While setting up these options requires a lot of time (and a lot of effort, since you'll need to test and optimize your choices in-game), you could theoretically have almost 150 different commands at your fingertips in each game. The only trouble is that, by default, there are no keys assigned to enabling Hypershift or swapping keymaps. Programming them isn't hard, but it seems odd to make one of the Tartarus V2's best aspects an opt-in choice rather than an endemic feature. Performance This is less of a problem if you just need a few rows of buttons and can rest your fingers in the center row, like with the ASDF keys on a keyboard. Even then, it was a lot more comfortable to use my regular keyboard with a wrist rest than it was to curve up the bottom part of my hand at a 30-ish degree angle. The Tartarus Pro has a more premium build quality, with an aluminum faceplate and a magnetic wrist rest that is more comfortable than the V2’s wrist rest. The Tartarus V2 has a plastic body, and its wrist rest is not as comfortable as the Pro’s. There's clearly a market for the Tartarus V2; after all, fans embraced the first iteration enough to demand a second one. Still, having experimented with it in some of my favorite games (admittedly, at a low competitive level), it seems a bit like a solution in search of a problem. The learning curve is steep, the price is high and the benefits are mild, at best. I understand that in real life, no one is going to use the Razer Tartarus Pro without a mouse, which alleviates some of these problems. But in theory, you could use it without a keyboard — in which case you'd have to very carefully program and map out every single command you need in advance.

Like most other modern Razer gear, the Razer Tartarus Pro runs on the Razer Synapse software, which lets you reprogram the buttons, customize the RGB lighting and create profiles to link with individual games. The software does everything it's supposed to, and it's doubly helpful, as you can bind two functions to each key. There's also the question of how well the Tartarus Pro works for non-MMO games. I tried it with Overwatch (after reprogramming a few buttons), where I was actually very pleased with the minimalist interface. Overwatch needs only a few extra buttons to work, so the Tartarus Pro was a great addition. But even though the Tartarus has 20 buttons, I found that games where I needed more than about 10 commands got too unwieldy. For third-person action/adventure games, a controller is still the way to go; for RTS and MOBA titles, I think a keyboard is still a superior input. Bottom line I'm also not sure the keypad was any more convenient than a keyboard. I had access to movement and combat controls, true, but I had access to the same things on the left half of a keyboard. The Tartarus has the more ergonomic shape, but you'd have to retrain yourself to memorize the keypad's layout as intimately as you (probably) know a keyboard's.

Device Layout

Twenty keys is more than enough for the non-mouse commands in most games (except for real-time strategy; the Razer Tartarus Pro is really not a good accessory for that genre), but no two games have exactly the same set of commands. Furthermore, I imagine there will be a bit of a divide between players who want to rest their fingers on the second row from the top, versus players who want to rest their hands on the second row from the bottom. This means that the default 8-12-13-14 configuration for movement won't work for everyone. Features In conclusion, both the Razer Tartarus V2 and Tartarus Pro are quality gaming keypads that offer good performance and customization options. The Tartarus V2 is a more affordable option, while the Tartarus Pro is a more advanced and customizable option. It ultimately comes down to personal preference, budget, and gaming needs. To give credit where it's due, I was very impressed with the analog optical switches and enjoyed the ability to program two commands per button. But once I got past the novelty of this tiny keyboard acting like a more elaborate controller, I didn't find it particularly useful for moment-to-moment gameplay. Like the previous Tartarus model, the Tartarus Pro is very pretty, somewhat comfortable and accomplishes what it sets out to do. But it's also very niche and much more expensive than its predecessor. I can't recommend against it if you're in the market for a gaming keypad — but I don't think it's going to revolutionize most folks' gaming experience, either.

The Tartarus Pro has an advantage over the V2 in terms of customization options because it has analog optical switches. These switches allow you to adjust the actuation point and actuation force of each key, giving you more control over your gameplay. However, this level of customization may not be necessary for all gamers.The Tartarus Pro’s analog optical switches and customizable actuation points can give you an edge in games that require precise movements, making it a popular choice among professional gamers. However, this level of customization may not be necessary for casual gamers who are just looking for a quality gaming keypad. If you’re an avid gamer, you know that a good gaming keypad can make a significant difference in your gameplay experience. Razer, one of the leading manufacturers of gaming peripherals, has released two popular gaming keypads, the Razer Tartarus V2 and Razer Tartarus Pro. In this article, we will compare the Razer Tartarus V2 vs. Pro to help you decide which one is better for you. Design and Build Quality

In the end, the decision between the Razer Tartarus V2 vs. Pro comes down to personal preference and budget. If you’re on a tight budget, the Tartarus V2 is a great option that offers good performance and customization options. However, if you’re The first thing you should know is that if you want to use the Tartarus V2 successfully, you'll have to break years' worth of keyboard habits. When I played StarCraft: Remastered, I did my level best to rely on the Tartarus V2. I programmed all of my most frequently used commands into the 25 keys, then tried to train my fingers to recognize the unfamiliar locations. The Razer Tartarus V2 and Tartarus Pro both perform well in gaming. The Tartarus V2’s mechanical membrane switches are responsive and have a tactile feel. The Tartarus Pro’s analog optical switches are more precise, and the ability to adjust the actuation point and force can give you an edge in games that require precise movements.

Troubleshooting

The button that maps to S has a little ridge to help you identify the movement keys by touch, but the bump is extremely subtle, and I found that I often reset my fingers one position to the left or right. That's inconvenient in a single-player game, dangerous in a multiplayer game and absolutely deadly in a high-stakes tournament match. The Tartarus V2 isn't nearly as comfortable as it could be. On the other hand, the Tartarus Pro didn't eliminate the need for a keyboard, either. I still needed a full suite of keys to type in-game messages as well as access the game's myriad menus. On the other hand, a standard mouse-and-keyboard setup is still functional for most MMO players — which drives home my central criticism of the Tartarus V2. What it does, it does just fine; it's just not that helpful — or that necessary — for most players. Bottom Line Otherwise, the design is neat and compact. The Tartarus V2 definitely saves a lot of room, which could be beneficial in a crowded tournament scene. At home, though, you'll probably need to use it in conjunction with a regular keyboard — not instead of one. More on that later. Keys One useful feature of the Tartarus V2 is that you can switch between three different keymaps, which is perfect for different characters in an MMO or MOBA, for different weapons layouts in an FPS or different races in an RTS. You can also enable a "Hypershift" functionality, which completely changes what every key does when you press or hold down a button of your choice.

looking for a gaming keypad with advanced features and customization options, the Tartarus Pro is the way to go. Like most Razer keys, those on the Razer Tartarus Pro are very comfortable. But I had to ask myself: Were they more comfortable than simply using a controller or a full-size keyboard?Truthfully, I don't know what the "aha" moment would be for keypad gamers, the breakthrough moment when they realize, "This peripheral could really take my gameplay to the next level."