Cooler Master MK-850-GKCR1-US operation manual

REVIEW GUIDE

MK850

KEYBOARD? GAMEPAD? WHY NOT BOTH?

Preface

This Review Guide contains information on the MK850. Specifically, you will find information on

product background story, key features, design highlights, how-to-use tips-&-tricks, and other details for the product you will be reviewing.

Cooler Master logo and logo usage guidelines can be downloaded from: LINK

Product images can be downloaded from: LINK

If you require additional information on the product or the testing methodology, please reach out to your Cooler Master contact.

Embargo date for Review: Feb 28

th

(TBC)

Stylish, functional, and capable of handling all

situations, the MK850 gaming keyboard is the

next evolution of mechanical gaming keyboards.

Product Overview

Value Proposition

Functional and full

-featured for all gaming situations, the MK850

gaming keyboard is the evolution of mechanical keyboards.

MSRP

USD 199.99

-219.99

Key Features

Genuine Cherry MX Red Switches

AIMPAD Pressure Sensitive Technology

Dedicated Media Keys & 2

Precision Wheels Anodized Brushed Aluminum Construction Per Key RGB Illumination and

Lightbar Illumination

Removable Magnetic Leatherette Wrist rest

Detached

Type-C Cable, 180°, 3-way Cable Management Grooves

USB 3.0

Hub *2

Launch Date

By

Regional (TBC)

Warranty

2 Years

Value Proposition

Functional and full-featured for all gaming situations, the MK850 gaming keyboard is the

evolution of mechanical keyboards. AIMPAD™ Technology for fine-tuned control, Cherry MX switches for accuracy, programmable Precision Wheel for easy control, and all the essential features and quality construction you come to expect from a premium package.

The M800 series:

Model

Product Type

USP

MK850

Keyboard

AIMPAD Technology

MM830

Mouse

D

-Pad Side Button Design & OLED Display

MP860

Mousepad

Double

Sided (2) Surface materials

Target Audience

Gamers that want the best of the best. Gamers that want a Gaming Keyboard that has all the bells

and whistles such as easy to relate and easy to ‘want’ features such as; RGB illumination, Multi-Media buttons and scroll wheels, wrist rest, Macro Keys and even a USB 3.0 Hub. But also unique features that stand out in the market like AIMPAD Technology, which is a first to market and a feature truly developed to take the Gaming Experience to the next level.

Key Product Features

The MK850 has the classic full-sized layout design like other fan-favorite Cooler

Master keyboards. However, with the

AIMPAD feature there are now 5 more additional function keys.

With a polygonal brushed aluminum top

cover and stylish floating switches, the MK850 has a bold gaming design. Five dedicated multimedia keys and two precision programmable wheels make the

MK850 a premium mechanical keyboard.

Design

RGB illumination

We’ve got all the lighting effects you want with per-key RGB LEDs with multiple lighting modes

and effects to highlight all your dominating killstreaks. How to change the effects? Use either the FN

On-the-Fly system or use the Software Application for advanced control!

AIMPAD Technology

The MK850 uses Cherry MX Red switches combined with analog control to give you a competitive edge in gaming.

Aimpad Technology gives you analog control right on your keyboard. Make slight

adjustments or course corrections minus the

jerky tapping of traditional keyboards. Get finetuned WASD movement without having to sacrifice your mouse for a controller or steering wheel.

Convenient Controls

Do you want to quickly adjust settings? Then the

FN On-the-Fly controls are there for you. Control backlight modes, colors, macros or lock the Windows Key all by a simple FN key combination so you can stay in the game.

However, do you want to fully use the keyboards

capabilities? Then download our Redesigned Software Application to have even more control of backlight, macros, key mapping or even exchange profiles with friends through the library

tab!

And as you may expect from a Cooler Master Peripheral, all the settings are directly stored on the device so it is Plug-and-Play ready to go!

Cherry MX Switches

A mechanical keyboard’s soul resides in its switches, and we didn’t even think about skimping

on those. Get 100% genuine Cherry MX Switches

that are good for 50 million keystrokes. All the responsiveness, accuracy, and tactile satisfaction Cherry MX is known for - No knock-offs here, just 100% natural, baby.

USB 3.0 HUB

There’s no need to crawl behind your PC and

fight for a port on your rig anymore - the MK850 is equipped with two USB 3.0 ports for additional choices for all your accessories.

AIMPAD Explained

AIMPAD: How Does It Work?

We measure how far down the mechanical switch is

pressed using an infrared LED. The light emitted from

the LED is reflected off the bottom of the key and an infrared sensor measures how much light is reflected. If a low amount of light is reflected we know that the

key is at its highest point. If a higher amount of light is

reflected, we know the key is moving closer to the sensor.

Think of it like a dimmer light switch where you can

control the intensity. This is how Aimpad functions.

AIMPAD: Game Example

Normal KB control W/O Aimpad

Normal KB control With Aimpad

Normal KB control W/O Aimpad

Normal KB control With Aimpad

Normal KB control W/O Aimpad

AIMPAD vs Wooting Flaretech

Analog Sensing Range

Aimpad: senses the entire range of the key

press from the very top to the very bottom. Flaretech: only the switch position between

1.5mm and 3.6mm of the key press can be

measured.

A user has to press the switch down 1.5mm before any response can be detected and the effective range is 2.1mm compared to Aimpad’s full 4mm range.

This is not a trivial difference. If you want your game character to move slowly, or steer a vehicle slightly, your instinct would be to press the switch down a small amount.

AIMPAD vs Wooting Flaretech

Analog Performance

The following graphs compare the typical analog performance of an analog

keypress using Aimpad with Cherry MX switches and the analog performance of a

keyboard using Flaretech Analog switches.

AIMPAD vs Wooting Flaretech

Due to a variety of inconsistencies in manufacturing and sensing methods, the analog performance provided by the Flaretech switch is not smooth or consistent.

By contrast, the consistency and reliability in performance of a Cherry MX Red

switch combined with per key calibration from Aimpad provides the best analog keyboard performance possible.

AIMPAD vs Wooting Flaretech

Interference/Noise

Both the Flaretech switch and Aimpad’s solution use Infrared (IR) Light to determine the position of the switch.

There are many unintended sources of IR light

including desk lamps and sunlight.

The Flaretech switch is susceptible to these other sources of light causing unintended movement or unintended keys to be pressed if the keyboard is placed under a desk lamp or in direct sunlight.

The Flaretech switch uses transparent stems. External IR light can enter the switch housing through theses transparent stems and cause interference with the normal operation of the switch.

Aimpad’s solution does not have this issue and

can even be used in direct sunlight.

FN On-the-Fly Controls

On-the-Fly Shortcuts:

A1: Backlight A2: Backlight

B: Windows

Lock

C: Custom LED

D: Macro E: Multi-

Media

F: Other G: Profiles H: Aimpad

F1 = Quick Pick/Cycle 9 Colors

and modes F2 = Add Red Color (9 Levels) F3 = Add Green Color (9 Levels) F4 = Add Blue Color (9 Levels) F5 = Cycle LED Modes F6 = Lighting Foreground Effect* F7 = Lighting Background Effect* F8 = Lighting Demo Mode

Up = Speed

Up*

Down = Speed

Down* Left = Change direction left* Right = Change direction right*

F9 =

Windows Key Lock

On

/ Off (Disables both Win. keys)

F10 =

Record LED Backlight (Static Color and Per Key)

F11 = Record

Macro F12 = Delete Macro PRT SC = Single Loop SCR LK = Infinite Loop PAUSE = Repeat

Volume +

PG DOWN = Volume – INS = Play/Pause DEL = Stop HOME = Fwd END = Bckwd

E = Reset all

to default R = Reset current profile to default

ESC =

Default 1 = Profile 1 2 = Profile 2 3 = Profile 3 4 = Profile 4

M1 = Normal

Keyboard Mode M2 = FPS Mode M3 = Driving and Flying Mode M4 = Advanced Flying Mode M5 = Speed Mode

G 𝐀

𝟏

B

C

D

E

F

𝐀

𝟐

H

On-the-Fly Shortcuts:

I: Brightness & Volume J: Multimedia K: AIMPAD 2

Left Wheel = Keyboard Backlight Brightness

Right Wheel = System Volume

1 = Play/Pause

2 = Next Track 3 = Previous Track 4 = Mute 5 = Backlight On/Off

6 = AIMPAD On/Off

7 = Sensitive 8 = Sensitive +

I

J

K

1 2 3 4 5

6

7 8

On-the-Fly: How to record a macro

1. Select the profile in which to record the Macro.

2. FN+F11 to start recording the Macro.

- All keys available as “Macro Key” will light up Blue (Incl. the four Multi-Media keys.)

3. Select the Key requested to be the “Macro Key” by pressing it.

- The key selected for the Macro will now flash Red

4. Now the Macro can be keyed in.

5. When finished select the mode (Single, Repeat Loop and Infinate Loop).

6. After that is done press FN+ESC to save and exit. Your Macro is now ready!

On-the-Fly: How to delete a macro

1. Select the profile in which the to-be-deleted Macro is in.

2. FN+F12 to start deleting the Macro.

- All keys that have a Macro binded will light up Red

3. Select the Key requested to be the deleted

- The key backlight will then turn off

4. When finished press FN+ESC to save and exit.

- The Macro is now deleted

On-the-Fly: How to record custom LED (F10)

1. FN+F10 to start recording the Custom LED effect*

2. With FN+F2/F3/F4 the colors can be mixed and chosen. 9

levels per color.

- The color will change and display on the FN key’s LED.

3. After the requested color is achieved, press the key(s) that

you want in this color.

-Repeat step 2 & 3 as many times as requested for other keys

4. Press FN+ P1/P2/P3/P4 to Save it to the requested profile.

Software Application

Software: Multi-Language installation

This second version of the Cooler Master PORTAL that works with

the MK850 has improved functionality and a improved userexperience and updated visual identity. Grab from

http://coolermaster.com/downloads to always ensure the latest

version is running! The Software allows for multi-language installation with the following

supported languages:

Software: Main Page

Select Profile (1~4)

Minimize to System Tray Exit

Five Main Tabs:

1. Aimpad = for all AIMPAD

related settings

2. Lighting = for all backlight

control

3. Key Mapping = Key

Bindings tab

4. Macros = to record and set

custom macros

5. Profiles = Library to import

or export profiles

Select your hardware from supported PORTAL products

Software: Aimpad

Select the Aimpad profile

Select the sensitivity of

aimpad (from 0-100%)

Available gamepad

buttons for mapping

Click to choose the key to deploy the Aimpad

key mapping

Indicate the key

assignment situation

by different colors

• Import = Load the

setting from a local

file

• Export = Export

configuration file

• Reset = Reset

current profile

• Apply = Apply

current profile

Software: LED

Select the LED Mode.

Point and click to select the requested color.

Select the requested color

by inputting the RGB color

code 255 x 255 x 255

For applicable modes: Select the speed of the effect (5 levels)

Displaybox of selected color

Drag the slider to adjust the brightness level

Select the led direction

Apply or reset your changes

Software: Key Map

• How to Change Key function or disable Keys:

1. Select the requested Key and below pop-up will

appear.

2. Enable or disable on the top left of the pop-up or

Press any Key that will will need to overwrite the standard Key function

3. Press Save to Apply.

Software: Macro

• How to set a Macro through the

Software Application:

1. Press + in section 1 and type in the name of the Macro

2. Press ‘record’ to start.

• Now type in the macro sequence and press STOP when

done.

3. Now you can select the requested delay for the Macro.

• Delay = as inputted

• No delay = God Mode (0 ms)

• Custom

4. Now you can select the requested delay for the Macro.

• Run Once

• Hold Loop (Macro will run while key is pressed)

• Toggle Loop (Macro will run when key is pressed untill

5.Press Save if the macro is complete, and Reset if you

want to re-record

6.Press + in section 3 and bind it to the requested Key*.

The original function of this key will be overwritten

7.Press APPLY to Save and Exit.

*Also the 4 media keys can be set at Macro Keys

1 = Edit Macro Name 2 = Duplicate / Copy Macro 3 = Delete Macro

Software: Profile

• Import-Export

• The Library function allows for sharing of

profiles. To import a profile simply select the *.Prf file that is saved on your computer.

• After importing, all settings are saved on the

keyboard directly, meaning it’s plug and play

ready!

• Sharing = Caring 

Appendix

Competitor Analysis:

Brand

Cooler Master Corsair

Model

MK850

K95

RGB Platinum

Type

Full

-size + dedicated AIMPAD function key

Full

-size + dedicated macro key

S

witch

Cherry

MX Red switch

Cherry MX Red/Silver switch

Lighting

Per

key RGB incl. Lightbar

Per key RGB incl. RGB

ring

Multi

-Media

Yes,

FN + dedicated

Yes,

FN + dedicated

Special

tech

AIMPAD

N/A

Materials

Brushed Aluminum

top cover

Brushed Aluminum top cover

Wristrest

Yes,

Removable magnetic with soft PU

Leather

Yes, Removable plastic

wristrest

Connectivity

Wired

Cable

Detachable braided USB Type

-C

USB

-A

Software AP

Support?

Yes

Warranty

2 Years

MSRP

$199

-219

$199.99

Internal Portfolio: MK750 VS. MK850

Model

MK750 MK850

Switch

Cherry

MX switch (Blue/Brown/Red)

Cherry

MX switch (Red)

Lighting

16.7 RGB Backlight, lightbar on

front/left/right

side

16.7 RGB Backlight, lightbar on

front/left/right

side

Software/ On

-the-

fly support

Software + On

-the-fly & Dedicated multi-media

Software + On

-the-fly & Dedicated multi-media

Materials

Brushed Aluminum

Wristrest

Yes,

Removable magnetic with soft PU Leather

Yes,

Removable magnetic with soft PU Leather

NRKO

6-

Key and N-Key Rollover

6-

Key and N-Key Rollover

Connectivity

Wired

Cable

Detachable braided USB Type

-C

Detachable braided USB Type

-C

Warranty

2

Years

2 Years

MSRP

$139.99

-$159

$199.99

-$219

Extras

N/A

AIMPAD, USB 3.0 Hub, Precision Wheels

38

Peripheral Contacts & Information

Business Development:

• Europe: Filip Lahoda- Filip_L@coolermaster.com.tw (Location Taiwan)

• Americas: Andrew N. Ng– andrew_ng@coolermaster.com (Location USA)

• APAC: Julien Wang – julien_wang@coolermaster.com.tw (Location Taiwan)

• China: John Zhang 張智勇 - John_Zhang@coolermaster.com.cn (Location China)

Technical Product Marketing:

• Global: Pascal Wang - Pascal_Wang@coolermaster.com.cn (Location China)

General Marketing & Deliverables:

• Global: Kevin Piangenti – Kevin_piangenti@coolermaster.com (location USA)

Make Your Gaming Experience

Cooler Master MK-850-GKCR1-US operation manual [de]

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual