Computer "Gaming" Mice: are any not trash?

[Ieyke]

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.

I'm pretty sure the problem is you.

I've been using a G15 keyboard (the real one) for like a decade, and it still works perfectly.
I was using a VX Nano, which is technically just a laptop mouse, for probably 6 years and it still works just fine, but I upgraded to a G700.
The G700 is a spectacular gaming mouse, and it's not going to wear out for probably a decade.

I upgrade my PC itself about once every year or two, but the mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers, etc etc etc etc etc etc always stay the same.


I suggest that you learn to use thing like a normal person.
Should save you a lot of money.

 

[Altorin]

gaming mice tend to have extra buttons, and those buttons can certainly come in handy

 

[Snotnarok]

Guah...I've never broken a single mouse, I've had a defective one but all my mice work to this day, the only reason I got a new mouse was to get with the times. Ball mouse? Screw that! Laser mouse! Wired? Screw that! Wireless! Laptop? need new travel mouse. Good deal on a gaming mouse? Went for it. But they all work never had a busted bit.

I've had the G9x for quite some time now but I wouldn't recommend it solely on the basis Logitech has not been updating any of their drivers at all. So the hardware is good however without the software working it's worthless.

 

[Tufty94]

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.

I agree. You can't go wrong with SteelSeries. I really wanted a Xai since I don't like the texture of the Sensei much, but I could only get a Sensei.

 

[choclatechocobo]

I've been using the R.A.T 9 wireless mouse for about two years now, and the buttons etc still respond every time, no spongyness etc. The build quality seems pretty sturdy, this thing has taken some pretty heavy abuse (we're talking its made friends with the wall on some numerous occasions) but after so much use some of the matte plastic coating has started to wear thin on the thumb rest and on the changeable batteries. coating on the feet is still going strong, although there was a hard plastic sticker on the bottom which started peeling away after about a year and a half, peeled it off completely and normality was restored.

I'd say after having owned numerous Razer peripherals, the 9 is the for sure the most comfortable mouse I have owned. Compared to the Razer devices, it fits much better in the hand with the extendable palm rest but more importantly being able to angle out the thumb wing to where i like it. It's alot heavier than most mice I have used however, even when all the additional weights are taken out the back its a beast of a mouse.

Another note on the thumb wing, the precision aim button is the best thing in the world when playing FPS'es. Makes leading targets down a scope much easier than having to use an on the fly DPI button to reduce sensitivity from playing with CQC weapons.

As for any concerns with the wireless connectivity, I've never noticed any input delay, and the battery has never died on me in the middle of shooting. with the little charging dock for the spare battery and the fact its held in by a clip on a spring lever it takes me about 10 ~ 15 seconds to change the battery. You'll always know when to change it, around half an hour to an hour left the lights on the side of the mouse will start blinking at you so you're acutely aware. Average battery life after two years is still around the 8 hours mark in one session just like when i first had it.

 

[Username Redacted]

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.

This has been roughly my experience; i.e. Deathadder still going strong after ~3 years while Razer keyboard having problems at ~1 year. Still using the Deathadder for gaming while my keyboard is now an IBM Model M which in addition to being perfectly fine for gaming in legally indestructible despite being older than one of my roommates.

 

[Little Gray]

They are only trash if you regularly smash them on the desk and throw them around.

 

[aceman67]

I have a Steelseries Ikari Laser mouse, with on-mouse adjustable DPI down to the single digit. Best mouse I've ever owned, Its hyper responsive, buttons have withstood years of abuse from playing everything from shooters to RPGs, and normal every day use.

And it fits my hand perfectly and doesn't aggravate my damaged wrist (har har, i know what you're thinking, but no, its not that. I shattered my wrist falling off a bike when I was younger and it didn't heal properly).

 

[Sealpower]

If you're going to end up manipulating a control devices multiple hours per day all year long it better be comfortable. In my case that means a bigger heavier mouse than the standard size (which have become smaller the last few years, correct me if I'm wrong). Same goes for the keyboard.

I'm currently using a Logitech G500 and it's served me well so far.

Hell, even the company I used to work for bought "gaming" mice for its engineers because you got the same performance and ergonomics as the specifically branded and much more expensive "professional" mice (which are usually crappy cumbersome shit anyway)

 

[Jiefu]

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.

Binding extra stuff to those extra buttons can actually be a real boon. In TF2 I have my Engineer set up to destroy the old sentry and be ready to place a new at the press of a single button. For Mini Sentries, those extra 3.5 seconds or so (the build/destroy interface is so cumbersome) make a huge difference, along with being able to pump my FJ/Sentry crits into at will.

 

[Vegosiux]

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.

Binding extra stuff to those extra buttons can actually be a real boon. In TF2 I have my Engineer set up to destroy the old sentry and be ready to place a new at the press of a single button. For Mini Sentries, those extra 3.5 seconds or so (the build/destroy interface is so cumbersome) make a huge difference, along with being able to pump my FJ/Sentry crits into at will.

Ehm, but that just means I can bind that to a single available button everywhere I want, and is an interface/macro thing rather than it being down to the mouse being a "gaming" mouse...

 

[AT God]

I usually can't tell the difference, in my opinion if it doesn't have at least a mouse4 and mouse5 button it is a waste of money. Also I like the ones with sensitivity controls built in, my last two mice have had that.

I do have a wireless logitech that is supposed to work for gaming but I have found the mouse wont register on any surface other than a cloth-style mousepad. Even a vinyl mousepad causes problems.

 

[Madkipz]

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." ?

I would recommend a large palm designed mouse.

Like the steelseries Ikari.

http://steelseries.com/products/mice/steelseries-ikari-laser

it distributes the weight of your palm evenly and doesn't break as often.

 

[PFCboom]

I'm using a R.A.T. 7 mouse, and have been since about September of last year. After adjusting and swapping plates to my liking, I don't think I've ever had a more comfortable mouse. Being able to change sensitivity on the fly is nice for certain games (Skyrim is a pain). It spent a lot of time in Afghanistan, but still holds up. About the only problem I have with it now is the wheel is kinda derpy, but considering the abuse it's taken since I got it, that's to be expected.

 

[Xyebane]

I have had my Razor Death Adder for 3 years or so. Still works good. Its very very very sensitive. I can't always decide if that's a good thing or not but I've gotten used to it by now.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

I'm using a basic Microsoft optical mouse that I bought in 2008 for 14 euros. Last year at a point the right button started being kind of unresponsive so I had to press it really deep and apply more force to it to register a button click.
I was thinking of getting a new mouse but postponed it once and again and again,and after a while the problem was gone and the button became responsive again.
So yeah,I have my mouse for like 5 years,not without a periodical problem,but still it took more than double than what you say have been the largest life of a mouse you had.
Keep in mind that everything wears with usage and the pass of time. Not only electronics hardware,but also cars,and actually whatever.

 

[AndyRock]

I'm using a corsair M60, while the software isn't great (some people have had some major problems, but I've managed to avoid them) it's perfectly functional. It fits my hand perfectly so don't have the same problems I did using regular mice (mainly cramps after long gaming sessions), and seems rather sturdy, been using it for about a year now and it seems as solid as ever. Some people seem to be having problems as it seems corsair's quality control on this isn't up to snuff, but it seems I got lucky.

 

[Yopaz]

Well, my Logitech MX518 works for over 3 years now... I'm thinking of replacing it due to comfort issues (the age shows).

I've had one of them for about 6 years now. It is getting worn, but it's still fully functional.

On my other computer I use a Logitech G500, it has lasted me for 2 years now and it's still as good as the day I bought it. It's also the most comfortable one I have tried as it fits my hands.If you manage to break gaming mice over such a short span then you might just have a lot of bad luck always getting products that weren't picked up in quality check or they are receiving harsh treatment. I'm only guessing here, but there are good gaming mice out there and there are bad ones. Even good models have their share of faulty products though.