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Razer announces dual-sensor gaming mice

Published on 9th June 2011 by Clive Webster

Razer's new 4G Dual Senor system uses a laser and an optical sensor.

Razer has announced a mouse tracking system that combines a laser sensor with a typical optical sensor. Called the 4G Dual Sensor, Razer says the new system offers ‘twice the tracking precision’ of a standard mouse.

According to Razer, the dual sensors enable the mouse to calibrate itself in line with your mouse surface.

The company claims that the system is ‘primed to optimally track your swipes more rapidly and accurately,' adding that it also lets you 'determine the cutoff height for tracking to stop when the mouse is lifted from the surface.’

Razer says the latter is important for FPS gamers, as it allows you to lift the mouse off the edge of the surface and place it back on the centre without the cursor moving, keeping your aim on target.

According to Razer, the new 4G Dual Sensor system has a resolution of 6,400dpi and offers ‘ten times faster surface detection than any sensor from the previous generation.’

The sensor will be built into new models of Razer Mamba and Imperator mice from July. Does this sound like an essential upgrade or just smoke and mirrors? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

24 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

mi1ez 9th June 2011, 11:53

Perfectly happy with a laser mouse, but I can see this potentially having an advantage on the range of surfaces it works on?

TheStockBroker 9th June 2011, 11:53

I need this to improve my productivity at work.

I'll go and try to convince our office manager now.

TSB

sleepygamer 9th June 2011, 11:54

I have been meaning to upgrade from my Lachesis at some point. Looks like it might be to a Mamba.

blackcell1 9th June 2011, 12:03

why would you need any more then 5600dpi on a mouse?

SpAceman 9th June 2011, 12:27

Its all e-penis. I'm happy at 4000dpi. I might be tempted by the new Mamba. I will see if I still like my X8 when it comes around. I do like the magnetic charge cable and I hope Razer can come up with something similar.

Xir 9th June 2011, 13:16

Even my simple microsoft wheel mouse optical, surely not a high-tech-gaming mouse has a tracking height of about 1-2mm MAX.
So yeah, when I lift the mouse to replace it, the cursor sticks...that's the effect they aim for, right?

Phalanx 9th June 2011, 14:02

I'm on a DeathAdder right now, but I was interested in a Mamba for some wireless DeathAdder goodness. I'll hold and wait for this then; might as well.

wafflesomd 9th June 2011, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xir
Even my simple microsoft wheel mouse optical, surely not a high-tech-gaming mouse has a tracking height of about 1-2mm MAX.
So yeah, when I lift the mouse to replace it, the cursor sticks...that's the effect they aim for, right?

Every mouse I've owned lets me do this. The cheapo $10 logitech mouse I use does this.

DwarfKiller 9th June 2011, 15:10

The mouse I use now cuts off at about1-2mm already.
I'll admit my old mouse used to still track well over 2cm though, both of them being laser mice.

Mighty Yoshimi 9th June 2011, 16:13

My G5 still pwns hard

Arkanrais 9th June 2011, 16:29

if it has 2 seperate sensors, what happens if you rotate the mouse?
I do that a lot in games where I'll turn it 30 degrees for as better grip or aim at something. I suspect it might cause the mouse to either track wrong or spazz out if not dealt with properly.

Silver51 9th June 2011, 17:02

Assuming they can get the build quality of the Mamba up to scratch. Mine had a squeaky wheel (sorted with ACF-50,) loose shell and the battery door blew off after the battery expanded, lifting the mouse off the desk.

Replaced it with an Imperator.

OCJunkie 9th June 2011, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpAceman
Its all e-penis. I'm happy at 4000dpi.

Yup, all just gadget pr0n now. I have no reason to switch my Diamondback 3G until it dies an honorable death. Yet they're gonna claim the extra sensitivity will improve your fps by 10% and kill ratio by 15%.

Cerberus90 9th June 2011, 18:09

I can't even use 2000dpi, :D

Thinking about it, is it better to turn the mouse up to full dpi and then turn down windows setting?
Or t'other way round?

HourBeforeDawn 9th June 2011, 20:02

huh okay I can see how this can help so when will they come out with a dual laser version then lol but really I will have to try this out first hand before I consider upgrading my G9. :)

wafflesomd 9th June 2011, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xir
Even my simple microsoft wheel mouse optical, surely not a high-tech-gaming mouse has a tracking height of about 1-2mm MAX.
So yeah, when I lift the mouse to replace it, the cursor sticks...that's the effect they aim for, right?

Every mouse I've owned lets me do this. The cheapo $10 logitech mouse I use does this.

faceplant 9th June 2011, 23:29

erm doesn't the roccat kone already do this?

Wicked_Sludge 10th June 2011, 02:56

guys, the reason your cheapo mice dont register any movement when you lift it from the surface is likely due to its inherent imprecision. none of us can lift a mouse a perfect 90 degrees from the pad. a high precision mouse will generally pick up the slight twitching of your twist as you lift the mouse, causing the curser to move while doing so. i know my death adder does.

the_kille4 10th June 2011, 04:42

I agree... I too have the Death Adder (mine is the Black Edition). As far as FPS gaming goes, the 3500 dpi that it is set at is good enough.

Tulatin 10th June 2011, 07:50

"it allows you to lift the mouse off the edge of the surface and place it back on the centre without the cursor moving"

Why are they trying to cater to the low sense market? At 5,600DPI this mouse is going to be twitchy as hell, even at the slowest possible settings. And if you're playing low-sense, why are you using a small mouse-pad in the first place. I can understand space constraints, but when you know you need room, you'd adapt.

In short, did Razer's designers only have coasters as mouse mats when they came up with this bit of marketing?

slothy89 10th June 2011, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkanrais
if it has 2 seperate sensors, what happens if you rotate the mouse?
I do that a lot in games where I'll turn it 30 degrees for as better grip or aim at something. I suspect it might cause the mouse to either track wrong or spazz out if not dealt with properly.

Rotation of the mouse wont effect it in any way... I think you will find you could hold the mouse at a 90 degree angle and it would still track normal.. how do you think it would track if you moved the mouse to draw a circle on the screen? would it freak out half way round cos the sensors change alignment? NO

think about it lol..

leveller 10th June 2011, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article
Razer says the latter is important for FPS gamers, as it allows you to lift the mouse off the edge of the surface and place it back on the centre without the cursor moving, keeping your aim on target.

Can't stand laser mice for this very problem. Time for an upgrade I feel ...

ZERO <ibis> 10th June 2011, 21:41

Being able to control Z axis sensitivity is a big win!

rickysio 11th June 2011, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulatin
"it allows you to lift the mouse off the edge of the surface and place it back on the centre without the cursor moving"

Why are they trying to cater to the low sense market? At 5,600DPI this mouse is going to be twitchy as hell, even at the slowest possible settings. And if you're playing low-sense, why are you using a small mouse-pad in the first place. I can understand space constraints, but when you know you need room, you'd adapt.

In short, did Razer's designers only have coasters as mouse mats when they came up with this bit of marketing?

They probably weren't. But they were using 7680x2880 screens.