Around a year after the release of their strong, but flawed, KM780 Mechanical keyboard and MX780 Laser gaming mouse, G.Skill are ready to venture once again into the peripheral fray. With the G.Skill RIPJAWS KM570 MX mechanical keyboard sporting Cherry MX switches, this time it’s a more sombre, minimalist and well-priced product.
The full length KM580 starts its life out at a respectably $89 (or $99 on their website?), and it comes with genuine Cherry MX switches along the Red, Brown and Blue variety. The design aesthetic couldn’t be further from their KM780, and gone is the RGB, dedicated volume controls and awesomely aggressive tone in the the KM780. Unlike the horrible software implementation in the KM780, G-Skill have abandoned software completely with the KM570, opting instead for a software-less approach, but still retaining key customisability which can be saved in the on-board memory. This keyboard is championing the no-nonsense plug and play minimalist crowd who want both a sleek typing and gaming experience.
The no-software approach doesn’t slow the keyboard down; it still offers full key customisation, 7 different lighting effect presets (with adjustable brightness and speed) and per-key custom lighting, media and volume control hotkeys as well as on-the-fly macro recording and Windows application shortcuts. Being a mid-range enthusiast keyboard, the standards of mechanical keyboards apply—n-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting and 1000Hz polling rate. A non-removable 6m braided cable and Windows Lock key (who uses that anymore?) rounds out a interesting looking package from G.Skill.
As for my initial thoughts, the problem I foresee is the product being slotted into an already overcrowded pricing segment, with the likes of Razer, Corsair and Cooler Master already having products well placed in those price ranges, often selling for specials at the same $89 price range. That being said, choice is always welcome, and considering the current Newegg special of $89, it does make the G-Skill KM570 MX at least a contender for your hard-earned money. I just hope their no-software approach is not as botched as their software in the KM780.
Last Updated: October 27, 2016
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 27, 2016 at 13:49
Yeah, can just see someone commenting on the keyboard after I get owned online. “What’s the G stand for? Grandpa?”
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 27, 2016 at 14:36
Way to ruin the kb for me. :/
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 27, 2016 at 14:41
XD
Geoffrey Tim
October 27, 2016 at 13:52
I like this. I hate the software that most bloody peripherals need to function properly.
Lu
October 27, 2016 at 14:42
It’s not even limited to peripherals anymore! With my old crummy pc all I had was AMD Catalyst which was out of sight (probably too ashamed to show itself). That’s it. After my upgrade everything has an app. MSI board? Here’s the MSI app, oh and a gaming control center too. Graphics card gets both the Nvidia app and MSI afterburner. Killer network gets an app. Mouse gets an app. Even the damn ram has an app. Granted most of these can be removed, but it’s getting out of hand.
Archdruid Kromas
October 27, 2016 at 14:45
Logitech has a wonderfull way of making you opt out. Install the software … program your macros … save macros to device … uninstall software. Done.
Then again the software is so unobtrusive I just keep it running in the background.
Raptor Rants
October 27, 2016 at 16:32
Over R1200? For a Keyboard? Nope. Nope nope nope nope
Marco
October 27, 2016 at 17:30
Have you ever used a mechanical keyboard? I’d say try before you buy though.
Raptor Rants
October 28, 2016 at 07:47
Yes I have in fact. I will not pay that much for a keyboard. Just cannot bring it over myself to do so.
Dane
October 28, 2016 at 08:18
Interesting. Considering G.Skill are only entering the market now, I rate they have done a stellar job so far. Can’t wait to see what they’re doing in a year’s time!
By the way the 64 comments was on the MX780 mouse* (linked)
Viper_ZA
October 28, 2016 at 08:56
By the time my current KB dies, this one will be helluva lot cheaper, I hope? xD
Andre Fourie
October 28, 2016 at 09:17
How I feel when I think of PC gaming. Probably because I never tried it. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/adebd2ac9350c10f570ad3c8aaf1c93d786cc8afd0ec88bff76fc4c6816b00f7.jpg