The gamer mouse is the device that PC gamers always choose with great care. Even before choosing a keyboard, it’s the mouse that catches their attention. And for good reason, it is often this on which the “in game” performance will depend directly. The helmet comes in third place because it is only crucial in FPS (First Person Shooter / first person shooter) or TPS / Battleroyale (Fortnite not to mention) type games, in which “hearing” is sometimes more important than “seeing” in order to anticipate a maneuver or locate an opponent and try to overtake him. Or to wait for it with a firm footing.
Like the office mouse, choosing a gaming mouse is not always easy. Think you’ll have it in your hand for hours and run around your desk. Choosing the right one is therefore very important, especially if you want to stand out in your games with friends. And faced with the plethora of offers, you will surely be helpless at first. This guide is here to help to see more clearly but do not hesitate, also, to browse the tests of the specialized media but also those of the players on the forums or … quite simply, to ask your play partners with what, them, they play. If you can, try a few models with friends or use the “15 days satisfied or refunded“(without overdoing it) to help you refine your searches as you would (i) ez for your gaming keyboard.
The optical sensor, subtleties that are always easy to … pick up. Common to classic mice and gaming mice: the use of sensors optics or lasers. This equipment is constantly improving and optics is – for the moment – the standard in the gaming world. (Note: to get the most out of your gaming mouse, you will need to invest in a good mouse pad. This is essential.)
You have walked our PC mouse guide ? You know (already) that the speed of a sensor is expressed in DPI (Dot Per Inch / Point per Inch). A good gaming mouse should offer you a minimum speed of 4000 DPI and, above all, offer the so-called speed setting. Whether it is by leveling preprogrammed by the brand (on the entry-level mouse, it is often the case) and / or by leveling programmed by yourself in the pilot to be installed to take full advantage of your field mice . In this case, you can often increase the speeds by 10, 50 or 100 DPI depending on the mouse model to find the cursor speed that suits you best.
The more DPI the better? No. Sensors at 25,600 DPI, there are some, the number sounds crazy and awesome but … it’s no use. Unless you’re gaming on a 55-inch 4K screen and you want to, with a micro movement of your hand, move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other. Efficient yes, precise, no. In addition, beware of avalanches of figures communicated on the speed of the sensors. Brands get them by adding the “hardware” speed and the “software” speedThus, 16,000 DPI can be obtained by combining the forces of an 8,000 DPI sensor and an algorithm executed by an on-board processor, responsible for boosting the performance information supplied to the PC.
Because, yes, hidden in the bowels of gaming mice and responsible for analyzing the information provided by the sensor, there is often a microprocessor ARM more or less complex and efficient who plays the conductor. It is he who will take care, for example, of communicating several hundred or thousands of times per second with the internal components of the PC (position of the cursor, pressure of the buttons, commands to activate, etc.) in order to deliver them information already pre-chewed via USB (report rate). In this way, no action will be forgotten along the way (to make it very simple). This microprocessor may be accompanied by internal memory. She, she will keep profiles settings (ROM) but also serve as RAM for the processor from time to time.
The War of the Buttons ! A good gaming mouse has at least 4 buttons: the two main clicks (driven by more or less fast and sophisticated mechanisms), the button hidden under the wheel – notched for gaming – and at least one on the left (or right) side. , for left-handed models). Note in passing that the layout of the buttons is generally designed for right-handed people. At best, some models can be handled by both right-handed and left-handed people but 90% of models are designed to be handled with the right hand. You will notice that brands play the “number of programmable buttons” card a lot to appeal to gamers.
Depending on the model, in fact, only certain buttons are programmable (via proprietary software). Clearly, you can assign them specific commands or actions (key combinations, keyboard key assignment, etc.). Rarer, models offer a button whose sole role is to act as a Shift key on the keyboard. You keep it pressed and, presto, all the buttons can have a primary and secondary role.
The most upscale models offer a number of buttons on demand : we can remove or add. These ergonomic subtleties are only offered on the side keys, the easiest to dislodge. Do you advise on the number of buttons you need? Sorry, that’s impossible. It’s up to you to identify your needs based on the games you play. You may be able to see more clearly after determining what your criteria are for comfort. And to better understand them, identify the way you hold your mouse. Because, know it, PC gamers all hold their mice according to three ways well identified.
The first, in “claw” (claw in English), the index and middle fingers form a claw and it is the end of the pulp which presses the main click buttons, the wrist is “screwed” to the mat, the other fingers form a pincer and make move the mouse over a short distance (using a large reel).
The second, in “palm” (covering in English), the whole hand rests on the mouse and the buttons are pressed by the whole finger, the wrist does not rest on the mat, it is suspended above the latter.
Last way to hold the mouse, the “fingertip” (fingertips) which is a mixture of the two, with specific grip characteristics specific to each player. Depending on how you hold your mouse, you have to pay attention to the shape and location of the buttons.
One rounder back suitable for ways 1 and 3 while a long and wide mouse is ideal for full cover enthusiasts, for example. But, again, no rule or absolute advice can be given because comfort is a feeling unique to everyone. You will find that depending on the way you hold your mouse, you will appreciate having more or less buttons within reach of your thumbs or accessible in certain places on the shell. The circle is complete … well, not quite yet.
The weight of the mouse is an important parameter. Heavy or light? It all depends on the feeling you want to have in your hand. You are more the type to like to feel that you have the things well in hand: opt for heavy (100 grams and more) Want to be able to make fluid and nervous movements? Head for a featherweight or model whose weight can be adjusted by a few grams. Indeed, several models can be ballasted with a few small weights delivered in the box. For the skates, finally, teflon or ceramic. Nothing else for the game.
In this guide, we offer you a selection of gaming mice, to play as well on Fixed gaming PC that on Gaming laptops. We have selected wireless gaming mice and others, wired (or offering both). Affordable or luxury, we have selected models that we know, that we have bought or tested. So don’t be surprised to see some positive and negative remarks in the descriptions!
The technical sheet that we have developed give all the useful information for gamers looking for gaming mice. And, as always, we have accompanied it with a few comments to guide you in your choices. You will see that it is necessary to plan a small minimum budget to have a gaming mouse worthy of the name and that it is especially not necessary to break the bank. Better a mid-range mouse that you fully exploit than a high-end monster that you only use three buttons …