By Aidan Moore
Manufacturer: Razer, Inc.
Product Name: Tartarus Membrane Gaming Keypad
Model Number: RZ707-0103
UPC: 879862007980
Price As Tested: $79.99 (Amazon / Newegg)
Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Razer.
The main purpose of a gaming keypad is to provide an ergonomic form factor for dedicated game key input, and that comfort and efficiency should translate into improved game play. Balancing a full-sized keyboard on your lap for several hours can be awkward and tiring, so a smaller keypad is definitely preferable.
The Tartarus is a new dedicated game pad from Razer that boasts an improved form factor to deliver longer-lasting comfort and minimum fatigue during gameplay. In this article, Benchmark Reviews will look at the Razer Tartarus Membrane Gaming Keypad to evaluate its comfort and efficiency in gameplay as well as determining if the expense of a dedicated gamepad translates into an improved game experience.
The following is a list of features from the Razer website:
- 25 Fully programmable keys including an 8-way thumb-pad
- Instantaneous switching between 8 key maps
- Improved ergonomic form factor
- Adjustable soft-touch wrist pad for remarkable comfort
- Full anti-ghosting
- Unlimited macro lengths
- Unlimited game profiles
- Backlit keys for total control even under dark conditions
- Braided fibre cable
- Razer Synapse 2.0 enabled
- Approximate Size:
- Width: 153mm/6.03″
- Height: 186mm / 7.32″
- Depth: 54.8mm/2.16″
- Product weight: 370g/0.66lbs
- PC with USB port
- Windows® 8/ Windows® 7 / Windows Vista® / Windows® XP (32-bit)/ Mac OS X (v10.6-10.8)
- Internet connection (for driver installation)
- At least 200MB of hard disk space
- Synapse 2.0 registration (requiring a valid e-mail), software download, license acceptance, and internet connection needed to activate full features of product and for software updates. After activation, full features are available in optional offline mode.
The Tartarus arrives well packaged in a fluorescent green and black box with a clear plastic window to view the actual Tartarus once the front cover is opened.
The Razer Tartarus looks more like it belongs in a video game, rather than a peripheral for playing video games. However, once this game pad is actually put into play, you will notice that it’s eccentric style is perfectly suited for left hand game key input, with numerous options for thumb control.
A standard USB 2.0 cable is well protected by a black fabric sheathing that should stand up to the inevitable tugs and pulls from a keypad resting on a knee or a lap.
The keypad control area consists of a 5 X 3 array of back-lit buttons labeled from 01 to 15. This is clearly a left-handed only device and the palm rest is adjustable to accommodate different sized hands. Those 3 LEDs above the thumb switch are the Tartarus’s way of telling you which key map you currently have loaded. For every profile selected, it is possible to have up to 8 separate keypad configurations available. Just to keep you on your toes, these key maps are displayed in a binary system using the 3 LEDs, with the LSB being the top green LED.
The true value of your opposable thumb becomes obvious when you start to use the side control buttons on the Razer Tartarus. The center round control provides for four separate key mappings, with the default being the Up/Down and Left/Right arrow keys. With a quick flick of your thumb you can easily access the top button and bottom paddle to control to other features. The default for the thumb paddle is the space bar which is typically used for jumping in most first-person shooters. This is a very intuitive use for this thumb control.
If you choose to use the Tartarus on your desktop, you will find that it is a stable platform and will not slide around due to the 4 anti-skid surfaces on the bottom of the device.
An essential feature of a gaming keypad is the ability to customize the key pad layout and the ability to program macro commands. Razor uses the Synapse program to manage all programmable features of the keypad.
The program requires you to go online and register the first time the program is launched. Once the initial registration has been completed, Synapse can be launched without requiring access to an Internet connection. The Synapse layout is intuitive, giving you separate menus for customizing the keypad and defining macros.
Most games differ from each other in the keys used to perform special functions, and Synapse allows you to create a custom profile for each game played. Key selection and binding is very straightforward; simply selecting the key to be programmed brings up a menu that allows you to bind any key to the specific button.
The Synapse program allows for powerful macro commands to be created using several input methods. The easiest way to record a macro is simply to give the macro and name and press the record button. All keyboard and mouse activity is recorded until the stop button is pressed. There is the option to record the delay between key and mouse activity or to insert a preselected default delay. Another option is to manually enter in the commands.
To test the performance of the Tartarus in some real-world applications, two popular games were selected and custom keypad profiles were created for each game:
- Outlast is a new popular first-person horror adventure game with the standard WASD movements.
- Far Cry 3 is a current first-person shooter with WASD movements and customized keyboard commands for inventory and specialized operations.
The Tartarus feels comfortable on the desktop or resting on your knee. Compared to a full-sized keyboard, using the thumb keys for jump and crouch operations feels much more intuitive and ergonomic. As with any dedicated game pad, the biggest drawback is remembering what keys are assigned to the generically labeled numeric key matrix. It is a good idea to keep the Synapse program open and available for a quick refresher on which keys have been mapped in the keypad matrix.
Another option is to keep a web browser open and use an online service for keypad testing. There are a few good online resources for checking your keypad operation, as well as determining if multiple key rollover is performing as expected:
https://www.keyboardtester.com/tester.html https://www.microsoft.com/appliedsciences/content/projects/AntiGhostingExplained.aspx
Both of these test webpages show that the Razer Tartarus is capable of multiple key rollover including the use of the thumb switches in combination with the keypad.
The Razer Tartarus is positioned as an economic alternative to the high-end Orbweaver, and a successor to Razer’s previous Nostromo keypad model. As a reasonably priced gaining keypad, the Tartarus delivers a lot of functionality and customization for the current $80 price. For that price, the user gets a computer peripheral with the potential to improve game play. They also acquire new hardware with definite gadget appeal that really makes a statement about being serious gamer. However, the obvious question is whether that money could be put to better use in a gaming system. The user should decide whether that money should be allocated to a larger computer monitor or faster graphics card. Both of these options will also provide improved game play.
The Razer Tartarus is a useful accessory for any serious gamer. The dedicated keys, and in particular the use of the thumb switches quickly becomes a preferred way for game play.
As of September 2013 the Razer Tartarus Membrane Gaming Keypad (model RZ707-0103) was available online for $79.99 (Amazon / Newegg).
Compared to a standard keyboard, it provides easier access to the most important movement and special function keys as the thumb switch can be used for very quick actions.
The styling of the Tartarus is eccentric, although this is in line with typical high-tech game motifs. A particularly useful feature is the ability to adjust the position of the palm rest to accommodate the precise dimensions of the user’s hand. This feature should allow for hours of game play without any fatigue.
The device feels solid in hand, and rests securely on a desktop without moving around. The braided USB cable should stand up to a lot of punishment including pulling and stretching. Compared to other game pads, the Razer Tartarus provides all the functionality needed to improve game play.
Although a bit of work is required to set up the Synapse configuration program, once it has been registered it is a trivial matter to create a new game profile and customize the key pad for a particular game.
+ Solid construction
+ Efficient thumb switches
+ Rugged USB cable
+ Many options for macros
– Online registration for Synapse
– Need to memorize key functions
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Performance: 8.50
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Appearance: 8.00
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Construction: 9.00
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Functionality: 8.50
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Value: 8.50
COMMENT QUESTION: Do you prefer keyboard or keypad?
