Page 2 - A Closer Look
With the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L out of the tube, we have a pretty typical look as you might expect from a mousepad of this size. With a full black finish, its discrete look is not too different from other mousing surfaces. In the top right corner, we have the only marking on the pad, which is an outline of the Cooler Master logo in purple. Cooler Master has been going more minimalist in their branding, which is nice to see. This logo also glows in the dark, though I personally found the effect to be too dim, even in darker environments. As for dimensions, this measures 450mm in width, 350mm in depth, and 3mm in height. Once again, this is pretty typical for its size designation. This being said, if you actually want a different size, the MasterAccessory MP510 comes in a whole variety of sizes as aforementioned, so selection of sizes should not be an issue. These particular dimensions are a pretty good balance between desktop and on-the-go gaming, as it is large enough for everyday use, but small enough to quickly roll and go with it. Unlike the past mouse surfaces I have looked at, the fabric on the top feels a bit rougher in finish. According to Cooler Master, this uses Cordura fabric, which is well known for its durability and resistance to the elements. The bottom features a nice rubber finish to get a good grip on the table. The edges on the MP510-L are also stitched over to prevent the surface from splitting apart, while also keeping sharper corners away from your wrist or arm.
Before we continue on to the surface inspection, let me quickly go over the advantages and disadvantages of a cloth-based mousing surface. Cloth-based surfaces provide better comfort and control, are easier on mice feet, generates little noise during use, can even out some imperfect surfaces, and is more portable. Even with a mousepad as large as this, it can be rolled up and ready to go. Unfortunately, it comes at reduced glide performance, and is inherently bound to attract and accumulate dust, dirt, and liquid. This can include human liquids too, such as sweat from your hands. Plastic, aluminum, glass, or any other solid surface can easily be run under the tap to restore it to original condition. You cannot do the same with cloth surfaces, and if you are thinking about the washing machine right now, please do not try this. The Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L Cordura surface is actually supposed to make the surface more resistant to liquids, but we will see what this means later on in our review. Now, we will take a closer look at the front surface.
Unlike most of the photos we take, a surface inspection requires a clearer and closer image. Thus, I threw the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L onto a scanner and ran it through at 1200dpi. This way, we could get a more detailed image. Taking a closer look at the surface, you can get a better inspection of the Cordura surface. From here you can see the hexagonal pattern. This is consistent throughout the entire surface, which should translate into better control. There are no apparent defects or flaws around the surface either. The only slight change is at the location of the logo on the MP510-L, though this is tucked in the corner and you probably can just avoid using your mouse in this area. Otherwise, we will see how all of this affects our performance later on.
Similar to many of other mousing pads we have used in the past, the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L employs a rubber backing in a very familiar pattern. The rubber backing is meant to hold the entire mousepad in place and keep it from sliding about. Together, these two surfaces make up the 3mm thick surface. The bottom layer makes up majority of the 343g of weight, which is no surprise. Overall, this zig-zag pattern is consistent around the entire bottom. This means there should not be any weak areas that may move about. Again, these observations are signs pointing to good performance, but let us not stall any longer and head to our performance tests.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
