INTRODUCTION

   From time to time i like to login in our server just to check and see which of our articles attract the most attention (readership) so we can focus our efforts in bringing more of/in that segment and not to my surprise (after all many of you reading these pages are gamers - casual and avid ones - and professionals) some of our most popular reviews have been about mechanical keyboards. Now normally since we've already reviewed a large number of keyboards since the beginning of this year (8 to be exact) we wouldn't focus our efforts in doing even more right now (wouldn't want to risk running out of keyboards to review) but since in the past 6 months alone several manufacturers have released quite a few interesting models we see no reason to stop. So today's review is about yet another gaming keyboard based on mechanical switches by Cherry the Attack X3 by COUGAR.

   COUGAR products are designed by COUGAR GERMANY, a professional R&D engineering team and COUGAR is part of the “HEC/COMPUCASE” Group. The unique combination of the world-famous German skills of designing the best products worldwide and HEC/s power and long-time experience to produce the best high quality products created innovative masterpieces in PSU history. The PC upgrading and DIY market is changing rapidly and is growing more and more. Professional user are asking for more than only stable and silent PSU/s, they want efficient and energy saving products without compromises in quality. COUGAR GERMANY created such products! COUGAR GERMANY combines the features of innovation and evolution to create efficient, powerful and unique products like “COUGAR POWER”. The purpose of COUGAR GERMANY is the satisfaction of the customer, reaching it by creating most valuable, advanced products. COUGAR – YOUR POWER!

   Unlike most recent keyboards to reach our lab which featured either Kailh or custom mechanical switches the Attack X3 model uses "genuine" Cherry MX mechanical switches (up to 50 million keystrokes) and is available with black, red, brown and blue ones (our sample came with blue switches). For good or bad unlike the 700k the Attack X3 doesn't sport as many features (it's a standard 104 keys model after all) but it still offers full key 4-level backlight illumination (Red), 10 programmable keys, N-Key rollover (USB connection), anti-slip rubber feet, 1000Hz polling rate (1ms), on-board memory (can store up to 3 profiles in it), aluminum brushed structure, dedicated multimedia keys and of course just like every other gaming peripheral by COUGAR it also supports their unified UIX system. Granted this set of features may not impress but a keyboard is much more than just features so let's see what the Attack X3 is all about.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

We received the Attack X3 inside a medium sized box that has a product image at the top right next to the company logo and above the features list.

At the bottom we see the mechanical switch selection.

The specifications table is located at the top of the box right next to two 2D barcodes.

A total of 9 pictures placed at the rear are used to showcase the various features of the keyboard.

Packaging is standard so once again the keyboard is wrapped inside a plastic bag and held in place via a large piece of cardboard (extension to the box).

COUGAR has just placed the user manual inside the box so not much in terms of bundle.

THE ATTACK X3

The Attack X3 is not really large and so it measures 467mm in length, 170mm in width and 40mm in height.

Although not entirely made out of brushed aluminum the top structure stands out.

On the upper right corner of the Attack X3 we find 3 dedicated volume control keys (these however are regular rubber dome keys).

With the F1 through F3 keys you can load any of the available onboard profiles and with the F4 key you can switch between available brightness levels.

You can also control the polling rate with the F5 through F8 keys.

F9 through F12 double as multimedia keys (play/pause, stop, previous, next).

You can choose between N-Key and 6-Key rollover from the print screen and pause break keys (always with the FN key pressed).

Right next to the minus key in the numpad area COUGAR has placed a key that can be used to launch the calculator.

Beneath the keyboard we find 2 rubber feet and two height adjusters.

The height adjusters feature anti-slip rubber feet and raise the keyboard roughly 1cm from the desktop.

Here we see the backlit Cherry MX Blue Switches.

The 1.8 meter long braided cable has a plain USB connector on it end.

UIX SYSTEM

As always you will have to visit the official support page to download the latest available drivers.

The software is very easy to use (we’ve seen it several times in the past with other COUGAR products) and from the key assignment page you can use it to program the available keys, create macros and configure the mode keys.

Inside the performance page you can set the polling rate and repeat delay and you can also choose between 6-key and N-key rollover.

The lighting controls tab gives you the ability to select the 5 available brightness levels (by default level 2 is actually the breathing effect).

If you want to manage the available profiles you can do so from the game profile management tab.

Here you can see the Attack X3 at minimum and maximum brightness levels (I liked the fact that the backlight of the lock keys turns on only when pressed).

AUDIBLE FEEDBACK

Many people ask my opinion on what keyboard they should get for their needs. Some want a “silent” model for use in their living room or even in their bedroom while others ask for a model with good audible feedback for use in the office or for gaming. Because of this I decided to test keyboards by placing our ExTech HD600 vertically over each keyboard (5cm distance) and typing NikKTech a total of 6 times with each (after that the max recorded number - max hold - is placed in the graph). I have to admit that this may not be 100% accurate but it does give a good idea on what you can expect from each model since aside the type of switches used keycaps and keyboard material also matter.

CONCLUSION

   Although I still consider the 700k to be the best mechanical gaming keyboard currently in the COUGAR lineup the Attack X3 lands somewhere in between the 600k and the 500k/450k models. Sure it may not offer extra macro keys, RGB illumination and a removable wrist rest like many of the new mechanical gaming keyboards but it’s a very sturdy keyboard and at least to serious gamers and professionals that’s the feature that matters most when out in the market looking to get a new one (not to mention that red is my favorite color along with black). This is thanks to no small part to the Cherry MX Blue mechanical switches since I do consider them to be ideal for typing and even gaming just as long as you don’t want a silent keyboard for use in your bedroom (some friends have that problem). As usual the UIX system gives you control over all aspects of the keyboard and although it’s really easy to use I wouldn’t mind if COUGAR decided to redesign it since they’ve been using it for quite a long time now (but that’s really just my personal thoughts/opinion).

   With a current price tag set at USD79.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and at 99.90Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the Attack X3 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard by COUGAR lands right in the middle of several similar models. As you can see however although pricing in the USA is quite good the same doesn’t apply in the EU so I really hope COUGAR sees to it especially since we all agree that the Attack X3 is a very good choice for people looking to get a sturdy keyboard. Granted it’s not perfect and it may fall short for some very demanding gamers but it still gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality
- Cherry MX Switches (50 Million Keystrokes)
- 6-Key/N-Key Rollover
- 5 Available Profiles
- Built-In Memory
- Backlit Illumination (4 Brightness Levels)
- Price (USA)

CONS

- Price (EU)