March 19, 2019 at 17:00HyperX Alloy CORE - when the membrane can play games
Shame on loud, crunchy crumbs and expensive mechanics? I didn’t take root at home - my relatives are unhappy, and at work - colleagues, and this coffee is spilled ... Well, especially for such cases, HyperX created Alloy Core. Cheating hybrid of a classic membrane and sensations, both from mechanics. Yes, and with moisture protection and with a nice price. Check for strength?
In the HyperX keyboard family, the Alloy Core model occupies a niche of available solutions. She has everything necessary for both fans of comfortable printing and fans of eSports. Anti-hosting, polling frequency - 1000 Hz, separate keys for volume control, customizable RGB backlighting, moisture protection and 6KRO mode compatible with all UEFI.
That is, they provided for really everything. And the absence of problems in shooters, and quick volume control (without hotkeys!) And an instant reaction to all actions. At the same time, the keyboard did not lose quality for its most direct purpose: printing text. Quiet, comfortable, with protection from awkward colleagues and unstable mugs. And most importantly - it’s not just done in a quality manner - really solidly, from the heart, for people, and for a reasonable price.
At the core is a strong “frame” with stiffeners in the internal structure. Not metal, of course, but sturdy and reliable plastic, competently reinforced in the right places. Thanks to her, all the print loads are distributed evenly. The top panel is also not a thin pad, but a completely supporting element. As a result, the body is a monolith. It does not bend, twist, creak or bend, even if it is intentionally bent, twisted and squeezed. Due to this, one of the main sensations is achieved: the keyboard is on the table, as if glued, and even with high-speed printing it does not “play” under your fingers.
The case itself is wedge-shaped, neither a built-in nor a removable palm rest is provided. This is not critical, since the keyboard is not very high, approximately at the level of “mechanic” models. The height of the case at the top is 25mm, and at the bottom - 20mm. You can do without an emphasis on the wrists.
The height of the keys of the sixth row is 40 mm from the surface of the table, the first row is 30 mm. These are comfortable values for blind ten-finger printing, especially if you turn the “paws” vertically by lifting the keyboard above the table. In games, the “zero level” is showing itself well: in this way, the hands practically never get tired.
Lifting does not affect stability in any way; good and tenacious rubber is at all points of contact between the keyboard and the working surface.
KeyCap's are very similar to those in mechanics, but instead of landing “crosses” they have characteristic wide guides. In part, they specify such a clear and even movement up and down without distortions. It is difficult to remove such a cap without special tools, and it is hardly necessary: a cylinder of compressed air will easily save the keyboard from crumbs, and it is not afraid of spilled water. The manufacturer promises protection from 100-150 milliliters (half a mug, therefore), but in the test she remained alive even after an almost full glass. The main thing is to unhook the wire, and bring everything to the sink without splashing.
Of course, Coca-Cola, coffee and other liquids that leave behind sticky dirt can “kill” the mechanism, so this is more protection against accidental spills. An accident happened - they shook out all the moisture, washed it with water (within the volumes indicated by the manufacturer), and dried it.
If you are familiar with HyperX NGenuinity from other reviews, everything is the same here, except ... There is nothing to configure in the keyboard. Because the backlight is controlled by dedicated keys: there are 5 factory presets and several brightness levels. No need to download and configure anything: select the mode with one button, its intensity - the second.
Macros (if someone else uses them) will have to be recorded by some third-party software. Trial Key Manager, free AutoHotkey or another program - the keyboard will work perfectly with any other application. So it comes out more flexible, and is not tied to the vendor software, which some capricious anti-cheat systems in games can swear at. Of course, no one guarantees that third-party software will also not fall under the forged anti-cheat boot, but here, at least, we have freedom of choice and space for experimentation.
The keyboard also got a “game mode” from older versions, which avoids accidental crashes to the desktop: it blocks the win key, if in a simple way.
According to the developers of gaming hardware, customizable backlighting is simply an integral attribute for such gadgets. As long as the streamer community is alive, it can still be so (these goldfinches must somehow stand out against the millions of the same fans of network game exhibitionism), in the end, if there were no demand for it, there would be no proposal. And HyperX is kind to the requests of its fan base. For a simple user, it remains to choose whether to use RGB LEDs to the fullest or make your pet more modest: choose one color or adjust the “night mode” so that your eyes feel comfortable.
Alloy Core does not allow each key to be set to a different hue; five zones can be controlled: three on the main part, one on the arrows and text cursor keys, and the last on the NUM block. Keycaps with a transparent base perfectly transmit light, and a light substrate reflects and scatters the selected hue, giving a neat bezel to the buttons.
There are 5 “light music” operating modes to choose from: static color, full color cycle, a separate shade for each of the zones, ripple and “northern lights”. All of them are adjustable in brightness and importunity. Whoever needs it will figure it out, the benefit is adjusted all by two selected keys: one clicks the modes in a circle, the second - intensity. And you can switch modes with a dedicated key.
The most interesting: how did the proprietary backlight “move” from keyboards with mechanical switches to membrane survived. And here we must really pay tribute: in terms of brightness, there is no difference between HyperX Alloy Core and HyperX Alloy Elite RGB, both shine brightly and elegantly as a traffic light. At the same time, Alloy Core has brighter borders for each key, which makes it much better to hit the buttons in the dark. In general, the level of quality of the backlight here is not budgetary, but quite a flagship.
The design left a proprietary "light strip" like the HyperX Alloy Elite and HyperX Alloy Elite RGB keyboards. A trifle, but it’s nice that the visual language of the brand is formed and can be traced in different models.
For the keyboard, what’s important? Convenient typing. And here HyperX Alloy Core will give odds to some mechanics. Her trump card: noiselessness. As much as possible for a full-sized keyboard with a full stroke of 4 with a small millimeter.
Classical mechanics with CherryMX Red gaming switches, additionally equipped with o-rings, rumbles against the background of the Alloy Core like a tank on the march. It's not even the sound level, but the key. Space in HyperX Alloy Core sounds soft and without echo. A keyboard space with a CherryMX Red switch rattles a horse's hoof over paving stones. In decibels, the difference between the membrane space and the mechanical space is about 12 dB (71 dB and 83 dB), but, again, the difference is not only in volume.
During fast printing, HyperX Alloy Core is noisy at 73-77 dB, which corresponds to normal household noise. The keyboard does not drown out the speech of colleagues, does not shout the refrigerator working in the kitchen and the music in the headphones. These are normal sound values. Mechanical keyboards also, in principle, do not exceed the generally accepted comfort threshold of 85 dB, but for hours listening to repeated sounds with a volume of 82-84 dB is not very comfortable.
Another nice feature: the caps are held tight, do not play left and right with a vertical stroke, and the membrane itself is not made anyhow. The pressure is elastic and non-linear in force, as in the “blue” or “brown” microswitches of mechanical keyboards.
At first, the key hardly resists pressing, then the voltage rises, and after a certain point - as if it breaks off, the cap reaches the bottom dead center, a symbol appears on the screen with lightning speed. Comparing with a regular keyboard for 300-1000 rubles makes no sense: you won’t get a tenth of the tactical comfort and unambiguous interpretation of the state of the key. Alloy Core has one of the best (for membrane keyboards) mechanisms and a very competent setting on the market. After I tested it, it became clear that there was no way back to cheap membrane keyboards.
You also need to praise the pinout on the "membrane" HyperX, which is made in good faith. It was not possible to identify “blocking” combinations: furious hotkeys with three modifier keys, simultaneous pressing of several characters at the same time, typing “blind 10 fingers” - the keyboard matrix passed all the tests perfectly. Calling the “left” scancode of the lived combination also did not work out - the keyboard microcontroller is not a fool and can distinguish the output signal from the garbage.
And finally, a fully standard ANSI layout. Such pragmatism is rarely found in expensive premium models, and here is the affordable mainstream. See for yourself. Both Shift's are full-sized. A space of 5 keys long and surrounded by ALTs. On the left - only CTRL and WIN, FN is in the right-hand access zone, next to the right CTRL. There will be no accidental clicks. Esc is separated from the F-block by a full range, F1-F4, F5-F8 and F9-F12 themselves are separated by a half-interval. The arrows and the digital block are separated, the zero on NUM is full-sized. Scroll, Caps and NUM indicators are bright, white. The media control keys are half-height (that is, they do not get confused at hand and are not accidentally pressed), the order is nowhere more logical. Mute in the upper right corner.
Reliable, strong and beautiful keyboard, devoid of typical membrane defects. Not a drop of slackness, 100% protection against blocking adjacent keys, very clear tactile sensations when pressing buttons, most similar to the "mechanics". Even the backlight is noticeably different: there is no this “dullness” of the printed characters, typical of low-cost models.
Surprisingly, HyperX Alloy Core eliminated all the flaws of membrane models, but retained the advantages of keyboards of this type - quiet operation, protection against accidental contact with liquids and, of course, an attractive price. Works great "out of the box", if necessary - it is customizable for the user, great for both games and typing.
HyperX Alloy Core in Russia is exclusively represented in DNS stores for 4499 rubles .
What are you
In the HyperX keyboard family, the Alloy Core model occupies a niche of available solutions. She has everything necessary for both fans of comfortable printing and fans of eSports. Anti-hosting, polling frequency - 1000 Hz, separate keys for volume control, customizable RGB backlighting, moisture protection and 6KRO mode compatible with all UEFI.
That is, they provided for really everything. And the absence of problems in shooters, and quick volume control (without hotkeys!) And an instant reaction to all actions. At the same time, the keyboard did not lose quality for its most direct purpose: printing text. Quiet, comfortable, with protection from awkward colleagues and unstable mugs. And most importantly - it’s not just done in a quality manner - really solidly, from the heart, for people, and for a reasonable price.
What's the secret?
At the core is a strong “frame” with stiffeners in the internal structure. Not metal, of course, but sturdy and reliable plastic, competently reinforced in the right places. Thanks to her, all the print loads are distributed evenly. The top panel is also not a thin pad, but a completely supporting element. As a result, the body is a monolith. It does not bend, twist, creak or bend, even if it is intentionally bent, twisted and squeezed. Due to this, one of the main sensations is achieved: the keyboard is on the table, as if glued, and even with high-speed printing it does not “play” under your fingers.
The case itself is wedge-shaped, neither a built-in nor a removable palm rest is provided. This is not critical, since the keyboard is not very high, approximately at the level of “mechanic” models. The height of the case at the top is 25mm, and at the bottom - 20mm. You can do without an emphasis on the wrists.
The height of the keys of the sixth row is 40 mm from the surface of the table, the first row is 30 mm. These are comfortable values for blind ten-finger printing, especially if you turn the “paws” vertically by lifting the keyboard above the table. In games, the “zero level” is showing itself well: in this way, the hands practically never get tired.
Lifting does not affect stability in any way; good and tenacious rubber is at all points of contact between the keyboard and the working surface.
KeyCap's are very similar to those in mechanics, but instead of landing “crosses” they have characteristic wide guides. In part, they specify such a clear and even movement up and down without distortions. It is difficult to remove such a cap without special tools, and it is hardly necessary: a cylinder of compressed air will easily save the keyboard from crumbs, and it is not afraid of spilled water. The manufacturer promises protection from 100-150 milliliters (half a mug, therefore), but in the test she remained alive even after an almost full glass. The main thing is to unhook the wire, and bring everything to the sink without splashing.
Of course, Coca-Cola, coffee and other liquids that leave behind sticky dirt can “kill” the mechanism, so this is more protection against accidental spills. An accident happened - they shook out all the moisture, washed it with water (within the volumes indicated by the manufacturer), and dried it.
Software Features
If you are familiar with HyperX NGenuinity from other reviews, everything is the same here, except ... There is nothing to configure in the keyboard. Because the backlight is controlled by dedicated keys: there are 5 factory presets and several brightness levels. No need to download and configure anything: select the mode with one button, its intensity - the second.
Macros (if someone else uses them) will have to be recorded by some third-party software. Trial Key Manager, free AutoHotkey or another program - the keyboard will work perfectly with any other application. So it comes out more flexible, and is not tied to the vendor software, which some capricious anti-cheat systems in games can swear at. Of course, no one guarantees that third-party software will also not fall under the forged anti-cheat boot, but here, at least, we have freedom of choice and space for experimentation.
The keyboard also got a “game mode” from older versions, which avoids accidental crashes to the desktop: it blocks the win key, if in a simple way.
Brightness to maximum
According to the developers of gaming hardware, customizable backlighting is simply an integral attribute for such gadgets. As long as the streamer community is alive, it can still be so (these goldfinches must somehow stand out against the millions of the same fans of network game exhibitionism), in the end, if there were no demand for it, there would be no proposal. And HyperX is kind to the requests of its fan base. For a simple user, it remains to choose whether to use RGB LEDs to the fullest or make your pet more modest: choose one color or adjust the “night mode” so that your eyes feel comfortable.
Alloy Core does not allow each key to be set to a different hue; five zones can be controlled: three on the main part, one on the arrows and text cursor keys, and the last on the NUM block. Keycaps with a transparent base perfectly transmit light, and a light substrate reflects and scatters the selected hue, giving a neat bezel to the buttons.
There are 5 “light music” operating modes to choose from: static color, full color cycle, a separate shade for each of the zones, ripple and “northern lights”. All of them are adjustable in brightness and importunity. Whoever needs it will figure it out, the benefit is adjusted all by two selected keys: one clicks the modes in a circle, the second - intensity. And you can switch modes with a dedicated key.
The most interesting: how did the proprietary backlight “move” from keyboards with mechanical switches to membrane survived. And here we must really pay tribute: in terms of brightness, there is no difference between HyperX Alloy Core and HyperX Alloy Elite RGB, both shine brightly and elegantly as a traffic light. At the same time, Alloy Core has brighter borders for each key, which makes it much better to hit the buttons in the dark. In general, the level of quality of the backlight here is not budgetary, but quite a flagship.
The design left a proprietary "light strip" like the HyperX Alloy Elite and HyperX Alloy Elite RGB keyboards. A trifle, but it’s nice that the visual language of the brand is formed and can be traced in different models.
Comfort in everyday use
For the keyboard, what’s important? Convenient typing. And here HyperX Alloy Core will give odds to some mechanics. Her trump card: noiselessness. As much as possible for a full-sized keyboard with a full stroke of 4 with a small millimeter.
Classical mechanics with CherryMX Red gaming switches, additionally equipped with o-rings, rumbles against the background of the Alloy Core like a tank on the march. It's not even the sound level, but the key. Space in HyperX Alloy Core sounds soft and without echo. A keyboard space with a CherryMX Red switch rattles a horse's hoof over paving stones. In decibels, the difference between the membrane space and the mechanical space is about 12 dB (71 dB and 83 dB), but, again, the difference is not only in volume.
During fast printing, HyperX Alloy Core is noisy at 73-77 dB, which corresponds to normal household noise. The keyboard does not drown out the speech of colleagues, does not shout the refrigerator working in the kitchen and the music in the headphones. These are normal sound values. Mechanical keyboards also, in principle, do not exceed the generally accepted comfort threshold of 85 dB, but for hours listening to repeated sounds with a volume of 82-84 dB is not very comfortable.
Another nice feature: the caps are held tight, do not play left and right with a vertical stroke, and the membrane itself is not made anyhow. The pressure is elastic and non-linear in force, as in the “blue” or “brown” microswitches of mechanical keyboards.
At first, the key hardly resists pressing, then the voltage rises, and after a certain point - as if it breaks off, the cap reaches the bottom dead center, a symbol appears on the screen with lightning speed. Comparing with a regular keyboard for 300-1000 rubles makes no sense: you won’t get a tenth of the tactical comfort and unambiguous interpretation of the state of the key. Alloy Core has one of the best (for membrane keyboards) mechanisms and a very competent setting on the market. After I tested it, it became clear that there was no way back to cheap membrane keyboards.
You also need to praise the pinout on the "membrane" HyperX, which is made in good faith. It was not possible to identify “blocking” combinations: furious hotkeys with three modifier keys, simultaneous pressing of several characters at the same time, typing “blind 10 fingers” - the keyboard matrix passed all the tests perfectly. Calling the “left” scancode of the lived combination also did not work out - the keyboard microcontroller is not a fool and can distinguish the output signal from the garbage.
And finally, a fully standard ANSI layout. Such pragmatism is rarely found in expensive premium models, and here is the affordable mainstream. See for yourself. Both Shift's are full-sized. A space of 5 keys long and surrounded by ALTs. On the left - only CTRL and WIN, FN is in the right-hand access zone, next to the right CTRL. There will be no accidental clicks. Esc is separated from the F-block by a full range, F1-F4, F5-F8 and F9-F12 themselves are separated by a half-interval. The arrows and the digital block are separated, the zero on NUM is full-sized. Scroll, Caps and NUM indicators are bright, white. The media control keys are half-height (that is, they do not get confused at hand and are not accidentally pressed), the order is nowhere more logical. Mute in the upper right corner.
In total
Reliable, strong and beautiful keyboard, devoid of typical membrane defects. Not a drop of slackness, 100% protection against blocking adjacent keys, very clear tactile sensations when pressing buttons, most similar to the "mechanics". Even the backlight is noticeably different: there is no this “dullness” of the printed characters, typical of low-cost models.
Surprisingly, HyperX Alloy Core eliminated all the flaws of membrane models, but retained the advantages of keyboards of this type - quiet operation, protection against accidental contact with liquids and, of course, an attractive price. Works great "out of the box", if necessary - it is customizable for the user, great for both games and typing.
HyperX Alloy Core in Russia is exclusively represented in DNS stores for 4499 rubles .