G.Skill's Ripjaws KM570 MX mechanical keyboard thumbs nose at custom software and drivers

Don't go looking for any special software or custom drivers for G.Skill's newly released Ripjaws KM570 MX mechanical keyboard, you won't find any. You just plug it in like any ordinary USB keyboard and you're good to go, or you can spend a few minutes recording macros and making other custom adjustments.

G.Skill's pitching the lack of additional software as a high point here while noting that it's still a fully customizable plank. That's cool and all, though we'd argue that software can make the process a bit easier (it can also make it more difficult if it's clunky). You can decide for yourself if that's a pro or con. Either way, the settings you input are immediately saved to the keyboard's onboard memory so you can take them with you from PC to PC.

The Ripjaws KM570 MX uses Cherry MX key switches. You have a choice between the Cherry MX Blue, Brown, or Red, with Cherry MX Black noticeably missing from the pack. For anyone reading who doesn't know the difference between, the colors refer to each switch's characteristics. We have a guide to what that means for gaming though here's a quick rundown:

  • Cherry MX Blue: Tactile feedback as keys actuate, clicky with a loud click sound
  • Cherry MX Brown: Tactile feedback as keys actuate, non-clicky (quieter than Blues)
  • Cherry MX Red: Linear without additional tactile feedback, non-clicky (also quieter)

The Ripjaws KM570 MX features seven different preset lighting effects you can play with, which are adjustable in speed and brightness. You can also create your own custom lighting with per-key LEDs.

While there are no dedicated macro keys, the plank supports on-the-fly macro recording. You'll also find media controls and application shortcuts integrated into all 12 Function keys.

Finally, fairly standard features including N-key rollover, 100 percent anti-ghosting, and a Windows key lock are all included here.

The Ripjaws KM570 MX is available now for $100 on Newegg.

Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).

Latest in Gaming Keyboards
The NES themed 8BitDo Retro mechanical gaming keyboard on a blue background
I love the 8BitDo Retro C64 keyboard but I'd pick its cheaper NES-themed model near its lowest price ever during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
The Razer Huntsman Mini 60% gaming keyboard floats in the teal PC Gamer deal void. The per-key RGB lights are on.
The most adorable Razer keyboard features not only an almost half-size form factor, but an almost half-size price at only $70
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 on a blue background
My favourite rapid trigger keyboard is back at its lowest price and comes with a cute OLED screen to show game info (or a cat)
a picture of Attoparsec's 'ten hundred letter getter', a keyboard with 1,000 words on it.
'I made the world's worst keyboard': This YouTuber's homemade board has over 1,000 keys and types in words, not letters
The Cherry MX 8.2 Wireless Xaga gaming keyboard sits on a large mouse mat depicting a nebula. This visual motif ties into the shooting star design on the keyboard's space bar. The keyboard's RGB lights are on, but the design on the space bar is opaque, so the RGB lights only shine through the frosted sides of the keyboard's alphanumeric keycaps.
Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless XAGA review
The Cherry Xtrfy K4V2 TKL gaming keyboard on top of a mouse pad depicting a nebula. The keyboard is grey with red accent keys, a grey braided wire, and the bright RGB lights switched on.
Cherry Xtrfy K4V2 TKL review
Latest in News
Image of Cersei Lanniser from Game of Thrones: Kingsroad Steam early access trailer
A new Game of Thrones RPG is coming to Steam today with a cast of 'familiar faces,' which is good because it's really the only way to tell it's a GoT game at all
The new Prime Asset featured in the upcoming update for the Outlast Trials.
The Outlast Trials puts its already paranoid players under surveillance for a time-limited story event
A Viera looking confused in Final Fantasy 14.
Old armor continues to fall victim to Final Fantasy 14's bizarre two-channel dye system, unless you're super into changing the colour of teeny-tiny eyelets: 'Why even bother at this point?'
Starfield: Shattered Space
By the time Bethesda was on Starfield, you'd 'basically get in trouble' for breaking schedule, says former dev: 'A lot of the great stuff within Skyrim came from having the freedom to do what you want'
Otter AI Meeting Agent
As if your work meetings weren't already fun enough, now Otter has a new all-hearing AI agent that remembers everything anyone has said and can join in the discussion
Monster Hunter Wilds' stockpile master studying a manifest
As layoffs and studio closures continue to deathroll the western AAA industry, analyst points out 5 of 8 major Japanese companies hit all-time share prices this year