EVGA Z20 RGB Optical Mechanical (Clicky Switch) Gaming Keyboard 812-W1-20US-KR

Pros: The keyboard itself is very wonderful. The clickyness of it reminds me of the old IBM model M clicky sounds. The TOF sensor is more than a mere gimmick that actually works and works well. The macro keys are another reason to look into this keyboard. I wasnt sure about optical switches until I used them and now wont be switching back. However

Cons: The Unleash RGB software is pretty bad. I downloaded it and plugged in the keyboard and the software would just force quit. I couldnt get it to stay open no matter how or where I plugged it in. Reboots and cold starts didnt help at all. I got older versions of the software and nothing helped. I went online and found plenty of others saying the same thing. That the keyboard needs a firmware update, and if your windows install was pretty old it wouldnt work properly. I read somewhere that support told people to reinstall Windows and the. It should work. If true, that is completely unacceptable. One workaround that I found and I tried and it eventually worked, was to install windows in a VM, download the software, and do the firmware update on the VM, and then it should work just fine on the host machine. It worked for me, but I almost bricked the keyboard doing the update because something happened to the VM and it froze up. I lost all lights and it wouldnt register in the software. I didnt give it enough ram and only one core so that was my bad. But I got get it back and the firmware updated and everything is fine now. I had the same experience with the x17 mouse, but that will be in its own review. EVGA, If your listening, fix your software. Gamers Nexus advertises for you and your keyboards, and Im going to email Steve and Co. and share with them my own experience and links to the many other customers that are having the same problems that hes running ads for. Please just fix your broken software.

Overall Review: Great keyboard, horrible software.

Pros: - Keyboard is well built and feels solid.
- Keyboard and lighting are attractive overall.
- Wrist rest is comfortable and I like that it's magnetized to the keyboard.
- USB passthrough works and is convenient.

Cons: - Keycaps are too small for underlying switches and lights. "3" key got physically stuck down in the first 1/2 hour of use. Have not had this issue since, but can feel that many keycaps are obstructed when depressed. There doesn't seem to be a pattern of obstruction. Examining the underside of the keycaps, some have "bumps" in the clear plastic on the sides that may contribute to this issue. Swapped the keycap on a notably obstructed key with a keycap from another keyboard that appeared to be uniform (no bump) and larger underneath and found that the obstructed feel was eliminated. The moving part of the switches seems to be smooth and doesn't catch or get obstructed with no keycap on it. Pretty sure this is strictly a mechanical, fit issue.
- Keyboard audio passthrough from stereo jack (3 connectors) to stereo headphones only plays in left channel. From headset jack (4 connectors) through keyboard to headphones plays in both channels as it should.
- Linear version of the keyboard is loud.
- Without software, light pattern setting is not saved between power cycles. However, brightness level seems to be saved.
- Keycap font is unique but a little bit small.

Overall Review: I like the keyboard overall, but wish that the keycaps didn't interact with switches in an undesirable way to cause obstruction or stickiness. If audio passthrough can't be done correctly, then leave it out.