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Corsair unleashes new products for PC gamers, including a revamped Bulldog kit

During the CES 2017 convention in Las Vegas, Corsair introduced several new products for gamers including a new flagship mechanical keyboard, a new gaming mouse, a new Bulldog barebones PC, and new power supplies. Everything mentioned is available to purchase now, save for the mechanical keyboard which arrives in late January.

The K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

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As stated, this is Corsair’s new flagship mechanical keyboard sporting the company’s trademark aircraft-grade anodized aluminum frame, making it capable of putting up with the brutal hammering associated with PC gaming. It comes packed with Cherry MX switches, allowing customers to choose between the low-travel Cherry MX RGB Speed switch, or go with tactile feedback using a Cherry MX RGB Brown switch.

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The keyboard includes 8MB of local storage for housing custom key assignments, macros, and multi-layer reactive lighting profiles. The storage can save up to three profiles, which can be customized using the Corsair Utility Engine software. Additionally, the six dedicated macro keys are textured and contoured so that they are easily found in heated moments and easily avoided when not needed.

In addition to per-key dynamic multicolor backlighting, the new keyboard introduces LightEdge, a 19-zone light bar that stretches from one end of the keyboard to the other. According to Corsair, this bar can match the colors used with the keys, or illuminate separately. Some of the effects include a solid color, RGB waves, and a “menacing visor” of light (think Cylon).

Here is a list of additional features and specifications:

  • Colors: Black or Gunmetal
  • USB 2.0 pass-through port
  • Cherry MX RGB Speed or Cherry MX RGB Brown switches
  • Detachable, dual-sided soft-touch wrist rest
  • Dedicated volume and multimedia controls
  • Brightness buttons
  • 100-percent anti-ghosting with full key rollover
  • Compatible with Corsair Utility Engine
  • Windows key lock mode
  • Includes FPS and MOBA keycap sets (textured and contoured)
  • Availability: Late January
  • Price: $200
  • Product page: http://www.corsair.com/en/landing/k95rgbplatinum

The Scimitar Pro RGB Gaming Mouse

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Here is a mouse for right-handed PC gamers (lefties barely get any love) packing 12 mechanical buttons crammed into its left side. There are four columns of four buttons each, with the second and fourth columns sporting buttons with a textured surface. The peripheral even includes a light parked to the left of the multi-button area so gamers can easily target their thumb’s destination in the dark.

That said, the mouse is based on Corsair’s “Key Slider 12” side-button design. That means users can actually reposition the 12-button area by up to 8mm to provide the best tactical advantage. The mouse also provides onboard storage that includes three pre-configured, customizable profiles combining MOBA/MMO commands with standard keyboard shortcuts. Overall, there are 17 programmable buttons that can be configured using the Corsair Utility Engine software, making the Scimitar Pro RGB mouse perfect for MMO and MOBA gamers.

Powering this mouse is a 16,000 DPI optical sensor from Pixart (PMW3367). The sensor is capable of tracking down to 1 DPI steps, which can be configured through Corsair’s utility and adjusted on the fly using the two physical buttons on top of the mouse. The utility includes a surface calibration feature too so that users can optimize the mouse sensitivity for the desired playing surface.

Here’s a list of additional features and specs:

  • Available colors: yellow and black
  • Optimized shape to comfortably fit the user’s palm
  • Dynamic multicolor four-zone backlighting (front, wheel, button panel, logo)
  • Supports up to 1,000MHz/1ms USB refresh rate
  • Compatible with Corsair Utility Engine
  • On-board storage with hardware macro playback
  • 12 optimized mechanical side buttons
  • 16,000 DPI optical sensor
  • Availability: Now
  • Price: $90
  • Product page: http://www.corsair.com/en/landing/scimitarpro#scimitarpro

Bulldog 2.0 Barebones PC

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On the outside, Bulldog looks the same as the first-generation, small form factor barebones unit. It’s the insides that received an upgrade, packing a Mini-ITX Intel Z270 motherboard provided by MSI that supports Intel’s new seventh-generation Core processors. The board also supports up to 32GB of DDR4 system memory and USB 3.1 connectivity.

In addition to the motherboard, the new Bulldog barebones kit comes with a 600-watt 80 Plus Gold certified power supply, and Corsair’s new H6 SF cooler for overclocking Intel K-series processors.

Here are the technical details of the Bulldog setup:

Form factor: Mini-ITX SFF
Size: 404 x 448 x 145 mm
Case material / color: steel / black
Case motherboard support: Mini-ITX
Case power supply: SFX12V only
600-watt SF600 80 Plus Gold PSU included
Max GPU height: 115mm
Max GPU length: 300mm
Max CPU cooler height: 90mm
Max power supply length: 190mm
Case expansion slots: 2
Case drive bays: Supports 1x 2.5-inch and 1x 3.5-inch
or 3x 2.5-inch
CPU socket: LGA 1151
DRAM support: 2x 288-pin DDR4 slots supporting 32GB
Internal connections (case): 3x PWM fan header (one open)
1x 3-pin pump header
Internal connections (motherboard): 1x USB 2.0 header
1x USB 3.0 header
3x PWM fan headers (one open)
1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 (on back)
1x PCIe x16 (ribbon cable included)
External connections (front): 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1
1x Headphone jack
1x Microphone jack
External connections (back): 1x PS/2
2x USB 2.0
2x USB 3.0
1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C
1x DisplayPort
1x HDMI
1x Ethernet
2x Wi-Fi antenna
1x Audio out (optical)
5x Audio output
Fan slots: 2x 92mm (used)
1x 120mm
Fans included: 2x 92mm
Fan specifications: Speed – 1,800RPM (+/- 10 percent)
Static pressure – 0.1 inch-H2O
Air flow: 29.7 CFM
Sound level: 19.1 dB(A)
Control: 4-pin PWM
Radiator mount locations: 120mm at bottom
Compatible liquid coolers (Corsair): H5 SF
H6 SF (included)
H55
H60
H75

Naturally, customers must supply their own processor, memory, graphics card, and storage. Overall, Bulldog sits like a console, fitting rather nicely in the living room. On a whole, customers can throw in enough hardware for true 4K video playback and high-quality VR experiences. As the specs show, the foundation is there to build a great desktop PC now that Intel’s seventh-generation desktop processors have hit the market.

Here is a brief roundup and the kit’s price:

  • Includes SF600 80 Plus Gold power supply
  • Includes MSI Mini-ITX Intel Z270 motherboard
  • Includes Hydro Series H6 SF cooler
  • Availability: now
  • Price: $400
  • Product page: http://www.corsair.com/en/landing/bulldog

HX and TX-M Power Supplies

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Finally, Corsair introduced the HX Series 80 Plus Platinum power supplies equipped with 100 percent Japanese 105-degree Celsius capacitors, and a 135mm cooling fan with a Zero RPM mode. They are rated for operating temperatures of up to 50-degrees Celsius and an efficient operation of up to 94 percent. The company also revealed its new TX-M 80 Plus Gold power supplies using 100 percent Japanese capacitors. They include semi-modular cables.

HX Series HX750 TX-M Series TX650M
750 watts 650 watts
80 Plus Platinum Certified 80 Plus Gold Certified
Availability: Now Availability: Now
Price: 130 Price: $80
Product page: Head here Product page: Head here
Kevin Parrish
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