Layout, design and features …
The Cooler Master MK850 has the usual structure of a full-size keyboard with additional macro keys on the left side and the media keys on the upper edge. The surface of the keyboard is made of brushed aluminum. Only the upper part, where the media keys and the USB interfaces are located, is kept in black high-gloss plastic. On the front edge as well as on the sides there are RGB bands in addition to the illuminated keys.
The palm rest is also black with a padded surface of imitation leather. It is simply docked to the keyboard with magnets. The comfort of the rest is pretty good thanks to the padding. The magnets are concealed behind the plastic frame and hold the wrist-rest in place.
The fabric-covered USB cable is more than long enough at 1.8 meters and can be routed through various guides on the bottom of the keyboard, so that it can be routed to the right, left or center. The cable is not permanently attached to the keyboard, but is connected to it with a USB type C plug.
The keys are equipped with Cherry Red MX switches. The red switches have a linear switch characteristic without the classic “click” of the blue switches. They release after only 45 centinewton and 2mm switching distance.
In the following table we have created a small Cherry MX Switch comparison, where you can clearly compare the switch type, the click sound, the actuation force in centinewton, the pre-distance and the total distance in order to select the right switch for your application.
| Cherry MX Switches Comparison | ||||||
| Type | Marks | Characteristic | Sound | Force | Total travel | Pre travel |
| Cherry MX RED | Effortless and fast | Linear | Silent | 45 cN | 4.0 mm | 2.0 mm |
| Cherry MX BROWN | Tactile and quiet | Tactile | Silent | 55 cN | 4.0 mm | 2.0 mm |
| Cherry MX BLUE | Precise and audible | Tactile | Audible click | 60 cN | 4.0 mm | 2.2 mm |
| Cherry MX BLACK | Sensitive and precise | Linear | Silent | 60 cN | 4.0 mm | 2.0 mm |
| Cherry MX SPEED Silver | Fast | Linear | Silent | 45 cN | 3.4 mm | 1.2 mm |
The keyboard is equipped with non-slip, rather large rubber feet. Despite the 1092g, it stays in place in all situations and doesn’t slip.
The keyboard comes with additional striking purple-colored “gaming keycaps” with which you can replace the “normal” keys W, S, A, D, Q, E, R, F, the arrow keys, the macro keys M1-M5 and ESC. This allows you to customize the keyboard layout to your own style.
As with the MK 730, a practical keycap remover is also included. How to use the key cap remover is explained in detail in the Cooler Master Master MasterKeys MK730 review.
Cooler Master MK850 Software …