Cooler Master CM Storm Mech

The CM Storm Mech is Cooler Master’s top-end gaming keyboard, and it’s packed with features designed to give the serious gamer a competitive edge. Our review unit had Cherry Blue key switches, which won’t be to everyone’s taste as they offer a little more resistance and are noisier than Red or Brown-type switches. The keyboard is available with Red, Brown and Green-type switches, too.

This is a serious-looking keyboard, with an aluminium cover dominating the face and a carry handle for easy transportation at LAN parties. There are five “M” macro keys, each of which can have five different macros associated. They’re placed conveniently to the left of the main keyboard and are easily reachable with the fourth or fifth finger on your left hand, so you don’t have to stretch too far from your main gaming keys. The macro keys can be programmed using Cooler Master’s powerful Mech software.

The keys have a grippy coating, which makes them comfortable to type with. We don’t like that all the vowel keys have both symbols for the classic English vowels and the accented variations; this make the keys look cluttered. The keys can be backlit in different combinations, including with just the WASD, arrow keys and M keys highlighted, or with the whole board illuminated.

There are two USB3 ports and two 3.5mm audio jacks, which work with the keyboard’s USB sound card. 64 keys can be held down at one time, so none of your keystrokes will ever be lost, and there’s also a Windows key disabler. The left Fn key acts as the Windows key and can’t be used to control alternative key functions such as the media and volume buttons on the F keys. Only the right Fn button works for any of these functions, which is odd.

The Cooler Master CM Storm Mech is very expensive, and it does feel a little over-engineered for everyone but the most committed of gamers. Nonetheless, it’s stylish, distinctive and has a perfect layout for some serious gaming. Its main rival is the Roccat Ryos MK Pro, which does without a USB3 hub but has more flexible key programming, so just has the edge over the CM Storm Mech.