Corsair Vengeance M65 FPS Laser Review

Brand: Corsair
Model: Vengeance M65
RRP: £55 at OverclockersUK (At time of review)

Today I take a look at the Corsair Vengeance M65 FPS Laser Mouse; the M65 is designed with First Person Shooters in mind, with a programmable Sniper Button designed for accurate long range shots and a myriad of other features besides.  The M65 comes in three distinct colours, Military Green, Gunmetal Black and Artic White.

Corsair are known globally for their ability to innovate and diversify within such a tough market, designing and producing various products from high end gaming cases, power supplies, memory and storage as well as gaming peripherals.  Founded in 1994, Corsair initially started out as Corsair Micro Systems and originally built L2 Cache Modules for OEMs.  After Intel incorporated the L2 cache in the processor with the release of its Pentium Pro processor family, Corsair changed its focus to DRAM modules, primarily in the server market.

From its roots in  high-performance memory, Corsair has expanded its award-winning product portfolio to include ultra-efficient power supplies, builder-friendly cases, ground-breaking CPU coolers, blazing-fast solid-state drives, and other key system components.

Let’s see if the M65 FPS Laser Mouse lives up to Corsairs high standards.

Specifications

Taking a look at the front of the packaging we see that Corsair have chosen to display the mouse in full, and using a contrasting colour scheme have also displayed some key information about the mouse itself.

Looking at the rear of the packaging we see even more detailed information as well seeing the bottom of the mouse, here we see the first glimpse of the Teflon pads and the removable weights.

Looking at the right hand side of the mouse, we see the two main side buttons as well the ‘Sniper Button’.  Just like the buttons, the side has a rough texture to it which increases the overall grip on the mouse.

The opposite side of the mouse is a simple affair with no extra buttons but continues with the slightly rough texture increasing grip on the mouse.

Looking at the top of the mouse we see the two main buttons as well as the scroll wheel and the two DPI buttons.  As well as the Corsair logo printed on the palm rest of the mouse.

The bottom of the mouse we see the five Teflon pads, which allow smooth movement across almost any surface, as well as the three removable weights.  We also see the Avago LaserStream sensor – the ADNS-9800.

By simply turning the three plates you can remove the three weights in the base of the mouse.

The mouse cable is braided which is always nice to see, and unlike other mice the cable is offset to the left of the mouse.

In the software which does not come available as Corsair have chosen to simply inform the user to download the latest software from Corsairs Website which can be found here <insert link.

Within the software you have three tabs along the top, as seen below.  The Assign Buttons tab is where you can change the predefined configuration of each button on the mouse.

The MR Button on screen allows you to record a macro for each and every button on the mouse also, which is a great feature for those who do not own a gaming keyboard with macro buttons, this kind of feature is excellent for MMO gamers.

The second tab is called Manage performance this allows you to predefine the DPI sensitivity across five different buttons including the sniper button.  From here, you can also change the mouse lift height and check the surface quality as defined by the mouse when you move it across your mouse mat.  You can also set the report rate which is preset to 1ms to a maximum of 8ms. Within the software you can also enable Angle Snapping.  You can also enable independent X & Y DPI, as far as I can tell from using the software, mouse acceleration is on by default as long as it is enabled within Windows and the specific game being played.

One of the great features of the software is the ability to save specific profiles.  Using the software you can connect a profile to the execution file of a specific game.  This means having much simpler change of mouse profiles without having to tab out of game to change the profile.

In the closer look I covered the finer details regarding the Vengeance M65 Mouse and now it’s time to look at how it actually performs.  Using the mouse in regular tasks within windows and also whilst gaming I cannot fault the mouse what so ever.  Some features I feel are more of a gimmick than anything else and are less inclined to use on a regular basis but that could be because I am not used to using them.

The top of the mouse has a smooth finish which was nice to handle, and the slightly rough feel to both the sides of the mouse helped keep a grip when my hand got sweaty during intensive gaming sessions.

With the extra buttons on the left side of the mouse, placement for usage is key, and I found all of them where easy to use on the fly.  For example, I previously assigned the two side buttons on my own mouse for deployment of ammo/med packs in Battlefield 3 but I found that the placement of the buttons was not suitable for this. However, while using the M65 I found that I could access them easily, and the large Sniper Button was reassigned to deploying the knife.

There was little no delay in using both button and the placement chosen meant I could use the buttons without having to think about finding them whilst playing.  The two buttons on the top of the mouse for changing DPI where easy to use on the fly and there was no accidental use of them.

Another great feature of the M65 mouse is the ability to save game profiles onto the on-board memory. This works by simply being a small amount of in built flash memory allowing you to take all the profiles for the mouse everywhere you go.

I do not tend to switch between systems very often but this is also handy if you are about to reinstall Windows or change your C: drive as backing up the profiles may slip your mind; so saving them to the mouse itself after assigning them.

The mouse comes with a Snipe Button, which essentially is programmed to drop the mouse DPI to a predetermined level for accurate long range sniping and once released the mouse resets back to its programmed DPI level.  The M65 comes with Avago LaserStream sensor – the ADNS-9800 which is the updated version of what was used in the M60.

Using the software to program the mouse’ various buttons was an easy task, with the on screen display allowing me to select a specific button and then assign the button to do whatever I required.  Corsair have even gone one further and added in the ability to assign macros to every button if required something which is rarely found on any mouse least of all on a mouse designed for First Person Shooters.  This could be simply because a simple all in one software is easier to create than a separate program for the different mice within the range.

The first thing I had to do once software installation was complete was configure the mouse settings within Windows. This was due to wanting to use the mouse at its highest DPI settings within Windows, to do this I changed the mouse sensitivity within Windows as well as turning off mouse acceleration.  Once I adjusted to using the higher DPI I was then ready to test the mouse in game.

I found the movement of the mouse on my Thermaltake Mouse Mat was extremely fluid and the Teflon pads on the base of the mouse allowed it to glide really well and allowed for perfectly fluid movement whilst gaming and general usage.

The features and buttons are one thing but to have them in such a nice complete package is truly next level.  From the outset I knew that this mouse was going to be pleasing to use and I wasn’t let down.  The build quality of the mouse itself is far beyond what I am used too.  The mouse I had been using for quite some time was a Cyborg R.A.T 3 and that mouse pales in comparison to the M65.

The fine details on the build go a long way to creating a great mouse which performs.

So now it’s time for the conclusion of this review, is the M65 any good? Let’s find out.

I really enjoyed using the Corsair Vengeance M65 FPS Laser mouse from start to finish; in fact it has now fully replaced my R.A.T 3.  Everything from the packaging to the mouse itself felt finished and the packaging was unique too.

Gone are the typical flat boxes with a small window allowing the prospective purchaser to see the mouse itself.  I really liked the way the M65 was displayed and the cut out at the back of the box allowing you to see the underside of the mouse also was a great touch.

The build quality of the mouse itself had me sold from the outset, everything from the braided cable to the complete finish of the mouse itself.  I found the whole experience extremely easy, everything from setup to using the mouse when gaming.

I loved the fact that I could create separate profiles and have the M65 software change that profile dependant on which game I launched.  I explain this in more detail when looking at the software but being able to detect the game launcher and change a buttons actions without having to do anything but get straight into the game I felt was a great touch by Corsair.

Overall I was pleased with the experience of using the Corsair Vengeance M65 FPS Laser Mouse, but this does come at a price.  At the time of reviewing the mouse is being sold at £54.95 from our recommended retailer. Whilst to some that price is rather high it does come with the added features that this mouse has, as well as the high build quality that Corsair are well known for using in their products. The price may be off putting but if you want a solid consistent experience with a high build quality and also a two year warranty with Corsair, then you won’t regret buying the M65.

For that reason alone I am giving the Corsair Vengeance M65 FPS Lazer Mouse our Editors Choice Award.  It’s mid range pricing with excellent performance and design means it is perfect for anyone thinking of purchasing a Gaming Mouse.