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Gamdias Hermes RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
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By Meng Vang
Manufacturer: GAMDIAS Technology, Inc.
Product Name: Hermes RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Model Number: GKB1050BL
UPC: 848475001104
Price As Tested: $99.99 (Newegg | Amazon)Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Gamdias.
Founded in 2012, Gamdias, the God of gaming, is a gaming brand based on Greek mythology. The company focuses on PC gaming peripherals, such as gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, and other accessories while aiming for quality and design.
They are taking their focus one step forward with their Hermes RGB mechanical gaming keyboard, which features n-key rollover support, RGB lighting effects, and Kailh Blue mechanical switches for great tactile feedback. It also maintains a simple body shape similar to the Hermes Lite mechanical keyboard. Benchmark Reviews will be taking a look at the Hermes RGB mechanical gaming keyboard. Let’s go over the features, specifications, and a quick overview to see what Gamdias has in store for us.
Features
- RGB 16.8 million color illumination
- Storage up to 6 profiles on the keyboard
- Integral wrist rest for gaming comfort
- Highly reflective metallic plate for optimized backlighting
- Windows Key lock on/off indicator
- Allow you to exchange the FN and Windows keycap (Required HERA and key puller)
- 4 hotkeys for instantly switch on/off the lighting effect
- Up to 13 sets of lighting effects and 5 custom backlit pattern
- WASD – Arrow Key Exchange Mode
- Portable profiles and macros allow users to backup and sharing their personal experience
- Support online firmware update (Required HERA)
Specifications
| Key Switch | GAMDIAS certificated mechanical switches |
| Keystroke Lifecycle | 50 Million |
| Dimensions | 440 x 170 x 37mm |
| Weight | 1.16kg |
| MCU | ARM Cortex M3 |
| Build-in Memory | 64KB |
| Polling Rate | 1000Hz |
| Game Profile | 6 sets |
| Programmable keys | 2 |
| Backlighting | 16.8 million colors and 4 levels brightness |
| Customization Lighting Effects | Yes |
| Anti-Ghosting | Yes, N-Key Rollover |
| OTF Macro Record | Yes |
| Windows Key Disable | Yes (Game Mode) |
| All-Keys Lock | Yes |
| Cable Length | 1.8m (Braided Cable with Gold-plated Connector) |
| Gamdias Hera Enabled | Yes |
| Interface | USB |
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Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard: Overview
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The Gamdias Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard currently sells online for $99.99 (Newegg | Amazon), and comes in a standard box with an illustration of the product. Features and specifications are listed around the box as well.
Opening up the box, we can see the keyboard is nicely packaged in a foam protective bag. The thick cardboard around the sides of the box helps prevent the keyboard from getting damaged during shipping.
In terms of accessories, we have the quick start guide along with a few stickers. There are no additional key caps for swapping out the stock ones, but thankfully Gamdias still includes a handy-dandy key cap puller to swap out the Fn and Windows key.
The layout of the Hermes RGB maintains a simple and standard layout with no dedicated macro or media control keys. There are dedicated LED lights for the num and caps lock keys, but the third LED is the Windows key lock indicator, also known as gaming mode. A built-in palm rest is included with the keyboard, but it cannot be removed since it is attached to the frame.
The keyboard stands on six rubber coated feet to ensure a firm grip on a smooth surface. Cable routing channels are marked underneath the keyboard to give some flexibility in routing the cable to the left, middle, or the right of the keyboard.
The Hermes RGB has a gold-plated USB 2.0 connector. This allows a better connection to a USB port and can last longer than a normal USB connector. The connector does have a branding logo and some curvature on the rubber part in order to make it easier to remove from a USB port.
Let’s jump into the next section where we talk more about the features of this keyboard.
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Gamdias Hermes RGB Keyboard: Detailed Features
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The Hermes RGB has the ability to switch between six different profiles via the 1-6 keys. These profiles can store different lighting effects and macro functions. Keys F2 and F3 are media control keys, while F4 lets the user swap the WASD keys for the arrow keys when pressed.
Here we have some media control keys. F5 is the play/pause button, while F6-F8 are the volume control buttons.
Recording macros on-the-fly can be done by hitting the Fn key with the F9 button. We will talk more about how this works when we talk about the Hera software. F11 lets the user lock the entire keyboard to prevent any keys from registering. This is a useful feature to have for video and photo editing.
No dedicated macro keys are present on the Hermes RGB. Instead, it uses the B (G2) and space bar (G1) as macro keys.
The windows key is located down on the bottom right of the keyboard layout. I like this idea as it would be more difficult to accidentally hit the key during a game session. Normally, the Fn key should be here instead, but the option to swap the two keys around can be done through the software.
Removing the key caps reveals the RGB LED lights above each key switch. We can also get a good look at the metallic metal back-plate, which provides extra durability to the body of the keyboard while enhancing the colors coming from the LED’s.
The Hermes RGB comes with Kailh Blue mechanical switches rated at 50 million clicks. For most computer users, these switches should feel about the same to any mechanical keyboard utilizing Cherry MX Blue switches.
There is a firm grip to the surface thanks to the five rubberized grips on the bottom of the keyboard.
Flipping out the feet does give some extra height to the keyboard and the rubberized pads on the two feet allows for a better overall grip.
Lighting effects can all be done through the downloadable Hera software. Let’s take a look at the software in the next section.
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Gamdias Hermes Gaming Software
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Taking a look at the Hera software, we can see it has a nice graphical user interface with plenty of options to go through. In the Key Assignment tab, we can assign a specific function to a key or assign a key to a new letter. Recording macros onto the G1 and G2 keys (B and space bar) can be done here as well. We can also swap the Windows key and Fn key around and turn on consecutive mode. Consecutive mode can also be enabled, which allows all the keys on the keyboard to register several clicks per second just by holding them down.
In the Macro Management tab, we can create, record, and delete macros if we want. The Hera software does allow importing and duplicating macro settings for your convenience. When recording macros on-the-fly using Fn with the F9 key, the Hera software must be opened to do so. When recording, the num, cap, and gaming mode indicator LED’s on the keyboard will blink simultaneously to indicate it is in recording mode. Once you are finished recording, simply press Fn with F9 to stop recording. A new window should pop up on the screen allowing you to save the macro recording to G1 or G2 or delete it.
The six separate profile can be used to store different lighting effects. In static mode, we can create a static color with no effects for the entire keyboard layout. We can also adjust the brightness level from 0%, 30%, 60%, and 100%.
Custom pattern lighting lets us choose which keys to change. Each key can be individually colored, allowing some flexibility for customization. Under brightness control, we have what is called Picture No. There are a total of five different preset lighting modes, each of which can be changed by the user. You can also load and save different lighting patterns through this.
In the drop down menu for the lighting effects, there are several options to choose from. The effects of these lighting effects should be pretty straight forward by their name. Of course, you may change the animation speed and the color with some effects. You can set the animation speed from 0 to 10, 10 being the fastest. Do note that setting the speed to 0 stops the animation.
Sound and Timer allows you to assign a certain sound to a button. A few pre-recorded sound effects are available to choose from, but you may record or import your own sounds as well. The timer function can delay a sound to remind you to do something later. This feature can also be useful when changing profiles or recording macros.
You can also record your own sounds and save them to the software. The sounds will only work when the Hera software is running.
The Timer Setting tab allows you to create and modify reminders. You can create timers by dialing in the amount of days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Choose an alarm from a list of five presets, and type in something to remind you what alarm it is once it comes on. For example, you can type in “Remove pizza from oven” so you do not accidentally burn your lunch while gaming. You can also choose a font size and the position of the text on the screen.
Do note that the Gamdias Hera software comes in a zip file instead of an executable file. Also, if you wish to update the software, this can be done under the Update/Support tab. In the next section, we will test the Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard to see how it performs.
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Testing N-Key Rollover and Lighting
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The Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard felt very sturdy and the Kailh Blue mechanical switches did not feel any different than Cherry MX Blue switches. I did notice different tones in some of the switches, but this could have been caused by the way the keyboard was built.
As expected, each key registered perfectly except for the secondary Windows key and the scroll lock LED since these are not present on this keyboard. Multiple keys may be pressed at the same time without any going unregistered.
As for gaming performance, this keyboard performed perfectly fine thanks to the tactile feedback from the blue mechanical switches and the 1000 Hz polling rate. Although blue mechanical switches are not the best switches for gaming to some people, I personally prefer them as they require a bit more force to actuate when compared to red and brown switches.
The software did allow us to enable the consecutive attack mode in the Key Assignment tab. I found this to be more annoying than useful as enabling consecutive mode applied the setting to every key on the keyboard. In game, I was unable to move properly using the standard WASD. I was still able to type and communicate with my squad mates, but this function would have been great if I could somehow assign consecutive mode to just a single key or a selection of keys.
To see how consecutive mode worked, I opened Aqua’S KeyTest to see what really happened when consecutive mode was turned off and on. When turned off, the keyboard performed just as normally as any other keyboard. When turned on, I could hold down a key but see the key flashing on Aqua’S KeyTest as if the key was being tapped constantly. This meant the key was registering itself several times a second as I was holding down the key. Great feature, right? Well, if only the user could assign consecutive mode to specific keys instead of applying consecutive mode to the entire keyboard then of course, this would have been a great feature.
When it came to color reproduction, the Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard surprised me as the LED’s did a very good job displaying a solid white color. The LED’s were very bright and did not show any purple or greenish tint, aside from the faint blue tint caused by the metallic back plate. Reds, greens, and blues were also very accurate for a RGB keyboard in this price category.
Putting this keyboard next to the Corsair Strafe RGB with Cherry MX Silent Red switches, I honestly think the Hermes RGB produced a much brighter and vivid color overall. The whites were much cooler (color temperature wise) as it stood out much better than the whites on the Strafe RGB. The reds on the Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard were on par with the native red LED’s on the Hermes Lite mechanical keyboard, and the blues were identical to the native blue LED’s on the Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z Forged mechanical keyboard. This could have been because the LED’s on the Hermes RGB were not protected under a plastic cover, like the ones on the Corsair Strafe. This may reduce durability, but only time can tell.
The Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard could store up to six profiles, each having their own lighting effect. Although the color accuracy was spot on, the lighting effects and overall software were still very limited when compared to the Razer Synapse and Corsair Utility Engine software. Some of the lighting effects, such as marquee, ripple, and responsive typing just seemed really dull as there were no background lighting except for the animated color. For example, it would have been nice to make the background lighting white and apply a lighting effect with the color red to go on top of it. That way, the keyboard always stays lit with white along with a red animation to go on top of it.
I did experience a flaw with the ripple effect. I can press the Tab key and the num lock key at the same time. They both would produce a ripple, but once the two ripples came into contact, one of them canceled the other one out. This meant only one ripple could go across the keyboard when it should be multiple ripples. The animation on the Hera software showed both ripples going across the keyboard, but on the hardware side, only one ripple goes across.
The keyboard has locking function, which can be enabled through Fn+F11. This prevents the keyboard from registering any keys to the computer… at least that was what I thought. When I recorded a macro and saved it to G1 and locked the keyboard, I made sure the keyboard was not registering any of the keys to my computer. I was not able to switch between profiles on the keyboard either. But I was still able to play back my macro using Fn+space bar, so the keyboard was not entirely locked when it was supposed to be.
But on the up side, you do not have to have the Hera software running in the background of your computer except when you are recording a macro on-the-fly. Lighting effects and animations would be saved onto the keyboard itself, which is a big plus for me and the people who need their computers up and running the very second it loads to the desktop.
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Mechanical Keyboard Final Thoughts
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For the money, the Gamdias Hermes RGB makes a great keyboard for the average gamer. The Hera software is not too complicated to use and allows for customization with several lighting effects. Enthusiasts who prefer something with more customization options may feel limited by the Hera software, but as for most people, they would rather adjust a few settings in the software and go straight to gaming. If you are one of these people, you should be happy with the Hermes RGB. Lighting accuracy is spot on and the clicky Kailh Blue mechanical switches provide a good typing experience.
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Gamdias Hermes RGB Conclusion
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The Gamdias Hermes RGB mechanical keyboard does well when it comes to performance. The Kailh Blue mechanical switches require more force to actuate when compared to red and brown mechanical switches. This may prevent accidental mistypes for some people. There was a minor flaw with the ripple effect when pressing two or more keys at once. Once the ripples made contact, one of them cancels out as the other ripple continues going. I am hoping to see a firmware update that can possible fix this small glitch.
The keyboard looks great with its simple body design along with an integrated wrist rest. The LED’s are able to produce a pure white color without any noticeable purple or green tint. Surprisingly, they are brighter and more vivid when compared side-by-side with my Strafe RGB. This may be because the Hermes RGB uses a more traditional design method by exposing the LED’s above each key switch, rather than having them under a protective cover like on the Strafe RGB. The LED indicator lights for the num, caps, and gaming mode are a static red color. If the color has to be static, I would personally prefer white over anything else.
Although made of mainly plastic, the body construction of the Hermes RGB is durable enough to handle a few knocks. The blue mechanical switches are rated at 50 million keystrokes, making this keyboard long obsolete by the time the switches fail.
When it comes to functionality, I really like the fact there are six different profiles to choose from. The option to lock the entire keyboard is also useful in situations where you cannot have anyone touching the computer. One issue I found with the lock function was the ability to play back my saved macro when the keyboard was locked. I was unable to switch profiles or do anything else, but I was able to play back my macro. Consecutive mode is beneficial to many gamers, but enabling it applies it to every key on the keyboard. I would like to see an option that lets us choose specific keys to have consecutive mode.
As of May 2016, the Gamdias Hermes RGB mechanical gaming keyboard sells for $99.99 (Newegg | Amazon). This is a great price for an RGB gaming keyboard for anyone who is coming from a standard membrane keyboard or anyone who is looking for an affordable RGB mechanical keyboard. The Hera software is easy to use and does not take a lot of time to customize the keyboard layout. Enthusiasts may find the features and software of this keyboard to be lacking, but for the price you cannot really complain.
Pros: 
+ Six separate profiles
+ Record macros on-the-fly
+ Great RGB color accuracy
+ Simple yet elegant design
+ Hera software allows for easy customization
+ Macro and lighting effects are stored on the keyboard
Cons:
– A few lighting effects can be improved
– Consecutive mode applies to every key
– Software can limit customization to some users
– Macros can still be played back even when keyboard is locked
Ratings:
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Performance: 8.75
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Appearance: 9.25
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Construction: 9.25
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Functionality: 7.25
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Value: 9.00
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Final Score: 8.70 out of 10.0.
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