Performance

The HyperX Alloy Origins 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.

When first connected, regardless of whether HyperX NGENUITY is running or not, the keyboard lights up in a rainbow wave lighting effect. The transition animation is smooth and a good demo to ensure the keyboard is powered on and working properly.


I then manually set all the keys to white using the software driver to test for color fidelity since RGB LEDs have a hard time depicting white, and it was cooler than average with a blue hue. This may be the result of the RGB LED right above the switch with minimal diffusion outside of the LED lens, and the black case does not reflect much, either. In a separate test over one of the preset multi-colored options, I tested for light bleed, and it was definitely present at the common edges because of the floating keycaps.

Here are some more of the lighting effects demonstrated, including the breathing, confetti, and swipe effects making good use of the hardware and software alike. The two other profiles can be associated with these effects, and indeed come pre-programmed out of the box to be visually different when active. Profile switching is one of the many other pre-programmed functions tied to the Fn key row, including media and volume control, which adds to the overall user experience with this keyboard that is otherwise easy to get used to given the TKL form factor and 87 keys on this ANSI language version.



The key-assignment options in the software allow for users to go with layouts other than QWERTY, and here, I used the source code from an older keyboard review in a layout tester (courtesy of Patrick Gillespie). The results above indicate that QWERTY is not even close to the most efficient layout for me, and very likely you as well. If you are willing, try out Colemak or Dvorak as they will result in lower finger travel and fatigue overall. As such, the driver offers a significant functional tool if you are willing to devote some time to adopting either Colemak or Dvorak. Here is the link to the full results if you are interested, including a detailed analysis on key presses and distances moved.


As we discussed before, the HyperX Alloy Origins Core keyboard is available with the HyperX Red linear switch, the HyperX Aqua tactile switch, or the HyperX Blue tactile + clicky switch. We saw the HyperX Red in use before, and have the newer Aqua switches on this keyboard. Cues taken from the Cherry MX Brown have been adapted to meet what HyperX believes gamers will want, especially for those who want a fast switch, but still prioritize accuracy over speed. The tactile bump plays a role in meeting that requirement, and the actuation force is slightly heavier than average at 55 gf while also happening at a shorter travel distance of 1.8 mm—total travel is 3.8 mm. This switch has a whopping rated lifetime of 80 million keystrokes. We must again note that different companies use different metrics to measure switch lifespan, often involving extrapolation given how much time can feasibly be devoted to such testing, so that number is in and of itself not a pure measure of quality and durability. The force-travel diagram is of more interest to me, with a multi-step linear change in downstroke that promises reliable performance if all switches behave like this. In practice, these switches were indeed very smooth to type on, and I did not notice a significant break-in effect as with some other switches. The tactile bump is also more pronounced than on Cherry MX Brown switches, somewhere between the Cherry MX Brown and MX Clear if you have tried those. Compared to other tactile switches, it feels similar to the Kailh BOX Silent Brown, albeit louder. The stabilizers here are also interesting since they are among the better of the more mainstream keyboard offerings, but only barely so, to where the keycaps make more of a difference anyway if you change to a better quality set.


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 HyperX Alloy Origins Core sample at ~115 WPM as it comes out of the box with the HyperX Aqua RGB switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out more often than not, although you can train yourself not to do so because of the tactile bump and the medium force actuation switches this keyboard employs.