Introduction
Hard core gamers do not use wireless mice, if you go to a tournament or LAN you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone using a wireless mouse for serious FPS gaming. This is due to various advantages that wired mice have traditionally held over their wireless counterparts, such as faster response times and obviously no risk of interference from other devices. There are also other considerations to take into account, such as battery life for example.
Today we’re going to look at the Razer Mamba, the first wireless mouse truly designed for the hardcore gamer offering 1ms response and up to 5,600 DPI. Razer have taken years to bring this product to market and promises that it is the real deal.
With a hefty price tag today we will find out if this is worth your hard earned cash.
The Razer Mamba
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The Razer Mamba is supplied packaged in what can simply be described as the most elaborate and decorated presentation of a mouse I have ever seen. The box looks like something you’d see in a museum, or in a jewellery shop showcasing one of the pricier attractions. It certainly is a sight to behold and will impress the most demanding customers; this is the kind of packaging that exudes class.
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After removing the outside packaging and the mouse from the stand we are left with a box containing a series of drawers, each filled with the various accessories and documents. It all feels like something you’d expect to see from Apple or a similarly luxurious manufacturer. Contained in these compartments are the documentation booklets, the cradle/receiver, the battery and its cover, a USB cable and a Razer sticker.
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Looking at the Mamba resting on its perch you can see that it shares many of its design properties with the Razer Deathadder, which is by no means a bad thing as the Deathadder is a popular gaming mouse used by many gamers. When we first saw the Deathadder (which was quite some time ago) we thought it was a very well designed mouse and despite the time that has passed the aesthetics haven’t aged at all; it still looks fantastic.
The central body of the mouse is formed from a soft touch plastic with a lovely rubbery feel and the sides are constructed from plastic with grips located near the base. In addition to the traditional 2 buttons and scroll wheel, the mouse has a DPI switch which can be located in the upper corner of the left click button and two extra buttons on the left hand side which can be operated with the thumb. Also on this side, located at the bottom left corner are LED indicators displaying battery life and DPI settings. On the underside of the mouse you’ll find the battery compartment, on/off switch, cable release slider and connect button.
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One of the largest mice we have used |
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Specification
- Gaming Grade Wireless Technology
- Dual Mode Wired/Wireless Functionality
- Razer Synapse™ On-board Memory
- Seven independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
- 5600DPI Razer Precision™ 3.5G Laser sensor
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response rate
- Up to 200 inches per second (Depends on surface used) / 50g acceleration
- Approximate size: 128mm x 70mm x 42.5mm
- Battery Life: 14hrs (continuous gaming); 72 hours (normal gaming usage)
Windows® 2000 / XP / X64 / MCE 2005 / Vista / Vista64
Available USB port
CD-ROM Drive (for drivers)
At least 35MB of hard disk space (for drivers)
Software and Performance
The mouse does not come with a CD but contains a card directing you to the Razer website for the latest software/driver download. (Mamba Driver Page)
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The Mamba is supplied with a comprehensive software application containing all of the expected configuration options. The first page allows you to fully customise the button assignments and also lets you load them straight from a profile via any of the drop down boxes.
The second page contains the most important settings that you will need to access, starting with the DPI settings. You can configure up to 5 DPI presets and pick from the 100-5600 range at 100 DPI increments, the X and Y axis are also able to be adjusted individually.
Just below is the acceleration setting is an option to completely disable it. This is an extremely important feature for gamers and should really be turned off for any gaming whatsoever. With acceleration on, the cursor will move a different distance depending on how fast you move the mouse, so 10 inches of movement on the surface might not correspond to the same distance on the screen every time you move the mouse, therefore resulting inconsistencies will ultimately hinder gameplay.
At the bottom of this window is the polling rate option, one of the real standout features of this mouse. Thanks to the 2.4GHz wireless technology you’re able to set the polling rate to 1000Hz which is exactly what gamers want, sending X and Y calculations to the computer once every 1ms. Additionally, the Mamba continuously scans 21 channels for the clearest signal and each individual mouse has its own MAC address to avoid conflicts with other devices or Mamba mice.
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The final pages give you access to profile, macro and lighting settings as well as listing the current driver and firmware versions. All your settings can be stored and transported via the Synapse onboard memory.
Performance-wise the mouse certainly lives up to expectations, the specification sheet doesn’t lie and this mouse is firmly up there with the best.
To begin with the mouse is extremely comfortable to use, especially with the grips on either side; much needed additions with the extra weight of the battery pulling the butt end down when you lift the mouse for repositioning on the surface.
The Teflon pads are small yet very effective and the mouse is easily wielded with accuracy thanks to the well judged weight. With the battery pack in the mouse weighs 129g, which isn’t the lightest mouse we’ve seen but is absolutely phenomenal for a wireless mouse carrying a hefty battery. The feel of the buttons in action doesn’t let you down either - all providing a crisp, tactile click when actuated. The scroll wheel is slightly soft but gives definite feedback when used and I haven’t experienced any issues with swapping to the wrong weapon by accident in FPS games.
Sensor response is brilliant, lag is nonexistent; it literally feels like you are using a wired USB mouse, you can’t tell the difference and quickly forget that you’re using a cordless device. Additionally, with the Mamba boasting up to 200 inches per second/50g acceleration you are going to find it difficult to fault the mechanics no matter your play style. Personally, throughout rigorous testing I was unable to get the laser to skip or force negative acceleration, sweeping the mouse across a huge distance for 180 degree turns. That said, the sensor feels like it is almost too sensitive; I find at times that the cursor can sometimes move a pixel when I use the left click button (due to it rocking slightly on the surface), this problem appears to be alleviated when I apply more pressure to the mouse vertically and if I switch to a harder surface rather than my preferred cloth.
The mouse can be charged via the cradle or by being directly plugged in and according to the manual takes 3 hours to reach full charge. As Razer claim the mouse can last on a full charge for 14 hours of continuous gameplay and 72 hours of casual play, we decided to put those figures to the test. Unfortunately after extended testing there appears to be an issue with our specific battery; we are unable to get it to display the full charge indication and could only get 5 hours of hardcore gaming from it.
Razer has been contacted regarding the issue and we are awaiting a response. Any details regarding this will be appended and added to this review.
EDIT 20th March 2009: Razer have replied to this issue and have confirmed they are taking immediate action on a firmware update which will fix the problem. Until this is released and made available to the public the full charge can be achieved by leaving the mouse in the "off" position.
Final Words and Conclusion
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Original Mamba design, dating back to the Boomslang era |
The Mamba was first set into Razer’s plans all the way back to 2001 and finally the dream of many of their followers has come to fruition. There were years of uncertainty surrounding the project but research continued and Razer have really outdone themselves here. The specifications sheet for the mouse speaks for itself and fortunately the performance matches up to expectations as well, the mouse performs beautifully and is technically flawless. There really is no discernable difference between using the mouse wired or wireless.
After years of blood, sweat and tears, such a product is going to come at quite a premium with the technology involved, especially when it is a cut above the rest of the competition. No other company is offering a wireless mouse so carefully crafted for the hardcore gamer and the Mamba will retail between £120 and £130. In reality, this price makes the mouse a fantasy for most gamers, £120 is twice what gamers have paid for their current mouse and may very well prove to be too expensive for most. Enthusiast users we spoke with during the review feel that this is unnecessary upgrade at the current time however we are positive there will be an audience for the Mamba.
The Mamba is an excellent performer but at the moment the price is just too steep, reserving this product solely for those with considerable disposable income. The mouse is still technically a winner for Razer though, there is simply no other wireless mouse out there at the moment that can match the specifications.
In closing, everything from the presentation of the product to the construction and design is executed with care and passion. It is certainly a head turner and a unique product to own but it has a way to go before the technology finds itself in the hands of most gamers.
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http://www.driverheaven.net /reviews.php?reviewid=738&pageid=1
here goes a video from youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gBZGjO5Opg&fmt=18
from http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews.php?reviewid=738&pageid=1
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