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Test System:
Processor: Intel Core i7 990x @ 4.2ghz
Cooler: Noctua NH D14
Motherboard: Sapphire X58 Pure Black
Memory: Kingston 6GB H20 @ 2133mhz 9-10-9-28 1T
Graphics: Sapphire HD6950 FleX CFx
Monitors: Dell U2410 x 3
Chassis: Raven 02
To get the most from the MEKA G keyboard, the proprietary software and driver should be installed to improve functionality and to offer Macro functionality.
As with the previous MEKA keyboard we have reviewed, Thermaltake have opted for the Cherry MX Black switches which they say are the ‘number one' choice for gamers.
As this is predominately a gaming keyboard, we tested with a variety of games, such as Black Ops and Crysis 2 and found that it delivered great real world results, being both responsive and quick to react when in demanding situations.
As I don't play MMORPG's or RPG games I gave the MEKA G Unit to my younger brother who is a World Of WarCraft aficionado/fanatic. I left him on his own to set the keyboard up and he mentioned later that it took him a while finding the software on the TTeSports Site. For those also having problems head to the TTeSports home page, then go to Support/ Downloads & FAQ/ Product/ Gaming Keyboard/ MEKA GUnit/ Driver. Then search and download. It will find a 5,011k compressed file. Extract and then run the EXE file. Finally a reboot will be required.
Initially he said he had to spend time working out how to record the Macros, but after half an hour or so he was setting up recordings for WOW like a pro. In the end he didn't want to give me the keyboard back to finish the review, so we can consider that to be a huge success. The palm rest is very comfortable and will help support a gamer when fragging online over long sessions. It is a heavy keyboard which won't move at all when gaming, making it ideal for intense situations.
While gamers will clearly find this keyboard a pleasure to use, a wide portion of the audience will need the keyboard to handle other duties – after all most of us aren't clan gamers. I normally type thousands of words every day, and a great keyboard can positively influence my working day.
Sadly, I find the Cherry MX black switches to feel slightly ‘spongy'. This is a criticism I have pointed out before and while it is very much personal taste, I could not use this keyboard on a daily basis for work duties. This is a shame, as it looks great, and is a fantastic choice for gaming.
I tend to use either a DAS Professional keyboard, or my trusty MX3000 which use Cherry MX Blue stem and MX Brown switches. The reason for this is simple, the black switches only give feedback when they reach the very bottom of the length of travel. I was trained as a touch typist on old IBM keyboards and they have always felt natural to me.
Unlike the more compact MEKA, the keyboard layout on the MEKA G Unit is as good as I have seen. There is a double width return key, a full sized numerical pad at the right and the spacing is just right across the full width. The media keys are also very handy, even though I wouldn't really miss their omission on a day to day basis.
When typing, my performance dropped from 120 wpm to around 100 wpm … this is always the case when I use the MX Black switches, my speed immediately suffers.
The last time I reviewed a Thermaltake keyboard people asked me to explain the differences between the Cherry switches:
Cherry MX Blue – (Click Tactile)
The Blue switch provides a tactile feel and an audible “click” when pressed. These are the noisiest, but also my favourite for fast and heavy duty typing sessions.
Keyboards that use these switches: Das Keyboard Model S Professional, Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, Razer BlackWidow
Cherry MX Brown – (Soft Tactile)
The Brown switch provides a similar tactile feel as the Blue, but is softer and lacks the audible “click.” They are almost as good for speed typing as the MX Blue, but remove a lot of the noise which can annoy people in your vicinity. Consider this is a ‘middle ground compromise' switch.
Keyboards that use these switches: Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent, Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate Silent
Cherry MX Black – (Non-tactile Linear Action)
The Black switch is a non-tactile linear action switch, it is quiet and won't annoy people in the vicinity. This switch is popular for gamers, especially when the demand is there for quick double tapping of keys. They are the worst however for speed typing.
Keyboards that use Cherry MX Black: Thermaltake MEKA range, SteelSeries 6GV2, SteelSeries 7G
I am a member of a clan, and I like the black switches, but I havent tried the blue cherry switches yet. my friend has a cherry keyboard with the brown switches and I like them more. I do type a lot also and I agree with reviewers opinions. I dont understand why black is the ‘gamers choice’. I know some say that rapid key pressing is better, but I tried this out myself and I dont understand why it would be. It doesnt make a difference.
It would be a great idea of gaming companies would offer more choice. maybe have a coloured sticker on the front for the switches used and offer more ethan one choice. but it might be costly for the company involved as three different vresions would need to be made.
I like it. shame they dont allow a setting for full backlighting.
Yeah nice looking keyboard, but its very expensive, or am I just poor ? 🙁
I have an older microsoft keyboard and I want to upgrade, but my budget is £50. this is going to be twice my budget. I shall aim lower !
It looks well made and ill shortlist it. hopefully our local store gets one in to play with.
It looks well made and ill shortlist it. hopefully our local store gets one in to play with.
These keyboards cost so much money, maybe im just skint, but once it hits £60 I start backing away.
I can’t believe that it is not fully backlighted. I am sure there is somewhere a setting or you don’t had the final driver version as it is not on the market yet. Doesn’t make sence to light up only the view key on which you have always your fingers while gaming.
Honestly, I have used a Keyboard with Cherry MX blacks and I didn’t really like it for typing or gaming. I’m a lot faster at rapid key presses on my Razer BlackWidow that runs Cherry MX blues. I realize that the key press happens about half way down on the blue versus the black that happens at the bottom but, honestly I have gotten used to rapid key pressing by holding the key very close to the actuation point and just moving it that tiny bit up and down. Works well for me. This definitely wouldn’t be for me as the backlighting isn’t across the whole keyboard. I feel like that is a shoddy half attempt at backlighting if the whole thing doesn’t light up.
I mean come on, as gamers, most of us probably know where WASD is just by habit. The rest of the keys on the other hand….. ;-P
I would really like to see a version with full backlight and Cherry Mx Brown.
I’ve got a Meka and I like it, but one of the keys has a slight squeak, is that a warranty job?