Top 10 Gaming Mouse Tips

The best manufacturer of gaming mice?
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A4Tech

Asus

HyperX

Logitech

Razer

Redragon

Total voted: 6

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The shape of the mouse is the basis for comfort during long gaming sessions.An uncomfortable mouse leads to rapid fatigue of the hand and fingers during repetitive actions, provokes the development of the so-called "gamer's diseases", accompanied by very severe pain in the wrist. However, general hand fatigue alone is enough to knock down the accuracy of your movements, make the sight twitch, and your fingers not have time to click in time. That is why gaming manipulators are made ergonomic using anatomical body shapes, but, unfortunately, there are no ideal options.

When choosing a mouse, you should definitely hold it in your hand for a couple of minutes in a natural working position, i.e. on a table or display case to see how convenient it is. For quiet games, a mouse with a symmetrical shape that fits both hands is quite suitable. If you prefer dynamic shooters, then the asymmetric design for a specific hand will be the best choice. True, it is often difficult to find options for left-handers, and you will have to order a mouse directly through the manufacturer's website.

There is an erroneous opinion that the light weight of a mouse is good, but this is only true for a laptop that you always carry with you. And on the gaming table for the computer there should be a moderately "weighty" manipulator, which lies confidently in the hand and does not fly away from the first draft, interfering with the accuracy of aiming.Many experts believe that the minimum weight of a gaming mouse should be at least 110 grams, but some professional eSports players like gadgets much heavier. For a child, the optimum is in the range of 90-100 grams.

Part of the problem is solved by the weight adjustment option, which is actively used in their best models by all rodent manufacturers. With the help of a set of weights, you can choose the most comfortable weight directly to your personal preferences. So the overpayment for such a function is quite justified and will allow you to customize the mass of the manipulator for specific games or for the requests of different players, if several people alternately use the mouse.

The sensor is a key technical element that determines the accuracy of the cursor / sight movement on the computer screen. To date, manufacturers use mainly only two types of sensors.

LED optical (or just LED) glows red on the “belly” of the mouse, is versatile, inexpensive and reliable in operation, but requires a high-quality mat with constant cleaning of the working surface. Otherwise, even a thin layer of dust can cause the sensor to break, i.e. the sight in the game will begin to twitch and jump, inadequately responding to hand movements. On the other hand, under optimal conditions, simple optics guarantee the highest level of positioning accuracy.And this is appreciated by many professional players, especially in the shooter genre, where even a slight trembling of the sight can mean defeat in a firefight.

laser the sensor stands out for its operability on any surface, including glass, plus it consumes little energy, which is why it becomes a regular guest in the design of wireless mice. But its work uses various software algorithms, which can sometimes adversely affect positioning accuracy, although not necessarily. This means that only high-quality laser sensors are suitable for high-level gaming, while the cost of a “rodent” with such a sensor will be significantly higher than that of an analogue with LED optics.

Now in more detail about the performance of the sensors. The key parameter is DPI, or resolution, which determines how fast the mouse cursor moves. The myth is popular among the people: "the more DPI, the better." Although in reality, not everything is so clear. Where high values ​​of optical resolution are definitely good is when playing on large monitors with a resolution of 4K and higher, but even there 4000-6000 DPI is more than enough for most. For a typical PC monitor, the range of 800-3000 DPI will fit, while the upper threshold is suitable for the MOBA genre. But connoisseurs of shooters are often limited to 800-1200 DPI, since this resolution allows you to more accurately control the sight.

No less important is the maximum acceleration parameter, which shows how confidently the gaming mouse sensor will behave with sudden hand movements. As it becomes clear from research, a person is able to move his hand with an acceleration in the range of 20-30G, i.e. A "rodent" with a parameter below 20G can be considered a full-fledged gaming one with a big stretch and is only suitable for playing solitaire or unhurried strategies. On the other hand, many manufacturers overcharge for supporting 50G acceleration, which is physically inaccessible to the average person, so it makes no sense to overpay for this option.

The choice of a wireless / wired mouse is a purely individual matter. At the dawn of the appearance of "rodents" without a cable, they were treated with distrust due to flaws in communication technology. The pioneers were distinguished by fast battery discharge, often lost the connection and frankly slowed down when transferring data, i.е. had a low response - the time it takes for the signal to reach the computer. This parameter is just as important as the characteristics from the previous paragraph, because the smoothness of the cursor movement depends on it. In modern game controllers (at least with a wire, at least without), the response time is 1 ms, and this is a universal standard for any genre, so any mouse with a longer response time is not suitable for gaming. But still, different types of connection have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Wired mice are considered more stable in operation, because another signal source cannot interfere with data transmission over the cable, especially if the wire is with a shielding braid. In addition, such a mouse will never suddenly “fall asleep”, because it is powered by a PC. On the other hand, the wire can get tangled, cling to corners or other gadgets on the computer desk, interfering with comfortable gaming.

Wireless "Rodents", in turn, are more mobile, which is especially important if you play on a laptop. And it's not just the ability to freely move the mouse to any point on the table. The absence of a wire eliminates unnecessary "twitching" of the manipulator from the energy transferred back to the mouse from the cable when it is shifted/twisted. This means smoother cursor movement control. The disadvantages of a wireless gadget: the risk of sudden battery discharge, the possibility of communication failures and a higher price.

Gaming mice are distinguished from office mice by the presence of additional buttons: at least a DPI switch and a couple of side keys (only the cheapest models do not). When deciding which mouse to choose, it is worth considering the features of your favorite game.For popular projects with little functionality (GTA V, World of Tanks, etc.), a minimum set of three buttons and a wheel will suffice, shooter lovers should take a closer look at models that have a couple of additional “clicks” for, for example, quick reloading of weapons or throwing grenades. Most of all, games of the MOBA and MMORPG genres are dependent on the buttons, where advanced gamers often write their own macros on additional keys or simply set the execution of any spells.

Do not forget about the quality of the buttons, they should not spoil the ergonomics and ease of use of the manipulator. When buying, you should definitely press the keys, check their tactile feedback and accuracy: squelching, jamming, crackling and chattering indicate poor build quality and guaranteed problems during the game session: at the right time, the button will not press, click twice, or even work when accidentally touched . The latter is a common problem for those who bought a mouse with a large number of buttons for playing regular shooters, and then accidentally hit the wrong keys in the heat of online battles.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, for the MOBA and MMORPG genres, it is very important to have a supply of additional buttons for programming your own commands. Accordingly, the mouse must support this option, and the more opportunities for fine-tuning macros, the better. Mice are configured through special software, which each manufacturer has its own.In general, all developers offer approximately the same set of features, although it may be slightly higher for expensive models, and some manufacturers provide access to top options only for an additional fee. It is better to find out about this before buying, otherwise you may be disappointed if you get a “rodent” that does not meet your needs.

In addition, some models of gaming mice are equipped with built-in memory for writing user profiles. This feature allows you to use the mouse on another computer or laptop without having to set it up again. If you plan to play only on your personal PC at home, then it is not necessary to overpay for this option.

Hot game battles involve a lot of sharp movements, during which the mouse strives to slip out of a sweaty hand. Even small slips and simple "dangling" of the manipulator under the palm of your hand leads to a decrease in the accuracy of the sight positioning and uneven button presses, and this is fraught with another defeat in the online battle. To solve this problem, manufacturers use several methods.

Anti-slip coating is the most common and least expensive method. Basically, this is painting ordinary plastic with various “rough” coatings, more often rubberized. They perfectly hold the mouse in your hand, but, depending on the quality, they have a tendency to wear and lose their original properties.

Soft touch plastic more expensive, but its structure alone copes with the task of anti-skid, although over time the surface can also be smoothed out.

Rubber pads make the "rodent" as expensive as possible, but at the same time more effectively cope with their purpose. Some manufacturers even include replacement or removable items to fine-tune the look to the player's needs. The only downside to overlays is that they can peel off.

Note that in recent years, manufacturers often combine all three methods, especially in top models, so it becomes easier to choose: take the one that fits well in your hand. But at the same time, do not forget that any coating that sticks to the palm of your hand perfectly collects dirt, grease and dust, so you need to clean the mouse regularly.

Often when asked which gaming mouse to choose, some gamers look for cute models with bright backlighting. But they are not always useful and good. The problem is that the lighting is different. Ordinary LEDs, shining just for beauty or highlighting the manufacturer's logo, do not give exactly any advantages in the game. Even if there are millions of colors to choose from. If you buy a "Christmas tree", then only with the option of light display of the selected settings. Most often, this concerns the mode of operation of the sensor, i.e. its optical resolution. With it, you will be able to determine what value is currently set at a glance at the backlight, and quickly switch to the right one if the situation or style of play requires it.

The market for game controllers is quite saturated, which is why it is often difficult for the average person to decide which mouse to choose for purchase.And the point is not so much in a large number of different models, but in a wide list of manufacturers who have long learned to attract attention with bright design, colorful advertising and an abundance of functionality. And yet, in this diversity, there are companies that hold strong high positions in the sales rankings and enjoy the support of professional players who appreciate the quality of their products.

One of the key leaders is the company Logitech, which produces both budget mice and professional ones for eSports. This Swiss firm has an excellent reputation and is often a pioneer in the implementation of cutting-edge technical developments.

The brand is not far behind A4Tech from Taiwan, also able to please with a wide range of different models for any request. Moreover, often the mice of this company are cheaper, but at the same time they are not inferior in functionality.

An American company closes the top three Razer, but its main specialization is professional and expensive manipulators for cybersportsmen. If you want to buy cheap, but at the same time get acceptable quality, then you can look at brand mice Redragon (China) and ASUS (Taiwan).