CM Storm/Cooler Master QFR-I (Quickfire Rapid-i) TKL Backlit Mechanical Keyboard

[YuukiHaruto]

CM Storm/Cooler Master is pretty much pulling all the stops but they sure took their time to replace the aging QFR. Not a issue as this new gen has many features the original QFR doesn't have 











As usual, a simple keycap puller and here is my first complaint ... Right angled microUSB? Who in the world thought that was a good idea? Same issue was on my preview Novatouch too.



Comes with a handy guide on how to set the LED modes after plugging it into your PC. In chinese too but not for this region for sure



The user guide is pretty ... thin and a bit lacking. Not so good



Noticed it yet? This keyboard has macros and built in memory! This is no ordinary backlit keyboard and is also NKRO over USB



Just a word of warning that the very left hander function button doesn't function as a function button. Ironic 



LEDs on



LEDs off



Shares the same chassis as the Novatouch.

Some first impressions.
Key features? Backlit keyboard, NKRO over USB and four sets of macros and pretty good build quality and also a "turbo-mode" in which the keyboard can repeat keystrokes when triggered. As a gamer I find that useful!
Performance : Same for what I felt of the Browns on the Trigger Z. This QFR-I is equipped with browns
Build quality : As with CM upper tier products like this and the MECH and the Trigger Z it is built superbly.
Problems : There are a couple of problems. Right angle USB cable and the questionable pricing in US might lead you to think that it will be very expensive here ....
Or is it?
Nope. The pricing here won't be anywhere near that exorbitant.

So do I like it? I do. I can live with the above problems so let me talk about availability. Right now it isn't available from newegg but it should be with a targeted price of just around where the QFR-S is priced.
But the biggest issue is the choice of only two switches, blues and browns. This is not because of Cooler Master's choices but Cherry's factory inability to keep up production of reds and blacks have sold poorly in SG too

It might be of a standard TKL shape but there is no detraction that this is a brilliant brilliant piece of kit!

Also for those wondering ... this was lurking in the background



And here I wrap up my review. Thank me if you like this review

[rowdy]

Same price as QFR?  That would be nice

[YuukiHaruto]

Same price as QFR?  That would be nice

Around. I'm basing it off china pricing 

[66klaus]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

[jterp7]

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

[YuukiHaruto]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

Ducky has got no money on this. Ducky has some QC problems and also their build isn't quite as good as CM.

[66klaus]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

Ducky has got no money on this. Ducky has some QC problems and also their build isn't quite as good as CM.

thanks for information! where can i get this one?

[YuukiHaruto]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

Ducky has got no money on this. Ducky has some QC problems and also their build isn't quite as good as CM.

thanks for information! where can i get this one?

Depends on where you live.

[66klaus]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

Ducky has got no money on this. Ducky has some QC problems and also their build isn't quite as good as CM.

thanks for information! where can i get this one?

Depends on where you live.

Germany

[phoenix1234]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?
The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!
For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

Thank you for your review  .

However, are you sure it is using Costa stabilizers?
It is because when I checked the one in Vietnam, it is using Cherry stabilizers and it is Made in China.
The Rapid-I that I checked similar like this one
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3288906/all

[ihatefirewalls]

According to CM rajface on Reddit it has non-costar (I'm assuming cherry) stabs.

However, despite the cherry stabs according to an answer on Amazon the board itself is still produced by Costar (CST-87-TENKEYLESS).

Can anyone verify that Costar is the OEM?

[duzeyao]

Costar or Cherry Stabilizer? Could you please check?

The old qfr is costar, I think the new one is cherry stab!

For me a problem because I like costar more.

Costar stabs.

i posted a deal on this and the reaction was that the ducky 3 tkl white with browns was worth the 30-40 more (based on that deal). I actually prefer the cm's font, but has anyone compared the two directly on build?

Ducky has got no money on this. Ducky has some QC problems and also their build isn't quite as good as CM.

I'm 100% sure CMQFR-I uses cherry stabilizers, not co-star ones.
It's made in China and has different sized case than QFR.
Just curious, did you even pulled the keycaps out to check it for yourself?

[madik]

Hi guys. I have this keyboard and i can confirm that it uses a CHERRY Stabilizers.

I have a quite a big problem with the keyboard. After restarts or resumes from sleep the keyboard doesnt work and I have to unplug USB port and plug it to make it working again. Its quite annoying  Hopefully it will get resolved soon  by firmware update.
Does anyone having this issue?

[YuukiHaruto]

Hi guys. I have this keyboard and i can confirm that it uses a CHERRY Stabilizers.

I have a quite a big problem with the keyboard. After restarts or resumes from sleep the keyboard doesnt work and I have to unplug USB port and plug it to make it working again. Its quite annoying  Hopefully it will get resolved soon  by firmware update.
Does anyone having this issue?

Sorry. I just realized my memory was flaky. Frankly I prefer the cherry stabs if I had a choice because cherry stabs are easier to put back after removal and it's less wobbly.
Funny enough me too ..

[YuukiHaruto]

Good news for all QFR-I owners!

[madik]

This version of FW is out for a long time. I flash it on a day of the keyboard purchase. After few weeks they took the FW downloading page down and reintroduced it on 14.8.2014 (i guess).

But more important is the fact that they are working on a fix for the keyboard's initiation problems that affects lots of people  http://community.coolermaster.com/index.php/topic/11379-cm-storm-rapid-i-doesnt-start-sometimes/page-2#entry111107

[barkinos98]

Great review bro!
It made my new QFR feel ashamed :/

[CSCoder4ever]

Sweet, a backlit QFR!

Resembles an awful lot like my Quickfire TK though, despite the lack of numpad!

[YuukiHaruto]

Sweet, a backlit QFR!

Resembles an awful lot like my Quickfire TK though, despite the lack of numpad!

They did do lots of tweaks on the "rubber" coating which makes it a hell lot more durable 

Great review bro!
It made my new QFR feel ashamed :/

Just a tiny bit pricier than the QFR. Time for an upgrade I guess? 

[neverlast74]

Question for the QF Rapid-I users: Does anyone have seen or heard of the annoying "ping" sound problem that I found using some Ducky and also some Filco?

[aref]

Question for the QF Rapid-I users: Does anyone have seen or heard of the annoying "ping" sound problem that I found using some Ducky and also some Filco?

+1

[VivaGardner]

This is a really nice keyboard.  The backlight is pretty brilliant (it has a really nice glow around the keys because the plate is white). 

It doesn't have as many LED modes as the Ducky Shine, but the firmware update also added some pretty cool effects.  In all honesty, some of the Ducky LED effects tend to get pretty distracting when you're typing. 

I also feel that it's built better than the Shine 3.  The chassis has a smooth feel and a nice weight to it.  I really am enjoying the smaller size (first layout of this size), although I still occasionally still reach for the number pad. 

I didn't even pull the USB cable out because I already had a straight micro usb cable plugged into my computer, but I can see how the right angle plug was a design mistake.  Not really a very expensive thing to fix though.

I've settled on this to be my first mechanical keyboard.


I would highly recommend this keyboard to anyone right now.  The macros are pretty nice.  At night, I like to use a macro that just has the "F" and the "J" key lite up so that I can find my positioning very easy.  The whole board has a really nice feel to type on (Blue Switches).  I'm also a big fan of the white LED.   

[cryptowillem]

That's a pretty sexy board, for sure! It looks a lot like the CODE from WASD because of the white backlight, but I'd love to have the macro settings for the LEDs. I think this board will get further consideration from me