Cooler Master CM Storm Trigger Mechanical Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Design and Ergonomics3. Software and Performance4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

Overall we are quite impressed with what the CM Storm Trigger has to offer.  The rugged design and aesthetics make the keyboard look very robust.  That said, we question just how well built it really is as our sample had what sounds like a piece of plastic rattling around inside when moved. We admire Cooler Masters decision not to give the Trigger a glossy finish, as the rubberised paint is far more practical and doesn't pick up fingerprints and grime readily.

Cooler Master offer this keyboard with all four of the flavours in Cherry's range of MX mechanical switches.  We tested the Black version but the others are available depending on your personal preference.

We found the gaming performance of the keyboard to be very good indeed, in line with pretty much every other Cherry-based mechanical switches we've ever tested.  The included software package is very good and lets us easily configure the different functions of the keyboard.

There are a few negative aspects regarding the Trigger, though.  Despite having a number of different modes and brightness levels for the LED backlighting, the lighting itself isn't even.  This means that most of the second key functions aren't well-illuminated which isn't ideal when using the keyboard in the dark.  Also, we think that most consumers would prefer a selection of dedicated multimedia buttons instead of the second-function buttons which Cooler Master have used.

It is available for around £100 at Scan which puts it in the same price bracket as the Corsair Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard that we reviewed a few weeks back.  We feel that the Corsair model is a better buy as it offers slightly better build quality, dedicated multimedia buttons and a more grown up appearance.

The Trigger is still worth considering, especially if you prefer black, blue or brown Cherry switches instead of the red ones in the Corsair model.

Pros:

• Rubberised finish.
• Choice of MX Switches.
• Rugged design.
• Comprehensive software.

Cons:

• Uneven lighting.
• No dedicated multimedia buttons.

KitGuru says: The CM Storm Trigger is definitely worth considering if you're looking for a high-end gaming keyboard.

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