The K100 was ready to go straight out of the box, requiring none of the rigmarole associated with some other launches such as mandatory software and firmware updates. Lighting was active immediately and fully configurable once the iCUE software had been installed. Connecting both USB cables wasn’t required, but pass-through functionality would mean that the second is necessary.
The keyboard sits flat on the desk, taking up plenty of real-estate thanks to the inclusion of both number pad and dedicated macro keys. Despite the extended width there’s absolutely no flex in the frame when striking each key and no hit of wobble with legs flat or extended. Rubber pads on the feet and base make it resist slippage effectively but don't give rise to a spongy depressible frame.
A refined aesthetic and configuration of subtle lighting schemes would make the K100 at home in an office if preferred, and we wish you the best of luck in persuading your workplace to comp it as a business expense.
The sample provided was equipped with OPX optical-mechanical switches that feel very similar to the Cherry MX Speed Silver linear switch variant. The reported actuation point is almost identical - 1mm vs 1.2mm - and keystroke has a similar depth. Users who find Cherry MX Red’s a little slow to respond or strike the backplate hard on a full keypress may enjoy this faster type, and MX Speed veterans will be right at home immediately.
We have found that more resistive and tactile switches such as the Cherry MX Brown type to be slightly preferable for general typing, and OPX switches are more sensitive to accidental keypresses if you leave your fingers resting on the keys. This is a matter of personal preference however, and not necessarily a down-side of the K100 (excepting that a tactile alternative isn’t currently available).
By the same token, gaming was an absolute joy. We booted up World of Warcraft and incorporated a selection of keybinds and macros to the extra keys and found the adjustment from an older keyboard with MX Blues and similar Macro key layout extremely straight-forward. The AXON management system handled anti-ghosting and NKRO effectively, with no phantom keypresses noticeable. We were still at a loss when it came to leveraging the iCUE Control Wheel to its fullest extent however.
A similar experience was had with Hades, our latest ARPG Roguelite addiction that can be especially hard on the spacebar when using keyboard, mouse and default keybinds. A slight vertical play in the spacebar was almost imperceptible despite the punishment laid on it.
You’d be forgiven for finding it difficult to tell the difference between 1000Hz and 4000Hz polling, which is possibly not the conclusion CORSAIR were after. It’s certainly a technical achievement, especially when also juggling on-board macros and lighting, but we simply weren’t equipped to notice any performance improvement between the two modes. We can however state that there were no issues with running at the higher rate on our AMD Ryzen B450 test system.
The keyboard has lost nothing in terms of comfort in its transition to a memory-foam wrist-rest and new attachment system, but linear keys can still be some of the hardest on your fingers. In the absence of a cushioned MX Silent variant picking up some O-rings should dampen impacts nicely. The wrist-rest is removable if preferred, and the new attachment system shouldn’t be quite as fragile as the old clip-on method. The slight amount of movement in the rest is a little disappointing, but far from a deal-breaker.
And finally, CORSAIR still have those dedicated media keys licked. The volume wheel is smooth with no discernable click points and each button offers positive feedback when pressed. The same can be said of the iCUE Control Wheel which is similarly pleasing to the touch. Each of these control points also being almost infinitely configurable through preset functions and macros makes it all the more satisfying.
