GAMDIAS Hermes E1 Gaming Combo Review

1. Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing
2. Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation
3. Gamdias Hermes E1 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
4. Hermes E1 Continued
5. Demeter E2 Optical Gaming Mouse
6. Gamdias Hera Software
7. Gaming and General Impressions
8. Final Thoughts

TweakTown's Rating: 94%

The Bottom Line

The Hermes E1 Gaming Combo is top of the line! Never have we see a kit so inclusive, so full of features, or at this level of affordability. Gamdias hit the nail of the head, and will keep many gamers happy with this kit.

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

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Gamdias is a company we became aware of not all that long ago, but we do know in that time that Gamdias does seem to have their finger on the pulse of the gaming and eSports community. The reason we say this is because every product we have seen to date is feature rich, and it is intended for gaming usage. With the software that comes along with most of their products, customization beyond that of many other peripherals is where Gamdias stands out with only maybe two or three other companies with similar capabilities.

Since getting acquainted with Gamdias, we have seen only individual peripherals. By that statement, we mean that for each review previous to this one, we were sent a standalone mouse, or a keyboard by itself. This is the traditional way that manufacturers produce products, and typically is the norm of what is sent to reviewers. However, today is something special. Gamdias has sent us a gaming combo of gear, where we not only receive a keyboard and mouse, but Gamdias also throws in a mouse pad, so that you can have everything aside from the game to get going. We have seen other combos, and to be honest, we have never seen a combo on this scale, nor have we seen one packed with so much value to the purchase.

Gamdias has sent along the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo so we can deliver our opinion on it. That being said, in this kit, we are delivered the Hermes E1 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, in the same box as the Demeter E2 Optical Gaming Mouse, as well as including a free mouse mat which is called the NYX E1. While at the same era of many companies moving into attempting to perfect the ideal gaming combo for the masses, we find one of two things. If it is affordable, the keyboard is usually a membrane switch keyboard, and the mouse is something we would rather not use long-term, or on the flip side, the combos are expensive so that they can include mechanical switch keyboards and a mouse with enough features to keep us interested. With what Gamdias has brought forward here, you get the best of both worlds. While hard to believe at face value, we urge you to continue and see for yourself what the Gamdias Hermes E1 Gaming Combo has in store.

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As for the Hermes E1, we find that rather than Cherry MX or Kailh switches, Gamdias uses blue switches with their name on them. The keyboard is 448mm wide, it is 202.4mm deep, it is 36.9mm tall, and this is with the add-on wrist rest. Without it, the keyboard is only 156.6mm deep and drops 0.26kg off the 1.56kg weight. There is 256KB of onboard memory, the polling rate is set to 1000Hz, there are two programmable keys, six multimedia keys, and each key has a fifty million-click lifespan. The keys are backlit with red LEDs, there is a built-in 21-Key rollover used here, you can record Macros on-the-fly, Windows keys can be disabled, and all keys can be locked out as well. The USB cable is sleeved, it is 1.8 meters in length, and it is permanently attached to the keyboard. The Hermes E1 also comes with Hera software so you can take advantage of the six profiles, swap the arrow and WASD keys, or use the Consecutive Attack Mode offered within it.

The Demeter E2 mouse is a tad less rich with the features and options but is still a solid addition to the kit. It uses an optical sensor to track movement, it is black with LED backlighting, and within the 120mm length, 75mm width, and 40mm height, the entire mouse, with cable, weighs in at just 105 grams. There are four pre-defined levels of DPI to choose from. By default, the DPI is set to 1200, but you can also select 1600, 2400, and 3200 DPI for use. The polling rate is fixed at 125HZ, and each of the red JD switches used inside of it boast a one million click lifespan. The USB cable is also braided on the mouse, but the length is slightly shorter at just 1.5 meters, and to keep the Demeter E2 gliding smoothly, four TPE feet are used underneath of it.

As the infomercials say all the time, "but wait, there's more." We had seen the price swing wildly form news posts when the product was publicly launched, to pricing we saw on eBay, even to the one listing we found at Newegg. However, the whole time, none of the prices are higher than $80. On eBay, we found this kit for just $39, still sealed in the box. At Newegg, the current listing if for a sale that will likely end before you read this review, where we see it listed for just $39.99, and no reason to question the validity of the seller. We do also see that the listed MSRP is $79.99, and even if you had to pay that price, we still feel there is a ton of value to what you get in the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo from Gamdias.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS X99-E WS - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• CPU: Intel Core i7 5930K - Buy from Amazon
• Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Memory: KLevv Cras DDR4 3000 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Video Card: ASUS GeForce GTX 980 Matrix Platinum - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Storage: Intel 730 480GB - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: SilverStone TJ11 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Corsair AX1200 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit - Buy from Amazon

Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation

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The front of the box for the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo has not only images of the product taking up much of the space, but we also see that features are pointed out in those images. In the white section to the left, we see what all is included in the kit, and we also see four more features listed with explanations as to their benefits.

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Since we already saw the name and all of that, we slid down to the right end of this longer panel for this image. What we are left to see here is that there is a quick-attach wrist rest shown, the use of an aluminum top plate for the keyboards, and are shown that Hera software works with this keyboard as well.

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On this smaller end of the box, Gamdias presents us with the ZEUS logo for their gaming gear in white, over a matte black panel.

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The second longer panel offers information on what is included inside of the box. Of course, there is the keyboard, but the egg-shaped icon states we also get the 3200 DPI gaming mouse, the gaming mouse mat, and the keycap puller, which are all shown in images to the right.

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On the second of the shorter side panels, Gamdias placed all of their information. We see the company name, logo, and motto, along with their address and the fact that these products are made in China. We also see icons for compatibility and compliances.

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On the back of the box, off to the left side, we see lists of eight features found in the kit, which is repeated in eight total languages. In the middle, we find specifications charts for the keyboard mouse and the mouse pad. Off to the right side, we see an image of all of the gear again, with the package contents and system requirements below that.

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Upon opening the box, we find that dense foam is used on either end of the keyboard to lock it into place, and it has a thin foam bag it is contained in. On top of the keyboard are the cables, mouse pad, and within another section of dense foam, the mouse is found inside of a foam bag too. All we know is that Gamdias took the right steps with packaging, as our products are in excellent condition after the long journey.

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After removing all of the goodies from the box, we also found that under the keyboard is another addition to the kit. Here we have the additional wrist rest with the Zeus logo on it. It is shaped and textured and locks into the keyboard with triangular mounting tabs, which makes installation and removal a cinch to do.

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The NYX E1 mouse pad has a cloth top on a foam base, and it is 240mm wide, 180mm deep, and only 3mm thick. To give the sensor more to read, Gamdias uses a pattern of Zeus logos across the entire surface, and at the bottom-right corner, we see the logo, company name, and their motto printed on it.

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Gamdias also offers users a quick installation guide. Essentially, it shows us how to connect the devices, and where to go to obtain the Hera Software. Beyond that, it is up to you to learn the software and figure out how to get the best from this gaming combo.

Gamdias Hermes E1 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

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The Hermes E1 is a mechanical keyboard that utilizes an exposed aluminum frame above a slightly smaller plastic lower section. Above the steel plate, we see clear switch bodies, and the keycaps are split into two groups of three rows, which the back-section angle forward, and the front section has the keycaps angled towards the back.

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The eight-seven keys on the left side of the Hermes E1 cover everything we would expect to find. We also can see that many of the keys are to be used with the Function key, as to deliver dual-layered functionality.

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The multimedia keys start on the F2 key, where we see the icon to go to the previous track of media. The F3 key offers the next track function, while the F4 button will swap functionality between the WASD and arrow keys.

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F5 offers play and pause functions, F6 mutes the sound. F7 will allow you to reduce the volume, and F8 allows the ability to increase it.

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The F9 keys are what you will use if you want to record Macro commands on-the-fly. Skipping over the F10 key, we then see that F11 is used as the Windows Lock key, where it will eliminate functionality form the Windows Flight key during use of this lock.

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While you will have to use Hera software to configure these, numbers one through six are marked PF1 through PF6. These are the selectable profile keys so that once programmed you do not need to revisit the software anytime you wish to change the active profile.

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In the specifications, there was a mention of two programmable buttons. While all of the keys can be addressed in software, when using the Macro on-the-fly recording, one of these two buttons can be chosen for use at that time.

Hermes E1 Continued

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At the right end of the keyboard, we see that the command keys have all been abbreviated so that a larger font can be displayed on each key. The arrows also have WASD indicators on them if you swap them with the F4 key. We also find arrows on the number pad, but more importantly are the number 2 and number 8 keys, which is how you can address the LED intensity and breathing mode without Hera.

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The right end of the Hermes E1, the view is much the same as we saw before. This time, however, we have extended the feet under the keyboard, which has increased the angle of attack, and most of the rows are now angled forward, while the front row still has a slight lean towards the back.

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Under the Hermes E1, we find that there are five rubber feet to keep the keyboard from sliding. We also see cable routing grooves at the back edge of the keyboard, and to the right of the product sticker, we find the key puller, which is easily stored in the cutaway area for it.

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Both of the flip-out feet angle far back when opened all the way, which helps to keep them from collapsing. We also see the Gamdias uses rubber pads on these feet too, so that when in use, you still have a firm grip on the desk.

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The 1.8-meter cable is black and has braided cloth on the exterior of it. The connector is shaped, so it is easily identifiable, the USB connection is not gold plated, but we do see a Ferrite choke in-line to reduce noise.

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What amazed us, is that in an affordable kit such as this, we find double shot keycaps. An opaque plastic is molded first, and then a black shot over the top of it. This means that the legends will never wear out as painted caps do. We also see that next to the Cherry MX type stems, the larger keys have clips for the torsion bars.

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As we mentioned earlier, each switch has a clear body, but this is due to the placement of the LED to the inside of each switch. The stems are blue, and this is a clicky keyboard, but we can see the name on each switch is Gamdias.

Demeter E2 Optical Gaming Mouse

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The left side of the Demeter E2 is textured, offers a thumb rest, has two buttons near the top, and has two thick wedges cut from it to allow for LED illumination. We can also see that the side of the left main button is matte, while the side is somewhat shiny and textured, and the heel is made of shiny plastic.

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At the back of the mouse, the Demeter E2 comes to a softly rounded point and is ambidextrous in shape. Along with the Zeus logo on the shiny plastic, we can see stripes on either side which are also LED illuminated.

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The right side of the Demeter E2 is identical to what we saw on the left, lacking only one thing. While the shape is ambidextrous, and left-hand users could use this mouse, sadly there are not buttons found here to complete the idea that this kit was made to include everyone.

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Even while looking at the mouse from the front, we can see that the concave curves are even at the top of the mouse, and both buttons end at the same length and with the same angle. We also see that the cable comes out of the middle of the frames lower section.

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On the top of the Demeter E2, we see that a soft-touch rubberized coating has been applied to the bulk of the top surface. The center section of the top has many close lines around the DPI selector button and the backlit scroll wheel, but it is just for added aesthetics.

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There is less mouse cable than there is keyboard cable, but they both have a sleeved exterior and both end in a stylized connector. They are also both USB 2.0 without gold plating, and we again find a Ferrite choke on the cable.

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The eye of the sensor is shifted slightly left of center but is evenly spaced front to back. The product sticker assumes much of the bottom space, and we see that it also passed quality control. To keep the mouse flowing freely on the desk, Gamdias uses Teflon feet, one at each corner, so that it is smooth and stable.

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We also wanted to include the NYX E1 mouse pad in the mix, so we placed the mouse on it for some perspective. We can see that the mouse pad is small, but hey it was free, right. As for the Demeter E2, once plugged in, the LEDs will pulse red, purple, blue and pink in a breathing mode, and each color has a DPI setting associated with it so that when selected, you know what the DPI is.

Gamdias Hera Software

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Hera software is always fully loaded, and you will see much of the same here. Once installed, we opened it up to see the Key Assignment tab is the first option. This is where you can select a key, and assign it one of many options from the drop-down menu which is also showing. At the top of the keyboard, you may also use the Fn + G tab to set the G-keys, and to the right of the keyboard image, be sure to verify which of the five profiles you are setting.

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Macro Management is where one would go if they wanted to program or import a Macro from another device. Using the editor is straightforward, you can easily edit commands with the menu in the middle, and there are also timing options to address how the Macro is performed.

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Under Keyboard Luminance, we can set the lighting modes for each of the profiles. There are options for levels of LED intensity, the last option in that row setting the LEDs into breathing mode. The second row of options is where you can set the time span of the breathing mode in the number of seconds the lights are on and off.

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Eventually, there will come a time when you are gaming but need to be reminded of something important. This tab will allow users to set timers to any key on the keyboard. With a press, a timer which has to be set by you can be set, which will play an audio file, picked by you, to go off when the time has run out.

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Editing sound files are simple. Play anything you have or what to hear on the PC, then record the bit of it you want to use. While there are five predefined alarm sounds, your imagination is the limit as to what sound bites can be used here.

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To use the timers, you also need to set the duration of them, and that is what this tab is for. You can create folders for groups of alarms, and you can also just create individual timers. You can set timers as far as days away and as small as seconds; you can put a reminder message with it, make it display on the screen, and even choose the position of the text displayed when the timer ends.

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The last of the tabs is where you would go to verify the firmware and software are up to date. We have taken on both for this review, and software comes out regularly, so you may want to check it often. This is also where you can obtain a single-click link to the online support, but sadly, with the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo, there are no software controls for the Demeter E2.

Gaming and General Impressions

DOOM & PUBG

Gaming is where the Hermes E1 combo shines. With the various profiles on the keyboard, you can be ready for many of the games you own with just a couple of clicks. Opting for blue switches, we never found a resting finger to have us making non-intended movements, and aside from the level of noise that may bother others, we find nothing wrong with the Hermes Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. When it comes to the Demeter E2, as a right-handed user, we have little to complain about. The shape lends to many hours of comfortable gaming, the buttons all require firm pressure to actuate, and all report with a solid sounding click.

While the Demeter E2 glides well on any mouse pad, as well as the NYX E1, we found the lack of DPI to be a limiting factor for us. While we do have larger mouse pads to play on, using the NYX E1 Gamdias supplied, the only option we had was to lift the mouse continually. More DPI adjustment in the mouse would have helped too, but we are working with what was given to us in the box here.

Windows and Productivity

Using the Hermes E2 for our daily grind, we have not one thing to complain about. Blue switches are preferred by us for writing, and the Hermes E1 mechanical keyboard is right in our wheelhouse. We were not actuating multiple keys with our pudgy digits, and we were not losing any of our speed when it comes to writing long-winded reviews such as this.

The Demeter E2 is also a good mouse to use for scrolling various web pages, accessing icons on our 4K monitor without lifting the mouse, and is also easy to associate your hand on between rounds of typing and need to grab blindly for the mouse. All in all, whether a gamer or in some form of production, the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo is ripe for the picking.

Final Thoughts

Gamdias has done well here. We have seen many other manufacturers bundle products together and offered them as gaming combo kits, but we have not seen any as successful as the Hermes M1 will be. The mechanical keyboard has all of the functionality, programmability, customizability, and sheer number of user-friendly perks to keep anyone happy. Multiple profiles, on-the-fly Macro recording, built-in memory for storing all things related to said programming; what more can you ask for.

The Demeter E2 is a solid addition to the kit, with only a couple of minor details we would have liked to be different. It glides well; it fits in hand well, it is solidly constructed and should appease most of the gamers out there. The NYX E1 is a toss-in freebie for sure. It is made by laser cutting the foam and cloth after they have been mated, it is small, but it is a stylish addition to the overall package.

The few things we would have liked to have seen are as follows. Using an ambidextrous mouse without buttons on the right side of the mouse is a shame. While left-hand gamers are not in the majority, the lack of buttons does eliminate that segment of sales. We do wish that the mouse offered some form of software control as well, but we find that it is left out of the mix, and you are stuck with the settings Gamdias feels are best for you.

We would have also liked a slightly larger mouse pad. Yes, we do know it was free, but with the limitation of DPI on the Demeter E2, the size of the mouse pad was too small for us, and we regularly had to lift the mouse in-game. We do realize many prefer to do this while gaming, but with no LOD control, and a slight wander to the cursor when lifted, it does, in our opinion, cause concern for gaming.

The bottom line, though, is this. For the amount we received in the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo box, and the investment required to obtain it, to say we are impressed is a slight understatement. Gamdias has done great things here and proven that you do not have to break the bank to get products which are more than capable of getting the average gamer happy with what is in their hands. We do suggest that you keep an eye out for sales on this kit, which can cut the cost in half, even at $79.99, we feel that customers will have little to complain about with the purchase.

Gamdias may not be the first company that you think of when it comes to gaming peripherals, but with the release of the Hermes E1 Gaming Combo, and all it includes, they definitely should be on your radar.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS X99-E WS - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• CPU: Intel Core i7 5930K - Buy from Amazon
• Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Memory: KLevv Cras DDR4 3000 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Video Card: ASUS GeForce GTX 980 Matrix Platinum - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Storage: Intel 730 480GB - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: SilverStone TJ11 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Corsair AX1200 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit - Buy from Amazon