issue I was experiencing, they told me that they had tested “other keyboards of this caliber, and they also do not work”, which is a very discouraging statement since I had already proven it wrong with the K70. So, it’s been 14 days now since my original e-mail to global support, and have yet to get a response. I even sent a follow-up e-mail a couple days ago to no avail. I have accepted that I simply can no longer use the Ripjaws application, and have permanently uninstalled it. This keyboard works only in its most basic form from now on. What a shame!

Other Thoughts: In one short statement, THIS KEYBOARD HAS BUGS!! I simply do not recommend the KM780. Sorry, G.SKILL. You make great RAM, though.

If you can hold out for a while, I have hope that G.SKILL can work the software bugs out in time. But if you need a fully functional gaming keyboard loaded with features, and you need it now, look somewhere else.

Thank you to G.SKILL and Newegg.com for the review sample.

If you found my review helpful in your product search, please check Yes below. Thanks!

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi William

Glad to hear you enjoy the special features and unique design of this mechanical gaming keyboard. The functions of the keyboard and physical appearance can be customized to your exact preference. We believe the user should be fully comfortable and understanding of proper use with their peripherals.

Your detailed feedback for this item is greatly appreciated. There are many good points currently in the works that will be reflected in future firmware and software updates. If you encounter anything else you feel is worth mentioning, please feel free to contact us directly. We are open to all user information as we continuously look to maximize the capability of this keyboard. Refer to the G.Skill Download page for all the latest details. We are certain you will be very pleased with the changes.

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 MX Downloads|

Pros: Trusted Name
Forum visited by G.SKill
Beautiful looking
Nice red color...easy to see
Extra Keys
Mouse Cable Holder
Don't Need Batteries

Cons: Manual....below average
Software interface...below average
I do not want to figure things out...I want them fed to me when I make a purchase

Other Thoughts: The keyboard is one of two major computer interfaces, The mouse being the other.
Generally most don't give the keyboard much, if any, thought until there is a spill or a key no longer functions.
I have owned many, many keyboards and rarely dumped one for any other reason then it didn't work anymore or
the W and/or S wore off. Only once did I buy a keyboard based on a glowing review...that was about 15 years ago.
I still have that keyboard, it is mechanical.

The G.SKILL RIPJAWS KM780 MX is a solid and heavy mechanical keyboard. The build quality feels very good and it looks very nice.
Companies almost always make solid products unless they want to go out of business and G. Skill has been making hardware for quite awhile now. It has been my experience that hardware companies are more likely to come up short in regards to bundled software and G. Skill validates my experience. Off hand I cannot tell you what a keyboard profile or macro is. I have heard this terms and given them little thought. The KM780 MX has both capabilities. Per G.Skill "A profile is a collection of settings and modes that can be saved into the on-board memory of your keyboard, allowing the customization to follow the device, no matter which computer it’s connected to." OK...so What? Tell me WHY I want to do that


Look, I followed the manual directions and am still confused. I sat down three times to go through the flow
but it never dawned on me what was I doing, why was I doing it and how does it make my life easier. What I want are EXAMPLES !!

Hold the users hand. Write for EXAMPLE...let's do this and then you can see how the feature is of benefit. Programmers rarely
think the user knows as much as them...that's a given but the PR section darn well better know they have to be user friendly.

I can adjust the polling rate...What the heck is the polling rate? and why do I want to adjust it? Define your terms and tell the user how they are of benefit. What is so hard about that? N-Key rollover What's That?


Overall the manual is below average

The other gripe is the software interface. It is small and it is black. There is no option to make it larger so I can see it easily and there is no option have it as any other color then black. WHY?

I posted this at the GSkill forum

"i don't appreciate black whatsoever on my screen. are there any skin options for the KM 780?
Also...for future software updates...give us an option to make the program larger. on my 1920x1080 screen it is pretty small.
I need to decrease resolution just to use it...bah...who needs it?"

The reply...."Thanks for the info, we will look into it."

Which translates to me as "Go away kid ya bother me"

Those are my gripes and none of them concern the hardware which I really like.

The wrist rest feels good and actually gripes my palm and holds me in place. I like the red lit keys which are very easy to see.
They even toss in some extra keys held in an advertisement box. The media keys, which I never use are conveniently located.
I do like the ability to program individual keys, say to launch calc. I could spend hours doing all sorts of groovy light shows which many guys like. I am satisfied with the lowest bright solid color.

Moving from a membrane based keyboard to mechanical does take time. I have been using the KM780 MX for over two weeks and though my mispushes are fewer they still occur. It does take more force.


I have no doubt this keyboard will last a long time..I hope the lights do.


If you want a sturdy, handsome, hardworking mechanical keyboard, are smarter then me so you can figure all the features out on your own this is a great choice. Just be aware that it is not RGB so if you want that "status" be prepared to spend more.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Hi Jan

Glad to hear you like the unique design and solid build construction of the RIPJAWS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. The special features and layout distinguishes the keyboard so it is easily recognized and unmistakable G.Skill craftsmanship. Your detailed review is appreciated and we are certain some people will find it useful. As far as some criticism, we will take note, because if it is a concern for you it can be a concern for others. We continuously look to enhance functionality and maximize capabilities to offer the best product. Keep an eye out on the Official G.Skill Download page for the latest upgrades and information. [direct link below]. We listen carefully to each user so you may just find your suggestion in the next update!

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 MX Downloads|

Pros: The first thing I noticed and like about this keyboard was the feel of the keys. My fingers have only ever known the membrane based switches of the traditional keyboards. The mechanical keys have a very defined click to them as you type. If you (and those around you) can handle the louder noise they make, they are kind of nice.

One of my favorite features of gaming keyboards is the macro keys. I don't use them often, but there have been times that macro keys have saved me time. (Doing the same edit over and over in a document for example). The macro keys on this board are mapped different based on the current profile (M1/2/3) and may be programmed on the fly. If you use the software included with the keyboard, you can even program the macro keys without key delays.

The profiles are able to switch more than just the macro keys. They are also able to control the lighting effects as well as polling rates and others. About all of the configurable settings are able to be associated with profiles.

Have you ever been in a full-screen game and accidentally hit the windows key, forcing the program to minimize? This keyboard also allows you to disable both windows keys with a toggle button right on the keyboard.

As many keyboards these days do, this one includes media keys for controlling media players while they may be minimized. One thing in particular I like is the scroll wheel for the volume control and the bar-graph feedback showing the current audio level.

The key back-lighting is also pretty slick. Each key has its own individually controlled LED. The software even allows for only certain keys to be lit. Only need home-row illuminated? Simply choose only those keys and the rest will remain dark. The effects are also kind of fun to watch.

Finally, this keyboard will be very easy to clean. The keys are all removable with the included tool and the base of the keyboard under the keys is flat. You should be able to pop off all the keys and take a damp rag to it with no problems.

Cons: First drawback is the noise. Again, this is the first mechanical keyboard I have used, so I can't comment on how the noise compares to others, but it is definitely louder than traditional membrane based keyboards. I don't recommend this keyboard if you will be in close quarters with others a lot.

My next problem is with the included software, it is not intuitive. If you want to know how any of the features work, you will need to go online and download the manual (the one included in the box is fairly worthless). Without reading the manual, I was not able to figure out how to turn on the N-key feature, what the timer button was supposed to do, or various other things. The software alone is just not useful, you will need the manual.

Other minor draw-backs is the lack of guides for running headset connections from the back of the keyboard out to the front. There is only one USB port available for other uses on the back of the keyboard. This is because there is not a USB hub inside of the keyboard, it uses two USB connectors at the PC.

I have also noticed that the media keys and volume level bar graph LEDs do not dim with the rest of the keyboard. They stay 100% or they turn off completely with the rest of the keys.

Finally, the palm-rest is OK for gaming, but not for typing. You will notice there is a notch in the middle of the palm-rest. Also notice that it is directly under the home-row keys for the right hand. Not bad, but not comfortable either.

Other Thoughts: Overall, this is a good keyboard for the current price. G.Skill has made some excellent products in the past for gaming, however this keyboard didn't quite pack the same punch as I have come to expect through their other products. That is not to say this is a bad board, but it just didn't deliver quite like I had expected it to. Maybe as G.Skill gets some experience under their belt with this keyboard, they can make future ones even better.

Manufacturer Response:

.
Dear Customer

Thank you for your G.Skill purchase and review. Glad to hear you like the feel of the keys. Comfort was one of our main design goals as we expect people to be using this keyboard for hours at a time. Seems like you also noticed the special gaming features of this keyboard that can be very important during game play. With regards to noise production, this can vary depending on the type of switches, but in general the sound is louder compared to a standard keyboard. This is a typical trait of mechanical keyboards. The G.Skill Unified Driver System (GUDS) will continue to be upgraded, so check back on the G.Skill web site 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 MX keyboard|

Pros: - Awesome asthetically designed keyboard...big improvement over my last keyboard for sure!
- It felt a bit heavy out of the box but it's also very well balanced as it's not just heavy on one side and it doesn't move all over my desk like my last keyboard and has non-slip stickers on the bottom for additional grip too
- Mechanical keyboard feels great and very comfortable to type on, well spaced keys and they're made of solid hard plastic
- The keys gives great feedback when pressed on with that mechanical click just like old electronic typewriters did
- Comes with multimedia buttons on top right of keyboard and a scrolling wheel to adjust volume, plus there's a visual LED indicator that shows how high (or low) you have the volume
- Illuminating RED in all of the keys (if you want)
- Included (download) software allows you to change lighting schemes (shown below):
SNAKE - the whole keyboard is not lit up but individual letters light up starting from the upper left corner that
mimics a snake moving around your keys. You can also set up (in seconds) on the duration you want each of the
keys to stay in red before dimming down.
REACTIVE - The whole keyboard is dimm down but when you start typing, each of the key(s) you press will light up
in red and remains on for the duration you set it.
BREATHING - All of the keys illuminates on and off for the duration you set it mimicking a breathing pattern.
RANDOM - this setting sets the keys to do any of the random lighting schemes
LED ON - all of the keys are set to ON and does not turn off.
WAVE - all of the keys automatically turn on from right to left in a wave formation
RIPPLE - All buttons are dimmed but when you press on any key, the surrounding keys turn on and illuminate from
that key that was pressed outwards like a ripple effect
REACTIVE2 - the whole keyboard is dimmed, but when you start typing, each button "reacts" by flashing the keys
closest from the key you just pressed
- Software is automatically downloaded once you plug it into the USB port and Windows recognizes it as a keyboard, which means plug and play and I don't need to go onto manufacture's website
- The G. Skill software is super intuitive, very easy to use and follow
- You can also make & save up to 3 different profiles and load them easily to the keyboard
- The hardest part with the software was the MACROS, but that's a lesson on its own
- Comes with an additional USB, headset and MIC input on top of the keyboard BUT you will also need to plug that
into your motherboard's headset (audio), MIC and USB on the back as well.
- It also Comes with a long USB cable that is braided (the braid is very tough plastic but flexible at the same
time)
- GSkill logo on top of the keyboard but is NOT so big it takes over a large portion of the keyboard
- There is a 3-stage dimming button to set the RED LED's to dim or max brightness
- Has six (G1 to G6) keys on the left side of keyboard that you can customize by assigning them to do various
tasks like add or even replace a keyboard key, mouse functions, multimedia keys, macros, Windows shortcuts,
launch your favorite programs and/or automatically typing TEXT with a single button ( use G6 for my signature for
emails).
- Other accessories that come included is the extended palm rest which is made of hard plastic but is textured
and feels surprisingly comfortable and of course the manual.
- Also comes with extra gaming keys which is in ALL RED coloring to use for gaming purposes. The A, S, D and W buttons on these are raised in a way that allows you to quickly recognize them by touch. Also comes with Q, E, R F, G and C buttons, however these buttons are not raised but have a horizontal textured crease for easier finger
recognition. All these keys plus a tool to easily take and put back the keys, come stored in a little case which
can mount to the top of the keyboard so you just don't store it away and forget about them.
- Built for Windows 10 as the "Windows key" has the new Windows logo on it?

Cons: - The only con I ran into is that the software is a bit buggy. I've had two instances where the space bar and the Z button would not work. I hardly used the Z button so I didn't notice it until it was a week after I was testing it out. I double checked the software to make sure I didn't accidentally replace the Z key with a random or blank but it showed a Z on the software. After I re-downloaded the software it worked for two days then the Z button stopped working. I had to re-download the configurations again. This time it finally did the trick and now my Z button works. Then my space bar went out. I had to re-download the software again but now it works fine.

- I also ran into a couple of instance where I tried to download the software (after making configuration changes to the G buttons) back onto the keyboard but ran into issues such as it completed downloading to the keyboard but the G buttons just didn't work at all.

- Another small gripe, it's wired (I know..I know for gaming purposes...faster response) but would also love to see this keyboard wireless.

- It does come with 1 USB (with headset & MIC input) on top of the keyboard BUT why not included 2 or 4 more USB ports?

- Although the hard plastic extended palm rests are very comfortable, maybe have an option for some padded palm rests?

- Another not so big con: even after the computer is turned off, if you press any key the whole keyboard lights up in red and there's a slight buzzing noise that can be heard if it's super quiet.

Other Thoughts: I used to have the Logitech Wave keyboard for the longest time, which I thought was great. The first thing I noticed was that my typing has improved using this mechanical keyboard. On the Wave, I'd randomly miss keys when I'm typing for some odd reason. On this keyboard I don't miss any of the keys anymore. Could it be my typing skills or the keyboard? I feel like this keyboard really helps my hand posture and the mechanical click sounds make me "feel" that the key was pressed before I move onto the next key.

Other than the software being a little buggy, I'd have to still give this keyboard a 5 star rating. There is so much more PRO's than the CONS and on top of that I think it's worth its price.

It's just like a bed, how much would you pay for a good night sleep? Same concept here as in how much would you pay for a good quality keyboard, especially when you're going to use it daily like I do. The benefits outweighs the cost and I think this is a great value you should add to your desk.

With that being said..I did see some negative reviews on this keyboard, however I've only had a pleasant and great experience with it. I'd highly recommend this keyboard for everyday typing even if you don't play games. It's comfortable and I don't know why I haven't switched over to mechanical keys before. This particular mechanical keyboard feels great and the illuminating RED is captivating. I can now look down at my keyboard and at a quick glance, I know where the keys are. In addition, I LOVE the way they designed the replaceable keys for gaming. The textures on those keys really help out when playing online games.

Lastly, this is the RED LED version and NOT the multi-colored RGB version...but still, the RED LED's look killer on my desk!