Hey guys this is my first ever mech keyboard and I wanted to offer my impressions and later a review on it. I'll post a full review in two weeks so I can say with 100% how I feel about this boards performance.
The keyboard I bought is a Cooler Master Storm Trigger.
FEATURES:- Gold plated Cherry MX Blue switches
- Full Red LED Backlit
- Full-size layout with 5 programmable Macro keys
- 3 Different lighting modes (Fully lit, Breathing, and partially lit with the WASD/Arrow Keys/Macro keys lit)
- 2 USB Ports on the board to hook up devices (Phone, Headset, Mouse, etc.)
- 6 Key rollover
- Detachable wrist-rest
For more check out the website at
http://www.cmstorm.com/en/products/keyboards/Trigger/My first impression of this keyboard is how much heavier it is compared to my Logitech G110, which is great because I always had problems with my keyboard sliding around. The back of the keyboard has rubber stops on it to further prevent it from sliding, including stops on the feet that put the board on an incline. A definite plus for me because my keyboard must be inclined or it feels very awkward for me to type on it. The entire case has a non-slip rubber coating on it, including the detachable wrist rest. If feel this gives the keyboard a nice texture and it is very comfortable for my wrists to rest on. I can assume that this coating will prevent the case/wrist rest from getting that glossy look to it that most boards get after long use. The wrist rest is a very large plus for me, I love the matted feel to it and it is so far very comfortable.
The back lighting is nice, but really wasn't part of my requirements, it lights the board well and it gives it a nice aesthetic. The USB ports on the back which require a 5.0 volt adapter which sadly is not included in the packaging. Luckily I had one that I wasn't using, but I think it's a little silly that they wouldn't include something so simple with the package. The keyboard is connected with a gold plated braided micro usb cord. I personally didn't want a detachable cord but I'm fine with it although the cord itself feels a little loose in it's connection to the board, but I've seen no issues with it communicating between the board and my PC.
The switches feel great and are definitely a step up from my rubber dome keyboard. I've played a few hours of CS:GO on this and I honestly don't see why people say MX Blues are bad for gaming, my keys react crisply, and even when double tapping keys I never noticed missed strokes.
So far I love this keyboard and for around a $120 price (I paid $99) I feel this was one of the best investments I've made for my computer. If you're interested in a mechanical keyboard for gaming, this one is a very good entry level board from what I've seen so far.
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2 Week Update:
I've had this keyboard for a little over two weeks now and I have to say this is probably the best investment I've ever made in my computer peripherals. Everything on this keyboard feels so much crisper and the texture on the keys, the wrist rest, and the board itself give it such a nice feel to type with.
Pros:
- Great back lighting with various modes (not as much as a Ducky Shine but still more than most backlit keyboards).
- The textured rubber that goes over the keyboard and the wrist rest give a very comfortable experience without having to invest in a separate wrist rest.
- Detachable micro USB cord makes it very easy to move this keyboard or rearrange the wire.
- USB ports on the back of the keyboard give easy access to other peripherals.
- All of the keys feel very crisp in their actuation
- Rubber pads at the bottom of the board itself and the feet make the board very hard to accidentally move around on your desk.
Cons:
- In order to make full use of the USB ports and all of the lighting modes, you have to have a 5 Volt adapter that is sadly not included with the keyboard.
- The stabilizers don't feel very smooth when pressing. It feels like they add much more resistance to the key.
- I've noticed that if you disconnect the 5 Volt adapter from the keyboard while in use, the keyboard itself disconnects and reconnects tot he computer. This may be an issue with communicating with Windows, but it's very annoying when it has happened to me.
- I would have preferred other back lighting colors to be available, but having back lighting wasn't mandatory for me so this is me really nit picking.
Overall Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
I would say this keyboard is amazing for the price you pay, compared to most other mechanical gaming keyboards this has a really sturdy build with a lot of the extras that most expect from non-mechanical gaming keyboards. There are a few issues with the keyboard but most of them are me really looking for things to complain about. The stabilizers while annoying doesn't ruin the function of the board.
If you're a gamer, I see no reason to getting any other board other than say a Logitech G15 if you desperately need the extra macro keys.
