Question 1

Is the keyboard 100% black or are the areas without keys gray? I love the look of the gray with the black keys.

Accepted Answer

Only the keys are black, the surface is metallic gray. I've been using this keyboard for almost a 6 months now, and had not gotten any problems, I love the feel when pressing the keys. The only thing is, it has no Numpad. would've been a perfect keyboard :)

Question 2

On all the pictures of this product, the keyboard is all black, however, in all the review videos I have watched and even on the chart below where it shows this exact model, it is silver/gray with black keys. If I were to order this product with blue switches, would I be be receiving the black one with black keys, or the silver/gray one with black keys? I would much rather receive the silver one, but it is rather ambiguous what the color of the product I would receive would be

Accepted Answer

The unit I received in June 2013 has black keys in a silver/gray chassis.  The silver/gray finish is some kind of rubberized cotaing, and it does wear off with repeated contact on edges/corners.  If you repeatedly tap on an edge waiting for pages to load as I do, or if you carry it to LAN parties in a back pack regularly, you will see some wear on the edges.  Likewise if you drop it, or drop something on it, it will put scratches in the finish.  This doesn't bother me as everthing shows some wear with use.  I've owned a number of mechanical keyboards since my first in 1986, and this one by far has the best feel, the best tactile and audible response of all of them.  I do a ton of typing and this is the best I've had so far.  All of my previous ones used buckling spring switches (IBM).  These Cherry Blues are vastly superior.  If you want a quality compact mechanical KB you can't go wrong with this one, no matter the color of the chassis.

Question 3

Is this backlit?

Accepted Answer

Nope.  The new model that is coming out later this year will be.  But don't expect that unless otherwise specified

Question 4

Is the keyboard in the picture the same as in real life? all of the reviews and things have had a cm storm windows key quickfire logo on the keyboard and a cooler master logo above the arrow keys.

Accepted Answer

The one I have (purchased in July 2013) has no logo's looking down on the keys. There is a CMSTORM name and logo the front of the keyboard (similar to the 3rd picture (though mine is black versus the orange and white in the picture). The body of my keyboard is more gray than black where the picture looks more black.

Question 5

Does this keyboard have a backlight?

Accepted Answer

No it does not

Question 6

I have a PC, but i also have a Mac. Will this work on Mac OS X, does anyone know?

Accepted Answer

Cooler Master does not advertise any of their KBs as being Mac compatible.  Newegg carries over 700 KBs and only 61 are advertised as Mac compaitble.  It's unlikely that any Newegg customers who bought this keypadless PC gaming keyboard also have a Mac, so you probably won't find anyone who has plugged it in and tried it.  I suggest you contact Cooler Master directly.

Question 7

To type é I have to use Alt+1 3 0, but it only works with the numberpad, otherwise I have to have it as a numpad embedded in the letterpad with a function key somewhere near the Windows key. Is there anything like that on this keyboard? Or is it impossible to do such key combinations? I'd hate to have to change the entire layout to another language just to type that one character.

Accepted Answer

There is no numberpad on this one and typing ALT+ 130 did NOT produce the character you desired. Sorry bro.

Question 8

Is this keyboard considered "plate mounted"? The reason I ask is that recently my 'S' and 'D' switches are not longer functioning properly. I used Paul's Hardware's' video to attempt to clean the switches, but it didn't do the trick. I think it's the switch all-together and was wondering if the switches on this keyboard are non-soldering replaceable.

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is plate mounted, and through-hole soldered in to the PCB.  If you have access to a soldering iron, give it a try.  The switches are held in by 2 leads.  If you buy solder wick, you can use it to remove the solder from the pins holding in the 2 keys, and replace them with 2 new ones.  It might be easier than you think!

Question 9

Can someone please answer this question about quickfire rapid, is this the black matte version with no branding except the one logo in the back of the keyboard? also, is this the same as the quickfire stealth just without the covert keycaps? please respond asap if anyone knows limited time until purchase

Accepted Answer

There is the Coolermaster logo on the windows keys but there are replacements for those with the keyboard. I would imagine that this is the stealth though since it looks like it has the same overall mold as long as the switches are the same. I don't know much about the stealth though, sorry.

Question 10

What is a the maximum Rollover on this keyboard in USB mode? i know it is unlimited in PS/2 Mode, but I don't have the PS/2 available on my  PC?

Accepted Answer

AFAIK the USB protocol for keyboards is limited to 6 key roll over + modifiers.

Questions & Answers