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

Product Information

I still wish we’d see something more daring out of HyperX, using more of the approach that’s allowed them to dominate the headset market. The Kailh Silver Speed have a noticeably different feel compared to Cherry MX Red switches found in both of the previous Alloy FPS keyboards I reviewed. 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. Neither PC Perspective nor any of its staff were paid or compensated in any way by HyperX for this review.

So, leaving out the per-key RGB illumination (7 effects with 5 brightness levels) for the keys thanks to the Kailh Silver Speed switches everything else pretty much remains identical to the original Alloy FPS including the steel frame, N-Key / 6-Key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, 1000MHz polling rate, detachable braided cable and even a USB port which can be used to charge mobile/portable devices. There is also a Sonix SLED1734 dedicated LED driver capable of running as many as 256 LEDs or 75 RGB LEDs, including adding support for some specific lighting effects. On the other hand, the Elite 2 has more extra features, like dedicated media keys, a USB passthrough, and a control wheel.

Once you've got your keyboard ready to show off, you can save up to 3 customisations to your onboard memory and take your own personal light show and macro settings on the road. It is where you can choose the language of the presented information, grab the manual, and can even check for updates to the software and firmware, as well as resetting the entire suite to its factory default settings. The FPS RGB is a fairly large full-sized keyboard that comes with full RGB backlighting, macro-programmable keys, and outstanding software support for easy customization. On the other hand, the HyperX uses normal mechanical linear switches, and its cable is detachable, though it can only be used wired. Inside of the box, we find the keyboard wrapped in clear plastic to keep dust off the keyboard as well as help against abrasions.

Never miss an important keypress with the Alloy FPS RGB's customizable Game Mode, 100% Anti-ghosting, and N-key rollover features. Great for gaming where typing accuracy doesnt matter - otherwise not suitable for the purpose it was dessigned, ,,, as a keyboard! Unfortunately, the ergonomics are only okay, as it doesn't come with a wrist rest and has only one incline setting, but typing on it shouldn't cause much fatigue even during long gaming sessions.

It has a few nice additions, like macro-programmable keys and full RGB backlighting, but it doesn't have a wrist rest and dedicated macros like some other gaming keyboards. The award-winning HyperX brand has carved its name atop the leaderboard by consistently delivering products that deliver superior comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. It only has red backlighting and doesn’t have any software support, meaning you can’t reprogram keys. Moving down the chart a bit, we see that the Kailh switches come in only one flavor for this keyboard, and those are the Kailh Silver Speed switches.

The second reason isn't a deal breaker, but the fact that the keyboard will vibrate and resonate when in use is something that will cause a numb feeling ion your fingertips.Never miss an important keypress with the Alloy FPS RGB's customisable Game Mode, 100% anti-ghosting and N-key rollover features. I have to admit that this methodology may not be 100% accurate but it does give a good idea on what you can expect from each model since aside the type of switches used keycaps and keyboard material also matter. Of course, RGB lighting is not really the same between models (different effects, light intensity, keycaps) but that's not all since consumers also need to know which type of switch they would like (mechanical, membrane or hybrid), brand name (the most well-known of which are Cherry, OMRON, Kailh/Kaihua, Gateron, Outemu, Greetech and Matias - brand also equals quality in most cases) and also what characteristics they want those switches to have (defined by their color when it comes to mechanical switches). The Alloy FPS RGB is a compact design for a full-sized keyboard, and like the original Alloy FPS has minimal additional space around the keys for a smaller footprint. This can also be done in software, but when in the moment, a need may arise that you don't have the time to open the software.