Gaming Keyboard Tester.
Test anti-ghosting, N-key rollover, and polling rate so every input lands mid-game. Free, in-browser, and nothing to install
What to check on a gaming keyboard
- Anti-ghosting on the WASD clusterHold W + A + Shift + Space together — the movement + sprint + jump combo. On the anti-ghosting test every held key should stay lit. If one drops out, your board ghosts under exactly the load games create.
- How many keys register at oncePress keys one by one while holding the rest. A 6KRO board stops after six simultaneous keys; a true NKRO board never stops. The rollover test counts your limit.
- Polling rateA higher polling rate means the keyboard reports presses more often, shaving milliseconds off input lag. Measure yours on the polling rate tester and compare it to the 1000Hz most gaming boards claim.
- Stuck modifiers mid-gameA Shift or Ctrl that sticks turns walk into sprint or fires the wrong bind. Tap each modifier and confirm it releases cleanly in the event logger.
- Extra and macro keysMedia keys and dedicated macro (G) keys may be handled by vendor software and not reach the browser — that's normal. Every standard key, though, should light up above.
Why ghosting loses games
Ghosting is when a keyboard fails to register a key because too many others are already held down — or worse, reports a key you never pressed. On a cheap membrane board it strikes exactly when you need it most: sprinting diagonally while jumping and reloading. That's four keys at once, and a non-gaming board often drops the fourth.
Hold your real in-game combos on the anti-ghosting / NKRO test and watch whether every key stays lit. A board advertised as "anti-ghosting" only protects certain key groups; full N-key rollover guarantees every key, every time.
Polling rate and input lag
Polling rate is how many times per second your keyboard tells the PC what it's doing. At 125Hz that's every 8ms; at 1000Hz, every 1ms. For fast games those milliseconds are the gap between your press and the shot firing.
Most gaming keyboards claim 1000Hz, but cheap or wireless boards often fall short. The polling rate tester measures what your board actually delivers, and the guide on keyboard input lag covers the other causes — wireless latency, Filter Keys, and background CPU load.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test my gaming keyboard for ghosting?
Open the anti-ghosting test and hold down your common in-game combinations — for example W, A, Shift and Space together. If every key stays lit, your board handles that combo; if one drops out or a key you didn't press appears, it's ghosting.
What polling rate should a gaming keyboard have?
1000Hz (a 1ms report interval) is the standard for gaming keyboards and is plenty for almost everyone. Higher rates like 4000 or 8000Hz exist but bring diminishing returns. Use the polling rate tester to confirm your board actually hits the number it advertises.
How many keys should a gaming keyboard register at once?
Look for full N-key rollover (NKRO), which registers every key no matter how many you hold. 6-key rollover (6KRO) is the practical minimum — it covers most combos but can drop keys during busy inputs. Test your board's limit on the rollover test above.
Do I need software to test a gaming keyboard?
No. Ghosting, rollover, and polling rate can all be tested right here in your browser with nothing installed. Only vendor-specific features like RGB profiles and macro keys need the manufacturer's software.