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Random Blabber:
I always wanted to make a topic where I can share my knowledge about gaming mice and help some people decide on what type/shape/sensitivity they need.
The past few years I've had the pleasure of changing my mouse every couple of weeks and I can say that I used and tested almost all the gaming mice that exist(Logitech, Razer, Roccat, SteelSeries, Microsoft) and sadly, most of them are crap.
First of all, I want to start off with this:
Why you don't need a mouse with a Fleshlight incorporated!
Most gaming mice manufacturers like Logitech, Razer, Microsoft, Roccat, etc.. know that most gamers get an erection just by seeing a LED on their mouse, hence the birth of the Logitech G9, Rocca Kone, Razer Mice (yeah, most of them have ligts on them).
But why would you need this? Besides the fact that these simple LEDs just add to the already high price, they have no other function than to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. On some mice the LEDs are actually a downside, for example on the Razer DeathAdder the lights emit quite a bit of heat and after a couple of hours of usage, the mouse gets pretty hot near the LED.
What do I actually need from a mouse?
Well, first of all, and most important, the mouse needs to have a good shape. What do I mean by GOOD SHAPE? Well, the mouse needs to be comfortable. If the mouse has a bad or a weird shape it will cause fatigue and that my friend is BAD. Fatigue leads to miss-clicks, bad micro and so on...
What is the perfect shape? Well, I have no answer for this because from what I saw, there is no perfect shape, and the preferences are widespread. People with large hands will prefer the Logitech G5 or the SteelSeries Ikari while people with small hands or girls will prefer the Razer Salmosa.
This picture clearly shows why you should give crack to your designers.
Some Good Shapes:
All of them are optical (except the Roccat Kone) but they have laser engined counterparts (we'll discuss Optical vs Laser in a few moments).
Why do I need a good quality build on my mouse?
Well, first of all, if a manufacturer uses durable materials, the mouse will most likely have a longer service life and your hands won't get all sweaty. A big problem is that some manufacturers are actually retarded and they use cheap plastic which is hard to get a good grip on (because your hand tries hard to get a good grip, your hand muscles work way more and you get hand fatigue and sweaty hands). Sadly, most of the manufacturers prefer doing that, the only exceptions are: a couple of Logitech mice, Roccat, SteelSeries; but don't get your hopes up, you won't find Rolls Roys quality on any of them.
Sensitivity
First of all, I want to start off by saying that you don't need more than 800 dpi to a max of 2000 dpi. Why? Well because I say so. Most manufacturers like to pump up their mice to 3200/4000 dpi just for the marketing purpose, but why would you need that sensitivity? If you want to try something exotic and not be able to control your mouse, just go to Control Panel -> Mouse -> Pointer Options -> and set your Motion all the way to fast. (That's if you want something exotic)
In most games though, you can set your sensitivity to as much you want so a 800 dpi mouse would do the job without any problems.
Note: If you don't to get too much acceleration in windows, deactive Enhance Pointer Precision.
Optical vs Laser
This is a touche topic for most people so I'll start by saying that... THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!
Some people say that Laser mice tend to skip and the tracking on them is terrible, but that just bullshit.
You can jerk a laser mouse as much as you can, if it's not made by complete idiots it won't skip.
To be honest, I didn't see any difference between an optical and a good laser mouse, probably because there is none.
If a mouse starts to skip, then you have dust on the lens and you need to get that brushed off (blow on the bottom of the mouse or use a small brush, that works like a charm).
So what do I recommend?
For Large and Medium Hands:
Logitech MX518, G5, G7 (wireless); Microsfot IntelliExplorer 3.0; Roccat Kone; SteelSeries Ikari; Razer DeathAdder
For Small Hands / Girls:
Razer Salmosa, Logitech G9, Microsoft Intelli 1.1a, Logitech MX310 or G1 (if you find any)
Sadly you'll have to test some of them first, and find what shape suits you well, it took me about two years to find a perfect mouse for me (the SteelSeries Ikari Optical). I hope this blog post will help you find yours faster.
Also, please note the following:
1) The most important feature of a mouse is it's shape!
2) A mouse won't improve your skill, it will just make it easier for you to get better at your game, you improve your skill only by practice and hard work, gaming gear won't do that, but if you have the right gear, you'll reach your desired level faster. (that's just what I think)
3) On a SteelSeries QCK+ surface I didn't notice any skipping on any of the laser mice I had (the only exception is the Microsoft Habu, which is a piece of shit). Some mice are quite moody and don't work well on all surfaces. With the DeathAdder I've had problems on my QCK+, it skipped and didn't track well. I hear that in the new versions of the QCK the DA doesn't have that problem anymore.
 
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If you have any questions about a certain mouse I'll gladly answer them. Also if you have different opinions, please state them in a reply ^^
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I just want to add that in SC2 the mouse 3 button is something you can use to get around the map and I've noticed that many of the mice I have seen don't allow for rapid use of it very easily.
Salmosa ftw.
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laser mouse is much better accuracy than optical imo, but they are different DPI so I dunno. you'd have to get an opti and a laser the exact same dpi and mouse case/weight to compare the two.
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On February 27 2009 21:41 CharlieMurphy wrote:
laser mouse is much better accuracy than optical imo, but they are different DPI so I dunno. you'd have to get an opti and a laser the exact same dpi and mouse case/weight to compare the two.
Define 'much'.
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I actually have a Logitech G5 and a SteelSeries IKARI on my machine and I can't see the difference.
I play Counter Strike: Source as a semi-pro player and I found out that for CSS, the IKARI is quite great. Even for starcraft, I didn't have any missclicks.
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On February 27 2009 21:39 inReacH wrote:
I just want to add that in SC2 the mouse 3 button is something you can use to get around the map and I've noticed that many of the mice I have seen don't allow for rapid use of it very easily.
Salmosa ftw.
Cant u do that in BW too?
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On February 27 2009 21:12 AndreiD wrote:
Optical vs Laser
This is a touche topic for most people so I'll start by saying that... THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!
Some people say that Laser mice tend to skip and the tracking on them is terrible, but that just bullshit.
You can jerk a laser mouse as much as you can, if it's not made by complete idiots it won't skip.
To be honest, I didn't see any difference between an optical and a good laser mouse, probably because there is none.
If a mouse starts to skip, then you have dust on the lens and you need to get that brushed off (blow on the bottom of the mouse or use a small brush, that works like a charm).
So what do I recommend?
For Large and Medium Hands:
Logitech MX518, G5, G7 (wireless); Microsfot IntelliExplorer 3.0; Roccat Kone; SteelSeries Ikari; Razer DeathAdder
For Small Hands / Girls:
Razer Salmosa, Logitech G9, Microsoft Intelli 1.1a, Logitech MX310 (if you find any)
You're one to talk, calling people bullshit for saying laser will skip and the tracking is terrible, you clearly have never used a laser mouse before or something. I would record an ingame clip of me using a G5 and losing tracking when doing 180's but I won't even bother correcting the load of bs you wrote. I mean ... G7 ... a wireless mouse? Really? Lol. (Edit: I know its wireless, but I mean, you're HONESTLY recommending people to buy a G7 LOL?)
Roccat, Steelseries, Razer = Shiny crap that milks off the gaming market.
Logitech, MS = Less crappy and decent customer service.
Also, stay away from laser, that shit is horrible. Why buy a G5 when you can get a much better MX518 for cheaper?
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No mention of the logitech mini optical nor the G1, interestingly enough....
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Dude, I play Counter Strike: Source with a G7 way better than people with an MX518 to be honest.
I used lots of laser mice and I didn't see any skip. (The only one I saw skip was the Habu)
And yes, I do 180s on the G5 and I don't see any problems, if it's losing track try to clean the lens of the sensor.
The only way I can see a laser mouse lose track is if you actually play very very very low sensitivity and need an entire desk to do the 180.
I do agree with you that most Razer mice are actually bad, but the Roccat and SteelSeries mice are good.
@ writer, yeah, sorry forgot about the G1. It isn't for sale anymore though.
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Btw, to those who think I'm being "abrasive"
I listened to people like OP and got a laser mouse cause "THERES NO DIFFERENCE, LASER IS GUD"
Now I've been stuck with an overpriced piece of junk that I have to move around slowly in fear that my mouse will jump and look up to the sky in FPS games. Thank you, internets specialists of everything.
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On February 27 2009 21:23 AndreiD wrote:
If you have any questions about a certain mouse I'll gladly answer them. Also if you have different opinions, please state them in a reply ^^
Have you seen/tested the A4Tech x750 gaming mouse and if you have what's your opinion on it?
I agree on everything you said in your blog.
And I also use this A4Tech mouse. So my thoughts: it feels comfortable in my hand. I've played for most of 3 hours and haven't felt any sort of fatigue and all in all I think it's a great mouse for it's lousy price of $20 I paid for it.
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On February 27 2009 22:33 frankbg wrote:
Btw, to those who think I'm being "abrasive"
I listened to people like OP and got a laser mouse cause "THERES NO DIFFERENCE, LASER IS GUD"
Now I've been stuck with an overpriced piece of junk that I have to move around slowly in fear that my mouse will jump and look up to the sky in FPS games. Thank you, internets specialists of everything.
Did you ever use a good laser mouse? I do admit that some of the shitty mice skip but the G5, G7, G9, Kone don't. Maybe I'm special and my laser doesn't jump for me.
The only way I see a laser engined mouse jump is if you use extremely low sensitivity. Most laser mice have a malfunction limit of about 1 to 2 meters/second if I recall right, it's hard for me to comprehend how someone can turn at that speed.
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@hymn the A4Tech X750 is an ok mouse for it's price, it doesn't skip but the materials used on it aren't that great, it has a somewhat cheap feel but I guess you get what you pay for. I did like the fact that it has a thin cord and it doesn't tangle and the fact that it sits quite nice in the hand.
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hah... Razer salmosa all the way...
i have big hands... bu the salmosa is just so small, light, awesome
and somehow fits me perfectly.
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I used the salmosa for a couple of weeks also but I found it hard to control, you need to hold it claw style rather than full hand style, which is tiring for my hand, but it is quite a good mouse.
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On February 27 2009 22:42 AndreiD wrote:Show nested quote +On February 27 2009 22:33 frankbg wrote:
Btw, to those who think I'm being "abrasive"
I listened to people like OP and got a laser mouse cause "THERES NO DIFFERENCE, LASER IS GUD"
Now I've been stuck with an overpriced piece of junk that I have to move around slowly in fear that my mouse will jump and look up to the sky in FPS games. Thank you, internets specialists of everything. Did you ever use a good laser mouse? I do admit that some of the shitty mice skip but the G5, G7, G9, Kone don't. Maybe I'm special and my laser doesn't jump for me. The only way I see a laser engined mouse jump is if you use extremely low sensitivity. Most laser mice have a malfunction limit of about 1 to 2 meters/second if I recall right, it's hard for me to comprehend how someone can turn at that speed.
I use a G5.
Edit: And I'm uploading a clip I just made on youtube so people can see how shit laser really is. Either you don't play FPS games or you're really bad at them, because I'll admit in SC I've never had any of this, but in any shooter it will happen.
Edit #2: I use a cloth pad, the Everglide DKT pad.
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I miss my 15 dollar Microsoft mouse  I have to use my shitty backup mouse (which is a razer copperhead).
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I use a G5 also, and I even played fast paced games with it like Warsow and Quake 3, I didn't see it skip man, sorry, I'm not trying to bullshit people into buying laser but that's what I see.
Also, the G5 I have is the new one (the Blue Refresh).
Some people say that Laser is better than optical, others say that optical is better than laser, I say that the biggest issue with the mouse is it's shape, not it's sensor, if the mouse has a good shape and an engine that doesn't skip, you can be a king with it.
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Well, i have an MX518 and i must say that the shape is better than Razer DeathAdder (my friend has it), and altough both mice are really really great, i still prefer the MX.
+ The buttons on MX are better, the DA has so big side buttons that i always accidentaly click them.
Nice review.
And to add to your optical - laser thingy. Laser mice skip or dont work on some mousepads (f.e. Icemat).
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United States22883 Posts
On February 27 2009 22:31 AndreiD wrote:
Dude, I play Counter Strike: Source with a G7 way better than people with an MX518 to be honest.
First of all, this is the stupidest "proof" comparison I've ever seen. It's not even worth the effort to explain why because everyone with two eyes sees it.
Second, telling us you play Source hurts your credibility.
Third, you're using a wireless mouse for gaming. Right...
Fourth, you're just wrong.
http://www.esreality.com/?a=longpost&id=1265679&page=21
Laser sensors historically have a much higher glitch rate when moving across large distances. The Ikari Laser is no exception, and unfortunately the optical version has a terrible liftoff distance.
Being wrong is fine, but don't act like an authority when you aren't. Especially if you're going to cause some poor sap to pay double a 518 for a G5, when they're really getting worse performance and fewer buttons.
If you want to try something exotic and not be able to control your mouse, just go to Control Panel -> Mouse -> Pointer Options -> and set your Motion all the way to fast.
Oh god. Do not do this. Leave your Windows sensitivity at default (6/11 I believe.) The method Windows uses to "speed up" is to skip pixels, thereby making the mouse move faster.
You're right that shape is more important and that DPI is overrated. The Wheel Mouse Optical 1.1/IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 are still two of the best gaming mice despite being old as dirt. The real trick to increasing performance is to overclock the USB port your mouse is connected to. Standard USB devices function at 125hz, but you can increase it up to 1000 and actually notice a performance increase, and it's not going to do any harm to the mouse or port.
http://www.overclock.net/faqs/73418-how-improve-mouse-response-accuracy-changing.html
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Oh wow, I didn't even notice he said source, no wonder D: Probably plays with soemthing stupidly high like 7 sens lol.
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I play with 5 win sens and 1.5 ingame at 800 dpi.
@ -slo.m1ke- yep, some laser mice are quite moody and prefer only single color surfaces. I use my mice on a SteelSeries QCK+ mat.
Adding that to the blog post.
@ Jibba, I solved the liftoff distance on the IKARI Optical by adding another pair of feet.
Also I know the ESReality review, I actually bought the Razer DeathAdder because of that review, only to find that it is quite bad at tracking on a QCK+ surface.
And dude, I'm fucking seriously curious where I said that Laser is better than optical ? Don't say shit like I encourage people to buy laser, I just said that FOR ME laser = optical and that I didn't get my laser mice to skip.
And I even stated that 800 dpi is enough for most people, hence I think I'm actually encouraging people to buy opticals.
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I've used a few gaming mice and regular mice, I settled for my deathadder because it fits my hand just perfectly. I don't know what the op is saying about the LED getting hot... I have 2 deathadders in my house and neither of them get hot after any amount of use.
Also I think you don't put enough emphasis on how much a good mouse will improve your play. Of course a mouse is not equal to skill, but every time I go to a LAN caffe and use some shitty $2 logitech/generic brand mouse my accuracy and apm go to hell.
Anyways for an RTS all you need is a decent mouse. FPS is where you need the high DPI because in fast paced games like quake you can turn your mouse sensitivity right down, this coupled with a high DPI mouse = lots of accuracy.
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The DeathAdder I had was one of the first, and it malfunctioned after a couple of months so probably the LED thing wasn't sunch a widespread problem (another friend who had a DeathAdder reported the same trouble with the LED though).
Well, I personally don't think a mouse would increase your gameplay too much, I consider that practice and hardwork will do that.
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United States22883 Posts
Well, Razer is kind of known for products with a limited lifespan. Still, the early MS/Logitech mice are as good as you can get for FPS games and most small mice for RTS are excellent. You shouldn't need to spend more than $30 to get the best performance, anything above that is just for features/shape.
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Indeed.
I should of went in depth regarding mouse pads also, I think I'll do that on another blog post when I have time.
For me the QCK+ is one of the best atm.
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what are some good ambidextrous mice... i'm left handed and it's really gay to find a mouse that works for me. i've been using a copperhead for a while, it's nice, but i want to know what else is out there.
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Microsoft 1.1a, Razer Salmosa, Logitech G1/G3 and I don't know what else to be honest...
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I have in my possesion, the old explorer 3.0A, the G5, G1, a standard microsoft mouse optical 1.1A and a microsoft wireless optical mouse 2.0.
The microsoft wireless is the crappest. The razer deathadder which I recently bought is the BEST! the G5 comes close on being the best and also the explorer 3.0A. oh I also play something on a net cafe that uses the MX518 which in my opinion is worse than the G5 simply because of the surface and the feeling u get in ur hand. the MX518's is too slippy and the G5 feels like ur touching wood.
If I had to rate them from 1 to 10 i would give the deathadder 9.8 the explorer 3.0A 9.7 the G5 9.6 the G1 I found it perfect for starcraft but bad for fps games... dunno why... so I would give that a 8.5.
PS: I had 130 APM when I was using my G5 now that I bought the deathadder my APM is always above 170
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My Starcraft APM is 100 max, 60 average ^^
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mouse advice: use whatever mouse you want
OP you give absolutely no reason for anyone to follow your advice in your post. You don't support any of your conclusions with fact or anything that even suggests you have any knowledge on how mice operate at all. Is anyone supposed to care about the anecdotal reasons why a "CSS semi pro" (lol) prefers one mouse over another?
Not trying to be mean but if you want to write a guide on something it generally helps if you have some sort of knowledge or understanding of the subject, and you don't present any information to show that you do.
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And what kind of knowledge would I require? Do I need to make my own mice to say that another is total crap?
I'm just a person who tried most of the gaming mice available today and pointed out some tips for anybody looking for a new mouse.
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On February 27 2009 23:32 extracheez wrote:
I've used a few gaming mice and regular mice, I settled for my deathadder because it fits my hand just perfectly. I don't know what the op is saying about the LED getting hot... I have 2 deathadders in my house and neither of them get hot after any amount of use.
Also I think you don't put enough emphasis on how much a good mouse will improve your play. Of course a mouse is not equal to skill, but every time I go to a LAN caffe and use some shitty $2 logitech/generic brand mouse my accuracy and apm go to hell.
Anyways for an RTS all you need is a decent mouse. FPS is where you need the high DPI because in fast paced games like quake you can turn your mouse sensitivity right down, this coupled with a high DPI mouse = lots of accuracy.
nah DPI is pure shit. I don't know how much DPI my ms optical 1.1a had, but I'd guess about 800. This razer copperhead I'm using now has 2000dpi and has skipped at times, this has never happened to me with my Microsoft mouse.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/394/lolwuta.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/223/goodshape.jpg)
