Page 2 - A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
The Yeyian Links 3000 resembles a typical lightweight gaming mouse, utilizing a honeycomb shell design to reduce weight. The mouse comes in black, but you can get one in white as well. There is a bit of branding shown through the hexagonal pattern that is more visible when plugged in. This logo shines brightly out of the mouse with its RGB LED illumination if you want.
The mouse has an ambidextrous appearance. I say "appearance" because there is no real claim of an ambidextrous design, but it is symmetrical and comfortable in both hands. I personally like the appearance of an ambidextrous mouse as I like symmetry, but I personally prefer the feel of a right-handed mouse more. The whole body is made out of a plastic shell. The mouse appears adequate as it felt quite sturdy, not being too hollow, even with the lightweight design.
As for measurements, the Yeyian Links 3000 measures 5 inches in length, 2.63 inches in width, and 1.49 inches in height. These measurements are about average for a mouse of this design. The peak height sits closer to the center, making a nice curve to better fit a claw grip. As for the weight, it is not specified by the manufacturer, but the Links 3000 is 75g without the cord and 107g with based on my measurements. This weight is a little disappointing given the design and appearance. I would have expected the mouse to weigh less than 65g, considering it has a honeycomb shell. For example, the ASUS TUF Gaming M4 Air with a honeycomb shell is only 47g, while the ROCCAT Burst Pro with a solid shell is still lighter at 68g. That said, while this is far from being the lightest mouse we have seen, it still feels decently agile, and it is balanced towards the center. There seem to be no sacrifices to the structural integrity of the mouse though, feeling quite rigid throughout the body. The overall build quality is good. There were no audible squeaks or noises in the body or the buttons, not is there any sensor rattle. I have found there to be no flex like some more hollowed-out ultralight mice.
From the left perspective of the Yeyian Links 3000, you can see all the buttons you have access to when holding the mouse. The primary buttons at the top are separated from the rest of the body to ensure a faster clicking feel. Underneath each primary button are Huano switches. The specific switch being used is not specified, but Huano switches are known to be generally good in the enthusiast community. These switches are rated for 10 million clicks. I find Huano switches to have a nice solid click and prefer them over the typical Omron switches used in many mice.
In between the primary left and right buttons, there is a textured scroll wheel and DPI loop button. The scroll wheel has a translucent side, allowing lighting to shine through. The click felt good and has a snappy response, but the scroll wheel lacked resistance. On the side of the mouse, we have two secondary buttons mapped to Forward and Back by default. I found theses side buttons to be much squishier compared to the two primary buttons. The side buttons were placed out of the way enough to avoid accidental presses, although this will vary from person to person. Finally, around the bottom edge of the mouse is a translucent strip to allow for underglow.
Underneath the Yeyian Links 3000, you will see quite a few important characteristics. We have four PTFE, otherwise known as Teflon, pads with three feet and two strips around the sensor. These feet are intended to provide a good gliding performance. In my usage, I found the feet to be quite thin and the gliding performance to be quite rough in comparison to other mice I have reviewed. We also have a better view of the cable in the shot above. This is a USB 2.0 cable that is braided. The braided cable is quite nice, but the braid is quite loose, making the cable thicker.
In the middle of the base is the PixArt PAW3212DM. This entry-level sensor is used for budget gaming mice. It offers 30 IPS of tracking speed, up to 10g of acceleration, and a maximum sensitivity of 7200 DPI. This sensor makes sense in this application, as this is an entry-level wired gaming mouse. The minimum polling rate is 125Hz and the maximum is 1000Hz.
The Yeyian Links 3000 uses software that can be downloaded from Yeyian’s website named “YEYIAN LINKS GAMING MOUSE” that controls all mouse personalization. The setup process is easy to work through, and it automatically detects the Links 3000. The download file is about 2MB in size and is stored as a ZIP file.
After opening the software, there are several drop down menus to customize the mouse to your own preference. Starting on the left, we can customize all the buttons and the scroll wheel function. Additionally, we have a macro editor where you can record and edit macros.
Looking more into the drop-down menus, we have the DPI Settings, Lighting, Mouse Parameter, Polling Rate, and Debounce Time menus. DPI Settings allow you to adjust your DPI and adjust the different levels in the DPI loop. The Lighting menu has ten different effects including off. I will say the color selection is quite interesting, as you have to double click the color to change it. Additionally, the brightness can be adjusted in this menu.
Mouse Parameter allows you to change the mouse sensitivity, scrolling speed, and double click speed. Additionally, there is a toggle for improve pointer precision, which adds acceleration to your pointer. This is something any typical FPS gamer turns off. We have here a scroll one page toggle as well, which scrolls the whole page down from the bottom of the original position to the top. Polling Rate allows you to adjust the polling rate to 125, 250, 500, or 1000Hz. Debounce Time allows you to adjust the time allowed between switch registrations.
Generally speaking, I found this software to be adequate in function. You are able to customize your mouse to what best suits you. This includes color, sensitivity, and so on. The software itself is simple to use as the user interface was easy to navigate. In practical use, I thought it was good. However, some adjustments can be made to make it better. It is important to mention consistency as the use of casing for text is inconsistent. Furthermore, some operation is also inconsistent, requiring the user to double click rather than single clicking for the rest of the software. With these changes, this can be a fine piece of software.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
