Choosing The Best Gaming Mouse

The Logitech G500 is a revamped version of one of the most popular gaming mice of all time - the G5. The G500 takes on a similar right-handed shape that ensures a good grip and remains comfortable throughout long gaming sessions.

Under the shell lurks a 5,600dpi laser sensor that supports on-the-fly adjustability for incredibly effective tracking.

Probably the best feature of the G500 is the fact that there are ten buttons available and each of them is programmable. That makes it great for any game, whether it be the laser sensor giving fast responses in a FPS or the ability to load up the buttons with macros for MMOs and RPGs such as World of Warcraft. There's even memory installed on the mouse to store your favourite button profiles.

Finally, the G500 allows you to add up to 27g of extra weight thanks to a removable tray that holds up to six individual weights.

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The Razer Imperator is a new design that packs the latest 5,700dpi sensor inside it's ergonomic shell. It's designed for right-handed gamers and features a design that's very similar to their Deathadder mouse.

As well as the cutting edge sensor there are seven programmable buttons as well as onboard memory for up to five sets of button profiles.

What's special about the Razer Imperator? Well, it has one unique feature - the two thumb buttons on the left side of the mouse can be repositioned by sliding them forward and backward. This allows you to achieve the perfect position for your hand size, meaning your thumb can relax a little more. It's a nice idea that works surprisingly well.

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Logitech have a history of producing good gaming mice and their latest mouse, the G9x, is another great product.

The Logitech G9x is a development of the popular G9 model and boasts a new 5,600dpi sensor (the olg G9 had 3,200dpi).

The unique feature of the Logitech G9x is that it comes with two swappable shells, so you can change the shape of your mouse to suit your preferred style of grip - fingertip grip or resting your palm on the mouse.

It's also got a cartridge system that allows you to customise the weight of the mouse until it feels just right.

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Buy a Logitech G9 from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
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With a long list of features the Microsoft Sidewinder mouse makes a great case for itself. While it might only have a 2000dpi laser sensor it manages to make up for this by including some useful extra features.

The first is the variable weight system as used in the Logitech G9, that allows additional weights from 5 to 30 grams to be added. It also has a choice of feet with different glide characteristics.

There are 5 programmable buttons, on-the-fly DPI adjustment (400, 800 and 2000), an LCD display that shows DPI and icons for macro recording.

Best of all - it's cheaper than the Lachesis and G9 by a considerable margin.

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Buy a Microsoft Sidewinder from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
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The Logitech MX518 is something of a classic amongst gamers. It's powered by an 1800dpi optical sensor with adjustable sensitivity and has eight programmable buttons. Not bad, but it's a really old design so why would you want one instead of a newer design? Two things - build quality and price.

The MX518 has been around for a few years now, and despite a cosmetic facelift it is largely unchanged. That's good, because it means that any problems with the mouse were ironed out long ago. The MX518 was also a good design from the start and it is built to last. There are many tales of gamers who are still using an old MX518 even though they've managed to trash new mice from other manufacturers.

Price is also a factor, as you can pick up an MX518 for under $20. That gives you a good sensor that should be more than adequate for most games, eight programmable buttons and a mouse that will last for years for just a quarter of the price of a Razer Lachesis. Bargain!

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Buy a Logitech MX518 from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
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The Razer Lachesis currently holds the title of having the laser sensor with the highest rate of dpi, rated at 4,000dpi. Its nearest competitors are still running at 3,200dpi so if you really need a sensitive mouse then this is the one to go for! The DPI rating is also adjustable on-the-fly in increments of 125dpi.

It has nine programmable buttons and onboard memory to store up to five different profiles. This means you can plug the mouse into another PC that hasn't got the driver software installed and still be able to access your profiles.

You also get a stylish shape, as well as Razer's typically cool lighting. There are three colours available - Banshee Blue, Phantom White and Wraith Red.

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Buy a Razer Lachesis from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Check for cheap Lachesis on Ebay