▷ How to configure a gaming mouse to get the most out of it

Configure your gaming mouse to make it perform like you, 100%!

Hold on to your seat because in this tutorial we are going to teach you how to squeeze all the capabilities that this engineering work we call mouse can offer you . First of all, I tell you that we will group the ways to optimize the potential of your peripheral in two central themes: Hardware and Software. The information that we will give you here can be used for any mouse, (making the most of the tools you have is always great!) But it is the gaming mice that have the most potential to improve. This is because one of the things brands focus on is offering excellent service or features that set them apart from the competition.

If you have reached this tutorial, but you still don't have a gaming mouse that will make you reach the professional league of your favorite video game, don't worry. In this other tutorial we show you step by step how to select the best mouse for you. Choose your gaming mouse wisely, as it will be your faithful squire.

The complex configuration of a Gaming Mouse

With their pluses and minuses, gaming mice stand out for being the highest range of mice on the market for users, given that gamers demand true miracles of construction and quality. We can confidently confirm that there are mice better than others, however, what makes one mouse triumph over another? If they have, for example, the same price, shape and sensor, what will opt for one over the other. The peripheral companies have it clear.

Generally, gaming mice in the same range offer similar functionality by being built with or derived from identical parts (such as the Pixart PMW 3360) . As a counterpart, in the world of graphics and processors there is usually an MVP for each price or power range. This is why in this tough dimension that is mice, companies need to offer different things. For example: more buttons, extravagant RGB lighting systems or what we came to talk about here, more configuration options.

As we have announced before, we are going to analyze the two main aspects of configuration that brands offer us, so let's do it.

Mouse Hardware / Components

When we talk about hardware we are referring to all those pieces of any computer or machine, that is, the physical objects in the world that we touch. In the case of gaming mice, the hardware would be your body, the buttons and everything you have inside. Despite being a rather complex system, the devices are very well optimized so that they are easy to understand. Whether or not you know about technology, we advise you to fearlessly touch your mouse, learn what parts and buttons it has.

Once you have done it, you will have to identify what pieces it assembles, and these will be the ones that we can later configure at our whim. We advise you to have the instructions at hand and read them so that you do not miss any detail and, if you do not have them, you can find them on the brand's page.

First we discard the basics, since all mice have right click, left click and mouse wheel, but what else does yours have?

Most of them have two buttons on the left side that we mainly use to move back or forward in our web browsers. In some cases, like the Razer Lancehead, the layout is ambidextrous and we have buttons on both sides. Less common, but still very relevant are the buttons at the top of the mouse, just below the wheel. Many brands bet on these designs where they put up to two buttons that usually come from the factory with dpi control, double-clicking or switching between profiles.It is also worth mentioning the pattern of several buttons that some gaming mice present. These mice feature layouts of up to 12 numbers that are commonly used for MMORPGs, MOBAs, or strategy games. They can be presented together as the Razer Naga Trinity or separately as the Logitech G502 or G402. Finally, highlight the unique differences of some mice that only you can know. For example, the OLED display and vibrating base of the SteelSeries Rival 710 or the interchangeable parts of the Razer Naga Trinity.

In a separate point I wanted to highlight the buttons at the bottom of some gaming mice that generally serve to control the DPI or to exchange configuration profiles. It may sound like something repeated, but unlike its listed counterpart, these buttons are usually not configurable. They mainly serve professional gamers where software to change settings is prohibited by anti-cheat security.

Once we have all the buttons and characteristics of our mouse registered, we can turn it into our personal mouse with unique abilities. To do this we will resort to applications that have almost all peripherals, that is, software. Although it is rare, in some cases, mice will not have a desktop application to configure your colleague, so the only customization that you can apply in that case is the one that the manufacturer allows you through combinations of buttons or certain keys that you can find in the instructions of the device.

And before talking about the software, don't forget to clean your mouse regularly, since continuous use wears it out and accumulates dirt. Dirt often collects in the slits around the buttons, which can be easily removed with a toothpick or sheet of paper. Hygiene is important, don't underestimate it, because it can make your peripherals work worse or even break down sooner.

software

We understand software by the intangible part of electronic devices, that is, the program or code that the hardware carries to be able to function as we want.

Once we have determined what physical pieces we can configure at our whim, we are going to start messing around a bit. For this tutorial we will use the Logitech desktop application called Logitech Gaming Software in its version 3.4.12 as an example.

We will separate the main theme into four specific points: internal configuration, programmable buttons and profiles, RGB lighting and extras.

Internal mouse settings

Spinning with the hardware theme, in the desktop applications of the peripherals you will always find one of the pages where you can edit the sensor configuration. In this case we can also map the buttons and select the profile, but we will leave that for a bit later. We will start here:

As you can see in the larger black window we have the number of levels that we want sensitivity, which will indicate between how many levels we want to alternate the DPI. Also, we will have to select how much DPI each level will have, being able to rotate these levels if we have an assigned button for it.

In this specific program, the current DPI level is represented by the lightest color (1600) and the default DPI by the diamond (800). In your programs you will have similar systems that will offer you similar functions such as more levels or wider ranges of DPI. As we mentioned before, I advise you to change the configuration well so that your mouse is really yours. Some shooter players alter the DPI by playing snipers, rifles, or submachine guns for more precision or more maneuverability.

And remember to adjust the sensitivity you need very well , since it can be the difference between making a headshot or pointless point-blank shooting. Low DPIs are great for pinpoint accuracy (great for gaming), while high DPIs are more for home or multimedia computer use. If you do not know what we are talking about, go to this tutorial where we explain what DPI is.

On the other hand, we have another very important characteristic: the Response Speed. We could summarize it in the number of times per second that the mouse informs the computer about its state. The more times you report, the more accurate it will be, but in turn the more energy you will spend. Virtually all manufacturers give the option to vary this value, but if you are going to play video games, it is recommended to leave it at 1000 (1 answer per millisecond) for the best precision. If you have a wireless mouse, it may be advisable to lower the refresh rate when not playing to reduce consumption.

Programmable buttons and profiles

Continuing in the previous image, if we press one of the buttons, the program will allow us to exchange the current function it has for another one that we like. In this way we can, for example, change the upper mouse button so that instead of changing the DPI, it performs another action such as a double click or mute the sound.

All programs display a window of this nature to exchange the functions of almost any of the keys.

In the Logitech app (except for left and right click) we can remap all the keys and even create macros to perform specific actions in games. This is perfect for customizing your mouse to the maximum and turning it into something that is truly yours. In my personal case, I have changed the cycle of DPIs (because sometimes I accidentally pressed it) for a double click.

Once the mouse has been changed to our liking, we have to know that we are making all these changes on a profile. The idea behind this is that each profile has different provisions and each one serves something different.

How could we combine this? Let me show you an example:

Profile 1:
- The 'Page Forward' button is E , the 'Page Back' button is Shift, and the top button is R. The DPI is set to 400. So we could play Overwatch and even Counter-Strike perfectly with the skills in the mouse.
Profile 2:
- The upper button is used to mute the computer audio and DPI is at 1200. It is totally focused on fluidity over precision, and on utility when we are watching multimedia, for example.
Profile 3:
- The upper button is for double-clicking , the lights are at 100% and shining in rainbows and the DPI is at 8000. With this configuration we can show off our friends and enter the Call of Duty to do 360º no-scopes.

The possibilities are almost endless. The only limitation will be your imagination to make ingenious fusions that serve you in different situations.

RGB lighting

We have all read the famous phrase of '16.8 million RGB colors' . It is not misleading advertising, it is true, although almost all devices with RGB lighting on the market offer that wide palette of colors. Whether it is relevant or not, what we can confirm is that companies like to emphasize these characteristics. So much so that lighting always has a special section in peripheral configuration programs and in advertisements.

As in the previous points, lighting is associated with a specific profile and we can make it behave in different ways. Logitech's program is rather short. We can only select whether the wheel and logo light up, how much brightness and speed, if necessary, and three lighting effects. If you are interested in incredible lighting, Logitech is not your best option, since they hardly invest in aggressive designs like SteelSeries or Razer do.

In this specific case, I cannot offer you more help than a generic guide since each mouse will have very different lighting customization options. The best option is to investigate what each option does and test them one by one. Without going any further, the aforementioned SteelSeries (Rival 710) has a programmable screen that is linked to the brand's desktop application and the lighting is probably much more complete than what the Swiss company offers.

Extra configuration

We have been walking the path of customization from more concrete things that all manufacturers have to more abstract and extravagant things that only some have. At this last point I can only give you the advice to investigate what your application can offer you to get the most pleasant experience.

All brands offer special things that can differentiate them. In the case of Logitech Gaming Software, among other things, it offers us a panel with lighting plans indicating an estimate of how long the battery will last or a screen to optimize the sensor for mats of different types.

How important is the mouse?

Mice are like our companions in the adventures of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quests . They are with us throughout the trip, so we have to treat them well and arm them well for the journey.

Our advice is to never ignore the incredible tools offered by the big and small brands of peripherals to get the most out of your devices. It will take half an hour to customize your settings and with it you will enjoy a much better experience.