Das Keyboard Prime 13 Review
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Testing
Key Rollover
The manufacturer claims this keyboard supports n-key rollover (NKRO), meaning you can press as many keys as you want and they'll all register. However, out of the box it only does 6-key rollover (6KRO). To turn on NKRO, you need to press Fn+F12. This shortcut is unlabeled on the keycaps, and the only way to know about it is to check the engraved plaque or the included instruction sheet.
Audio
The Das Prime 13's standard layout means there’s virtually no learning curve when you sit down to start using it. The Brown switches don't make too much noise unless you hammer them, and even then the bottom-out noise is muffled by the chassis. The tactile bump is subtle, so you only feel it when pressing gently. As you pick up speed, it's possible to blow right through the tactile point with very little resistance.
Cherry stabilizers tend to be quieter than Costar-style stabilizers, and most of the stabilizers on this keyboard are smooth and quiet. However, we did notice the stabilizer on the backspace key rattled noticeably with each press, and there's a slight grinding feel if it's not pressed straight down. (Anecdotally, we ended up with two of these keyboards, and both of them had that same issue.)
MORE: Best Deals
MORE: How We Test Mechanical Keyboards
MORE: Mechanical Keyboard Switch Testing Explained
MORE: All Keyboard Content
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
-
Tom Griffin I have owned much to my wife's pressure an original DAS Keyboard not as good as an old fashioned IBM 3270 terminal but damn close. i like the sound when you make a mistake touch typing.Reply