Software

With all functionality being hardware based, there are no software drivers for the darkFlash GD100 keyboard. As such, I have chosen to combine this section with the performance section below.

Lighting and Performance

The darkFlash GD100 supports NKRO out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Seen above is also what the base layer on the keyboard is programmed to as far as dedicated keys go. As with most keyboards these days, there is no right Windows key, as it has been substituted by an Fn key here which has an Fn layer associated with it. As listed in the user manual and pointed out also by the keycap legends, we get shortcuts to improve the user's quality of life in terms of pulling up default programs, volume controls, and media playback controls. This being a 95% form factor keyboard, you already have 100 of the 104 keys here to not necessitate the use of other layers.


There's not much else to say here given the relatively simple feature set of the darkFlash GD100. There's no software or user-based customization, no lighting, and even the wireless connectivity comes via the more reliable 2.4 GHz connectivity rather than Bluetooth. So unless you have your PC next to your microwave and router, don't expect to have anything but a stable wireless connection from your PC to the keyboard, especially within line of sight as typically used. Given the larger size of the keyboard, it's more likely the GD100 is going to be a couple of feet away from the PC only. Battery life is on the order of weeks of typical use in the absence of backlighting and a built-in sleep mode, although charging can take two to three hours with the adoption of the slower USB 2.0 protocol (500 mA max on 5 V, often lower than that). The actual typing experience is solid too with the keys being positioned pretty much where you expect them. I did think that perhaps Scroll Lock and Pause/Break could have been replaced by Home and End maybe but I could see how having those keys along with Page Up, Page Down, and Delete together in a single row could lead to unwanted errors. My sample of the GD100 uses the unbranded Yellow linear switches which are basically a clone of the Cherry MX Red in functionality. I will point out that the darkFlash marketing materials for the GD100 have the force-travel diagrams swapped for the Blue and Yellow switches but it's fairly obvious since one is a clicky switch and the other a linear switch. This one actuates at 2 mm and 45 gf force while bottoming out at 4 mm at ~60 gf meaning you are likely to bottom out once you actuate. The switch travel is quite smooth given the pre-lubed stem and all the switches felt fairly uniform to use.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the darkFlash GD100 keyboard sample at ~105 WPM as it comes out of the box with these Yellow switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out here and it helps test how the keyboard sounds in the absence of any dampening materials. It works better than I expected which shows a lot of the overall sound signature of a keyboard is from the switches and keycaps used, which are more than decent here. There are still some metallic pings as the switches bottom out on the steel plate and these are higher pitched than you'd find on keyboards that go for better dampening and isolation, but it's not something that will in itself sound bad. The stabilizers are also more consistent sounding than I expected going in, which helps further in not making you think this is a cheap keyboard—just an inexpensive one.