CM Storm Quick Fire TK - Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Category : Keyboards
Published by Marc Büchel on 15.11.12
Cooler Master has been in the gaming sector with their gaming brand CM Storm for quite a few years now. Therefore the CM Storm Quick Fire TK isn't their first keyobard anymore. It makes use of mechanical switches from Cherry and offers a more compact form factor.




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On the following pages we will show you the strengths and weaknesses of the CM Storm gaming keyboard.

Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - Preview
Page 3 - Features
Page 4 - Front/Back
Page 5 - Conclusion



Discuss this article in the forums [pagebreak]

Preview

 
 
 



Page 1 - Introduction
Page 2 - Preview
Page 3 - Features
Page 4 - Front/Back
Page 5 - Conclusion



Discuss this article in the forums [pagebreak]

Features



  • Model number: SGK-4020-GKCR1 (Red Switch), SGK-4020-GKCM1 (Brown Switch), SGK-4020-GKCL1 (Blue Switch)
  • Keys: Cherry MX Blue/Brown/Red
  • Keycaps: ABS, grip coated, removable
  • Backlight: All keys, Red, 5 Levels, 3 Modes
  • Polling Rate: 1000 Hz / 1ms
  • Interface: USB 2.0
  • Cable: 1.8m braided, gold plated, removable
  • Dimensions: 377.5 x 138 x 33 mm
  • Weight: 544 g




    Page 1 - Introduction
    Page 2 - Preview
    Page 3 - Features
    Page 4 - Front/Back
    Page 5 - Conclusion



    Discuss this article in the forums [pagebreak]

    Front

    With the Quick Fire Pro TK, CM Storm has created a keyboard which basically come with a standard layout where the block between the numberpad and the enter key is missing. The advantage of this layout is that the keyboard features a reduced size and it doesn't take as much space on the desk like a standard keyboard. Especially at LAN parties this can be an advantage, since it's quite often the case, that there isn't enough space. Furthermore the CM Storm Quick Fire TK is a very robust product. Cooler Master chose to put a metal plate into the back of this keyboard, which makes it kind of indestructible. Another great addition are the mechanical key, which do not only feel great when typing, their endurance is just incomparable to rubber dome keys. CherryMX switches are well know for their ability of surviving 50 million keystrokes without even breaking a sweat. In order to cause damage to this keyboard you'd have to hit it with a baseball bat or a hammer, otherwise it's just very, very unlikely that something will break. Cooler Master also provided the key caps with a very comfortable coating which feels grippy but not sticky.



    To provide the Quick Fire Pro TK with some additional functionality Cooler Master equipped it with an FN key. If you press this key for a few seconds you're going to deactivate the F-keys as well as the number pad. At the same time you activate additional control keys as well as multimedia keys and the arrow keys, which have been integrated into the number pad. With the control keys you can for example switch between the three different backlight colors. What you can also do is adjusting the level of brightness and by pressing the F12-key you deactivate the Windows key. Once the arrow keys are activated the enter key in the number pad is deactivated. We would have loved it if the enter key stays activated, especially for office task this would be useful. On the other hand there is the fact, that this is a gaming keyboard and not some almighty "I can do everything even better" keyboard. Cooler Master had been focussing on Gamers needs and in our honest opinion, they did a good job so far.



    Back


    If you spin and rotate the CM Storm Quick Fire TK you'll notice how robust this thing actually is. The build quality is on an extraordinary high level and there is just absolutely nothing that doesn't fit perfectly. So, even if you're a hardcore gamer you'll enjoy this product for a very long time. The likelyhood, that something is going to break is very low, except you're the kind of guy who smashed the keyboard over the edge of the table. But in this case we would recommend an anger management therapy when buying a new keyboard. Btw. maybe that's something peripherals manufacturers could sell with their keyboards, mice or headsets to create some additional value on their products



    Page 1 - Introduction
    Page 2 - Preview
    Page 3 - Features
    Page 4 - Front/Back
    Page 5 - Conclusion



    Discuss this article in the forums [pagebreak]

    Conclusion

    The CM Storm Quick Fire TK Pro is a very robust and high quality gaming keyboard which is able to gather a lot of plus points with its Cherry MX keys. We also liked the comfortable key cap coating, that provides great levels of grip while not being sticky. Furthermore it is a good descision that Cooler Master equipped this keyboard with an FN key to provide additional functionality.

    Regarding the design the CM Storm Quick Fire TK Pro comes with a mixture of black matte, grey and red/blue/white, whereas the keys are black and have a red, blue or white backlight. Furthermore we loved to notice that the backlight can also be seen clearly an a bright light room.

    Despite the fact that this keyobard comes with a compact form format you'll be able to place your hand in an ergonomic way. Therefore it's possible to write even longer texts - such as this review - with the Quick Fire TK. Combinded with the Cherry MX keys as well as the rubber coating you get with each key, typing is very comfortable. Special for the Cherry keys in this keyobard is, that they don't have a defined release point. They already react when you push a key half way through.

    Last but not least the price: MSRP is 94.99 Euro (est. CHF 114.-). This isn't exactly cheap, especially not if you consider that this is a compact keyboard where quite a few keys are missing. But still we think the price is ok, since you get mechanical switches as well as backlight in three different colors, realized by one LED below each key.

    The CM Storm Quick Fire TK gets very good four and a half out of five stars.





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    Page 1 - Introduction
    Page 2 - Preview
    Page 3 - Features
    Page 4 - Front/Back
    Page 5 - Conclusion


    Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch