Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
Testing of a mousepad is subjective in nature, since there are no true objective benchmarks to spit out quantitative numbers for us to compare results when done. In order to make this subjective analysis a little more objective, I will be using the previously reviewed ROCCAT Burst Pro mouse primarily, as well as with the DeepCool MG510. 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. My intrinsic familiarity with the performance characteristics of the mouse will make it easy to determine differences between mousing surfaces while also highlighting the benefits of using a mousepad. We will then break it down to the details and rate each 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?
Most mousepads try to balance between glide and control, as an effortless movement usually comes from less friction between the mouse and the surface. This can conversely make the mouse trickier handle precisely. As for the DeepCool GT920, I would say this surface tends more towards control than glide. This is not to say the glide aspects were bad. With the Teflon skates on the bottom of the Burst Pro, the mouse still moved smoothly across the pad. The movement may not have been as effortless as some hard surface pads or even the ROCCAT Sense Pro, but the GT920 still provided a consistent surface to not inhibit mouse movement overall. Movement was also consistent both horizontally and vertically.
Looking at the control aspects, the relatively coarser feel of the CORDURA fabric meant I was able to control the tracking of the mouse with ease in games while still being able to execute fast movement when needed, such as with flick shots. Movement was predictable and easy to track. I also did not take too much time to get used to this pad, especially since it felt similar to the ROCCAT Sense CTRL in day-to-day use. Once again, the consistent feel across the surface helped with predictable movement and tracking. Compared to the other CORDURA fabric mousepad I have, the Cooler Master MasterAccessory MP510-L, I found the DeepCool GT920 to be smoother to move over while still offering a similar amount of control.
As for grip, the large dimensions of the DeepCool GT920 and the 801g weight meant the deskmat stayed firmly in place with no accidental movement. Due to its larger size, you can see I put my keyboard on top of this pad, which also plays a role in anchoring the GT920 in place. Some low-quality mousepads may move around while a user moves the mouse due to a low weight or poor gripping abilities on the bottom, but thankfully this was not the case for the GT920.
As for noise, the GT920's 3mm surface was capable of absorbing noise, but the rougher CORDURA fabric meant I did still hear some noise from mouse movement. This is not more than the aforementioned Sense CTRL, while also being notably quieter than the MP510-L. As well, it was still notably quieter than any hard surface, as operating my mouse on my bare table still produced louder scratching sounds. As an added benefit, the GT920 also reduced the metallic ping of my keyboard.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
