The HyperX Alloy Origins performs better than the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB for all uses, though both are fantastic full-sized gaming keyboards. Moving on to the zone approach of illumination, simply select the keys on the image of the keyboard and add whatever keys to that zone as you wish. These software utilities are already sneered at by power users, with comparable offerings by Logitech and Razer taking up approximately 300MB of space. The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is an outstanding gaming keyboard that feels very well-built, with an aluminum plate on top and small, grippy feet to prevent it from sliding around.

The exposed steel plate is cleaner looking than a framed keyboard, and it does allow for the RGB LED lighting to not only shine through the keycaps, but also does flood out over the top of the keyboard as well. That said, the HyperX is full-sized, so it has a Numpad and a Windows key lock, and the companion software allows you to create more profiles than the SteelSeries.Today, we’re looking at a refresh of one of their most popular mechanical keyboards with the Alloy FPS RGB. Again, it takes very little effort to actuate a key, and If you are an accurate typist this could improve your speed. While this keyboard may not be for everyone, it is geared for gaming, provides all things that makes that possible, yet does not dig too deeply into your pocket to get one on your desk. No matter the layout or the switches used, there are many common features that the Alloy lineup brings to the table.

The pre-travel distance is very short, which results in a very responsive feel, but it may cause more unintentional strokes to be registered. Via the NGenuity software you can also configure the game mode feature and create and assign macros to any of the keys. Anecdotally, my students literally oooh-ed and aaahh-ed when they saw this on my desk (I teach elementary school) and a pair of colleagues also immediately commented on how neat it looked. On the other hand, the HyperX takes a bit less space on your desk, and the Kailh Silver Speed switches it uses have shorter pre-travel and should feel a bit more responsive.But when it came time to make the Alloy FPS RGB, apparently HyperX opted for Kailh Silver Speed switches instead of Cherry. If you're into RGB lighting and you're out to get a brand new gaming keyboard chances are you will have a really hard time choosing one out of the countless models currently available in the market. Also, the ergonomics are only mediocre, as it only has one incline setting and doesn’t come with a wrist rest. 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. The names are at the left with the line "compact design with brilliant RGB effects" explain what this is all about.

There are also modes like solid, cycle, and breathing that can be selected from the dropdown left of the highlighted one. This makes the Alloy FPS one of the lightest and most nimble gaming keyboards available in the mainstream. Disassembly of the HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is on the simpler side of things despite the use of a plastic casing. Since “FPS” is in the name of the keyboard, I played a few shooters, including Team Fortress 2, Overwatch, and Halo Online (a fan project that ports Halo’s online features to PC) to see if the Alloy FPS RGB lived up to its name.

Far to the right are the lock LED indicators next to the HyperX name, as well as a full number pad, with optional arrow keys on it. The standard Alloy FPS comes with red backlighting, but the Alloy FPS RGB model I’m testing comes with full per-key RGB support. The HyperX Alloy FPS RGB is compatible with the HyperX NGENUITY software, which is only available on Windows. But when HyperX says you can feel the difference with these switches, they aren’t straining credibility.

There are multi-media controls offered, there is a Game Mode button, and the Alloy FPS RGB works with any Windows OS since and including Windows 7.At the rear we see 4 product pictures used to showcase the main product features which are listed right beneath them in 9 languages. However, when hiding or waiting to ambush an enemy, we did find that just the weight of our fingers resting would sometimes trigger movement of the character, and even worse, when stretching a finger for the F key, while gaming, we found ourselves jumping across the doorway rather than opening the door. For instance, keyboards with Cherry MX-style switches are all forced to deal with the same backlight problem: To compensate for the “stem” design of the switch, the LED is offset above it. The polling rate is 1000Hz by default, Anti-ghosting is built in, as well as NKRO support, all right out of the box.