PC Gamer - UK 2020-04)

Huntsman Elite

RAZER £200

A hyper-responsive innovation

Razer’sproprietary

opto-mechanical

switches,whichare

currentlyonlyavailableontheir

HuntsmanandHuntsmanElite

boards,areaninterestingand

wellexecutedblendof

technologies,anartfulmixof

traditionalmechanicalswitch

designandopticalsensorsnot

unliketheoneprobablylurking

insideyourmouse.

Insteadofusingthecontactof

metalleavesinsidetheswitchto

registera keypress,theopto-

mechanicalswitchactuateswhen

a beamoflightpassesthrough

thestemasit descends.This

meansthere’svirtuallyno

actuationdelaywhatsoever,

makingtheopto-mechanical one

ofthemostresponsiveswitches

onthemarket.

Therestoftheboardshares

thethoughtfuldesignofits

switches,allowingusersto

changethebacklightingunder

eachkeyindividually.Other than

itslackofanoptionforUSB

passthrough,anunfortunate

oversight,it hasallthefeatures

you’relikelytoneed.

Containssomeofthebestswitches

onthemarket

Eyefordetailandaesthetics

NoUSBpassthrough

VERDICT

SPECSSWITCHES:RAZEROPTO-MECHANICAL/SIZE:FULL-SIZE/BACKLIGHTING:16.8MILLIONCOLORRGB /

PASSTHROUGH:NO/MEDIACONTROLS:DEDICATED/WRISTREST:DETACHABLEMAGNETIC

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Alloy Elite RGB

HYPERX £120

One of the most feature-packed keyboards available

A board that’s packed
with features and
aesthetically delightful,
HyperX’s Alloy Elite RGB is a
premium option for less thank
you’d expect. It’s got a full suite of
dedicated media keys including a
large scrolling volume wheel, a
detachable wrist rest, and a set of
quick access keys that allow you
set things like brightness or
toggle on Game Mode with a
single key press.
Available with a range of
Cherry switches, from loud, clicky
Blues to whisper-quiet Reds, the
HyperX can be configured to suit
almost anyone’s typing/gaming
style. It’s loaded with the

seemingly requisite full RGB

package, but still possesses a

certain elegance with its matte

black design and the option to

replace the WASD and first four

number keys with silvery keycaps.

It’s an appealing-looking board.

It’s also a pleasingly rugged,

durable board, with a solid steel

frame. In other words, this is a

board tough enough to withstand

even your most outrageous

mid-match tantrums...

Lotsofhandyfeatures

RangeofCherryMXswitches with

differentresistances

Slightlyclumsysoftware

VERDICT

SPECS SWITCHES: CHERRY MX RED, BROWN, OR BLUE / SIZE: FULL-SIZE / BACKLIGHTING: FULL RGB / PASSTHROUGH:
YES / MEDIA CONTROLS: DEDICATED / WRIST REST: DETACHABLE

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HARDWARE

Group Test

JARGON BUSTER

Actuation Point

The depth to which a key needs to be

pressed before it registers as a press.

Clicky

A switch that delivers an audible click

every time it’s pressed.

Linear

A switch that moves directly up and

down, delivering smooth keystrokes

without noise or tactile feedback.

Mechanical keyboard

A keyboard built around individual

switches for each key, rather than a

membrane sheath mounted on a PCB.

Switch

The physical component of a

mechanical keyboard beneath the

keycaps on a mechanical keyboard.

The switch determines how a key is

actuated, whether or not it provides

audible or tactile feedback with each

press, and more.

Tac tile

A switch that provides a ‘bump’ of

feedback every time it’s pushed.

Te n key le s s

A keyboard that lacks the right hand

number pad.

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