How a custom gaming keyboard elevates your gaming rig

If you haven’t explored the world of fully custom keyboards, it’s well worth a peek. Even just a quick look at the top posts on the /r/CustomKeyboards subreddit shows the craftsmanship and creativity that talented enthusiasts bring to their latest keyboard creations. But you should know that you don’t need to devote all your time, budget, and workshop space to a new hobby just to get in on the high-end keyboard fun. Custom gaming keyboards stand in the gap between mainstream decks and bespoke boards, giving you high-end typing performance and lots of personalization options, all without the wide-ranging expenses of the fully custom approach. 

What makes a custom gaming keyboard better than a standard mechanical keyboard?  

Gaming keyboards stand out from generic models when it comes to performance. Over any other considerations, the standard decks that you’ll find in school computer labs, corporate offices, and the desks of everyday users are typically selected for their low cost. These keyboards are fine for everyday tasks like entering passwords and typing up documents, but typically offer sluggish responsiveness, a mushy typing feel, and a plain appearance. 

If you don’t ask for much from your keyboard, those compromises might not sound all that concerning. But gamers typically demand more. In the fast-paced world of gaming, every millisecond matters when it comes to translating commands into on-screen action. Gamers tend to look for keyboards that allow for rapid and repeated keystrokes, register every keystroke with precision, and offer a high degree of durability. Over a lifetime of use, those WASD keys take a beating.  

For many gamers, customization is the name of the game. A truly customizable gaming keyboard packs durability, speed, and a suite of personalization options. Most important is the ability to swap out the switches. On a standard deck, individual switches are soldered in place, turning any deep customization efforts into a painstaking task. Custom gaming keyboards offer a hot-swappable switch design so that you can tweak your board to get your preferred typing feel.  

Custom gaming keyboards typically offer even more personalization options, though you’ll also find some of these features on higher-end standard gaming keyboards. Depending on the model you select, you might get a built-in customizable display, per-key RGB LED illumination, wireless connectivity options, and adjustable ergonomics.  

Custom gaming keyboards offer long-lasting value 

The options you get with a custom gaming keyboard ensure that it can offer you a long lifespan of use. Top-shelf gaming key switches are built for incredible durability, but even if one should fail, your custom gaming keyboard makes it easy to replace it. 

But it’s not just about repair. A custom gaming keyboard gives you opportunities to keep things fresh. Want a new typing feel? Swap in a new set. Want a smoother feel? Pull the switches out and re-lube. Want a new look? Change the caps, adjust the lightshow, or customize the display. A custom gaming keyboard’s options for personalization and repair mean that your typing experience can evolve with your changing tastes and preferences and give you a way to shake things up just for fun.  

What to look for in a custom gaming keyboard  

As with any PC component, you have plenty of options when it comes to selecting a custom gaming keyboard. Let’s take a look at the specs that should be on your mind as you’re comparing options. 

Hot-swappable switch design and a premium set of switches 

The ability to swap out your keyboard switches for a different set is a defining trait of a custom gaming keyboard. But even if you have plans to install a new set of switches the moment your new keyboard arrives on your desk, don’t settle for less when it comes to the pre-installed ones. These switches should give you a tempting alternative to consider the next time you want to shake things up. 

A solid foundation 

Changing your switches can have a huge impact on what it feels like to type on your custom gaming keyboard, but other elements play an important role, too — and you won’t necessarily be able to swap them out on a whim. A keyboard’s top cover, mount, and noise dampening foams have a large impact on typing noise and feel, so look for a custom gaming keyboard that offers the base experience that you’re looking for. 

Bundled customization accessories 

For an easy experience swapping out and/or lubing your key switches, you’ll want a small set of tools at the ready. Some custom gaming keyboards, but not all, offer a bundled set of tools so that you can quickly pull keycaps and switches without damaging your hardware. 

Keyboard latency 

Every time you input a command on your keyboard, there’s a certain amount of processing time before that command affects the action in the digital world. Competitive gamers work to minimize this latency across their full system, especially if they also need to factor in their connection to an online server. A custom gaming keyboard should add as little latency as possible to the mix. Look for a model that offers single-digit latency as measured in milliseconds. Highly optimized models can offer latency lower than 2ms.  

A high polling rate 

One important factor that differentiates your keyboard options is polling rate, which refers to how many times per second your keyboard can report input data to your PC. If this rate is too low, you might have trouble with accuracy and delayed responses as you’re gaming. Custom gaming keyboard options with a 1000Hz polling rate are common enough that we think most gamers should target 1000Hz for their next keyboard. The most competitive gamers should set their sights even higher at models featuring an 8000Hz polling rate.  

Your preferred connectivity options 

There’s nothing wrong with a high-performance wired connection for your keyboard, but many gamers prefer a setup that minimizes the number of cables stretching across their desk. Many custom gaming keyboards offer wireless connections that rival the responsiveness you get from plugging your keyboard into a USB port, ensuring that you don’t have to choose between performance and a clutter-free desk. For additional versatility, including a convenient mechanism for using the same keyboard for both your laptop and desktop, some models also offer Bluetooth connectivity. 

Long-lasting battery life 

With wireless connectivity comes the need for a built-in battery. Opting for a keyboard with a beefier battery gives you more time between charging, and the ability to keep the RGB light show glowing without feeling like you’re always plugging the keyboard in. 

Aesthetic options 

Personalizing the appearance of your custom gaming keyboard is an important part of the fun. Per-key RGB LED illumination lets you accentuate the design of your chosen keycaps with endlessly customizable colors. Some custom gaming keyboards include a display that can give you a readout of important vitals, like keyboard battery life, a place to put custom animations, and more. 

Easy controls 

Depending on the model you pick, your custom gaming keyboard might have a variety of features above and beyond what you’d get from a standard model. For the best experience, you’ll want easy access to the controls for these features. Look for custom gaming keyboard options with intuitive built-in controls, preferably ones that work with or without installing an app on your PC.  

The best custom gaming keyboard options from ROG 

The ROG selection of custom gaming keyboards makes sure there’s an option for any gamer’s desk. Our latest and most affordable model is the ROG Strix Scope II X. This board caters to gamers who prefer the classic full-size layout with a numpad and a complete and separate function key row. You’ll have your pick between the second-gen ROG NX Snow or ROG NX Storm switches, both of which are pre-lubed and hot-swappable. Compared to previous-gen Scope boards, this new option offers sound-dampening foams for premium acoustics, and a specially tuned, lubricated switch stabilizer that greatly reduces keystroke friction. 

Bumping up to the ROG Azoth gives you a more compact 75% layout, but that’s just the start. This custom gaming keyboard offers a silicone gasket mount with three layers of dampening foams to provide an unrivaled typing experience. Tri-mode connectivity lets you live the wireless life through either ROG SpeedNova or Bluetooth technology. An embedded OLED display lets you view system info and keyboard settings at a glance alongside a three-way knob that allows for quick adjustment of settings. To support your customization efforts, you’ll find a complete set of tools in the box, including a switch opener, keycap puller, switch puller, lube station, brush, and a bottle of lubricant. 

Opting for the ROG Azoth X is a bit like getting a fully customized keyboard right out of the box. It starts with the white version of the ROG Azoth as a visual foundation and then goes all-in on personality. The central keycaps offer a white top with semitranslucent material on three sides so that the RGB lighting can shine through boldly. The keycaps around the edges are predominantly black, with specialized caps for CTRL, ESC, enter, and the spacebar providing bold accents.

There are some upgrades under the hood, too. We refined the layout with a south-facing PCB so that it’s a perfect fit for any custom Cherry-profile keycaps you want to swap in. We leveled up our game with ROG NX and Snow V2 and ROG NX Storm V2 switches that prevent dust intrusion and enhance key stability, minimizing wobble and debris buildup, while retaining that smooth pre-lubed feel of their predecessors. 

At the very top of our custom gaming keyboard stack is the ROG Azoth Extreme. It offers the same compact 75% layout as the original Azoth, but boosts your experience to new heights with even more premium materials, more customization, and a full-color OLED panel.  

It starts with a chassis that’s constructed of aluminum alloy from top to bottom, giving the Azoth Extreme a premium feel and providing a more solid-feeling stroke with a lower volume. A carbon fiber positioning plate offers metal-like rigidity for a crisp typing feel and vibration absorption. For a performance boost, you’ll also find the ROG Polling Rate Booster in the box. This tool increases the polling rate to an impressive 8000 Hz, even when connected wirelessly. All the while, the Azoth Extreme offers up to 1600 hours of battery life in 2.4GHz mode thanks to SpeedNova wireless technology. 

Like the original Azoth, the Azoth Extreme features a customizable OLED screen in the corner. The Azoth Extreme ups the ante with full color and high resolution, enabling even more animation options. It also introduces touch sensitivity, allowing you to easily swipe through additional stats with your finger, such as measuring your keystrokes per second (KPS) and monitoring system parameters like CPU temperature. The three-way knob retains the same functions as its predecessor.