Vortex Race 3 Mechanical Keyboard with Cherry MX Brown Switches (UK Layout)

Product Information

However, Vortex is working on a web-based configurator called MPC for their keyboards. See the pictures above for example layouts of their other two keyboard lines (Poker and CORE) for a first impression on how it would look, and it would be similar for the Race 3 as well. While there is no release date provided, this will help provide full programmability to their keyboards. As with the CORE, the Race 3 has next to no bezels, to the point where you really cannot see the case (which is low profile here) unless you look at the Race 3 at an angle. This helps with keeping it extremely compact, and yet the anodized aluminum case does provide a lot of structural rigidity as well. The form factor is 75%, as mentioned before, meaning it is close to a TKL and offers nearly everything as a discrete option. The primary changes would be the longer Esc and Del keys, and part of this is to help keep the top row staggered while maintaining some symmetry, but it will end up being a deal breaker for a lot of people who look at such keyboards as more of a long-term solution with personalization in mind. The included replacement keycaps help a lot here, but please do still take note of this. The top row is not the only culprit here either as the bottom row's modifier keys on the left side of the space bar are longer than those on the right side, for example. All this is a result of the 75% keyboard form factor not really being a standard, which has companies take the liberty to do as they deem fit. Vortex has a lot of things right here, but some will alienate potential customers. It’s only noticeable if your view directly lines up with the side of the case. Creak and flex are nonexistent, though the case will bounce slightly when heavy pressure is applied and released. I’m told that the behavior is common and desirable in aluminum. Note that the arrangement of some keys remains “proprietary.” This is particularly the case with the Esc and Del keys. Both keys come with a dimension of 1.5U instead of 1, which will complicate the task a bit if you ever want to opt for a personal keyset.

This is the perfect 75% keyboard if you are looking for one. I have been using it for a few weeks now and love it. The only two things I dislike about it are the micro USB cable it comes with (I prefer braided) and that there is no key cap puller included. The combination of keys Fn + R allows you to reset the key-codes if you have had fun creating your personal macros with full knowledge of the facts. Get into one of the programmable layers (R2+RShift) – I like red, the super bright laser LED is the least super annoying in red. No bodge wires or serious soldering errors are present, but one interesting choice stood out to me. A solder point near the enterkey is almost hanging out in space. It also appears that some odd solder bridges are necessary for an associated LED to function. That seems like sketchy PCB design, but I doubt that it will cause any post-production failures.Dear friends with vortex I can not enter the boot menu - MacMini don’t see “option” and I cannot boot from usb Just letting you know attempting this on Parallels brings up the window, but no option to press the OK button. For reference, my firmware before updating was 1.02.00, which was before Mac mode (Pn + M) correctly put Cmd in its rightful spot: Great is the operative word here. The mechanical keycaps are made from PBT plastic, which resists shine and yellowing. They also use a flat profile called DSA. Finally, their legends (and side legends, I think) are printed with dye sublimation. That means the letters won’t wear off when using the Vortex Race 3 heavily. There is even a secondary bag of keycaps that contains RGB modifiers and Apple compatible key replacements. Despite its flaws it's still my favorite keyboard to use, nothing has broken in the 9 months I have owned it. (which is what you would expect)

I have successfully updated the firmware to V1.02.05 of my Vortex 3 Race (ISO-DE) using a macbook, virtualbox and a free win10 image.

Given the nature of the larger keyboard, Vortex is also supporting Dvorak and Colemak layouts here. By default, the keyboard comes in QWERTY layout, which Fn + Home activates if you need it. Fn + Pg Up activates Dvorak, and Fn + Pd Dn activates Colemak mode, as can be seen on the secondary legends on those keycaps. The good thing is that the DSA keycaps mean you can easily swap keycaps around to match these without worrying about sculpting or a keycap's top curvature. This is where the right space bar LED lights up red (for Dvorak) and green (for Colemak). Manual doesn't come included, and the one you find online is terrible and actually refers you to another board's manual. If this is your first all-hardware mechanical keyboard with complex lighting, you will be a bit lost amidst the minimal information and poor translations. If you don't know the entire glossary of mech terms already (say you're coming from Corsair or something mainstream), you're screwed and left to search through online tutorials However, thanks to the advent of modern mechanical keyboards like the Race 3 from Vortexgear, people are beginning to adopt them more than ever before. They offer top-class reliability, durability, and top functionality. For better understanding we will use the following naming convention: [ L1 ][ L2 ][ L3 ][ Space ][ R1 ][ R2 ][ R3 ] With its well-built structure, users can utilize it with any kind of Operating System, with regard to numerous switches. Typing explicitly on this masterpiece has never been any better, and it is sure to interest even gamers and programmers.

A green or red LED lights up under the right part of the Space key to indicate if your plan is in Colemak or Dvorak. The format of the Vortex Race 3 is 75% features a full aluminum case bottom and anodized top plate, PBT Dye-Sub keycaps and Cherry MX switches. It feels like you have to go further with your fingers to reach the keys on their top, despite their flat profile. It’s just a matter of getting used to it in a few hours of use, just as it was the first time you used a mechanical keyboard.

Even if the activation force requires a pressure of 45 cN, it will take a little more to activate the button because of the resistance located at this level. Vortex Race 3 newest 75% keyboard, the 83-key gaming keyboard. Do you need dedicated arrow keys that your 60% doesn’t provide, but don’t want the size of a TKL? A 75% may be just for you! Most of the keys are in the “normal” spot, so there’s nearly no learning curve for this keyboard. Documentation is poor, changing settings is a pain and unintuitive, some of the directions are just wrong. Took a lot of fiddling to get a color settings the The possibility of using the keyboard in a local layout is a real plus, which is rare among very specialized manufacturers. After that, it plays a big part in the vintage side, and you can’t have it all.

All pictures shown are for illustration purpose only. Actual products may vary due to product enhancement. With a manufacturing quality primarily up to the sum to pay, Vortex Race 3 comes with great features for everyone, especially in terms of on-the-fly changes to the layout. Interestingly, there are just a few accessories available. It comes with a detachable micro-USB/USB cable, screw feet, and a set of buttons in retro RGBY colors.To start with, you will need to access the different options with the Pn key. There are several available: off, constant, breathing, raindrops, activation, etc. The Race 3 features a silver anodized CNC case and cone feet. It also has DSA keycaps with dye-sub legends in a vintage grey colorway with 19 extra RGBY and MAC keycaps. If this sounds familiar, it is because this is the exact same procedure as on the Vortex Core and their Poker line of keyboards. Thus, there are once again some limitations. For instance, you cannot re-program the keys that allow you to toggle between layers. You also cannot re-program right Control since it is used to activate and exit programming mode.