G.Skill is perhaps best known for its Ripjaws line of performance memory but the company is looking to expand its portfolio with a new line of gaming keyboards.
The KM780 RGB and the KM780 MX were first announced at Computex alongside a new RGB gaming mouse and a pair of surround sound headsets. The only difference between the two models is that the former utilizes Cherry's RGB switches and RGB backlighting; the latter does not.
Regardless of which you choose, the key switches will be mounted to a 2mm thick aluminum plate for increased rigidity. Both come with an extra set of laser-etched keycaps for the most common gaming keys housed in a carrying case complete with keycap tool.
Elsewhere, the boards offer backlit media control buttons, a volume roller, integrated digital LED volume display, dedicated macro keys and three hotkeys. Across the top of the board is a mouse cable holder, a USB port and audio jacks.
Both boards will initially be offered with your choice of Cherry MX Brown (light, tactile and non-clicky with an actuation force rating of 45 grams) or Cherry MX Red switches (light, linear and non-clicky with an actuation force rating of 45 grams). G.Skill said it plans to add a Cherry MX Blue (light, tactile and clicky with an actuation force rating of 50 grams) option at a later date. All of the Cherry switches feature an operating life of 50 million actuations.
Pricing is set at $119.99 for the KM780 MX and $159.99 for the KM780 RGB starting in late September. Keep an eye open for our review of the KM780 RGB later this week.