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Testing a keyboard like the Speedlink Parthica involves using it as my main office keyboard for a period of one week, which means utilising it for general web browsing and tens of hours of typing. Of course being a gaming keyboard I also spent many hours using it in a variety of titles, in a number of different genres.
Throughout testing I factored in the keyboard's ability to perform the various tasks I set it, as well as other factors like its comfort, lighting and back-end software.
Beginning with the Parthica's gaming ability, I found it a very capable piece of kit. There was not any big noticeable slow down in reaction speed between this and the usual mechanical boards I use, even in fast paced FPS and MOBA titles. It is there though, even if imperceptible to a middle-ability gamer like myself.
What was quite surprising however was that the keyboard does not have that slightly wobbly feel you get from the usual membrane boards available today. This one feels much more precise and I think that is because the individual keys are separated by solid plastic, with tall dividers, meaning that the key really has nowhere to go but straight down.
The bottom of the travel is still spongy of course. That is unavoidable with this sort of keyboard and something to bear in mind if you are considering an upgrade. You need to be happy with that lack of a solid clunk at the bottom.
All back-end options are included on a single pane window, making them very easy to navigate
Still, while this board might lack the 100 per cent precision and clear actuation identifier of a mechanical switch, there are a few gaming orientated features that the Speedlink Parthica Core can make use of. It supports polling rates up to 1,000Hz, or several other steps under that, which you can pick from in the back-end software.
Every key can be remapped to your own own preference and twinned with a profile, or application too, meaning you can boot up your favourite game and have the Parthica Core switch over to your preferred key set. Recording macros can be handled within the software itself or you can do it live using the F4/Rec function, though you cannot adjust timings and other aspects without using the software.
Other options include adjusting lighting to one of three brightness steps, and turning on/off the breathing effect. It is also possible to turn the Windows key on/off via the software.
When it comes to typing, the Speedlink Parthica is a little better than the average membrane keyboard, but it still lacks the precision and satisfaction that can be had when typing on a mechanical board with your own switch preference.
Macro options are deep when you dive into the drop down menus
Although quieter than your average mechanical in terms of the clacking often heard on the bottom of the keystroke, the Parthica Core has a slight squeek sound that can be heard on the upstroke of some keys. It is not hugely loud, but it is an annoying trend that once you have noticed is hard to forget.
The grip of the board is also sub-par. While I did not have any problems while typing, if resting my wrists on the wrist rest – as intended I presume – and the keyboard had its extended legs engaged, the right hand side would sometimes slide forward, pivoting slightly around the centre.
This did not happen regularly, but when it did, it was irritating and reminded that it is important to have grip feet on the bottom of extender legs on keyboards – even though so few manufacturers actually do it.
I also spent a few minutes testing the ability of the Parthica to convey multiple key presses at once, using this tester. It is not the strongest in that regard, restricting itself to just four keys in the WASD area at once, but spread out across the board you could hit a lot more too.
