The Origin PC BlackWidow Chroma Mechanical Keyboard Review
by E. Fylladitakis on August 6, 2015 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- Keyboard
- Origin PC
- Razer
- Mechanical Keyboards
Gamers based in the US and Canada are very likely to have heard of ORIGIN PC. The company, one of the major botique system builders, specializes in building and marketing high-end PC systems, including laptops, workstations, and of course gaming desktops, retailing them along with assorted services such as lifetime support and labor. More recently however, ORIGIN PC decided to diversify their product lineup and branch into selling other items such as peripherals and All-In-One liquid coolers.
The ORIGIN PC BlackWidow Chroma mechanical gaming keyboard is one of the new peripherals that the company recently released, and is what we are looking at in today's capsule review. After reading its name, a well-informed gamer has already realized that this keyboard is an exact copy of Razer’s BlackWidow Chroma. ORIGIN PC is not trying to hide that. On the contrary, Razer is openly named as the company that supplies the switches and the software. Therefore, in every respect, this review can also be regarded as the review of the Razer BlackWidow Chroma.
ORIGIN PC BlackWidow Chroma Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Key features and specifications
- Razer Mechanical Switches with 50g actuation force
- 60 million keystroke life span
- Chroma backlighting with 16.8 million customizable color options
- Razer Synapse enabled
- 10 key roll-over anti-ghosting
- Fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
- 5 additional dedicated macro keys
- Gaming mode option
- Audio-out/mic-in jacks
- USB pass-through
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling
- Braided fiber cable
Packaging & Bundle
ORIGIN PC supplies the BlackWidow Chroma in an almost entirely plain, brown cardboard box. The only artwork on the box are the logos of ORIGIN PC and Razer, side by side. Inside the box, we found a minimal bundle offered into a black envelope with Razer’s logo on it, consisting of a quick start guide, warranty information and product registration cards, as well as two large stickers. There is no media with the software, keycap extraction tool, replacement keycaps, wrist rest or any other accessories.
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FMinus - Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - link
You're the lucky one.Every single cold boot, the mouse need about 10 minutes to start working correctly with Synapse installed. Without synapse, any mouse with additional buttons like the Naga or Ouroboros are kind of useless so I have to run it - which makes my mornings with coffee sitting in front the screen with the mouse jerking around for 10 minutes kind of disastrous.
That being said, for me the Razer mice have had a longer lifespan as any other brand, that's why I keep buying them, but if this cold boot crap isn't ironed out soon (because it's happening for about a year) I will have to look for something else. And I'm not the only one with those issues.
Wwhat - Saturday, August 8, 2015 - link
Reason enough for me to never ever get a razer product. Even when you can probably find ways around that nonsense, there is a principal to the thing too. And requiring that account probably means it comes with spyware too, so no, not for me or anybody with half a grain of sense.Refuge - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
Shit, if it is identical I would have taken a picture of the new logo, the under plate, and the new O button. Slapped a link to the review a year ago, and then called it a day man.I'm sure you had to have something more interesting or at the very least, a better use of your time than this review. Right?
chrnochime - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
They didn't have time to even spell check their first paragrah where "botique" sprung up, so I guess they're too busy doing something else.SirGCal - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
Well...1) 10 key rollover isn't enough, I hit that all the time. I had a 12 key and had to give it up. N key is preferred but I have some 20+ keys that work fine also.
2) More importantly, the F keys are in the wrong location. F1 should be roughly directly over the 2 key and there should be a space between F4 and F5 and another between F8 and F9...
3) Razor switches instead of the trusted and proven Cherry? I think I'll pass... Especially for the price.
Stuka87 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
The keyswitches in the Black Widow Ultimate Stealth (Which I have) are awesome. My favorite keyswitches that I have used. They are far quieter than any cherry switch I have used (Although I have not used all of them) and they have a very nice feel. I have zero complaints about the keyboard.I personally have not overrun its anti ghosting limit. Although this really depends on the games being played. I also have no issue with the F-Key locations, I use them very regularly. There is a larger gap between each set of four than the keys in each group. So you can easily feel the gap between F4 and F5.
SirGCal - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
I hit the F keys out of muscle memmory, when they are offset like that, I'll be hitting the wrong ones. It's not about feeling a gap as much as nailing the right key where you expect it to be blind-folded and without any 'feel'. And I actually do type fast enough that the last 12 key anti-ghost actually had issues now and again. My 20 key and N keys have never had any issues. Although I do prefer the black and brown keys myself for speed. I like to hear the keys a bit. I don't like ultra-quiet keyboards. But also I have a pile of black and brown (and some red and blue even) cherrys for replacing. Just a quick solder job or less depending on the board.I have Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis which has since attacked my hands also. They are, while always in pain, effectively numb. Without the muscle memory, I'd never be able to type which I do for a living and can do very very fast. Also with the type of work I do I use a lot of complicated key combinations which can also include the F keys. They have to be standard placement or the keyboard is junk for me. My situation might be rarer then an average gamer obviously but on that note I also see no reason in spending the budget on high-end mechanical hardware just to pew-pew... I do game sure but as an afterthought to work. I buy a keyboard for speed and accuracy while speed typing and programming. Everything else is 2nd seat or lower.
xenol - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
Do you have more than 12 fingers or type faster than 1000WPM?teiglin - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
While I agree that the software is woefully inadequate for anything beyond the most basic macros, my (2013 I think) blackwidow ultimate stealth's macro recorder does pick up mouse clicks, but not mouse movement. It's odd that they would step backwards for a newer product.SpeedMan88 - Thursday, August 6, 2015 - link
Anybody tried the Logitech G910 keyboard? I'm not overly impressed by this Razer keyboard, but wondering how it compares to other keyboards in the gaming segment.