OCZ Alchemy Elixir Gaming Keyboard Review

Up Close and Personal Cont'd

Before we get on to a detailed look at the keyboard, lets first start off by explaining the tech behind it. In a nutshell the Alchemy Elixir is a hybrid keyboard which relies on the inferior membrane technology.

Why do we say its inferior, and what is it inferior to? Good questions! Membrane “keyboards” are usually found on things like microwave ovens, really cheap calculators and other things were you have a flat button which gives an insufficient amount of tactile sensation when pressing it. Worse than the usual lack of feedback is the fact membrane keyboards only last about 10% as long as a mechanical scissor switch keyboard, have to travel a longer distance to have a key stroke registered and usually even take more pressure than is necessary to fully depress (though this is usual due to the lack of tactile feedback). Luckily, OCZ has overcome a lot of these limitations (or we should say Monterey International Corp, the oem manufacturer of these keyboards) by taking advantage of a hybrid technology workaround.


How membrane keyboards work is there are two layers which are slightly separate in which a negative or positive charge is passed. The upper layer has a label/sticker/etc on it and when a person pressed this “button” it closes the gap between the two layers and closes a circuit. In a tactile membrane, keyboard there is a 3rd domed shaped layer above the two active layers. By pressing on the dome-shaped key you feel and hear a clicking sound. Thus providing physical feedback, and allowing a user to use only the necessary amount of force. In the case of the Elixir, you need about 55grams of force to properly depress the key. However, since this dome shape has a further travel distance before they key is really depressed, to type using a tactile keyboard you have to depress the key nearly 4mm. This may not sound like alot but it is quite a bit if you are used to a much shorter “throw” keyboard.

Also on the downside is the fact that the Elixir is only rated for about 5 million cycles and as it is a tactile membrane keyboard, as the keys get older (and/or get used a lot) the time it takes for the dome to pop back into position will take longer and longer until you end up with a stuck key. On the positive side of this, tactile membrane keyboards are easier to clean and provide a fairly soft feel to their keys. The Elixir’s keys are also rubberized so they tend to provide not only a soft feel but also seem extremely solid when your fingers are wet (or covered with Cheezie dust!).

On paper this is a pretty big handicap but as we all know nobody uses a keyboard on paper and it all depends on its real world performance! So until we have used this keyboard we are going to treat the fact it is a tactile membrane keyboard as a potential negative and not an out and out Bad Thing.


As we mentioned earlier, you have row of 5 macro keys on either side of a slightly quirky QWERTY keyboard and further out on each side you also have another row of keys. On the left hand side you have 7 Internet keys (forward and back for example) and on the right hand side you have your typical 8 multimedia keys (volume up, volume down, etc.).

One thing which is missing from this keyboard are the USB portsmany gaming keyboards provide these days. This is too bad as the Monetery K3805 which the Elixir is based on does come with two USB ports. While USB ports may be missing, the vinyl-like covering on the integrated hand rest provides a nice solid surface which doesn’t get sweaty even with extended use.


When you flip this keyboard over it becomes readily apparent it only comes with the basics. You get the two standard feet in the front to raise up the front of the keyboard (AKA Tenting the keyboard), unfortunately there is no way to provide for reverse tenting. For anyone who has never used a keyboard in which the keys angle slightly away from you, you really are missing out on something! I know for long game sessions or even when typing up a review, a reverse tent setup is much easier on the fingers (and easier on your Carpal Tunnels). This is because your metacarpal (and carpal) bones are in a more relaxed position which takes advantage of the natural arc like movement of your phalanges. Trust me, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not something you want to suffer from and it really is too bad OCZ overlooked this potential issued when they spec’ed out this keyboard. As is becoming a reoccurring theme, OCZ really did miss (another) opportunity to prove they are leaders and not followers. Of course, buying an adapter to turn any straight keyboard into a reverse-tent keyboard is relatively easy and fairly cheap (though spending another $20 on a $35 keyboard may rub some people the wrong way).