Performance -
After running the QuickFire Rapid through about 10-12 hours of gaming we found that the keyboard has a very nice and comfortable feel to it. The effort required to press the keys is minimal while the spacing of the keys and weight of the QuickFire Rapid help to keep everything stable. We saw no evidence of lag, or of any delays while using the QuickFire Rapid. The game play was much better than any of the wireless keyboards we have tried and also much more comfortable than some of the other wired keyboards we have played with.  The size is also a plus in that you really do not need the extra 10-key pad when you are gaming and allows this keyboard to be stuffed into a bag much easier than any of the other keyboards we have tested, including ones that are supposed to be mobile.

Value -
Value is another very subjective topic. What is expensive to some might be a deal to others. You can look at this topic in multiple ways. One is raw price and the other is what you get for the money. Each is accurate and both are correct ways to look at price/value. We tend to look at features, performance and real-property when we discuss value. However, we also take into account the raw cash cost of the item. As we told you the QuickFire Rapid has a price tag of $80 (well $79.99). This is a little higher than we thought it would be when we first saw it at CES this year. We honestly thought it would be in the $40-$50 range even with the more expensive switches and the removable keys. Still looking around we found that other mechanical gaming keyboards run over $130 which puts the QuickFire Rapid into something of a value category for this class of keyboard.  

Conclusion -
The Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Rapid Mechanical Keyboard is very nice for what it does. You get a very stable and solid product which can be packed up and taken with you. Once you get used to the feel of the keys (after using short throw keyboards it is a difference) you will quickly find that the mechanical feel of the keys do seem to help your game. We do wish that Cooler Master had added in a subdued backlight or something for low-light gaming, but the replaceable keys do help. On that score we wish that Cooler Master had included more than just the four direction keys, adding in the space bar would have been great along with some of the more common gaming related keys. Still as we found out, for $80 you are still getting quite a bit. If you are looking for a sturdy, stable and fast mechanical keyboard for your gaming that does not take up your entire desk then the CM Storm QuickFire Rapid is certainly something you will want to check out. For its combination of features, sturdy build and relatively low price we are happy to award the CM Storm QuickFire Rapid our Bronze Key Award.

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