Not Your Common Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Review
January 30th, 2009 at 8:15 pm by Matt Schuler under Entertainment
There are two types of Adder snakes. One, is your common European viper, or “any of various other venomous or harmless snakes resembling the viper.” The other will kill you–that’s why they call it the death adder.
Count Razer’s mouse in the latter category. Much like my very own recently reviewed Razer Lachesis, there is a lot to like about the Razer DeathAdder. In fact, I actually find it a little bit more comfortable than the to move around the pad because of its shape and size.
The DeathAdder will help you wage endless war on your opponents.
Read on for the rest of the review.
A mouse, first and foremost, has to be comfortable in your hand. The DeathAdder just fits. While almost every other mouse in the Razer product line is ambidextrious, the DeathAdder is for righties only (or lefties who have a righ hand mouse hand). This move, I feel, makes the mouse much more comfortable. Its bump seems to fit snuggly into my palm and that’s important with gaming for long periods of time. The mouse sports five buttons, with buttons 4 and 5 placed in the spot where your thumb rests. Both the Lachesis and the DeathAdder place two buttons at the thumb level, but the Lachesis sports an additional two buttons on the other side of the mouse to round out its ambidextrious nature. You may think “more buttons, better mouse” but I actually prefer the DeathAdder. When I use the Lachesis, I actually disable the other two buttons because of the way I hold my mouse. I found myself hitting the buttons on accident. I don’t have that problem with the DeathAdder because the buttons aren’t there.
The DeathAdder sports a 1800dpi laser for movement. You can set it how you’d like, but I find cranking the settings and then fine-tuning in games gives me the greatest control. Compared to the Lachesis, it actually has less than half of the dpi in its laser, but I didn’t find that to detract at all from the experience. Through long sessions of Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress 2, the DeathAdder performed exactly how I’d expect a Razer product would (that is, very well).
I really like my current mouse’s performance, the Lachesis does what I want it to in a mouse. There is no drop-off with the DeathAdder. Plus, the DeathAdder does seem to fit my hand better, which makes for better long session gaming.
Another great characteristic about Razer mice to me is the feel. Every mouse I’ve seen and played with has had a very nice grip to it. The buttons are very large and have a non-slip feeling to them (to almost quote the product page directly).
The mouse wheel glows along with the logo. You can turn them both off.
As I said in my previous review of the Lachesis, I’m kind of a mouse guy. This is another great mouse that I would want to use on a daily basis.
The great fit the DeathAdder has in my hand, may not translate to yours. Before I buy a mouse, I always like to try and get my hands on it. Generally, Best Buy has a good selection of mice available, but I have not been there to see if they have the DeathAdder available.
People grip mice differently, Razer has a good comparison guide on their website. I palm my mouse, while others use a fingertip grip or claw grip. (The guide explains all three.)
As for price, the DeathAdder is actually a bit cheaper than the Lachesis. It can be had for about $50 if you look around online. I think that’s pretty reasonable for how well the mouse performed and how much some “regular” mice cost.
Have questions about something? You can email me at matt(dot)schuler(at)woodtv(dot)com. And for more, shorter updates, check out my Twitter by clicking on twitter.com/mattschuler.
Tags: DeathAdder, Gadgets, mouse, Not Made Of Wood, Razer
Matt Schuler formerly worked at WOOD TV8 and covered all things tech.
Having carpol tunnel syndrome I know all about using a comfortable mouse. I personnally use a Logitech G9, but thats a $60-$80 investment depending on where you go. Might have to look into this mouse though, should my G9 die.
Matt, as a PC gamer have you checked out the new AMD Phenom II CPU’s? Just got one myself, the 940 Black Edition to be specific. All I can say is its an outstanding CPU if you need to build a budget gaming rig, or considering an upgrade. The first two Phenom II’s the 920 and 940 often will easily upgrade any of the old Phenom systems and in many instances double the performance.
LightningWatcher,
What looks to be another great mouse coming down the line from Razer is the “Mamba.” It’s a wired/wireless mouse that debuted at CES. Should be out in the coming months, though I think the MSRP is a bit higher.
I haven’t had a chance to personally check out the Phenom IIs yet. I haven’t planned on upgrading my computer until StarCraft 2 comes out. My current rig, though paltry, still plays Left4Dead and Team Fortress 2 well enough. Plus, I don’t have an easy drop in, not having a Phenom currently.
-Matt
Never cared for wireless devices, with how much I game I would burn through batteries like no one’s business. Maybe if that came with a base that could recharge the mouse, I would consider that. Nothing is more annoying then beeing on a good server, or joining a raid group in World of Warcraft and having your batteries die on you.
About the time StarCraft II launches the AM3 platform Phenom II’s will be available. And near as I’ve heard any Phenom II will cost a third the cost of the equivilent Intel Core i7. Right now the AM2 Phenom’s don’t quite compete with the Intel chips, they do come pretty close and it sure beats spending up to $1,000 just for the processor. As it is right now you could build a pretty good Phenom II 940 system for around $800. That of course is assuming you already have a nice moniter, keyboard, and mouse.
Having been playing PC games since 1995, I’m stoked about StarCraft II and Diablo III finally being in development. Perhaps we will see each other on the battlefield sometime.
The Mamba has the recharging dock, and you can actually unplug the dock and plug the mouse in to charge while you’re gaming.
I’ll have to take a look at the AM3 when I’m building next year when the game comes out.
Looking forward to Diablo 3 as well, I’ve played every Blizzard game, but have stopped playing WoW.
-Matt
DeathAdder…now that’s a name for a gaming mouse, none of this “Lachesis” nonsense.
I love the recharge dock idea, it’s amazing it took so long to come up with that concept.
The naming has been a little interesting on Razer’s end. Though I do like the upcoming “Mamba” name. They’re kind of borrowing the recharge dock concept. I had a Logitech MX700 with a recharger at least 3 years ago now. Razer is upping the ante a bit though, by making it so that you can plug in the mouse directly and charge it that way.
I am REALLY looking forward to getting my hands on one of those.
-Matt
Just came across your blog on Google. Interesting post, you bring up a few good things to think about. Good luck with the blog.
Thanks Chris,
-Matt
I must say, that I can not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my opinion, which indeed could be wrong.
p.s. You have a very good template for your blog. Where have you got it from?
Like chris I found this review through Google and would just like to post my thanks for helping me decide to get the DeathAdder (which I have now ordered).
All the best Matt, and thanks again
Not a problem Phil,
I hope you like the mouse.
-Matt
Guys which mause is better for cs 1.6 Deathadder or COpperhead ?