The Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 is a full-size mechanical gaming keyboard with per-switch RGB lighting, Cherry MX switches, and fast 1,000Hz polling.
Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Keyboard At A Glance
The Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 sits in the middle of Corsair’s gaming lineup as a full-size board with a number pad, dedicated media controls, and bright programmable lighting. It targets players who want a solid deck with reliable switches and strong software control without stepping up to Corsair’s aluminum-framed flagships.
Quick specs include 100 percent Cherry MX mechanical switches in Red or Silent variants, 8MB of onboard memory for profiles, full rollover with anti-ghosting, a detachable soft wrist rest, and a braided USB cable with pass-through for a mouse or drive.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Full-size with numpad |
| Switch Options | Cherry MX Red or Cherry MX Silent RGB |
| Backlighting | Individually programmable RGB, iCUE controlled |
| Polling Rate | 1,000Hz USB report rate |
| Onboard Memory | 8MB, up to three hardware profiles |
| Extras | USB pass-through, media buttons, volume wheel, wrist rest, FPS/MOBA keycaps |
Build Quality And Layout
The Strafe RGB MK.2 uses a thick plastic chassis with a matte top plate that keeps shine under control and hides fingerprints. There is a little flex if you twist the body with two hands, though on a desk the board feels planted thanks to its weight and wide rubber feet.
The layout follows a standard full-size arrangement with a separate block for media controls above the numpad. A textured volume wheel and dedicated playback buttons make it easy to adjust sound without tabbing out of a match. Corsair includes additional textured caps for FPS and MOBA clusters so WASD and the number row are easier to pick out by feel.
Dimensions, Cable, And Ports
The keyboard measures roughly 447 x 168 x 40 mm and weighs around 1.4 kg, so it takes a fair amount of space on a desk but stays stable during intense matches. A thick braided cable splits into two USB Type-A plugs: one for the keyboard itself and one for the USB pass-through. A single powered hub on the PC normally handles both.
On the top edge sits a USB 2.0 pass-through port. It works well for a wired mouse, small flash drive, or wireless dongle, saving a reach to the back of the tower. There is also a dedicated button for Windows lock so accidental presses of the Windows logo do not kick you out of full-screen games.
Switch Options And Typing Feel
The Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 line ships with Cherry MX Red switches or Cherry MX Silent switches, both linear designs without a tactile bump. Reds have a smooth downstroke with 45 cN actuation force and 2 mm pre-travel, while Silents add damping inside the switch to reduce noise during bottom-out and reset.
Cherry MX Silent switches are rated for more than 50 million presses and cut noise level by around 30 percent compared with standard Reds according to Cherry’s own data. That makes the Silent variant attractive for shared spaces where clack can become distracting.
How The Strafe RGB MK.2 Feels To Game On
In fast shooters and MOBAs the board feels responsive and predictable. The 1,000Hz polling rate and full rollover mean rapid inputs register without dropped presses, and the linear switches help with quick strafes, ability taps, and double-taps on movement clusters. The textured WASD and number caps ship in the box so you can swap them in within minutes.
- Pick Cherry MX Red if you like a classic linear switch with a light feel and do not mind some mechanical clack in exchange for a crisp response.
- Pick Cherry MX Silent if you share a room, stream without a dedicated microphone filter, or prefer a quieter board with the same linear action.
- Stick With Stock Caps First to get used to the factory profile and texture before experimenting with aftermarket sets.
RGB Lighting And Corsair ICUE Software
Corsair’s iCUE software drives the per-switch lighting, macro recording, and hardware profile storage on the Strafe RGB MK.2. Once installed on Windows, iCUE detects the board and shows a visual layout where you can click individual switches or groups and assign colors, gradients, or animated presets.
Setting Up Lighting And Macros
A short setup with iCUE avoids a lot of manual work if you use Corsair’s presets as a starting point and save only a few custom tweaks to onboard memory.
- Install Corsair ICUE from the official Strafe RGB MK.2 product page and restart Windows once the installer finishes.
- Select The Keyboard in the iCUE home screen, then open the lighting section to choose a preset such as Rainbow Wave, Color Shift, or a solid color.
- Create A Custom Layer for game-critical clusters like WASD, number row, and modifiers by assigning a brighter color or contrasting shade.
- Record Macros in the actions tab, then bind them to function row switches or side clusters you do not press during normal typing.
- Save To Hardware Profile so your lighting and macro choices stay active even when iCUE is not running in the background.
For more detail on iCUE features, Corsair maintains a detailed knowledge base and user guide alongside the Strafe RGB MK.2 listing on its official product page.
RGB Lighting In Actual Use
During play, bright per-switch RGB lighting helps keep movement and ability clusters easy to see, while softer static color schemes work better for late-night typing. Because every switch has its own LED, you can mute unused areas and keep only main game switches lit, which cuts eye strain and keeps focus around the action.
Gaming Performance And Features
The Strafe RGB MK.2 is tuned for competitive play with full rollover and 100 percent anti-ghosting. In practice that means you can mash movement clusters, number row, and modifiers at once without dropped inputs. The board also includes dedicated profile and brightness buttons, so you can swap lighting schemes or dim the backlight during a match without digging through software menus.
Dedicated Media Controls And Windows Lock
Media controls play a quiet but constant role in daily use. On this board, the metal volume wheel over the numpad lets you nudge game volume during a match, while the play, pause, skip, and mute buttons give quick access to music players. A Windows lock button disables the Windows and menu switches so there is no risk of minimizing your game mid-fight.
- Use Windows Lock whenever you run full-screen games so stray presses on the left side cluster never interrupt a match.
- Map Profile Switches to lighting schemes tied to specific titles, such as cool blues for MMOs and warm accents for shooters.
- Try Textured Caps in FPS or MOBA titles where perfect finger placement saves time during bursts of action.
Latency, Polling, And Rollover
The 1,000Hz report rate means the keyboard sends updates to the PC every millisecond. In modern games that level of speed blends in with mouse and display latency, but it keeps the board from becoming the bottleneck. Full rollover across all switches backs that up so frantic input sequences still arrive intact.
Everyday Use, Noise, And Ergonomics
Outside of games, the Strafe RGB MK.2 handles emails, documents, and chat without drama. Cherry’s linear switches keep finger fatigue low during long typing sessions, though some users who like more feedback may prefer tactile MX Brown boards instead. The included wrist rest has a soft-touch finish that feels gentle on the palms and attaches with simple clips.
Noise level depends heavily on switch choice and typing style. Reds produce a classic mechanical clack, while Silent switches keep noise lower thanks to internal dampers and slightly softer bottom-out. Cherry describes MX Silent Red switches as smooth and quiet linear designs with around 45 cN force and 3.7 mm total travel, backed by more than 50 million actuations.
Desk Fit And Cable Management
The long braided cable routes out of the back edge in the center, so a grommet or simple cable channel keeps it tidy. Two flip-out feet on the underside raise the rear edge, which helps users who like more typing angle. If you prefer a flat desk position, leaving the feet closed gives a low profile that works well with the wrist rest.
- Set Keyboard Height by testing both flat and raised positions during a long session, then picking the stance that leaves wrists relaxed.
- Route The Cable behind your monitor or through a desk grommet so it does not snag on mouse movement.
- Place The Pass-Through Port on the side of your usual mouse hand to keep flash drives and dongles easy to reach.
Who Should Buy The Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2?
The Strafe RGB MK.2 suits players who want a solid mechanical gaming keyboard with dependable Cherry switches, flexible lighting, and a full suite of media and convenience controls, without stepping into full metal builds or wireless layouts. It pairs best with a desktop setup where the USB pass-through and full-size layout can shine.
Good Fits For The Strafe RGB MK.2
- PC Gamers Who Favor Linear Switches and want consistent actuation across all switches for shooters, action games, and MOBAs.
- Streamers And Shared Spaces when paired with Cherry MX Silent switches to keep noise under control on microphones and in small rooms.
- Users Who Rely On Media Controls for quick audio tweaks during work, study, or late-night gaming sessions.
When Another Keyboard Might Fit Better
Players who insist on an aluminum top plate, detachable USB-C cable, wireless modes, or hot-swappable switches will need to look higher in Corsair’s range or toward enthusiast boards from other brands. The Strafe RGB MK.2 also lacks dedicated macro columns, so MMO users who lean on large macro grids may prefer a layout with extra side columns.
If those trade-offs do not bother you and you like the look of Corsair’s design language, the Strafe RGB MK.2 remains a dependable full-size mechanical keyboard with bright RGB, strong software, and well-known Cherry hardware under each cap.