Review
- Introduction
- Specifications/Features and Packaging
- Closer Look, User Experience and NKRO Testing
- Conclusion
Note that I am rating this board based on the build quality, the idea behind it and overall experience.
It all comes down to personal preference when it comes to choosing between Black and Red. If you prefer a lighter tactile feel/much lesser resistance feedback on the keys, you can shortlist this. Mostly it appeals to those who want the basic QWERTY board for gaming with keys that feel lot lighter than Cherry Black and don’t really need LED lights- mostly like should appeal to LAN gamers. That being said, since there’s no way for buyers to try out and press few keys to know if they will be comfortable with this key, its difficult for users to know. I am lot comfortable with Cherry Black keys for gaming. The "bounce" that I get from Cherry Black, even if its half-way, gives me the satisfaction that I’ve pressed the key. However, there should have been a cut-out. Not really a good of words to describe such keys, but it should give you a good idea. Built quality is pretty decent.
No LED backlit and No wrist rest add-on will turn off few people. But other than that, this is a well thought board. Why would you pay for gaming keyboards with mechanical buttons on the numpad that you’re not going to use in the first place? Besides, it occupies lesser space. I would have preferred backlit LEDs and/or Wrist rest pad. I seriously doubt Coolermaster will go down the same road as Razer and have different “editions” with few add-ons…..or will they in the near future????
Just keep in mind that mechanical keyboards perhaps can not necessarily be everybody’s cup of tea. I use TVS Gold which comes with Cherry Blue so that’s good enough for typing. CM QuickFire with Cherry Black keyboard (review will be up soon) is something that I love for gaming. Red, for gaming it does the job since I don’t hit the keys all the way to the bottom but when I am typing with red, it takes me some time to get used to the absence of the tactile bump that cherry blue keys have. Again, its my preference. So its best if you try out few keys before making a decision on mechanical boards- and that’s why anyone who makes mechanical keyboards should have some cut-out on the package so that the buyer knows if its good enough for him. There are even those who even prefer Cherry Blue for gaming irrespective of the genre they play.
Keeping that in mind, its a board you can keep in mind if your budget is well under $100. Anyone can make a $100+ board and fill it with features, but not many have made one for under $100 with mechanical keys and few add-ons like WASD keys and Windows-lock button. The board comes with 2 years warranty period.
Edit: Coolermaster updated that they haven’t released the board with these keys yet but they are aimed for Rs 7,750 (MOP) & Rs 8,999 (MRP). That’s takes a point behind, especially when K60 comes well under this. There will be one more edit for this, especially when/if I get to review the K60 from Corsair. There’s also a Ultimate Stealth board that I’ve reviewed before.
That’s not the reason I am cutting it out. The reason is the squeal that I can hear from some keys (mentioned on previous page) on the right. The space bar not only makes a squeal but also has some friction doesn’t feel the same. But it doesn’t create so much issue, mostly because of the Cherry MX red keys- and maybe you won’t even notice it.
