Optical vs Laser

[sqwidee]

I've seen this quite a bit now on the forum. People will recommend a mouse to a new buyer because "it's laser" or because "it's optical", but they refuse to explain why that makes the mouse better or worse.

I've been using a G700s and a Naga 2014 for a while now, and I would never recommend one or the other for having better tracking. They're basically identical in practical usage scenarios.

 

So what circumstances or conditions make either laser or optical tracking the better choice, or what makes one sensor better than the other when DPI isn't a factor?

[ShadowCaptain]

I've seen this quite a bit now on the forum. People will recommend a mouse to a new buyer because "it's laser" or because "it's optical", but they refuse to explain why that makes the mouse better or worse.

I've been using a G700s and a Naga 2014 for a while now, and I would never recommend one or the other for having better tracking. They're basically identical in practical usage scenarios.

 

So what circumstances or conditions make either laser or optical tracking the better choice, or what makes one sensor better than the other when DPI isn't a factor?

 

Optical would technically be better as it does not have native acceleration which laser mice tend to have however it cannot run at crazy speeds, (hence why logitechs new mouse uses an accelerometer to work out if the mouse is still moving if you move too fast for the optical sensor)

 

Laser mice support higher DPIs and track better over more surfaces (for example logitechs darkfield laser)

 

(afaik)

[Altecice]

you are going to start a fanboy war here.

 

Personally Optical>Laser all day long. If you are FPS gaming you really want an Optical as there is no acceleration or "guesswork" involved that the lasers do. Meaning more accuracy and more predictability to where you are aiming and where you think you will be aiming.

 

People moan about the lack of "crazy high DPI" settings that opticals don't have that lasers do but if you are playing your FPS games at anything over 1000DPI you are doing it wrong.

[Rorgash]

Laser is good if you dont use a mouse mat and you want to use the mouse anywhere, optical is just WAY more precise

[sqwidee]

Optical would technically be better as it does not have native acceleration which laser mice tend to have however it cannot run at crazy speeds, (hence why logitechs new mouse uses an accelerometer to work out if the mouse is still moving if you move too fast for the optical sensor)

 

Laser mice support higher DPIs and track better over more surfaces (for example logitechs darkfield laser)

 

(afaik)

 

Does that native acceleration make a big difference, though? I haven't noticed it with my gear, but it may be a lack of experience...

[sqwidee]

you are going to start a fanboy war here.

 

Personally Optical>Laser all day long. If you are FPS gaming you really want an Optical as there is no acceleration or "guesswork" involved that the lasers do. Meaning more accuracy and more predictability to where you are aiming and where you think you will be aiming.

 

People moan about the lack of "crazy high DPI" settings that opticals don't have that lasers do but if you are playing your FPS games at anything over 1000DPI you are doing it wrong.

 

An FPS game at under 1000DPI on a high res screen LOL you'll need like 2 feet of mouse surface.

 

I can't run DPI lower than 2000 for any game because of my grip and space constraints lol

I should be able to move the pointer from one end of the screen to the other with only a few millimeters of finger flex as far as I care...

 

but that's just my preference.

[Altecice]

Does that native acceleration make a big difference, though? I haven't noticed it with my gear, but it may be a lack of experience...

 

Yes its like night and day. Will take you a few days to adjust though. (with gaming)

[sqwidee]

Yes its like night and day. Will take you a few days to adjust though. (with gaming)

 

I've been planning to get a G402 since the announce. I guess I'll have to put all the fanboyism to the test, eh?

 

Isn't there also hard vs soft mouse mat theory based on your sensor? That would be good to know before I get one.

[Altecice]

An FPS game at under 1000DPI on a high res screen LOL you'll need like 2 feet of mouse surface.

 

I can't run DPI lower than 2000 for any game because of my grip and space constraints lol

I should be able to move the pointer from one end of the screen to the other with only a few millimeters of finger flex as far as I care...

 

but that's just my preference.

 

What DPI you use on desktop doesn't matter. I use 5760x1080p and I run 1800dpi and I can manage to move my cursor to left to right with a few cm of moment.

 

In game you should be turning up your in game sensitivity by all means but not the mouse (for optical or laser) after a limit of DPI the mouse (varies per sensor) will start to do more of the guesswork and being less precise. The top CS players use somthing like 150DPI for the mouse but turn up the in game mouse settings.

 

Give it a shot (no pun intended) I can almost guarantee you will play better.

 

edit - I am not being a fanboy its just fact.

[Altecice]

I've been planning to get a G402 since the announce. I guess I'll have to put all the fanboyism to the test, eh?

 

Isn't there also hard vs soft mouse mat theory based on your sensor? That would be good to know before I get one.

 

I use a large desk mat as my glass desk is cold always so it keeps me warm haha. I dont think it matters what surface you use Mine is soft.

[lx_srs]

Optical would technically be better as it does not have native acceleration which laser mice tend to have however it cannot run at crazy speeds, (hence why logitechs new mouse uses an accelerometer to work out if the mouse is still moving if you move too fast for the optical sensor)

 

Laser mice support higher DPIs and track better over more surfaces (for example logitechs darkfield laser)

 

(afaik)

You're absolutely right.  Just switched from an optical(Logitech G300) to a laser(Corsair Vengeance M65) recently.  The laser is great, however I have noticed more inaccuracies when using the laser mouse, as opposed to my old optical mouse.  You won't notice the difference until you play games where you need to be exceedingly accurate though, like CS:GO.

[sqwidee]

What DPI you use on desktop doesn't matter. I use 5760x1080p and I run 1800dpi and I can manage to move my cursor to left to right with a few cm of moment.

 

In game you should be turning up your in game sensitivity by all means but not the mouse (for optical or laser) after a limit of DPI the mouse (varies per sensor) will start to do more of the guesswork and being less precise. The top CS players use somthing like 150DPI for the mouse but turn up the in game mouse settings.

 

Give it a shot (no pun intended) I can almost guarantee you will play better.

 

edit - I am not being a fanboy its just fact.

 

No worries, I wasn't calling anyone out for fanboying. I just know there's tons of it behind most recommendations and I want to see it for myself.

 

Also I only play shooters on occasion, my application would usually be moba games, but the principle should still be the same.

 

Thanks a ton for explaining it all

[Altecice]

No worries, I wasn't calling anyone out for fanboying. I just know there's tons of it behind most recommendations and I want to see it for myself.

 

Also I only play shooters on occasion, my application would usually be moba games, but the principle should still be the same.

 

Thanks a ton for explaining it all

 

no problem.

 

(I am a Razer fanboy but shhh!)   

[Colonel_Gerdauf]

Optical would technically be better as it does not have native acceleration which laser mice tend to have however it cannot run at crazy speeds, (hence why logitechs new mouse uses an accelerometer to work out if the mouse is still moving if you move too fast for the optical sensor)

 

Laser mice support higher DPIs and track better over more surfaces (for example logitechs darkfield laser)

 

(afaik)

 

That is true on a general basis... and then there is the G502, a mouse that, for all intents and purposes, uses an optical sensor. It includes DPI settings so high that no sane human would come close to maxing it out (12000 DPI, and no that is not a typo).  As much as I like Logitech, this design choice makes no sense.

[lx_srs]

I've been planning to get a G402 since the announce. I guess I'll have to put all the fanboyism to the test, eh?

 

Isn't there also hard vs soft mouse mat theory based on your sensor? That would be good to know before I get one.

Soft is better for maintaining accuracy.  It doesn't allow the mouse to move as quickly, giving you more control over your movements.  I personally prefer hard, but that's because I barely move my mouse anyway (1cm or less)

[Verne]

If you want something heavy to read, here's a couple of great articles: 

http://www.overclock.net/t/951894/the-truthful-mouse-guide

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/tech-support/333648-an-overview-of-mouse-technology

 

And a good source to check which sensor a certain mouse has:

http://www.overclock.net/t/854100/gaming-mouse-sensor-list

 

edit: just stumbled upon this slightly updated mouse guide: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56240.0

[sqwidee]

That is true on a general basis... and then there is the G502, a mouse that, for all intents and purposes, uses an optical sensor. It includes DPI settings so high that no sane human would come close to maxing it out (12000 DPI, and no that is not a typo).  As much as I like Logitech, this design choice makes no sense.

 

So if it's optical but the DPI settings are that high, does it just extrapolate or does it use gyroscopics to compensate for the limitations of the sensor?

[Altecice]

That is true on a general basis... and then there is the G502, a mouse that, for all intents and purposes, uses an optical sensor. It includes DPI settings so high that no sane human would come close to maxing it out (12000 DPI, and no that is not a typo).  As much as I like Logitech, this design choice makes no sense.

 

If i remember correctly that mouse after 4000 or so DPI the sensor starts guessing a lot and just failing in general. becoming very jittery at 12000 (but still acceptable) :

http://www.overclock.net/t/1481639/logitech-g502-proteus-core-gaming-mouse-review-by-ino

[sqwidee]

If i remember correctly that mouse after 4000 or so DPI the sensor starts guessing a lot and just failing in general. becoming very jittery at 12000:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1481639/logitech-g502-proteus-core-gaming-mouse-review-by-ino

 

Ok, then the whole thing about the new tech in the G402 makes sense. Thought it was just pointless drivel about how fast you can move it. Makes a LOT more sense now

[ShadowCaptain]

An FPS game at under 1000DPI on a high res screen LOL you'll need like 2 feet of mouse surface.

 

I can't run DPI lower than 2000 for any game because of my grip and space constraints lol

I should be able to move the pointer from one end of the screen to the other with only a few millimeters of finger flex as far as I care...

 

but that's just my preference.

 

I have a 27" 1440p screen, i move my mouse about 10cm to get from one side to the other, i use 800dpi, windows sensitivity set to 6/11

[Norman_the_Owl]

An FPS game at under 1000DPI on a high res screen LOL you'll need like 2 feet of mouse surface.

 

I can't run DPI lower than 2000 for any game because of my grip and space constraints lol

I should be able to move the pointer from one end of the screen to the other with only a few millimeters of finger flex as far as I care...

 

but that's just my preference.

I run 450 dpi on a mousemat about 1/3rd the size of a piece of paper.

 

I play FPS games all day

 

 

fight me

 

Edit: this isn't meant to be insulting