Keyboard Ghosting Test: Check Your Keyboard’s Rollover & Anti-Ghosting
Test your keyboard for ghosting and n-key rollover issues. Check which key combinations work simultaneously for gaming and typing performance.
Keyboard Ghosting Test
Use our keyboard ghosting test to check how many keys your keyboard can register simultaneously and identify ghosting issues that affect gaming and typing performance.
Click here or press keys on your keyboard to test for ghosting
Try pressing multiple keys simultaneously to see which ones register
Common Gaming Key Combos
Test these common gaming key combinations to see if they work on your keyboard:
Keyboard Assessment: Your keyboard has 0-key rollover with some ghosting issues.
Keyboard Recommendations
Based on your test results with a score of 0, here are recommendations for your keyboard usage:
Gaming Tip: For competitive gaming, look for keyboards with NKRO (N-Key Rollover) or at least 6-key rollover to avoid ghosting during complex key combinations.
Your Test History
What is Keyboard Ghosting?
Keyboard ghosting occurs when you press multiple keys simultaneously and some keystrokes are not registered by your computer. This happens because most keyboards use a matrix circuit that can’t handle certain key combinations being pressed at the same time.
Key Insight: Ghosting is particularly problematic for gamers who need to press multiple keys simultaneously (like WASD + Space + Shift + Ctrl). Keyboards with anti-ghosting technology or N-key rollover (NKRO) prevent this issue.
Our keyboard ghosting test helps you identify which key combinations cause ghosting on your keyboard, allowing you to understand your keyboard’s limitations for gaming and fast typing.
Why Test for Keyboard Ghosting?
Identify key combinations that won’t register during intense gaming sessions, affecting your performance in competitive games.
Ensure all your keystrokes register correctly during fast typing, especially when using keyboard shortcuts or chorded key combinations.
Test keyboards before buying or understand the limitations of your current keyboard to make informed upgrade decisions.
Identify if keyboard issues are caused by ghosting or other hardware/software problems.
Keyboard Ghosting vs Rollover
Occurs when the keyboard fails to register some keys when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously due to electrical limitations in the keyboard matrix.
The maximum number of keys that can be pressed simultaneously and still be registered correctly. Common values are 2KRO, 6KRO, and NKRO (unlimited).
Technology that prevents ghosting by using diodes or more advanced circuitry to ensure all pressed keys are registered regardless of combination.
The highest standard where every key can be pressed simultaneously and all will register. Typically found in high-end mechanical keyboards.
How Keyboard Ghosting Works
Understanding the technical reasons behind keyboard ghosting helps you appreciate why some keyboards perform better than others:
The Keyboard Matrix Circuit
- Matrix Design: Most keyboards use a grid (matrix) of circuits to detect key presses, with rows and columns of wires
- Electrical Limitation: When three keys form an “L” shape in the matrix, the fourth corner key may register as pressed even when it’s not (ghosting)
- Scan Rate: The keyboard controller scans the matrix at a certain frequency (usually 100-1000Hz) to detect key presses
- USB Limitation: Standard USB keyboards report up to 6 simultaneous key presses + modifiers due to USB HID protocol limitations
- PS/2 Advantage: PS/2 connections can support NKRO more easily because they use interrupt-based signaling instead of polling
Common Ghosting Scenarios
- WASD + Space + Shift + Ctrl (common FPS controls)
- Arrow keys + multiple action buttons
- MMO gaming with multiple skill hotkeys
- Fighting games with complex button combinations
- Fast keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
- Chorded typing or stenography
- Alternate keyboard layouts (Dvorak, Colemak)
- Programming with multiple modifier keys
Technical Insight: Mechanical keyboards with individual switches for each key are less prone to ghosting than membrane keyboards, but they still need proper anti-ghosting circuitry to achieve NKRO. Gaming keyboards often advertise “anti-ghosting” which typically means 6-key rollover or more.
Keyboard Rollover Standards
| Rollover Type | Max Keys | Typical Keyboards | Gaming Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Key Rollover (2KRO) | 2 | Basic membrane, cheap keyboards | Poor |
| 6-Key Rollover (6KRO) | 6 | Standard mechanical, gaming keyboards | Good |
| N-Key Rollover (NKRO) | Unlimited | High-end mechanical, premium keyboards | Excellent |
| Full NKRO | 104+ keys | Professional, custom mechanical | Perfect |
How to Test Your Keyboard
Follow these steps to thoroughly test your keyboard for ghosting and rollover issues:
Step-by-Step Testing Process
- Select Test Type: Choose between interactive test, combo test, or full keyboard test
- Press Multiple Keys: Try pressing 3-6 keys simultaneously, especially keys you use together in games
- Observe Registration: Watch which keys light up (registered) and which don’t (ghosted)
- Test Common Combos: Try the common gaming combinations provided in the test tool
- Record Results: Note which combinations cause ghosting on your keyboard
- Adjust Settings: Try different keyboard settings like changing USB port or disabling keyboard software
- Compare Keyboards: Test multiple keyboards to compare their performance
- Save Results: Save your test results to track performance over time or compare different keyboards
Testing Tip: For the most accurate results, test with the keyboard connected directly to your computer (not through a USB hub) and close any keyboard management software that might interfere with key registration.
Common Problematic Key Combinations
- W + A/D + Shift + Space (strafing while running and jumping)
- W + S + Ctrl + E (moving while crouching and interacting)
- WASD + 1-4 keys (movement + weapon switching)
- WASD + Q/E + Space (movement + lean + jump)
- Movement keys + number row (1-6 for abilities)
- WASD + F1-F4 keys (movement + function keys)
- Arrow keys + multiple modifier keys
- WASD + Q/E/R/F/C/V (movement + multiple action keys)
- Multiple direction keys + multiple action buttons
- Complex directional inputs + button combinations
- Simultaneous multiple button presses
- Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys (text selection)
- Ctrl + Alt + Delete (system command)
- Multiple modifier keys + function keys
- Alt + Shift + Letter combinations
Solutions for Keyboard Ghosting
If your keyboard has ghosting issues, here are solutions to improve or work around the problem:
Hardware Solutions
- Upgrade Your Keyboard: Invest in a mechanical keyboard with anti-ghosting or NKRO technology
- Check Connection Type: Some keyboards offer NKRO only via PS/2 connection, not USB
- Use Direct Connection: Connect your keyboard directly to your computer, not through a USB hub
- Try Different USB Port: Some USB ports (especially USB 3.0) may handle keyboard input better
- Keyboard Firmware Update: Check if your keyboard manufacturer offers firmware updates that improve performance
Software Solutions
- Keyboard Software: Use manufacturer software to customize key response and anti-ghosting settings
- Key Remapping: Remap problematic key combinations to keys that don’t ghost together
- Game-Specific Settings: Some games allow you to customize controls to avoid ghosting combinations
- Driver Updates: Ensure you have the latest keyboard drivers installed
- Disable Conflicting Software: Close other applications that might intercept keyboard input
Workarounds & Adjustments
- Change Gaming Style: Adjust your gameplay to avoid problematic key combinations
- Use Different Finger Placement: Spread key presses across different hands to reduce simultaneous presses
- Keyboard Positioning: Position your keyboard at a different angle to change finger positioning
- Key Rollover Testing: Identify which specific keys ghost together and avoid those combinations
- Use Game Controllers: For some games, a controller might be more reliable than a keyboard with ghosting issues
Important: Some keyboard “anti-ghosting” marketing only applies to specific keys (usually WASD and surrounding keys). Make sure to test the exact key combinations you use before relying on anti-ghosting claims. True NKRO keyboards will register all keys simultaneously without ghosting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Ghosting is when you press multiple keys and some don’t register at all. Key rollover (KRO) is the maximum number of keys that can be pressed simultaneously and still register. A keyboard with poor rollover (like 2KRO) will experience ghosting with just 3 keys, while NKRO keyboards should never ghost.
No, not all mechanical keyboards have NKRO. While mechanical switches themselves don’t cause ghosting, the keyboard’s circuitry does. Many mechanical keyboards have 6-key rollover (6KRO) via USB, which is sufficient for most users. True NKRO often requires PS/2 connection or special USB implementations.
Ghosting depends on the keyboard’s matrix layout. Keys that share the same row or column in the electrical matrix are more likely to ghost together. Manufacturers often design gaming keyboards so commonly used gaming keys (WASD cluster) are on different circuits to prevent ghosting in those combinations.
Hardware ghosting cannot be fixed with software. If your keyboard has physical limitations in its matrix design, no software can fix it. However, you can work around it by remapping keys, changing your typing/gaming style, or using the keyboard in PS/2 mode if it supports it. For a permanent fix, you need a keyboard with better rollover.
For NKRO, yes. PS/2 uses interrupt-based signaling, allowing unlimited key rollover more easily. USB uses polling, which traditionally limited keyboards to 6KRO plus modifiers. However, modern USB keyboards can implement NKRO through various techniques. Many gaming keyboards offer NKRO via USB today, but PS/2 remains a reliable option for maximum compatibility with NKRO.
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Test Your Keyboard Performance Now
Use our keyboard ghosting test to identify performance limitations, optimize your gaming setup, and make informed decisions about keyboard upgrades. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or a power user, knowing your keyboard’s capabilities is essential.