Corsair K70

[lumeer]

To owners of a Corsair K70, I have two questions:

1. I read that you need two USB connections to run it. How exactly does this work? Is one connection for power and the other to communicate with the computer? Is it possible to power it from a source other than the computer itself, and use just one USB port on the computer for communication between the keyboard and computer?
2. Does it show fingermarks? Do you need to wipe it clean from time to time? I saw a review that mentioned oil accumulation on the keycaps being an issue.

Other than that, and not directly relevant to the Corsair K70, what's your favourite Cherry MX switch, and why?

 

[jadenroux]

1. The Keyboard uses 1 USB for the keyboard itself and the 2nd is for the USB pass through at the back. You can use just 1

2. They keys are pretty resistant against it unless you're obviously just done with your dinner and got greasy fingers.

I use brown switches. I like the combination of the silence of red switches but the tactile feeling of blue

 

[adamr]

Brown switches ftw

 

[RedViking]

Well you know about my thread.

No fingermarks.

If you not using the USB ports on the keyboard you only need one.

The LED lights only work if the software is installed and you are logged on.

The macro commands you can set with the keyboard software are limited.

 

[lumeer]

Here's a review that warns about fingermarks: https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/06/26/corsair-k70-rgb-mk2-gaming-keyboard-review

But much like its Strafe MK.2 cousin, these ABS plastic keycaps seem to show fingerprints very easily.

Here's another review that flags the fingermark problem (at 3:23):

I fear that the propensity of Corsair keyboards to show fingermarks may exceed my tolerable threshold.

 

[lumeer]

The LED lights only work if the software is installed and you are logged on.

That's an unfortunate design flaw in my opinion.

 

[RedViking]

That's an unfortunate design flaw in my opinion.

Stupid yup. I have to switch on the light or use my Monitor light to see what I'm doing till logged in.

In general I love my keyboard and it looks like it is going to last for decades.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Stupid yup. I have to switch on the light or use my Monitor light to see what I'm doing till logged in.

In general I love my keyboard and it looks like it is going to last for decades.

Weird, maybe I haven't used a Corsair in a while, but as far as I can remember they do have a default profile in the memory. It is only the flagship Corsair keyboards which has multiple configurable onboard profiles.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Will light up red until the software runs and turns on whatever you set up.

Never noticed a single fingerprint in the 2 years I used a K70, no idea what that article is talking about.

As above if you don't use the USB passthrough then you only need the one plug.

 

[lumeer]

The solution to fingermarks seems to be to use PBT, not ABS, keycaps.

 

[lumeer]

I typed on Cherry MX Brown switches today, and to be honest, I'm a bit disappointed by their lack of tactility, despite them supposedly being tactile switches. They're pretty loud however so if Blue switches are even louder, I understand why people opt for Brown switches instead.

The other day I typed on Razer MX Green switches (clones of clones of Cherry MX Blues) and they felt pretty good.