Corsair Vengeance M90 MMO Gaming Mouse Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design and Ergonomics4. Software5. Performance and Conclusion6. View All Pages

Corsair have been steadily enhancing their product portfolio in the last few years, expanding into a number of different markets while continuing to produce a large range of quality memory products.  We have recently been looking at some products from Corsair's latest Vengeance gaming peripheral range including the fantastic K90 keyboard and 1500 headset.

Today we are going to look at Corsair's high end gaming mouse, the Vengeance M90 which is designed with MMO gamers in mind.  This means it should make the perfect companion to the Vengeance K90 gaming keyboard that we reviewed recently.

The M90 boasts an impressive specification which includes 9 programmable macro buttons and a 5700 DPI laser sensor.

Features

• 5700 DPI laser sensor, adjustable on-the-fly – smooth, accurate tracking; higher performance
• 15 buttons, including 9 macro buttons – effortlessly select your favorite combos and macros
• On-board memory – save favourite profiles, configurations and macros directly on the mouse
• 1ms / 1000Hz polling rate – executes your actions precisely, without delay
• Motion detection at 150ips and acceleration up to 30G – accurate tracking without skipping.
• Tunable sensor-lift & surface quality detection – adjust to your mousing surface and style
• Superior build quality – Machined aluminum chassis provides unmatched durability and stability, as well as a premium look and feel
• PTFE Glide Pads – ensures mouse movements are silky smooth
• Metal, weighted scroll wheel with rubberised surface – improved traction, control and feel

Corsair supply the Vengeance M90 within a clear plastic packet which displays the mouse in all its glory.  The front of the mouse fits closely around the form of the mouse, giving you a good idea of its size and shape.  This saves the need for a large product image and is sure to stand out on retail shelves.

The packet contains a cardboard insert which is decorated in a black and blue livery to match that of the Corsair Vengeance K90 keyboard packaging.  The front of the packet displays some basic information about the feature of the mouse within while turning the packet around reveals a much more detailed breakdown of the feature and specifications of the mouse.

Inside the box, the only items we find alongside the mouse itself are a quick start guide and a warranty leaflet.  Rather than include the software utility on a CD inside the packet, Corsair direct us to their website to download it.  While this may seem a little inconvenient, it helps ensure that you have the latest version of the software installed.

While the Vengeance M90 may not be quite as visually striking as the K90 keyboard, there are some obvious similarities in the design of the products.  It wouldn't be practical to produce a mouse entirely constructed from brushed aluminum as it would be far too heavy, so Corsair have reserved it for the base of the mouse only.  The main body of the mouse is constructed from black plastic which sits atop this aluminum base.

We are very impressed with the quality of the materials Corsair have used in the construction of this mouse.  The plastics are high quality and the metal base gives it a quality feeling that isn't rivaled by many mice out there on the market.  The overall fit and finish is up to the high standard that we have experienced with the rest of the Vengeance gaming peripheral range.

Corsair have chosen to cover the main body with rubberised paint which feels great in the hand and helps to improve grip on the mouse.  There is also a slight alcove recessed into the left hand side of the mouse so you can grip it effectively with your thumb.

The nine programmable macro buttons have been carefully located around this alcove so they can be accessed readily with your thumb.  It's clear that Corsair have put a lot of thought into the arrangement of these buttons as they can all be easily identified and activated accurately with different parts of your thumb.  The buttons themselves provide quite a lot of resistance which prevents them from being activated accidentally.

Moving on to the left and right mouse buttons, Corsair have weighted the buttons so they can be clicked effortlessly, but they won't activate accidentally.  Unfortunately, the mouse-wheel isn't quite up to the same standard.  We found that the rolling action was very loose, causing some inaccuracy when scrolling through weapons in game.  We also found that the click function of the mouse-wheel required too much force to depress, greatly reducing the speed with which we could activate it.

Corsair have used a cloth braiding on the mouse cable which should greatly improve its longevity.  The have also attached a strap to help when traveling to LAN events.  The cable terminates in a single silver-plated USB connector.

As we mentioned previously, Corsair include a comprehensive software package with the Vengeance M90 which can be downloaded from their website.  The download and install process takes no more than 5 minutes.

The main page of the software handles button assignments.   This enables us to configure any of the 15 total buttons to any function or macro we desire, with full control over delays and other playback options.  We are able to configure a number of configuration profiles which saves a lot of time when changing games.

Clicking the ‘Managing Performance' tab at the top of the page lets us configure the sensitivity and polling rate of the mouse.  We are able to configure four selectable sensitivity levels between 100 and 5700 DPI using 100 DPI increments independently for the X and Y axes.  This page also lets us enable or disable angle snapping and test the surface quality.

The third and final tab lets us configure the different configuration profiles.  This allows software setup so that certain configuration profiles are activated when certain applications are initiated.

Performance is arguably the most important factor to consider when testing a gaming mouse.  The Corsair Vengeance M90 features a high resolution 5700 DPI laser sensor which tracked flawlessly throughout our tests and registered every slight movement we made.

Unfortunately, the somewhat substantial weight of this mouse means it can be a little tiring to move around for long periods of time.  Corsair have integrated a series of teflon feet on the base of the mouse though, which help ensure movement isn't greatly impeded.

Our overall impression of the Vengeance M90 is positive.  The mouse delivers a combination of stunning build quality, attractive aesthetics and excellent performance.

We do feel that there are a few downsides which you should consider before purchasing. The M90 is quite heavy and cannot be moved with the agility of lighter mice like the SteelSeries Xai.  Also, the mouse-wheel barely provides any resistance at all to movement which can make it difficult to scroll accurately.

For many users, the final decision about which product to buy will come down to cost.  ARIA stock the Corsair M90 for £58.79 which places the mouse up against some serious competition, especially as it is very similarly priced to the SteelSeries Xai.  Comparing the two mice side by side, the Xai is my favourite as it feels more agile and glides more smoothly.  That said, we have to consider that the M90 is designed with MMO and RTS gamers in mind, so the vast array of macro buttons will be very tempting.

Buy direct from ARIA for £58.79 inc vat.

Pros

• Plenty of macro buttons
• Great build quality
• Good performance
• Attractive design

Cons

• Quite heavy
• Disappointing mouse wheel

KitGuru says: An excellent product but it faces stiff competition at this price point.

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