Mouse gamers: an overview of manufacturers. How to choose the right gamer mouse

The criteria for choosing computer mice are considered particularly stringent in a gaming environment. The gaming industry is one of the locomotives of the modern IT market. Therefore, the choice of the appropriate type of computer mouse for subsequent use of it for gaming purposes is a procedure no less important than, for example, the selection of a processor model or a video card for a PC. What criteria should be followed when solving similar problems? On what manufacturers of mice can you pay attention?

The mouse must be sensitive

One of the criteria for choosing the optimal mouse for games marked by experts is the sensitivity of the devices. This parameter is responsible for the speed of the arrow cursor movement on the screen, as well as for the accuracy of its location on the monitor. In practice, if we talk about the importance of this criterion in computer games, the sensitivity affects the smoothness of the character's management, the accuracy of the aiming procedure in the "shooters", etc. The optimal range of values within the parameter in question is 800-1600 DPI. Mouse gamers should match it.

Programmability

Some experts consider the criterion such as programmability to be important. Mouse gamers, in their vision, should have the ability to flexibly adjust to the structure of managing characters in games: a standard, "amateur" format, in which active actions are produced only by two buttons, is not always popular in a professional gaming environment. In e-sports, the ability to program a mouse efficiently is one of the important competitive advantages.

Response

Another important parameter that characterizes the effectiveness of gaming mice is the response time. This criterion determines the interval that the device needs to transfer the command from the button to the program element in the game. The shorter the response time, the better the quality of the characters management.

In e-sports, this can be an important competitive advantage: victory in the race, "shooter", and in the strategy can determine fractions of a second. The optimal value for the criterion in question is 1 ms.

Connecting to a PC

Another important parameter is the type of connection between the device and the PC. The main options here are two: a wired interface and radio communication. In the first case, the USB mouse or the one that connects to the PC via the PS / 2 connector is most often used. In the second, as a rule, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interfaces are used. In a gamer environment, there is no consensus about the dependence of the quality of management of game characters on the type of connection devices with a PC. Some users believe that USB mouse, despite less comfortable use, is not so effective. Others believe that modern wireless interfaces are quite competitive with greater ease of use.

Ergonomics of management

Criterion, which is more fairly attributed to the category of subjective. Its applicability is determined, rather, by the user's personal preferences, rather than objective conditions for performing tasks. The fact is that mice - gaming, "office", design, it does not matter - can function on different principles in terms of interaction with the hand and fingers of the user. There are two main types of devices. These are mice, the impact on the buttons of which occurs by pressing mainly with the fingers, as well as devices that are controlled under the condition of their grasp with the entire palm. In a professional gaming environment, perhaps, there are no generally accepted guidelines for what type of device is better adapted for games. The best gaming mice come in both versions. However, before you study this or that model of the device, you should determine what type of device is optimal for the solution of a particular problem. Or proceed from the familiar criteria for user comfort management characters in games.

Apart from this, the basic, according to some experts, classifications, mice can be subdivided into a large number of other kinds of subtypes. So, for example, some devices can have the ability to adjust the dimensions - length, width. Or, alternatively, have replaceable buttons from different materials. Some gamers are accustomed to rubber controls, the other - plastic.

Brands: Razer

The best gaming mice ... What brands are they represented on the world market? Let's start studying the most advanced samples from the Razer brand. Mice of this manufacturer, as many experts believe, are endowed with excellent sensitivity, can be programmed and possess excellent ergonomics of control. What is objectively the best mouse from this brand - the question is rather ambiguous. But some IT experts believe that one of the most progressive samples is Razer Ourboros.

Take only the first parameter. Above we noted that gaming mice should provide a sensitivity of about 1600 DPI. In the Razer Ourboros device, you can set (through the software setting) an indicator that is much higher than the recommended one - 8200 dots per inch. By this criterion, this type of mouse has very few analogues. In terms of programmability, the device is also very competitive: it has 11 buttons that can be adjusted.

The mouse has entertaining concepts in the field of ergonomics. Above we noted that there are devices in which it is possible to change the dimensions. Razer Ourboros refers to such. The mouse can be lengthened and changed in height, adjusting to the size of the gamer's hand. Some users prefer devices that provide a minimum distance between the palm and the table, others, on the contrary, like high devices. The brand probably decided to release a universal device, which can be customized for the most diverse preferences of gamers.

If we talk about the differences in the vision of the convenience of controlling mice between users, it is worth noting such an aspect as the type of connection between the device and the PC. The fact is that some gamers are more comfortable with a wired mouse, the other is the one that interacts with a computer by radio. And here the brand Razer pleased. The mouse it produces can work with or without a wire. At the same time, as many users and experts note, in the radio mode, the mouse is not inferior to the practical efficiency, than when connected via a wire interface. Accuracy - at altitude, the speed of response of objects on the screen to user actions is excellent.

Note, however, the fact that when switching between the modes of communication with the PC - from wired to radio and vice versa - the computer needs to be rebooted. This is not very convenient if, for example, the gamer is at a critical stage in the game, and the battery providing the wireless mode is suddenly discharged. To go to the "cable" will have to reboot.

Another great mouse is Razer Naga. There are as many as 19 programmable buttons. The sensitivity is the same as that of the previous model. True, mouse connection is possible only in wired mode. Another notable sample of the device from Razer is the Mamba mouse. It is characterized by the presence of an effective sensor system, so that the highest positioning accuracy of the cursor is achieved. And, as a consequence, high efficiency of character management in games.

Logitech

Logitech Company is one of the leaders of the global IT-market and one of the most famous brands-manufacturers of computer mice. Among the best models of devices that the company offers now is the Logitech G700S. What are the features of this mouse? First of all, there are 13 programmable buttons in it, and in total - 15. Experts note that it is possible to configure not only a single action, tied to pressing a certain key, but also a certain sequence of activities.

Regarding sensitivity. The sample from Logitech is in no way inferior to the models from Razer, the maximum figure is 8200 DPI. The response rate is normally 1 ms. In general, the basic characteristics of this mouse is better than the model Razer Ourboros, but somewhat inferior to it in the aspect of ergonomics - simply because the dimensions of the device can not be changed.

Above we noted that some gamers prefer devices that are adapted to the management of their fingertips. These include the mouse Logitech G9X. By the way, it also belongs to devices in which you can replace the controls based on the preferences for the materials. You can also adjust the weight of the mouse with metal inserts. The maximum sensitivity of this device is slightly more modest than the previous model - 5600 DPI. But this is for the mouse (reviews of many gamers confirm this) is not at all critical in terms of the effectiveness of managing characters in games.

Note also the fact that the Logitech brand pays great attention not only to the compliance of its products with hardware criteria, but also the software part. For example, flexible configuration of the device parameters from Logitech can be performed by using the interface of the SetPoint solution that comes with the device. This program for the mouse is a convenient tool for setting the desired actions to the buttons, and also, if there is such a need, for changing the values for the response. The fact is that some gamers prefer to increase its value, say, from 1 ms to 10-12.

Mad catz

Another popular brand is Mad Catz. Among the most unusual models, noted by users and experts - Cyborg RAT 9. This mouse (photo below) is characterized by a futuristic, effective and very bold design.

The device can work without wires. The maximum sensitivity of the device is 5600 DPI. Among the notable features - the architecture of the interaction of its components in the aspect of providing wireless work. The fact is that the radio receiver in charge of connecting with the mouse is simultaneously also a charging station for the battery (of which there are two in the delivery set). Thus, if one battery is discharged, it can be replaced immediately with fresh one. The battery life of the mouse is quite decent - about 9 hours of continuous gameplay.

As in the case of the Logitech G9X, it is possible to adjust the mass of the mouse of the model in question with the help of metal elements. In addition, the dimensions of the product from Mad Catz are also amenable to change. You can adjust the length, width, height of the mouse. The structure of device management is interesting. In particular, there is a hardware DPI controller, a wheel for scrolling the contents of the screen horizontally.

ROCCAT

Another noteworthy brand is ROCCAT. It is among the inexpensive - in particular, the average price of one of the most popular models, the mouse ROCCAT Kone, is 3-4 times lower than the device Razer Ourboros. But the functionality of the device in some respects is inferior to the analogs. In particular, the Kone model has 9 programmable keys. However, the brand has prepared an "asymmetric solution" in the form of an EasyShift interface. By activating it, the user can increase the number of programmable buttons to 22 by adjusting their various combinations.

The sensitivity of the Kone model mouse is OK, the maximum is 6000 DPI. The response time is normal, 1 ms. Among the noteworthy features of the device is the TDCU technology, which provides high efficiency of the mouse on glass and other surfaces that are considered not the most optimal for convenient control of characters in games. Interestingly, the mouse has a built-in microprocessor with a working frequency of 72 MHz, as well as its own operating memory of 576 KB.

Mionix

Among other brands - market leaders - Mionix. A product that many experts and gamers themselves consider one of the best - the mouse Naos 5000. What are its features? In general, it is comparable in characteristics to Kone level devices. True, there is less RAM in it - 128 KB.

You can flexibly configure the device using a special program from the brand. Many gamers characterize the corresponding software sample as extremely user-friendly and easy to learn. At the same time, as some of them note, most of the mouse functions can be used without resorting to software tuning.

Mouse weight, as well as in the case of many analogs, can be adjusted with the help of additional elements. The sensitivity of the mouse is slightly lower than that of the analogs, but, nevertheless, decent - 5060 dots per inch. Not too many keys are programmed - 7.

Microsoft

One of the world's leading IT brands, Microsoft, produces not only well-known software samples, but also computer mice. For Windows, according to some experts, they are adapted in the best way - which, in principle, is logical, proceeding from the fact that this brand of this OS, in fact, produces. Among the most notable models of devices - SideWinder X8.

This model is characterized by gamers and IT experts as an ergonomic, comfortable to use sample. No, it's true, the ability to adjust the weight of the device. The number of programmable keys that a mouse has is 7. The device can work both in wired mode and over radio. You can change the sensitivity settings right along the way of the game (on a small built-in display you can see the current figure).

Among the shortcomings of the model is a modest battery life. The battery charge lasts about two days with an average intensity of mouse usage, while the typical indicator for the device samples discussed above is 3-4 days. Although, as some users have noted, the device charges quite fast.

SteelSeries

Another well-known brand producer of computer mice is SteelSeries. Among the most notable devices - the Xai model. Users, as well as IT experts, characterize the device as a successful combination of manufacturability and progressive design. Looks like this mouse - the photo below shows this clearly - fairly ordinary.

But in this, according to many IT professionals, its advantage is that it can be mastered by a wide range of users. According to some sources, not only the engineers of the brand-manufacturer, but also gamers from various countries of the world participated in the development of the Xai device.

A4Tech

One of the leaders of the IT market in the segment of computer mice is the A4Tech brand. Among the most notable models of devices manufactured by this company are the mouse X7. What are its features? Note that the sensitivity index is lower than in the models discussed above, it is 3600 DPI. However, many experts and gamers themselves, mentioning the distinctive features of the device, the high adaptability of this mouse to fine-tuning the software. It allows you to implement the branded solution Oscar Editor, which goes in the delivery package of the device.

Setting up X7

How is the X7 mouse configured with this program? Experts and gamers themselves note the intuitive understandability and logical interface of this software. As soon as the user opens the program window, practically all the components necessary for the mouse configuration are displayed clearly and with detailed explanations. You can see what type of action will be attached to the click of a mouse button. The range of activities available for customization is very wide. In particular, in some cases it is possible to configure not only single presses, but also combinations of buttons. Customizing the mouse X7 allows the programming of various kinds of macros, as well as the association of the controls of the device with the buttons of the computer keyboard. To create appropriate algorithms and edit them, user-friendly programming interfaces are also provided.