Computer "Gaming" Mice: are any not trash?

[drivebymessiah]

I have used computer mice for gaming for nearly 20 years now and have been steadily breaking microsoft, logitech, & razer products in 6 months to two-years over the past decade. The only difference in the last decade has been that computer mice are given the "gaming mouse" marketing tag that I'm not sure means much other than it's black. And it's not just the eventuality of becoming broken beyond use which is problematic, but the transitional period of buttons becoming stiff, spongy, and unresponsive, or in some cases the point tracking growing intermittent, which is incredibly irksome in gaming particularly if it is competitive.

Granted, with the aforementioned of three mice manufacturers, I am not well accustomed with the many brands of computer mice out there. However, with the numeracy of consumer reviews reporting malfunctions, or products breaking through normal use, seeming relatively common among all mice available through online resellers; I have to wonder if the gaming mouse is little more than a cheap piece of plastic crap in nearly every iteration.

My chief complaint with all the mice I've used is that the buttons become stiff, spongy, or non-functional in relatively short periods of time 6 months to a year on average. However, I have had dead pointers in the 1 to 2 year periods, primarily with logitech products. Ultimately I am asking a wide audience: have you used any gaming mouse for a year or more through a multitude of intense sessions that would lead you to conclude: "This mouse is made extremely well and the clicks and button presses feel exactly as they did on the day of purchase." ?

 

[Savagezion]

I only buy Microsoft laser mice and I have yet to have one fail in performance even years after purchase. I have 2 that are 5 and 7 years old. They aren't really "gaming mice" but I don't understand why I need 10 buttons on my mouse. One has 5 buttons on it and sometimes 2 of them get annoying by being so sensitive I accidentally press them. I haven't ran across any problems you mention.

 

[Smooth Operator]

You break Razer mice in 6 months... I can't even comprehend what sort of torture you put these things through.
Maybe get something to order with titanium casing and interchangeable buttons, it may sound extreme but you are the extremest case I heard of, even my mate who throws peripherals at the wall regularly doesn't actually manage to break them that fast.

But for the normal user public do look up some product reviews before purchase, shit is being made in every industry and you do need to avoid it.

 

[Doom972]

I suggest not spending money on "gaming mice" just buy a simple Dell, Logitech, or Microsoft mouse, and replace it if it gets worn out. In my experience, "gaming mice" are just overpriced mice with a sensitivity toggle and extra buttons that I can't find much use for.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

My SteelSeries Xai is still as good as new. I bought it when it first came out. From my experience SteelSeries makes the best gaming equipment. Razer products always feel like they're made of the cheapest plastic they could find.

 

[votemarvel]

I've been using a Microsoft Sidewinder mouse for the last few years and it works as well today as it did when I bought it.

 

[Zhukov]

I use a little Logitech laptop mouse that I picked up at a regular electronics shop for about $25. It's made of really thin plastic and I'm pretty sure I could break it by squeezing it between my thumb and forefinger.

And it does everything I need it to. I move the mouse and the pointer on my screen moves with it.

I've never seen the point of "gaming mice". What exactly are they supposed to do? You move the mouse and the pointer on your screen moves.... better?

I suppose the ones with extra buttons could be nice. Especially if it saves me from having to use the mouse wheel as a button, I've never liked that. But I'm not about to pay good money for the privilege.

 

[Baneat]

I use a little Logitech laptop mouse that I picked up at a regular electronics shop for about $25. It's made of really thin plastic and I'm pretty sure I could break it by squeezing it between my thumb and forefinger.

And it does everything I need it to. I move the mouse and the pointer on my screen moves with it.

I've never seen the point of "gaming mice". What exactly are they supposed to do? You move the mouse and the pointer on your screen moves.... better?

I suppose the ones with extra buttons could be nice. Especially if it saves me from having to use the mouse wheel as a button, I've never liked that. But I'm not about to pay good money for the privilege.

Look up angle snapping

Also, DPI (Rare to need more than about 800 though)

Also, extra buttons, ergonomics and weirdly if you move a cheap mouse too fast it skites off into some random direction. 500Hz instead of 125Hz is nice too, doesn't matter if you're using PS/2 because that's interrupt-based

The best gaming mice for the OP would be the logitech G400, feenix nascita, g500, microsoft intellimouse, Razer Deathadder, MX518. You shouldn't need them for MMO's unless you're like one-handed but the naga and G600 has its place.

P.S the Deathadder isn't that well built, the logitech ones all are and the microsoft intellimouses certainly are.

 

[Fasckira]

I've used a Razer Deathadder for about 4 years without breaking it and a Razer Abyssus sits with my laptop for when Im doing LANs. Both were purchased due to having a higher DPI and frequency allowing for a smoother and sharper feel when Im playing games.

I can wholeheartedly say you do not get the same feel with a bog standard wired mouse. Anyone who contests that has either not tried a decent gaming mouse or does not play at a level where they find it beneficial enough to assist them.

I have however had loads of problems with Razer keyboards. Had two in the past few years and both have had to be opened up by me and have various bits inside reconnected.

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

In the course of the last 10 years (or even longer) i used only 2 Logitech mice. The first one was the MX518 and since ~5 years the G5.

Friend of mine got one of these Razor-cyborg-things. But i can't play with them, to light, totally uncomfortable and i also dislike the button layout.

 

[Vivi22]

I've heard bad things about the Deathadder though. Breaking quickly and what not.

Might just be anecdotal evidence of course, but I own two for different computers. One I've had for about six months and another I've been using for at least two years now. Both are problem free. Before those I had their predecessor (it was basically a Deathadder but the name was different back then) and it lasted me a good four years or so. And the only part that started to fail on it was the mouse wheel.

 

[Kirke]

I've had three mice in total, the first was a small laptop mice (I don't remember which brand) which is still working, but I've got fairly long fingers so it became really uncomfortable. Later I was given a Logitech MX518, which worked amazingly for a few years before the sensor gave up. By that point I was so in love with it that I bought another one, which I have till this day. I highly recommend it, it's durable, comfortable and after years of sitting in front of a computer too much, I haven't got even a hint of Carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

[Zac Jovanovic]

I never quite found anything to match the Mx518, you could bash a man's brain out with the thing and then plug it in and play. It still works after more than 7 years, though barely.

I bought a G5 afterwards and had a much worse experience with it, it broke down 2 times during the 2 year warranty.

I've been using cheaper mice since, right now I have a A4Tech X7 laser that cost me just over 20 euros. I like the ergonomics of it, 100-3600 switchable DPI, up to 1000 hz, neat software with it making it easy to make binds.
It's obvious it doesn't have the manufacturing quality of the 518 but it does get the job done.

The only complaint I have about it that it has only 1 button for switching DPI, so you have to press the button like 6 times to go through all the settings. But I almost always use the 800 dpi setting anyway, on all mice.
Overall, for 20 euros over 2 years I think it's a pretty good deal. It broke down once and I had it replaced the same day.
When it breaks out of the warranty I'll likely just buy a similar one.

Razer always struck me as a brand for rich pretentious bints, i mean Jesus, even the plainest optical mouse costs like 40 euros. From my experience with them none of the ones I used justify the price, and I can't remember a single one that suited me ergonomically.

 

[vun]

Having a far too large collection of pointing devices, most of them being gaming mice, I would say that most gaming mice are more than just bits of plastic with some clever marketing. That being said, the gaming mice with the best sensors are often the cheaper ones. Most of the expensive mice use laser sensors with either hardware acceleration(all regular laser sensors) or other tracking issues(PTE sensors).

Personally I've found Logitech mice to be extremely solid and reliable, my old gen 1 G5 is still working flawlessly and my G9x has endured quite a lot of use.
That said, due to my substantial collection my mice don't go through as much as they would if I only had one of them, apart from my G5, which I used for several years until I started buying more mice, and still use occasionally.

 

[Susurrus]

Had exactly the same problem with a Razer Copperhead - the pads under the mouse buttons wore away, and even after I sorted this issue, it died two months later.

The solution is this mouse:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=trust+predator&rlz=1C1GGGE_en-gbGB402GB402&aq=f&oq=trust+predator&aqs=chrome.0.57j0l3.2857&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Cheap. Choose your own DPI. Resilient (I have had two (one went to my bro when I got the Copperhead). Both still work - one is 3 years old, the other 6.

 

[Rob Robson]

microsoft, logitech, & razer products

Hmm. Neither Microsoft nor Logitech produce mice that are 'great' for gaming. Logitech have some notable exceptions, but they are more office friendly. I've had a Logitech Professional break on me after a short time.

Razer however, are wildly overrated. Just because the grib is rubberized many are fooled into thinking they are high build quality and made to last. In fact, in both my clan and local LAN group, Razers have been the first to break and wear out to become a soggy mess.

I recommend the Thermaltake Tt eSports Theron mouse. Thermaltake in general make some good stuff, their cheaper gaming mice however aren't too great, but the Theron is probably the most durable and well-built mouse I've owned. And I chewed through a lot of them until I found the Theron. The Theron is somewhere in between a claw and palm grip, suitable to claw with big hands or palm with medium hands. The ergonomics however make the grip comfortable anyway. I've had mine for 8 months and it's still as crisp as ever.


The glide pads underneath are also very sturdy and a bit larger, with better adhesive, so that's another thing contributing to it's long-lasting nature.