Asus and MSI look to outmuscle Razer with new 8KHz polling mice

Up till now, Razer was the one model with wi-fi 8KHz gaming mice in the marketplace, enabled by way of a particular Hyperspeed dongle and software program replace launched late final yr. At CES 2024, a number of manufacturers are actually releasing excessive polling price mice, however ought to this issue into what mouse you purchase?

We reviewed the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed simply after its 8KHz polling price was enabled, and located it to be one of many best gaming mouse decisions in the marketplace in consequence. In actuality, the polling price performed a really small half in my general enjoyment of the Viper V3, and that’s just because polling charges should not the game-changers they’re marketed to be, but. MSI, Cherry, and Asus ROG are actually all throwing their 8KHz mice into battle, which nonetheless makes for some tough choices forward.

In easy phrases, a better polling price works equally to a better body price. Most mice function on 1KHz, that means they report their place again to your PC 1,000 instances each second. Scaling this, 8KHz polling means you’re mouse is reporting its place 8,000 instances a second, and it ought to result in higher responsiveness on each motion and actions along with your mouse.

The truth behind 8KHz polling is that you just’re unlikely to expertise any profit except you’re enjoying a recreation at an extremely excessive body price, and it additionally attracts in your CPU energy to allow it.

I additionally discovered when testing the 8KHz Viper V3 and 4KHz Corsair M75 Air that the upper polling charges might minimize anticipated battery life by as much as 75% for little or no return in efficiency.

Whereas superfast screens are on the rise – simply have a look at the newest Alienware gaming monitors for example – and there are definitely loads of esports video games that may run at a excessive refresh price, the overall advantages of 8KHz polling aren’t but impactful sufficient to justify buying a mouse primarily based on that truth alone. As an alternative, it could possibly be thought of diminished returns should you’re pulling CPU sources away from a recreation and having to cost your mouse extra typically simply to entry the quicker polling price.

Excessive polling charges are a ‘good to have’ function proper now, that maybe does extra to future-proof your gear than make an on the spot change to the way you play. This doesn’t imply that the ROG Keris II Ace, MSI Versa Professional, and Cherry’s M68 and M64 Execs are dud merchandise, removed from it. However I strongly suggest counting on options exterior of the polling price that can assist you resolve which one to purchase.

For example, the ROG Keris II Ace is extremely mild at simply 54g. MSI’s Versa Professional has 13 programmable buttons and a classy charging dock. Lastly, the Cherry Execs are pretty clean-cut at 55g with no distracting lights or buttons to remove from uncooked efficiency.

In case you resolve which mouse could be your go-to earlier than contemplating polling charges as an element, you’re more likely to stroll away glad along with your mouse which can hopefully serve you for years to come back, however lined for the longer term if polling charges turn out to be the new new function.

All the above mice are due for launch in Q2 2024 and the one value revealed up to now is the Cherry M64 and M68 Execs which can value $139.

For extra of the newest information, interviews, and hands-on previews from CES 2024, keep on with us as we’re dwell on the present flooring in Las Vegas.