What is N-Key Rollover (NKRO) & Ghosting?
Ghosting occurs when you press multiple keys on a keyboard simultaneously, but the keyboard's internal circuitry fails to register all of them. This is common in cheap membrane keyboards because they share wiring matrices to save costs.
NKRO (N-Key Rollover) means a keyboard can register an unlimited number of key presses simultaneously. This is a crucial feature for mechanical keyboards used by competitive typists and gamers.
How to use this test:
- Press and hold down both SHIFT keys. While holding them, type "THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS OVER THE LAZY DOG". If any letters fail to register, your keyboard suffers from ghosting.
- Alternatively, mash both hands flat onto your keyboard. A true NKRO mechanical keyboard should register 20-30+ keys at once. A cheap office keyboard will usually max out at 4 to 6 keys.