**WIN £250 WITH RAZER** Review Your Razer FPS Gaming Mouse!!
- Thread starter valkia
- Start date
It's the A05nb
Razer Imperator.
Why is the mouse good for FPS?
On the fly dpi swapping.
What features does it have?
On the fly dpi swapping, moveable side buttons. lovely blue glowing mouse wheel oh and the best bit its got a nice thick, long cable that connects it to the back of the pc
Does it improve your skills in FPS gaming?
Maybe.
Would you recommend it?
Yes
Why is the mouse good for FPS?
On the fly dpi swapping.
What features does it have?
On the fly dpi swapping, moveable side buttons. lovely blue glowing mouse wheel oh and the best bit its got a nice thick, long cable that connects it to the back of the pc
Does it improve your skills in FPS gaming?
Maybe.
Would you recommend it?
Yes
Soldato
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- 15 Feb 2011
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- Slough
Razer Lachesis.
*used some skill there. honest.
It is the mouse for FPS.
It has a total of 9 buttons, which are very responsive, and allow you to make them do almost anything (DPI swap included). It is also Ambi-dextrous, which is a nice touch. And it also has a lot more technical features....
Skill does not change with your wallet size. It does with practice, and this aids it, a lot. I mean, quite a lot!
I would certainly recommend it (already have), expecially the Refresh version. That has 16million colours!Oh, and it looks rather . . . HOT!
*used some skill there. honest.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Sep 2011
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- melee island
I have not got the skills to write a proper review so I will just have to echo what this poster said...
Brilliant mice, good looking, excellent cords, uber in FPS games BUT the built quality when you get down to the nitty gritty is crap.
I stopped buying them because of plastic bits behind the buttons breaking too.
Brilliant mice, good looking, excellent cords, uber in FPS games BUT the built quality when you get down to the nitty gritty is crap.
I stopped buying them because of plastic bits behind the buttons breaking too.
Hello OCUK, today I will be reviewing the Razer Deathadder Mouse.
About the mouse:
The version I am currently Using is the MAC version, meaning that it has only 1800DPI instead of 3600DPI. Also, the light inside is white instead of blue, which personally I prefer. Even with the reduced DPI, the mouse is still extremely sensitive, with 'pixel perfect pointing' never an issue.
About my usage experience:
I use this mouse for all the games I play, as well as general web browsing etc. I have found it to be very comfortable to use in an office and gaming perspective, as well as working for a large range of game styles. The side buttons make useful Ability bar swapping buttons in MMO's, and they also make good weapon switching buttons in FPS games. The only downside from my user experience is that the button to swap profile 'On the fly' (I.E. from a high DPI to a low DPI) is on the bottom of the mouse. Also, there is no way of telling what profile you are on, nor can you disable certain profiles. This may not seem an inherrant issue, but say you're FPSing away, then get your sniper out. You decide to change to your low sensitivity profile for precision sniping. To get back to your other profile you need to click the button 4 times. Then if you miss the profile due to over Exuberrant clicking you need to go all the way around again... My grip style always used to be a claw style grip, with nothing but the edge of my palm and two fingers on the mouse. This changed when I got this mouse, my hand now sits much more comfortabally on the mouse in general.
Design:
The mouse has it's buttons as a part of the shell, which means there is no gap between button and body. This might seem trivial, but it does stop those pesky crumbs! The body of the mouse is curved to suit a right handed user, this fits well for my hands, despite them being quite large, as well as for others i know with far smaller hands. Left handed variants are available, although are less common to come by. The cord is quite thin, but functional. It seems sturdily attached to the mouse and USB connector, as well as not tangling much. The USB port is gold plated, which in theory is supposed to give a better connection....whether this is the case or not, it's a nice idea.
FPS:
For FPS games, this mouse has significantly imporved my performance. I used to use a £3 Genius mouse, which I gamed to death. I had always thought gaming mice to be a waste of money, but decided to take the plunge and invest in one. The first Modern Warfare 2 game I tried I instantly saw an improvement in my game. The mouse was a lot more precise, felt much better in my hand, and seemed slighty faster in response(could be my imagination though).
The precision however, was it's major downfall for me. My first mouse worked great on my desk, made of chipboard coated in some untextured white laminate stuff. This mouse however, wandered a lot on this surface, which I thought odd considering the surface is untextured. I got myself a mousemat, and this issue was resolved, but I am now limited by the mousemat size (perhaps I should get a Boogie bug).
In conclusion, I would recommend this mouse to anyone who is looking for a gaming mouse. The features it provides are perfect for a range of games, including FPS, and it isn't a budget breaker either if you are dubious about the cost!
(Note to grammar kings: Sorry if my SPAG fails)
About the mouse:
The version I am currently Using is the MAC version, meaning that it has only 1800DPI instead of 3600DPI. Also, the light inside is white instead of blue, which personally I prefer. Even with the reduced DPI, the mouse is still extremely sensitive, with 'pixel perfect pointing' never an issue.
About my usage experience:
I use this mouse for all the games I play, as well as general web browsing etc. I have found it to be very comfortable to use in an office and gaming perspective, as well as working for a large range of game styles. The side buttons make useful Ability bar swapping buttons in MMO's, and they also make good weapon switching buttons in FPS games. The only downside from my user experience is that the button to swap profile 'On the fly' (I.E. from a high DPI to a low DPI) is on the bottom of the mouse. Also, there is no way of telling what profile you are on, nor can you disable certain profiles. This may not seem an inherrant issue, but say you're FPSing away, then get your sniper out. You decide to change to your low sensitivity profile for precision sniping. To get back to your other profile you need to click the button 4 times. Then if you miss the profile due to over Exuberrant clicking you need to go all the way around again... My grip style always used to be a claw style grip, with nothing but the edge of my palm and two fingers on the mouse. This changed when I got this mouse, my hand now sits much more comfortabally on the mouse in general.
Design:
The mouse has it's buttons as a part of the shell, which means there is no gap between button and body. This might seem trivial, but it does stop those pesky crumbs! The body of the mouse is curved to suit a right handed user, this fits well for my hands, despite them being quite large, as well as for others i know with far smaller hands. Left handed variants are available, although are less common to come by. The cord is quite thin, but functional. It seems sturdily attached to the mouse and USB connector, as well as not tangling much. The USB port is gold plated, which in theory is supposed to give a better connection....whether this is the case or not, it's a nice idea.
FPS:
For FPS games, this mouse has significantly imporved my performance. I used to use a £3 Genius mouse, which I gamed to death. I had always thought gaming mice to be a waste of money, but decided to take the plunge and invest in one. The first Modern Warfare 2 game I tried I instantly saw an improvement in my game. The mouse was a lot more precise, felt much better in my hand, and seemed slighty faster in response(could be my imagination though).
The precision however, was it's major downfall for me. My first mouse worked great on my desk, made of chipboard coated in some untextured white laminate stuff. This mouse however, wandered a lot on this surface, which I thought odd considering the surface is untextured. I got myself a mousemat, and this issue was resolved, but I am now limited by the mousemat size (perhaps I should get a Boogie bug
).In conclusion, I would recommend this mouse to anyone who is looking for a gaming mouse. The features it provides are perfect for a range of games, including FPS, and it isn't a budget breaker either if you are dubious about the cost!
(Note to grammar kings: Sorry if my SPAG fails)
Razer Lachesis Review
Around 3 years ago I was looking for a decent but cheap gaming mouse. My friend sold me his brand new Razer Lachesis for a song, and it offered me more than any new mouse, so I went for it.
The Razer Lachesis boasts a number of features that help it stand out from the many other gaming mice that populate the market. It uses Razer’s 3G laser sensor and packs a maximum DPI of 4000. Throw in 9 programmable buttons as well as 1000Hz ultrapolling, to ensure there is no input lag, and you have a the makings of a great mouse. On the aesthetic side, the scroll wheel and Razer logo light up blue, and the Razer logo pulsates slowly.
I was used to ergonomic mice, so adjusting to an ambidextrous mouse took some time. However the high arch and wide front, and long size suited my large hands well, and I got used to it fairly quickly. The mouse is suited to both palm grips and claw grips, however I found after using the mouse for some time that my grip changed from a palm grip more of a claw grip as I found this to be more suited to gaming (more details on this further on).
Palm Grip
Claw Grip
One complaint that many users have is that the glossy sides on Razer mice pick up fingerprints very easily and can get very grimy after an intense gaming session. Both these points are true, but one counter point is that the side buttons are rubberized, so the difference in the two textures may make it easier to feel and hit the button in the heat of the battle. On the topic of buttons, all the buttons feel solid when pressed and have a nice click.
Side Buttons
All 9 of the buttons can be programmed using Razer’s configuration software. This allows users to choose what each button does. This includes assigning a profile (for those who use multiple profiles for different games), DPI up, DPI down, or even assign a specific DPI (1700 for example). Another option is to assign a key or key combo to a button. The DPI ranges from 125 to 400 and increases in intervals of 125, any of which can be chosen. This provides a huge amount of flexibility in configuring the mouse to suit your needs. It also lets you choose the polling rate and controls the lighting of the scroll wheel and Razer logo. All in all this works well, giving you everything needed to tame the beast.
Razer Config Program
There are a number of features that make this mouse well suited for FPS games. The 9 buttons alone almost make it a no brainer. They allow many useful in-game functions to be mapped to the mouse for instant access. My usual setting for FPS games is to assign the left side buttons melee/knife and crouch, while the buttons just below the scroll wheel are for alt. grenade and prone (if needed). The right side buttons are harder to hit in-game but it is useful to have 2 sensitivities, one for sniping and one that is used generally. Another useful feature that is often overlooked is how the shape itself helps. Both sides are indented, making it easier to pick up and hold the mouse (especially when claw gripping, as mentioned above). This is essential for quick turns to get those creeping up on you from behind.
Side indentations
While a mouse alone cannot improve a gamer’s skill, which is something that requires practice, the features provided by a mouse like the Lachesis help improve a user’s game and reach higher levels more quickly. Razer has now released a refresh of the Lachesis of the Lachesis packing a brand new 3.5G sensor with 5600 DPI. It also has a braided cord, and both the scroll wheel and Razer logo have multi-color lighting that can be changed to what the user desires. In conclusion, the Razer Lachesis is a great mouse with many features that would be a great addition to any gamer’s arsenal. I have no problems recommending it, and would buy it again at full retail. I only hope that the refresh is as good as if not better than the original that I own.
Bottom
Thanks for reading and good luck to everyone!
Apologies for some the more blurry pics, phone's macro mode isn't good enough
@valkia
Just to check/confirm about the closing date, Just to be sure, thanks
It's Monday 14th
Great reviews guys! Keep it up
Review of the Razer DeathAdder 3500 dpi Edition:
Features:
Packaging:
The box, which this mouse comes in is very fancy looking and is most certainly the best compared to the other boxes of mice that I have used (ranging from wireless Microsoft mice and the Logitech MX518), it screams quality as soon as you look at it and especially when you open it, you are presented with the mouse itself and a quick summary of it with a picture on the left side.
On the left side of the box, you have a quick summary of the mouse, a message/quote from the “razerguy” again stating a quick summary of the mouse and below that the main features.
On the right side, you have a technical comparison chart between a standard mouse VS the DeathAdder.
Finally on the back you have all the features listed and the typical, system and hardware requirements.
When un-packaging the mouse you will come across a small cardboard envelope which contains the following:
So, essentially if a person who is new to PC in general and PC gaming, well the guides supplied with the product explain how to install and use the drivers etc. very clearly.
First Thoughts:
Now onto the mouse itself, the mouse looks very nice, although maybe a bit bland when compared to some of the other gaming mice out there, but it still looks better than most of the others, however once the blue lights come on, it looks excellent and very gamer like, the pulsing blue Razer logo is an excellent touch to make it stand out even more compared to other mice and gives the impression to me that the thing is alive with a heartbeat!
The one thing, which is very clear, is the shape of the DeathAdder. It is a lot more curvy than the other Razer mice, which is a very good thing in my books, as the DeathAdder feels superb to use, it is one of the most comfortable mice out there as the hand just sits on top, moulds to the shape and feels part of you, thus making you even more deadly in game.
When you first look at it, it does seem to be very big looking, but it really isn’t a problem once you hold it as my hand seems like a perfect fit for it (normal/average sized hands).
Ergonomically, there are some curves on the "left" and "right" click buttons where your fingers rest and again is a good thing. The curves with the wider front end of the mouse prevent your “baby" finger and “ring" finger from sliding of the mouse, this is a problem for me on the other mice that I used especially for the MX518, as those fingers just dragged along the mouse surface when moving the mouse about.
The mouse also has quite a high arch when compared to my other mice, however, again I find it pretty much perfect for me.
Overall the DeathAdder may be a bit big for people with pretty small hands.
Build Quality:
Now onto the feel/materials, the top of the DeathAdder is finished with a hard rubber type of material similar to a matt finish, which feels great and offers good grip, expensive, good quality and for gamers that have sweaty palms (however after a bit of use, you can see a sweat patch, but it quickly evaporates), this is ideal, it doesn’t get grubby at all, and if it does you can simply use a damp cloth to wipe it clean again with ease. In contrast, the material used on the sides are the usual cheap, glossy/shiny, light-weight plastic that you find on most other mice. Whilst the overall finish of the DeathAdder is great, one caveat that I would add is that Razer should have used the same hard rubber type of material for the sides and so far this is really the only con of the mouse. After a few days of use, the side plastic accrues some grub residue, which requires you to clean the mouse, whereas if the same hard rubber material had been used, this would not have been a problem and would improve the grip and feel even more.
The build quality of the DeathAdder is very good and one of the better Razer mice for this area and gives you more of “perceived quality”, largely due to the hard rubber type of material that is used on the top surface. Overall the mouse has a very sturdy feel to it.
On the left side, you have two very big thumb buttons that are also made out of the same plastic that is used on the sides and are in the right position for me in order to use both comfortably. There is no spacing that separates the 2 buttons except a small divider line. There is however, no danger of you accidentally mistakenly clicking the wrong button.
The feedback that you get from the “right” and “left” click is pretty good, the feedback from “clicking” comes across as quite a springy feel to it and gives a nice “click” sound, the same goes for the side thumb buttons, but less of a “springy” feel. However due to the feel/feedback of the “clicks” for the “right” and “left” click, I assume that the two primary mouse buttons will go/wear down after a good bit of usage compared to some other mice that come across as more durable when clicking the main mouse buttons. The DeathAdder doesn’t come across as very durable. The side buttons also don’t feel the most robust. The side thumb buttons gives me the impression that they are more liable to break than the primary buttons.
It should also be noted that “clicking” the primary two mouse buttons is very easy and requires the lightest of touch I find compared to other mice like the MX518, which is a great asset for games like Counter Strike Source and COD, which require sensitive reactions.
The scroll wheel is slightly larger than average and feels generally smooth, maybe a wee bit bumpy for my liking especially when scrolling upwards, but it is still a lot better than most of the other scroll wheels that are used on other mice and the “click” from it also provides good feedback.
There is a small button on the bottom of the mouse beside the sensor, which lets you cycle through your custom profiles. I don't think that is a very good place for the button especially when you're in the middle of gaming, I never use it due to the placement and it doesn't provide the same level of feedback when "clicked" like the "right" and "left" click along with the side thumb buttons, therefore you aren't sure if it actually worked until trying it out. Lastly you can only go in a loop from 1-5, which is a bit of a pain if you only use 2 profiles as you have to go through the others as well.
For reference I am using the DeathAdder on my Boogie Bug Mouse Mat and due to the three high quality Teflon feet placed on the bottom of the DeathAdder, it just glides along the surface with virtually no effort needed.
The mouse itself is very light.
The cable used for this mouse is excellent; it is a braided fiber cable which means that it is a lot more flexible than your standard mice cables and is less prone to tangles. The USB connector is gold plated, which essentially means, better connectivity and longevity (as for other USB connectors, they are usually nickel plated and after a certain amount of connecting and disconnecting from the USB port, it starts to wear off thereby affecting the connectivity between the PC and peripheral thus possibly causing problems. And let’s face it in the middle of a heated battle in BF 3, whether it be owning the sky with your jet, owning anyone on the ground with your M249, IR scope or heavy tanks etc. or whether it be on COD with a great kill streak, this is the last thing that you want to happen).
The cable is very long, measuring in at 7 foot, so it should be perfect for any size of desks, even the very large ones!
One other thing is the “lift off”, it seems to be pretty good, however, my old MX518 was better (in the sense, that the "lift off" isn't as much as the DeathAdder). Essentially this means that as you take the mouse of the surface by a few mm the cursor will still move even though the mouse is hovering above the surface and therefore give inaccuracy when you want to quickly turn, saying that though, this has never been an issue for me in any game on any of my mice. In theory the DeathAdder should be better for this due to it using an infrared sensor instead of an optical sensor, however from my experience with both mice, this isn't the case.
Drivers/Control Panel:
This is a very important area now, as if you have poor drivers/support then unfortunately all the great things about this mouse are redundant, however this is not the case here!
The installation for the control panel/drivers is very easy, simply go on the official razer website, download the latest drivers for the mouse or put the CD that was provided into your drive, run the installation set-up and you are done in a few minutes and ready to customize your mouse to your liking.
Firstly the UI is very techy, gamer and futuristic looking and nicely organised/laid out. There are plenty of options that allow you to adjust the sensitivity, program what the buttons do.
Main Screen:
Here you can customise the buttons, whether it be a normal “click”, “menu” etc.
You can also enable/disable the blue LED lighting on the mouse, both the scroll and pulsating logo, it is very easy to do so as seen above, I personally keep them both on as the mouse looks a hundred times better especially when gaming at night!
At the bottom you have the more important features for the response/accuracy of the mouse, obviously everyone should set the “polling rate” to 1000Hz and the Dpi is up to the user, whatever he/she finds best with his/her sensitivity setting.
If you want, you can have different “profiles” each with different settings, so “profile 1” could be for gaming use, “profile 2” could be for photoshop work, “profile 3” for general windows use etc. and you can cycle through the profiles without having to open and use the control panel all the time by using the dedicated button on the bottom of the mouse.
At the top there is an “update” button that takes you directly to Razers website via your browser in order to get the latest version, which will fix any problems existing for users, improve it even more.
On the left you have another two tabs, which gives you even more settings to adjust in order to be even more deadly in game!
Let’s take a look at the “Sensitivity” tab first:
Here you can adjust the sensitivity of the mouse, scroll speed, double click speed, on the fly sensitivity and you even have a small test area for the double clicking speed (the image shatters like glass when you double click).
If you don’t think that’s enough settings for a pro gamer, how about this, the "advanced sensitivity" tab:
Here you have even more advanced sensitivity options, which you can customise, “separate X-axis and Y-axis control”, personally I don’t really use this and many casual gamers probably wouldn’t either, essentially what it does is it makes the mouse feel less balanced.
Gaming Use:
I have used a range of mice from wireless Microsoft mice, Logitech standard wired mice and the very popular gamer mouse known as the MX518 and I can easily say that purely for gaming the DeathAdder is the better one especially in FPS, you really feel more accurate in aiming and just in general more responsive to firing, turning etc. and this is certainly a big advantage in these type of games and even more so in quicker paced games like COD.
One of the big deciding factors for gamers when they look at mice is the type of “grip” the mice are designed for i.e. palm, claw and fingertip. This mouse is obviously a “palm” grip type and is one of the best out there for gamers that want that type of grip.
Below are some illustrations of the main grips:
Palm Grip:
Below illustrates the palm grip of the DeathAdder, showing the contours of your grip.
Claw Grip:
Below is an example of the claw grip for the Razer Lachesis.
Fingertip Grip:
Below is an example of the fingertip grip for the Razer Salmosa.
Some people may question (like I did at first a few years ago before I really got into PC gaming) what on earth does this £30-40 mouse with all these fancy specs do better than the standard £10-15 mice, well this is what:
So the question is, has it improved my skills in FPS gaming?
Well the simple answer is, yes it has, with this mouse I feel like I always have the quicker response than the enemy down my sights and I have noticed that I do better in the FPS games in regards to my k/d ratio especially for the quick shooter games like Counter Strike Source etc.
Conclusion:
All I can say really is that if you want a great gaming mouse but don’t want to spend a fortune and want to do better in games especially for FPS, then this is the mouse to get!
However the mouse is great even if you aren’t a serious gamer, as in normal window usage, graphic work, it is just so comfortable to hold due to the hard rubber material used and the shape/curves that allow your hand to just nicely rest on. This was one of the biggest selling points for me, comfort, when I play games, I want to play in comfort, not grip a tiny mouse which is just a basic shape and so after an hour or so of use, my hand gets a little sore/cramped.
Everything else about it is just great regarding the build quality, the material used (for the top part where your palm sits), the drivers/control panel and most importantly the technology that is used for it, this is what gives you a great advantage over the other players that will be using basic gaming mice and wireless mice.
The only things, which Razer could do to make this mouse even better is make the scroll wheel super smooth when scrolling up and down (not absolutely necessary), have 2 separate buttons for sensitivity, a better placement for the dedicated "profile change" button, preferably somewhere that is easy to access without hassle i.e. on the top, above/below the scroll wheel or somewhere on the left near the side thumb buttons and of course use the same hard rubber material for the sides.
Pros:
Cons:
Features:
- 3500dpi Razer Precision 3.5G Infrared Sensor
- Ergonomic Design Right Handed Design
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms Response
- Five Independently Programmable Hyperesponse
- On-The-Fly Sensitivity Adjustment
- Always On Mode
- Ultra Large Non-slip Buttons
- 16-bit Ultra Wide Data Path
- 60-120 inches per second and 15g of Acceleration
- Zero-Acoustic Ultraslick Teflon Feet
- Gold Plated USB Connector
- Seven-Foot, Lightweight, Braided Fiber Cable
- Approx. Size in mm: 128(L)x70(W)x42.5(H)
Packaging:
The box, which this mouse comes in is very fancy looking and is most certainly the best compared to the other boxes of mice that I have used (ranging from wireless Microsoft mice and the Logitech MX518), it screams quality as soon as you look at it and especially when you open it, you are presented with the mouse itself and a quick summary of it with a picture on the left side.
On the left side of the box, you have a quick summary of the mouse, a message/quote from the “razerguy” again stating a quick summary of the mouse and below that the main features.
On the right side, you have a technical comparison chart between a standard mouse VS the DeathAdder.
Finally on the back you have all the features listed and the typical, system and hardware requirements.
When un-packaging the mouse you will come across a small cardboard envelope which contains the following:
- Certificate of Authenticity
- A Product Catalog (this shows Razers other products [headsets, mouse pads, keyboards and mice] with the main features outlined, an image of the product, comparison charts)
- Even Razer logo Stickers!
- A single piece of cardboard with some info on the product you bought
- A quick start guide (pretty much for newbies showing how to connect the mouse to the PC, labelling the buttons/features of the mouse and it is very clear and simple with images and keeping it brief)
- A master Guide (a more detailed version of the quick start guide but this includes info on the drivers now as well)
So, essentially if a person who is new to PC in general and PC gaming, well the guides supplied with the product explain how to install and use the drivers etc. very clearly.
First Thoughts:
Now onto the mouse itself, the mouse looks very nice, although maybe a bit bland when compared to some of the other gaming mice out there, but it still looks better than most of the others, however once the blue lights come on, it looks excellent and very gamer like, the pulsing blue Razer logo is an excellent touch to make it stand out even more compared to other mice and gives the impression to me that the thing is alive with a heartbeat!
The one thing, which is very clear, is the shape of the DeathAdder. It is a lot more curvy than the other Razer mice, which is a very good thing in my books, as the DeathAdder feels superb to use, it is one of the most comfortable mice out there as the hand just sits on top, moulds to the shape and feels part of you, thus making you even more deadly in game.
When you first look at it, it does seem to be very big looking, but it really isn’t a problem once you hold it as my hand seems like a perfect fit for it (normal/average sized hands).
Ergonomically, there are some curves on the "left" and "right" click buttons where your fingers rest and again is a good thing. The curves with the wider front end of the mouse prevent your “baby" finger and “ring" finger from sliding of the mouse, this is a problem for me on the other mice that I used especially for the MX518, as those fingers just dragged along the mouse surface when moving the mouse about.
The mouse also has quite a high arch when compared to my other mice, however, again I find it pretty much perfect for me.
Overall the DeathAdder may be a bit big for people with pretty small hands.
Build Quality:
Now onto the feel/materials, the top of the DeathAdder is finished with a hard rubber type of material similar to a matt finish, which feels great and offers good grip, expensive, good quality and for gamers that have sweaty palms (however after a bit of use, you can see a sweat patch, but it quickly evaporates), this is ideal, it doesn’t get grubby at all, and if it does you can simply use a damp cloth to wipe it clean again with ease. In contrast, the material used on the sides are the usual cheap, glossy/shiny, light-weight plastic that you find on most other mice. Whilst the overall finish of the DeathAdder is great, one caveat that I would add is that Razer should have used the same hard rubber type of material for the sides and so far this is really the only con of the mouse. After a few days of use, the side plastic accrues some grub residue, which requires you to clean the mouse, whereas if the same hard rubber material had been used, this would not have been a problem and would improve the grip and feel even more.
The build quality of the DeathAdder is very good and one of the better Razer mice for this area and gives you more of “perceived quality”, largely due to the hard rubber type of material that is used on the top surface. Overall the mouse has a very sturdy feel to it.
On the left side, you have two very big thumb buttons that are also made out of the same plastic that is used on the sides and are in the right position for me in order to use both comfortably. There is no spacing that separates the 2 buttons except a small divider line. There is however, no danger of you accidentally mistakenly clicking the wrong button.
The feedback that you get from the “right” and “left” click is pretty good, the feedback from “clicking” comes across as quite a springy feel to it and gives a nice “click” sound, the same goes for the side thumb buttons, but less of a “springy” feel. However due to the feel/feedback of the “clicks” for the “right” and “left” click, I assume that the two primary mouse buttons will go/wear down after a good bit of usage compared to some other mice that come across as more durable when clicking the main mouse buttons. The DeathAdder doesn’t come across as very durable. The side buttons also don’t feel the most robust. The side thumb buttons gives me the impression that they are more liable to break than the primary buttons.
It should also be noted that “clicking” the primary two mouse buttons is very easy and requires the lightest of touch I find compared to other mice like the MX518, which is a great asset for games like Counter Strike Source and COD, which require sensitive reactions.
The scroll wheel is slightly larger than average and feels generally smooth, maybe a wee bit bumpy for my liking especially when scrolling upwards, but it is still a lot better than most of the other scroll wheels that are used on other mice and the “click” from it also provides good feedback.
There is a small button on the bottom of the mouse beside the sensor, which lets you cycle through your custom profiles. I don't think that is a very good place for the button especially when you're in the middle of gaming, I never use it due to the placement and it doesn't provide the same level of feedback when "clicked" like the "right" and "left" click along with the side thumb buttons, therefore you aren't sure if it actually worked until trying it out. Lastly you can only go in a loop from 1-5, which is a bit of a pain if you only use 2 profiles as you have to go through the others as well.
For reference I am using the DeathAdder on my Boogie Bug Mouse Mat and due to the three high quality Teflon feet placed on the bottom of the DeathAdder, it just glides along the surface with virtually no effort needed.
The mouse itself is very light.
The cable used for this mouse is excellent; it is a braided fiber cable which means that it is a lot more flexible than your standard mice cables and is less prone to tangles. The USB connector is gold plated, which essentially means, better connectivity and longevity (as for other USB connectors, they are usually nickel plated and after a certain amount of connecting and disconnecting from the USB port, it starts to wear off thereby affecting the connectivity between the PC and peripheral thus possibly causing problems. And let’s face it in the middle of a heated battle in BF 3, whether it be owning the sky with your jet, owning anyone on the ground with your M249, IR scope or heavy tanks etc. or whether it be on COD with a great kill streak, this is the last thing that you want to happen
).
The cable is very long, measuring in at 7 foot, so it should be perfect for any size of desks, even the very large ones!
One other thing is the “lift off”, it seems to be pretty good, however, my old MX518 was better (in the sense, that the "lift off" isn't as much as the DeathAdder). Essentially this means that as you take the mouse of the surface by a few mm the cursor will still move even though the mouse is hovering above the surface and therefore give inaccuracy when you want to quickly turn, saying that though, this has never been an issue for me in any game on any of my mice. In theory the DeathAdder should be better for this due to it using an infrared sensor instead of an optical sensor, however from my experience with both mice, this isn't the case.
Drivers/Control Panel:
This is a very important area now, as if you have poor drivers/support then unfortunately all the great things about this mouse are redundant, however this is not the case here!
The installation for the control panel/drivers is very easy, simply go on the official razer website, download the latest drivers for the mouse or put the CD that was provided into your drive, run the installation set-up and you are done in a few minutes and ready to customize your mouse to your liking.
Firstly the UI is very techy, gamer and futuristic looking and nicely organised/laid out. There are plenty of options that allow you to adjust the sensitivity, program what the buttons do.
Main Screen:
Here you can customise the buttons, whether it be a normal “click”, “menu” etc.
You can also enable/disable the blue LED lighting on the mouse, both the scroll and pulsating logo, it is very easy to do so as seen above, I personally keep them both on as the mouse looks a hundred times better especially when gaming at night!
At the bottom you have the more important features for the response/accuracy of the mouse, obviously everyone should set the “polling rate” to 1000Hz and the Dpi is up to the user, whatever he/she finds best with his/her sensitivity setting.
If you want, you can have different “profiles” each with different settings, so “profile 1” could be for gaming use, “profile 2” could be for photoshop work, “profile 3” for general windows use etc. and you can cycle through the profiles without having to open and use the control panel all the time by using the dedicated button on the bottom of the mouse.
At the top there is an “update” button that takes you directly to Razers website via your browser in order to get the latest version, which will fix any problems existing for users, improve it even more.
On the left you have another two tabs, which gives you even more settings to adjust in order to be even more deadly in game!
Let’s take a look at the “Sensitivity” tab first:
Here you can adjust the sensitivity of the mouse, scroll speed, double click speed, on the fly sensitivity and you even have a small test area for the double clicking speed (the image shatters like glass when you double click).
If you don’t think that’s enough settings for a pro gamer, how about this, the "advanced sensitivity" tab:
Here you have even more advanced sensitivity options, which you can customise, “separate X-axis and Y-axis control”, personally I don’t really use this and many casual gamers probably wouldn’t either, essentially what it does is it makes the mouse feel less balanced.
Gaming Use:
I have used a range of mice from wireless Microsoft mice, Logitech standard wired mice and the very popular gamer mouse known as the MX518 and I can easily say that purely for gaming the DeathAdder is the better one especially in FPS, you really feel more accurate in aiming and just in general more responsive to firing, turning etc. and this is certainly a big advantage in these type of games and even more so in quicker paced games like COD.
One of the big deciding factors for gamers when they look at mice is the type of “grip” the mice are designed for i.e. palm, claw and fingertip. This mouse is obviously a “palm” grip type and is one of the best out there for gamers that want that type of grip.
Below are some illustrations of the main grips:
Palm Grip:
Below illustrates the palm grip of the DeathAdder, showing the contours of your grip.
Claw Grip:
Below is an example of the claw grip for the Razer Lachesis.
Fingertip Grip:
Below is an example of the fingertip grip for the Razer Salmosa.
Some people may question (like I did at first a few years ago before I really got into PC gaming) what on earth does this £30-40 mouse with all these fancy specs do better than the standard £10-15 mice, well this is what:
- 3500dpi Infrared Sensor compared to an average work office mouse, which is about 400-800dpi (Dots Per Inch), essentially this means that the mouse is more precise, however for gaming at 1080P, anything around 1800dpi is perfectly fine, the higher dpi is extremely handy for graphic designers. This also uses a state of the art infrared sensor compared to other sensors that are used on the majority of mice
- A 1000Hz ultrapolling/1ms response time, which essentially means that you have the edge over other players using standard gaming mice that have about 125Hz/8ms response time
- 5 independently programmable buttons, so you can use the side thumb buttons for changing the sensitivity whilst in game and is extremely handy for games like the BF series. When you get in a tank, the aiming becomes slower/clunky in the game. You’re one click away from sorting that out and you can now aim a lot quicker and again, when out of the tank, simply click the other thumb button to decrease it for infantry gun play. If you are sniping, you can decrease it even more so that you can get your aiming nice and steady for a superb headshot! Some people use the large thumb button for the melee/knife attack as opposed to the key “F”. They can even be used for normal windows activity e.g. when you want to go back to the previous page in your browser, simply use the side thumb buttons for “forward” and “backward”. Standard mice just have the 2 basic buttons, "right" and "left" click along with the scroll wheel, which can sometimes be clicked as well. Granted there are other gamer mice out there that have a few more buttons than the DeathAdder, but these mice aren’t aimed to FPS mainly like what the DeathAdder is and therefore don’t have the more important features that make more of a difference in FPS
So the question is, has it improved my skills in FPS gaming?
Well the simple answer is, yes it has, with this mouse I feel like I always have the quicker response than the enemy down my sights and I have noticed that I do better in the FPS games in regards to my k/d ratio especially for the quick shooter games like Counter Strike Source etc.
Conclusion:
All I can say really is that if you want a great gaming mouse but don’t want to spend a fortune and want to do better in games especially for FPS, then this is the mouse to get!
However the mouse is great even if you aren’t a serious gamer, as in normal window usage, graphic work, it is just so comfortable to hold due to the hard rubber material used and the shape/curves that allow your hand to just nicely rest on. This was one of the biggest selling points for me, comfort, when I play games, I want to play in comfort, not grip a tiny mouse which is just a basic shape and so after an hour or so of use, my hand gets a little sore/cramped.
Everything else about it is just great regarding the build quality, the material used (for the top part where your palm sits), the drivers/control panel and most importantly the technology that is used for it, this is what gives you a great advantage over the other players that will be using basic gaming mice and wireless mice.
The only things, which Razer could do to make this mouse even better is make the scroll wheel super smooth when scrolling up and down (not absolutely necessary), have 2 separate buttons for sensitivity, a better placement for the dedicated "profile change" button, preferably somewhere that is easy to access without hassle i.e. on the top, above/below the scroll wheel or somewhere on the left near the side thumb buttons and of course use the same hard rubber material for the sides.
Pros:
- Price considering what you get
- Build quality overall
- The material used on the top (probably the best material on a mouse that I have used yet)
- Comfortable especially for long gaming periods
- Drivers/control panel
- Specs/features
- Performance
Cons:
- The sides material isn’t the same as what is used for the top surface
- No dedicated buttons for increasing and decreasing sensitivity, you have to program/use the 2 side thumb buttons for this, which could be used for something else like the melee attack, throwing a grenade etc. or you have to use the button on the bottom to change profiles for a lower/higher sensitivity, which is a hassle
- Placement of the "profile change" button
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The Razer Deathadder
Pictures omitted as no doubt OCUK has a camera somewhere that doesn't take pictures that look like they're from the 50's.
- 3500dpi Razer Precision™ 3.5G infrared sensor
- Ergonomic right-handed design
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response
- Five independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
- On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
- Always-On™ mode
- Ultra-large non-slip buttons
- 16-bit ultra-wide data path
- 60–120 inches per second and 15g of acceleration
- Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ Teflon feet
- Gold-plated USB connector
- Seven-Foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
- Approximate size: 128mm (length) x 70mm (width) x 42.5mm (height)
The Idea
Razer equipment has always been regarded as some of the highest quality. The peripherals boast an impressive package which has proven time and time again to stay ahead of the curve in terms of performance, reliability and features.
The Razer Deathadder
The Deathadder is one of the more widely used mice from the series. It's popularity is surpassed only by the product itself; a masterpiece of what is technically possible from laser mice today.
The Hardware
Built around a 3500DPI infrared sensor, we find a shell finished in matte black with subtle blue pulsing LEDs, beyond which are 5 suitably placed and easily accessible buttons providing you with access to all the tools you need during intense gaming sessions.
With 1000HZ ultrapolling and 1ms response, flying a jet in DICE's Battlefield3 or snap reflex headshots in Infinity Ward's CoD: Modern Warfare 3 has never been easier.
The mouse is weighted well, and feels solid while being gripped without compromise on comfort or usability. All of the buttons are firm and responsive ensuring optimal control and feedback to the user.
There is also a button on the underside of the mouse which switches between software profiles so that each time you need to, you can call on a separate configuration to optimize your play style.
The Software
Behind every great device is an equally great system managing it, and with the Razer Deathadder this is no exception.
The Driver is a real pleasure to use - every changeable function of the device is presented in an attractive application which is easy on system resources and filled with concise easy to understand settings.
From sensitivity changes on different axis', to button change configurations, to advanced features like changing the polling rate or DPI and setting up Macros - and then being able to save them into up to five profiles, it is hard to see where it can be beaten.
The Competition
The Razer Deathadder is a competitive mouse, built from the ground up to fulfill and refine the needs of pro gamers and colorful amateurs. It allows every user to meet their potential thanks to it's brilliant technology and ease of use - because of this, the Razer series is truly the first and last choice when it comes to gaming hardware.
The Conclusion
With Razer's outstanding portfolio of gaming hardware there is no doubt that the Deathadder is an amazing mid-level mouse which will serve anyone with the gaming infection well. It's a stunning example of what can be achieved with modern technology and a little bit of Razer edge.
I have had this mouse for many years and personally have not had one single problem in this period, and when it does need replacing it will no doubt be with the company which has managed to install me with faith in it's products, Razer.
Seriously. Buy one. You buy one right now.
Pictures omitted as no doubt OCUK has a camera somewhere that doesn't take pictures that look like they're from the 50's.
- 3500dpi Razer Precision™ 3.5G infrared sensor
- Ergonomic right-handed design
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response
- Five independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
- On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
- Always-On™ mode
- Ultra-large non-slip buttons
- 16-bit ultra-wide data path
- 60–120 inches per second and 15g of acceleration
- Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ Teflon feet
- Gold-plated USB connector
- Seven-Foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
- Approximate size: 128mm (length) x 70mm (width) x 42.5mm (height)
The Idea
Razer equipment has always been regarded as some of the highest quality. The peripherals boast an impressive package which has proven time and time again to stay ahead of the curve in terms of performance, reliability and features.
The Razer Deathadder
The Deathadder is one of the more widely used mice from the series. It's popularity is surpassed only by the product itself; a masterpiece of what is technically possible from laser mice today.
The Hardware
Built around a 3500DPI infrared sensor, we find a shell finished in matte black with subtle blue pulsing LEDs, beyond which are 5 suitably placed and easily accessible buttons providing you with access to all the tools you need during intense gaming sessions.
With 1000HZ ultrapolling and 1ms response, flying a jet in DICE's Battlefield3 or snap reflex headshots in Infinity Ward's CoD: Modern Warfare 3 has never been easier.
The mouse is weighted well, and feels solid while being gripped without compromise on comfort or usability. All of the buttons are firm and responsive ensuring optimal control and feedback to the user.
There is also a button on the underside of the mouse which switches between software profiles so that each time you need to, you can call on a separate configuration to optimize your play style.
The Software
Behind every great device is an equally great system managing it, and with the Razer Deathadder this is no exception.
The Driver is a real pleasure to use - every changeable function of the device is presented in an attractive application which is easy on system resources and filled with concise easy to understand settings.
From sensitivity changes on different axis', to button change configurations, to advanced features like changing the polling rate or DPI and setting up Macros - and then being able to save them into up to five profiles, it is hard to see where it can be beaten.
The Competition
The Razer Deathadder is a competitive mouse, built from the ground up to fulfill and refine the needs of pro gamers and colorful amateurs. It allows every user to meet their potential thanks to it's brilliant technology and ease of use - because of this, the Razer series is truly the first and last choice when it comes to gaming hardware.
The Conclusion
With Razer's outstanding portfolio of gaming hardware there is no doubt that the Deathadder is an amazing mid-level mouse which will serve anyone with the gaming infection well. It's a stunning example of what can be achieved with modern technology and a little bit of Razer edge.
I have had this mouse for many years and personally have not had one single problem in this period, and when it does need replacing it will no doubt be with the company which has managed to install me with faith in it's products, Razer.
Seriously. Buy one. You buy one right now.
Tekgun’s Razer Imperator FPS Mouse Review.
The Imperator is a mid to high end Razer mouse, sharing a lot of the features of its bigger brother the Mamba including the same sensor.
Razer Imperator.
Specifications.
Packaging.
Hardware.
]
Ergonomics.
Aesthetics.
Software.
Conclusion
Scores out of 10
The Imperator is a mid to high end Razer mouse, sharing a lot of the features of its bigger brother the Mamba including the same sensor.
Razer Imperator.
Specifications.
• Ergonomic right-handed design
• Adjustable side buttons
• 5600dpi Razer Precision™ 3.5G Laser sensor
• Razer Synapse™ On-board Memory
• Up to 200 inches per second/ 50g acceleration
• Seven independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response rate
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ mouse feet
• Approximate size: 123mm(L) x 71mm(W) x 42mm(H)
• Adjustable side buttons
• 5600dpi Razer Precision™ 3.5G Laser sensor
• Razer Synapse™ On-board Memory
• Up to 200 inches per second/ 50g acceleration
• Seven independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response rate
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ mouse feet
• Approximate size: 123mm(L) x 71mm(W) x 42mm(H)
Packaging.
As with all the other Razer products I have bought, the packaging is really good.
Although the box is not used once opened, it’s nice to have it reflect the quality of the item you spent your hard earned money on.
The packing is also sturdy enough to protect the product, and easy enough to remove the mouse.
Although the box is not used once opened, it’s nice to have it reflect the quality of the item you spent your hard earned money on.
The packing is also sturdy enough to protect the product, and easy enough to remove the mouse.
The outer box has a lot of information about the features, along with the system requirements.
Open the Velcro door flap and you can see the mouse in all its plastic covered glory.
Once you slide out the plastic container holding the mouse you will find a black envelope underneath.
Inside this envelope is a quick start guide, master guide, master guide for mac, product catalogue, Imperator flyer, beer mat, stickers, and finally... a certificate of authenticity.
Open the Velcro door flap and you can see the mouse in all its plastic covered glory.
Once you slide out the plastic container holding the mouse you will find a black envelope underneath.
Inside this envelope is a quick start guide, master guide, master guide for mac, product catalogue, Imperator flyer, beer mat, stickers, and finally... a certificate of authenticity.
Hardware.
I found the tracking on this mouse to be very smooth, and extremely precise, thanks to its 5600dpi sensor, very durable Ultraslick feet, and of course 1ms response rate.
Need to slow down the tracking for that head shot? The Imperator has you covered with up to five, on the fly customisable DPI settings.
There are two buttons to control the DPI located just behind the wheel, making it easy to quickly move up and down the DPI gears as it were.
Another great feature about this mouse is that it does not use any software aided tracking, so you find instead of your computer guestimating where you intend the cursor to go, it’s all down to you and the raw input from the mouse.
The Imperator has built in memory and automatic storing of profiles and setting changes, handy if like me you forget to back things like mouse profiles up.
To change between profiles there is a small button on the underside of the mouse, this is a great idea as it keeps a less used button out of the way and the top of the mouse cleaner.
Need to slow down the tracking for that head shot? The Imperator has you covered with up to five, on the fly customisable DPI settings.
There are two buttons to control the DPI located just behind the wheel, making it easy to quickly move up and down the DPI gears as it were.
Another great feature about this mouse is that it does not use any software aided tracking, so you find instead of your computer guestimating where you intend the cursor to go, it’s all down to you and the raw input from the mouse.
The Imperator has built in memory and automatic storing of profiles and setting changes, handy if like me you forget to back things like mouse profiles up.
To change between profiles there is a small button on the underside of the mouse, this is a great idea as it keeps a less used button out of the way and the top of the mouse cleaner.
]
Ergonomics.
First thing I noticed about this mouse is the two adjustable side buttons. This is a great touch which allows a good level of comfort, and is quite a unique feature that few other mice offer.
On top you have the standard left and right click buttons, which have quite a positive tactile feel.
The centre mouse wheel, again with a really nice feel to both the scroll operation and click, and is the best wheel to operate I have used.
Back from the wheel are the two buttons which change Dpi.
The left side has a contoured recess which allows your thumb to rest comfortably below the two customisable buttons.
Everything is where it should be and the shape and proportions allow it to be used both with a claw and palm grip.
On top you have the standard left and right click buttons, which have quite a positive tactile feel.
The centre mouse wheel, again with a really nice feel to both the scroll operation and click, and is the best wheel to operate I have used.
Back from the wheel are the two buttons which change Dpi.
The left side has a contoured recess which allows your thumb to rest comfortably below the two customisable buttons.
Everything is where it should be and the shape and proportions allow it to be used both with a claw and palm grip.
Aesthetics.
This is one stylish mouse, Razer have used gloss back on the sides and front, combined with a soft matt black covering the top, which not only looks great but feels nice to the touch.
The neon blue lighting which encircles the wheel is especially well done and looks very professional, also a blue Razer logo pulsates at the back of the mouse. This feature can be turned off in the control panel.
The overall look of the Imperator is very sleek, they've really done a good job on the design.
Build quality is also very high, everything feels sturdy, the only small niggle might be the braided cable is fairly stiff.
After a year of use the Imperator still looks like new, there is no sign of wear to the coating on top, the shiny bits are still shiny and even the feet show little wear.
The neon blue lighting which encircles the wheel is especially well done and looks very professional, also a blue Razer logo pulsates at the back of the mouse. This feature can be turned off in the control panel.
The overall look of the Imperator is very sleek, they've really done a good job on the design.
Build quality is also very high, everything feels sturdy, the only small niggle might be the braided cable is fairly stiff.
After a year of use the Imperator still looks like new, there is no sign of wear to the coating on top, the shiny bits are still shiny and even the feet show little wear.
Software.
The Razer Configurator software has a good feature set, which allows you to create profiles, set up macros, reassign buttons and change hardware settings. It's easy to navigate, intuitive, and includes a firmware updater.
Changes are automatically saved to the mouse memory every time you apply settings, which take a few seconds to complete, but at least you always have them safely stored on the mouse.
Changes are automatically saved to the mouse memory every time you apply settings, which take a few seconds to complete, but at least you always have them safely stored on the mouse.
Conclusion
This mouse would make a great addition to any FPS gamer’s setup. It’s accurate, comfortable, and very durable.
Together with its comprehensive feature set and quality components this mouse is one of the best, and definitely recommended.
Together with its comprehensive feature set and quality components this mouse is one of the best, and definitely recommended.
Scores out of 10
Features 9
Build quality 9
Comfort 9
Accuracy 9
Overall 9
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Razer DeathAdder Review
Introduction
Razer have been a favourite brand amongst enthusiasts and gamers for some time now, and it’s probably fair to say that the DeathAdder has been one of, if not the, most successful of their entire product range. Today I’m reviewing the Razer DeathAdder, the original version (1800dpi). This model has been superseded since I purchased it back in 2008, but a lot of the design, ethic and performance remain the same, even in the most recent models.
Let’s take a quick look at Razer and what they have to say about the DeathAdder:
These are impressive claims and show much promise to deliver. Can it really improve your FPS gaming over a lesser model? Without further ado, we’ll take a look at the mouse.
Features
The DeathAdder boasts impressive specifications, even by today’s standards; this mouse rocks a whole host of useful features that have largely been continued into the current product lineup.
This is all well and good, but what does it all mean? Let’s face it, you’re not going to want to go research all these terms and figure out what they actually signify. What we’re interested in is whether it translates into a great experience and improved performance. For First Person Shooters, 1800dpi is regarded now as somewhat of a benchmark. Many will use this level of hardware sensitivity to control the most modern games, and this provides ample control in FPS scenarios. It’s not going to fare as well in RTS games where the player may want to make larger movements over the screen, but as a balance of sensitivity and accuracy, it’s a great number. Some players will want to reduce this further, playing on 800dpi for games such as CounterStrike: Source. The DeathAdder accommodates this using the bundled software, as we’ll see later.
Other terms that are significant here include the 1000Hz ‘Ultrapolling’. This indicates that the mouse can report movements to the PC every 1 millisecond, or 1000 times every second. This means that your movements of the mouse are more faithfully replicated on screen. Think of it as almost a sampling rate when digitising music. You’ll never fully replicate the intricacies of the movement of a real player, but the higher the sampling rate, the more faithful the reproduction will be. In game, this may make the difference between being fully in tune or coming out a little bit flat.
Some of the other features such as ‘On the fly sensitivity’ will be covered later, so we have covered the basics, whilst disregarding the specifications that, although are of some interest technically, won’t be elaborated on here (unless someone is interested and asks) in the interest of brevity and clarity. The rest will become apparent throughout the review.
Package and First Look
My opinion is that unboxing is very tedious, so I’m not going to show you endless photos of the packaging, but we can still get a feel for the presentation. What we’re really interested in is the mouse itself and how it performs.
The front of the box shows typical box art, the colour scheme is in line with other Razer products and certainly looks great. Note that the front shows this mouse has the 3G (1800dpi) infrared sensor, the main selling point. An added bonus is that we can open the front of the packaging and take a glimpse at the mouse inside. Whilst not particularly useful if you’ve ordered online, it’s nice to be able to see the product if you’re buying from a retail store, for example. The rest of the box lists specifications, comparisons to a normal mouse and a note from RazerGuy. Packaging is perfectly adequate for shipping, with the mouse being housed in a two part plastic shell inside the box itself.
Inside the box is a moderate bundle. Since most mice don’t come with many added extras anyway, we shouldn’t be disappointed at the fairly average amount of kit. Included is a quickstart guide, certificate of authenticity, master guide (including driver and software cd) and a product card. Unless you’ve had a Razer mouse before, the included manual is useful, but the rest isn’t so much. With Razer providing frequent driver and firmware updates for its mice, you’re best going straight to the support section of their website to retrieve the very latest updates for the product.
Here we also get our first glimpse at the mouse itself once removed from the packaging.
Closer Look
The mouse itself is a great looking design. At first sight it appears to be fairly traditional in shape, not too dissimilar from the MS Intellimouse for example. However, looking further we can see the subtle contours and finish that really set it apart from run-of-the-mill peripherals. The mouse is tailored to a right handed fit, and although Razer produce a left-handed version, it is harder to come by. Left handers will not be able to use this mouse comfortably, so I urge that you either try to seek a left-handed version, or look at an ambidextrous design from Razer, such as the Lachesis.
These images give you a complete look at the mouse. From the top, you can see the two main buttons are part of the top shell with no separate part. The shell simply flexes on each press. The scroll wheel is translucent, and there is a Razer logo. These will change when plugged in as we will see soon and we can also note the matte finish, which is quite grippy. From the left hand side, you can see the mouse 4 and mouse 5 buttons, which are placed to be operated by your thumb when in use and are of a good size so that it’s nice and easy to press them when gaming or otherwise. The travel is also fairly far for a mouse button, so accidental clicks are very rare. The right hand side is fairly uninteresting and shiny, although the mouse does lack a rest for your little finger that some players enjoy, but this is more common on comfort/productivity orientated mice than gaming designs. You can also see the general shape of the mouse to rise and fall quite quickly, meaning it’s deceptively short. We’ll see how this lends itself to grip in the next section.
Comfort
Using a peripheral is something that most of us do every day, and the importance of comfort is often underestimated. Nobody wants to use an uncomfortable mouse. Back in 2008, the DeathAdder was probably the most comfortable gaming mouse available. I have few reservations about this, having tried a selection and found many to be too straight, short, or even heavy (especially wireless models!). In the present however, the DeathAdder is still the same (see the DeathAdder Respawn), but the competition have moved on somewhat. Affordable mice such as the Gigabyte M6980 (below) really give it a run for its money, and the seemingly ever present Logitech MX518 (or now G400) remain firmly popular. Despite this, the design of the DeathAdder is one to which gamers have become accustomed, and more than anything, it sets the benchmark for ergonomics in the gaming mouse market.
Above: The DeathAdder against the ergonomic Gigabyte M6980 and a basic ambidextrous Logitech mouse
However, like a coastal tour of Somalia, it’s not all plain-sailing. The most important word here is grip. Seasoned gamers will be aware of the fact that different people grip their chosen mouse in a different way. Whilst I can’t speak for all the different grips out there, I can comment on my own style when playing FPS games, which seems to default to a cross between a ‘claw’ grip and a ‘fingertip’ grip. For visual demonstrations and explanations of those, Razer have some diagrams on their website here. Each person will find their own style, but if you know you’re like me, there are a few things to consider regarding the DeathAdder: The claw and fingertip grips have little contact with the mouse, and although this allows fast and precise movements, it also means the few points of grip need to be reliable. Two of them are on the top two buttons of the mouse, but these must move to click as well. The other two (and perhaps most important) are on the sides of the mouse. Razer have put a great grippy surface on the top of the DeathAdder, but seem to have neglected the sides. They’re not the only manufacturer guilty of this, but grippier sides would offer even more control and stability when things start to get a little heated in-game. Thankfully though, the side buttons are in a great position for claw or fingertip gamers and the mouse is quite light, which means this playing style will work well with the DeathAddder. ‘Palm’ grip users will benefit from the added grip on the top surface of the mouse, but will perhaps suffer the two side buttons being a little far back from the thumb, and so you may well find yourself adopting the ‘claw’ or ‘fingertip’ grip anyway, especially since the mouse falls off at the back quite quickly and is fairly short, meaning you’re almost guided into a ‘claw’ grip by default.
A macro shot of the soft-touch matte surface. Please excuse the dust!
It’s worth also mentioning the scroll wheel here too. The wheel scrolls with very little resistance, but still has tactile notches that allow you to know when you’ve moved one position. This is ideal for fast weapon changes in game, or whatever you bind to the wheel. It may be hard to get used to coming from something with a more firm wheel, but it’s worth making the change as this is perfectly suited to fast paced FPS games. The click is also satisfying, but not too difficult, although since the wheel is fairly free to rotate, you may at first find it moves a little when using the mouse 3 button. Another benefit to using the DeathAdder in FPS is that the cable is nice and light. Most mice suffer from a heavier cable which catches and snags, even on a smooth desk, which gives a feeling of changing resistance when moving the mouse over the pad. This can be really off-putting in game. The cable here is light and thin, but shows no issues with being too weak or having poor transmission. It slides nicely over a mouse mat allowing you to track perfectly in game, making those crucial headshots and snipes that little bit easier. It really is something that is surprisingly noticeable.
Software
So we’ve established the DeathAdder is almost perfectly suited in shape, size and form for FPS games, as well as being packed full of the hardware to match, but it has another ace up its sleeve. Razer bundles customisation software as part of the driver package of the mouse that allows for complete control over the available settings on the mouse. Above you can see a screen grab of the software control panel. Most of these options are self-explanatory, but we’ll look at some of the most interesting and useful.
Starting in the middle, there is control over the button assignments. This is of particular use for buttons 4 and 5, which can be mapped to almost any function imaginable. This is shown on the right, where you can record or input your own macro functions to be performed on a button click. Very useful for common combos in FPS titles, though I must say, for my personal use the most useful feature of these buttons is for back in an internet browser and switching windows. That said, everyone is different, and Razer have given us the opportunity to completely customise these buttons to perform whatever function we find most useful. You can also map these to control the ‘On-The-Fly sensitivity’ function, which allows us to swap from 1800dpi to 900dpi dynamically and in-game. Imagine you’re playing Battlefield 3, and most of the time you want to use the maximum dpi for general movement, close quarters combat, even mid-range aiming. However, on this level or round, you’ve picked up a sniper rifle. Fine tuning the aim so you can pick out your foes over long distances can be tricky at higher dpi. The On-The-Fly sensitivity will allow you to press a button and lower the dpi down for the perfect shot. Then, when you’re done, put it right back up again. Over time, this action will become automatic and you can possibly improve your FPS performance no end, without even looking away from the screen. The DeathAdder isn’t the only mouse to offer this function nowadays, and it does lack a dedicated button, but you do have the flexibility there to customise it to your needs.
The software also allows you to change x-axis and y-axis sensitivity independently. I’ve never used this function, it may be useful in shooters where there’s not a lot of y-axis movement and you like to keep a level aim (for fast moving headshots, sniping perhaps). You’ve then got more general settings such as double click speed, scroll speed and even control over the windows pointer and acceleration (which I usually turn off). Acceleration increases the speed of the mouse pointer if you make fast movements, which is useful in a windows environment, but introduces unpredictability in-game. Here, there is an option to disable entirely – perfect.
On top of this, there’s also profile support, meaning you can keep 5 different sets of settings for the mouse and quickly swap between them in the control panel. All that’s missing is a dedicated mouse button on the top to control this, although it can be mapped to a button, you’ll have to sacrifice another function of course.
Performance
So, the DeathAdder has the design, the features and all the makings of a fantastic gaming mouse, but does it come together where it counts, in performance?
In a word; yes. The most amazing thing about using the DeathAdder is the smoothness and accuracy of movement. With a 1000Hz polling rate and a brilliantly precise sensor, the feeling of control is unrivalled in my experience of mice. It really is as simple as that. This translates into better control in games, better accuracy in games, better consistency in games and enhances the entire experience. The DeathAdder isn’t the cheapest mouse out there, but boy does it justify that tag in terms of performance. It’s hard to find fault with the sensor, and although it is possible to make it lose track on some surfaces with fast movement, I’ve found that on a regular material mouse mat (BoogieBug AimPad XL), the tracking is faultless. Other mice (particularly laser models) boast better tracking on a larger range of surfaces (such as desks, paper, carpet), and although this may be true, for gamers we only need good tracking on gaming mouse mats, and the DeathAdder’s 1800dpi sensor delivers here. Comparing it to a laser gaming mouse at similar dpi, the tracking is much smoother. There’s something about the optical infrared sensors that gives reliable and precise movement that seems to be difficult to beat. Showing you a video of the DeathAdder in action and comparing it to other mice (and there are many on youtube) would not do it justice, since it’s impossible to know how the control feels without trying it for yourself, and I urge you to do so. I think although Razer have plenty of critics, it cannot be said that the performance of the DeathAdder (or their mice with the same infrared sensor package) is not up with the very best available to us FPS gamers.
Whilst talking about performance, it’s apt to discuss ‘Drift Control’. Sometimes also known as ‘Angle Snapping’ or simply ‘Prediction’, it is an integral part of the default firmware on most mice, even of gaming calibre. This feature controls movements along straight lines, which makes it very useful in applications such as image editing, where keeping a straight line is beneficial, but in gaming it’s not necessarily an advantage, since the enemies aren’t always moving in straight lines! There is debate over whether it makes much difference to gaming though, as the effect is subtle, and a lot of gaming mice give you no option to disable this feature. Razer however, in keeping with the excellent driver package, allow you to flash a different firmware onto the DeathAdder to remove Drift Control. It’s not recommended for most, but if you think you can gain an advantage from it, I encourage you to try it out.
The latest firmware for the DeathAdder is v1.39DC or 1.40NDC. These come with and without drift control, respectively. I have tested both in an attempt to see whether it makes a lot of difference. I have to say, over a long time when gaming, I do prefer having no Drift Control, but it is a subtle effect. Above is an image I’ve generated using both firmwares. The idea is to draw as straight a line as possible laterally, vertically and diagonally. You can see that with Drift Control on, this is a small improvement in horizontal control, but not huge. Vertical and diagonal tests appear to show little change. Hopefully this will help some to make up their mind about which is best for them, though the important thing is that Razer is listening to its customers and giving us a choice.
Build Quality
The DeathAdder is certainly a hero of the gaming mouse world, but like every hero, it has a weakness. Superman had Kryptonite, Achilles had his heel, and as much as it pains me to say it, the DeathAdder has its build quality.
Although it’s nice for the mouse to be light and manoeuvrable, it also highlights how the construction of the mouse isn’t the most sturdy, as well as it sounding a little hollow. There are no adjustable weights here to accommodate for this. After 18 months of usage my DeathAdder started to present with a problem whereby the left click would send a double click message to windows, despite only being actuated once. Originally, Razer told users this was a firmware issue and released a new update, but I believe it to be a hardware problem. Looking over the internet, you’ll see many reports of this issue and it highlights that it may be a real problem for a lot of users. Although my DeathAdder went wrong under warranty, due to the failings of Royal Mail and an extremely strict return policy from the retailer, I could not get a replacement. I was extremely upset by this as the DeathAdder is a fantastic piece of kit and most people who have issues do get theirs replaced using the 2 year warranty that the product ships with.
Unfortunately after contacting Razer, they could not provide me with any information to help explain what the problem is, or how I might be able to fix it, but only suggested purchasing a replacement. I have tried to fix the mouse several times, but have failed, and so have opted for a different mouse altogether, having tried a few mice out. In the end I’ve decided to buy into manufacturers who offer a direct service and have a great reputation for support, as I feel this is a very important part of any PC purchase, and I don’t want to be disappointed again. I have to stress, this wasn’t the fault of Razer or the retailer, but I still feel let down by both of their lukewarm (or downright cold) responses to my predicament.
Conclusion
Demonstrating my grip
I hope this review has been as interesting for you to read as it was for me to write, and I also hope that it was informative. Let’s start with the good points: The DeathAdder is unrivalled in performance, presentation, style and features. It really does sit up there with the best of what gamers can choose and has only got better over time as Razer have improved the design. There’s an almost endless list of things to like about the DeathAdder and I hope that we’ve covered most of them here from an FPS gaming perspective, which is where it really shines.
Now this would be a terrible review if I had nothing bad to say, as no product is perfect and there’s quite a few things about the DeathAdder that could be better. These include the build quality, grip and weight, though a lot of that is down to personal preference as well.
I can assure anyone who is looking for a gaming mouse that the DeathAdder is probably the best bit of kit available if you’re an FPS player. The price tag isn’t the smallest, but it justifies its cost through blistering performance, unparalleled accuracy and a wealth of customisation options. Once you have a feel for what sort of performance is possible with a high end optical sensor, you’ll have a very hard time going back. Heck, you’ll even find it annoying to use the inaccurate rubbish that most places would call a decent mouse. If it weren’t for a few niggles this would be possibly the best mouse ever made, and coming even remotely close to such an accolade is testament to the ethic and dedication of Razer to their gaming peripherals.
Introduction
Razer have been a favourite brand amongst enthusiasts and gamers for some time now, and it’s probably fair to say that the DeathAdder has been one of, if not the, most successful of their entire product range. Today I’m reviewing the Razer DeathAdder, the original version (1800dpi). This model has been superseded since I purchased it back in 2008, but a lot of the design, ethic and performance remain the same, even in the most recent models.
Let’s take a quick look at Razer and what they have to say about the DeathAdder:
These are impressive claims and show much promise to deliver. Can it really improve your FPS gaming over a lesser model? Without further ado, we’ll take a look at the mouse.
Features
The DeathAdder boasts impressive specifications, even by today’s standards; this mouse rocks a whole host of useful features that have largely been continued into the current product lineup.
This is all well and good, but what does it all mean? Let’s face it, you’re not going to want to go research all these terms and figure out what they actually signify. What we’re interested in is whether it translates into a great experience and improved performance. For First Person Shooters, 1800dpi is regarded now as somewhat of a benchmark. Many will use this level of hardware sensitivity to control the most modern games, and this provides ample control in FPS scenarios. It’s not going to fare as well in RTS games where the player may want to make larger movements over the screen, but as a balance of sensitivity and accuracy, it’s a great number. Some players will want to reduce this further, playing on 800dpi for games such as CounterStrike: Source. The DeathAdder accommodates this using the bundled software, as we’ll see later.
Other terms that are significant here include the 1000Hz ‘Ultrapolling’. This indicates that the mouse can report movements to the PC every 1 millisecond, or 1000 times every second. This means that your movements of the mouse are more faithfully replicated on screen. Think of it as almost a sampling rate when digitising music. You’ll never fully replicate the intricacies of the movement of a real player, but the higher the sampling rate, the more faithful the reproduction will be. In game, this may make the difference between being fully in tune or coming out a little bit flat.
Some of the other features such as ‘On the fly sensitivity’ will be covered later, so we have covered the basics, whilst disregarding the specifications that, although are of some interest technically, won’t be elaborated on here (unless someone is interested and asks) in the interest of brevity and clarity. The rest will become apparent throughout the review.
Package and First Look
My opinion is that unboxing is very tedious, so I’m not going to show you endless photos of the packaging, but we can still get a feel for the presentation. What we’re really interested in is the mouse itself and how it performs.
The front of the box shows typical box art, the colour scheme is in line with other Razer products and certainly looks great. Note that the front shows this mouse has the 3G (1800dpi) infrared sensor, the main selling point. An added bonus is that we can open the front of the packaging and take a glimpse at the mouse inside. Whilst not particularly useful if you’ve ordered online, it’s nice to be able to see the product if you’re buying from a retail store, for example. The rest of the box lists specifications, comparisons to a normal mouse and a note from RazerGuy. Packaging is perfectly adequate for shipping, with the mouse being housed in a two part plastic shell inside the box itself.
Inside the box is a moderate bundle. Since most mice don’t come with many added extras anyway, we shouldn’t be disappointed at the fairly average amount of kit. Included is a quickstart guide, certificate of authenticity, master guide (including driver and software cd) and a product card. Unless you’ve had a Razer mouse before, the included manual is useful, but the rest isn’t so much. With Razer providing frequent driver and firmware updates for its mice, you’re best going straight to the support section of their website to retrieve the very latest updates for the product.
Here we also get our first glimpse at the mouse itself once removed from the packaging.
Closer Look
The mouse itself is a great looking design. At first sight it appears to be fairly traditional in shape, not too dissimilar from the MS Intellimouse for example. However, looking further we can see the subtle contours and finish that really set it apart from run-of-the-mill peripherals. The mouse is tailored to a right handed fit, and although Razer produce a left-handed version, it is harder to come by. Left handers will not be able to use this mouse comfortably, so I urge that you either try to seek a left-handed version, or look at an ambidextrous design from Razer, such as the Lachesis.
These images give you a complete look at the mouse. From the top, you can see the two main buttons are part of the top shell with no separate part. The shell simply flexes on each press. The scroll wheel is translucent, and there is a Razer logo. These will change when plugged in as we will see soon and we can also note the matte finish, which is quite grippy. From the left hand side, you can see the mouse 4 and mouse 5 buttons, which are placed to be operated by your thumb when in use and are of a good size so that it’s nice and easy to press them when gaming or otherwise. The travel is also fairly far for a mouse button, so accidental clicks are very rare. The right hand side is fairly uninteresting and shiny, although the mouse does lack a rest for your little finger that some players enjoy, but this is more common on comfort/productivity orientated mice than gaming designs. You can also see the general shape of the mouse to rise and fall quite quickly, meaning it’s deceptively short. We’ll see how this lends itself to grip in the next section.
Comfort
Using a peripheral is something that most of us do every day, and the importance of comfort is often underestimated. Nobody wants to use an uncomfortable mouse. Back in 2008, the DeathAdder was probably the most comfortable gaming mouse available. I have few reservations about this, having tried a selection and found many to be too straight, short, or even heavy (especially wireless models!). In the present however, the DeathAdder is still the same (see the DeathAdder Respawn), but the competition have moved on somewhat. Affordable mice such as the Gigabyte M6980 (below) really give it a run for its money, and the seemingly ever present Logitech MX518 (or now G400) remain firmly popular. Despite this, the design of the DeathAdder is one to which gamers have become accustomed, and more than anything, it sets the benchmark for ergonomics in the gaming mouse market.
Above: The DeathAdder against the ergonomic Gigabyte M6980 and a basic ambidextrous Logitech mouse
However, like a coastal tour of Somalia, it’s not all plain-sailing. The most important word here is grip. Seasoned gamers will be aware of the fact that different people grip their chosen mouse in a different way. Whilst I can’t speak for all the different grips out there, I can comment on my own style when playing FPS games, which seems to default to a cross between a ‘claw’ grip and a ‘fingertip’ grip. For visual demonstrations and explanations of those, Razer have some diagrams on their website here. Each person will find their own style, but if you know you’re like me, there are a few things to consider regarding the DeathAdder: The claw and fingertip grips have little contact with the mouse, and although this allows fast and precise movements, it also means the few points of grip need to be reliable. Two of them are on the top two buttons of the mouse, but these must move to click as well. The other two (and perhaps most important) are on the sides of the mouse. Razer have put a great grippy surface on the top of the DeathAdder, but seem to have neglected the sides. They’re not the only manufacturer guilty of this, but grippier sides would offer even more control and stability when things start to get a little heated in-game. Thankfully though, the side buttons are in a great position for claw or fingertip gamers and the mouse is quite light, which means this playing style will work well with the DeathAddder. ‘Palm’ grip users will benefit from the added grip on the top surface of the mouse, but will perhaps suffer the two side buttons being a little far back from the thumb, and so you may well find yourself adopting the ‘claw’ or ‘fingertip’ grip anyway, especially since the mouse falls off at the back quite quickly and is fairly short, meaning you’re almost guided into a ‘claw’ grip by default.
A macro shot of the soft-touch matte surface. Please excuse the dust!
It’s worth also mentioning the scroll wheel here too. The wheel scrolls with very little resistance, but still has tactile notches that allow you to know when you’ve moved one position. This is ideal for fast weapon changes in game, or whatever you bind to the wheel. It may be hard to get used to coming from something with a more firm wheel, but it’s worth making the change as this is perfectly suited to fast paced FPS games. The click is also satisfying, but not too difficult, although since the wheel is fairly free to rotate, you may at first find it moves a little when using the mouse 3 button. Another benefit to using the DeathAdder in FPS is that the cable is nice and light. Most mice suffer from a heavier cable which catches and snags, even on a smooth desk, which gives a feeling of changing resistance when moving the mouse over the pad. This can be really off-putting in game. The cable here is light and thin, but shows no issues with being too weak or having poor transmission. It slides nicely over a mouse mat allowing you to track perfectly in game, making those crucial headshots and snipes that little bit easier. It really is something that is surprisingly noticeable.
Software
So we’ve established the DeathAdder is almost perfectly suited in shape, size and form for FPS games, as well as being packed full of the hardware to match, but it has another ace up its sleeve. Razer bundles customisation software as part of the driver package of the mouse that allows for complete control over the available settings on the mouse. Above you can see a screen grab of the software control panel. Most of these options are self-explanatory, but we’ll look at some of the most interesting and useful.
Starting in the middle, there is control over the button assignments. This is of particular use for buttons 4 and 5, which can be mapped to almost any function imaginable. This is shown on the right, where you can record or input your own macro functions to be performed on a button click. Very useful for common combos in FPS titles, though I must say, for my personal use the most useful feature of these buttons is for back in an internet browser and switching windows. That said, everyone is different, and Razer have given us the opportunity to completely customise these buttons to perform whatever function we find most useful. You can also map these to control the ‘On-The-Fly sensitivity’ function, which allows us to swap from 1800dpi to 900dpi dynamically and in-game. Imagine you’re playing Battlefield 3, and most of the time you want to use the maximum dpi for general movement, close quarters combat, even mid-range aiming. However, on this level or round, you’ve picked up a sniper rifle. Fine tuning the aim so you can pick out your foes over long distances can be tricky at higher dpi. The On-The-Fly sensitivity will allow you to press a button and lower the dpi down for the perfect shot. Then, when you’re done, put it right back up again. Over time, this action will become automatic and you can possibly improve your FPS performance no end, without even looking away from the screen. The DeathAdder isn’t the only mouse to offer this function nowadays, and it does lack a dedicated button, but you do have the flexibility there to customise it to your needs.
The software also allows you to change x-axis and y-axis sensitivity independently. I’ve never used this function, it may be useful in shooters where there’s not a lot of y-axis movement and you like to keep a level aim (for fast moving headshots, sniping perhaps). You’ve then got more general settings such as double click speed, scroll speed and even control over the windows pointer and acceleration (which I usually turn off). Acceleration increases the speed of the mouse pointer if you make fast movements, which is useful in a windows environment, but introduces unpredictability in-game. Here, there is an option to disable entirely – perfect.
On top of this, there’s also profile support, meaning you can keep 5 different sets of settings for the mouse and quickly swap between them in the control panel. All that’s missing is a dedicated mouse button on the top to control this, although it can be mapped to a button, you’ll have to sacrifice another function of course.
Performance
So, the DeathAdder has the design, the features and all the makings of a fantastic gaming mouse, but does it come together where it counts, in performance?
In a word; yes. The most amazing thing about using the DeathAdder is the smoothness and accuracy of movement. With a 1000Hz polling rate and a brilliantly precise sensor, the feeling of control is unrivalled in my experience of mice. It really is as simple as that. This translates into better control in games, better accuracy in games, better consistency in games and enhances the entire experience. The DeathAdder isn’t the cheapest mouse out there, but boy does it justify that tag in terms of performance. It’s hard to find fault with the sensor, and although it is possible to make it lose track on some surfaces with fast movement, I’ve found that on a regular material mouse mat (BoogieBug AimPad XL), the tracking is faultless. Other mice (particularly laser models) boast better tracking on a larger range of surfaces (such as desks, paper, carpet), and although this may be true, for gamers we only need good tracking on gaming mouse mats, and the DeathAdder’s 1800dpi sensor delivers here. Comparing it to a laser gaming mouse at similar dpi, the tracking is much smoother. There’s something about the optical infrared sensors that gives reliable and precise movement that seems to be difficult to beat. Showing you a video of the DeathAdder in action and comparing it to other mice (and there are many on youtube) would not do it justice, since it’s impossible to know how the control feels without trying it for yourself, and I urge you to do so. I think although Razer have plenty of critics, it cannot be said that the performance of the DeathAdder (or their mice with the same infrared sensor package) is not up with the very best available to us FPS gamers.
Whilst talking about performance, it’s apt to discuss ‘Drift Control’. Sometimes also known as ‘Angle Snapping’ or simply ‘Prediction’, it is an integral part of the default firmware on most mice, even of gaming calibre. This feature controls movements along straight lines, which makes it very useful in applications such as image editing, where keeping a straight line is beneficial, but in gaming it’s not necessarily an advantage, since the enemies aren’t always moving in straight lines! There is debate over whether it makes much difference to gaming though, as the effect is subtle, and a lot of gaming mice give you no option to disable this feature. Razer however, in keeping with the excellent driver package, allow you to flash a different firmware onto the DeathAdder to remove Drift Control. It’s not recommended for most, but if you think you can gain an advantage from it, I encourage you to try it out.
The latest firmware for the DeathAdder is v1.39DC or 1.40NDC. These come with and without drift control, respectively. I have tested both in an attempt to see whether it makes a lot of difference. I have to say, over a long time when gaming, I do prefer having no Drift Control, but it is a subtle effect. Above is an image I’ve generated using both firmwares. The idea is to draw as straight a line as possible laterally, vertically and diagonally. You can see that with Drift Control on, this is a small improvement in horizontal control, but not huge. Vertical and diagonal tests appear to show little change. Hopefully this will help some to make up their mind about which is best for them, though the important thing is that Razer is listening to its customers and giving us a choice.
Build Quality
The DeathAdder is certainly a hero of the gaming mouse world, but like every hero, it has a weakness. Superman had Kryptonite, Achilles had his heel, and as much as it pains me to say it, the DeathAdder has its build quality.
Although it’s nice for the mouse to be light and manoeuvrable, it also highlights how the construction of the mouse isn’t the most sturdy, as well as it sounding a little hollow. There are no adjustable weights here to accommodate for this. After 18 months of usage my DeathAdder started to present with a problem whereby the left click would send a double click message to windows, despite only being actuated once. Originally, Razer told users this was a firmware issue and released a new update, but I believe it to be a hardware problem. Looking over the internet, you’ll see many reports of this issue and it highlights that it may be a real problem for a lot of users. Although my DeathAdder went wrong under warranty, due to the failings of Royal Mail and an extremely strict return policy from the retailer, I could not get a replacement. I was extremely upset by this as the DeathAdder is a fantastic piece of kit and most people who have issues do get theirs replaced using the 2 year warranty that the product ships with.
Unfortunately after contacting Razer, they could not provide me with any information to help explain what the problem is, or how I might be able to fix it, but only suggested purchasing a replacement. I have tried to fix the mouse several times, but have failed, and so have opted for a different mouse altogether, having tried a few mice out. In the end I’ve decided to buy into manufacturers who offer a direct service and have a great reputation for support, as I feel this is a very important part of any PC purchase, and I don’t want to be disappointed again. I have to stress, this wasn’t the fault of Razer or the retailer, but I still feel let down by both of their lukewarm (or downright cold) responses to my predicament.
Conclusion
Demonstrating my grip
I hope this review has been as interesting for you to read as it was for me to write, and I also hope that it was informative. Let’s start with the good points: The DeathAdder is unrivalled in performance, presentation, style and features. It really does sit up there with the best of what gamers can choose and has only got better over time as Razer have improved the design. There’s an almost endless list of things to like about the DeathAdder and I hope that we’ve covered most of them here from an FPS gaming perspective, which is where it really shines.
Now this would be a terrible review if I had nothing bad to say, as no product is perfect and there’s quite a few things about the DeathAdder that could be better. These include the build quality, grip and weight, though a lot of that is down to personal preference as well.
I can assure anyone who is looking for a gaming mouse that the DeathAdder is probably the best bit of kit available if you’re an FPS player. The price tag isn’t the smallest, but it justifies its cost through blistering performance, unparalleled accuracy and a wealth of customisation options. Once you have a feel for what sort of performance is possible with a high end optical sensor, you’ll have a very hard time going back. Heck, you’ll even find it annoying to use the inaccurate rubbish that most places would call a decent mouse. If it weren’t for a few niggles this would be possibly the best mouse ever made, and coming even remotely close to such an accolade is testament to the ethic and dedication of Razer to their gaming peripherals.
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Associate
- Joined
- 13 Jan 2010
- Posts
- 2,032
- Location
- A box in the Astral Plane
I was going to post a review of my Deathadder, but I won't be able to compete with the other entries here so I might as well save myself the time.
Soldato
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2011
- Posts
- 10,234
- Location
- Slough
good luck guys. some great reviews out there, but they pale into insignificance compared to the brilliance of mine