EVGA Z20 Gaming Keyboard Overview
As I mentioned the EVGA Z20 is a full-size keyboard so you have a full compliment of keys as well as a full number pad. The keyboard has official dimensions of 472mm x 151mm x 38mm (LxWxH) and weighs in at 2.49 lbs. The keyboard itself has an all black-design with a top-plate that is made to look like bushed aluminum.
There are a few extra keys on the keyboard. First in the top right corner you have a volume wheel as well as multimedia buttons.
On the far left of the keyboard you have the game mode key and a set of five “E” keys which can be fully programmed. The “E” keys as well as the WASD keys have special keycaps have bumps on them as well as a clear line through them, which will allow for better RGB illumination.
The keycaps themselves are ABS and the legends are a more futuristic font, which I actually like. Under the keycaps you’ll find the Light Strike optical mechanical switches. As I mentioned EVGA offers both clicky and linear switch options, we have the clicky switches here. The clicky switches have a actuation distance of 1.5mm, actuation force of 50g, travel distance of 3.5mm, debounce time of <0.5ms, and a lifespan of 100 million clicks. The switches also use a standard stem so if you wanted to replace the keycaps you can. For those not familiar with optical switches they use an optical light sensor inside the switch. Upon pressing a key, you allow a receiver to be activated by this light signal, instantly actuating the switch command. These type of switches are considered faster and more accurate than mechanical switches.
At the bottom of the keyboard below the bottom row of keys is the ToF proximity sensor. This sensor will know when walk away from your desk and when you come back. Knowing that it can lock or put your PC to sleep when you walk away and when you return it will wake up or unlock your PC.
All of your indication LEDs are located right above the arrow keys. On the top edge of the keyboard there is a pass-through USB port which is great for a USB headset, your mouse, or even a USB flash drive.
The attached USB cable on the keyboard is pretty thick. It starts as a single cable and then splits off to two USB connections (1 for the keyboard, 1 for the USB pass-through) and a pass-through 3.5mm audio connection.
The keyboard comes in a magnetic palm rest. I like that it is magnetic, I’ve never been a fan of palm rests that physically attached to your keyboard. The palm rest is made of PU leather.
Flipping the keyboard over we can see rubber feet on the keyboard as well as the the palm rest. There are pop-out feet on the keyboard with two different height offerings.
Looking at the keyboard from the left side we have can see the pass-through 3.5mm audio connection. This is of course perfect for a stereo headset. By default the keyboard sits at an angle, by using the pop-out feel you can make this angle more extreme to suit your needs. On each side of the keyboard you’ll find a light bar, more on that in a bit.
