| CM Storm Quickfire TK Mechanical Keyboard |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Input Devices | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Austin Downing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monday, 04 March 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CM Storm Quickfire TK Keyboard SGK-4020 Review
Manufacturer: Cooler Master Ltd. Inc. Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Cooler Master. For many of our readers, a keyboard is the way they interact with the world whether it is for work or pleasure. In our ever more connected world, problems like typing speed and comfort are becoming more of a necessity than a nicety. Cooler Master realizes this and has brought out an entire line of mechanical keyboards to handle the demanding needs of typists. In this review, we will be looking at the CM Storm Quickfire TK w/Cherry MX Red switches. These light linear switches are preferred by many gamers for their light touch and linear motion. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will determine if the CM Storm Quickfire TK Mechanical Keyboard SGK-4020 is a great value or if enthusiast we be better served with a different keyboard. Cooler Master has many different mechanical keyboards on the market right now ranging from the full sized Quickfire Pro all the way down to the miniscule Quickfire Rapid. In between both of these is the Quickfire TK with an integrated 10-key keypad and along with all of the control keys that would normally be found on keyboard combined into one grouping. This allows for a smaller keyboard with the same functionality as its larger brethren.
As with any other peripheral it is important look at the Quickfire TK from a well-rounded standpoint, this means using it in a various situations including gaming, and from a typist standpoint. Features
Specifications
Closer Look: Quickfire Rapid TKKeyboards tend due to their design to have similar designs. Thankfully, companies can still try to differentiate themselves and we still get some great looking products like the Quickfire TK.
From the top of the Quickfire TK, you can see some of the big features. At the top, you can see the light and media controls which are built into the F1-F12 keys. When combined with the function switch a user can control which lights are on in the system, how bright there are, or if the keyboard is lit up at all. Next to our light controls, we have our media controls that allow a user has to change their volume, pause/play music, and change the track they are on. On the right we have our combined ten key pad and command cluster, which we will look at more closely next.
The number lock on the ten key allows the user to switch between using it as a number pad and as a command cluster. At first, this caused me many headaches but eventually, I adjusted to the combined pad and have learned to use it effectively. I still find it more cumbersome than having them separate but for users needing a smaller keyboard but still wanting a number pad it works well.
For users who prefer their keyboards to be raised the rear can be propped up about 1" allowing for a more comfortable typing position. The large rubber pads ensure that the Quickfire TK does not move around as a user types no matter how hard they type providing a stable surface for the user to type on.
The USB interface that the Quickfire TK uses is able to disconnect for transport and can be easily replaced should the cable ever become damaged, a wonderful feature since the Quickfire TK seems to be built to last a long time.
This Quickfire TK uses the linear Cherry MX Red switches, which require 45g of force to activate. As the name suggests the Red switches have a linear force profile which many gamers prefer since the force needed to actuate the switch is the same all the way through. This allows for quick reactions and makes it easy for a user to double tap a key as they can keep the key right above the actuation point until the exact moment where the key press is needed. The Cherry MX Red switches may not be the best choice for typist though as they do not give the tactile feedback of a Cherry MX Blue, Brown, or Clear. Testing & ResultsTesting MethodologyTesting peripherals like the Quickfire TK are quite simply a matter of using them in the real world for an extended amount of time. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the product they are no standardized test that can be done but rather it is a matter of personal opinion from the time spent using the product. In order to analyze the qualities of the Quickfire TK I focused on looking at the many different realms of work and play that the Quickfire TK is expected to be subjected to. This means looking at both its qualities as a gaming keyboard, but more importantly its qualities as a method of input for work and school related projects. Test System
Software Tested
ResultsPath of Exile is a free-to-play Action RPG along the lines of the Diablo series. It requires quick reaction, and accurate key presses to outlive the mobs and projectiles that are coming your way. I found that the Cherry MX Reds performed superbly in this environment with the light linear action allowing for quick movements across the multiple actions that were required to save my character from certain death. I found that the Quickfire TK was also extremely comfortable even during long gaming sessions. Dead Space 3 is an action game that centers around Isaac Clarke and his fight against the "markers" and their creation the Necromorphs. With creatures that can kill you from almost any angle in the diverse environments of Dead Space 3 quick reactions are key to survival and the light actuation needed to activate the QuickFire TK makes it quite easy to respond to the evolving threats provided by the game. Overall, the performance of the Quickfire TK lived up to my expectations. Doing office work with the Quickfire TK provided some unique challenges especially since I have built up some habits from using a full sized keyboard and the nature of my work. I tend to use my entire keyboard and as such, having the number pad and the command pad combined into one set threw off my ability to use the style of typing I was used to. Thankfully, after some time I adjusted and was back up to speed. I found the Cherry MX Reds where decent to type on although in my opinion not as enjoyable as the Cherry MX Blues and Browns, but infinitely better than a rubber dome keyboard. The light touch of the Cherry MX Red switches allowed for effortless typing that did not leave me feeling fatigued at the end of the day. Cherry MX Red Switches Final ThoughtsThe Quickfire TK with its Cherry MX Red switches is quite nice to type on, I found that the light touch needed to actuate the keys makes for a very comfortable experience and means that I can type for a long periods of time without feeling fatigue. The small form factor is also nice especially at work where space is limited, but it has it has its own set of negatives. Personally, I find the combined ten key pad and command cluster gets in the way of my work. I found that I was frequently forgetting to use numlock to switch between functions and end up messing up whatever I am working on. Even though this subsided with time, I still prefer the two clusters of keys to be separated especially when I am doing work related to IT which requires the use of both key sets.
CM Storm Quickfire TK ConclusionPerformance in a keyboard is about being to type quickly and accurately. The Cherry MX Red switches are not in my opinion as effective to type on as the Blue and Brown Cherry MX switches. None-the-less the Quickfire TK with its silky smooth switch actions does feel very nice to type on and when gaming the light touch needed allows for very fast reactions and easy double tapping a requirement for many of the games out on the market right now. I found that when typing though the combined ten key pad and command cluster means I found myself making frequent errors when I went to type or use commands which was quite frustrating. The Quickfire TK is good-looking keyboard with its black and red color scheme being able to fit into almost any situation. At my work I did not feel like I was bringing in a gamer keyboard that would look out of place or childish and in my home its simple black exterior fit in well with the rest of my equipment making for a very professional looking station. The lack of a piano finish on the Quickfire TK means that unlike the Das Keyboard it is not as prone to fingerprinting, and dust collection, which makes it much easier to take care of over time. Like all mechanical keyboards, the Quickfire TK is superbly built and with its embedded steel plate, it feels indestructible. I have no question that the Quickfire TK will last a enthusiast many years of use before needing to be replaced and it appears that Cooler Master stands behind their product also, providing a two year warranty on the Quickfire TK. The Quickfire TK is a very basic keyboard providing very few frills beyond the basics. It provides media controls, and light controls but beyond that, the Quickfire TK is very sparse. Cooler Master did not provide any software to customize the functionality of the Quickfire TK or any of the other extras typically seen "gaming" keyboards. With a price tag of $89.99 (Amazon/Newegg), the CM Storm Quickfire TK is quite the deal for a mechanical keyboard. Users can even find the Quickfire TK for under $75 if they are willing to wait for it to go on sale. This makes the Quickfire TK one of the best deals in the mechanical keyboard market. As long as enthusiasts understand the unique challenges presented by the combined ten key and command cluster, then the CM Storm Quickfire TK provides a great value as a smaller mechanical keyboard. As such, the Quickfire TK with Cherry MX Red switches earns the coveted Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award. Pros:
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Comments
Having to constantly press a button to switch between command keys and numerical is the most irritating thing I ever experienced with a keyboard.
Never again.
Plus, this is a compact keyboard. If you'd prefer one with four direction keys, the Quickfire Rapid has that and the numpad.