SilentiumPC has recently started offering its compact mechanical gaming keyboard GK630K Tournament Pudding with a German layout under the SPC Gear brand. It is available in black and white (Onyx White) color versions and with the three mechanical switch types Kailh Red, Blue or Brown.
The GK630K series is especially characterized by the missing numeric keypad (numpad). The keycaps, which are manufactured in the so-called double-shot molding process, are visually reminiscent of a popular dessert, which the manufacturer probably wanted to emphasize with the name “Pudding Edition”.
Other features include a detachable USB cable with cable management and gold-plated contacts, four fold-out feet in two heights, programmable RGB lighting, an aluminum case top, macros, editable key functions, a selectable polling rate of up to 1000 Hz and the simultaneous recording of any number of pressed keys (N-Key Rollover).
For our test, we used the SPG155 version with the complete name GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition, in black and with red Kailh switches.
Technical Specifications
| Product code | SPG155 |
| EAN | 5903018663708 |
| Keyboard type | Mechanical |
| Switch type | Kailh |
| Switch color | Red |
| Number of keys | 88 |
| Polling rate [Hz] | 1000 |
| Lighting | RGB |
| Cable length [m] | 1.8 |
| Macros | Yes |
| Anti-ghosting | Full |
| N-Key Rollover | Complete |
| Product size [mm] | 361.5×140×42.5 |
| Product weight [g] | 915 |
| Warranty | 24 months |
| Software | Yes (optional for Windows 10) |
| Current price | € 15.98 * |
Scope of delivery
- Keyboard: GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- Keycap Puller
- User’s Manual
Design and finish of the GK630K Tournament RGB Pudding Edition
The case design of the GK630K Tournament Pudding is visually sleek and tough with its angled corners and straight edges. It is advertised by the manufacturer as classic and functional.
The characteristic keycaps made of different colored persistent PBT plastic remind us of pudding desserts, as mentioned in the preface. What sounds so delicious and soft is actually meant to increase the longevity of the keys: The caps, which are manufactured in the so-called double-shot process, separate the legend and the key cap from each other, which means that the legend does not wear out as quickly as, for example, with only imprinted symbols.
The top of the case is made of painted aluminum. What sounds quite high-end on paper could just as well be mistaken for plastic due to the paint. Haptically, the metallic surface is cooler than one made of plastic. In any case, we do not consider the choice of material to be very decisive for the overall durability at this point, but it does strengthen the case’s stiffness.
The underside of the keyboard is where things get technical and visual. The USB port has its own channel for the included cable, through which you can lead it out of the back on one of three outputs, left, right or center.
In addition to 5 rubber pads, there are also 4 individually fold-out feet on the bottom, also rubberized, which can be used to raise the keyboard’s tilt in two stages. The feet on our keyboard all locked firmly into place and were level.
Also embedded in the bottom is a small plastic tool, the Keycap Puller, which can be used to remove the keycaps of the Kailh keys more easily than by hand, which worked very well on a trial basis.
We tested the mechanical keys of the well-known Chinese manufacturer Kailh individually on a test website and did not find any key that stood out negatively due to multiple, delayed or missing triggering. The keys are supposed to last for 50 million presses on average, but we “did not quite” reach this amount in our test phase, which is why we cannot make any statements about this.
Thanks to the keyboard’s N-Key Rollover feature, any (N) number of keys can be pressed without, for example, resetting the key status of already pressed keys. This also worked flawlessly in the test.
The USB cable is heavy, appears sturdy, and is wrapped in braided nylon for easy gliding over surfaces and edges. The connector contacts are gold-plated, but this can only provide durability benefits under special circumstances.
Overall, we were more than satisfied with the keyboard’s build quality, especially the flawless functioning of all keys.
Operation and Comfort of the GK630K Tournament RGB Pudding Edition
One of the supreme disciplines of a keyboard is, right, typing inch-long chain words flawlessly and googling for keyboard review articles. Our test specimen, the GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition, uses a red switch type that can be triggered quickly with little linear pressure and no audible feedback. Officially, the manufacturer recommends this variant for competitive gaming of first-person shooter and battle royal titles, but does not provide any information about other uses.
For occasional quick writing of longer texts, we didn’t find Kailh’s red switch type outstanding, but still sufficiently good. However, since this can also be a matter of taste, we recommend that anyone interested try out a few different mechanical switch types themselves before buying and read articles on the subject.
Thanks to the lack of clicking noise when reaching the trigger point, nighttime use should also be unproblematic. However, we would still not describe it as quiet, at most in comparison with even louder switches.
The keycaps have a good feel thanks to their slightly rough surface and hard edges.
The inclination, which can be adjusted in two stages, accommodates the keyboard’s ergonomics a bit depending on one’s own requirements.
According to the manual, the SPC-Gear function key (FN) between the AltGr and application keys can be used to perform a number of functions, such as the operating system’s multimedia functions and adjusting the backlight. Once you have memorized the shortcuts for these, the function key can occasionally be helpful for quickly making minor changes.
The GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition handled well in our test, but might not be the best or quietest choice for gamers who also like to do a lot of typing.
Software
As with other SPC Gear devices, the GK630K Tournament RGB Pudding Edition has software tailored to it available on the manufacturer’s site. This can be downloaded directly via the “Downloads” subsection on the product page or via the support page. You might have to enter the serial number found on the keyboard’s underside, which starts with “SPG155”.
After the installation, the software offered us an update of the firmware, which we immediately played.
The RGB lighting, for example, can now be adjusted via the software’s interface. You can either use 18 existing templates and change them slightly or specify the color of each key individually, but then completely without animation. We liked the customizable templates best.
In the second menu item, the key functions can be reassigned individually, for example to mouse functions, multimedia and system functions of the operating system and Office applications. One of the most useful options here is to reassign the key functions to previously created macros.
Macros can be created and managed in the third menu item. Unfortunately, they can only be recorded and then edited, not manually assembled. However, the recording worked reliably. The mouse buttons are also recorded, but not the mouse movement. This must be inserted manually, which we did not succeed in doing.
Under the other settings, special settings can be made, such as setting the polling rate in 4 levels (125, 250, 500, 1000 Hz), swapping the WASD keys with the arrow keys, locking Windows’ own keys, and disabling the N-Key function.
All settings can be saved in profiles and these in turn can be imported and exported, which we already knew from other products of the manufacturer.
In the end, we found the most necessary functions and setting options in the software and did not miss anything essential until the end of the test. During macro editing, we caused a small program crash, which did not occur again afterwards.
Conclusion
When it came to the form and function of the GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition, we didn’t notice anything particularly negative during testing. The red Kailh keys functioned reliably without exception. The software offered us the most basic functions and ran mostly stable. RGB fans will get their money’s worth, the many animated and partly even reactive backlights are a real eye-catcher.
The missing numeric keypad should be considered before buying, since you might miss it depending on your requirements.
The volume of the red Kailh keys was unfortunately not as quiet in the test as the manufacturer implies. Thus, those who like to type a lot and quietly should possibly consider other switch types.
As a well-made mechanical keyboard in terms of quality, the GK630K Tournament Kailh Red RGB Pudding Edition is interesting for gamers who value a compact, functional design and reliable keys, and do not want to forgo an appealing look.
SPC Gear GK630K Tournament Pudding Edition
Workmanship
Features
Ergonomics
Software
Value for money
91/100
A compact mechanical gaming keyboard with many functions, good build quality, animated RGB, functional and attractive design and reliable switches. Possibly not for silent typing of long texts and fans of the numeric keypad.
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