Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
After plugging the Cooler Master MM831 in and setting up the software, I ran the mouse through our series of standard tracking performance tests. This includes normal office usage in the Windows environment as well as gaming. Some graphics work and testing were done with Adobe Photoshop. Games used in this test primarily include Overwatch, Valorant, and League of Legends. This spans multiple genres and allows us to get a feel as to how the mouse responds in different situations. All testing was completed on a cloth surface, primarily the Fnatic Gear Focus G1 XL. Please note these are subjective tests, but we will attempt to make it as objective as possible with our cross-reference testing methods. Due to the hybrid nature of this mouse, testing was done over wireless with the USB dongle and wired.
Unsurprisingly, the gradual slope and asymmetrical shape of the Cooler Master MM831 makes it easier to hold with a palm or claw grip, depending on your hand size. I mostly used a hybrid between a claw and palm grip, but I found the mouse a bit larger than what I was used to. Those with bigger hands may find this mouse comfortable. I was able to rest my ring finger on the side with my pinky finger just touching the mousepad. Weighting wise, the Cooler Master MM831 is quite hefty at 123g. This is more than double what I am used to with the ultralight Cooler Master MM711, though that mouse is quite a bit smaller too. Even so, heavier mice can offer stability that others may want in their mice. As such, comfort still does come down to personal preferences in the end. For the sensitivity range, I rarely went above 1200DPI in my daily use despite Cooler Master allowing up to 32000DPI for sensitivity. As for inputs, I found the buttons to be in a good placement for my hands to avoid accidental presses. Audible and tactile feedback of the primary buttons were excellent and good for the secondary keys. None of them exhibited any odd squeaks or shaking noises.
The Cooler Master MM831 is a gaming mouse, so I tested it out with games like Overwatch, Valorant, and League of Legends. As this mouse is quite a bit heavier and larger than my typical daily driver, it took a bit of time to get used to the MM831. Afterwards, I jumped into game and tried to click heads and help my team to victory. During my gaming experience, I found the sensor tracking in the MM831 to be great. The PAW3335 may be a more energy efficient sensor, but it still performed quite well here. Movement tracked smoothly with no signs of spin out or incorrect movement. This is clearly still a competitive sensor in here. However, I found the heavier shell and larger body made flicking a bit trickier. This again may be alleviated if you have larger hands than mine or prefer heavier mice. The primary Omron switches held up extremely well in all circumstances. In games like League of Legends, the performance was just as good at faster movements without losing tracking.
When checking for more technical flaws, the Cooler Master MM831 exhibited positive signs. Some Photoshop tests revealed small details were picked up when moving the mouse in straight lines with zero signs of prediction. I did not notice any input lag and response time felt consistent even when testing at the maximum settings. There was no observable jitter until we got into the highest range at 32000DPI, which is above the hardware supported 16000DPI sensitivity. The low lift off distance was also quite good to see, as the mouse did not move once it was lifted off the surface. I did find the USB wireless performance to be indistinguishable from the wired mode, which is great to see. Over Bluetooth, I did notice a slight bit of lag, but this is only because the polling rate is limited to 125Hz in this mode.
Overall, performance of the Cooler Master MM831 is excellent. The heavier weight may be a downside to some, but gaming with this mouse was still easy with accurate and smooth tracking. Its wireless performance was also quite good when compared to the wired performance, and there was no observed lag in either circumstance.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
