EasyPC is a computer store that started in 2003 and has branches in Alabang, North Ave, Ortigas, Fairview, Makati and Sucat. EasyPC is well known for its Internet Cafe products and services. They are currently hosting seminars such as their Diskless Seminar & Training for potential and current iCafe owners.

Related: RAKK ILIS Mechanical Keyboard Review

RAKK is EasyPC’s gaming line of peripherals at a low cost. It originally started with iCafe oriented products such askeyboards,mice and chairs. With great recognition and success, EasyPC expanded their gaming line with 2 mechanical keyboards to compete with other brands at a very low price-point. What we have here is the RAKK Kimat RGB Mechanical Keyboard.

Features and Specification

• Size: 350mm(L)x125mm(W)x30mm(H)
• Mechanical Switch: Gateron Black
• Actuation force: 50g+-gf
• Detachable USB connector
• 87-key design
• Aluminum top cover
• N-key roll over, Full anti-ghosting
• RGB LED Backlighting
• Multimedia Function keys
• 5 lighting profile keys

Unboxing and First Impressions

To start things off lets look at the box. On a subjective personal note, this is the weakest link of the RAKK Kimat keyboard. Despite EasyPC’s hype marketing with their rakk products, seeing this the first time when you order the keyboard will make you feel like “ehhh” for a while for looking like purchasing a generic low end product. Now, with the imagination that this is actually colored, EasyPC’s packaging label is one of the very straightforward and detailed one I have ever laid my eyes on. Its main features are printed out at the lower portion with its key features highlighted in the left and right side which are the gateron black switches and floating cap design. Moving to the back you can find a picture of the keyboard with its rubber feet along with the full specifications and feature set of the keyboard.

The package includes the following:

• Rakk Mechanical keyboard
• Quick Start Guide
• Detachble Mini-USB to USB connector
• KeyCap Puller

The contents of the keyboard are fairly impressive with an included keycap puller. Other mechanical keyboard manufacturers don’t include this even with their flagship ones. What’s suprising is that this keyboard is fairly cheap at 2,200 and EasyPC still managed to include a decent add-on without a adding a premium for the price. With that said another great addition is the cable being detachable, making it convenient to carry around during LAN parties or for traveling. EasyPC even included a velcro strap for convenience. The quick start guide on the otherhand is just straightforward and is mainly for the lighting effects to which we will tackle on later.

The keyboard is fairly nice and compact thanks to the TKL design. The top plate is aluminum with the rest of the body having a glossy finish.

The glossy finish can be troublesome but thank EasyPC for having most of it at the bottom as users don’t have to see the ugly look of their fingerprints on their mechanical keyboard.  On the back side you have 2 rubber feet and 2 rubber flip stands.

The keyboards features an exposed switch design making the LEDs more vibrant and having better aesthetics overall. The flip stand gives enough inclination to comfortably help in resting your wrist while typing reducing the strain received when in use.

The mini USB port is located in the top right side of the keyboard just between the F12 and the PS key. The keyboard has a silver highlight that makes the keyboard more elegant looking.

Numbers 1-5 keys handles the lighting profiles. Profiles can be recorded using the FN + HM key. The Escape key is used to load the default lighting configuration of the keyboard. While F1-F8 keys are your multimedia keys.

Lighting

Here’s a quick preview on the lighting effects feat. BossMac:

First you have your Static effect. Pressing FN + Del will allow you to cycle from White, Red, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Pink. Note that both the Capslock and the Scroll Lock key aren’t affected by the selected lighting mode. Next is the breathing effect. Pressing FN + Right/Left key will control how fast the pulse will illuminate.Aside from the breathing effect, there’s also a breathing effect that cycles between the 7 color options available.

The 3rd effect lets you control per key illumination. This can be done by pressing FN + Home key. Once you’ve pressed it, you can just pressed a key repeatedly until you get your desired color. After configuring, press FN+Home to save the lighting profile you’ve just created.

Next up is a Single key and  6key reactive effect. Pressing a key will light up 6 keys surrounding it. Pressing FN+Del will make allow you to toggle between the 7 different colors plus 1 random RGB color effect.

The next effect is a reactive wave. Pressing a key will trigger a wave that will span throughout the keyboard. Pressing FN + Dell will also allow you to cycle between 7 different colors and a random RGB color effect.

The next effect is a per line wave starting from left to right and top to bottom. Pressing FN + Dell will let you cycle between colors and note that you can only have 1 active color cycle in this lighting effect.

Lastly, you have your wave effect. Pressing FN + Del will change the direction of the wave from left to right or vice versa. FN + Left/Right key will also let you control the speed of the wave.

Conclusion

Performance. With much hype built around this keyboard many are also curious with regards to its performance.  This keyboard doesn’t disappoint. The only thing I’m concerned with is the black switches that it comes with. As a blue switch user, it takes a while to get used to black switches because of the required actuation force. The Rakk Kimat proves to be a good mechanical keyboard and performs very well.

Build Quality. The construction of the keyboard is mostly plastic but it shows zero to little flex when force is applied and is comparable with entry level mechanical keyboards such as Thermaltake’s Posiedon Z . The only downside I see in the overall construction of the keyboard is the glossy side and back finish. But this issue is for aesthetics purposes only and it doesn’t affect performance in any way. As far as convenience goes, the detachable cable is a superb addition.

Functionality. At this pricepoint, I really wasn’t expecting much. But somehow EasyPC managed to put all of these features while maintaining a very low price point. The features included are indeed rudimentary for gaming keyboards, but for this price range you’re getting more for your money’s worth.

Bundle. Aside from the unappealing brown packaging of the RAKK Kimat, there’s nothing really wrong here. The included keycap is a bigplus because even most keyboard manufacturers(like razer) don’t include a keycap puller even in their flagship models.

Value. The RAKK Kimat is priced at Php2,200. At this price, absolutely nothing beats it except its full keyboard counterpart, the RAKK APIQ.

Overall, the RAKK Kimat is a great choice for users wanting to get their hands on a genuine mechanical keyboard. The RGB Lighting profiles of the keyboard are diverse and customizable without the use of software. Setting up lighting profiles is quite easy as long as you have the patience in recording. Adjusting your typing style will require some time because of the heavy actuation force required by the Gateron Black Switches. Normally, black switches aren’t recommended for first time users because of the said actuation force, but for what EASYPC’s offering, its just a little grain of salt compared to the big dessert that you’re getting. Lets just hope that EasyPC will soon offer this product in Red, Brown and Blue switches.

EasyPC offers a 1-year outright replacement warranty for the RAKK Kimat. We’re giving it our B2G Best Value and Recommended Award!