Mice & Keyboards by stefan @ 2012-02-02
Corsair has recently entered the mouse/keyboard gaming peripherals market and decided to make a good impression. The M90 mouse features multiple programmable buttons for RTS/MMO gamers, contains an aluminum chassis for increased durability and comes with the Avago Technologies ADNS-9500 LaserStream Gaming Sensor.
At first I would like to thank Corsair for sending a sample of their M90 Performance MMO and RTS Laser Gaming Mouse for testing and reviewing.
Meeting Performance Computing Demands since 1994
"Corsair is a global company bringing innovative, high-performance components to the PC gaming market. Specializing in very high performance memory, ultra-efficient power supplies, and other key system components, our products are the choice of overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere.
Founded as Corsair Microsystems in 1994, Corsair originally developed Level 2 cache modules for OEMs. After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market. In 2002, Corsair began shipping DRAM modules that were specifically designed to appeal to computer overclocking enthusiasts. From its roots in high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.
Corsair has developed a global operations infrastructure with extensive marketing and distribution channel relationships. Corsair’s products are sold to end users in over sixty countries worldwide, primarily through leading distributors and retailers."
Enthusiast-grade 5,700 DPI laser sensor
You get maximum precision and response from the Avago Technologies ADNS-9500 LaserStream™ gaming sensor, even on high resolution displays. Outpace and dominate opposing players with less accurate or slower gaming mice.
15 intelligently positioned buttons, including nine macro keys
The 15 fully programmable buttons are arranged and tuned for intuitive operation without compromising your grip. You get almost effortless access to your frequently-used abilities, macros, button combinations, and spells. Keep your focus on the game, and not the buttons.
Solid aluminum chassis with a soft touch surface
The strong aluminum frame is the secret to low weight, high rigidity, and optimal mass distribution. The texturized, soft-touch surfaces are designed for comfort even after extended hours of gameplay. In short... it's designed to simply feel right.
Vengeance Gaming Mouse Software
Create up to 50 profiles and share, import and export macros with the Vengeance gaming mouse software. It's a free download at corsair.com.
Quick profile selection with onboard memory
Play multiple games, with multiple character types? Store up to six profiles in memory on the Vengeance M90 laser gaming mouse, so you can easily save your character profiles, favorite macros and frequently used keys. Enjoy the convenience of always having your profiles and preferences even if you switch PCs.
On the fly DPI adjustment
Instantly adjust DPI for precise control when quick changes are needed between different sensitivity settings... all with the simple touch of a button.
Lift Detection
When the action is fast and furious, you are constantly moving and repositioning your mouse. The M90 includes lift detection provides high precision tracking and reliable cursor placement even when lifted off of the mousing surface.
Selectable Response Time
Tune the performance for your desktop surface by choosing between four response times — 1000Hz, 500Hz, 250Hz, or 125Hz (1ms, 2ms, 4ms or 8ms).
High-mass scroll wheel
The solid metal, rubberized scroll wheel doesn't just feel great — it gives you the precision you need when selecting weapons. Precise tactile feedback and accuracy help make sure that you select the right weapon every time.
PTFE glide pads and surface detection
The low-friction glide pads ensure swift, precise movement with low effort, and the M90 automatically optimizes its performance for your desktop surface.
The new Vengeance M90 mouse from Corsair, aimed to MMOers and RPG players, is shipped inside a transparent plastic packaging, so we can see how the product really looks even before opening up the box:
Some of the main product features are represented by small pictograms on the frontal side of the packaging:
On the back, we can find the detailed product features and specifications in multiple languages; the back plastic is perforated so it can be easily removed, without the need to use a cut tool as we have seen at other products:
Besides the main product, inside the box we can also find a Quick Start Guide and a warranty leaflet:
The Quick Start Guide explains us in photos what steps we need to take before installing the product software:
Inside the warranty leaflet, we can find some additional details:
The top surface of the mouse is smooth to the touch and the body is shaped ergonomically; the mouse chassis is made from a single piece of aluminum:
The Corsair logo which can be found on the back is illuminated, but can be turned off if needed, with the software application:
On the right side of the mouse, we can find a rough surface with no buttons, but designed in such a way so it provides a good grip for the pinky finger:
The left side offers no less than 9 fully configurable buttons, easy accessible and hard to press accidentally:
On the same side we can locate the profile selection LEDs; these will work only if Hardware Playback option is used:
The left corner also comes with two extra buttons, which are initially programmed for DPI up/down operations:
The scroll wheel, also made from aluminum, is rubberized and is located between the two Omron left and right click switches, which are guaranteed for about 8 million operations:
The mouse comes with the Avago ADNS-9500 LaserStream Gaming Sensor, which allows us to adjust the DPI in 100 unit increments, has surface quality detection, 1ms response rate, motion detection at 150ips and acceleration up to 30G. The large aluminum plate gives the product an industrial look and the PTFE Glide Pads ensure that the mouse movements are as smooth as possible:
The 1.8m mouse cable is braided for additional durability; this one also comes with a Velcro tie for cable management:
For a perfect contact, the manufacturer has used a connector with gold plated contacts:
Compared to the ROCCAT Kone[+], the M90 is a little bit smaller:
With the mouse connected to the computer, we get to see the LEDs light up, which give the product an interesting effect:
On the back, the Corsair logo is illuminated with white LEDs:
Depending on the used profile, the LED on the left side of the chassis will light up accordingly:
While looking from the front, we can see that the DPI setting buttons along with the scroll wheel and profile select buttons are lighted up:
After plugging the mouse to a spare USB port, we can start looking for the newest drivers on the Corsair website:
The software and drivers can be installed really easy by following the instructions on-screen:
When the installation is completed, we will be prompted to start the application:
The GUI has a modern look and it is split into three separate tabs: Assign Buttons, Manage Performance and Manage Profiles; on the top we have the Profile Selector option, the Macro Record button, Light Effects On/Off switch and the Device Navigation section. On the left, near the photo of the mouse buttons, we can see a Hardware Playback option, left unticked; this option allows us to playback our macros directly from the hardware of the mouse, thanks to its onboard memory:
By pressing on the location of the buttons (numbered), we can see which are already assigned and which do not have any function yet and can be programmed:
On the right side of the interface, we have got the Playback Options menu, which we can use with the previously recorded macros; the icons are for the following actions:
-Playback once
-Playback n times
-Repeat while pressed
-Play until stopped
We can assign a macro for a button by pressing the MR button first, then selecting the desired button we want the function assigned to and then we can start typing the desired actions; these will appear in the center column; if needed, we can specify a certain delay between the actions:
In the same tab, by clicking on the Delay Options button, we can adjust even more options:
The Advanced Options button hold the Basic Commands and Advanced Commands, which can be assigned to the buttons of our choice:
The Button Options menu contains even more pre-programmed functions:
All the button functions can be also modified by right clicking on the programmable button numbers:
Inside the Manage Performance tab, we can set the desired DPI values for the 4 available steps (DPI1, DPI2, DPI3 and “Sniper”), check for the quality of the surface, adjust the lift height or modify the Report Rate:
The quality of the scanned surface can be seen in real time by using the application:
For adjusting the Lift Height, a separate option appears on screen:
Finally, in the Manage Profiles tab, we can see the currently saved profiles and perform actions on them, like renaming, previewing, copying, assigning a profile to a different application, lock or restore default values:
The software can also give us some information regarding the installed versions for the driver, manufacturer of the product or firmware version:
The M90 mouse from Corsair is an interesting combination between a FPS mouse (the Sniper DPI functionality) and a RTS/MMO one. The extra buttons are placed in such a way so accidental presses will be avoided and in the same time our thumb will remain comfortable during office work.
The Avago sensor tracks great in the games that were ran (Counterstrike: Source, Starcraft II and World of Warcraft); thanks to the small DPI buttons, we can jump between multiple steps, depending on the game or application and the mouse software also allows us to use a different configuration of buttons for each and every game we run.
I was expecting to find Volume Up/Down preset actions that can be mapped to the buttons with the software interface; however, if you have a keyboard that can perform these actions, we can record a macro with these and then map to the desired buttons.
The underneath aluminum plate adds a little weight to the product, so it feels really solid; people that have used plastic low-cost mice before should notice the weight difference right away and may need some time to adjust.
Because of the shape of the mouse, people with bigger hands might have some small difficulties keeping the thumb and ring fingers on the right rough side of the product; these may prefer instead mice which are wider, like the R.A.T. 7 we have reviewed previously.
There were issues with the initial software release for the product, but now with the Beta 2.12 software, we haven’t noticed any problems while using the mouse.
The M90 can be found in online stores for between 55 and 60 Euros.
I would like to thank again to Corsair for making this review possible!