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

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In terms of everyday use, there's still some benefit, although Silver keys are not nearly as comfortable for the everyday typist as Reds, Browns or Blues. Using TypingTest.com, I scored 126 words per minute with six errors on the Alloy FPS RGB, compared with 115 wpm with 10 errors on a laptop membrane keyboard. The Alloy's Silver keys are not nearly as comfortable for the everyday typist as Reds, Browns or Blues. While the keyboard's performance isn't as imperative in single-player and MMO titles, it did just fine in Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition and World of Warcraft, too. 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. 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.

title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=6&columnCount=6&theme=article 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. Completely untenable, as well. These software utilities are already sneered at by power users, with comparable offerings by Logitech and Razer taking up approximately 300MB of space. That’s unwieldy, sure, but 1.1GB? To change the lighting on your keyboard? Ridiculous. IDG / Hayden Dingman 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. But when it came time to make the Alloy FPS RGB, apparently HyperX opted for Kailh Silver Speed switches instead of Cherry. Do they actually like Kailh more? Is it just a cost-cutting measure? It’s honestly hard to tell.The 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. Cherry MX Speeds feel as though they have a completely linear, uncushioned actuation curve to go with their light actuation force and high trigger point, so they feel as light and crisp as their specs suggest. The Kailh Speed Silver switches have the high actuation point of the Cherry switches, but they also have a distinct cushioned feel at the end of their stroke that stands in stark contrast to the Cherry switches. As a result, the Kailh switches feel less speedy than the Cherry switches do, despite their similarity on paper. The Alloy FPS is a wide keyboard, thanks to its inclusion of all 100+ keys, but the chassis at least keeps its dimensions to a reasonable 442 x 130 x 36mm. I personally don’t use the numpad with any great regularity, so I prefer the space savings and more ergonomic hand position afforded by keyboards that omit the numpad such as the (non-RGB) Alloy FPS Pro. The top of the Ngenuity hierarchy for the Alloy FPS starts with profiles. The board has onboard memory for up to three different combinations of lighting settings, macros, and key-deactivation settings for the Alloy FPS RGB’s gaming mode. Once you choose a profile to edit, you’ll gain access to lighting, game mode, and macro sub-settings. Lighting is the most complex part of Ngenuity, so it’s where I’ll focus most of my overview.

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 But lighting foibles aside, the illumination is pretty, and there a few attractive designs to choose from. Beyond that, you can link games with profiles and keep three onboard profiles at your disposal in case you travel. You can also reprogram keys and create macros, which could come in handy (if you play in settings that allow things like that). Performance Consider, for example, the Overwatch profile. On the Alloy FPS RGB, it's a neat, static lighting design with a lot of white keys, and some blue, green and pink keys to highlight the ones you need to play. It's pretty, but it's not really on the same level as Razer's Overwatch lighting profiles, which change dynamically depending on your characters, health and special abilities.

The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB performs well, but it leaves out a number of useful premium features.

Still, it’s a great little keyboard. I really do love the size of it, and actually kept the original Alloy FPS on my desk for a number of months after review because it took up so little space. If you want a full-sized keyboard that feels almost like a tenkeyless, this is one of the best options.

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. You won’t find as flashy a set of pre-baked effects through HyperX’s software as you might in Corsair’s iCUE utility, and HyperX doesn’t have any RGB LED sync partnerships in its corner to keep colors or effects consistent across multiple brands of peripherals. Still, I suspect Ngenuity has enough effects to please both mild and wild fans of RGB LEDs. The RGB LEDs are definitely better than other boards I've got, though I will say that it wasn't a big selling point for me. I don't care much for RGB, but if the board has it, I'll turn it on and leave it on a solid colour, unless there's a nifty effect like the fire ripple of Razer's, or the GMMK's various wave effects. The software was extremely basic though, and it took me a good bit of fiddling to figure out how to set my profile as a default on the board.

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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 :P Cercavo una tastiera tenkeyless, cioè senza tastierino numerico, e ho trovato in assoluto una delle migliori se non LA migliore.