HyperX HX-KB1SS2-UK Alloy FPS RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Kailh Silver Speed Switches (UK Layout)

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title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=6&columnCount=6&theme=article The Zones tab has several templates corresponding to different genres of games. FPS lights up the WASD and other commonly used keys in shooters. MMO illuminates WASD and the number keys. MOBA targets QWER as well as D, F, and ENTER. RTS applies to A, S, CTRL, ALT, numbers 1 to 5, and ENTER. The additional 5 Zones mode breaks up the entire keyboard into five different colored zones. Finally, you can choose to set a lighting preset to any of these zones if you prefer something a little spicier than a solid color, as well as use the Customize button to create your own zone template. Lastly, the keycaps felt a bit harsh on my fingers, almost abrasive. I've seen mention online that they need some breaking in, but it was very noticeable after a couple hours, at which point I moved to the above-mentioned, smoother Milk Puddings that I bought along with the board. Kailh switches like those on this board do use standard Cherry stems, so changing keycaps is a simple affair with the myriad keycap sets available online. If you're unhappy with these that is. The switches are made by Kailh, using the usual Cherry MX designs. Kailh is one of the most popular and well-respected switch makers, so this is a sensible choice even though some purists insist on OG Cherry switches. I personally can’t feel a massive difference between speed switches made by the two companies. Wrapping up

What sets Silver switches apart from the more traditional Reds, Browns and Blues is their extremely short actuation distance: 1.1 millimeters, compared with about 2 mm for the other colors. In theory, this allows you to hit the same button again and again, with extreme rapidity. Naturally, it's not hard to see how this could be beneficial for esports. Finally, the keyboard uses a removable Mini USB cable rather than the usual Micro-B or USB-C, as the older standard is slightly cheaper and users are less likely to plug in their own (potentially subpar) cables. The switches are rather wobbly. You can put your finger on the key and easily move it around in a wide arc whilst bottomed out. If you were hoping for more stable keys like a lot of the newer Razer or box stemmed variants, you're going to be disappointed. HOWEVER, I would argue that it's less noticeable than with Cherry MX switches during use, because you don't bottom out the Kailh Speed Silvers as much, due to higher actuation points and stiffer springs. It's like typing on air :PThe RGB model’s last bell/whistle is its Kailh Silver Speed switches. As the name implies, these switches are designed for speed. With an operating/actuation force of 40g, an actuation point of 1.1mm, and a total travel distance of 3.5mm, its specs zip right past the Cherry MX red, which has an actuation force of 45g, a 2mm actuation point, and a total travel distance of 4mm. In English, it only takes a light touch to trigger a key press, making it great for gaming, but less so for typing. HyperX Alloy FPS RGB – Software HyperX uses a detachable Mini-USB cable to pass its user’s input to the host system. This wire is nice and pliable and shouldn’t oppose any efforts to route it across a desk. While I appreciate the detachable cable, I wish the company had put another Mini-USB port on the left side of the board to allow for more cable-routing options. As it stands, the rather bulky plug and strain relief on the board’s cable mean that the wire runs haphazardly across my desk to the PC on its left side. Overall, the Speed Silvers feel like hair-trigger Cherry MX Reds, and that might not be a feel that everybody can get along with. The Kailhs are as easy to mistakenly actuate as MX Speeds without the advantage of their swift, pure stroke. If you exercise care in your typing technique, these switches can serve well , but if you’re a habitual key-smasher, you might find them too sensitive for day-to-day use. HyperX really ought to consider broadening the range of switch options it offers on the Alloy FPS RGB as a result.

HyperX’s Alloy FPS keyboard earned a TR Recommended award in days past for its no-nonsense design, quality construction, Cherry switches, and software-free setup, but no gaming-peripheral company worth its salt these days can ignore the demands of the RGB LED-hungry masses. A little while ago, HyperX melded those multicolor LEDs with its no-frills gaming keyboard to make the Alloy FPS RGB. I’ve been typing on this board for some time now, and I’m ready to issue my verdict.The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is a mechanical gaming keyboard that should appeal to a lot of people. It has a full-size 104/105-key layout, pretty RGB illumination, a well-considered design and light, linear Speed Silver switches. Here are my thoughts after testing the keyboard for four weeks. Clean, thoughtful design To get started with all the fun features of HyperX NGenuity, you first need to select a profile. Upon booting up, you’ll only see the default profile: a Wave lighting preset with no macros. However, this profile can be customized to your heart’s content, or you can create a new one. But when HyperX says you can feel the difference with these switches, they aren’t straining credibility. You barely have to touch a key to register a keystroke. At first, I was amazed by this, then instantly booted up several games and found that, as the keyboard’s name implies, these switches were amazing for FPS games. In-game, it felt almost as if my keyboard was reacting before I did, which helped ensure I could drop a grenade before I died in Halo Online and deliver justice from beyond the grave. HyperX included a bag with the original Alloy FPS, which is not included with the new RGB model (as far as I could tell). I can’t say I’m surprised. Not many people move their keyboard around day-to-day, and I assume even fewer think it needs the protection afforded by a soft cloth bag.