The Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L is a full-size keyboard that defies convention with its bright Cherry MX RGB LED backlight on a traditional conservative frame. This dichotomy is inherent in the MasterKeys Pro L’s design for it is comfortable for both work or play; as a productivity workhorse or as a PC gaming controller. It has NKRO over USB functionality, dedicated live switching profile buttons, live macro recording and offers ten-level per-color channel RGB adjustment via key combos which can extend further to a 16.8M wide color gamut with the MasterKeys Pro L software installed. It is new but it is familiar. It is aesthetically muted but it is colorfully loud. It is flexible but it is precise. It is a master and a servant at the same time.
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More than a name change from the QuickFire series, the new MasterKeys Pro L also sports new box art styled in the same vein as Cooler Master’s current “Make It Yours” crop of products. A full-size view of the MasterKeys Pro in print lets buyers know that this is the “L” full layout version as opposed to the “S” tenkeyless version. Localized layouts are available, indicated with a sticker on the side and the switch type is also printed on the box cover to separate it from the two other switch options.
Inside, the actual keyboard is housed in a protective bag while the accessories are underneath the partition at the top.
Included is a wire keycap puller, gold-plated USB cable and quick user’s guide for getting familiar with the MasterKeys Pro L’s various functions. The 1.8m USB cable is sleeved with a micro-USB male connector on the other side.
Key switch CHERRY SWITCH (Red/Brown/Blue) MCU ARM Cortex M3 with 72MHz LED RGB SMT LED Drive
Three LED Drive, 12 PWM per each Response Rate
1000Hz Repeat Rate
Four levels 1x/2x/4x/8x N-Key and 6-key Rollover
Supported Anti-Ghosting
Full Software
Supported Layout L – Full key, S – Tenkeyless
[section_title title=Packaging and Specifications]
[section_title title=A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L Keyboard]
A Closer Look at the Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L Keyboard
The Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L follows a similar layout as the QuickFire XTi: A full ANSI 104-key design with four additional keys above the numpad for profile selection. Keycaps sizes are compatible with previous QuickFire Rapid and QuickFire XTi keyboards having 1.25x bottom row so finding custom keycaps is not going to be an issue compared to other Cherry MX keyboards using alternative keycap sizes.
Similar to the QuickFire XTi, there are channels straight and towards the left and right side for routing the detachable USB cable. A detachable cable makes the MasterKeys Pro L easier to transport or mod.
The keyboard can also be raised at the back by 1.6cm so that users can type at an angle. Two legs flip out towards the back which have rubber coated soles for grip as well.
Unlike the QuickFire XTi which was limited to 35 colors, the MasterKeys Pro L sports Cherry MX RGB switches with SMT LEDs that can change various color combinations per key (supposedly up to 16.8M choices) or load several behavioural presets.
The legends on the keycaps are positioned towards the top where the LED is situated as but the white mounting plate and the clear housing of the switches allows for greater light to shine from the surface mounted LEDs compared to other RGB LED keyboard solutions.
Secondary features are accessed with combining certain keys with the FN key, located where the usual Windows context menu key is located. FN key + F1 through F4 allows users to control the LED lighting modes. Holding down the FN key turns the F1, F2 and F3 LEDs to their respective Red, Green and Blue colors that users can then increase or decrease in combination to produce the desired total color effect (levels 0 to 9 per color). Additional color options are available via MasterKeys software.
FN key + F4 allows users to cycle through the LED presets residing on keyboard’s memory storage. FN+F5 through F8 involve repeat rate adjustment up to 8x.
FN+F9 is for toggling the Windows key so that it cannot be pressed accidentally while gaming. FN+F10 is for recording LED backlight while FN+F11 and F12 are for live macro recording and macro deletion respectively. When recording a macro, users can choose between three input types: single loop, toggle mode or loop mode designated under secondary functions for the Print Screen, Scroll Lock and Pause buttons.
Multimedia and volume controls are accessed with the FN key in combination with the INS, DEL, HOME, END, PG UP and PG DN buttons so they are easily accessible with only one hand compared to the original QuickFire Rapid which had multimedia keys placed F5 through F12.
Four profiles can easily be loaded and switched between from since they have dedicated buttons situated above the numpad.
View of the MasterKeys Pro L without the keycap covers; Cherry MX dummy stabilizers are used for the modifier keys.
The RGB LED view with keycap and without in complete darkness shows how effective the clear switch housing is in creating a uniform and distributed light compared to previous Cherry MX LED solutions with a black switch housing and the LED is limited to the top area.
Disassembly and Modding Options
Only a single screw needs to be removed in order to free the housing and it is located at the top right corner from the bottom view. There is even a sticker which voids the warranty if breached, so don’t try this at home unless you are planning to mod the MasterKeys Pro and comfortable with invalidating the product warranty. A small Phillips screw driver is required.
The top and bottom housing latch together like in the QuickFire Rapid, QuickFire Rapid-i and QuickFire XTi. I usually start at the bottom middle as there is always a gap there compared to the back. Use something thin and wide such as a ruler, knife or CD to pry open each latch surrounding the MasterKeys Pro slowly until completely free. I use a ruler or a CD because it is dangerous if you slip with the knife, or at the very least, cause unneeded damage to the housing.
While it is not necessary to remove all keycaps to unsecure the PCB plate from the back, removing the F4, F5, F8, and F9 will allow access to the screws that need to be unsecured from the plate. There are four in total, three on the top Function key row and one is right between the arrow keys and numpad. Just like the single screw at the rear, this requires the use of a small Phillips head screwdriver.
With the back cover removed, the MasterKeys PRO L PCB shows some impressively clean soldering work. The PCB is marked COOLERMASTER XTI as it shares the housing and PCB base with the QuickFire XTI. Closer inspection reveals that Cooler Master’s claims are correct as there is a 64-pin LQFP Holtek HT32F1654 ARM Cortex M3 present that handles the main duties on this board. This microcontroller unit operates up to 72MHz which is faster than what most use. For example, Corsair’s K70 RGB uses an NXP LPC11U3x which is a Cortex M0 MCU that operates at 50MHz.
For the LED driver, three Macroblock MBI5042GP ICs are used which are commonly found in other RGB solutions including the Tesoro Lobera Spectrum and Thermaltake Poseidon Z.
[section_title title=Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L Software]
Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L Software
If connected to the internet, the MasterKeys Pro software automatically searches for an update upon launch and gives users the option to upgrade the firmware or software. When updating the firmware, make sure that the keyboard is not disconnected during the process. The PC does not need to restart after application but the MasterKeys Pro L “reboots” itself after the firmware so give it a few seconds to resume normal function once the update is applied. The LEDs shut off during the process so when they come back on and are no longer flickering, it means that the update has finished.
Software tends to be hit or miss when it comes to peripherals with many having over-designed and unintuitive UI so it was refreshing to see Cooler Master use a very straightforward and simple but effective user interface. It is not bogged with many extra controls; in fact there are only two tabs– one is for the LED controls while the other is for advanced profile management.
At any time, users can switch between the four profiles and the built-in processor is certainly snappy enough that there is no prolonged lag time when doing so. Even resetting all options takes just two and a half seconds to clear.
Using the software, users have much more options to choose from with the preset and sub-menus within them reveal more options. The color wave preset for example, has four presets for direction that users can choose from.
Color changes are instantaneous. As the user uses the color picker or slider to change colors, the keys respond live. The only exception is under customize mode which allows for per key changes. In this window, the user picks the colors first then has to click the button that will inherit that color.
Each LED mode option can be made unavailable for cycling per profile, by click on the square beside it. All LED mode presets as of firmware 1.1.5/software 0.039 are as follows:
Color Wave (Left to right, right to left, front to back, back to front)
Ripple (Customize, Random)
Multilayer (Up to four layers that users can stack other presets into)
System Status (Equalizer, CPU Load)
Aside from the four profile banks, users can import and export more profiles in the form of a PRF file. This allows for preset sharing across different PCs and gives users the chance to bank and access more than four profiles if they have the MasterKeys Pro software installed.
[section_title title=How did it Perform?]
Experience and Final Thoughts
Starting out strong with the QuickFire XTi as its foundation, the MasterKeys Pro L is more of a bigger budget sequel than a pre-packaged rehash. Think Godfather II to Godfather I instead of Jaws II to the first Jaws. Now that Cherry’s exclusive RGB switch deal with Corsair has timed out, other manufacturers are free to incorporate the new Cherry MX clear housing RGB LED switch to their gaming keyboards without resorting to Kailh switches. RGB LED means a much greater color range than the 35 color limitation of the QuickFire XTi and the clear switch housing results in a more fluid and distributed LED backlighting.
The layout is sound with the multimedia shortcuts easily reachable with one hand and profile switching is effortless as well with the use of dedicated keys. My only nitpick is that I would have preferred side-by-side legends for the keys with a secondary SHIFT value. It just looks a lot cleaner that way. As a gaming device, it fares well with per key diode NKRO (tested with Aqua KeyTest) made even better with live macro recording capabilities and live input rate presets. For modders and those who customize their accessories, the detachable cable and 1.25x bottom row make customization a cinch. Finding custom keycaps for atypical bottom row sizes can be annoying sometimes such as the ones on Corsair Vengeance keyboards so I’m glad Cooler Master stuck with the QuickFire Rapid/QuickFire XTi keycap sizes.
In terms of price, at $169.99 it is priced to go directly head to head against other Cherry MX RGB keyboards such as the Ducky Shine 5 and Corsair K70 RGB and each have their own strengths and weaknesses that the other makes up for. A tenkeyless MasterKeys Pro S with similar features will also be available for $149.99 in April; essentially a Cherry MX RGB LED upgrade of the QuickFire Rapid-i. Initial Cherry MX switch option availability is limited to Cherry MX brown but Cherry MX blue and the Cherry MX red switch seen in this article will be hitting shelves soon.
The MasterKeys Pro L displays laudably competent range, not just in terms of RGB LED backlight color gamut but maximal functionality on a minimalist frame. Do not mistake its simple, clean design for a lack of boldness; what the MasterKeys Pro L sets out to achieve is to raise the minimum capability demanded of a mainstream gaming keyboard. Beneath the bright lights and the bag of tricks, the CM MasterKeys Pro L is a fundamentally strong equipment that has the range and flexibility to match a lifestyle that demands spreadsheet hammering work during the day and WASD+NKRO abuse at night.
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Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L Keyboard Review: Spectrum Ad Infinitum The Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L is a full-size keyboard that defies convention with its bright Cherry MX RGB LED backlight on a traditional conservative frame.
