Corsair M55 RGB Pro and Nightsword RGB

I haven’t had the chance to check out Corsair’s mouse offerings for the last few years. The last time I had a Corsair mouse in the office for testing was when they launched the Glaive RGB. Corsair has been busy bringing out new models and its high time that I check a few out. So I reached out about two recently introduced wired mice. The M55 RGB Pro and the Nightsword RGB. The M55 Pro RGB fits the bill for what I normally like in a mouse, an ambidextrous mouse with a simple, somewhat lightweight design, and an optical sensor. The kicker on it is its $39.99 price point so I’m excited to see how it performs. While testing that though I am also going to check out the Nightsword RGB is a little more mainstream with a little more weight and a shape that reminds me a lot of the always popular Logitech G502. Both mice have the potential to be great so let's take a closer look at each and see what sets them apart.

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SteelSeries Sensei Ten

The history of the SteelSeries Sensei actually starts back with the SteelSeries Xai which launched back in 2009. The Xai was a huge departure from their previous mouse the Ikari and its new shape was ambidextrous and smaller using some of the popular mice in CS 1.6 like the Intellimouse and feedback from gamers to create the Xai shape. I covered the Xai back then and loved it but it did have some problems. SteelSeries later took that same shape but with an upgraded sensor and an onboard processor and introduced it under a new name, the Sensei. We actually had the first English review of the Sensei all the way back in 2011. I started using the Xai as my main mouse and quickly switched over to the Sensei after its launch and for a solid 8 years used the Sensei or one of the many other variations like the RAW or game or team branded models as my main mouse and in my LAN bag as well.

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Cooler Master MM710

A mouse is a mouse, right? Well there have been a few mice that have come out that have had me excited, but lets be honest for the most part it has felt like everyone is just updating to the latest “in” sensor, adding RGB lighting where they can, and taking on things that can be mentioned on the box or in an online listing as a big feature. A little balance in adding just a few cool features and things are okay. But some mice get a little crazy and they end up huge and extremely heavy. Now if you were following the trends in mice you might run into people on Reddit drilling holes in their mice and doing everything they can to make their mouse lighter. Well, a few companies have been leading the lightweight market including Logitech on the wireless side, but it is finally hitting the mainstream companies including Razer which just recently brought out something. Well the mouse a lot of people have been waiting for is from Cooler Master with their MM710. They have been following the enthusiast market on the keyboard side for years so it isn’t a huge shocker that they would also do the same with their mice. The MM710 packs all of the features people are modding into their mice including the holes. Today I’m going to check out their new mouse and find out what all the excitement is about.

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Logitech G604

The G602 is a Logitech classic that was launched back close to the launch of the original G502. What really set it apart was its use of a traditional battery, not a rechargeable wireless setup for what our friend Ed over at Sapphire would call a “True Wireless” setup. The G602 had an extremely long battery life and it was the only mouse in the post G502 age at Logitech with more than the standard two side buttons. Funny enough the G602 was replaced with the G603 but it dropped the extra side buttons and went with a different shape so it was a little bit of a surprise to see Logitech switch back to the features of the G602 when I had a call with them about the new G604. It gains the Hero 16K sensor of course and drops some weight. Today I’m going to check out the new mouse and see what it’s all about.

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Corsair K57 RGB Wireless

I touched on Corsairs CAPELLIX LEDs which are significantly more efficient than conventional LEDs in my Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB review. Beyond being brighter than normal LEDs and smaller, they are more power-efficient allowing them to finally be used in their higher-end memory. But another area where I knew they would also come in handy is with wireless peripherals where LED lighting is the norm for wired devices but going wireless with RGB lighting can mean big and heavy batteries or short battery life. Corsair is introducing their K57 RGB Wireless keyboard today and it is taking advantage the CAPELLIX LEDs as well as Corsairs SLIPSTREAM wireless tech. The K57 isn’t a mechanical keyboard, even though it looks like one, but I am curious to see how it performs. Could this be a way to clean up wiring on your desk or maybe be a proper keyboard for your living room VR setup? Let's find out.

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Corsair K83 Wireless Keyboard

Typically I prefer mechanical keyboards but recently I have been on the lookout for a basic wireless keyboard to use in our living room with our VR setup. Currently, I have a keyboard with a short cord under the TV and while most interaction is through the VR headset and controllers from time to time I need to update things or change settings and it’s a pain to do. It also makes the current setup impossible to use for viewing media. We do use a Shield TV in the living room, but there have been a few times I wouldn’t have minded using Twitch Multistream on the PC. Well, I originally was going to use a normal wireless mouse along with a Corsair Laptop and keyboard but Corsair came out with the K83 which is a lot more compact and seems to have the potential to be perfect for couch use. So today I’m going to check it out and see what the K83 has to offer and then figure out how it worked out for our setup.

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Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless

All the way back in 2014 Logitech introduced the G502 Proteus Core. Up until that time Logitech had a very specific style which ironically they just brought back with the reintroduction of the MX518. The G502 was a complete departure and Logitech followed the G502 up with other mice and keyboards that continued the new styling. It is also their most popular gaming mouse, you can find people using the G502 all over the place. The G502 has always been a wired mouse though, today they are finally introducing a wireless G502 called the G502 Lightspeed Wireless. Logitech has been killing it with wireless mice, adding the G502 into their lineup, especially given how popular the design is, should make for an interesting mouse. I am a little concerned with the weight, the wired G502 is a little heavy. But I’ve heard that Logitech did a little work to keep

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Cooler Master SK630 and SK650

Back at the beginning of 2018 at CES one of the big keyboard announcements was the RGB Cherry MX Low Profile switches that take a lot of the functionality of the traditional MX mechanical switch and put it in a lower profile form factor. Corsair was the first to market in the middle of 2018, but Cooler Master has been showing off their SK series of keyboards for a while now. I actually haven’t been covering much in the mechanical keyboard market simply because it felt like all everyone was doing is bringing out the same keyboard with RGB as its main feature for a while now. But the SK keyboards from Cooler Master have had my interest for a while now. Embracing the low profile theme they have gone beyond just tossing the new switches on a regular design. Well the SK630 and SK650 came in a few weeks ago and I’ve been playing with them. Today I can finally talk a little about my experience with them and with the MX Low Profile switches.

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Cooler Master MM830

A few years ago Cooler Master made a big push, slowly redoing their entire mouse lineup switching most of them over to their MM then numbers naming scheme. This also included a new exterior finish for mice like the Spawn/Xornet shaped MM520 and the Alcor shaped MM530, new sensors, and switches as well. They covered all of the main mouse shapes that you might be looking for at that time, but today they are finally jumping into the MMO mouse market. Their new MM830 has the same PBT finish as the previous mice, an Avago PMW3360 sensor, and Omron switches. But the big change in addition to its shape is the D-pad buttons that are tucked away on the left side. So today I’m going to check out the new mouse and see what it is all about.

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Cherry MX Board 5.0

So most of you who are looking at mechanical keyboards have heard the name Cherry. They are the name brand in mechanical switches, coming out with their MX switch back in the 80’s. It was later used with other brands especially in recent years with the push back into mechanical keyboards. Recently there have been a lot of other switches from companies making clones and a few new designs as well, but Cherry is the classic go-to. Well, it might be a surprise for some of you that Cherry also makes keyboards as well, not just the switches used in them. I’ve covered a few like the MX Board 6.0 and the MX Board 3.0. Well, they also came out with the MX Board 5.0, sporting their Cherry MX Silent Reds. I loved the 3.0 and the 6.0, so I’m curious what sets this one apart.

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Wooting One

So the big trend recently in mechanical keyboards has been optical switches. You have even seen companies like Razer jumping on just this past week. I’ve had a few in the office testing like the Bloody B975 that I reviewed a few weeks ago. But there is one keyboard that is taking a different approach. Its called the Wooting One. It’s an optical keyboard as ell and its been out for a while. They actually have their Kickstarter live right now for the full sized Wooting Two. Anyhow, I have been testing the TKL sized Wooting One for a while now. It uses Flaretech optical switches and with those, they are able to offer a full analog input experience. What that means is where other keyboard switches are just on or off, these are like a gas pedal and can detect input through the entire range. For most things, you will use them in a normal way, but in some games, you can use them to get a better control. So today I’m going to check out what the whole Wooting experience is all about and see how their keyboard stands out.

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Motospeed CK61

So a while back a company by the name of Gearbest reached out to me about covering some of their products. I initially passed but after looking around I did come across a few keyboards that I was interested in checking out. Typically, some of the weird and cool stuff is imported from China and Gearbest just happens to be a China based company. So after talking to them, they sent over the Motospeed CK61, a small 60% keyboard with a really cheap price as well. Some of you may know I have a weird thing for 60% boards, mostly because at LANs and sometimes around my office there isn’t much desktop space available and these little guys sometimes work perfectly. Anyhow, I’ve been playing around with this board in between testing a few other keyboards and today I wanted to talk about it.

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Logitech PowerPlay Wireless Charging

For anyone who has been reading LanOC for a while now, you have probably seen me trying to find the perfect wireless headset. This is because I right with cables on my desk and really wireless options are hit and miss with most being miss. For wireless mice, I had mostly just given up. Sure wireless tech has improved and lag for my nonskilled self has been not at all noticeable. But frankly I just always forget to plug in my mouse or even turn it off. The best part about being wired is that you don’t have to think about it at all. So when Logitech introduced their PowerPlay Wireless Charging system I have been wanting to try it out for a while now. Well, they sent over the PowerPlay mat/mouse pad as well as both the G903 and G703 mice that support it. Has it lived up to what I expected? Well, you will have to read the rest of the review to find out, I’m not giving it all away just yet.

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Cooler Master WR530 Wrist Rest and MP510 Mouse Pad

So when it comes to peripherals most people think of their keyboard and mouse, maybe their headset. But with some things, especially your mouse, you need other hardware to get the best possible performance. Wrist Rests for keyboards add to comfort and can help prevent long-term issues and well mouse pads are needed most of the time for your mouse to work or at least work well. So it's no surprise that keyboard and mouse manufacturers would get into the market. Cooler Master has sold wrist rests with some of their keyboards and they have had a few different mouse pads. Well, today they are introducing new lineups of both and I’m going to take a quick look at them.

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Bloody B975 Light Strike Optical Keyboard

So our first mechanical keyboard review goes all the way back to 2008 and from them it really hasn’t stopped, not to mention all of the keyboards I personally have picked up over the years. What I’m getting at is that I’ve had the chance to check out a lot of keyboards but up until now they have always had some variation on a Cherry MX switch or other popular switch types like Topres’ so you would forgive me for being a little excited about optical keyswitches hitting the market. Well, it just so happens that I’ve had a few come in recently and for more than a month I’ve been switching between them. Today I’m going to dive into the first, the Bloody B975 Light Strike Optical Keyboard. The brand name might be a surprise but some of the guys behind a few of my favorite keyboards have been working with Bloody so I’m interested in seeing where things go with them. For now, though, let's see what the B975 is all about.

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Cooler Master MasterSet MS120

So for people who get really excited about meticulously picking out each and every component and part for their new PC you might know exactly what you want for a mouse and keyboard. But for a lot of people, especially with the popularity of things like PC Part Picker that help just about anyone pick out their components, you just want something simple and that you know is going to work. For a while now Cooler Master has actually been producing these combo packs that get you a mouse and keyboard at a decent price. Well with the recent introduction of their new mice they are following that up with their MasterSet MS120. This gets you both a mouse and a keyboard, but what exactly do each of them have going on? Today I’m going to check them out and find out.

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Cooler Master MM520, MM530, and MasterMouse Pro L

It must be that time of year, everyone is introducing their new and updated mice. It just so happens that I haven’t had a Cooler Master mouse in the office for a while now. Well, they are introducing two new mice today, the MasterMouse MM520 and the MasterMouse MM530. I went ahead and had them include the MasterMouse Pro L as well so we could take a look at the whole range. They all are similar in that they are all 3360 sensor based with Omron 20 million click switches, so they already have a few things going for them. Let's see what else they have going on.

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SteelSeries Rival 310 and Sensei 310

It has been seven and a half years from when I first saw the SteelSeries Xai at CES. A few months after that I had one in hand to review and from that point on I have been using a variation of that design, mostly Sensei’s on my main computer and/or other computers. It was never perfect, even back then I mentioned the sensor having a few issues but the overall shape and balance was great, so great in fact that it has spawned multiple mice from other vendors trying to capture that same design. But for a few years now the Sensei has been feeling dated with so many other mice getting great optical sensors so you can imagine my happiness when I found out that SteelSeries was introducing a new Sensei along with a new Rival, both with their new TrueMove3 optical sensor. Now after seeing some images of the design I was a little worried that they had messed with the shape and it might lose what made it so special. This is a huge moment for SteelSeries and given how particular about the mice I use when not testing, they will have to get this one just right for it to replace my old Sensei. So let’s see what the big deal is and then put them both to the test.

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HyperX Alloy Elite Mechanical Keyboard

Like Corsair and a lot of other SSD and Memory brands, HyperX in the last few years especially have jumped in completely into the peripheral market. It makes sense, SSDs and Memory are commodities so the margins are small and they are able to expand their gaming brands to an area where people can get their eyes and hands directly on your products. HyperX with their Cloud headsets has really done well and recently they even got into the mechanical keyboard market. I hadn’t had the chance to check what they had going on out yet though so when I heard they were introducing a new keyboard I was all in. So today I’m going to check out the HyperX Alloy Elite, their top of the line mechanical keyboard, and see if HyperX is doing as well here as they have been with their headsets.

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AZIO Retro Classic

When it comes to mechanical keyboards, a lot of the different designs tend to blend together because they all follow the same trends and styling. Don’t get me wrong, typically the keyboards that stray from the clean styles and RGB lighting that just about every keyboard has looks horrible. AZIO did a good job a while back with their MK Retro, I took a look at it last November. I had a few concerns but overall I loved the design but I felt like a design like this needed a little better construction to fit the classic look. Well AZIO is back at it again and they sent over a new keyboard that they are calling the Retro Classic. The model they sent over is an early production model and I will be checking out the retail sample once they get to that point, but today I’m going to look in on production and see how the new keyboard looks. I know it has backlighting and higher end materials but let's see what else.

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