Reviewed: February 2, 2007
Reviewed by: Mongoose

Manufacturer
Razer

Type: Mouse
System: PC

Rating: 9.7

System Requirements

  • Windows XP/Vista
  • USB Port

    MSRP: $59.99

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    As computer games continually evolve so do the skills of the people who play them, but no matter how many frags per minutes you can rack up in Unreal Tournament, your ability to play is only as good as the equipment you are playing on. With today’s computers there are so many opportunities to introduce a weak link in the chain of hardware required to play these twitch-games, but thanks to Razer your mouse doesn’t have to be one of them.

    There are hundreds of mice out there and many of them claim to be “gaming mice” but when you sift through all the posers you end up with Logitech and Razer rising to the top and the battle gets fiercer as each of these companies continually tries to one-up the other with each new model.

    Here at GCM, I have become the token Razer reviewer, and that is perfectly fine with me. I love checking out new technology and Razer makes some of the best mice around. Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the Krait, it did make me appreciate the usefulness of high precision mice and I ended up in Logitech’s camp with a G7. And while I'll try not to turn this review into a direct comparison with Logitech, some references might sneak though.

    The Razer DeathAdder arrived just in time for some post-holiday gaming, and I have to admit, it was difficult unplugging my G7 and put it aside. It has served me well for nearly four months, and I’m still getting used to the blue glow.

    Razer seems to have an affinity for naming their mice after snakes, which is rather ironic since snakes eat mice, but perhaps that is their subliminal marketing strategy – their mice eats the competition. So who better to put this latest creation through the ultimate test than the “snake killer”.

    Technically speaking, the DeathAdder devours the Krait and just about any other contenders in a single bite and comes mighty close to surpassing Logitech’s G7. Nearly every complaint I had about the Krait seems to have been addressed and fixed with the DeathAdder. In fact, if you don’t mind the USB cord, the DeathAdder might just beat the G7, at least in comfort. Check out these stats:

    • 1800 dpi 3G Infrared Sensor
    • 1000 Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms Response
    • 5 Programmable, Ultra-large Non-slip Buttons with Hyperesponse™
    • 16-bit Ultra-Wide Data Channel
    • Zero-Acoustic Ultraslick™ Teflon Feet
    • Always-On™ Instant Response
    • Award-Winning On-The-Fly™ Sensitivity Drivers
    • Right-Handed Form Factor
    • Ultra-Large Mouse Buttons with Anti-Slip Rubber Coating
    • Scroll Wheel With 24 Individual Click Positions
    • Gold plated USB connector for maximum conductivity
    • 7 Foot, High Tensile Strength Lightweight Mouse Cord
    • Ambient Blue Glow on Mouse Logo
    One thing that bugged me about the Krait was that it just wasn’t that comfortable, at least at first, but eventually your hand molds to the new shape and it works. The DeathAdder tucks into your cupped palm like Razer used your own hand to mold the mouse. The side rails are hard plastic but the top is a textured rubberized plastic that provides an almost sticky grip. There is a bigger and better bulge in the main body that gives way to long sloping curves to the buttons in front and the extended tail section.

    The sides of the mouse no longer glow like the Krait, but the cool blue glow of the mouse wheel and the Razer logo (which matches my Tarantula keyboard) offer their own unique style, even though your hand masks the glow during use.

    A significant improvement over the G7, the DeathAdder has the twin thumb buttons, which not only allows you to move forward and back while browsing the web, but also gives you that invaluable extra button to config for your favorites games. These buttons are perfectly placed along the left side so I don’t even have to adjust my grip to push either of them.

    The 1200 APM (actions per minute) of my Krait seem a bit old school compared to the 1800 DPI technology derived from the 3G infrared sensor, which seems to have surpassed laser technology. I won’t rehash the tech-specs listed above, but you can be sure all these elements come together to create one of the most sensitive, accurate, and comfortable gaming mice currently available. It’s safe to say that the Razer DeathAdder is the ultimate tool of destruction in the proper hands.

    The scroll wheel has 24 defined clicks to it, too defined for my taste. I don’t mind just a bit of tactile feedback in my wheel, but these clicks are like speed bumps. I suppose if you have trouble stopping on your proper weapon or menu selection during a game you’ll appreciate the extra resistance, but it actually hindered my gameplay.

    The DeathAdder drivers and configuration software are simple to install and use. The box claims the mouse works on Windows Vista, but I’m not opening that Pandora’s box until some game I must absolutely play makes me upgrade, so I’ll take their word for driver compatibility. The software that comes with the mouse allows you to configure all the buttons, toggle the blue glow, and even adjust the DPI on the fly, but I was a bit annoyed there are no buttons on the mouse to do this (like the G7), especially since I toggle my sensitivity between gaming and normal Windows navigation.

    The Razer DeathAdder has a whole lot going for it. At $59.99, it’s priced right in line with other similar mice, and there is no denying that this is quite possibly the most comfortable mouse to ever fit in my hand, even if it was slightly lighter than the G7. Coming from a wireless mouse experience, I did have to rearrange my desk configuration slightly to allow for the cord, but that isn’t a huge deal, and apparently the ultimate gamers swear by their corded mice.

    I seriously doubt the war between Razer and Logitech will be won anytime soon, especially in my house. Their high-end mice are incredible and the various differences between the two are becoming subtler, so it’s ultimately going to come down to brand loyalty. Unlike the Krait, which actually forced me to buy a G7, the Razer DeathAdder is going to stay on my desk for a long time. This is a serious mouse for serious gamers.