Razer Krait Mouse Review
Staff Writer Jeremy Star, our resident technophile, takes a look at the Razer Krait mouse.
What's the one thing that PC gamers always throw in the face of console gamers? What makes us more accurate in First Person Shooters and more productive in MMORPGs? That's right, it's our favorite input device: The mouse.
Ever since Xerox developed the little suckers, PC users have been evolving and upgrading their desk-rodents to be more accurate, more efficient, and less repetitive-motion disorder-causing. Out of the chaos of this mouse R&D flurry, a select few companies have emerged as the leaders in the gaming mouse field.
Razer is one of those companies.
This is their story.
Wait. No it's not. But it is a review for one of their gaming mice - The Razer Krait.
The Hardware - The Razer what?
The Razer Krait is a wired, optical mouse that uses a USB interface; a gold-plated USB interface... Nice.
It features a 1600 optical DPI, 3 programmable buttons, a 16-bit data channel, zero-acoustic Ultraslick Teflon feet, and an Always On optical sensor system.
Razer is promoting this mouse as an RTS or MMORPG gamer's mouse. Well, golly, that's right up our alley!
The Technology - DPI, isn't that something they arrest you for?
First of all, let's try to clear the air a bit concerning DPI. DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It originated with printers, but the computer industry has adapted the term for use with everything from monitors to scanners.
As far as mice are concerned, DPI is simply a way to measure how far the mouse moves on screen for every inch you physically move it on your mouse pad. Essentially, a 1600 DPI means that for every inch you move the mouse, it will move 1600 counts of movement. I know, I know, I can hear some of you already: "This guy's an idiot, it doesn't mean counts, it means pixels!" Don't worry, we're getting to that.
A 1600 DPI should mean that when you move the mouse one inch, it will move the cursor on-screen 1600 pixels. However, to complicate things, we have filters such as sensitivity and acceleration.
Why do we have filters to make our lives more complex? Well, basically it is because you don't always want the cursor to go flying across the screen every time you touch the mouse. It increases accuracy so that you can click that macro button on the first try, instead of trying to get the cursor to sit still long enough to click.
;)
So then, why would you want a high DPI? Well, it makes it easier to move the cursor across the screen without killing your wrist, and - coupled with a high sampling rate, it helps to increase your on-screen accuracy.
A sampling rate is basically a measurement of how often the mouse, er... measures. The higher the rate, the more often the mouse is tracking movement on your mouse pad surface, the more often the mouse tracks your movement and the more accurate it gets. This is measured in frames per second (FPS).
The Razor Krait has a 1600 DPI coupled with a sampling rate of 6400 frames per second. Compared to the average optical mouse at a DPI of between 400 and 800, and a sampling rate of 1500 FPS, we get something I like to refer to as PFA - Pretty Freakin' Accurate.
Also, the Razer Krait has a 16-bit data channel instead of the normal 8-bit path. This is good, since it allows the Razer Krait to send all that sampled data instead of being limited by the USB polling rate of 125Mhz. (125 times per second.)
The Razer drivers allow you to set up the sensitivity and click-speed, adjust the DPI, and assign buttons to do things like adjust the DPI on the fly.
Razer's Always On technology simply means that unlike normal mice - which turn off the sensor unless they detect movement - the optical sensor and light is always on, ready to move the cursor the instant you move the mouse.
Appearance - Is it a mouse, or a snake?
The Razer Krait is a low profile, black mouse, with clear, rubberized plastic strips on the side, and a clear mouse-wheel on top. Both the strips and the mouse-wheel glow a cool orange when the mouse is plugged in to a USB port.
The mouse is slightly shorter than a standard mouse, and is about half the height of my Logitech G5 laser mouse. On the bottom are three Teflon "feet" that allow the mouse to glide about on the mouse pad with an almost frictionless feeling, and the seven-foot cord allows you to place the mouse where you want it.
Performance - Does it need rodent-Viagra?
The Razer Krait is zippy. Very, very, very zippy. Unfortunately, the drivers default the mouse to 1600 DPI and 10 sensitivity. Actually clicking the Razer control icon and setting the sensitivity lower was in itself a sort of mini-game. Oh, close one. Oh, I just missed. Oh, man, there it goes again. Ah ha! Gotcha!
Once I turned the sensitivity down a notch (or four) the mouse became much easier to control. Navigating around Windows was a breeze, and the high DPI makes it easy to move the cursor all the way across my 24" widescreen monitor, something that makes my wrist scream if I use a low DPI mouse.
The buttons on the Razer Krait click with a satisfyingly solid feel. Even the middle mouse button/mouse wheel feels solid when you click it, and it's easy to click without accidentally scrolling the wheel - a major achievement for a mouse.
The mouse wheel itself scrolls easily enough to get to where you want, but it has enough resistance to keep you from flying by your selection accidentally.
In fact, this mouse has the best buttons I have ever used, with two notable exceptions:
- There aren't enough buttons! The Razer Krait has no side buttons, no tiny DPI switching buttons, nothing! I realize some people actually like less buttons, but at least a small button under the mouse wheel for on-the-fly DPI switching would have been nice. As it is, if you want to use the on-the-fly DPI switching feature of the drivers, you need to assign it to one of the main 3 buttons. This just isn't very convenient.
- The left and right mouse button sometimes stick together at the front of the mouse when you depress one and then the other. It doesn't stick for more than a tiny fraction of a second, and it never really affected my game-play, but I could definitely notice it.
I tried the mouse with a variety of MMORPG games, including WoW, EQII, Guild Wars, and the newly released Vanguard. Performance in all of the games I tried was outstanding. Moving the camera around was smooth and effortless, and mouse-looking was a breeze.
After a few hours of playing, my wrist did not feel at all sore. The Razer Krait has enough weight to make it feel solid, but not enough to give your forearm and wrist a painful workout. The rubberized strips on the side of the mouse feel like a natural place to rest my thumb, ring-finger, and pinky, and they are non-slip, so keeping the mouse under control is not a struggle.
;)
Should I buy a gaming mouse or a pet mouse?
Let me just start by telling you a little story: Not too long ago, in a place very, very close to where I live now, my loyal and trustworthy Logitech MX500 optical mouse died while fighting the evil forces of the Empire. Ok, so it didn't exactly die, but it came close... Or not... Whatever, listen, that's not the point.
The point is that I decided to get a new mouse. I wanted one with a high DPI and plenty of buttons. I wanted comfort, and style, and something that was almost exactly the same as my old mouse but much better. I was on a mission, a quest from on high.
I ordered mouse after mouse from an online retailer that may or may not have come before the New Chicken. And mouse after mouse went back on an RMA express flight, until I settled on a Logitech G5 laser mouse.
The G5 is almost exactly the same as my old mouse, with three notable exceptions: It has a high DPI, it is missing one button on the side, and the mouse wheel tilts side to side. It seemed perfect.
I hate it.
My Logitech G5 has sides that are supposed to be "grippy", but are in fact very slick. I was getting hand cramps trying to keep the mouse in my grasp, and had to eventually use some fabric tape on the sides to keep my hands from slipping. It's an 80 dollar mouse, and I had to put tape on it to make it somewhat comfortable. That does not make me happy.
If you're wondering when I am going to come to some sort of point, you're in luck, because here it is: I am super picky when it comes to mice.
What I think of it:
At first, I was very skeptical of the Razer Krait's low profile and lack of side buttons. After using it for a while, I now find it hard to go back to my main mouse. In fact, I haven't for weeks now.
Although I do still think that the Krait could benefit from another button or two, it more than makes up for its lack of buttons with its extremely comfortable use. Until they make a Krait with a side button, or until someone sends me an even better mouse, I see myself using the Razer Krait for all of my MMORPGs. I like it that much.
;)
Who I think can benefit the most:
Let's face it, all MMORPG players can benefit from a good mouse. This is one. It's comfortable to grip, easy on the wrist, and - surprisingly - easy on the wallet.
At the time of this writing, you can purchase a Razer Krait for about $40. For a mouse this good, that's a steal.
Also, all you southpaws can rejoice, the Razer Krait is completely ambidextrous!
Final Thoughts:
Take it from a super picky mouse connoisseur, the Razer Krait is top notch. It's also an incredible value at 40 dollars. Razer gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from me, and they can have my wrist brace too. I won't be needing it anymore.
I've had a Razor Diamondback mouse for over a year now, and I must say it is without a doubt my favorite periphial. Who knew a mouse would make this much difference, but it does.
I believe my diamondback has more buttons than you describe on the Krait but I may be mistaken, I have never programed any of them. I just like the effortless perfect clikyness of it, and the diamondback glows blue all over and is clear. Kinda cool.
Moreover, check out Razor mice on amazon.com. They are cheaper than on Razors website for some reason. They have lots of different models and some other cool stuff like keyboards and headphones. This is definately a company to watch.
I benefited from it... I was considering trying out a new mouse, and this article popped up at the right time.
The Razor Krait can be purchased new for less then 35 USD. It only has the standard left, right and wheel mouse functions. The color of the glowing sides is only in a redish hue; no other options.
Not a bad price for a good mouse but it's not a good buy for a gaming mouse. You need at least 4-5 buttons on a mouse if you're to take it seriously as a "gaming mouse".
I use a G7 and I love it! There's no lag and it feels perfect! Unlike the mentioned G5 which is the same shell, it does not have any slickness to it and is actually coated in a rubberized polymer of somesort.(I do not know the actual specifics of the rubber) I paid about $60 USD for the G7 and the batteries last over 10 hours of constant play when properly used till dead then charged till full. It takes about 3 seconds to swap out a batter, and it comes with two! (additionals can be purchased through direct contact with Logitech)
I would recomend the G7 ONLY if you do NOT have small or tiny hands since those users could find it uncomfortable. Next to the Logitech G15 Keyboard it's the next best periphial I've ever purchased!
Razer make wicked Mice, the low profile design is much nicer than Logitech's heavy and awkward G Series. This review was great but I think it would have been better if more of te other Razer Mice were mentioned (I think they have 5 or 6 now), I have had a Razer Diamondback for a while now and I find to be the best mouse no matter which games you play, the programable side buttons are firm enough so you dont hit them by mistake (A problem of mine with alot of other mice and a good way to die in game)
I havent had a chance to try any of the other Razer pereferials (keboards and speakers etc) as in New Zealand they can get a bit pricey, but I have heard they are good sound products
I have and I will continue to recommend the diamondback as the mouse to choose for any Gamer
-Raven
hmmm
no buttons on its sides - no money on the counter
Maybe he lacks a proper mouse surface, like the Icemat I have...
Chocolate syrup, actually. The oil clogged my pores and made me break out.
And the reviewer said the G5 was slippery? I find that to be untrue, unless the reviewer either has abnormally sweaty hands or bad hygene. I ended up picking up the G5 myself after trying several mice and I've never been happier.
Additionally they cater to the lefties where logitech does not. I am not left handed but my father is, in growing up I got used to using the mouse on the left. This is a habit I've tried to break but never could, the razer lets me keep my lefty weirdness and still kick some ass in everything from an MMO to a FPS
I have been using the copperhead for months now, once you try razer.. you never go back
Razer Copperhead™ Technical Specifications
If you're looking for a better gaming mice. You should check out the Razer's DeathAdder. Its just wicked.
It comes with a 1800 DPI, 3G Infrared sensors, 5 fully programmablke buttons(yes, you got your 2 buttons on the side) and the new On-The-Fly Senstivity™ drivers which allows you to switch your DPI setting with a click only :)
This is more than an interesting mouse, its THE mouse you need(yeah, cuz if you read this, you're probably an MMO player so.... you definitely need this!) and its the mouse I'm gonna buy just about now!
I had used the Diamondback for over a year and absolutely loved it, so when I acidentally broke it I went out out and emiddiatly picked up a new razer, so now I use the Copperhead. I highly recommend Razors gaming mice, I will continue to use them for years to come.
www.razerzone.com/Products/Gaming-Mice/Razer-Copperhead-Gaming-Mouse/#Frame3
Nothing ever beats having TWO thumb buttons. No, one thumb button is not enough and two is just right.
I got my 518 for $30 and I think you can get same deal easily. I ordered mine off newegg.com and enjoying the precision and ease of control ever since. I know razor makes nice mice, but that particular model is only appealing due to its price, if you play any FPS on the side, dont be a noob and get something with two thumb buttons.
Anyhow, me and my new G5 logitech work great... and no, cant say that it is slippery in any way.
Logitech G5 and a ZBoard all the way!!!
as a note, I find my G5 to be great, how the hell do you sweat enough to slip on it?
Honestly, I play for 16 hours on days I have off, have never sweated, and never had slip problems with it.
Also, agreed that the DPI changer ON the mouse rocks, and the side button on the G5 rocks for activated abilities in DOTA ;)
Namely: it's a Razer mouse - so for many people, it'll be too small and too light.
It's tiny-ness makes it a horribly uncomfortable mouse to use - and it feels like playing a game with a feather.
Three reasons why your G5 is better than the Razer Krait:
Shape - It's bigger, so more well-suited to many people's hands.
It's also ergonomic, which means it's a much more comfortable gaming experience.
PS: I've never had any trouble keeping my hands on the G5, perhaps because I'm used to playing with those tiny Razer mice which force you to grab them uncomfortably tight because they're so tiny. By contrast the G5 was a much more comfortable experience and significantly easier to keep your grip on.
Weight - It actually has substance, so it's a comfortable gaming experience - whereas the Krait doesn't weigh anything at all.
Customizability - The G5 allows you to change DPI on the fly - as well as utilizing many different buttons (if you care for that sort of thing). Better yet, you can alter it's weights entirely to suit your needs. A little heavier on the left, a little lighter on the right - simple with the weight cartridge.
Regardless, if you're going to buy a mouse - don't get the Razer Copperhead or Logitech G5 - nor the Krait.
That is, unless you want a mouse that performs significantly worse than it's direct competition (Razer Diamondback & Razer DeathAdder - the latter being the best mouse you can buy, period) The DeathAdder is clearly the best mouse, because it combines the ergonomic and larger shape of the G5 with unmatched performance, at a lower pricetag than that G5.
Both the Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5 utilize laser technology - and for the moment that is horribly inferior to optical technology. Both the Copperhead and G5 have clear drop-off points, unless you resort to overclocking to improve their performance.
Lastly - if you do have a G5 and want to make it work better than a Razer DeathAdder (non-overclocked) - then read this article and get to polling - although it does take up some system resources... regardless it should elevate your G5's performance significantly.
Get your facts str8 plz, Copperhead is superiour to Diamondback.
Well, I never thought I had small hands, but I find my Razer copperhead to fit in my hand quite nicely. The Logitech mice feel too bulky to me, and I can't help but feel that I'm moving some massive behemoth around. It was by no means too heavy, just too large. The copperhead however feels light and agile, and much easier to rest your hand on. For me, anyway.
As for the Krait, that mouse seems to have just a few good sections of the copperhead, but not the best ones. 2000 dpi, 1000 hz polling rate, and 2 buttons on each side, and 5 profiles stored on its on board memory. So when you combine that along with the light speedy feel of Razer mice, the copperhead seems like a pretty fantastic mouse to me.
And since when is laser inferior to optical? As far as I know, laser is capable of higher DPI settings, and can work on shiny surfaces while optical cannot.
i don't like razer mice, never have. over the past few years i've tried a few, always thinking "this one will be better" but i just don't like the feel of them. right now i'm using a modded G7. i had the original G7 with that horrible blue plastic shell, and i picked up a G5, removed the shell and put it on my G7, of course this meant i had to replace the pads with corepad skates, but the whole process was really easy, and i'm MUCH happier with this set up.
the G7 with this modded shell is THE perfect mouse for me.. except... i'd really LOVE to see the second thumb button make it's way back onto their gaming series of mice.
Unfortunately, the boomslang didn't last very long - it lost responsiveness after a month, and the Copperhead simply didn't feel accurate. Sensitive, yes, but accurate? Even after a solid year of use of the Copperhead, I always found it easier to aim with Microsoft or Logitech bog-standard mice.
These mice are comfortable, and they do look pretty damn good, and for MMORPG use they are more than good enough. But for first person shooters, I recomend logitech first, microsoft second.
I agree with you completely. I had a G5 and thought it was way too bulky. Now have the Copperhead Tempest and love it. I do have rather large hands and was worried about the Copperhead because when I first used it, I did get a feeling that it was way too small and also that I would accidentally crush it (ok maybe I am stretching it a bit), but after just a little bit of use I couldnt imagine using anything else.
I guess with something like this though, its totally preference.
the sides for grip which works really well, but the mouse has a tendancy to double-click
on me. Not sure if there is an adjustment for this but happens in games and using a
browser, it is a very sensitive mouse, you can see this just from watching it while
clicking.
Nothing gets on my tits more then having my mouses movement restricted by a wire. Having to lift it and tug the wire back onto the desk only to have it fall back to its original place. Ive tried taping it to the desk but it comes loose freaquently and my movement is restricted yet again.
Ive been using the Microsoft wireless mice for about 2 years now, first one lasted roughly a year, so I bought a logitech to replace it, which broke within a month, sent it back and switched it for another Microsoft. They may not be top of the line in ergonomics, but they're durable. With 4 buttons a wheel and a meters wireless capacity, I cant ask for more out of my mouse.
In this price range look elsewhere.
I think the only true way that we benefit from this mouse would be the way that its easier on the wrist. I mean, we have countless hours of grinding and farming and dungeon running...we need something that is going to ease this pain. I'm all about comfort when gaming, cause when I game I'm in it for hours. I got the $200 comfy gaming chair, leg rest wireless mouse and keyboard 22" monitor. You know...the essentials for when a person wants to game for 12 hours straight. So if you are all about the hardcore gaming you need comfort, and in that case I really would suggest this mouse...or something equally as comfortable.
My hands are by no means big, but I find that my Razer Diamondback is most certainly too small. Sure you get used to it and eventually it doesn't bother you anymore, but then you get to try playing with a Logitech G5 and it suddenly becomes painfully clear how awkward your gaming experience has been until then. The Razer mice (except potentially the DeathAdder) are both small and not ergonomic, making them painful to play with in comparison to the relaxed and comfy feel of a Logitech G5... in spite of the G5 being technologically inferior.
Nowadays it's fairly common knowledge that the most recent optical technology is superior to laser technology. Just go to ESReality and check their mousescore articles - you'll see... laser mice have rather low drop-off points which is a very bad thing for people who play first person shooters or other fast-paced games and expect their mouse to be both fast and accurate, not just fast... That is also the reason why I'd buy a Diamondback over a Copperhead any day. Regardless, this current flaw in laser technology is also a good reason not to buy a Logitech G5 - since it's a laser mouse as well.
Nvm...
I was readin this, just because I have an unopened box with a Krait standing beside my computer as I saw the review. Still not connected it, using my cheap $8 budget mouse... I bought it for CS and BF2142, I had a Razer before and it improved my score immensly. Problem was... like they do... it broke. Nothing big, something popped that should not pop and it stopped working... And no matter how good a mouse is... When they cost a certain amount, you really dislike it when they break. The $8 budget mouse? Is the same one I had before the old Razer, and its been a year since it broke... Still working. I kinda think thats important too in a review.. that things work when you buy them is good. Will they work a year from now, costing 5 times as much as ordinary equipment...
Still... Its a damn good mouse, I am just saving it now for Crysis, I want a fully funcional, perfect mouse when that is released, I am gonna shoot the living bejeebuz out of it.
Sounds like the Razer Diamondback Limited (Plasma) Edition.
I had one too, until it broke. And yeah, it's older than the Krait but at least as good.
How the hell can you make a mouse break? I have a Razer Copperhead and it fell countless times and it still works fine
Something that I believe is important to mention is being a girl (i.e. small hands) I don't like large "bulky" mice. To me, the "G" series mice are too large for me. My boyfriend has a Razer Copperhead, once I tried it I've been unsatisfied with my mouse (normal dell optical, wireless that came with my old computer). However, the Copperhead, while smaller than the "G"s was still too long for my shorter fingers. So for me, the Krait is perfect. I'm not picky about having multiple side buttons so that wasn't an issue for me. I did a lot of research on mice before I decided on one, I think it would be beneficial for those (few) female gamers out there to mention things like this in reviews. In all the reviews I've read, nothing focuses on how different it can be to be a girl trying to look for a mouse.
Shortened version: Krait = smaller than the average mouse and great for small female hands :)
I use the Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse:
reviews.cnet.com/mice/logitech-mx518-gaming-grade/4505-3148_7-31310113.html
You can find it for $40 at Amazon, it's worth it and way better then this Razer Krait Mouse