Razer DeathAdder 3,500 DPI Unboxing and Review

[Zamamee]

I just received my new Razer DeathAdder today! This is the version that Razer recently re-released, with a 3,500 DPI optical sensor compared to its predecessor's 1,800 DPI, and a braided snag-free cable. I took some photos in the process of unboxing the thing, so here they are. Note: all photos in this thread are thumbnailed; click on them to view them in high resolution.

The box itself (gotta start somewhere, right?). Relatively inconspicuous:



Who doesn't love these air-pillows?



Finally, the meat of the matter:



Packaging shot:



Again, with less flash glare this time



Inside the flap, showing the product itself:



Little bit of printed info inside the flap:



Out of the packaging and into...the sub-packaging!



Finally, the mouse on its own, along with the cleverly hidden resource packet underneath the packaging:



Contents of the packet, in order (Certificate of Authenticity, Quick Start Guide, Master Guide, pair of Razer logo stickers, DeathAdder information card, Razer product catalog, and a little ad for Raptr gaming messenger):



Close-up of the new braided cable, very reminiscent of that on my old Logitech G9, and definitely one of the features I missed about it with my old DeathAdder:



Side-by-side of my new DeathAdder refresh (left) and my old DeathAdder (right). Aside from the cord, they are physically identical:



Close-up comparison shot to help differentiate the new braided cord with the old regular rubber-insulated cord:



Initial impressions: Awesome. This new and improved DeathAdder is everything I loved about the original, but more so. I had to do some in-game setting modification to adjust to the new DPI, but otherwise it's the same old DeathAdder I know and love. The Razer configuration software works just like it always has.

At 3,500 DPI, the DeathAdder is an optical mouse like none other. The only mice that even come close to this DPI are laser. Most other high-DPI optical mice are in the vicinity of 2,000 DPI. Beyond this, it's pretty much exclusively laser, right up to 5,600 DPI with the Razer Mamba and Naga, with the new exception of the DeathAdder.

With 1,000Hz polling and 1ms response time, the DeathAdder works just as fast as I can move or click it, just like its predecessor.

Ergonomically, the DeathAdder is right-hand oriented, with both auxiliary buttons on the left side of the mouse, perfectly positioned for thumb use. The general consensus is that the DeathAdder favors the palm-style grip over the claw-style, but works well with either.

In short, I recommend the new DeathAdder to anyone in the market for a medium-budget right-handed gaming mouse, at a pretty modest $60.

Let me know if you want more photos, different angles, or anything else. I do plan on getting some new shots with the mouse plugged in and lit up, too.





tl;dr - awesome mouse, buy one.

[>Omen<]

Originally Posted by Zamamee

Let me know if you want more photos, different angles, or anything else. I do plan on getting some new shots with the mouse plugged in and lit up, too.

Yeah that looks like a pretty good one Zam, and a lot more reasonably priced than the whopping $130 they charge for the Mamba. Can you give some more details, like how well it transitions from low to high DPI in games?

[Zamamee]

Originally Posted by >Omen<

Yeah that looks like a pretty good one Zam, and a lot more reasonably priced than the whopping $130 they charge for the Mamba. Can you give some more details, like how well it transitions from low to high DPI in games?

Yep, $60 is definitely a good price point. As for DPI transitioning, I just leave it on 3,500 DPI and turn down the sensitivity settings in-game; it gives a good balance of speed and precision. If I need to slow it down a bit, I just use the on-the-fly switch button on the bottom to go from 3,500 to 1,800, down to 200.

[MrFancypants]

I still use my Logitech 08/15 USB mouse on a piece of cardboard as mousepad. Works splendidly for me

Some day I'll try out a high-tech mouse perhaps, but there always seem to be more interesting components to spend money on.

[>Omen<]

Originally Posted by Zamamee

If I need to slow it down a bit, I just use the on-the-fly switch button on the bottom to go from 3,500 to 1,800, down to 200.

On the bottom meaning underneath? Hmmm, if so, that would make on the fly changes a bit tricky. I have heard some people say that they aren't bothered much not having on the fly adjustment with their high DFPI mice, saying that between the game settings and the Windows settings you can achieve a balance that works well all around.

I was taking a look at the Razer Naga in looking at Bjorn 3D's review, perhaps the most interesting mouse I've seen. The 12 key pad is not programmable yet, but they say it will be. It would be rather interesting to have 12 keys at your disposal without having to take your left hand off the W,A,S,D keys. It seems priced well at $80 too, though it will be a sweeter deal when it gets programability for the keypad.

Bjorn reviewed the Razer Megasoma mouse pad in the same review too. It's a flexible silicone pad. They said it worked well but made a strange loud noise when sliding the mouse and it can stick to your skin. A deal breaker for me.

[Zamamee]

Yeah, switching DPI is a bit tricky on the go, so if I do switch it, I just do so between lives since I have to pick up the mouse to do it. But still, it takes like 5 seconds to do.

The Naga does look pretty interesting, but I don't play a lot of MMO or RTS games, so all those hotkeys are somewhat lost on me. Hell, it took me a month to find uses for all 5 of my DeathAdder's buttons in TF2. Besides, my N52TE keypad has a 4 way D-pad good for some extra binds.

Haven't tried the Megasoma, but I'm currently using the eXactMat Speed side, and it's fantastic. Super smooth anodized aluminum.

[*The.Doctor]

Looks pretty nice. Someday i will finally upgrade to a real gaming mouse, maybe soon since my wireless one stopped working.

[Metall_pingwin]

I never quite understood those. I own a fancy Razer mouse (don't even remember the name anymore) and I've never noticed a difference in my playing or comfort. As for high DPI, it's been turning into the same situation as we have with monitors nowadays. Can anyone honestly tell me that feel their run-of-the-mill optical mouse lag?

Or even nore so, the difference between 2,000 and 3,500 DPI?

[Mr. Pedantic]

The Naga does look pretty interesting, but I don't play a lot of MMO or RTS games, so all those hotkeys are somewhat lost on me. Hell, it took me a month to find uses for all 5 of my DeathAdder's buttons in TF2. Besides, my N52TE keypad has a 4 way D-pad good for some extra binds.

For WoW, the Naga would be a Godsend. All those scripts and buttons...on the one mouse...

[Zamamee]

Originally Posted by Metall_pingwin

I never quite understood those. I own a fancy Razer mouse (don't even remember the name anymore) and I've never noticed a difference in my playing or comfort. As for high DPI, it's been turning into the same situation as we have with monitors nowadays. Can anyone honestly tell me that feel their run-of-the-mill optical mouse lag?

Or even nore so, the difference between 2,000 and 3,500 DPI?

You may not consciously notice the difference between your average 125Hz polling/8ms response mouse and a 1000Hz polling/1ms response Razer mouse, nor consciously see the difference between an 8ms and 2ms latency display, but it adds up. In shooter games where the tiniest fraction of a second can decide the resolution of a faceoff, you want everything you can get. And yes, I can physically feel the difference between this 3,500 DPI and my old 1,800 DPI.

Originally Posted by Mr. Pedantic

For WoW, the Naga would be a Godsend. All those scripts and buttons...on the one mouse...

Indeed. That's why it's marketed as an MMOG mouse.