酷冷至尊的CM Storm品牌在(CM Storm)游戏界(gaming world)并不陌生。该产品线(product line)包括许多游戏外围设备，从键盘到游戏鼠标、电脑机箱、耳机和鼠标垫。今天我们来看看“QuickFire 系列中最强大和最完整的机械游戏键盘”，引用Cooler Master自己的话。一款非常坚固、冷静且略显优雅的键盘，不会特意用数十个额外的按键给人留下深刻印象，但坚持基本的打字体验(typing experience)。让我们深入了解 QuickFire Ultimate提供的功能：
拆箱CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate 键盘(CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate Keyboard)
键盘采用黑色盒子，正面绘有键盘的大图像，背面绘有各种语言的技术规格。在前面，您会找到有关正在使用的机械开关类型的信息。我们测试的模型使用Cherry MX Brown开关和红色背光。该产品线有多种开关和背光颜色可供选择：
- 带红色背光的蓝色开关。
- 带蓝色背光的蓝色开关。
- 带红色背光的棕色开关。
- 带白色背光的棕色开关。
- 带红色背光的红色开关。
打开包装盒后，您会发现键盘在塑料面罩下的保护性包装中，旨在吸收任何运输冲击。
键盘具有非常漂亮的哑光黑色饰面，不会留下指纹空间。
除了键盘，您还可以找到键帽拆卸器、保修和快速入门指南(start guide)。键盘不需要任何特殊软件，所以盒子里没有驱动光盘(driver disc)。
硬件规格
键盘使用Cherry MX Brown键轴，估计可承受超过 5000 万次按键，并且还采用了NKRO（N-Key Roll Over）技术，可实现无限制的同时击键。CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate 产品(CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate product)系列还包括带有蓝色和红色开关(Blue and Red switches)的型号。
键帽是可拆卸的，所有按键都有红色LED(LEDs)背光。背光是可配置的，您可以在 5 种级别和 3 种模式之间进行选择。
1.8 米（70.9 英寸）长的编织USB 电缆(USB cable)是可拆卸的，键盘背面还有一个有趣的电缆管理功能(cable management feature)。您可以将电源线安排在键盘的背面或一侧。
键盘通过USB 2.0(USB 2.0)端口连接到 PC 。电缆是可拆卸的，并使用 Mini - USB 2.0端口连接到键盘。
我们谈论的是机械键盘，因此QuickFire Ultimate并不十分轻巧，重 3.04 磅（1.38 公斤）。然而，它是一个紧凑的键盘，没有额外的按钮来占用空间。此键盘的尺寸为 17.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 英寸（长 x 宽 x 高(Length x Width x Height)）或 45.4 x 15.5 x 31 厘米。
您可以在此处找到此键盘的全套规格：QuickFire Ultimate - 规格(QuickFire Ultimate - Specifications)。
使用CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate
我们在对ASUS Strix Tactic Pro的评测中提到，选择机械键盘可能是一个相当复杂的体验，具体取决于您的需求和品味。
我们在不同的游戏中使用了CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate ：反恐精英：全球攻势(Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)、暗黑破坏神 3(Diablo 3)、魔兽世界(World of Warcraft)、蝙蝠侠：阿卡姆起源(Batman: Arkham Origins)和刺客信条：黑旗(Assassin's Creed: Black Flag)。键盘在所有这些中都能完美运行。没有重影，所有命令都立即注册。在响应能力方面确实没有什么可批评的。
当然，我们也用它写了多篇文章，做各种办公相关的工作。QuickFire Ultimate的打字体验很棒，我们甚至可以说这款键盘很可能适合大多数用户而不会出现问题以及许多混合类型的用途。
虽然没有专用的多媒体或宏键(multimedia or macro keys)，但 12 个功能键也兼作多媒体键。F1 到F4 用作(F4 serve)背光设置控件，F5 到 F8 兼作播放控件，而 F9 到F11可以控制音量(volume level)。您可以结合Fn 键(Fn key)访问所有这些功能。
一个非常有趣的功能是按住Fn 键(Fn key)3 秒钟将使其保持启用状态。再次按住它 3 秒钟将禁用它。通过Fn 键(Fn key)的背光通知您何时激活该功能。如果已启用，则背光打开。如果没有，则将其关闭。如果您想在不按住两个键的情况下使用音量或播放控件，这将特别有用。(volume or playback controls)
小键盘的上排还包括四种不同的轮询速率设置：8 ms、4 ms、2ms 和 1ms。这些对应于 1000Hz、500Hz、250Hz 和 125Hz 的轮询率。
说到多功能键，插入和删除键(Insert and Delete keys)也NKRO/6KRO开关。然而，这里也有一个主要的缺点，因为QuickFire Ultimate无法直观地通知您当前处于活动状态的翻转模式(rollover mode)或设置的轮询速率，所有按键都同样亮起。鉴于此键盘没有可用的软件，您最终只能为这些设置玩猜谜游戏。游戏玩家肯定会喜欢的一项功能是在玩游戏时完全禁用Windows 键的能力。(Windows key)您可以通过按Fn+F12（如果 Fn 始终打开，则只需按 F12）即可实现此目的。幸运的是，F12 键(F12 key)仅在启用Windows 键(Windows key)时才会亮起，因此您会知道它何时打开和关闭。背光也带来了不错的触感，您可以在五个强度级别和三种照明模式之间进行选择：全开、呼吸效果或只是方向键、徽标、Fn 和 W(Fn and W)、A、S、D。
使用CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate的整体体验非常好。这款键盘是游戏和普通办公室工作(office work)的绝佳工具。噪音水平不错，布局紧凑，使用它感觉很棒。
判决
Cooler Master提供了一款出色的键盘，其设计简洁(sober design)，看起来相当专业。我们喜欢使用Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Ultimate 机械键盘(Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard)，我们很难找到缺点。除了没有任何方式通知您投票率(polling rate)和翻转变化之外，QuickFire Ultimate对游戏玩家和非游戏玩家来说都是一款出色的键盘。我们建议您试一试，特别是如果您正在寻找一款紧凑、优雅且无需额外按键和功能即可完成工作的机械键盘。但是，铁杆(Hardcore)游戏玩家应该看看其他型号，例如ASUS Strix Tactic Pro我们不久前审查过，特别是您需要宏键和配置文件，这是QuickFire Ultimate不提供的。
Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Review
Cooler Master's CM Storm brand is no stranger to the gaming world. The product line includes a lot of gaming peripherals varying from keyboards to gaming mice, computer cases, headphones and mouse pads. Today we're taking a look at the most "potent and complete mechanical gaming keyboard in the QuickFire line", to quote Cooler Master themselves. A very sturdy, sober and somewhat elegant keyboard that doesn't go out of its way to impress with tens of extra keys, but sticks to the essential typing experience. Let's dive in and see what the QuickFire Ultimate has to offer:
Unboxing The CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate Keyboard
The keyboard comes in a black box painted with a big image of the keyboard on the front and technical specifications in various languages on the back. On the front you'll find information regarding the type of mechanical switches that are being used. The model we've tested uses Cherry MX Brown switches and red backlight. This product lines comes in multiple choices of switches and backlighting colors:
- Blue switch with red backlight.
- Blue switch with blue backlight.
- Brown switch with red backlight.
- Brown switch with white backlight.
- Red switch with red backlight.
Once you open the box, you'll find the keyboard in a protective wrap under a plastic mask destined to absorb any transportation shocks.
The keyboard has a very nice matte black finish which doesn't leave room for fingerprints.
Along with the keyboard you'll also find a key-cap puller, the warranty and a quick start guide. The keyboard doesn't need any kind of special software, so there's no driver disc in the box.
Hardware Specifications
The keyboard uses Cherry MX Brown switches estimated to last for over 50 million key presses and it also features the NKRO (N-Key Roll Over) technology for unlimited simultaneous keystrokes. The CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate product range also includes models with Blue and Red switches.
The keycaps are removable and all of the keys are backlit by red LEDs. The backlighting is configurable and you can choose between 5 levels and 3 modes.
The 1.8 meters (70.9 inches) long braided USB cable is detachable and the back of the keyboard also has an interesting cable management feature. You can arrange the cord to come out either at the back of the keyboard or on one of the sides.
The keyboard connects to the PC through a USB 2.0 port. The cable is detachable and uses a Mini-USB 2.0 port to connect to the keyboard.
We're talking about a mechanical keyboard, so the QuickFire Ultimate is not exactly light, weighing 3.04 lbs (1.38 kgs). It is, however, a compact keyboard without extra buttons to take up space. The dimensions of this keyboard are 17.9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches (Length x Width x Height) or 45.4 x 15.5 x 31 centimeters.
You can find the full set of specifications of this keyboard here: QuickFire Ultimate - Specifications.
Using The CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate
We mentioned in our review of the ASUS Strix Tactic Pro that choosing a mechanical keyboard can be quite a complicated experience, depending on your needs and tastes.
We've used the CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate in different games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Diablo 3, World of Warcraft, Batman: Arkham Origins and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. The keyboard worked perfectly in all of them. There was no ghosting and all of the commands were immediately registered. There's really nothing to criticize in terms of responsiveness.
Of course, we've also used it to write multiple articles and do all kinds of office-related work. The typing experience on the QuickFire Ultimate is great and we would go as far as to say that this keyboard will most probably suit most users without problems as well as many hybrid types of uses.
Although no dedicated multimedia or macro keys are present, the 12 function keys also double as multimedia keys. F1 to F4 serve as controls for the backlight settings, F5 to F8 double as playback controls while F9 to F11 can control the volume level. You can access all of these functions in combination with the Fn key.
A very interesting feature is that holding the Fn key pressed for 3 seconds will keep it enabled. Holding it again for 3 seconds disables it. You're notified of when the function is active through the backlight of the Fn key. If it's enabled, the backlight is on. If not, it's turned off. This is especially useful if you want to use the volume or playback controls without holding down two keys.
The upper row of the numpad also includes four different polling rate settings: 8 ms, 4 ms, 2ms and 1ms. These correspond to polling rates of 1000Hz, 500Hz, 250Hz and 125Hz.
Speaking of multi-function keys, the Insert and Delete keys also double as NKRO/6KRO switches. However, there's also a major downside here, since the QuickFire Ultimate fails to visually notify you of what rollover mode is active or what polling rate it is set at the moment, all of the keys being equally lit. Given that there is no software available for this keyboard, you'll just end up playing a guessing game for these settings. A feature that will definitely be appreciated by gamers is the ability to disable the Windows key completely while playing games. You can achieve this by pressing Fn+F12 (or just F12 if Fn is always on). Luckily, the F12 key only lights up when the Windows key is enabled, so you'll know when it's on and off. The backlight also brings a nice touch and you can choose between five intensity levels and three lighting modes: full on, breathing effect or just the directional keys, logo, Fn and W,A,S,D.
The overall experience of using the CM Storm QuickFire Ultimate is really good. This keyboard is a great tool for both gaming and normal office work. The noise levels are decent, the layout is compact and working with it simply feels great.
Verdict
Cooler Master has delivered a great keyboard with a sober design that looks rather professional. We loved using the Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard and we had a hard time finding downsides. Aside from lacking any way of informing you about the polling rate and the rollover changes, the QuickFire Ultimate is a great keyboard for gamers and non-gamers alike. We recommend that you give it a try, especially if you're on the lookout for a mechanical keyboard that's compact, elegant and just gets the job done without extra keys and functions that you might not need. Hardcore gamers, however, should look at other models, such as the ASUS Strix Tactic Pro that we reviewed a while back, especially you need macro keys and profiles, something that the QuickFire Ultimate does not offer.
