At first we would like to thank Cooler Master for sending a sample of their Masterkeys Pro L RGB Mechanical Keyboard for testing and reviewing.

 

 

About Cooler Master:

"Cooler Master was founded with the mission of providing the industry's best thermal solutions. Since its establishment two decades ago, the company has remained faithful to this mission, emerging as a world leader in products and services for companies dealing with devices where heat issues must be resolved.

 

In pursuing this mission, Cooler Master is absolutely committed to delivering solutions that precisely meet customer requirements for features, performance, and quality. Moreover, we strive to be a reliable long-term partner for our customers that they can truly depend on. It aims to be the first and foremost name that comes to mind for companies around the world seeking thermal solutions, and seeks to build such a reputation through outstanding technology, sophisticated design, and superior service.

 

Cooler Master's current business encompasses a comprehensive lineup of thermal solutions for a full range of applications. Its products range from heat sinks and fans to component housing, chassis, and ducting for computers, industrial machinery, telecommunications equipment, and many other devices.

 

A critical component of Cooler Master's ability to successfully pursue its mission is an unstinting commitment to quality, as demonstrated by the ISO 9001 certification granted to its main manufacturing plant in Taiwan. It has also enforced ISO guidelines and is in the process of applying for ISO 9002 certification at its second and third plants, located in China. Cooler Master has also implemented a number of analytical and testing protocols to ensure top quality, including at subcontractors, to further ensure thorough quality control. Moreover, Cooler Master's dedication to quality extends beyond manufacturing to every aspect of its operation, including service."

 

Product Features:

 

The Best of Both Worlds

 

Cooler Master engineers went to work on how to effectively design a keyboard with superior switches and the brightest LED backlighting. We gutted the interior and redefined RGB backlighting by modifying the printed circuit board (PCB) with small cutouts to let the LEDs sit snugly against the switches.

 

That means we're still able to use genuine Cherry MX switches with their RGB housing AND larger, brighter LEDs. The concentrated light under the keycaps will let your keyboard's LEDs pop and shine with vibrant colors. No dull muted colors here.

 

Brilliant Illumination

 

The MasterKeys Pro L radiates any color you want. Change and customize the color with or without software. LEDs include multiple modes of operation, including Color Wave, Breathing, and unique responsive effects.

 

Processing Power Unleashed

 

The MasterKeys Pro is outfitted with the most powerful ARM Cortex M3 processor found in keyboards in the market right now. Clocking in at an impressive 72 MHz, the processor is 25% faster than keyboards that use Cortex M0 processor, which greatly unlocks the potential for the MasterKeys Pro On-the-fly System. Save and execute commands and macros instantly. No loading. No waiting. You'll beat your opponent to the punch every time.

 

On-the-fly System

 

The MasterKeys Pro utilizes the processing power of the ARM Cortex M3 for its advanced On-the-fly System. LED lighting modes, repeat rate adjustment, multimedia keys, macro recording, combined with four profile keys, enable you to control all aspects of the keyboard right at your fingertips. No need to alt+tab and open up the software. Stay in the game and focused on defeating your enemies.

 

Macro and Profile Support

 

Four profile keys offer quick backlighting and macro recording without hassle. Program multiple keystrokes to a single key or change per-key backlighting with intuitive keyboard commands.

 

Getting familiar with a new game and looking for an edge? Program keys with different colors to help you learn the in-game keybinds faster.

 

Status Indicator System

 

Easily navigate the On-the-fly System and know what settings you have selected by just glancing at the keyboard.

 

When holding down the FN key, you can see what profile and repeat rate you’re currently on, as well as whether or not the windows lock is activated. You’re also able to see the brightness levels of colors you have selected for the red, green and blue keys.

 

Easy-to-use Software

 

No tricks. No gimmicks. Just straight forward software that lets you easily fine-tune RGB color and speed settings for modes like Color Wave, Star Effect, and Rain Drop.

 

You're also able to hold left click to brush on colors for per-key backlighting, making LED customization a breeze. Backup and save your gaming profiles to share with fans and the community.

 

Exclusive Anti-ghosting Technology

 

Exclusive anti-ghosting technology features two technologies rolled into one, making the keyboard's functions and macros compatible even on OS X systems. We've combined N-key and 6-key rollover together, ensuring each keypress is correctly detected regardless of how many keys are pressed. If six or more keys are pressed, it automatically switches over to N-key rollover. Rest easy knowing no matter how fast and furious it gets, on whatever OS you choose to game on, your keyboard can handle it.

 

 

Product Specifications:

 

 

 

Last time we have taken a look at a Cooler Master keyboard model it was the Quick Fire XTi Brown Switch Keyboard, which did employ a rather simple LED setup comprised of red/blue combinations, the keyboard was driverless and also did feature a set number of LED lighting modes. We could program the macros right from the keyboard hardware itself, something which is not possible with similar products from other brands; this time we do have on our test table the Masterkeys Pro L, an updated model which features now a RGB LED system, with more lighting modes and an application which does make programming considerably easier; also with this model, the possibility to program from within the keyboard hardware directly is again available. The product does ship inside a very compact packaging, which features a photo of the keyboard in operation on top along with some more icons which do highlight some of the product characteristics:

 

 

 

Indeed, we are dealing with Cherry MX switches again, different keyboard layouts and while our sample has shipped with Cherry MX Red, there is also a Brown and also a Blue version available for purchase:

 

 

 

A product description is available on the bottom area of the box, in multiple languages:

 

 

 

After unsealing the box and lifting the top cover we will get to see the keyboard fully protected, along with a reserved space for the bundle:

 

 

 

The word “bundle” is a bit much in this case, since we do only get the Manual, along with the USB cable and key puller, which are placed in a separate transparent plastic bag:

 

 

 

The Manual has a similar layout as we have seen along with the Quick Fire XTi Brown, showing us the key combinations in order to accomplish different actions:

 

 

 

The supplied removable USB cable is fully-braided and has a length of 1.5m; the key puller is very useful when doing cleaning maintenance or for when we would like to replace the current key caps with other model:

 

 

 

Masterkeys Pro L is also supplied with a protective cover, which is handy to be used in order to avoid dust accumulation while the keyboard is not utilized:

 

 

 

A similar layout as the Quick Fire XTi is immediately spotted, with a lot of multifunctional keys and separate profile buttons easy accessible:

 

 

 

First we can spot the group of keys responsible for LED lighting setup:

 

 

 

The repeat rate can be adjusted with the next set of keys:

 

 

 

While F9 can also act as a Windows Lock key, the F10 records a LED backlight setup, while F11-F12, but also the next three keys are in charge of Macro setup (F9 – macro on the fly, F10 - erases a previously defined macro, Prt Scr – single macro loop function, Scr Lk – infinite macro loop, Pause – repeat macro):

 

 

 

 

The four different profiles can be assigned to the respective keys:

 

 

 

Ins/Home/Page Up/Del/End/Page Down also double up as multimedia keys on the Masterkeys Pro L:

 

 

 

Double functions can be also found on the numeric pad keys:

 

 

 

A Cooler Master key is available on both sides of the Spacebar key:

 

 

 

 

Here is a view on the side; here we will observe a small cable routing area:

 

 

 

In the front keyboard area, but also on the other side we do have cable routing channels:

 

 

 

Here is also a look on the bottom keyboard area, which shows the small rubber feet on each corner, but also a clear look at the channels through which the cable can be routed:

 

 

An additional set of feet is also available, which can lift the keyboard at a specific angle; we appreciate that the manufacturer has decided to cover their tip with a rubber layer, so the product will stay steady on the table while these are used:

 

 

 

 

The cable can be plugged to the supplied port in a snap:

 

 

 

 

The supplied Cherry MX switches do sport a clear casing so the LED light will be distributed evenly:

 

 

 

Right after we have connected the keyboard to a spare USB port, the LED show has begun:

 

 

 

In order to use the extra features of the Masterkeys Pro L keyboard, we do have to install the Portal Software; this software will detect the connected peripheral, perform software updates when necessary and also download further the exact application for it:

 

 

 

The software in this case is dedicated strictly for LED lighting configuration, and no other functions. The larger keyboard image allows live exemplification of the current set mode and further down we can choose from the available presets; only the ticked ones will be available when switching through while using the specific key combination so if we do not like some of these we can disable them completely; the color can be preset from the right side of the interface, by using the sliders or specific codes. The Static mode is pretty self-explanatory, since it does set a single color for the whole set of keys:

 

 

The Color Wave mode also comes with the possibility to change the direction of the flow:

 

 

Cross Mode does create crosses on the keyboard when a keyboard is pressed:

 

 

Single Key mode will light up only the keys which have been pressed:

 

 

Customize mode does allow us to set a different LED light to each key, but also turn the lighting of the unneeded keys off:

 

 

Star Effect will allow the keyboard to light up progressively a random set of keys, which will then power down and light up another set:

 

 

Rain Drop mode will simulate drops of rain with the help of the Cherry MX switch LEDs:

 

 

Color Cycle does use all keys at once and goes through all the color possibilities:

 

 

Breath mode is pretty self-explanatory, and we do also have the possibility to set the desired LED light color for this effect:

 

 

Ripple mode allows the user to select the color and speed of the effect; when pressing on a key, it is like sending a shockwave of light through all the remaining keyboard keys:

 

 

The MultiLayer mode allows the user to combine multiple modes from the ones presented at once:

 

 

Game Snake is the mode which allows us to play the classic “Snake” game on the keyboard; the snake will be moved with the directional keys and was also present on the previous keyboard we have tested from them:

 

 

One of the most interesting modes is System Status, which either transforms our keyboard into a visual EQ or even more, a monitor for the CPU usage in real time:

 

 

Ultimately, we can use the mode which turns all key lighting off:

 

 

The created profiles can be also saved to the internal keyboard memory from the Library tab:

 

 

Since just words do not do this keyboard justice, we have shot a small video clip in order to show the LED light effects:

 

 

 

By featuring an upgraded ARM Cortex M3 processor clocked at 72MHz, the Masterkeys Pro L keyboard can be used to save and execute commands and macros with impressive speed, but also drive the whole array of LED lights in order to create nice effects. The Cherry MX switches are widely-known for their reliability and the upgrade to the full-RGB version allows us to select from a total of 16.7 million colors.

 

With the previous Quick Fire XTi variant, all modifications were done from within the keyboard itself, while this new reincarnation also ships with a dedicated software, in order to increase the customizability of the LED light setup. Unlike the previous design, now we can also disable the modes we do not actually use, so we would switch only through the LED modes we are really interested in. With the new Cherry MX RGB switches, we do also have an increased brightness thanks to their clear plastic body, something we have only seen with the Corsair keyboards before.

 

The build quality of the Masterkeys Pro L is solid and we did really enjoy the feature where we can route the USB cable in three different directions; as soon as the user gets familiar to macro programming directly on the keyboard, we think that it is a much faster process than using a specific software.

 

If we have less space on the table or simply enjoy using a tenkeyless design, then Cooler Master has us covered with the Masterkeys Pro S model.

 

The Masterkeys Pro L keyboard, as-tested with MX Red switches can be purchased online for about 150 Euros; there is also a simpler, white LED model which is available for just 110 Euros.

Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro L RGB Mechanical Keyboard is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Cooler Master for making this review possible!