Corsair Galleon 100 SD — a gaming keyboard with the whole lot, together with a Stream Deck

The streaming world has exploded in the previous couple of years, and with it, a brand new class of {hardware} emerged – streaming {hardware}. The Stream Deck from Elgato has been extraordinarily profitable on this world because of its integration with varied streaming platforms.

Now, Corsair has introduced a gaming keyboard with Elgato Stream Deck integration that isn’t solely excellent for streaming your sport (and different issues) but additionally simply plain old school gaming with the Galleon 100 SD.  It is not any shock that Corsair has executed this, contemplating that Elgato is a subsidiary of Corsair.

Not solely can the built-in Stream Deck be used for controlling your digital Stream Deck, but it surely may also be customised for the sport you’re enjoying with macros, shortcuts and extra.  

Design and construct high quality

The Corsair Galleon 100 SD is among the extra elegant and trendy gaming keyboards I’ve used.  Its housing and base are milled aluminium, which makes it a weighty keyboard, but it surely additionally means there is no such thing as a flex whenever you’re hammering the keys.

The keys are double-shot keycaps for sturdiness, and with the per-key RGB lighting, you’ll be able to customise it to look even higher.   Corsair has additionally included a light-weight bar on the prime of the keyboard, which is of restricted use however nonetheless seems to be good.

The wired keyboard has two extra USB-C ports for many who wish to reap the benefits of its passthrough capabilities.  There can be a premium magnetic wrist relaxation that connects to the underside of the keyboard.  This is extraordinarily comfy, and one thing all gaming keyboards ought to embrace – and the magnetic performance signifies that it received’t transfer if you are getting violent along with your gaming.

The keys and switches may be modified to your choice if required, with normal 3- and 5-pin switches obtainable.  I liked the switches within the keyboard, although, with the MLX Pulse Switch utilized by Galleon, a pleasant linear swap that’s comfy for not simply gaming but additionally on a regular basis use, similar to productiveness.  

As somebody who usually makes use of a Logitech MX Keys mini as my productiveness keyboard, I discovered I didn’t lose a lot accuracy or pace in any respect when utilizing it, which is uncommon in comparison with different gaming keyboards I’ve tried for productiveness.

Steam Deck integration

As you will have suspected from the statements above, the primary function of the Corsair Galleon 100 SD is the Stream Deck integration.  There are 12 programmable buttons, every with an LCD show, permitting you to set off predetermined actions, launch purposes, swap profiles and extra.  

Above these keys is an LCD show and two rotary controls that can be utilized for no matter you program them to do – eg. quantity management, media management and extra.

The LCD buttons may adapt in actual time to the stage of the sport you’re as much as, making them extraordinarily efficient as Macro keys as effectively.   With all of this deep integration into the sport and the Stream Deck, with the Corsair Galleon 100 SD, there actually isn’t a lot use for devoted Stream Deck {hardware} anymore.

Some might discover it troublesome to entry the macro keys, as they’re on the far facet of the keyboard, reverse the place many gaming keys are often located. After a comparatively steep studying curve, I bought used to easily reaching throughout with my proper hand and flicking the macro as required.

If you don’t wish to make your individual macros, and so forth., and would somewhat simply use one made by consultants in that type of factor, there are lots for a lot of video games already on the Elgate Marketplace.  I checked out a few them, and whereas they aren’t low-cost, they’re one-off purchases that can be utilized so long as you need.  I’m certain, because the keyboard will get extra traction within the subject, much more integrations will likely be obtainable for buy on {the marketplace}.

Not solely can you utilize these macro and Stream Deck integrations, however you can too use them for system-level monitoring, similar to CPU and GPU load and temperatures and extra.  These profiles may be downloaded from Elgato.

Gaming and efficiency

Gaming, with out utilizing the Stream Deck integration part, is a breeze with the Galleon 100 SD.  It gives polling charges as much as 8,000Hz, which is extraordinarily quick in comparison with many choices, particularly the wi-fi varieties.  For me, this made no noticeable distinction, given how sluggish my reflexes are nowadays, however for higher players, this might make a distinction for certain.

The keyboard consists of expertise that determines which key to activate when two keys of reverse actions are pressed in fast succession.  It will prioritise the final course pressed which is a good assist in many conditions in a fast-paced sport.  I usually do that as a result of my decision-making whereas gaming is sketchy at greatest, and once I flip-flop, it’s good to know the keyboard has my again.  

The MLX Pulse linear mechanical switches are related in some methods to the Cherry MX Red switches that so many different keyboards both use or try and emulate however I choose their fast activation mixed with ease of use.  According to Corsair, they activate at simply 2mm and require solely 45 grams of pressure, giving them a easy really feel.  

I can positively really feel the distinction between these and Cherry MX switches with the Corsair selection having a smoother and ‘squishier’ really feel to them – in a great way.  It didn’t take me very lengthy in any respect to get used to them and change into comfy typing and gaming with them.  The noise isn’t overly loud both, though my spouse did suppose I used to be gaming as an alternative of working when she heard the keyboard from the opposite room!

For those that like to make use of macros, you’ll be able to customise your individual on the keyboard itself or use the Stream Deck panel for that goal.  I exploit the occasional macro and like to be guided by the consultants who create the profiles that decide which macros I ought to use.  This has made my gaming in sure video games so a lot better, particularly Cyberpunk 2077.

At first, I used to be questioning why there wasn’t a wi-fi choice however when you consider the facility that have to be required to push the Stream Deck integration and its LCD keys, you’ll shortly realise that the easiest way to attain that with none lag or overheating is with a wired connection.  The USB-C wired connection may be disconnected, although, making it simpler to move and pack away.

Software

Fresh off the Corsair Sabre v2 Pro evaluation, I believed I’d be high-quality with the software program for the Corsair Galleon 100 SD.  While I used to be it was totally different.  For some purpose, it’s good to obtain the Corsair Web Hub app to customize it.  Seems a bit unusual that the net app is definitely an app you need to obtain, however that’s what Corsair has determined to name it.

The keyboard software program is intuitive and simple to make use of.  You can create your individual profiles, and throughout the profile, you’ll be able to:

• Change the lighting results, together with per-key task of every mild
• Assign keyboard keys (successfully remap your keyboard), mouse buttons, media and quantity controls to keys, assign system perform shortcuts to keys (key combos similar to Ctrl+Alt+Delete), assign macros to keys, and even assign textual content to be assigned to a specific key
• Test your key assignments

This app can be the place you replace firmware, change the USB-wired polling fee, and regulate the brightness of the keys.

I can hear you saying, “But what about the Stream Deck?”  To edit, you’ll need to make use of one other app, the virtual Elgato Stream Deck app.  I’ve by no means used the Stream Deck earlier than, so I believed utilizing the app could be troublesome – I used to be mistaken.

The app is extremely easy – it recognises the hooked up Galleon 100 SD Stream Deck and assigns the keyboard to the app.  From right here you’ll be able to customise the buttons your self – and sure you should use profiles for various video games, apps or situations.

The good factor is you could simply begin with a downloaded profile and customise it to your liking.  As for what number of profiles there are, you’d be stunned.  Although the Galleon 100 SD solely launched in shops in Australia a few days in the past, there are a lot of totally different profiles you’ll be able to obtain from the Stream Deck marketplace – and a variety of them are free.

The extra difficult gaming ones will price you cash, however if in case you have bought a sport, it’s seemingly it would be best to get probably the most out of it, and profiles made particularly for that sport with the requisite macros and shortcuts already in one of the best location will likely be definitely worth the outlay.

We have been despatched a few of these profiles by Corsiar to check out, and though I’ve just a few of the video games they included, they aren’t in my present rotation.  I managed to discover a firm, iConCity.com that creates a good Galleon profile for Cyberpunk 2077, my present sport of selection – nonetheless.  

Not solely does their profile provide macros and shortcuts that I would like, given my slowness on a keyboard, however they give the impression of being nice too.   Other video games they make profiles for embrace Battlefield 6, Star Citizen, Diablo 4, and lots of extra – you’ll be able to test all of them out right here, or you could find them and lots of, many extra on the Stream Deck market.

For those that can not do with out their keypad, iConCity.com additionally gives nice normal keypad icons and designs – the keypads embrace social media hyperlinks and quantity and brightness controls.  

Even should you aren’t streaming to an viewers, the Galleon 100 SD can actually make a distinction to your gaming expertise – I’ve discovered it has for me with selective use of profiles and icons.

Who buys this?

The Corsair Galleon 100 SD is good for gaming streamers who use a Stream Deck. The integration means one much less piece of {hardware} required in your desk. Missing the keypad with this keyboard? Simply change the profile to 1 with a keypad (or make one your self). Want to customize the Stream Deck to a sport you’re keen on? Easy: merely add the shortcuts and fast keys you need, and theme it nonetheless you want—or do what I did and obtain them from the Stream Deck market.

The keys are Corsair’s pre-lubricated MLX Pulse mechanical switches, they usually really feel totally different to Cherry MX keys I’ve used, with a extra fluid, spongier really feel. Prefer a sure Cherry MX key? Simply pull out the Corsair switches and change them along with your favorite switches. Included are the standard per-key RGB lighting choices and you’ve got a whole gaming keyboard. For these causes, that is nice for not simply streamers however all players.

The Corsair Galleon 100 SD gaming keyboard is accessible in Australia now for AU0, not low-cost, however keep in mind with this keyboard you don’t want to purchase your self a Stream Deck as effectively.