Gadgetory

for many first-time buyers the price of so-called gaming peripherals will likely be a bit daunting because let's be real there are a ton of options out there that feature RGB lighting dedicated media playback buttons extra programmable macros extensive software suites and the list just goes on but what about folks who don't want or need any of these add-ons or you know they would rather prefer more simple inexpensive no-nonsense peripherals they don't still feature a few gaming centric add-ons I think Coolermaster has something for you the dark bass 900 maybe the most innovative case of the year with a built-in Qi charger interior lighting tempered glass that can be installed on either side and a fully modular interior that can be inverted if you so desire be quiet stepping up their game check it out in the description below what I have here is a new combo pack from Coolermaster they call the master keys light combo RGB which contains both a keyboard and a mouse it's priced at $60 which is similar to the price point of the opt-in gear that was featured last year on the channel and can also be considered a more advanced version of cooler masters iconic Devastator combo one of the most interesting additions to this combo are the so-called mem Kanaka switches that cool master uses on the keyboard mechanical switches are all the rage these days which is and they come in different forms like Cherry MX Gator on kale Oprah and the list goes on men Kanaka on the other hand aims to replicate the feel of true mechanical switches without the associated price premium with this in mind one of my first goals here is to find out if the mem chemical switches are any good getting to the basics the keyboard switches function with three stages the tactile don't foundation at the bottom provides tactile feedback with minimal noise level on top of that sits the steady support housing that holds the key caps and finally the transparent plunger that allows the LED lighting to shine through sound simple right taking a look at a true mechanical switch in this case Cherry MX blue there are a lot of more components working together to get the satisfying actuation and linear feedback these switches are more durable and my personal favorites I have to admit coolermaster has done a pretty good job with their main chemical switches my first impressions were that I was typing on a plastic switch because of the sound it produces let's take a listen key travel is present and minimal force is required for actuations to take place furthermore I noticed if I press the key about 90% down it wouldn't register until I give it an extra push because the plunger has to hit the tactile don't locate it at the base whereas on a mechanical keyboard when the key is pressed about 50% down it registers right away now with normal typing force I didn't experience any skip Keys while writing the script or gaming except on a few occasions if I need to access certain weapons pressing the appropriate key while focusing on movement within a game could be tough so remember to fully press the key the life cycle on these switches are said to be about 12 million which is almost a quarter of the expected life cycle of a traditional Cherry MX mechanical switch it will make a huge difference at the beginning but they will eventually start to wear out over time but on the positive side these switches are water-resistant and that will avoid all possibilities of water damage compared to a mechanical keyboard this also brings me to the next point programming for example the Corsair strafe RGB has dedicated driver software where you can assign multiple profiles which can be accessed right away whether that's in game or while doing something more productive the master key slide on the other hand doesn't come with any driver software so programmable keys are completely out of the question but at least in game assignment is an alternative option it's 2016 so RGB is slowly starting to emerge into budget gaming market this keyboard happens to feature RGB with built-in backlight control effects like speed area and the direction all these can be accessed via the function key this is what actually differentiates it from the regular master keys light the lighting is consistent throughout the board only when you look it from a top angle otherwise as you can see light struggles to shine through the key caps because the LEDs aren't embedded within the circuit board that's the rubber dome given how transparent these layers are light bounces back and forth to produce the nice ambience within the keys but compared to the strafe RGB and it's another story the multimedia controls are built into the function keys and there is a Windows lock button but that's about it if you want dedicated macro buttons or other features you should be looking elsewhere the body is fairly well built and given the thick plastic chassis there was noticeable flex but it's nothing to be worried about Coolermaster hasn't cut too many corners to make a properly functioning keyboard you get adjustable razors to angle the keyboard at your convenience the UV coated key caps are compatible with cherry MX stems and I like the texture on these there is a dedicated numpad for those who work with a lot of numbers and overall I think of getting a solid package for the price as for the included Mouse it's lightweight and features the Avago 3050 optical sensor that can only go up to 2,000 dpi which for many would be enough for basic gaming and casual use the size is a bit too small for my hands and it's not ambidextrous which is a bit odd given this as a combo that targets the beginners connoisseur should have made it accessible to many people as possible there are six buttons including the primary left and right forward and backward on the left side scroller a button and a dpi shift button behind it the 10m arm or switches provide excellent tactile feedback and it doesn't require a lot of pressure to press I will surprise it how well define the scroll steps where and to be honest I enjoyed gaming on it as well it had excellent tracking just like my a B or 7000 there are two lining zones one on the scroll wheel and the transparent bring at the bottom but the luminosity isn't consistent throughout you can tell that there is a single LED light housed within the shell rather than multiple lighting zones and you can change the lighting effects by pressing the DPI shift button and the right-click button and so my concluding thoughts on the master keys light from cooler master is that you're getting a fantastic all-in-one package for $60 the keyboard is far superior than a typical membrane keyboard and while it does feel like typing on plastic switches there is proper key travel distance and close to perfect tactile feedback it's certainly not going to replace a standard mechanical keyboard or my white fox because I'm spoiled by mechanical switches and you won't experience the durability and the perfectly tactile response that comes out of these guys the included Mouse surprise me in a lot of ways two for one the sensor is accurate and I love it the online switches are excellent and given the light body it should complement well with the keyboard what I recommend this combo to someone looking to build their first gaming PC absolutely though for weather and gamers it may be a bit too basic my question for you guys is that how has mechanical keyboards affected your daily computing and gaming experience can you live without a mechanical keyboard even though it sounds a little bit awkward and what do you guys think about the master key sleight from Coolermaster looking forward to the comments I'm Ebert with hurricane axe thank you so much for watching and see you in the next one