Razer Deathadder 1800dpi Gaming Mouse Page: 1
Introduction

Whether you’re a serious gamer or part-timer player, the word “Razer” will not be unfamiliar to you. Originally the company focussed purely on mice, but have since branched out to incorporate a number of additional products into their range such as speakers, keyboards, headsets and gaming surfaces.

Without question, the quality of Razer’s products is of the highest standard and I have personally been using their mice since the Boomslang came out many years ago. So you can therefore appreciate my excitement when looking at their latest “gaming weapon” – the Razer Deathadder!

As with all of its predecessors, the Deathadder takes its name from the reptile world and I must admit that this mouse sounds one of the best yet. The name alone suggests destruction, carnage and mayhem will be caused….of course all in a gaming sense!

However, with the success of previous Razer mice such as the Copperhead and Diamondback, will the Deathadder live up to expectations?


Specifications

The technical specifications for the Deathadder were taken from Razer’s website.

• 1800dpi Razer Precision™ 3G infrared sensor
• Ergonomic right-handed design
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response
• Five independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment • Always-On™ mode
• Ultra-large non-slip buttons
• 16-bit ultra-wide data path
• 6400 frames per second (5.8 megapixels per second)
• Up to 60 inches per second and 15g of acceleration
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick™ Teflon feet
• Gold-plated USB connector
• Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord
• Approximate size: 128mm (length) x 70mm (width) x 42.5mm (height)


Packaging

It’s clear that Razer knows how to package a product and they haven’t disappointed with the Deathadder. The packaging is smaller than previous Razer mice but not to a detrimental effect. The box follows the theme of the mouse by using a black theme, very similar to previous Razer products.

Razer Deathadder Box Razer Deathadder Box

One major difference between the DeathAdder’s packaging and that of previous mice is that it contains a window to open in which to view your new weapon. This certainly does add to the occasion when seeing the Deathadder for the first time and almost teases you with anticipation before opening it.

Razer Deathadder Box Open

I have to admit that I prefer this type of packaging to the previous products from Razer, namely the Diamondback and Copperhead. Both of their packaging focused around a plastic window with the mouse on display. However the way in which the Deathadder is packaged gives it more suspense and anticipation when opening.

I do however have a few small issues with the packaging. Firstly, for a mouse that is so sleek in design, with just a Razer logo on it, I felt the box was a little “busy”. It feels as if there is too much information telling the buyer what the mouse can do. In a world where less is more, I feel that Razer have over complicated matters by slapping logo’s and information all over the box. The irony here is that the mouse itself has only the Razer logo on it, so is very minimalistic. Perhaps a simple Razer logo and the words “DeathAdder“ with a reptilian effect to the box would have sufficed?

To put this into context, the silver tin in which the original Razer Boomslang was shipped in was pure genius. A sleek design with only the logo on the top and it really did make the whole unpacking process an occasion. However I appreciate that costing now might be an issue where Razer is shipping so many products, so it’s understandable that their current approach doesn't follow the Boomslang.


Contents

The contents of the package included:

Razer Deathadder Contents

• Razer DeathAdder Mouse
• Driver CD
• Quick Setup Installation Guide
• Razer DeathAdder card containing marketing information.


Razer Deathadder 1800dpi Gaming Mouse Page: 2
The Mouse

The Deathadder is very similar (if not the same) shape as the Microsoft Habu mouse (my current weapon of choice). However upon using the both of them, the Deathadder does seem to sit a touch lower whereas the Habu is more rounded. They both weigh about the same and employ Teflon feet in order to glide around the gaming surface.

Razer Deathadder and Habu Razer Deathadder Top

In comparison to the Copperhead sits a lot lower is isn't as bulky as the Deathadder, yet the Deathadder does feel the more nimble mouse, due to its lighter weight. Although it looks a bulky mouse, it feels quite the opposite. Many mice in the past have used weights in order to allow the gamer to create the feel they require, so some might see the Deathadder a step back, but believe me...it isn't!!

Razer Deathadder and Copperhead

Of all the mice I have tested, the Deathadder does feel the most comfortable to use. The materials used are of the highest quality and the grip especially is very good, especially if your hands get sweaty when playing in tense situations!

Razer mouse lineup

Although it’s purely aesthetic, I also prefer the design of the Deathadder’s buttons and back over the Habu. There is a seamless transition between the mouse body and buttons, whereas the Habu adopts a more traditional approach. It all adds to the sleek design and smooth feel of the mouse! Very impressive!


Software

If you have owned Razer mice before, then you will be familiar with their software.

There hasn’t been much change with the Deathadder software and it is still very user friendly as expected. Options include the amending of the overall sensitivity settings and more custom areas such as X and Y axis amendment, acceleration, windows mouse speed etc.

Razer Deathadder Software

One addition I did notice was the inclusion of the “Glow-Logo”, where the user can now turn this on or off via the options. A small factor, but a nice touch nonetheless.

As with previous Razer mice, there is 5 profile settings where the user can specify the DPI and Polling Rate used, linking this to their on-the-fly sensitivity settings.

Overall the software is easy to use and offers the user plenty of options in which to customise their mouse.


Razer Deathadder 1800dpi Gaming Mouse Page: 3
Test Setup

When testing a mouse, a lot of the conditions that would affect other hardware tested on OC3D does not really factor in, such as the rig used. However, in order to maintain consistency, I will be using the following to test the Deathadder:

• All of the mice were tested on a Razer eXactmat using its speed setting.
• Games tested include one FPS (Counter-Strike Source) and one RTS game (Command & Conquer 3). This is to enable us to see how the Deathadder faired under different gaming environments.
• The drivers used were downloaded from the Razer site and were the Vista Beta Drivers v1.05b.


Mouse Performance

According to the marketing blurb, the Deathadder is aimed at low sensitivity gamers, commonly found when playing FPS games such as Counter-Strike Source. In actual fact, the Deathadder’s box notes this game as one of the markets the mouse is aimed for.

Low sensitivity gamers tend to sweep the mouse across the gaming surface more often, so Razer have addressed this by using a new, third generation infra-red optical sensor. It is claimed that this eliminates any form of skipping and negative acceleration. But the question is, “does it work”?

Well, yes it does! Previous mice I have used do have a tendency to skip and react unpredictably when used on a low sensitivity and when dragged quickly across the gaming surface. The Deathadder does not do this! In fact, even though the DPI on this mouse is lower than the Habu and Copperhead (1800dpi vs 2000dpi), it feels the smoother, more accurate mouse!

I would put this down to a number of factors. Firstly the technology plays a massive part in this, which is a given. However, the feel of the mouse, its body, the weight, all add to the overall performance making it very capable indeed.

When testing in Counter-Strike Source, I found the tracking to be extremely accurate indeed. I personally play with a very low sensitivity but the tracking remained accurate even when dragging the mouse quickly across the eXactmat! So the burning question is, did this improve my “fragging” ability? Well it certainly made me more consistent. I found the smooth movement (due to the excellent Teflon feet) allowed the mouse to glide around very well indeed. It was a smooth “buttery” and silky feel which really impressed me!

The on-the-fly sensitivity, which seems to be implemented in all gaming mice these days, didn’t offer anything new, but worked as expected. Personally I don’t find on-the-fly that useful in games such as Counter-Strike Source as changing the sensitivity whilst playing does tend to “mess up” my aim. However as stated, it works effectively and some gamers will benefit from it.

I did however find that the one-the-fly worked very well in Command & Conquer 3. Scrolling around the map quickly, I found that switching between the various speed settings enabled me to move more quickly, then when I needed more precision (i.e. selecting troops), the lower sensitivity worked well.

Overall I found the performance in both games to be of the highest standard. The Deathadder felt much smoother and more accurate than the Copperhead and Habu and did not show any signs of its lower DPI rating.

Razer Deathadder 1800dpi Gaming Mouse Page: 4
Conclusion

So the burning questions is, would I buy one? Well yes, I would! The Deathadder seriously impressed me with it’s performance. Maybe this is due to the fact that I am a low sensitivity gamer, but it seems finally that this mouse has been built for gamers exactly like me!

I always enjoyed the Diamondback, but found the shape and design slightly uncomfortable, probably due to it being an ambidextrous mouse. The Copperhead was the same, but the DPI higher which made it feel smoother. However both of these mice had their flaws in areas such as the side buttons. I found the side buttons on mice such as the Logitech MX510 to be easier to locate when in a heated battle and easier to “click”. The previous Razer mice lacked this and many times I found myself clicking more than one side button.

However, as with the Habu, the Deathadder has a very solid button feel and there is a real “click” when you press them. The Habu is an excellent mouse and for me, is better than the Copperhead and Diamondback, but it can’t beat the Deathadder today.

Razer Deathadder Glowing

The Deathadder serves up all the right ingredients. It’s silky smooth to touch, has great button feel, looks fantastic, glides effortlessly and is really a joy to use.

The only real drawback I can see with this mouse is that “left-handers” will not be able to use it…it’s a right-handed mouse only! Have Razer shot themselves in the foot with this one? No I don’t think so. The Deathadder is so good that it will sell extremely well and might even spur on a left-handed model.

I would certainly buy this mouse if I wanted to improve my gaming and would have no qualms in replacing my Habu or Copperhead with it. It’s really that good!

Buy at SpecialTech

Pro's
• Super smooth to use.
• Fantastic design.
• Excellent feel to the body and buttons.
• Great ergonomic design.

Con's
• Only available in right handed models.
• Packaging not as unique as previous models.
• Lack of accessories (such as lanbag) provided with older Razer mice.
• Price is fairly high for a mouse.


Editors Choice Award Gamers Choice Award


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