CM Storm Mech Gaming Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design and Ergonomics4. Software and Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

Today we are going to look at the latest gaming keyboard from CM Storm, the Mech. As its name suggests, the Mech is a mechanical gaming keyboard and is designed to offer the best possible quality and performance on the market. It’s available with Cherry MX switches in blue, red and brown flavours depending on your preference.

There are numerous other interesting features to the Mech, including customisable aluminium plate which can be removed or replaced as required, an onboard ARM processor which powers the QuickFire function and the ability to register 64 keypresses simultaneously.

We look forward to seeing how it fares when we take a more in-depth look.

Specification

• Switches: CHERRY MX Blue/ Brown/ Red
• N Key Rollover: 64
• Macro Keys: 15 in each profile
• Profiles: 5
• Polling Rate: 1000 Hz/1ms
• Backlight: All keys, 5 settings, 3 modes
• Output: Dual USB 3.0 port and mini USB port for charging
• Windows Key Lock: Yes
• On-board Memory: 128k bytes
• Media Keys: Yes (via F keys)
• USB Cable: Removable
• Dimensions: 553(L)x267(W)x43(H) mm
• Weight: 1686 g / 3.71 lbs

The Mech is supplied in a fairly large keyboard box which is decorated in an exclusive-looking black and silver livery. The front of the box features a large image of the keyboard that we can expect to find within.

Turning the box over reveals some further images of the keyboard alongside a detailed breakdown of the features and specifications.

The included bundle is fairly limited, consisting only of a couple of leaflets, a USB3.0 cable, a key removal tool and a small Allen key to remove the aluminium fascia.

The Mech certainly stands out from the crowd in terms of aesthetics. Placing it next to the SteelSeries 7G in our office, it’s remarkable how far mechanical keyboards have come in the past few years.

One of the key selling points of the Mech is the replaceable aluminium fascia which can be customised to taste. This fits around the main key areas and is secured in place using a series of Allen screws. This gives the keyboard a more exclusive appearance that looks much more sophisticated than other CM Storm models.

The overall build quality of the Mech is slightly disappointing as aluminium isn’t used throughout the keyboard. It feels considerably less durable than competing models from the likes of Corsair.

CM Storm have chosen to stick with white LED backlighting with this particular model, which fits nicely with the sophisticated look that they seem to be going for with the Mech. There are a few different lighting styles, as well as brightness controls and a toggle on/off switch which are secondary functions on the F1 – F4 keys.

Moving further to the right, we find a selection of secondary multimedia controls spanning F5 to F11, with F12 being reserved for a toggle switch for the Windows button.

There are five macro keys located on the left hand side of the main key area which are user configurable. These are well-positioned for easy access.

Along the back edge of the keyboard we find a two port USB3.0 hub which uses the same cable as the keyboard functions. There are also headphone and microphone jacks along this edge.

Software

CM Storm supply a software utility with the Mech which lets us configure macros and set up the keyboard as desired. This is very similar to other CM Storm utilities we've seen in the past.

The interface spans three different tabs. The first tab handles button assignments, and lets us set different functions for all of the keys on the keyboard. There are a number of key functions available to choose from, including single key functions and macros.

On the second page, we are able to set up the different keyboard profiles. There is room for five different profiles which can be switched on-the-fly.

Moving on to the third and final page, we find the macro editor. This is fairly comprehensive and features a simple table interface which lets us set up complicated timings and simultaneous key presses.

Performance

The performance of the Mech will vary quite considerably based on your choice of switch. Like most mechanical gaming keyboards on the market, the Mech features Cherry MX switches which are favoured by most enthusiasts. Unlike most keyboards, there is actually a choice of switch with the Mech- as it’s available with Red, Brown and Blue switches.

Each type of switch has a different feel and action. Red switches don’t offer tactile feedback like the blue and brown switches, which are differentiated by the weight required to depress them. Our particular sample features Blue switches.

We would recommend that you research which type of switch will suit you best before purchasing. They all feel very different and each type will appeal to a different set of users.

The Mech cannot really be faulted in terms of raw gaming performance. The use of Cherry MX switches between most high-end gaming keyboards these days makes the physical experience nearly identical.

Overall we are rather impressed with the CM Storm Mech Gaming Keyboard. The mechanical gaming keyboard market has evolved very rapidly over the past couple of years and has become very competitive.

The days are gone when the only options for gaming-focused mechanical keyboards were boring black boxes with no additional functions.

The design of the Mech is very attractive and the aluminium plate on the top of the keyboard gives it an exclusive appearance. We were a little disappointed with the overall feel of the keyboard, though, as the plastic construction feels less robust than other high price mechanical keyboards available.

It’s great to see that CM Storm are thinking about a fairly broad spectrum of gamers with this product, making it available with Red, Blue and Brown switches. This option is sure to entice those gamers who are looking for a mechanical keyboard based on the specific type of switch that it uses.

The included software utility is a standard affair, however it has all the options that we would usually expect for configuration.  The macro editor is easy to use, which is ideal for those who want to make use of this feature.

With an RRP of £150, we feel that the CM Storm Mech is a little overpriced.  Corsair's K70 mechanical keyboard offers better build quality and a lower price of around £120.

We would like to see the Mech falling to a similar price before we would give it a higher award.

Pros:

• Sophisticated design.
• Choice of Cherry MX switches.
• Removable faceplate.
• Software configuration utility.

Cons:

• Disappointing build quality for the price.

KitGuru says: A good looking keyboard from CM Storm that will suit a wide range of gamers.

 

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