HyperX from the house of Kingston can safely be termed as one of the pioneers of gaming peripherals in the world. With a portfolio ranging from high-quality headsets to robust keyboards, they hold a strong position in the market.
A few months ago we checked out their flagship keyboard: The Alloy Elite RGB. Today, we have its little brother with us. Presenting the Alloy FPS RGB.
HyperX has taken its erstwhile Alloy FPS and upgraded it with RGB to make the Alloy FPS RGB. We have the same layout with new Silver Speed switches and RGB goodies.
Close Look at the Alloy FPS RGB
The Alloy FPS RGB has the same 104 key layouts. So, you have the same full-size keyboard with a double mapped function key. A small half-inch bezel on all sides and a new set of keys. Apart from the keys, and the RGB treatment there is not much to differentiate the ALLOY FPS RGB from its older brother.
The backside doesn’t have anything to talk about, so we will let it rest.
Coming to the USB ports, we have one USB-A to Mini-B for connecting the keyboard which is completely removable, so if you need to take the keyboard somewhere you just disconnect the cable and take it alongside the keyboard in a bag. The other USB port is for passthrough, but surprisingly it only passes power, not data; so if you want to connect a mouse or any other device, you will be disappointed.
The most important part, the keys!
The keyboard comes with Kalih Silver switches. Now, the question is do they like Kalih more? or its just cost-cutting? the answer is, however, is still in the winds and I will let you know when I catch it.
Either way, the differences are very small on paper: Cherry MX Silvers is a linear switch requiring 45 grams of force, with actuation of 1.2mm and travel of 3.4mm. Kailh Silvers require 40 grams of force, with actuation of 1.1mm and travel of 3.5mm.
Both the keys are extremely lightweight, have a little bit of acclimatization curve, but once you get hang of it, it’s very nice to type with. However, since they require so little force and the actuation is towards the top, it is prone to miss keys and mistype. Now it is not a dealbreaker in my books but some might find it problematic.
Cherry keys have one inherent problem which is found across all brands. To compensate for the stem design, the LED is offset above it. SO, the upper side of the key is bright but the bottom stays relatively darker. To manage that HyperX has decided to etch the upper side with symbols and alphabets, which at times looks a bit cramped up. But again, that’s not a deal-breaker albeit a little bit infuriating.
Software
On the software side, HyperX brought a new version of Ngenuity app for its new peripherals. The app is only available on Windows Store and is still in Beta. It works just like the old one, along with the bugs and all! If you want to know more just read about it here: Alloy Elite RGB Review.
Hands-on experience
Keyboard generally goes through a very rigorous testing regime here at Techarx. I use the keyboard as my daily driver for a fortnight. The typical usage scenario consists of long periods of writing (around 100+ pages), a copious amount of gaming, and heavy internet usage. This keyboard was no exception, the Kalih Silver took a little bit of time to get used to, but it was an enjoyable experience. The software was a headache and I hope it gets better with time.
Final Words
The Alloy FPS RGB is built on the legacy of some awesome keyboards. It is a hot contender in your list if you are in the market for a gaming-centric keyboard. The keyboard is built like a tank; in fact, you can probably go to war (or at least a street fight if need be). The exposed steel gives it a clean look coupled with RGB LEDs through the keycaps. This is the perfect keyboard if you are gaming almost exclusively and doing a moderate bit of other stuff.
The only part I am unhappy with is the new software implementation from HyperX, but docking points solely for that reason would be unfair. While am sure the software side of things can be solved in future, there is one thing HyperX needs to address immediately and that is the Indian pricing. The product pricing currently is all over the place across all the retailers which in turn has led to mass confusion among the buyers and makes it a hard sell at times. Apart from these issues, the keyboard is a winner in my eyes. Granted, it has a so-called “limited” audience but it does what it is supposed to do and does it well.
A Silver from TechARX
