CM Storm Trigger Mechanical Keyboard Review

At eTeknix we make sure all the keyboards we get in to review are thoroughly tested across a good range of applications, so we can supply our readers with the right information needed to make a decision when it comes to purchasing a keyboard. Gaming and general use are the two categories that cover most of the aspects that every days users tend to put their keyboards through, although we’ll extend the general use category to include typing long paragraphs etc.

Gaming

Cherry MX Black switches are very common with gaming mechanical keyboards as they require a greater amount of force to activate and have a smooth movement, which means less incorrect key presses, better gaming performance, however this is purely down to the user So we’re putting this to the test by playing numerous games to detect any issues that may arise.

During several hours of gaming, the Trigger did not display any major issues and was a pleasure to use throughout. The main highlights of the keyboard are the Cherry MX Black switches that have a very nice action to them, that meant increased accuracy when running around the battlefield or when casting numerous spells. The backlight is very bright, although can be adjusted if need be, which made it very easy to see during those early hours of the morning.

The only slight issue, which could be more down to unfamiliarity of the new keyboard, was that the positioning of the macro keys down the left hand side, kept getting pressed instead of Ctrl. We’ve seen this on other keyboards too, although like we mentioned, it could just be the unfamiliar layout that just needs more time getting used to. The macro keys were also very useful, especially when playing SW:TOR as it allowed me to effectively queue the abilities I wanted to cast. The onboard memory also came in handy for storing the different profiles that were pre-configured.

General use

For general use the performance was slightly different due to the type of switch used. This made typing long sentences or paragraphs more difficult and awkward as the keys required more force to press, putting more strain on your fingers/wrists – so if you write/code a fair amount, then I’d steer clear from any keyboards with a Cherry MX black switch. For the odd word, short forum post, chat, general web browsing it was good as the force require to activate the keys results in less typos or mistakes. One thing we did notice, is that by default the windows keys are disabled, so in order to use them properly you have to turn them on in the software.

Software

No software is supplied by CM Storm in the box, so you have to go to CM Storm’s website to download the software that is required if you wish to use the macro keys and store profiles on the keyboard. The software is simple to install and even simpler to use. It is divided up into three main parts, which you can see in the red navigation bar in the picture below. The first tab allows you to configure what each key does, whether you want to assign a macro to it, or just launch a program.

The next tab is for the profiles, all of which are stored on the keyboard’s onboard memory. By pressing the predetermined profile switch button, you can cycle through the different configurations that you have saved.

Last but not least, is the macro recording tab that enables you to record numerous button configurations and assign them to a key. This is very useful for MMO games, or any programs that can require complex key shortcuts such as PhotoShop or Excel.

So now we’ve seen how the Trigger performs and what it’s like to use, lets move on to our final thoughts on the keyboard.