Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
After installing 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, we 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 SteelSeries Rival 600 was also compared to a previous mouse I used, the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM530.
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is made for both a palm and claw grip. However, I found the palm grip to be more comfortable and easier to use. This is mostly due to the design. But when less weight is being used, the claw grip works well. The three buttons right next to the thumb were placed in a good position and not too high. This ensured I will not accidentally actuate them, but still comfortable enough to reach. The feedback for these little buttons are nice and tactile.
The SteelSeries Rival 600 is a gaming orientated mouse and even boasts about its eSports performance. It is only natural I started the testing here. For FPS gaming performance, I tested the mouse in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The default polling rate was already set to 1000Hz, so there was no need to make any changes. My experiences were really good. The SteelSeries Rival 600 was exceptionally responsive with every flick of the wrist. Finding the CPI sweet spot was painless and easy. I did not experience any weird software glitches while adjusting the settings to my liking. Tracking throughout was also really smooth and I experienced no jitter, which is expected at low CPIs. I had the same results in Dota 2, but this time I actually used the buttons on the side of the mouse by my thumb. It was difficult to accidentally actuate any of the side mouse buttons, which is good, but it also stayed close enough to my thumb to be able to comfortably press them. Two of the buttons have the same size, while the one furthest to the front is slightly smaller. The front one was the hardest to press, but after adjusting my grip it was much easier to press. It requires your hand to sit a little bit more forward than might be comfortable at first. Overall, the buttons placed here are easy to access. For a more laid-back strategy game, I played some Sid Meier's Civilization V, in which the mouse performed just as well as in the other games. It seemed like there is some increased accuracy with the dual sensor design.
I encountered no issues with graphical work. It performed similarly to the gaming tests. The normal office usage in a Windows 10 environment was pleasant, and the SteelSeries Rival 600 was responsive and accurate. The SteelSeries Rival 600 was precise and consistent for everyday work, continuing its impressive performance not just in the gaming world. In every test, there were no tracking issues either. Furthermore, I enjoyed using a palm grip for this mouse. It was a comfortable experience for everyday office work and for gaming.
Overall, the SteelSeries Rival 600 performed well in all tests. There was no input lag to speak of, and it was pleasant to use throughout. At 12000 DPI, however, there was a slight amount of jitter. It is hard to tell if this was due to my hand, but it is something to take into consideration. Also, I doubt many people really use a sensitivity of 12000 DPI in the first place. Otherwise, it was a smooth and accurate experience.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
