Choosing a gaming mouse

Hello,

I've been looking around recently for gaming mice; my god there's a lot! I'm kinda overwhelmed by the choice and there's mixed reviews for everything.

I have a sort-of wish list. I'd like:
-Right handed
-Extra buttons for functions
-WIRED
-Suitible for non-gaming uses
- <£50 (if possible)

I've seen the Steelseries Xai which has caught my eye, apart from the ampidexturous design and underside screen. The logitechs also seem pretty good. I have mixed feelings about Roccat and Razer, they seem to focused on LEDs and mouse audio (although I would still consider!)

I'd like to know your opinions and which mouse you'd recommend. I'm not looking for anything flashy, just something that gets the job done and isn't hideous :P

Thanks!

Mx518

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Originally Posted by kalniel

Mx518

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I've seen that, heard pretty much all brilliant reviews. Apart from it looks (to me) pretty ugly.

How about its sucessor? The G400?

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Originally Posted by EvanJackPenn

I've seen that, heard pretty much all brilliant reviews. Apart from it looks (to me) pretty ugly.

How about its sucessor? The G400?

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Not noticeably better, but if you can find it for the same bargain price as the mx518, go for it.

The MX518 frequently drops sub £20, and for that price you would struggle to find a better mouse IMO.

I have been using an MX518 and MX700 (wireless version of the same mouse) for the last 5-6 years and they have been great. Your hand gets used to all the extra buttons and when you go back to a regular "office" mouse you wonder how anyone got by with just left and right click.

If you are not so keen on the appearance of the MX518, then the G500 is similar overall shape, has extra buttons down the side, though not in quite the same positions, and supports higher sensitivity settings (up to 5700dpi, rather than the MX518's 1800dpi).

I have now upgraded to the G9x, which I can't really fault, but was going to rule it out for being too expensive, but see it has come down to almost £50. Probably a bit too expensive for a first gaming mouse, but great if you already had a reasonable one and wanted to upgrade.

I will add that Logitech Customer Service have been very good when I've had to use them in the past, which combined with the high quality of their products means I am happy to keep buying and recommending their products.

EDIT
Looking at the G400 you linked to - almost identical in form to the MX518, and has the newer pad layout on the underside - fewer larger pads make it smoother to glide across surfaces, rather than the initial units which had several small pads around the edges. As the blurb says they have started with the MX518 as the basis and built on that - if you can find it for a good price compared to the 518, then go for it.

I'll consider all of those mice. Thanks much :)

Another vote for the MX518. I've had one for years now, and it just fits. In an ergonomic kind of way, of course. I paid £32 for it and was apprehensive about spending that much on it, seeing as you can get a normal one for about a fiver, but it was money well spent. And if you can get it for under £20, even more value.

I've read about angle snapping being the only downside - is it bad in gaming?

And also, optical vs laser?

Roccat mice are actually very good and very comfortable although i know at one point they did have some issues with drivers. I personally think razer are garbage and worth avoiding, they feel very cheap!

I used to use the MX518 and i recently moved to the G500, both terrific mice but to be honest i would struggle to recommend the G500 over the MX518 based on how cheap the 518 is. Being able to adjust the weight is quite nice and the sensitivity adjustment buttons are in a slightly better place but other than that is just flashy features i rarely use.

I avoided the G9 as i didnt find the shape anywhere near as comfortable as my MX, i skipped past the G5 because for some crazy reason it had less buttons than the MX (the 1st gen G5 anyway), it was also a wierd colour.

My vote would be for the MX518 unless you just fancy splashing the cash around, then go with the G500.

A note on the Pads for the MX518, the later gen ones actually had the larger pads aswell. I had one which got replaced under warrenty so i got to use both types :)

Another vote for Logitech, I bought an MX1000(wireless so wouldn't suit you, but fantastic) a few years back, and since then my desk has become overrun with Logitech gear, on the basis of it's quality (I bought the MX1000 not long after it came out, it's on something like it's 5th set of feet and still going strong) and their customer service. Both of which are fantastic. You wont go wrong with an MX518 or it's successors imo.

I think I've narrowed it down to the G400(or MX518) vs the G500, but this again comes down to optical vs laser... Does this really matter? I've heard it depends on the games you play, but I play a variety - mainly RPGs, shooters (or similar, e.g. portal). Will the tracking technology really affect me?

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Originally Posted by EvanJackPenn

I think I've narrowed it down to the G400(or MX518) vs the G500, but this again comes down to optical vs laser... Does this really matter? I've heard it depends on the games you play, but I play a variety - mainly RPGs, shooters (or similar, e.g. portal). Will the tracking technology really affect me?

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Nope.

its not really about the game you play its the surface you are using it on. If you use any mouse in conjuction with a half decent gaming mouse mate you will notice no difference between laser and optical. However, i was originally using my MX518 straight onto the wooden surface of my desk (well crappy veneer anyway) which was fine, i moved onto my G500 and decided i would get a mat to protect the feet, it turned out to work slightly better on the mat. Now at work i use my MX518 on a mat aswell and even that feels a little better!

I think generally lasers will work on a larger variety of surfaces (including shiny surfaces) effectively due to a shorter wavelength.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record I'd recommend the mx518. Great build, features and price. Can't fault it.

Id go with the G500 ive had a G7 fora few years now and love it and the G5 is just he wired version. G500 follows on from them two great mice. Very nice to use for long periods and on teh fly sensitivity options are great.

I've got a Logitech G9 - the shape's not to everyone's liking but if you use a claw grip rather than resting your palm on the mouse then it's fine. The mouse itself is ridiculously configurable and has never caused me any trouble.

Basically as long as you get something Logitech you can't go too far wrong. Razer mice can be flaky and don't feel solid, although they are good when they do work. Other makes I've not used but I hear good things about Roccat.