ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Capsule Review
by E. Fylladitakis on December 31, 2014 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Gaming
- ROCCAT
- Mechanical Keyboards
The Software
With dozens of options on the very first screen, the software for the ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro is overwhelming at first, but it is relatively clean and straightforward. From the main screen, you can change the function of the Caps Lock key as well, changing it to the Easy-Shift key, a function that allows some or all of the keys to perform a secondary command. It is very similar to the function of the FN key, but this works for the entire keyboard. The downside is that the Caps Lock key has to be held pressed for this function, making its use in a game quite difficult. You can also perform other basic changes, such as disabling some of the keys, control the "screensaver" effect, and modify the character repeat rates. For the last function, the software provides a test block as well.
In the key assignment tab, the user can assign the primary and secondary function of every key on the keyboard. There is a built in macro manager for the programming of macros as well. The upside is that there is a very large number of pre-programmed macros for numerous games and applications provided with the software, which might save the user some time. The downside is that the macro recording software is not very sophisticated.
You can edit the delays and add/remove parts of the macro, but you cannot record mouse movements or mouse button clicks. You can manually insert mouse key presses to the macro but there are no options regarding mouse movements or any other special functions at all. Without the ability to include mouse position functions in the macro, the potential of the macro recording software is severely limited and most serious gamers will seek third party macro recorders with compilers, so as to create macros and compile them into executable files that can then be assigned to launch on a key press. Finally, there is a repeat mode, allowing the macro to be executed up to 255 times.
As its name suggests, the key illumination tab allows the user to control the illumination of the keys. Aside from adjusting the brightness and/or turning the lighting of each key on and off, there are advanced options as well. One of them is the ability to adjust the "typing effect", i.e. the effect that will take place whenever any key is pressed. By default, the keys are in "fade" mode, meaning that they will either light up or go dark for a second once pressed. Lighting effects may be programmed and assigned to macros as well.
If your in-game achievements are not enough for you, ROCCAT includes an achievements system in their keyboard software as well. The R.A.D. page includes thorough statistics on the key strokes, from the total key strokes of the keyboard to those of each individual key. There are sixteen hidden achievements as well, including achievements for total key strokes, use of the WASD keys, and others. Depending on the PC settings at the time, unlocking an achievement might give the user quite a scare, as the PC will scream, "You got a trophy".
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Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Too bulky for my taste, specially considering it lacks media keys... Could always repurpose the macro keys for that but ehh... In a related now, I wish Corsair would step up their software too and/or release some more TKL boards.meacupla - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
RAD has to be the most annoying feature I have ever heard."Congratulations, you've unlocked a trophy!" while playing a game, watching a movie or just browsing sites is not annoying at all.
I don't know what they were thinking adding such a "feature".
JarredWalton - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Of course there are only 16 trophies to unlock, so unless you reset the counter it's not like it happens very often. A few weeks takes care of the easy milestones, and then maybe once or twice a month you'll get another. By the time you're six months down the road it won't happen at all.Cliff34 - Friday, January 2, 2015 - link
Definitely agree with you on this point. The point of getting a gaming keyboard is so I can play better games. The achivement system is useless since most games come with their own achivement system.crea - Monday, January 5, 2015 - link
To anyone wanting to buy this keyboard, please steer away from the backlit version.I bought one ryos mk pro last year, and four back lights failed within a month. Went through RMA, received a brand new replacement, and the backlights started to fail within three weeks of use one by one.
I've been using the replacement keyboard for eight months now, and 45 backlights failed already. The build quality of the keyboard backlight is absolutely terrible.
The keyboard functions fine and is nice to type on, It's just the terrible QC and backlight design which makes the backlit version fell short. Just think twice before you purchase the backlit version.
Darksurf - Saturday, January 17, 2015 - link
I own one. It was WORTH EVERY PENNY! Linux support with software and drivers. I've never been happier with a keyboard. Now I need one for home as the one I bought went to work and my Sidewinder X4 feels like a cheap toy.Ickda - Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - link
this is why I like roccat,Linux need to steal the spot as master race some time soon.
It stupid that gaming componys would shit on there stock and leave a bunch of wight hat hackers to feed me my games. (technically that is a whight hat hack to get those games to run in linux)
ps, sorry for the red lines, god cursed my spelling ...... I hate Webster
Narg - Monday, January 19, 2015 - link
I've personally moved away from mechanical gaming keyboards. I soon found out that mechanical keyboards slowed me down. They just are not the best keyboard any more.nilfisktun - Wednesday, January 21, 2015 - link
I bought the Logitech G710. Then the LED died after 2 weeks. Weeks earlier i returend a Corsair H100i becouse of dead LED and fan control, so my only option was this awsome beast of a keyboard.I bought it for the quality, and it really feels well build, and i havent had a single dead LED or problems with it.
Installed O-rings on mine, and rotated the space key, to give it less of a rough angle for the thumb to rest on, very great mod idear :)
Ickda - Tuesday, March 10, 2015 - link
If you have a Roccat mouse I am assuming the volume is a function of the scroll wheel. this assumption comes from the roccat pure easy shift function