Game mode
The presence in the keyboard of a special
game mode.
This function is found exclusively in models of the corresponding specialization (see "Intended use"). Enabling Game Mode disables some of the keys and keyboard shortcuts used by the system, such as the Windows Start menu button and the context menu button. Thanks to this, you do not have to worry that an accidental key press will call a system function and interrupt the game.
In many models, you can customize a specific set of keys that are deactivated in the game mode.
Lighting
The colour of the backlight provided in the design of the keyboard.
In general, the
backlight performs two functions: practical (makes the keys more visible in low light) and aesthetic (gives the keyboard a beautiful appearance). However, it cannot be said that
non-backlit keyboards will be unusable in the dark, the light from the monitor will still illuminate the buttons. The simplest version of the backlight is one-colour. In this case, specific colours can be different: for example,
white is well suited for general-purpose keyboards (work or home), but other shades can be found in gaming or design models, for example,
red,
green,
blue,
purple or
orange. If two or three colours are indicated for the keyboard, this may mean either the ability to switch between these colours, or that this model comes in several versions that differ in the shade of the backlight; these nuances should be clarified separately.
The most advanced options are
multi-colour and
RGB backlighting. Multi-colour systems are called systems in which more than three colour options are provided, sometimes with intermediate shades. And RGB-backlight all
...ows you to choose almost any shade at the request of the user; in addition, the possibility of synchronization (see "Illumination with effects") is found mainly in such systems, although single-colour keyboards can also be equipped with other effects.Lighting effects
The presence of additional effects in the backlight provided in the keyboard (see above). For models with the
backlight synchronization function, this item indicates the synchronization technology.
Additional backlight effects can be different: multi-coloured backlighting of individual keyboard zones, smooth “flowing” of one colour into another, response to system or game events, etc.; specific features should be clarified for each model separately. As for synchronization, it allows you to coordinate the backlighting of various system components — keyboards, case mice, graphics cards, etc.; this opportunity is especially appreciated by the owners of high-end gaming stations. Coordination requires that all highlighted components support the same technology; usually, each manufacturer has its own — Aura Sync for Asus, RGB Fusion for Gigabyte, etc.
Replacement keys included
The presence of interchangeable keys — more precisely, caps for keys ("keycaps") — is included in the package of the keyboard.
This feature is found mainly in
gaming keyboards(see "By Direction"). Replaceable in them are usually made only individual keys, the most significant in games — in particular, WASD and arrows. For such keys, two sets of keycaps are provided — ordinary ones, in tune with the rest of the buttons, and gaming ones that stand out from the general background. Thanks to this, you can adjust the keyboard to the current format of use: for example, in games, the keys that stand out by colour are very convenient, and when typing, they can be confusing.
