Gigabyte Aivia Osmium Mechanical Keyboard Review

Recently we reviewed the Aivia Krypton mouse and found it to be pretty good so I shouldn’t be surprised if the Osmium keyboard ends up having solid quality. After a bit of delay the Osmium keyboard is on the testing block. Actually it just went through a whole lot more testing than usual to be more specific.

This keyboard sure isn’t your standard keyboard. It is loaded with tons of features such as backlit keys, mechanical switches, USB 3.0 ports, and macro keys. Needless to say it has pretty much everything you could want except maybe an LCD screen.

Since this keyboard is loaded with features it should not come as any surprise that I was very much excited to start using it as soon as it showed up. The switches on this keyboard are of the MX Red variety, but we will go more into that later on in the review.

The single best feature of this keyboard is the mechanical keys. They are not simple dome-cap keys that come in the majority of keyboards on the market. These have more of a “click” than your standard Dell or HP OEM keyboard. The reliability and build-quality is also worlds better than a standard keyboard. These days I simply cannot type properly on dome cap keyboards and once you go mechanical it is extremely hard to go back to anything but the best.

As previously mentioned the keys used in this keyboard are MX Reds. Previously we have reviewed MX Blacks here at funkykit and I personally own another keyboard with MX Blues. With that being said, there is a huge difference in the keys. Reds are soft and don’t make much of a “click” when the key is pressed. Blacks make a click and are kind of soft. Blues are the loudest of the bunch and the most firm to type since the key needs to go all the way down and “bottom out” in order for the key to be registered. Generally speaking, Blues are the best for typing for long amounts of time while reds are not the best for typing and blacks are regarded as the best for gaming. Personally, blue keys suit me the best so switching to Reds was quite a difference. This is all of course not including MX Brown switches since I have not personally used them but according to others they are somewhere between Blues and Blacks in terms of noise and firmness.

Lets go ahead and get started by taking a look at what Gigabyte has to say about the Aivia Osmium keyboard, as well as the technical specifications.

Specifications

Taken from the Gigabyte website

The blue Platinum group metal Osmium is the heaviest element at normal conditions. Its’ hard, rare and noble nature represents ultra durability and luxury of Aivia Osmium mechanical gaming keyboard.

Superior CHERRY MX Red Mechanical Key-Switch

Optimized 45g actuation force
The Aivia Osmium gaming keyboard utilizes Cherry™ RED mechanical key-switches that provides superior tactile feedback and an optimized actuation force of 45g. Reduced key actuation distance of 2mm improves keyboard response time while remaining whisper silent during operation.

Ultra durability offering 50million key press lifespan
Superior materials and design improves key durability offering a staggering 50 million key press lifespan which is more than 10 times the amount of conventional keyboards.

TACTILE FEEDBACK

But the 6Gv2 offers more than just a long lifecycle. The rubber domes on a conventional keyboard will, over time,lose their tactile feeling due to rubber flexing. The keys you use the most will start to feel different. The physical construction of the mechanical switches used in the 6Gv2, and the strict tolerance levels in which the switches are manufactured, is what allows the key presses on this keyboard to always feel consistent.

Supports USB3.0 Superspeed

Equipped with USB 3.0 extension port
A built-in USB 3.0 output which enables the ability to extend USB 3.0 Superspeed support from the motherboard. Connect your USB3.0 device simply through the keyboard.

Enjoy USB3.0 Superspeed fast transmission
Independent USB3.0 signal transferring through motherboard ensures the full data transmission without any loss. 10X data transfer speed boost over USB 2.0
1.8X power supply compare to USB2.0

Absolute Anti-Ghosting Multi-Key press Capability

Utilizing the revolutionary Anti-Ghosting Matrix key-switch design, Aivia Osmium provides Anti-Ghosting across all zones of the keyboard. Dominate the competition with the amazing advantage and versatility of being able to input multiple keystrokes at once. Never be hindered again on the battlefield as you twist, weave, and decimate your enemies through the unparalleled freedom of Absolute Anti-Ghost technology.

*supports 64 simultaneous key presses via USB connection*

Built-in GHOST™ Macro engine

Intuitive GHOST™ Macro Engine
GHOST™ macro engine which features intuitive interface allows you to pre-define and switch between macro keys easily for latest PC gaming titles.

5 gaming profiles on the go
Profile switch at your fingertips enables you to switch between 5 different gaming profiles. Up to 70 macros memorization for the gamer on the go.

Specifications

Interface	USB 2.0
Activation	Cherry Red Mechanical Switch
Switch life	50 million times
Key Profile	Standard
Travel distance	4mm to the bottom
Activation Distance	2mm to actuation point
Peak force	45g
USB Port	USB3.0 + USB2.0
Audio	Microphone-in/ Earphone-out
Weight	1500g ±10%
Dimension	454(L)* 257(W)*45(H) mm
Cable length	2.0m ±10%
OS Support	Windows XP/ Vista/ Windows 7
Certificate	CE, FCC, BSMI
Color	Black

Photo Gallery

The packaging that Gigabyte includes with this keyboard is simply fantastic. It is very much overkill which is something that I really love. Gigabyte throws in goodies like a key puller and extra customized keys. Packaging itself is well thought out and provides great protection in travel. There is a layer of foam around the keyboard on all sides. While this is somewhat overkill, it shows the kind of attention to detail that was implemented with this keyboard

Closer Look

Once I got my hands on this keyboard I knew it was very well built. It is simply built like a tank. The weight is extremely heavy for a keyboard. Cables on this keyboard are very heavy duty as well, they are sleeved and thick. I don’t think that I have seen a keyboard with cables as thick as on this Osmium keyboard!

The finish is of the matte variety. When it comes to getting dirty it is very hard to do so. Even after a couple months of use there is little to no dirt visible on this keyboard. Most keyboards will show finger oils or some other dirt after that amount of time but not with this keyboard, I have to say I am quite impressed with the finish.

One of the best features on this keyboard are the brightness and sound volume controls.Adding in the ability to fully control the brightness from a very bright blue all the way down to a low dark blue, all of the ranges of lighting look very good and offer even lightning throughout the keyboard.

Two USB connections are offered up on this keyboard. One of which is a USB 3.0 connection. There are no slowdowns with using the on-board USB 3.0 connector compared to plugging directly into the motherboard. Aside from the USB connections you get microphone and speaker connections as well which is a nice touch.

Daily Typing/ Long typing

Coming from using MX Blue keys as my daily use keyboard I initially absolutely hated this keyboard. The keys were quiet and squishy in comparison so I gave myself much longer to properly test this keyboard so that I would not skew results from being in a typing transitional period. A couple months later and I have to say that I don’t exactly love the MX Red keys used in this keyboard but they do a nice job.

Typing up short things like an IM message or a short email is very nice with the MX Red keys but typing up longer things like this review or a research paper can get tiring after awhile. Due to the softness the keys do not rebound in the same way that Black or Blue keys do, thus you will type a bit slower and need to put more effort into typing. If you are someone who types softly these types of keys can be for you, but if you press more firmly it can be a tiring experience to type out long papers.

Gaming

Gaming with this keyboard is a good experience. Due to the keys being softer they are a bit more responsive for games and will respond as quickly as you press them down. The only bottleneck is the speed that your fingers and mind can press the keys. Since the Osmium can support over 60 keys being pressed at the same time you will be more than covered for any sort of key combinations 10 fingers would be capable of pressing.

Verdict and Conclusion

The build quality of the Osmium is one of the best I have ever seen in a keyboard. Attention to detail is apparent with this keyboard.

Things like sleeved cables, extra keys and key pullers are all welcome additions.

If you are coming from another mechanical keyboard the MX Red keys can be a bit soft.

People coming from a dome cap keyboard will get a nice introduction to mechanical keyboards since the feel is a bit firmer than dome caps, but not as harsh as something like a Blue or Black keyboard.

Speaking with a rep from Gigabyte there are plans to introduce Blue, Black, and Brown switches in the future so if the Reds are too soft for you there will be additional options in the future.

Shopping around the internet the Aivia Osmium can be found for right around $130. When you get down to it, that is alot of money for a keyboard. But when you get down into the price it makes much more sense. Basic backlit keyboards are right around $110, so adding in other features the $130 price tag makes more sense.

Final words.

If you want a top of the line keyboard look no further. The price might seem like a bit much, but when you realize that it should last you years and years due to the fantastic build quality it sure takes the sting away. Overall, it is one of the best keyboards I have ever used.

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