The utility is running better now than it ever has.

But if you want to write macros, create profiles (10 supported), expand the Game Mode options, adjust the jade illumination brightness, and configure the keyboard to launch programs, then Synapse 2.0 utility suite is essential for all that. The board works great straight out of the box. This can also be extended to disable Alt+Tab and Alt+F4 but Razer Synapse 2.0 is required for that. Pressing Fn+F9 disables the Windows key to prevent inadvertent presses. There is a Game Mode option and a button to put your Windows system to sleep. Each key is individually backlit and illuminates with familiar Razer jade green. On the Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 you can hit up to 10 keys for accepted rollover, where all 10 keys are recognized by your system. As a mechanical you can expect some amount of key rollover. It features full button programmability with 5 extra “gaming” buttons for on-the-fly macro recording, a single USB pass through port and audio jacks for headphones and mic. The Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 is packaged with the main keyboard, quick start manual, full length instruction manual–one in English and one in French. It’s not as stylish as the uniquely designed Deathstalker, but it’s smaller, more responsive, fully mechanical and ditches the low-profile Chiclet keys for mechanical key switches that are much quieter than most mechanical boards.

This is another elegant looking board from Razer.

This latest entry makes use of Cherry MX Blue mechanical key switches for low actuating force and high-speed typing and gaming performance. The new Blackwidow Ultimate 2013 mechanical gaming keyboard is Razer’s newest flagship keyboard. Resting peacefully in the belly of its supposed lover, the 8-legged creature’s demise, by definition, has now elevated the ravenous female to new prominence in the animal kingdom, thus a new Blackwidow is born. A new arachnid has loving relieved its spouse of the burdens of life.

Razer blackwidow vs deathstalker