Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
Installing and setting up the EpicGear MorphA X was a smooth and simple process without any trouble. After the installation of the mouse, we put it through some subjective performance tests in an attempt to determine how good the mouse really is. These tests were subjective, but we hope through the extensiveness of the tests will come to an objective conclusion. We tested the mouse in a normal office working environment, and of course, in a few different games. Some graphics testing was done as well by using it in Adobe Photoshop. The games used were Sid Meier's Civilization V, DOTA 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. These games span multiple popular genres of games, which allows us to figure out how well the mouse performs in different genres. The EpicGear MorphA X was also compared to previous mice I used, the SteelSeries Sensei and Ozone Argon.
I normally use a claw-like grip when gaming, so I can quickly move my mouse in any direction without having to move my arm much. The EpicGear MorphA X is comfortable for either a claw-like grip or palm grip, but it is more aimed at a palm grip. I also had to remove some of the included weights to make movement easier with a claw-like grip. Although it did not suit my style, a palm grip is more comfortable. The two buttons right next to the thumb were placed in a good position and actually a little higher than I am used to. This ensured I did not accidentally actuate them. They are mostly easy to press, and they provide a nice feedback. The three Teflon pads on the bottom also ensured smooth movement.
The EpicGear MorphA X has adjustable weights, but without any installed, it came in at 92.6g, which is quite light. I enjoy having my mouse a bit heavier, even though I do pick it up quite a lot when I am gaming. I removed one of the four included weights for the mouse to have some heft to it; all four weights installed is an added 20g. As aforementioned, the EpicGear MorphA X has one laser sensor and one optical sensor included, allowing for either up to 8200 DPI or 12000 DPI sensitivity, which I think is pretty excessive, and I would be surprised if someone actually uses this setting on a daily basis. I personally prefer lower sensitivity, and so I hover around 700 to 900 DPI depending on the game. I think Counter-Strike is where I have the lowest DPI, just so I can be as accurate as possible. The 8200 or 12000 DPI is great in a sense as it allows for a massive range, and everyone will be happy in the end. The sensitivity can be changed in 100 DPI increments, which is quite reasonable. I would personally like to be able to completely customize the DPI, with which ever DPI increments I would choose. But increasing with 100 DPI increments is fine and still allows for plenty of customizability.
As with any gaming mouse, the performance while gaming is the most important. I put it to the test in some popular genres. I play quite a bit of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, so I launched the game and tried my best for some headshots first. The EpicGear MorphA X performed well, and it did not take me long to quickly adjust all my settings to feel comfortable using it. The default polling rate was already set to 1000Hz, so there was no need to make any changes. I had no tracking issues, and the mouse did well. For DOTA 2, which I also have a considerable number of hours in, the MorphA X kept up with its performance. I know some of my friends prefer a lighter mouse for multiplayer online battle arena games, but I do not, and the adjustable weight made it easy to quickly get comfortable. As for the buttons on the EpicGear MorphA X, they never got in the way. I did, however, use the two buttons by the thumb for DOTA 2, and it was mostly a good experience. They are slightly out of the way, making it a little hard to always hit on time, since they are slightly higher than what I am used to. Again, the EpicGear MorphA X performed well with a smooth and accurate experience. It did similarly in Sid Meier's Civilization V, tracking smoothly and accurately, even if the time crunch to make decisions in Civilization V was not a concern. The two buttons to switch your DPI or profile were also never in reach to accidentally press. They are high enough to not be pressed, as well even in a palm grip they are not covered by your hand, so it is still quite difficult to press it accidentally.
I encountered no issues with graphical work. It performed similarly as it did during the gaming tests. The normal office usage in a Windows 10 environment was pleasant, and the EpicGear MorphA X was responsive and accurate. I found the entire experience to be great with no real issues. Unfortunately, with the textured scroll wheel, every now and then it might accidentally stop between each increment on the wheel. This means after lightly touching it again it might scroll up or down a little bit. This was not a big issue even before I realized what it was, but it was slightly annoying at times just to take a note of.
All of the above tests were conducted with the 9800 sensor, which is the laser sensor. To avoid just testing everything all over again and mostly restating the same results, I instead compared the above sensor with the 3360 optical sensor. I found the optical sensor to be slightly more accurate and more conducive to a smoother experience. The difference in experience was most clear as soon as I changed between the two. I found the 3360 optical sensor to be better than the 9800 laser sensor, even though both of them has long been considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in their respective categories.
As for the two different switches for the left and right click, they were both of good quality. I found the purple switch to be lighter and easier to click faster with, but they were still quite similar. Feedback for both of them was the same crisp and clean feel I have come to expect from Omron. Overall, the EpicGear MorphA X did well through all the tests it faced. It was responsive, smooth, and accurate. The grip was great, and I was always able to have a comfortable fit. The textured rubber side really ensured for a good spot to rest your thumb.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
