Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
Testing of a mousepad is quite subjective in nature, since there are no true objective benchmarks to spit out quantitative numbers for us to compare results when done. The tests will be completed in both graphics and gaming scenarios. These are two crucial areas where a good mouse in conjunction with a good mousepad really makes a difference. Knowing the mouse well enough will help to highlight the benefits or shortcomings of this particular mousepad. We will then break it down to the details and rate our mousepad based on the following categories:
Glide - For quick and effortless mouse movements across the mousing surface.
Control - For precise and accurate cursor/crosshair handling.
Grip - The mousepad's ability to stay in the same position on the desk without undesirably relocating itself.
Noise - Will this mousepad generate noise when the mouse is being used?
When it comes to glide, there is very little friction to speak of on the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP860. However, it did provide slightly more than my usual mousepad. It provided great glide with the Teflon feet on the mouse and there were no striking irregularities throughout use. The biggest issue for glide is the overly large cutout for the Cooler Master logo. It is mostly out of the way during use, since it is a decent sized mousepad. But I have a low sensitivity and use large sweeps with the my mouse, which translated into me hitting the cutout frequently throughout use. It was slightly annoying, but I got used to working around it. The aluminum side provided mostly a smooth glide, but is definitely not as smooth as the cloth side. Overall however, the glide is fairly comparable on both sides.
As for control, the cloth side does as good of a job as the aluminum side. The cloth, as we saw on the previous page, has plenty of small textures to ensure the overall feel is smooth. But because the cloth provides more friction, the control is still there. The Teflon feet are always able quickly go from one side to another. As much as the cloth is great for gliding, the friction it provides is excellent for control. At every point, it is easy to switch direction or ensure your aim is right. Similarly, the aluminum side provides decent control, but it is not as easy to use as the cloth side. It is far easier to accidentally go too far in one direction, but I am sure with practice it will produce results similar to the cloth side. Once again, preference does play a role here, so be mindful of this.
The Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP860 has a rubber ring that frames the mousepad. This rubber ring is raised slightly on both sides to ensure a strong grip on whichever surface it is on. It performed excellently on smooth wooden surfaces, on cloth, and on everything else I tried it on. It would only shift when I actually tried to make it shift. More than just the ring, the mousepad has some weight and size to it. Its overall dimensions ensures it grips to a wide surface area, making it very stable.
Noise is always a factor in the technology world. The quieter the better no matter in which realm, except for speakers of course, haha. Moving the mouse on the cloth surface is quiet. Picking up and putting down the mouse does produce a bit of noise, but cloth naturally absorbs some sound. However, the MasterAccessory MP860 only has a thin piece of cloth with plastic underneath, which means it also reflects some noise. The aluminum side was much worse. Every mouse movement created a bit of noise, and this was even louder when I picked up and put down my SteelSeries Rival 600.
Overall, the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP860 provides some flexibility in the way it is used. The cloth side provides good glide and control, while creating very little noise. Similarly, the aluminum side performs well too. The aluminum side is louder, but it provides more speed and allows for a quicker flick. It also created less friction. On the other hand, the cloth side has the large cutout for the Cooler Master logo, which was a bit annoying when using the whole mousepad. Otherwise, the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP860 performs well in each of the categories, regardless of which side you decide to use.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
