Of course, the G513 Carbon being a gaming keyboard and the year being 2018, there would simply have to be an RGB lighting angle.

As usual with Logitech’s Gaming Software, you can also assign lighting and macros—the latter using a convenient drag-and-drop setup—to specific game titles. The software will scan your PC and look for compatible games, so the setup is fairly straightforward and simple. The key switches may have special appeal for those who aren't satisfied by the half-dozen or so flavors of Cherry switch in common circulation. The Romer-Gs aren't for everyone; some seasoned gamers will turn up their noses at anything not made by Cherry, and I didn't find a huge difference in feel between the Tactile and Linear. But they were both quite comfortable. Convenience and speed are directly within reach. The additional, dedicated USB cable connects the USB passthrough port to its own input for full power throughput and data speed. Plug in a device to charge or plug in a mouse to charge your adversaries, without missing a beat.The wrist rest itself is one of the most luxurious and comfortable wrist rests I have ever had the pleasure of using. I will frequently take it with me for use with the G Pro keyboard, too. (I have even been known to use it while playing Xbox so that I can rest my hand on the desk in premium comfort. It’s unorthodox, but it works!) Per-key lighting customization is available, as is a decent amount of lighting presets such as color wave, breathing, ripple effects, and a really cool animation that makes it appear like an ocean wave is lapping across the keyboard. As mentioned above, you can also create your own animations, either from scratch or by copying a pre-existing one and customizing it. Creating anything worth looking at definitely has a learning curve, but it’s kind of neat if you’re looking to make your keyboard truly stand out.

Like nearly all of its gaming peripherals, the G513 Carbon utilizes Logitech’s Gaming Software for lighting customization and recording macros. I used an updated version of the client to review the G513, and while there’s little in the way of changes from recent iterations of the software, it’s fairly easy to use. Most notably, the G513 takes advantage of Logitech’s LIGHTSYNC functionality, which is similar to Razer’s Chroma or Alienware’s AlienFX. This system allows for deep customization of lighting animations synced to games and other compatible Logitech devices. There’s even an applet within the software that changes the colors on the G513 in-time with on-screen color changes. The new Logitech G560 speakers use the same tech to sync lighting with in-game action. To add keys to a zone, select a zone in the Lighting Zones pane and then select a key. You can also use the + button to create additional zones.title=More%20Expert%20Tech%20Roundups&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=tech-roundup&count=6&columnCount=6&theme=article

While plenty of mechanical keyboards use the venerable Cherry MX switches, Logitech has for some time now opted to develop its own mechanical switches named Romer-G. The G513 uses an all-new version of the company’s proprietary switches, so instead of just one type there are now two: either Linear or Tactile. Comparatively, the Romer-G Linear is akin to a Cherry MX Red switch with a smooth, fast keystroke. The Romer-G Tactile is closer to a Cherry MX Brown, with a tactile response with each key press.

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That said, the key-lighting colors appear a bit dim versus other RGB keyboards on the market, especially the K95 RGB Platinum. Even Logitech's own G810 Orion Spectrum seems to shine brighter. While I prefer the subtlety of the G513 Carbon, some gamers tend to enjoy splashier keyboards—the more ostentatious the lighting, the better. For those folks, I'd have appreciated the option to crank up the intensity, even if I would have left the level at my review unit's default. One of the stand out design features that set the G513 apart from the vast majority of gaming keyboards is its aircraft-grade aluminium-alloy body. This brushed finish gives the G513 a premium and sturdy feel while giving it an air of elegance usually absent from gaming keyboards. Another big change from the G413 is the inclusion of full RGB lighting, as opposed to the former model's single-color setup. The change has brought this keyboard in-line with other high-end mechanical boards in terms of vibrant, customizable RGB light shows. Logitech’s Romer-G switches do a great job with lighting as it only comes through the keycaps instead of from underneath the keys themselves, and the effect looks fantastic glowing through each key’s iconography. Color Wave — Select this option to set the colors to change horizontally, vertically or from the center out. Use the slider to set the speed at which the color wave cycles. Notably absent from the mix are the dedicated macro/media keys and controls found on many gaming keyboards in this price range. An equivalent to the Corsair K95's volume roller, for one, would have been appreciated in a board at this price.

A couple of excellent features that make the G513 even better are the inclusion of a USB passthrough and two cable channels underneath. Your Effects: create and manage your own animated lighting effects. Choose from one of the 16 presets or read Create and manage lighting effects with Logitech Gaming Software to learn how to create your own. Complementing the aluminium design another noteworthy styling choice was made: Where you would usually find the brightly lit G logo, Logitech have opted instead to change it to a discrete, polished metal G. Though you can’t change the logo’s colour with crazy lights, it looks absolutely stunning and reinforces the clean and stylish look of the G513 Carbon. Zones: Group keys together into color zones. You can only assign an individual key to one zone at a time.Advanced GX mechanical switches—engineered and 100% tested for performance, responsiveness, and durability.