Counter Logic Gaming, Razer Team Up for Mechanical Keyboard

By Kevin Parrish
published

Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) and Razer have teamed up to offer a themed version of the latter company's popular mechanical keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth. The keyboard follows the CLG-labeled DeathAdder mouse released back in October 2013, which had an exclusive black and white finish, an illuminated scroll wheel and the CLG logo.

Like the DeathAdder mouse, the new CLG version of Razer's keyboard sports a black and white metal design, a white printed CLG logo and keys that are illuminated with white. This keyboard also features Razer's special mechanical switches, which were built from the ground up specifically for gaming (rather than using standard switches used for typing). These switches were tested by CLG pros and Razer's own team of eSports athletes, who apparently have given a thumbs up.

According to Razer, the keys have an actuation force of 45g, (how hard you need to press in order for the keyboard to recognize the key). Many keyboards have an actuation force of 55g to 60g.

"Razer's multi-award winning engineers identified the optimal actuation distance for a gaming switch to a fraction of a millimeter and reduced the distance between the actuation and reset point by almost half to allow for faster, more precise gaming commands when compared to standard mechanical switches," Razer's press release said.

The list of specifications also show that the keys have a 60 million keystroke lifespan, they're individually lit in white (the original keyboard is Razer green), and supports 10 key roll-over anti-ghosting. The keys are also fully programmable and allow the gamer to create macros in an instant. Other features include five additional macro keys, a gaming mode option, 1,000 Hz ultrapolling, audio and microphone jacks and a USB pass-through port.

For gamers looking for a new mechanical keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth is a good choice. The peripheral feels solid, willing to take the abuse during heated gameplay, although mashing each key is unnecessary thanks to Razer's new switches. It's an attractive keyboard, as will be the special edition CLG-themed model, which is available now for $149.99 in the USA and €149.99 in Europe.

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Kevin Parrish
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • TadashiTG
    at least its not green
    Reply
  • tolham
    this is woefully uninformative.

    >This keyboard also features Razer's special mechanical switches, which were built from the ground up specifically for gaming (rather than using standard switches used for typing).

    what does this mean? please give us a comparison to cherry mx switches.


    >These switches were tested by CLG pros and Razer's own team of eSports athletes

    I have no idea who these people are.


    >who apparently have given a thumbs up.

    an apparent thumbs up is not a resounding endorsement.


    this keyboard certainly looks slick, but some of these claims are dubious. looks like I'll be doing my own research elsewhere.
    Reply
  • RaDiKaL_
    If price would be cut by half it would be a great product, until when will mechanical keyboards drop those premium prices?
    Reply
  • Drejeck
    i like the compactness and the spec about the switches are like cherry mx red actuation force mixed to earlier activation blue.
    i like it but the price holds me back. i paid the same for my G19 and this razer, which at least it's not ugly blue or green, doesn't even have volume, mute and media keys. my big fatty G19 satisfy me more because I play both games, music and movies on my pc. i know the screen is a gimmick. and the worst part is that it needs dedicated power supply.
    i'm looking for the gigabyte aivia osmium with red switches. i still don't like the idea that a keypress is made before the moment i want it and such quick response is useless if not mastered, my experience about competitive fighting game tells me that...
    Reply
  • mouse24
    this is woefully uninformative.

    >This keyboard also features Razer's special mechanical switches, which were built from the ground up specifically for gaming (rather than using standard switches used for typing).

    what does this mean? please give us a comparison to cherry mx switches.


    >These switches were tested by CLG pros and Razer's own team of eSports athletes

    I have no idea who these people are.


    >who apparently have given a thumbs up.

    an apparent thumbs up is not a resounding endorsement.


    this keyboard certainly looks slick, but some of these claims are dubious. looks like I'll be doing my own research elsewhere.

    Cherry's licensing for there switches ran out so now other people are free to make them. The only manufacturer I've heard of (is interestingly enough also worked on previous razer keyboars) is a chinese based one called khale, from reports they aren't very good and have QA issues.
    Reply
  • southernshark
    My dad loves a number pad, probably because he was a CPA for 35 years. For myself, I don't use them and don't want a keyboard with them.
    Reply
  • doomtomb
    White LEDs. check
    logo bottom right. check.

    Ok can we stop calling this news. Razer creating some promotional product whenever a new game comes out or whenever they get bored and team up with some "celebrity" esports team. That's nothing new.
    Reply
  • RedJaron
    13995449 said:
    If price would be cut by half it would be a great product, until when will mechanical keyboards drop those premium prices?
    I don't think we'll ever see them drop in half like that. The switches alone run at least $0.50 a piece, and that's only in big bulk orders. So the switches for a 100-key board is going to be around $50. Then you've got the PCB, soldering, keycaps, exterior casing, cables, etc. I'd be surprised if parts and manufacturing run less than $70. I admit some mech keyboard prices are jacked unreasonably high, but I don't think paying $90 - $100 for a good keyboard is unwarranted.

    I think the better question is when are we going to see a nice ergo mech keyboard for under $150 that doesn't require someone to completely rethink how they type? Seriously, how hard can it be to add mech switches to either of these?
    Reply