Soldato
- Joined
- 8 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 23,180
- Location
- Was 150 yds from OCUK - now 0.5 mile; they moved
Thanks to http://www.vortez.net for the following review. Big thanks to w3bbo for writing the review.
CLICK ME FOR THE FULL REVIEW
QPAD's previous mechanical gaming keyboard was very impressive but QPAD have not sat back to bask in the glory of the MK-80. Instead they have recently introduced the MK-85 Pro gaming keyboard; a top of the line product that on paper at least features everything you could want from a gaming keyboard. Backlit, programmable macro capability, mechanical switches, N-key rollover all backed up by a two year warranty. Apart from the macro capability, the MK-85 doesn't appear to have added much more to the MK-80 keyboard we reviewed HERE but there is more to this piece of hardware than meets the eye.
Conclusion
This keyboard has it all. If I was impressed with the typing ability and comfort of the MK-85 then I am astounded by its gaming abilities. Want macro programmability? Not a problem! 5 profiles? Sure. Adjustable backlighting? You got it. Perhaps the only thing missing from this keyboard is the ability to change the backlighting colour and an LCD screen. For less than the asking price of the MK-85 you could have these features in the Logitech G19, widely regarded as the pinnacle of gaming keyboards. The G19 however does not have mechanical keys and thus pales in comparison to the outright performance of the QPAD MK-85.
The MK-80 was a great looking keyboard of that there can be no doubts. The luxurious feel of the keyboard surround and backlit key set put most other keyboards in the shade (literally). However, there were two issues which prevented MK-80 from being our top mechanical keyboard - no macro functionality and the use of Cherry MX Blue keys. Guess what QPAD have gone and done? The MK-85 now has macro capability and has the much better (for gaming at least) Cherry MX red switches. With this in mind I'm going to be true to my word and put the MK-85 in number one spot in the hotly contested mechanical gaming keyboard market. It is a deserved winner of not only our esteemed Platinum award but also gets the rarely given Elite award simply for being the very best there is to offer in this segment, regardless of its high asking price. If the girl from the L’Oreal advert was worth it, then the QPAD MK-85 most certainly is.
Our previous best mechanical keyboard, the Tt-eSports GMEKA has the stiffer Cherry MX Black keys which may appeal to some but if you get the chance you really should try the Cherry MX-red keys. They are much better for typing with and while the Corsair K60 also made use of Cherry MX Red keys, it fell short in terms of comfort due to not having a full range wrist rest. The SteelSeries 7G while impressing with its size lacks the refined feel of the QPAD range. So that just leaves the Ozone Strike and QPAD's own MK-80. The Ozone Strike is a basic no frills gaming keyboard, much the same as the SteelSeries and QPAD's own MK-50 keyboard and while that is no bad thing, they cannot really be compared to the MK-85 as the MK-85 offers more frills, useful frills that is. So it's the old vs. new; MK-80 vs MK-85.
Pros
+ Cherry MX Red Mechanical Switches
+ Perfect for gaming/very comfortable for typing
+ USB & Audio Hub
+ Expensive plastics
+ Optional replacement keys
+ Adjustable backlight
+ Macro capability
+ Full NKRO through a single USB
Cons
- Expensive
- No Key lock LED brightness adjustment
CLICK ME FOR THE FULL REVIEW
QPAD's previous mechanical gaming keyboard was very impressive but QPAD have not sat back to bask in the glory of the MK-80. Instead they have recently introduced the MK-85 Pro gaming keyboard; a top of the line product that on paper at least features everything you could want from a gaming keyboard. Backlit, programmable macro capability, mechanical switches, N-key rollover all backed up by a two year warranty. Apart from the macro capability, the MK-85 doesn't appear to have added much more to the MK-80 keyboard we reviewed HERE but there is more to this piece of hardware than meets the eye.
Conclusion
This keyboard has it all. If I was impressed with the typing ability and comfort of the MK-85 then I am astounded by its gaming abilities. Want macro programmability? Not a problem! 5 profiles? Sure. Adjustable backlighting? You got it. Perhaps the only thing missing from this keyboard is the ability to change the backlighting colour and an LCD screen. For less than the asking price of the MK-85 you could have these features in the Logitech G19, widely regarded as the pinnacle of gaming keyboards. The G19 however does not have mechanical keys and thus pales in comparison to the outright performance of the QPAD MK-85.
The MK-80 was a great looking keyboard of that there can be no doubts. The luxurious feel of the keyboard surround and backlit key set put most other keyboards in the shade (literally). However, there were two issues which prevented MK-80 from being our top mechanical keyboard - no macro functionality and the use of Cherry MX Blue keys. Guess what QPAD have gone and done? The MK-85 now has macro capability and has the much better (for gaming at least) Cherry MX red switches. With this in mind I'm going to be true to my word and put the MK-85 in number one spot in the hotly contested mechanical gaming keyboard market. It is a deserved winner of not only our esteemed Platinum award but also gets the rarely given Elite award simply for being the very best there is to offer in this segment, regardless of its high asking price. If the girl from the L’Oreal advert was worth it, then the QPAD MK-85 most certainly is.
Our previous best mechanical keyboard, the Tt-eSports GMEKA has the stiffer Cherry MX Black keys which may appeal to some but if you get the chance you really should try the Cherry MX-red keys. They are much better for typing with and while the Corsair K60 also made use of Cherry MX Red keys, it fell short in terms of comfort due to not having a full range wrist rest. The SteelSeries 7G while impressing with its size lacks the refined feel of the QPAD range. So that just leaves the Ozone Strike and QPAD's own MK-80. The Ozone Strike is a basic no frills gaming keyboard, much the same as the SteelSeries and QPAD's own MK-50 keyboard and while that is no bad thing, they cannot really be compared to the MK-85 as the MK-85 offers more frills, useful frills that is. So it's the old vs. new; MK-80 vs MK-85.
Pros
+ Cherry MX Red Mechanical Switches
+ Perfect for gaming/very comfortable for typing
+ USB & Audio Hub
+ Expensive plastics
+ Optional replacement keys
+ Adjustable backlight
+ Macro capability
+ Full NKRO through a single USB
Cons
- Expensive
- No Key lock LED brightness adjustment
I love my mk80
It just freezes. 