Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
After installing and configuring the Turtle Beach's software to our liking, we put the mouse 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, Dragon's Nest, and Crysis 2 Maximum Edition. This spans multiple genres and allows us to get a feel as to how the mouse responds in different situations. The Turtle Beach Grip 500 was cross-referenced with other mice such as the Func MS-2 and the Gigabyte Force M63. All testing were completed on the XTracGear Carbonic XXL. Please note these are subjective tests, but we will attempt to make it as objective as possible with our cross reference testing methods.
Switching from the Func MS-2 to the Turtle Beach Grip 500 meant I have nothing to really switch. As mentioned in the physical inspection, both of these mice utilize a palm grip, and they feel similar with the soft-touch surface. Due to the shape and size of the mouse in relation to my hand, the Grip 500 allows your palm and two fingers to rest on the mouse. This mouse was very comfortable to use as a palm mouse, especially for average sized hands like mine. You could try to use a fingertip grip, but the backside was really just asking the users to rest on it. Most of the buttons on the Grip 500 were within reach, with the exception of the upper side key. It seemed to be just a bit too far, and I would much rather it be employed underneath the other two side buttons. When it comes to actual comfort, even with the far button, the Grip 500 was no doubt a good mouse to use. The soft rubber touch really just works, and holds to your hand. This really made the Grip 500... grippable. I will still say again the Func MS-2 is less slippery than the Grip 500, but both mice stayed in my hand during the testing process.
The Grip 500 does not have adjustable weights, but the 105 grams was still very usable in multiple applications, whether gaming or for graphical work. User preference will really be the key here, as some will prefer heavier mice, and others will want something lighter. For games like first person shooters or multiplayer online battle arenas, lighter mice may be preferred, but other people may want a bit more stability and control. The sensor is capable of delivering 8200 dpi, but I never went past 3200 dpi in most of my usage, even in different games. I am quite happy at the Avago 9800 however, as it allows for more flexibility in different games. As this is a laser sensor, most surfaces will work with the Grip 500.
As Turtle Beach advertises this mouse as a gaming mouse, the first thing we should look at is actual gaming performance. In games like Crysis 2, I played a few levels to test out the mouse. While I do not necessarily enjoy first person shooters, the Turtle Beach Grip 500 was excellent in performance. Tracking and movement in the game was smooth and accurate too, and I never felt like the Grip 500 limited my playing abilities. Next, in a relatively well known MOBA, League of Legends. The Grip 500 was once again very good and reactive. Multiple mouse clicks were all registered with the Omron switches; it delivered very well here. Most MOBA gamers look for a simple mouse, and even with the Grip 500's extra buttons, the mouse felt clean and easy to use around. Finally, with an online role playing game, Dragon's Nest, the mouse performed decently. While majority of the actions were done with the keyboard, it is important to have a decent mouse to aim skills and aid in overall movement. The mouse was quick to respond to my movements, but its tracking was still predictable. Finally, for Civilization V, accurate tracking was not necessarily crucial, as it is a turn-based strategy game. A well functioning mouse made this game all the more enjoyable. As per usual, the Grip 500 was capable and ready to defeat the other civilizations. Thus, overall the Turtle Beach Grip 500 was able to tackle any genre of games. Tracking accuracy and smoothness meant the mouse was very fun to use, and did not ever inhibit my performance. The Teflon feet also led to a near frictionless experience, especially when used with the Carbonic XXL. Tracking, of course, was also fine on other surfaces such as glass or wood. There was zero "oil slick" delay or acceleration problems here either.
As for graphical work, the smoothness again made the Grip 500 shine. It was definitely functional in applications like Photoshop. I tried a few lasso tests with the mouse, selecting multiple elements in an image to see my success rate. Of course, I compared this mouse with other mice for an objective comparison. With Turtle Beach's Grip 500, I was able to select the areas I expected. The weighting could be a tad bit more for a more stable motion, but it was still very good. Daily office work and internet browsing too was flawless. The 1000Hz polling rate meant the mouse will pick up movement just fine. Again, I really wish more mice would come with horizontal scrolling wheels, but I will have to wait for another mouse.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
