As with many peripherals, it isn't essential to install the software drivers, but to access the full functionality, it is recommended that you do. The K95 RGB PLATINUM is supported by Corsair's latest CUE software, featuring the new GUI. It is intuitive, easy to navigate, and even shows off the features of various other Corsair products (you can turn off the product demos by selecting 'only show connected devices' in the settings).
This software allows you to individually program each and every key on the K95 RGB PLATINUM with various commands, actions, shortcuts, keystrokes, and macros. The macro recorder is advanced and records various inputs from the keyboard and mouse, and even mouse position (if you wanted). It didn't register my mouse side buttons, but if you remap their functions (if available in its supporting software) then it does.
The lighting effects are also top tier quality, giving fantastic vibrancy and accurate rendering. White is slightly bluish by default, but that can be compensated for. You can layer various effects on top of each other for advanced effects. Though many may be torn by the RGB fad, symbolised by the full spectrum wave effect, thinking it is nothing more than a gimmick, I would argue that RGB is certainly more than that, but needs a creative twist. Rather than full on vibrant rainbows, farting out of each and every key, consider the keyboard a canvas that can create an ambience that can be a genuine feature. This is exactly what the LightEdge does. The very top-most edge of the K95 RGB PLATINUM features an strip of 19 programmable LEDs that create an incredible border of light around the keyboard itself. It of course seamlessly fits into the colourful pre-set effects,though each of the 19 LEDs can be customised to your own desires too. I did discover an annoyance with the custom lighting options, and that is, specifically with the static lighting mode, you can only assign 1 colour, per layer. Rather than being able to individually assign a colour to each key. This means that if you want several colours in a custom pattern, you need to create a separate layer for each static colour. Once you get several layers, they start being a little slow/laggy to drag into desired priority.
In the performance tab, you can also adjust the colour of each of the profiles, the brightness button, and the windows lock key, meaning, every single LED on the keyboard, (except the Lock indicators which are a neutral white) is programmable.
It is now worth noting that this keyboard features 8MB of on-board memory to save 3x advanced profiles for on-the-go use without needing to install the software. This means advanced lighting profiles, programmed keys, shortcuts, and macros. If you consider than the most memory you find on peripherals tends to be 512KB, 8MB is certainly a large amount of on-board storage.
