Best G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Aspecialist in computer memory and a recent player in the peripheral world, the Taiwanese G. Skill is determined to make a place for himself alongside the top names in the category, as his American rival Corsair – also renowned initially for its components for PC. In addition to its MX780 mouse, G.Skill offers a keyboard dedicated to players in its Ripjaws range and puts the means to seduce them: Cherry MX mechanical switches, dedicated macro and multimedia keys, integrated profiles, RGB backlighting, aluminum finish and interchangeable keys. So here it is, well armed, at least on paper. Let’s see how it works in practice.

Presentation

The G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB (launch price: € 169.90) is available with Cherry MX Red, Blue or Brown switches. These are the latter that equip the version we received for testing. The keyboard is also available in version R, without additional keys (KM780R) and sold for € 10 less. Other versions devoid of RGB and backlit only in red are available, at the launch price of € 129.90 with additional buttons and € 119.90 without (R versions). The prices falling over the months, we find, at the time when we write this test, the KM780 at the already much more reasonable price of around € 140, or even a little less in some shops.

Best G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. G.SKILL RIPJAWS KM780 RGB On-The-Fly Macro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Cherry MX Red

2. G.SKILL RIPJAWS KM780R RGB On-the-Fly Macro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Cherry MX Brown

3. G.SKILL RIPJAWS KM780R MX On the Fly Macro USB 2.0 Connection Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Cherry MX Brown

4. G. Skill RIPJAWS KM570 MX Minimalistic Fully Utilized Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Cherry MX Blue

Ergonomics

The G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB is not particularly discreet and highlights its gaming identity with a relatively marked design, despite an entirely black color that is quite sober. Indeed, we quickly notice the metal bar that goes all around the keyboard, ensuring a certain rigidity to the product and adding a few grams to it.

With approximately 1240 g on the scale, without its cable and its box of additional keys (56.5 g), the KM780 is not likely to move, especially as its 4 thick rubber pads ensure good adhesion to the office.

In addition to its aesthetic role – whether we like it or not – this bar allows the storage box for additional keys as well as the small bungee acting as mouse cable manager to clip into it. On the other hand, while G.Skill could have done in sobriety by making it pass discreetly under the chassis on the sides of the keyboard, the manufacturer preferred to widen the edges for a more pronounced visual effect. Whether we like it or not, this choice has the effect of significantly increasing the width, which reaches 518 mm. The KM780 therefore occupies a certain place on the desktop and the mouse is even closer, which is sure to disturb some players who prefer to have both hands closer to each other.

To improve comfort, the KM780 is delivered with a palm rest of satisfactory width (56 mm, bringing the depth to 228 mm), covered with soft-touch textured plastic, for more softness in the hands without neglecting the grip.

The inclination is of course adjustable on two levels thanks to the two extendable feet under the back of the keyboard; we go from a height of 48 mm to 58 mm on the back.

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In terms of manufacturing quality, G.Skill shows that he masters his subject with a black plastic chassis of good quality, covered with a black brushed aluminum plate on which the switches are directly fixed. These are thus directly visible and not surrounded by a plastic shell, like what Corsair offers on most of its keyboards. This facilitates cleaning, but necessarily makes the backlight very visible, especially since the. Cherry MX RGB switches are translucent and therefore diffuse their light in all directions. It is nevertheless possible to adjust this backlight fairly finely in the software supplied with the keyboard (see box at the end of the test) and to illuminate only certain keys, for example. The assembly is also of good quality,

On the back of the keyboard is a USB pass-through port , allowing for example to connect a mouse. Next to it, 2 mini-jack sockets for headphones and microphone complete the connection. We are delighted to see that all the cables are grouped together in a single braided sheath, avoiding cluttering the office. On the other hand, it will be necessary to use two USB ports on the computer and of course connect the mini-jack plugs to enjoy it on the keyboard then.

In addition to its 105 keys, the G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB incorporates several sets of keys on its upper part, starting with a strip of multimedia keys positioned on the right. This allows you to control audio-video playback and adjust the volume using a handy metal wheel. The latter is associated with a bar of LEDs displaying the sound level.

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In contrast, on the left of the keyboard are 3 small keys to deactivate the Windows key, modify the intensity of the backlight (3 levels or deactivation) and start a timer . There are also 4 keys for switching between the three user profiles saved in the internal memory of the keyboard and recording macro functions on the fly. 6 dedicated macro keys, arranged vertically, complete the picture. It’s a shame that these are not better separated from the other keys on the keyboard, because handling errors can occur. Conversely, G.Skill has the good idea of ​​raising the multimedia and profile keys to make them more accessible.

Let’s finish with a few words on the keys dedicated to video games, offered in a small plastic case that attaches to the top of the keyboard, for easier access. G. Skill indeed proposes to replace the 10 keys A, Z, E, R. Q, S, D, F, C and G with others of red color.

These special keys are grooved so that they can be better identified by touch and blind. On the other hand, their smooth paint does not specially promote adhesion, which is a shame since the fingers tend to slide a little too easily. The grooves do not provide the expected gain at this level.

The Z, Q and D keys are tilted towards the S key, in order to improve the reaction time when moving our virtual character. Their strong inclination will probably not please everyone and it poses big problems when entering text, which means that they have to be removed regularly if we are not just playing with the keyboard – which is often the case, a PC used for many other activities.

Hit

The G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 can be fitted with Cherry MX RGB Red, Brown or Blue mechanical switches. Tested here in their Brown version, they offer a pleasant and reactive typing, without surprise since we already know very well these switches of the German brand with cherry. Recall that the Cherry MX. Browns are tactile type switches, that is to say that they offer a progressive activation force, from. 45 cN at the start of the race to. 55 cN just before the activation point which located at mid-stroke – that is. 2 mm out of the 4 mm total stroke. In comparison, the MX Reds are of the linear type and are therefore distinguished by their constant activation force of 45 cN over their entire stroke, while the MX Blue repeat the behavior of the Browns, but add a click to activation.

On the other hand, lovers of silence will pass their way as usual, the mechanical switches being deemed noisy. The Cherry MX Brown are not the most sonorous, widely beaten by the. MX Blue with their very audible click, but the MX. Red, a little more flexible, turn out to be a little more discreet if you don’t hit the keys too violently. The most sensitive to noise can always add o-rings of the “o-ring” type in rubber or silicone to dampen the keys at lower cost.

Keyboard for players requires, the KM780 offers a complete anti-ghosting with. N-key rollover (NKRO), ensuring that all the keys that could be pressed simultaneously are taken into account.

STRONG POINTS

  • Good manufacturing quality with aluminum finish.
  • Comfort in use.
  • Dedicated multimedia controls with volume control wheel.
  • Integrated profiles and 6 macro keys.
  • Integrated bungee.
  • Mini-jack and USB pass-through sockets.
  • Full and customizable backlight quite finely.

WEAK POINTS

  • Bulky.
  • Slightly slippery game keys.

CONCLUSION

Very complete, well finished, the G-Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB from G.Skill successfully enters the world of keyboards for players. It indeed offers everything one would expect from a keyboard of this type and its small faults are not enough to remove access to the maximum note.

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