Classor of attention. Testing the game keyboard Thermaltake Challenger Pro

Technical characteristics

Buttons: 103 main + 10 macrocnations + 6 multimedia-cover * Clicks on refusal: 10 million * Backlight: There is * Built -in memory: 64 KB * Fan rotation speed: 6000 rpm (± 15%) * Maximum air flow: 2.7 CFM * Noise level: 21.7 dB * The expected fan time: 50 000 hours * Fan dimensions: 3x3x1 cm * Connectors: 2x USB * Cable length: 2 m * Interface: Usb * Additionally: The key to adjust the brightness of the backlight, the key to switch profiles * Keyboard dimensions: 50.5×19.5×2.7 cm * Price for August 2010: 2600 rubles

Thermaltake famous for its buildings, cooling systems and power supplies, but the company practically does not deal with keyboards. I recall only aluminum Soprano , released. Now Thermaltake has decided once again to try my luck in print, and I chose a demanding niche of professional gaming keyboards for quality. Does the company have a chance to squeeze recognized market leaders – Razer , Logitech , Microsoft?

The new Thermaltake keyboard has two modifications: the younger model, Challenger , And the eldest, Challenger Pro , which came to us for testing (note that the photographed keyboard was brought from the Taiwanese exhibition Computex, so the symbols on it are only English; in the Russian retail, the version with Russian and English letters will be sold in the Russian retail).

Do not confuse Challenger Pro with a cheaper option that has no additional macros key. Our whole story is about the older model, with the help of which we managed to go through several games for a month of extra and print a mountain of texts (including this material).

Rub the buttons

The keyboard is supplied in a beautiful black box of medium sizes, which list the main features of the device. Pictures lurked under a folding cardboard cover that clearly demonstrate the possibilities of software that is included. The keyboard itself is packed in a cloth cover without handles, but on a long reliable Velcro, so that, if desired, it can be used as a minimum protection when carrying a keyboard.

Upon closer examination, two more cloth bags were discovered inside the box. In one lay a USB keyboard for connecting a keyboard to a computer. The cable connector is gilded (which, in our opinion, is pampering and an advertising chip – not acoustics for tens of thousands of rubles is connected), and the wire itself is reliably wrapped in a rather hard braid, so the pets will have to make it pretty to gnaw it to gnaw it.

In the second bag, there were red buttons for replacing black cursors and standard WASD game letters, a pair of Win keyboards and special forking for ruthless tearing from any buttons from the keyboard. The latter help in cleaning the device from dust, dirt, crumbs and husks from seeds. But why do you need red keys instead of blacks is not entirely clear (for beauty?). Any for more or less experienced player and without color indication will easily find both arrows and WASD. Win buttons are not everything clear either. It’s good if you don’t use them at all (then the keys can be removed and put up plugs) or use it, but they do not bother you during the game. But if they interfere, you will have to blow them out of the keyboard every time before the game, put the plugs, and after the game, return the buttons to the place. Wasn't it easier to make it possible to turn off these keys programmatically? Alas, this cannot be done.

Nice chill

At the first glance at Challenger Pro, another game keyboard comes to mind – RAZER TARANTULA. Outwardly, they are very similar: on the left and right of the main key block, five buttons for macros are located, and the company's logo shines in the center of the hand stand. All keyboard buttons are highlighted in red with three brightness modes. The backlight is not too intense, does not blind his eyes at night, but at the same time allows you to make out the letters without problems.

The location of the upper row of buttons seems a little strange: they all go in a row, without dividing into groups, which at first is quite unusual, and in the heat of the battle you can easily confuse F1 with ESC (this is primarily related to various RPGs). PRTSCN, SCRLK and PAUSE buttons are shifted to the left compared to the classical layout, and eight keys took their place: six to control the media player, two more – to adjust the keyboard backlight and change profiles. Why was such a garden to fence, when at the top of the case there was a lot of space left just for multimedia keys? The answer suggests one: for the sake of maintaining a strict, slightly aggressive style in which the keyboard is made. Decide what is more important to you – beauty or familiar layout. We will note that a couple of days of fierce battles and a little nerve cells go to retraining.

Almost the entire Challenger Pro case and keys are matte, slightly rough to the touch. So, they do not remain dirty with unwashed hands and fingerprints (pebbles in the garden Razer Taratula). Only two small sites around the macros buttons are given glossy. The course of all the keys is short, soft, but at the same time clear enough.

At the top in the middle there are indicators of pressing Caps Lock, Scroll Lock and Num Lock, as well as a LED showing in color which of the four available profiles is now active. In fairness, I must say that the LED is quite dull, and on a sunny day, leaning back in the chair, it is difficult to distinguish what color it burns – you have to lean forward.

To the right of the connection wire to the computer, there was a place for two USB ports, which can be connected, for example, a flash drive. Just keep in mind that the entire keyboard, including additional ports, is powered by one USB-sharing, so some devices (say, external hard drive) may refuse to work without additional power.

The most interesting feature of Challenger Pro is a small fan designed to blow your fingers during the game. No competitor has this. 30 mm cooler is equipped with a special plug and inserted into the corresponding holes in the left or right upper corner of the keyboard. For its storage in the housing, a special seizure is provided. After installation, the fan can be rotated around the axis, directing the air flow. Despite the small size, he copes with his task. Testing the keyboard was just in the very abnormal heat that stood in the metropolitan region all of July and half of August, so that a pleasant chill, slightly tickling fingers, turned out to be very useful. The cooler works almost silently. Just keep in mind that if you use a retractable shelf for the keyboard, the fan is unlikely to fit under the table. If you forget about the cooler and push the shelf, it can https://sister-site.org/bof-casino/ easily break.

We understand the macros

True, the software, which is quite convenient and easy to set up, is suffering from not very high -quality localization (words are not always competently translated, some inscriptions are left in English, phrases are not placed on the buttons and the windows). There are no problems with the installation, and the program window is caused by a click on the icon in the tray. The central part of the window is occupied by the keyboard image, the bookmarks for changing profiles were set up at the top, below – the macro control panel.

Challenger Pro is equipped with 64 kilobytes of internal memory. This is enough to record up to 10 macros for each of the four profiles, that is, in total you can create 40 macros. The maximum length of each chain of commands is 10 clicks on the keys, and the program records the intervals between presses, which can then be manually edited. If the macro is already recorded in the memory of the keyboard, it can be used on any computer without installing additional drivers.

In our opinion, all this is quite overwhelming most players. Those who are not enough for four profiles can save the settings in separate files on the computer and upload as necessary. Only fighters. In the same Street Fighter 4 Rarely what kind of combo fits in ten touches of the keyboard.

In the games of the rest of the genres, Challenger Pro shows itself in all its glory. Building a base and units in strategies, chains of skills in RPG, and even buying equipment in the same Counter-STRIKE It gets much faster and more convenient. The main thing is to configure everything correctly and get used to a little blindly reaching the buttons with macros. This may require some time, but the result is worth it.

The last few words about complete. The timer is located on the right side of the menu (however, it is completely incomprehensible why it is needed there) and the backlight control buttons. By the way, the only discovered bug is connected with them: the keyboard does not remember what level of backlight you have chosen, and after rebooting it puts it on the maximum. And if the keying of the keys can easily be adjusted by the button on the keyboard itself, then to turn off the logo on the handle stand you have to climb into the settings every time. Not God the news of what is the drawback (the glow of the logo, in principle, does not interfere with anything), but it can distract someone from the game.

* * *

Despite the small flaws, we were completely satisfied with the work with Challenger Pro. Only one thing was not enough for us (which, by the way, competitors have) – connectors for connecting headphones and a microphone right on the keyboard case. When deciding whether to take or not take the device, it is also worth paying attention to the non -standard upper row of keys.

The keyboard does not have any special lotions emitting steepness, such as, for example, colored LCD display or setting up a shade of backlight Logitech G19. From unusual – only a fan fingers blowing. But do not forget that the price of the same G19 starts at 6500 rubles, and for a similar in terms of functions Razer Tarantula will have to be given at least 3,500 rubles. How much will Challenger Pro cost in retail is not known for sure (at the time of writing, the novelty has not yet entered the stores), but the recommended price is 2600 rubles. In our opinion, quite a good and functional option for this money. The keyboard is unlikely to boast of friends and acquaintances (she is too unpretentious for this), but Challenger Pro copes with his direct responsibilities perfectly.

Pros:

• a small finger fan
• Simple and convenient software
• 10 buttons for macros recording
• There is no dirt and fingerprints on the matte surface of the case and buttons

Cons:

• The unusual location of the buttons in the upper row
• the inability to software disable the Win keys
• After rebooting the computer, the keyboard “forgets” the selected backlight level
• not very bright LED indicators at the top of the keyboard