CORSAIR K95 RGB PLATINUM [PRESENTATION]

August 07, 2017 William Zwingenberger / Holger Dassler

The K95 RGB Platinum is Corsair's flagship keyboard with an extensive feature set. In order to achieve the highest possible quality, the keyboard uses CHERRY MX switches. Another highlight of the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is the RGB lighting, which can be individually configured via software. Thanks to a transparent switch housing with integrated lens, every key can show any of the 16.7 million colors of the RGB spectrum. In this article you’ll read what more the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum has to offer.

The features at a glance

Keyboard layout: Extended
Key switches: CHERRY MX RGB Brown (optionally CHERRY MX RGB Speed Silver)
Backlighting: RGB
Macro keys: Six dedicated keys
Sampling rate: Up to one millisecond
Matrix: 100% anti-ghosting with full-key rollover via USB
Software and built-in memory: Available (CUE)
Media buttons: Six dedicated multimedia keys including volume Up/Down roller
Wrist rest: detachable, dual-sided, soft-touch finish
Dimensions: 465mm x 171mm x 36mm
Weight: 1.32kg

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum in detail

Corsair's K95 RGB Platinum features a beautiful, rugged chassis for a solid stand and great look on the desk. Corsair has chosen for a sleek, anodized frame made of brushed aircraft aluminum to create a timeless design, elevated by the impressive RGB lighting features.

Extended layout with room for macro buttons

Features and functions clearly underline the K95 RGB Platinum’s top position in Corsair’s keyboard lineup: with comfortable dimensions of 465 x 171 x 36 millimeters, the keyboard features an extended layout including six additional macro keys.

These macro keys can be independently configured and are separated visually with slip-resistant grey key caps.

Their positioning on the left-hand side of the keyboard makes them easy to reach in games, for example.

Multimedia keys and interchangeable key caps for more grip

In addition to the macro block, it’s also possible to exchange any of the normal keys with grey caps; a total of ten grey caps have been included in the packaging.

These alternative caps have a textured, non-slip surface, giving gamers a better grip on important keys such as WASD. Exchanging these caps is easy with the tool included with the K95 RGB Platinum.

Thanks to the extended layout mentioned above, there is room for six media keys and a volume roller at the top. These buttons control the lighting effects, locking the Windows key (extremely useful for PC gaming) and much more.

Multimedia keys and interchangeable key caps for more grip<span></span>

It’s possible to attach a wrist rest to the front of the keyboard for additional comfort during long gaming or typing sessions. It’s possible to switch the wrist pad between a smooth or a textured surface, depending on personal preference.

Adjustable feet and clever cable routing for better ergonomics

In addition to the wrist rest, two feet with non-slip rubber coating on the underside of the K95 RGB Platinum contribute to the highest possible ergonomics.

If you prefer your keyboard to be as flat as possible and not use the feet, anti-slip pads will still ensure the keyboard won’t slide on the desk. Another clever feature are the two X-shaped cut-outs on the bottom of the keyboard which can be used for routing headset cables.

Adjustable feet and clever cable routing for better ergonomics<span></span>

There is a USB pass-through port on the back of the K95 RGB Platinum. It can be used to connect a wired mouse (using the cut-outs on the bottom of the keyboard to elegantly hide part of the cable), to quickly connect storage media to the computer, or to power a USB fan on hot summer days. To provide peripherals connected to the USB pass-through port with enough power, the braided keyboard has two USB connectors.

CHERRY MX RGB Brown or MX RGB Speed Silver

At the core of the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum are either CHERRY MX RGB Speed Silver or MX RGB Brown switches. The latter have a tactile characteristic with 55 centinewton operating force, making them perfect for precise inputs while gaming or typing.

The MX Brown switches do not have an audible click, resulting in significantly lower noise than with, for example, CHERRY MX Blue switches.

CHERRY MX RGB Speed Silver for responsive inputs

There is also a version of the K95 RGB Platinum designed for extremely quick, responsive reaction. Thanks to the optionally available CHERRY MX RGB Speed Silver switches, the key pre-travel has been reduced from 2.0 millimeters to a mere 1.2 millimeters. The MX RGB Speed Silver features linear characteristics and a low operating force of 45 centinewtons to achieve extremely short reaction times and high switching frequencies. As a result, this version of the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum is ideally suited for hectic gaming sessions.

RGB lighting and Corsair CUE software

The CHERRY MX RGB switches in the K95 RGB Platinum offer fully customizable lighting. Corsair provides this flagship keyboard with 8 GB of internal memory to store and quickly access three different illumination profiles at any time. Adjusting these lighting modes and other keyboard settings is done with the Corsair Utility Engine (CUE) software.

Corsair Utility Engine (CUE) allows control over lighting effects

With their CUE software, Corsair offers a unifying solution for almost all of the manufacturer’s current input devices. Whenever a compatible product is detected by the software it can directly be configured, or linked to existing products. In the case of the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, the CUE software offers almost endless lighting possibilities, from color gradients to spirals to random color sequences.

LightEdge technology for additional RGB effects

The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum doesn’t just feature RGB lighting by way of the CHERRY MX RGB switches, but it also extends to the multimedia keys and the manufacturer logo at the top of the keyboard. A light strip at the upper edge of the keyboard is able to cover all colors of the RGB spectrum. Corsair has named this LightEdge technology.

Conclusion

With the K95 RGB Platinum, Corsair offers a truly high-end keyboard. A solid build with high-quality materials, a comprehensive feature set, and an intuitive Corsair Utility Engine software solution underline the flagship position of this keyboard. The CHERRY MX RGB switches provide the ideal basis for maximum performance and spectacular lighting effects. The K95 RGB Platinum is available with MX RGB Brown switches (shown here) or with MX RGB Speed Silver switches, allowing you to choose between a precise, noticeable input or a lightning-fast input with extremely short reaction times.

About Corsair

Founded in 1994, CORSAIR supplies high-performance products purchased primarily by PC gaming enthusiasts who build their own PCs or buy pre-assembled customized systems. The company's award-winning products include DDR3 and DDR4 memory, computer cases, PC cooling products, power supply units, mechanical keyboards, gaming mice, gaming headsets, USB flash drives, solid-state drives and system monitoring and control devices.