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geekhack Community => Reviews => Topic started by: chyros on Sun, 12 March 2017, 08:01:42

Title: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Sun, 12 March 2017, 08:01:42
Ticking a lot of request boxes here, a modern, premium gaming keyboard, and Cherry MX green. And it's a pretty interesting beast of itself to boot! Hope you enjoy :) .

Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: klennkellon on Sun, 12 March 2017, 22:43:08
Great review as always.

Always liked the idea of this layout! Only a hair longer than a true TKL but you still get the functionality of a full-size.

Although I have to agree with you, if you want a heavy clicky switch I see no reason to go with MX Greens over buckling springs or space invaders.

I wonder if some day we can get a group project going for custom space-invader PCB's and plates, the switches themselves are almost as plentiful as the more common Alps from what I've seen
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Mon, 13 March 2017, 05:58:48
Great review as always.

Always liked the idea of this layout! Only a hair longer than a true TKL but you still get the functionality of a full-size.

Although I have to agree with you, if you want a heavy clicky switch I see no reason to go with MX Greens over buckling springs or space invaders.

I wonder if some day we can get a group project going for custom space-invader PCB's and plates, the switches themselves are almost as plentiful as the more common Alps from what I've seen
I think space invaders don't actually react all that well to dirt and dust tbh. Not as bad as Alps, but still.

It'd be good to have a large stock of NOS switches for such a project.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: dante on Tue, 14 March 2017, 09:12:59
Space Invaders always struck me as luxurious version of MX Greens.  IMO they feel like a very expensive refined switch.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Tue, 14 March 2017, 11:02:35
Space Invaders always struck me as luxurious version of MX Greens.  IMO they feel like a very expensive refined switch.
Yeah, I can definitely identify with that sentiment :) .
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: falkentyne on Tue, 14 March 2017, 13:11:34
Great review as always.

Always liked the idea of this layout! Only a hair longer than a true TKL but you still get the functionality of a full-size.

Although I have to agree with you, if you want a heavy clicky switch I see no reason to go with MX Greens over buckling springs or space invaders.

I wonder if some day we can get a group project going for custom space-invader PCB's and plates, the switches themselves are almost as plentiful as the more common Alps from what I've seen

Why wouldn't someone go with MX greens if you can't even buy these "Hi-tek space invaders" switches to begin with?
We're talking about a commercially available keyboard versus one that was made for terminals that needs to basically be interfaced with the PC from scratch.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Tue, 14 March 2017, 14:42:29
Great review as always.

Always liked the idea of this layout! Only a hair longer than a true TKL but you still get the functionality of a full-size.

Although I have to agree with you, if you want a heavy clicky switch I see no reason to go with MX Greens over buckling springs or space invaders.

I wonder if some day we can get a group project going for custom space-invader PCB's and plates, the switches themselves are almost as plentiful as the more common Alps from what I've seen

Why wouldn't someone go with MX greens if you can't even buy these "Hi-tek space invaders" switches to begin with?
We're talking about a commercially available keyboard versus one that was made for terminals that needs to basically be interfaced with the PC from scratch.
Well the underlined part isn't true, but I agree that it's iffy comparing these two, although I've been called out for doing so.

That said, the unavailability of a better alternative is no excuse for manufacturers to produce sub-par switches.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: avantdark on Wed, 15 March 2017, 00:50:29
I bought this board recently and believe it or not, swapped the browns with gateron greens. I really love that layout but couldn't stand the light keys.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: Gajible on Wed, 15 March 2017, 01:50:15
My all time MVP click switch has to be the IIc's Amber alps. I'm so jealous of your NIB find Chyros.. Mine are all lame and scratchy.  :'(
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: klennkellon on Wed, 15 March 2017, 02:59:51
I bought this board recently and believe it or not, swapped the browns with gateron greens. I really love that layout but couldn't stand the light keys.
how do you people stand such stiff switches? there has been so much progress since typewriters my friends!
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Wed, 15 March 2017, 06:22:23
My all time MVP click switch has to be the IIc's Amber alps. I'm so jealous of your NIB find Chyros.. Mine are all lame and scratchy.  :'(
Yeah, amber Alps are fantastic, people really liked them at the meetups, too.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: Gajible on Wed, 15 March 2017, 09:49:10
My all time MVP click switch has to be the IIc's Amber alps. I'm so jealous of your NIB find Chyros.. Mine are all lame and scratchy.  :'(
Yeah, amber Alps are fantastic, people really liked them at the meetups, too.

Do you have any experience with lubing them? I know they come with a dry lubricant applied, but mine were too dusty for that to make a difference. You seem to be the guy to ask!
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: chyros on Wed, 15 March 2017, 11:31:23
My all time MVP click switch has to be the IIc's Amber alps. I'm so jealous of your NIB find Chyros.. Mine are all lame and scratchy.  :'(
Yeah, amber Alps are fantastic, people really liked them at the meetups, too.

Do you have any experience with lubing them? I know they come with a dry lubricant applied, but mine were too dusty for that to make a difference. You seem to be the guy to ask!
Yes, I've tried lubing Alps, but it doesn't really work all that well. A good clean works better, particularly through sonication. If they've been heavily used or used while dirty the damage isn't fully reversible, though, and you'll always end up with switches that are less good than they originally were no matter how much TLC you apply.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: falkentyne on Wed, 15 March 2017, 12:29:01
I bought this board recently and believe it or not, swapped the browns with gateron greens. I really love that layout but couldn't stand the light keys.
how do you people stand such stiff switches? there has been so much progress since typewriters my friends!

Gateron greens are anything but stiff (I assume you mean spring weight).  They're actually LESS heavy than Cherry MX Greens, and are only a bit more heavy than RGB MX Blues.  They feel somewhat inbetween MX blues and greens.  I actually find RGB MX blues to be heavier than non RGB MX blues (at least on my shine 6 and YOTM), probably due to the tactile bump being more substantial, which adds to resistance.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: klennkellon on Thu, 16 March 2017, 15:17:22
I bought this board recently and believe it or not, swapped the browns with gateron greens. I really love that layout but couldn't stand the light keys.
how do you people stand such stiff switches? there has been so much progress since typewriters my friends!

Gateron greens are anything but stiff (I assume you mean spring weight).  They're actually LESS heavy than Cherry MX Greens, and are only a bit more heavy than RGB MX Blues.  They feel somewhat inbetween MX blues and greens.  I actually find RGB MX blues to be heavier than non RGB MX blues (at least on my shine 6 and YOTM), probably due to the tactile bump being more substantial, which adds to resistance.
didn't know this, just assumed they were the same weight as mx greens.

Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: dantan on Fri, 17 March 2017, 21:01:10
Didn't this layout come out like 5 or 6 years ago?

After 5 years it still didn't become popular; that says a lot about how much appeal it reaaally has. Making minor tweaks and offering greens isn't going to change the basic appeal (or lack thereof).
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: klennkellon on Tue, 21 March 2017, 02:37:21
Didn't this layout come out like 5 or 6 years ago?

After 5 years it still didn't become popular; that says a lot about how much appeal it reaaally has. Making minor tweaks and offering greens isn't going to change the basic appeal (or lack thereof).
Well it was popular enough CM brought it back for their Masterkeys line. And it's even better than the old TK.
Title: Re: Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro M review (Cherry MX Green)
Post by: dantan on Tue, 21 March 2017, 08:16:41
Well it was popular enough CM brought it back for their Masterkeys line. And it's even better than the old TK.
[/quote]

If CM didn't at least improve over the old TK, they would have been screwed. The market has gotten way more competitive in the past few years and even the cheapest $30 boards are having RGB LEDs and lighting effects.