bapenguin
11-11-2005, 05:26 AM
Gaming Mice Reviews: Part 4 The Logitech G5
by: Nicholas "bapenguin" Puleo
Welcome to the final part of my series of gaming mice reviews. Originally I was going to do a 5 part piece, but this will be the final review, as there isn’t much point in doing a wrap up piece.
Last time we looked at the Razer Copperhead (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6345). The Copperhead was a bit of disappointment in the design department, as well as a bit over priced.
This week we’ll be looking at the Logitech G5 (http://www.logitech.com).
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5rear.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5rear.jpg)
Technical Specifications:
• Logitech Gaming-Grade laser for precision tracking
• Full-speed USB data transfer – 500 reports per second
• Resolution of up to 2000 dpi – includes on-the-fly sensitivity shifting
• 6.4 megapixels of image processing per second
• Improved glide across surfaces with polytertrafluoroethylene mouse feet
• Outrigger foot for gamers who like to skate provides extra glide when the mouse is rocked to the left and makes contact with a surface
• 16 miniature round weights – eight weighing 1.7 grams and eight weighing 4.5 grams
provide the ultimate in customization. Any combination of up to eight weights fits into a
small cartridge that can be inserted into the base of the mouse
The review and impressions of the G5 will be from someone with average sized hands.
Style/Comfort:
Oh Billy is the G5 a sexy mouse. Every G5 mouse has a completely unique paint job. The process by which they create the look for the mouse is pretty neat. Each mouse gets a 3 layer paint job of rust red, smoke black and silver. After the 7 step painting process each mouse is hand polished with sandpaper and then finished with a Logitech logo. While the mouse lacks any led lights or similar style features, this is by far the most attractive mouse of the bunch.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5side.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5side.jpg) http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5top.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5top.jpg)
The mouse’s size and shape is very similar to the MX518, with the G5 being only slightly wider and slightly higher. Logitech removed one of the side buttons, and added a tilt style wheel to the mouse. Logitech also added a little DPI level indicator on the mouse to show you what resolution the mouse is in while you cycle through the 3 on the fly sensitivity adjustments.
The bottom of the mouse has HUGE oversize slick feet, making it one of the smoothest mousing experiences you’ll ever have.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/glidepads.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/glidepads.jpg)
Features/Drivers:
I haven’t really talked about the drivers in the passed with the mice, but the G5 really is something special once you install the Logitech Set Point software.
Out of the box, you get 3 DPI adjustments for the G5 (400, 800, 2000). When you install the G5 software you can customize the 3 adjustments as well as add 2 more for a total of 5. You can set the mouse to any DPI resolution between 400 and 2000 in increments of 10. Not only that, you can set the DPI resolution independently for the X and Y axis for the mouse. All that sounds impressive, but Logitech took it a bit farther. You can set 5 custom DPI resolutions PER game on your PC. So each game can have it’s own profile that the software automatically turns on when the game is launched. I was VERY impressed.
The G5 also features an adjustable weighting cartridge. The cartridge slips into the bottom of the mouse and can hold 8 weights. The mouse comes with 16 weights totaling 36 grams (8 1.7G weights and 8 4.5G weights). It’s amazing the different feel you can get by placing weights in different locations in the cartridge. Personally, I only put 2 1.7G weights on the left side of the cartridge. I like a lighter feel for the mouse.
Gaming/Windows:
The mouse is solid in gaming just as the other gaming mice I reviewed. It performed slightly better than the 518 and Copperhead, but the big difference is how smooth it plays. The huge glide pads make it extremely easy to aim. I used the mouse in Battlefield 2, F.E.A.R., Serious Sam 2, as well as Guild Wars and after numerous long gaming sessions still found the mouse extremely comfortable and it was incredibly accurate.
Because of the removal of the “forward” button on the mouse, browsing the Internet was a bit different because I was unable to go back and forward between web pages and explorer windows like normal. I had to set up the tilt wheel in the drivers to do this function instead. After a while I got used to it, and the loss of the button does not bother me anymore.
Other Impressions:
Here is fellow Evil Avatar reader Knite’s impressions: (someone with large hands)
What can I say about the G5 but.... wow! First off, the thing is gorgeous! The curves are all smooth, and not angular. Movement accuracy is again, quite nice and an improvement on the 518. In fact, this mouse moves as smooth as the Razer twins, while being taller and a little heavier. The glide pads used are HUUUUGE and seriously help the smoothness of this mouse. The sides of the mouse are textured, and I just can't see even the possibility of having trouble with the fingers slipping off. Accuracy is dead on and the resolution adjustments are at your fingertips like the 518. At first, it appears to have less buttons than the rest (3), but with being able to click the scroll wheel in, left, or right, that gives another 3 inputs for a total of 6, plus the wheel itself. However, for typical "back/forward" in browsers, you'll need to load the Logitech drivers to set that. And get this; it has a weighting kit that does NOT void your warranty! It works very well and is noticeable without being overwhelming. The only drawback I see to this is price, but damn is it a fine piece of equipment.
To borrow a line from Romero, the G5 will make you its bitch.
For gamers with smaller hands this mouse is a nice fit, being only slightly larger than a MX518.
Conclusion:
If you don’t own a gaming mouse, this is the mouse to buy. It’s not the cheapest mouse on the block, coming in at $69.99, but you really get what you pay for, quality. This mouse has the most features, and greatest flexibility of any of the gaming mice I reviewed. The drivers are incredible, and the amount of customization that can be done is incredibly valuable. On top of all this, the mouse looks great and is extremely comfortable, and to top it off it comes with an adjustable weighting system to customize it further to your needs. Make no mistake about it, THIS is the gaming mouse you want.
Rating:
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e5.jpg
5 out of 5 Evil Eyes.
Recap:
Razer Diamondback Plasma (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5212)
+ Lefty or Righty Mouse
+ Sexy Look
+ Incredibly accurate
- A bit big for people with smaller hands
- Gets uncomfortable after long use
Logitech MX518 (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5415)
+ Comfortable
+ Nice implementation of on the fly resolution adjustments
- Not quite as accurate as some others
- Righty only mouse
Razer Copperhead (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6345)
+ 2000DPI Accuracy
? On board Ram
- Expensive
- GloRails make it Uncomfortable to use
- Weighting system extra and voids warranty
Logitech G5 (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2142,CONTENTID=10715)
+ 2000 DPI Accuracy
+ Incredibly Comfortable
+ Amazing Looking mouse
+ Weighting System
? Loss of button but you gain 2 with the tilt wheel
- Righty only mouse
Knite’s Final Verdict:
The Must Buy: Logitech G5
The Cheaper Buy: Razer Diamondback
The rest (I don't like enough to buy): Logitech MX518, Razer Copperhead
One quick side note, if you want to see some crazy hi-resolution shots I took of this mouse, head on over here (http://www.happyapplefarm.net/images/mouse/) to check them out. They came out really cool in my opinion.
Thanks to everyone for reading these reviews. Coming up next I'll be reviewing a Creative Labs X-Fi (http://www.creativelabs.com) sound card. We'll see if it's all it's cracked up to be coming in at a whopping 120 bucks. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188)
by: Nicholas "bapenguin" Puleo
Welcome to the final part of my series of gaming mice reviews. Originally I was going to do a 5 part piece, but this will be the final review, as there isn’t much point in doing a wrap up piece.
Last time we looked at the Razer Copperhead (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6345). The Copperhead was a bit of disappointment in the design department, as well as a bit over priced.
This week we’ll be looking at the Logitech G5 (http://www.logitech.com).
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5rear.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5rear.jpg)
Technical Specifications:
• Logitech Gaming-Grade laser for precision tracking
• Full-speed USB data transfer – 500 reports per second
• Resolution of up to 2000 dpi – includes on-the-fly sensitivity shifting
• 6.4 megapixels of image processing per second
• Improved glide across surfaces with polytertrafluoroethylene mouse feet
• Outrigger foot for gamers who like to skate provides extra glide when the mouse is rocked to the left and makes contact with a surface
• 16 miniature round weights – eight weighing 1.7 grams and eight weighing 4.5 grams
provide the ultimate in customization. Any combination of up to eight weights fits into a
small cartridge that can be inserted into the base of the mouse
The review and impressions of the G5 will be from someone with average sized hands.
Style/Comfort:
Oh Billy is the G5 a sexy mouse. Every G5 mouse has a completely unique paint job. The process by which they create the look for the mouse is pretty neat. Each mouse gets a 3 layer paint job of rust red, smoke black and silver. After the 7 step painting process each mouse is hand polished with sandpaper and then finished with a Logitech logo. While the mouse lacks any led lights or similar style features, this is by far the most attractive mouse of the bunch.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5side.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5side.jpg) http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5top.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/g5top.jpg)
The mouse’s size and shape is very similar to the MX518, with the G5 being only slightly wider and slightly higher. Logitech removed one of the side buttons, and added a tilt style wheel to the mouse. Logitech also added a little DPI level indicator on the mouse to show you what resolution the mouse is in while you cycle through the 3 on the fly sensitivity adjustments.
The bottom of the mouse has HUGE oversize slick feet, making it one of the smoothest mousing experiences you’ll ever have.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/glidepads.thumb.jpg (http://www.evilavatar.com/images/reviews/mice/glidepads.jpg)
Features/Drivers:
I haven’t really talked about the drivers in the passed with the mice, but the G5 really is something special once you install the Logitech Set Point software.
Out of the box, you get 3 DPI adjustments for the G5 (400, 800, 2000). When you install the G5 software you can customize the 3 adjustments as well as add 2 more for a total of 5. You can set the mouse to any DPI resolution between 400 and 2000 in increments of 10. Not only that, you can set the DPI resolution independently for the X and Y axis for the mouse. All that sounds impressive, but Logitech took it a bit farther. You can set 5 custom DPI resolutions PER game on your PC. So each game can have it’s own profile that the software automatically turns on when the game is launched. I was VERY impressed.
The G5 also features an adjustable weighting cartridge. The cartridge slips into the bottom of the mouse and can hold 8 weights. The mouse comes with 16 weights totaling 36 grams (8 1.7G weights and 8 4.5G weights). It’s amazing the different feel you can get by placing weights in different locations in the cartridge. Personally, I only put 2 1.7G weights on the left side of the cartridge. I like a lighter feel for the mouse.
Gaming/Windows:
The mouse is solid in gaming just as the other gaming mice I reviewed. It performed slightly better than the 518 and Copperhead, but the big difference is how smooth it plays. The huge glide pads make it extremely easy to aim. I used the mouse in Battlefield 2, F.E.A.R., Serious Sam 2, as well as Guild Wars and after numerous long gaming sessions still found the mouse extremely comfortable and it was incredibly accurate.
Because of the removal of the “forward” button on the mouse, browsing the Internet was a bit different because I was unable to go back and forward between web pages and explorer windows like normal. I had to set up the tilt wheel in the drivers to do this function instead. After a while I got used to it, and the loss of the button does not bother me anymore.
Other Impressions:
Here is fellow Evil Avatar reader Knite’s impressions: (someone with large hands)
What can I say about the G5 but.... wow! First off, the thing is gorgeous! The curves are all smooth, and not angular. Movement accuracy is again, quite nice and an improvement on the 518. In fact, this mouse moves as smooth as the Razer twins, while being taller and a little heavier. The glide pads used are HUUUUGE and seriously help the smoothness of this mouse. The sides of the mouse are textured, and I just can't see even the possibility of having trouble with the fingers slipping off. Accuracy is dead on and the resolution adjustments are at your fingertips like the 518. At first, it appears to have less buttons than the rest (3), but with being able to click the scroll wheel in, left, or right, that gives another 3 inputs for a total of 6, plus the wheel itself. However, for typical "back/forward" in browsers, you'll need to load the Logitech drivers to set that. And get this; it has a weighting kit that does NOT void your warranty! It works very well and is noticeable without being overwhelming. The only drawback I see to this is price, but damn is it a fine piece of equipment.
To borrow a line from Romero, the G5 will make you its bitch.
For gamers with smaller hands this mouse is a nice fit, being only slightly larger than a MX518.
Conclusion:
If you don’t own a gaming mouse, this is the mouse to buy. It’s not the cheapest mouse on the block, coming in at $69.99, but you really get what you pay for, quality. This mouse has the most features, and greatest flexibility of any of the gaming mice I reviewed. The drivers are incredible, and the amount of customization that can be done is incredibly valuable. On top of all this, the mouse looks great and is extremely comfortable, and to top it off it comes with an adjustable weighting system to customize it further to your needs. Make no mistake about it, THIS is the gaming mouse you want.
Rating:
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e5.jpg
5 out of 5 Evil Eyes.
Recap:
Razer Diamondback Plasma (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5212)
+ Lefty or Righty Mouse
+ Sexy Look
+ Incredibly accurate
- A bit big for people with smaller hands
- Gets uncomfortable after long use
Logitech MX518 (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5415)
+ Comfortable
+ Nice implementation of on the fly resolution adjustments
- Not quite as accurate as some others
- Righty only mouse
Razer Copperhead (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6345)
+ 2000DPI Accuracy
? On board Ram
- Expensive
- GloRails make it Uncomfortable to use
- Weighting system extra and voids warranty
Logitech G5 (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2142,CONTENTID=10715)
+ 2000 DPI Accuracy
+ Incredibly Comfortable
+ Amazing Looking mouse
+ Weighting System
? Loss of button but you gain 2 with the tilt wheel
- Righty only mouse
Knite’s Final Verdict:
The Must Buy: Logitech G5
The Cheaper Buy: Razer Diamondback
The rest (I don't like enough to buy): Logitech MX518, Razer Copperhead
One quick side note, if you want to see some crazy hi-resolution shots I took of this mouse, head on over here (http://www.happyapplefarm.net/images/mouse/) to check them out. They came out really cool in my opinion.
Thanks to everyone for reading these reviews. Coming up next I'll be reviewing a Creative Labs X-Fi (http://www.creativelabs.com) sound card. We'll see if it's all it's cracked up to be coming in at a whopping 120 bucks. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188)