Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
After installing and configuring the Aivia GHOST software to our liking, we put the Gigabyte Force M63 through our series of revised standard tracking performance tests. This includes normal office usage in the Windows environment, as well as gaming. Graphics work is done in addition to regular office usage with Adobe Photoshop. Games we have used in this test include Sid Meier’s Civilization V, League of Legends, Mirror’s Edge, The Sims 3, and Crysis 2 Maximum Edition. The Gigabyte Force M63 was cross-referenced with other mice such as the Gigabyte Aivia Uranium. All testing was completed on a the XTracGear Carbonic, in addition to on a standard wooden table. Please note these are subjective tests, but we will attempt to make it as objective as possible with our cross reference testing methods.
When I put my hands on the Gigabyte Force M63 for the first time, I realized I had to adjust my ways. Prior to this, I have been using mice in more of a palm grip, which meant my whole hand was practically resting on the mouse. While it is seen as slow for some users, it was mostly because the mouse I used before, the Gigabyte Aivia Uranium, was shaped this way. However, with the Force M63, users are encouraged towards a claw or even a fingertip grip. This is due to the low difference between the front and the back of the mouse. The hump where the palm rests is not very large, and users will find themselves not always touching the rubber grip. As I have smaller hands, I still can manage to use this mouse with a claw/palm hybrid without changing too much. Reaching all of the buttons is easy, except for the left red button, which I will refer to as the sniper button. I found myself having to reposition my thumb just to reach this trigger, but of course this is just based on your hand size. As for overall comfort, the Gigabyte Force M63 accomplishes this for the most part. One problem I have mentioned before with the Gigabyte Aivia Uranium was the fact I found myself regripping the sides to position my hand on the mouse. The surface of the Uranium is completely smooth and hard, and the heavier weight does not make it easier for your fingers to constantly regrip. As for the Force M63, the mouse's side grips are accessible and make the mouse easy to move. However, with its light and small size, you may notice the right side of your fingers is a bit more cramped than usual. Even with my smaller hands, I started noticing this after an extended period of use.
As you know by now, the mouse can be adjusted in terms of weights, from 85 to 107 grams. As I am used to a heavier mouse, I decided to throw in all the weights, but it still felt oddly light. While you make knock it for being too light, you have to remember this is a first-person shooter mouse, and this type of game requires precise but responsive actions. Thus a lighter mouse is more intuitive, as long as it is controllable. Pairing this with the 50 to 4000 dpi sensor, you may think this is quite low, especially when many mice can reach up to 6500dpi and beyond. However, the weight and sensitivity paired together translates into a mouse that still feels peppy and mobile. Speaking of which, the optical sensor tracked perfectly on all of my surfaces, except for glass. As this is not a laser sensor, I only expect it to work on opaque surfaces, thus this omission is fine. I think tracking precision and fluidity of motion is more important than being able to work on all types of surfaces.
As this mouse is made for gaming, this is where we will begin our actual tracking tests. Firing up Crysis 2 Maximum Edition and playing a few rounds of campaign, I found this mouse never really held me back. While I know I am not the best at FPS games, the Gigabyte Force M63 was a joy to work with. The sniper button, while useful in its thought, is slightly flawed in its implementation. The button is a bit more forward than my thumb, so I have to readjust my hand to reach the red sniper button. While it could be due to my smaller hands, this slight delay in feeling for the trigger can be quite literally the difference between life and respawn. Otherwise, the movement overall is smooth, but also quick in reacting to my motions. The undercarriage lined with the Teflon feet provide a near frictionless experience too. There is no "oil slick" delay here either. Moving to less mouse-intensive games like Civilization V and The Sims 3 provided a similar experience. While neither of these games require a great mouse, the Force M63 was up to task in making gaming ever so easier. When I tried the popular multiplayer online battle arena, League of Legends, the mouse was able to handle and follow my every move.
When it comes to graphical work, the Gigabyte Force M63 is not as smooth as it is in games. While it is more than usable in applications like Photoshop and such, I have noticed a bit more jerkiness in motion. I tried a small lasso test with the mouse, by trying to select a certain element in an image, and I noticed the lasso I created was not as smooth as I would have expected. Motion is still acceptable, and the cursor moved where I expected, but it was not the easiest of experiences. I think the main reason for this is just the lack of overall weight. As I am quite used to a much heavier mouse, even at lower sensitivity settings the Gigabyte Force M63 seems less smooth when tracking cursor motion. However, those used to a lighter mouse may have an easier time using the Force M63. Otherwise, daily office work and internet browsing is flawless. In conjunction with the 1000Hz polling rate, the mouse picks up movement just fine.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
