Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
As for performance tests, I have adjusted both the keyboard and mouse to my liking. In daily usage, I generally leave the mouse at around 800 DPI, but for the purposes of the tests, I will try multiple tests at all settings. In my tests, I will run through both gaming and office work. Gaming includes a famous multiplayer online battle arena game, League of Legends, in addition to some first-person shooters like Overwatch. As for office work, this includes typing work like writing this review in addition to daily usage for general purposes. For all my tests, I will be using the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L mousing surface. Please remember these are subjective tests, but we will attempt to make our results as objective as possible with our cross-referencing testing methods.
After plugging both parts of the Cooler Master MS110 into my computer, I started using both the keyboard and mouse for my daily tasks. Despite the branding of "Mem-chanical" switches, it is quite clear this is still a membrane keyboard at the base of it. They do advertise a linear travel and for the most part it is. The real difference between mechanical and these hybrid switches are found at the end of the travel, where you can feel a mushy bottoming out. It really feels different in comparison to a mechanical keyboard, which removes what would normally be a crisp and clean feel. This is probably my least favorite part of these switches. However, this is also understandable considering it still is a membrane base. Otherwise, switch actuation feels consistent across the board, even when comparing the stabilized keys. Key travel is deep, which is nice and feels smooth right before bottoming out. I am also quite happy to see the fifty million keystroke rating, which keeps in line with most mechanical switches. At the end of the day, your preferences may vary from mine, so I would recommend trying out the keyboard before buying it.
As for lighting, the Cooler Master MS110 keyboard does not have per key lighting, but rather illuminates in six zones across the board. Using the secondary functions of F1 to F5 and the arrow keys, users can change the different effects, set specific colors, change effect speed, or change the direction of the lighting effects. This is similar to the actions Cooler Master has implemented on their previous keyboards, but there are a few differences. For one, each color channel only has five color levels as opposed to the ten on their more flagship boards like the MK730. Secondly, due to the zone lighting, the effects transition and display as such, meaning some effects are not as smooth as they could be, but most users would not notice this as much. The effects on the board range from typical static modes and color shifting modes, as well as a few reactive modes. You can also set the six zones to specific colors in a custom mode.
Overall, the RGB lighting is still relatively consistent, but a similar issue I complained with the last combination set from Cooler Master is still present here. While the effects are vibrant when viewed directly above the keyboard, when you sit normally and view the keyboard from an angle, you will see that the top row does not look illuminated at all, while the bottom is. This is true regardless of which lighting mode you are in, because the lighting does not exist underneath each key, but rather under the board. As such, from normal sitting position, the top row actually is not illuminated as bright as the bottom. This is a problem with zone lighting and it is a compromise to make for getting an inexpensive, rainbow-lit keyboard.
The ambidextrous shape of the Cooler Master MS110 mouse lends itself towards a fingertip or claw grip. I mostly used a claw grip because of how small the mouse felt in my hands. Those with larger hands may find this mouse to be too small for daily use, even in a fingertip grip. Weighting wise, the Cooler Master MS110 mouse is actually a pretty good weight. Obviously, this is a preference thing, but I prefer lighter mice like this, and 86g is pretty good. As for the sensitivity range, I rarely went above 800DPI in my daily use despite Cooler Master allowing for up to 3200DPI. As for inputs, I found buttons to be in a good placement to avoid accidental buttons presses. The audible and tactile feedback on all of the buttons were good, even when using the secondary keys. None of the buttons exhibited any squeaks or abnormal sounds.
The whole Cooler Master MS110 set is marketed for gaming, so it only makes sense to test it with games like Overwatch and League of Legends. Diving into the shooter, the small size was one thing that took me a while to get used to. Even after a while, my hand felt a bit cramped to really play comfortably. Otherwise, the sensor tracking was only average. In shooter games, I tested my hand at some flicking motions, especially with some heroes in Overwatch that require these quick motions. In this situation, I noticed the sensor would sometimes lose track and either not move or not move as much as I expected it to. This was accentuated even more so at the higher 1600 or 3200 DPI, as the mouse exhibited quite a bit of jitter. The sensor clearly was unable to keep up. For games like League of Legends, the performance was similar at faster movements, leading to lots of lost tracking. Button clicks were still good and felt responsive, but this is one of the few times where I felt like the mouse held me back from performing as well.
When checking for more technical flaws, the Cooler Master MS110 mouse exhibited similar signs. For the MS110 mouse, jitter was definitely noticed at higher sensitivities and even slightly in the lower ones. On the good side, in our testing we found no signs of prediction or acceleration. There was a bit of input lag at times, though this could have also been mixed in as part of the sensor jumping. Finally, I mentioned the two protrusions at the front of the mouse during our inspection. Unfortunately, when I slid my mouse and slightly tilted it forward, these two front protrusions sometimes caught on my mousing surface. It is not a big deal, but I think Cooler Master should address it.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
