HyperX Alloy Elite Review

👤by Matthew Hodgson Comments 📅06-09-17
Performance Testing
The HyperX Alloy Elite requires no software to function, being an entirely plug and play affair, with all of the settings being controlled onboard the keyboard. Some users would see this as a negative, though you’re less likely to run into any issues or crashes, and things are kept simple; it also makes the keyboard much easier to take with you to events or a friend’s house while retaining the exact same feel and function. Custom backlighting can still be configured using the keyboard, all of which is clearly explained in the Quick Start Guide.

HyperX has done a good job piecing the Alloy Elite together, there’s no noticeable flex within the keyboard, thanks mainly to that steel back plate. Unfortunately, the wrist rest feels flimsy and doesn’t rest flat on the desk, causing a lot of tapping against the surface underneath; we attempted to remount the wrist rest a couple of times to rule out bad placement but it didn’t resolve the issue. However, a large mouse mat that spans the desk does negate this issue completely.

For those looking for RGB backlighting, the Alloy Elite will disappoint. That being said, the red backlighting on the keys is excellent, distribution of the light is good and the adjustable brightness will suit everyone. But it does suffer from the LED bleed along the top row of F keys, caused by the nature of the exposed/raised key switches; this can reflect off shiny surfaces behind the keyboard, such as a glossy monitor bezel. The lighting strip across the top is a nice addition, providing an incredibly even light with no noticeable banding.



Kingston sent us the Cherry MX Red keys, aimed primarily at the gaming market due to their speed and lack of resistance, they’re the perfect choice for the vast majority of gamers. The keycaps have a rubbery texture providing plenty of grip while also feeling a little spongey. The included WASD keys, with the increased texture, added a lot of feel while playing your standard WASD layout FPS games. Battlefield 4, War Thunder, Orcs Must Die: Unchained, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS and Paladins were tested to provide a reasonably general overview of gaming performance; the keyboard performed flawlessly; the ability to generate custom backlighting layouts paid dividends in games with many usable keys. The use of a standard font on the keycaps keeps things simple and recognisable, with the little addition of the X on the space bar looking great while backlit.

The braided USB cable is, substantial, to say the least, although HyperX may argue that 2 separate USB channels are being run through the single cable and that it’s built to last. The USB port on the back of the keyboard was handy, though it’s about time we started seeing some USB 3.0 pass-throughs on keyboards.

Last, but certainly not least, the volume control is an absolute joy to use, it’s by far the most natural way of adjusting the volume quickly and efficiently. The roller slightly resists you turning it, but only to prevent huge inputs which may result in a shock if wearing a loud set of headphones. The media keys were placed handily next to the volume.

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