Just a few months ago, there was the latest release from Cooler Master which was the Quick Fire Rapid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. There were plenty of reviews out there and many complained about the missing 10 numerical keys, fading letters, back lighting, macro keys, media keys, and manual switching keys. The CMSTORM Quick Fire Rapid is a great gaming keyboard with most of the missing favorable keys.

Well in return, we have great news for everyone! Cooler Master has decided to come out with a newest version to make up for those complaints including an extensive design. A whole new look and a whole new key to turn that previous frown upside down. Yes, it was missing before, not anymore! The Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is nicely armored up representing its CMSTORM product line, providing a superb feeling to quality and design.

I’ve shopped around and scoped some of the features where some either too light weight, no macro keys, no media keys, no numeric keypad, and quick fading letters where the Quick Fire Rapid landed. After a long days research I found that there are seriously way too many keyboards to test and compare. Today I will be testing and trying out the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for additional opinions. My base test will consist of chatting as well as emailing, FPS gaming, and MMORPG gaming for a differential feel to the keyboard. Let’s put the Quick Fire Pro to the battle fields!

About the Product

The following information was provided by the Cooler Master CMSTORM web site and used for general specifications.

Specifications:

• Model number
  • SGK-4010-GKCC1 (Black)
  • SGK-4010-GKCL1 (Blue)
  • SGK-4010-GKCM1 (Brown)
  • SGK-4010-GKCR1 (Red)
• Key Switch
  • CHERRY Black / Blue/ Brown/ Red
• N-Key Rollover
  • 6/Full N Key
• Polling Rate
  • 1000HZ/1ms
• Backlighting
  • Partial Keys
• Windows Key Disable
  • Yes
• Media Keys
  • Yes
• Interface
  • USB 2.0 Full Speed
• Cable Length
  • 1.8 m
• Dimensions
  • 454(L) x 155(W) x 31(H) mm
  • 17.9(L) x 6.1 (W) x 1.2(H) inch
• Weight
  • 1300 g / 2.86 lb

Features:

• Mechanical CHERRY MX switches
• USB 2.0 full speed
• NKRO in USB mode: 6/Full N Key
• Multimedia shortcuts
• 1000Hz/1ms response time
• Windows key disabled in game mode
• Partial Red LED backlight (WASD + QERZXC + 12345 + F1 F2 F3 F4 + Arrow Keys+ Esc + Spacebar)
• Removable 1.8m braided USB cable with cable routing

Now that we got basic information out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro.

Closer look

Front		Rear

Front		Rear

Front		Rear

Front

In a black display box and red lightning bolts bringing a full size product photo of the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. On the top left corner, Cooler Masters trademark and on the right bottom displaying the Medium Resistance Keys for accurate key feedback. From the rear of the package, we have the Cooler Master Trademark and CMSTORM model on the top portion of the box. From the center, we can see a features list in multiple languages. The right hand side displays the Mechanical Switches I did not receive if any. The full NKRO mode in USB PC Mode, LED back lighting, and a USB cable routing grooves for convenience of the setup.

Left		Right

Top		Bottom

To the left side of the packaging, we see the CMTORM Quick Fire Pro logo and UPC Barcode given with Serial #, Origin, and Model # of the product as well as the system compatibility. On the right side a small and simple STORM Tactics logo. There isnt any printing on the bottom, there are two tiny stickers to seal the product and a latch dead center which makes it very easy to open.

Opening the Package		Opening the Package

Opening the Package Close Up		What's in the Package!?

Cutting the seals and unlatching the top, the prize is revealed with a fully protected translucent plastic cover and white foam film. Once I move everything out, we can see the gold plated mini USB and key remover towards the top portion. We can also see the user’s instruction manual right below the keyboard.

Front		Front

Left Side of Keyboard		Right Side of Keyboard

Numerical Key Pad

Once removing the actual film cover, we finally get to see the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro, WOW, it is very nice! Love its uniqueness in design and it really belongs in the CMSTORM Class. The uniqueness is not only by design but improvements from the past Quick Fire Rapid, the letters are now laser marked inscribed for LED Backlighting, not printing.

Rear		Rear

Rear: Kick Stand		Rear: Kick Stand

Rear: Rubberized Feet		Rear: Rubberized Feet

Rear: Mini USB port		Rear: Cable Management

Rear: Cable Management		Rear: Cable Management

On the backside, we see a few grooves positioned for the braided USB Cable. As usual, many keyboards include kick stands for comfortable wrist angle positioning. If the kick stands are not used, the keyboard is pretty heavy with 4 rubber feet grips applied on each corner to avoid any movement from the table. After checking multiple times, I barely saw the mini USB connection port which is hidden right above the back label on the side of the indented molding.

Front Shot		Rear Shot

Numeric 10 Key

From the left side product view, we can see that the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is already developed with a tilted angle. On the right hand side, we now have a useful numerical key pad! YES! Very nice addition Cooler Master!

Top		Bottom

As we can see from the top and bottom portions of the Quick Fire Pro Keyboard, it has a very stylish and clean design. A simple CMSTORM logo and a few simple grooves to include for its design.

MODE1

MODE1: LEFT SIDE		MODE1: RIGHT SIDE

MODE2: LEFT SIDE		MODE2: RIGHT SIDE

 

SHORT CUT KEYS: AUDIO		SHORT CUT KEYS: MEDIA

SHORT CUT KEYS: ACTIVATING NKRO		SHORT CUT KEYS: WINDOWS LOCK

SHORT CUT KEYS: LED		SHORT CUT KEYS: SWITCH POLLING RATES

Once I plugged the keyboard to the PC, it installed its drivers and ready for testing. The first thing I have tried is Mode1 for just a regular gaming cluster, the 2nd and 3rd is switching NKRO from full N to 6N which has dimmer lights. I found that the keys are Brown Switches and also found a set of short cuts to manage brightness of LED, Media Keys, and Windows Key Lock for the usual accidents. Keep note that switching modes will cause the keyboard to shut down and reboot including a new driver installation, so do not do this on game play unless you are on break.

Testing

Testing the keyboard was pretty much a breeze, most importantly, the feel of the keyboard during individual uses. My first test was chatting and email productivity, it was slightly difficult compared to regular keyboards because of the angling I really needed a resting pad for my wrist. My typing was off just a tad bit off but rest assure a wrist rest pad will definitely correct this minor issue unless you have larger hands then you’re ready to go.

My next test was a simple game of MMORPG, playing MMORPGs was uniquely quiet compared to aggressively and musically key stroking the Quick Fire Pro. Playing RPG games such as SC2, WOW, Guild Wars, and DC Universe was very easy to manage with additional key features. Running the usual missions, I found no erroneous mistakes. In PVP Mode, key stroking combination was slightly difficult and the keys responded very well but it will take time to get use to.

My final test was most favorable since I am into FPS games personally, I just do not have time to play anymore but just for testing. In the duration of my test, I could adjust the switching polling rates from 125/250/500/1000Hz which is a very nice touch due to life, death, and additional kill situations in game play. I love the fact of the 6N and Full N mode is in place, since it will take some time to focus on the new keyboard. I highly recommend turning ON the Full N until getting use to the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard because of erroneous key stroking that my happen.

Conclusion

My over all conclusions is I know that the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro is a gaming keyboard and is made to last as much as 50 million keystrokes with comfortable positioning but this keyboard positioning needs a rest stop for my wrist, again a minor adjustable issue. In game play, I really liked the new features and new improvements made developing this keyboard, almost perfect! I love the fact that it comes with back lighted adjustable LED as well as the laser marked inscribed keys as bonus. I’m sure that the Quick Fire Rapid was much harder for key stroking compared to the medium resistant keys on the Quick Fire Pro and I should claim that the CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard maintains a more accurate key response compared to its present siblings. Since it takes some time to get use to, I wasn’t too fond of the chatting or email productivity simply because of the keyboards height/angle but may definitely be beneficial to larger hands. Let’s not forget, the price is very affordable for a gaming keyboard which is priced at $99.99 at any of your favorite online retailer’s. Based on the final tests, UMLan would like to provide the Cooler Master CMSTORM Quick Fire Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard a score of 9/10 because of the pros and cons listed below.

Some pros we found:

Affordable Price for a gaming keyboard.
Numerical Key Pad.
Brown Switches.
Adjustable Back light LED.
Portable Cable Management.
NKRO in USB PS2.
No manual mechanical key removal needed.
Switching Polling Rate.
Media Key.
Windows Key Lock.
Design.
Rubberized feet.
Heavy enough not to move in game play.

Some cons we found:

Wrist position with no rest pad for comfort.