When HyperX entered the world of gaming periphery, its mission was very simple: high-performance gaming headphones, without all the pretensions – and a big part of the prize. Since then, HyperX has expanded its activities to mice and keyboards, with excellent results in all aspects. However, over time, the cost of products rose again, with premium prices corresponding to premium features. In this respect, the HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard is a type of form return. This is our Review of the origins of HyperX alloys.
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Last updated on March 18, 2020 11:10 PM
This full-size mechanical keyboard comes with comfortable switches, a robust chassis and full RGB functions, all for about $ 50 less than some comparable models. Alloy Origins is not necessarily the best gaming keyboard on the market. Some features that are standard on most models are missing, such as discreet media keys and palm rests. In addition, the software is a bit complicated and the switches look like a small step behind the Cherry MX HyperX switches used in the past.
Still, it’s tempting to get so many functions on a keyboard that costs just over $ 100. Alloy Origins is not the most feature-rich gaming keyboard you can buy, but for the price, it composes it in an impressive amount of things.
Review of the origins of HyperX alloys: Design
If you want Alloy Origins for a gaming corner, a family desktop or an office desk, it will look great. Thanks to a compact design and contained in a black aluminum chassis, Alloy Origins is one of the slimmest and most elegant keyboards available. It takes up as much space as needed (17.4 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches) and fits perfectly in any setting – uniquely you can customize the keys with a variety of pleasing RGB patterns.
Most of the time, Alloy Origins looks like a normal keyboard, but two functions stand out. The first is the first three function keys, which switch between integrated profiles. It is not uncommon for a keyboard to offer built-in profiles (whether you need them depends on the number of computers you want to use the keyboard with), but the ability to activate them with the touch of a button is a great feature.
The second advantage is that Alloy Origins has a small LED screen in the upper right corner. It’s a practical way to keep an eye on Caps Lock, Num Lock and the keyboard game mode, which disables individual keys while playing. It’s attractive and functional, and I wonder why most keyboards haven’t used anything like it.
On the other hand, there are no discreet media keys and this can limit the usefulness of alloy sources in daily productivity. There are also no additional macro keys, so be aware of hard core MMO players.
keys
Perhaps one of the reasons Alloy Origins costs much less than its competitors is that it does not use authentic Cherry MX mechanical switches. Instead, he created three of his models: HyperX Red, HyperX Aqua and HyperX Blue. (At the time of this writing, Alloy Origins was only available with red switches, but the other two colors need to be displayed later). Reds are silent and linear, Aquas are silent and tactile, and Blues are clicks and tactile.
The Reds felt at least like Cherry MX. They were quiet enough to use in a busy office and had enough strength to press the keys satisfactorily. Technically, they offer slightly less keystroke and operational strength than Cherry Reds, which makes them feel a little more rigid compared to Cherry Reds. But the price is right, so HyperX buyers don’t have to undergo Cherry’s long waiting times between parties.
Review of the origins of HyperX alloys: Resources
Alloy Origins runs on HyperX NGenuity software, which is still in beta. (It can also be downloaded only from the Windows Store, which is a little tricky, but I got lost). However, the software still has a long way to go, especially when it comes to creating specific game profiles. There are just a few things you can do with the NGenuity software: adjust RGB lighting and assign these light profiles to individual games and applications. You can’t program macros and you can’t reprogram keys, which leaves NGenuity pretty empty, the way these things happen.
To make things even more frustrating, setting up light profiles can be a complicated task. If all you want is a solid color or a pre-programmed pattern, it’s not that difficult. But if you are programming different “zones” with special effects or colors, the process becomes very complicated. Instead of just selecting keys, you need to layer the impact on the effect and select a different set of keys for each key. It is much more complicated and much less efficient than that found in programs like Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse.
Profiles also don’t work the way they should. Even if you receive a program to recognize a pattern at startup, the keyboard will not return to the default profile when you return to the desktop. The whole thing is just more secretive than it should be and less polished than it should be. Alloy Origins deserves some brownie points for using a removable USB-C cable. It is rare to find detachable cables on normal-sized keyboards, even more unusual for them to use USB-C technology.
I’m not sure if this has a practical effect, but HyperX is sure to look to the future. You can also exchange the keys for other HyperX brand products, such as the attractive Pudim Branco model. It’s a purely aesthetic thing, but if you have $ 25 to spend and an inclination for a different color, it’s nice to have the option.
Review of the origins of HyperX alloys: performance
I ran Alloy Origins through Overwatch, StarCraft: Remastered, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and Final Fantasy XIV to test how it handled different genres. The keyboard skilfully handled all titles, providing accurate and responsive keystrokes for everything from fast-paced first-person shooter action to demanding skill changes in a multiplayer online game. I must repeat that the keyboard software does not support macros; remember this if you need them for high quality MMO games.
Conclusion
Although the loss of Cherry MX keys is quite a bit, HyperX’s internal replacements are worth it. And the reduced price is excellent, because it’s practically impossible to find another brand new mechanical RGB keyboard for $ 110. The software needs some work, and discreet media keys would have been a blessing. But, in general, it is difficult to blame what Alloy Origins offers, mainly for the price. Include it if your game space needs a little bit of RGB enhancement. For more options, see our list of Best Gaming Keyboard
