Monoprice’s foray into PC gaming peripherals was quite an interesting development, and it hasn’t disappointed. The Dark Matter Hyper-K Ultralight Gaming Mouse is a top-tier performer at a great price, but it wasn’t the only product to come out. Joining the ranks of the Dark Matter brand is the Collider Mechanical Keyboard. An assortment of different types of keyboards are available in the Collider line-up and for this review, I am specifically checking out the upper-tier model with the Collider TKL Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, equipped with Cherry MX Speed Silver Switches. Mechanical keyboards have become a staple of PC gaming and the Collider is ready to join the ranks of other top offerings!
What’s In The Box
Collider provided for review by Monoprice.
The Collider, as I will be referring to it from now on in this review, comes in a compact box with a glossy depiction of the keyboard residing in the center. Along with the name of the keyboard is a sticker notating the included Cherry MX Switch type to round out the front of the package. The sides of the package have a nice starscape while the back of the package outlines more key features of the keyboard and a brief description of it. Opening the box you will find the Collider, USB-C cable, keycap remover, and finally a one-sheet guide to hotkeys for the keyboard and thank you note.
Aesthetics And Build Quality
The Collider comes with a closed, minimalistic design that forgoes any gimmick or extra buttons that could increase its size. For a ten-keyless design, this is an important thing in my book, as it helps save space in cramped gaming setups. Even the Dark Matter branding is kept small and resides within the space above the directional arrows. No single waste of space is to be found on this design! The key caps in use are pretty standard and look aesthetically pleasing, with each one being clearly readable. The cutouts are also very clean and allow the built-in RGB lighting to shine through. I am happy that even secondary characters are lit, unlike some other RGB keyboards. Under each cap on my review unit is a Cherry MX Speed Silver Switch. A number of different Switch options are available in the Collider line-up including Red, and Brown.
The Collider uses a solid frame, and thanks to the inclusion of a steel frame to mount the Speed Silver Switches, features virtually no give when in use. This design choice also ensures that the Collider is one tough gaming keyboard and should withstand the punishment of even the more heavy-handed gamers. The heavier design also ensures the keyboard doesn’t easily move during use which is a plus. Another design choice to extend the life of the Collider is the choice of using a detachable USB-C cord that can be user-replaced if it gets worn out. The included cord locks nicely into the Collider and has a braided finish for a more premium experience. Speaking of premium, I want to take a second to appreciate how even after a month of use my Collider still looks clean, with fingerprints being a minor concern for the build of the unit. The traditional keyboard feet offering an optional 8° angle of incline are also present.
Gameplay
When I first started using the Collider it took me a moment to get my bearings, as I have been using half-height boards for a number of years now for my main PC usage. Readjusting for the differences in travel distances didn’t take long, and unless you also use half-height keyboards, this likely wouldn’t affect you in the slightest. After my brief adjustment period, I am absolutely digging the Collider! The Speed Silver Switches feel great to the touch and trigger very quickly, allowing for fast typing and quick responses in games. Typically I prefer more clicky types of switches like White, but the performance of Speed Silver might have just converted me permanently to the clacky side!
I brought tanks to the Bat rush thanks to hotkeys!
Jumping into games I was eager to see just how well the Collider would perform and I have yet to be disappointed. In Apex Legends movement responds accurately and other actions trigger easily and without issue. Hotkeys in StarCraft work like a charm and it has been a treat to try and get myself back up to my old pace from an age gone by! But the real test for me is to load up Mega Man X4 and put the Collider up to the ultimate test of muscle memory. As an unsurprising result, it did great!
While the stock look and performance of the Collider are already impressive, installing its software can allow you to take the experience even further. Within the software suite, you can customize numerous aspects of your keyboard, from individual button mappings to programmable macros per key, even assigning mouse buttons to a key if desired. Thanks to the inclusion of profiles, any number of custom configurations can be saved for specific use cases. And then there is RGB lighting customization, and while you can manually select a number of presets on the keyboard itself, being able to fine-tune them is preferable. If desired each key can be individually set for the ultimate look or utility in games.
What It Could Have Done Better
While I think that the Collider is a fantastic offering, there are a few nitpicks I have with it. First up is the lack of labeling for secondary function keys. From looking at the keys you wouldn’t think that there was any sort of media keys or RGB lighting presets. Well, there are, but you have to refer to the included one sheet to see them which makes using them on the fly a bit harder if you don’t memorize them. I honestly ended up using my Stream Deck Mini for media functionality as it was just an easier option after a while. My next nitpick comes to RGB customization. On most keyboards, you can assign a base color to apply to different lighting effects, so each key is always lit even when the effect is not in use. On the Collider software, most of the keys will remain unlit with the presets, making them harder to see and use, which has resulted in me using more generic settings compared to some of my other keyboards. As I have said, these are nitpicks, but if they bug me they may bug others.
Verdict
When it comes down to it, however, the Dark Matter Collider is a well constructed, well functioning, mechanical keyboard that can find a home in any PC gamers setup. Thanks to its smaller profile, the Collider is perfect for more space-constrained setups or for those who have no need for a ten-key pad. Whether you need to type up a new review or play a round of Apex, the Speed Silver Switches deliver with no compromises. The Collider’s $100 price point also makes it very competitive with some of the other top offerings on the market. If you are in the market for a new keyboard, Monoprice has another banger here worth taking a look at!
