A Closer Look
The K70 Core RGB is a wired keyboard with a built-in USB cable of 1,8 meters, which is non-removable and not braided.
It is the first keyboard to outfit the Corsair’s Red linear MGX mechanical switches. These are the third switches developed by the brand and are only for Corsair’s products. Their specs are the following:
- Actuation force: 45g
- Pre-travel/actuation distance: 1.9mm
- Total travel: 4.0mm
- Lifespan: 70 million keystrokes
- Lubrication: Pre-lubed
Corsair’s red linear MGX mechanical switches have a shorter travel distance, thus being quicker and more responsive than the regular linear red switches.
Due to the pre-lubed switches and the dual dampening layers of EVA foam (closed-cell ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam), the result is also quieter, making this keyboard ideal for use in confined places. What is this EVA foam, though, that makes such an impact on the keyboard’s acoustics levels? It is an alternative for natural rubber, vinyl, neoprene, polyurethane and PVC foams, wood composites, felts, fiberglass, and mineral wool.
The EVA foam material characteristics:
• vibration and impact absorptions,
• weather and chemical, oil, and fuel spill/splash resistances,
• thermal insulation and acoustic properties, and
• resilience/buoyancy and low-water absorption.
There are 104 keys with keycaps made of ABS, which differ according to their layouts. We have keycaps (NA Layout), which are ABS Double shots, and keycaps (Non-NA Layout), which are ABS Painted. Moreover, the keycaps offer bright colors due to the transparent housing and have a per-key RGB backlighting. For those of you wanting higher quality ABT keycaps, Corsair offers the PBT Double-Shot PRO Keycap Mod Kit for 30 dollars, a stiff price given that this keyboard’s start price is $80.
A multi-control dial is placed in the top right corner and above the Numpad, along with the media controls and the indicator lights for num lock, caps lock, scroll lock, and Win lock. You can either turn the control dial or click it. By clicking it, you mute your PC’s audio output. Other options are adjusting the volume, zooming in/Out, RGB brightness, and Scrolling. The dial is also reprogrammable through the iCUE software. Another way to browse between different functions of this rotary dial is by holding down the Fn and tapping F12. The color of the F12 LED indicates which mode you are in at any respective moment. You may change what each color means according to your liking.
The iCUE button next to the control dial pauses the music themes or videos by default and can also be reprogrammed through iCUE. The aluminum frame is covered with black plastic color, while the K70 Core comes in two more color flavors: a steel gray one and a white K70 Core SE with 85% post-consumer recycled plastic.
Adjustable height, with a single elevation level, occurs from the two foldable rubberized footpads. Corsair assumes that you will definitely deploy the keyboard’s elevation feet since it only has proper rubber pads on the lower end of the keyboard’s base to secure it on your desk or any surface on which you will put it. That said, the keyboard’s feet have a type of hard rubber at their top and side, but it doesn’t provide as much friction as the rubber feet.
The maximum polling rate is 1000Hz, and you can adjust it along with the key’s switch debounce time in ms through the iCUE Software. There is also on-board memory to store up to five profiles. Thus, if you wish to remove the iCUE for your reasons or carry your K70 Core to a different location, your profiles will follow you.
