Performance

As much as I really do love the software from a few of the manufactures who combine their keyboard software with their mouse software. I couldn’t be more happy that the Rapid-I keeps things simple and doesn’t require or need any at all. For one there aren’t any special macro keys that take up additional space that I won’t end up using. But the controls for the backlighting, media, and repeat rate are all built in. With the backlighting being the biggest difference between the Rapid-I and the previous Quickfire Rapid that I reviewed, I put together a video showing all of the backlighting controls. Cooler Master even slipped in a new lighting mode when I updated the firmware just before doing this video!

As you can see above (and below) the backlighting on the Rapid-I looks amazing and is packed full of settings. The trailing mode really caught my eye when I first started playing with it, as did the new cross mode that looks crazy when typing. However, when it came down to it the most impressive feature was the four programmable modes. Here you can actually light up JUST the keys you need for your game. You are no longer stuck with everything on or just WASD. In testing, I was able to light up all of the keys I use in LoL on the fly in less than 30 seconds. The only other keyboard that you will find lighting like this is the Ducky Shine 3, and it only has two programmable modes.

lighting 1

lighting 2

lighting 3

lighting 4

Beyond the lighting, the Rapid performed as expected. My test keyboard came with Cherry MX brown switches, so I didn’t have to worry about driving my wife crazy when typing, but I still got the tactile response with each click that I love. The ABS keycaps aren’t anything special, but most people won’t know the difference anyhow. As for the key layout, there weren’t any weird quirks like oversized enter keys or a moved | to worry about. Being a tenkeyless I did miss the number pad but when it comes time for LANs I am going to love the additional space that the keyboard gives me. I take my Quickfire Rapid to LANs all of the time, adding backlighting just makes it that much better.

 

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garfi3ld's Avatar
garfi3ld replied the topic: #34957 06 Jun 2014 17:58
You guys need to check out Cooler Masters new Quickfire Rapid-I, today I took a look at it. I think you will dig it!
trgtprctc's Avatar
trgtprctc replied the topic: #34958 07 Jun 2014 12:22
Very cool lighting modes. I would prefer back lighting other than white, though.
Plague's Avatar
Plague replied the topic: #34959 08 Jun 2014 02:51
if you took all the keys off, you could color the white backplate and make it another color, the keys would still be white, but the glow would be something else. Might be interesting.
garfi3ld's Avatar
garfi3ld replied the topic: #34960 08 Jun 2014 03:43
actually they make LED covers that work amazingly with white LEDs and you can swap them out to other colors as needed



Plague's Avatar
Plague replied the topic: #34965 08 Jun 2014 23:56
wow, that is smart... I didn't give them that much credit. :)

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