Cooler Master MK850

While the price is high and there's room for improvement--or just other switch options--the MK850 is the current pinnacle of analog keyboard excellence.

We check out the MK850 keyboard from Cooler Master. The unit is their new high-end slash premium with Cherry MX RED RGB keyboards series. The MK850, however, has something that the competition does... Article

Analog Aimpad tech makes this excellent mechanical deck a hybrid of controller and keyboard

Cooler Master brings Aimpad analog control to a global keyboard market with the new MK850 keyboard. The feature list alone would take up the better half of a page, so you need to absolutely devote some time to reading through the review of one of the most important additions to the peripherals market in years.

SWITCH TYPECherry MX redLIGHTINGFull RGBPRICER3,500SUPPLIERCooler Master The Cooler Master Mk850 is mechanical gaming keyboard with a whole bunch of really great features, some of which I honestly did not even know that I wanted until now. The build quality is top-notch and the keyboard feels solid in hand as you unbox it, with a brushed aluminum top cover and a plastic backing. The keyboard design looks neat with sharp curves and bright per-key LED lighting, and there’s a row of […]

Cooler Master's MK850 keyboard integrates analog controls to replicate using a controller, but the experience is far from seamless, like a neat tech demo that's not yet a fully realized product.

A genuine attempt to supplant your gamepad... that's largely successful.

In the computer gaming world, the genre of racing games exists in a league of its own. Most other genres of games -- first person shooters, role playing, sports, construction and management simulation, you name it -- can be played well with a keyboard and mouse. In fact, I would argue games like first person shooters are best played with a keyboard and mouse as opposed to a gamepad. But when it comes to racing games, playing with a keyboard is possible, but you are going to be missing out, whether it is on the simulation experience or simply the feasibility of doing so. Since I like driving in real life, it should come at no surprise I am a big fan of racing simulators as well. When I saw the Logitech G920 racing wheel on sale for half price at a popular online retailer recently, I simply could not pass up the deal and snatched it up immediately. The Logitech G920 is regarded as one of the best racing wheels in the market today; combined with Project Cars 2 and my TV-as-a-monitor setup in my basement, the racing experience was very commendable. But what about those people who only play racing games casually and are not dedicated enough to own a racing wheel? A company called Aimpad proposes a solution. It works by adding an infrared LED sensor underneath the switches on a standard mechanical keyboard and measures how far down a key has been pressed; effectively turning regular Cherry MX switches into an analog-capable input button. The best part is it does not change the functionality or feel of the keyboard at all. Aimpad has also signed an exclusive two-year contract with Cooler Master, and one of their first keyboards as a result of this partnership is the MK850. How is this keyboard, and is it as awesome as it sounds in games like Project Cars 2? Read on to find out!