Page 3 - Subjective Performance Tests
After plugging the Yeyian Links 3000 and setting up the software, I ran the mouse through our series of standard tracking performance tests. This includes normal office usage in the Windows environment as well as gaming. Some general internet browsing and spreadsheet work were completed. Games used in this test primarily included VALORANT, Osu!, and League of Legends. This spans multiple genres and allows us to get a feel as to how the mouse responds in different situations. All testing were completed on a Razer Strider hybrid mouse pad. Please note these are subjective tests, but we will attempt to make it as objective as possible with our cross-reference testing methods.
With a medium size and symmetrical design, I found the fit be relatively decent for my medium-sized hands. I held the mouse with a fingertip grip. The design has a decent place to rest your thumb or pinky without making contact with the mousing surface. I found there to be a lack of texture to properly grip the mouse. I would have appreciated some sort of rubber surface to produce a more comfortable grip, but given the price point, I fully understand why it is not present. Regarding the weight, the Links 3000 is decently light at 75g. However, it is still heavier than anticipated given the honeycomb shell used to save on weight. I would have expected this mouse to weigh less than 65g at first look. Of course, when it comes to weight, it comes down to preference, and I prefer a lightweight mouse. For sensitivity range, I rarely went beyond 1000 DPI in my daily use aside from general testing. For the inputs, I found all the buttons to be positioned quite well for my hands to not accidentally press them. The audible and tactile feedback of the primary buttons were generally quite good.
The Yeyian Links 3000 is made for gaming, so I used it as it was intended. The weight took a short amount of time to adjust to, but I found no issue with the transition. Afterwards, I began my journey into games to test out. I would like to think of myself as a decent gamer, so I set my expectations for this mouse to not hold me back in my non-competitive gaming. I found the Links 3000 and the PixArt PAW3212DM to be less than satisfactory. Tracking was relatively consistent, but I found there to be a smoothing effect at any DPI higher than 2000. A slight amount of jitter starts to become noticeable around the 1600 DPI mark. In games like VALORANT, flick shooting was impossible. This is not due to any jitter, but rather the mouse began to spin out when moving the mouse at higher speeds. I tested other FPS games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to test if it was only an issue with VALORANT, in which the spinning out was consistent. The Links 3000 has a short lift-off distance, making repositioning not an issue as this is something you will likely be doing due to the spinning out. As I have previously mentioned, I would have appreciated a rubber grip to make controlling the mouse feel better. In games like League of Legends, the tracking performance was adequate, even when executing highly mechanical plays. In Osu! there is a tiny bit of lost tracking, but it was not overly noticeable. For an entry level sensor, the performance was unacceptable for this day and age.
Because we are not constantly gaming, I also tested the Yeyian Links 3000 in my everyday business student tasks. The performance was very good when the tasks were less intensive. The mouse was able to deliver in tracking performance at this level. I had no issue with going between cells while using Microsoft Excel. When browsing the internet, the side buttons felt decently responsive, although it was noticeably squishier compared to the two primary buttons. The mouse functioned well in general office use.
Overall, the Yeyian Links 3000 is an entry level gaming mouse with limited performance. Tracking may not be its strong point for gaming, but it is completely functional for office work. The weight was heavier than expected given its design and will take a little bit of time to get used to. Changing to a rubber grip would make it easier to grip and more comfortable when operating. For an entry level mouse, it performs sufficiently for any game that is not a first person shooter.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. Subjective Performance Tests
4. Conclusion
