Performance

The EVGA Z10 RGB keyboard supports N-key rollover USB out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, but do keep in mind that there are more switches and keys on this keyboard than even the full-size 104-key ANSI layout for testing accommodates.

When first connected, the Z10 RGB lights up in a spiral rainbow lighting effect for the keys, which does a good job of demonstrating the per-key RGB lighting on offer here. The LCD display also lights up red, which matches the non-RGB Z10 out of the box.


The slider on the left allows for quick control over backlighting brightness in fairly precise steps, although accuracy is hard given the limited travel distance. As we saw on the previous page, the EVGA Unleash RGB software comes in handy for more control. Setting one of the dynamic random color lighting effects allows for a look at how the Z10 RGB handles light bleed, and there is a small amount of it as a result of the lightly floating keycaps and the dark case with a matte finish. Turning all LEDs to a static white shows a small blue bias to the color, which is more typical than not for RGB LEDs that try to replicate white via setting the individual R/G/B channels to max brightness. This hurts more with the LCD display that has a lower resolution, if you will, and there is a distinct orange hue. Setting any other color seems to work fine, especially at max brightness, which may also be why EVGA set the display to be backlit red by default.

Here are some more of the lighting effects demonstrated, making good use of the hardware and software alike. Given RGB lighting is the biggest update compared to the older EVGA Z10 keyboard, the execution works fine. I would have liked to see the lighting tied in more to system performance, but that is where the display comes in.


The display is angled such that you can only get a good look at the displayed information inside a narrow viewing angle range, and it thankfully happens to coincide well enough with a seated position and using the keyboard in front of you. There is enough room for people of varying heights to use it, but extremely tall or short people may not be able to. This is especially compounded if you angle the keyboard at the top further using the keyboard feet, and it is also a factor for those using standing desks. That aside, my complaints from the previous page still stand in that the display could have been more useful overall as well. It gets better if you have a compatible EVGA GPU or motherboard, but as a standalone product, there is very little the display does that can't already be done via simple onboard lighting effects associated with profiles and macros.

While the display is a bit of a disappointment, the rest of the extras on the keyboard are not. I especially liked the two USB ports on the keyboard, which helps keep cables tidy around the desk work area for a mouse and a USB drive or headset. The volume slider also works well, although Windows treats it as a volume change in discrete steps rather than immediately shifting to the preset value. The dedicated media playback buttons are nice, as is the game mode button, and the seven dedicated macro keys are nice for games and applications. There are other pre-programmed functions tied to the other keys, including switching profiles on the fly, and all this can be configured to your preferences via the key mapping and macro recording features in EVGA Unleash.


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 EVGA Z10 RGB keyboard sample at ~110 WPM as it comes out of the box. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out here more often than not, as is common with lighter switches such as these, but notice that the keyboard is pretty quiet as a whole due to the combination of the keycaps, case, and Kailh Brown switches used (on this sample, at least). No issues with the switches either, with Kailh having come a long way since they first started offering Cherry MX-stem style switches.