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Coolermaster Storm Trigger Mechanical Keyboard

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#1 ·
Coolermaster Storm Trigger Mechanical Keyboard

Description:
-High durability gold-plated Cherry switches rated for over 50 million key strokes
-Multi-media control keys for convenient sound control
-5 macro keys with profile management
-18K gold plated ultra low latency USB plugs
-Anti-ghosting 6 key rollover
-64KB on-board memory for profile storage
-Storm tactics key for deactivation of Windows key
-1000Hz driverless polling / 1ms response time
-Two port enhanced USB 2.0 hub
-Detachable wrist rest
-Braided cable for durability
-Non-slip rubber coating
 

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#2 ·
Coolermaster Strom Trigger Keyboard

review by sp33d junki3

318
326

This is my first mechanical keyboard that I needed red led with MX Brown switches. The options to have one here in Canada is very limited and expensive.

When I got this keyboard I notice how heavy this was. There is a nice hefty feel to it. Shows that this is very sturdy.
The Trigger has a nice feel to it. The whole keyboard including the wrist rest has a nice soft touch rubber feel. Even the angled feet are in rubber to help it from slipping.

There is 4 LED Brightness settings to choice from which all of them shine very nicely through the keys. The 5th one is by the AC adapter plug. (sold separately) , what this also helps with is the 2 USB ports. Can give extra power to the USB ports to help with charging.
You can adjust how you want the LED to look. All on, all off, WASD/Macro/Arrow keys only and all on pulsating thought the 4 levels of brightness.

The software you download from Coolermaster site. Everything looked very simple, you can set almost any key do what you want. I did not go through the software too much, but here is where you can turn on windows key. (Both are default off)
Haven't played with the macro setup yet, will later on and will update once I have a game that can fully use it.

The wrist rest is a nice length and have a really perfect angle for my use.
Size of the keyboard is really not that big. 18.75"L x 9.75" W
I have picked up so O-Rings 40A-L 0.2mm to reduce the bottoming out sound.

The one thing I didn't like is the micro USB connector, which can be easily pulled out.

ProsCons
Macros, Red LED, MX Brown Switches, Soft touch feel.Micro USB connector.

Ratings
Overall4
 
#3 ·
Incredible Keyboard, changed my view on mechanicals completely

review by mcrbradbury

Let me start by saying this isn't the First Mechanical Keyboard I have used. I have a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate at work, which i use every day. On the non-mechanical side, i came from a Logitech G19, which replaced my old G15.
While the G19 is a beautiful, sleek, and excessive keyboard (who honestly needs a display on a keyboard?
biggrin.gif
) which is awesome, i decided to try out the CM storm as a mechanical keyboard for my second computer.

After it arrived, I couldn't help but smile at how brilliant it looked. I am not too much a fan of the "gloss" (it gets dirty, smudgy, it's difficult to clean sometimes and scratches are extremely obvious) and i hated the fact that the Blackwidow i use makes such a noise in the office. It's hard to stay focused when every click of a key makes this god-awful sound that annoys the Bejeebus out of everyone in the building. (It's a good keyboard if you enjoy that, however)

The Storm Trigger (Cherry RED Keys) was quiet to type on, and didn't have a gloss but still looked very, very nice. After typing on it a bit (it takes some getting used to, there is no "click" when the button goes down, but after a while you can feel when the key is registered) it was incredibly comfortable, and very fast. It currently is the Fastest keyboard i can type on.

The software provided by Coolermaster for the trigger seemed to be a little too visually ridiculous (aka: 1337 h4x0rs cu5t0m keyz!1!!!1), but it was easy enough to find my way around, and after i did noticed it had the same level of customization as the Blackwidow Ultimate. (minus the screen, of course)
thumb.gif


It's a requirement of mine that keyboard Keys must be Programmable, because of a need to type in other languages. i need to swap keys around, assign macros, and switch between profiles on the fly. The CM Storm trigger smashes all of these points.

I've read a lot of people say that this keyboard isn't for typing, and if you aren't someone that can adapt to a different keyboard, then I'd agree. But if you held back by a keyboards speed, then touch typing on this will feel so much more comfortable and faster.

I was actually so impressed with the CM Storm Trigger its replaced my G19, And I've requested one at work to replace my Razer Blackwidow Ultimate. It was not what i was expecting and was an excellent surprise and at an excellent price. I recommend it!
smile.gif


ProsCons
Comfortable, Not distracting to type on, Beautiful ResponseThe microUSB cord in the back can slip or be knocked out, Would love to see an external Volume Control

Ratings
Overall4
 
#4 ·
In-Depth Review [Updated 2015]

review by darkwizzie

cm-storm-trigger-mechanical-keyboard.jpg


First off, don't pay $120 for this keyboard. You can find $100 if you actually bother to look around. That said, let's move on. This is the slightly more expensive cousin of the other Trigger keyboards from CM. This one has 5 macro keys on the left hand side. The macro-recording is somewhat confusing. The windows key is also not functional by default. (Some consider this a pro, some consider this a con.)

What's good about this keyboard? It's quite heavy and seems to have good build quality. The lighting is nice, with 5 brightness settings, and 3 lighting settings (on, breathing (slow pulsing), only WASD... OFF isn't a lighting mode!). The two highest brightness settings can only be acheived by plugging in a seperate, not included 6V DC cable. You can use a cell phone charger. I happened to have on lying around with a socket close enough so the length of the cord won't bother me. The Keyboard cord itself is decent length, and is braided. It IS odd that CM would leave out a DC cable for a keyboard at this price. The backlight mainly lights up the top of the key because that is where the led is placed. As a result, the number 1 is lit up more than the ! part of the keycap. it's not a big deal, but I would have preferred if they fixed that.

Function keys exist. F5-F8 are music playback hotkeys, but you need to press the windows key to use them. F9-F11 are mute/volume. What I did was I used autohotkey to script the numberpad into a giant hotkey-pad.

You do NOT need to download CM's software in order to use the keyboard. The software offers many functions (but somehow misses a simply folder-opening function) that you may want. A CM representative told me that they are currently working on fixing the folder issue with their software update and hope to push it out on the next one. Meanwhile, I am using autohotkey to turn my entire numpad into a macro-pad to open any programs or folders I want. (Although, if you are an avid numpad user and you use every key on the keyboard, this option might not be for you. But who DOES that?!)

For those that are proficient in the art of macro-ing, tjhough, it seems quite powerful. What pains me though, is the lack of documentation with this keyboard. Not saying we need a book for a keyboard, but more general info (such as lighting modes) would be nice, along with an easy-to-understand manual on how to record macros. It took be a bit, but I finally understood how the macroing process works. It has many functions. I suspect with enough thought and tinkering, we can script-open folders without a set option to do so. The macro keys are NOT considered as 'new keys' to the computer, but rather, when I press M1, the computer registers as if I pressed CTRL+1 (I set it that way).

The gold plated keys are gimmicky as far as evidence goes. There is an optional wrist wrest, which I enjoyed. Note that after continued use for a few months, the wrist wrest 'rubber coating' comes off a little bit on the edges. It's not aesthetically pleasing but doesn't change the feel of the keyboard. The rubberized to the keys and parts of the keyboard is something I really dig personally. It makes it feel more polished and of a higher quality. There are two USB ports on the back, but they may only be used if the 6v DC power is plugged into.

I did have to adjust to the layout of the keys, because my last keyboard, although still standard, somehow had the keys spread further apart. I am adjusting though.

Pictures you can easily find on the reviews below me and on Google.
At the price point of $100, this keyboard is pretty kickass. (The black cherry got to $70 on a sale once!) I got the brown switches and I am satisfied.
thumb.gif


EDIT:
Hey guys.
It's 2015! I want to add some thoughts about this keyboard now I've used more than one mechanical keyboard and I have a long-term relationship with this one.

-The keycaps seem to wear out kind of quickly. Yes, they are standard ABS keycaps but even then I felt they wore off too quickly. Two year's time for me was more than enough to peel off the plastic, leaving the space bar with a chunk of transparent plastic. The letter "o" lost all of the black plastic in the middle of the letter, now it's all transparent.

-While the rubberized coating of the keycaps felt nice, they wore off with use. However, it wore off gracefully, without any real problems.

-The keyboard is still well-constructed for a plastic keyboard. Picking it up by one corner only does not really flex the thing. Typing on it sometimes causes a "ping" sound when I peck at the keyboard with more force. It is not something that is really disturbing though.

-Over time I felt the design of this keyboard, like most gamer peripherals, are a bit too edgy and gamer-y for my tastes, however this keyboard is more understated than some of the other gamer keyboards I have seen.

-The height of the keyboard without feet is 2.5cm which is OK.

-The case angle is approx 3-4 degrees measured from the bottom row of keys to the top.

ProsCons
Good price for a mechanical keyboard, decent backlights, 5 macro keys, good build quality, rubberized surface, wrist wrest optionalRequires DC cable for all features, macro keys only accept macros, keycaps wear off quickly

Ratings
Overall4
 
#5 ·
#10 ·
This Keyboard is Addicting!

review by oliver1234

First off, THIS KEYBOARD IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER FELT!!! This is my first mechanical keyboard and I hate myself for buying it, because I know I'm never going back to cheaper rubber domes again. Hopefully, this one will last me for years. I've only had this for two days so far, but one complaint is how the removable usb cable's USB port has literally snapped off the internal PCB after practically no use. I haven't had this problem so far, and I'm treating that area very gently. I you haven't typed on a mechanical keyboard before, you don't knwo what your missing. I used to be one of those people saying "Why would you ever spend over 100 dollars just to get a keyboard because it's mechanical?" Well, only people that have never used a mechanical would ever ask that. The Cherry MX Blue switches make an amazing sound (in my opinion), and I don't think I would ever get tired of it. But be warned, most of you (gamers and computer enthusiasts) will love the sound, but before you buy, make sure the people your living with wont mind it. I used to have a Razer Lycosa, and it was a great keyboard for me, but when this had a 15% off, and 30$ mail in rebate, it was irresistible, because I had my eye on it for a while and I needed a black and red one for my new rig (the blue Lycosa wasn't gonna cut it). I have heard that the blue switch is the switch most professional writers use and I can see why; you almost never get tired or worn out typing on it. It has a much lighter actuation force than rubber dome keyboards, so at first, it felt really weird, but like everything else, you adjust. I almost started to scare myself by looking forward to typing my English essay today! The build quality is amazing, and it has a very good weight to the keyboard overall. I would highly highly recommend this to anyone that would almost remotely consider thinking about buying this keyboard!

ProsCons
Premium Quality, Red LED Backlit, 5 Macros, MX Blue Switches, Competitive Price, Rubberized Texture, Wrist rest, On the Fly programmable Macro'sRemovable USB cable

Ratings
Overall5
 
#11 ·
This Keyboard is Addicting!

review by oliver1234
i have the storm quick fire. as you said, make sure anyone else who will be around for any length of time wont be bothered by the clicking. my girlfriend hates when i play any game and even more when i type anything more than a few words.
also, my g key sometimes skips. i hate to go back to my dome key logitech. its gunna suck for at least a few weeks.
PURE AWESOME keyboards
 
#13 ·
Absolutely the best keyboard I've personally encountered yet, could not recommend more (brown key variant)

review by gboo

I got this keyboard from a computer shop in Illinois I worked at for around a year. When mechanical boards were rolling out left and right I kinda wrote them off as a fad. We got in some awesome keyboards over my tenure there, The corsair K70 vengeance, the Seel series 6GV2, the Coolermaster quickfire series, and of course we always had non mechanical offerings from Microsoft, Logitech and Razer. I had the oportuinity to demo every single one extensively and my general conclusions matched my initial feelings towards them all. Modern gaming and mechanical keyboards were neat, yet overpriced, and defiantly left me feeling like they were coming straight offa the fad train. The only one at the time that caught my interest was the Steel Series 6GV2. I had previously gotten a 1989 (my birth year yay) IBM model M second hand that I absolutely love. When i compared it side by side to the 6GV2, there was something lacking i needed. Maybe it was the fact that our 6GV2's only were the cherry black switch variant, none the less, on my main rig i stuck with my IBM. This was all until one day when we started stocking the cherry brown Storm Trigger's by CM. At first I wrote it off like any other one I had seen. Then I got to demo it one day to a perspective customer and it caught my interest. The brown switches have what I personally consider to be the correct clunky feel a keyboard should have. I feel they let you know what you've hit with some physical feedback right on time with the keystroke. Anyways without oohing too much, it's a nice time. Worth the original purchase by far. As a couple months went by it continued to serve me well till I had a terrible accident. I spilled nearly an entire beer right into the center of my damn new Storm Trigger. I was quite furious. Needless to say I freaked out, but being a pc tech, I unplugged it and threw it in a big o thing of silica gel to dry it out. An overnight rest later and bam still working. I was completely amazed, i figured all those individual switches would be a more fragile ecosystem than your average carbon contact dome board. Yet the story doesn't end here, a few more months pass after and now I have a new gig. Same ol stuff, new job, mostly doing onsite or remote support for clients so I'm with this keyboard more and more. Anyways, my dumb ass spills Dr Pepper into it, and wait there's more, yet ANOTHER beer a couple months after the Dr Pepper. After the soda at first I lost a bank of about a quarter of the keys every time I tested it. Yet after more drying and nearly giving up, hot damn it was working. I'm typing this review on it now and still I'm astounded its working and still feels excellent. I'm sure my experience isn't typical of morons who spill on their equipment, but good lord I could not be happier with this keyboard.

ProsCons
Amazing construction quality, Lights if you need em, Detachable Usb, Stunning feelThe font type on keys leaves a bit to be desired, as well as most of the branding across the thing.

Ratings
Overall5
 
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