Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5<base href="http://www.atruereview.com/" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/template_css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/style10.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/slimbox/slimbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/rokmoomenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <style type="text/css"> td.left div.moduletable, td.right div.moduletable, td.left div.moduletable-hilite1, td.right div.moduletable-hilite1, td.left div.moduletable-hilite2, td.right div.moduletable-hilite2, td.left div.moduletable-hilite3, td.right div.moduletable-hilite3, td.left div.moduletable-hilite4, td.right div.moduletable-hilite4, td.left div.moduletable-hilite5, td.right div.moduletable-hilite5, td.left div.moduletable-hilite6, td.right div.moduletable-hilite6, td.left div.moduletable-hilite7, td.right div.moduletable-hilite7, td.left div.moduletable-hilite8, td.right div.moduletable-hilite8 { width: 175px; 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As so, they each work without any driver installation. Furthermore, without any additional drivers, the G5 is able to switch between three DPI settings (2000, 800, 400). Switching is done with the two buttons located under the scroll wheel, and the DPI meter on the G5 displays the setting you are currently on. Without additional drivers, Copperhead can switch through four DPI settings (2000, 1600, 800, 400). By default, the two right side buttons handle this task. However, there are no visual indications of what setting you are currently on. While DPI switching is certainly an impressive feat, each mouse can do so much more if their respective drivers and software are installed.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/cdisc.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/cdiscth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="241" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p><strong>Razer Copperhead Installation:</strong></p> <p>The Razer Copperhead's Razer Configuration utility utilizes fancy slide-out side panels. The main Advance Driver Control window features the button assignments for Copperhead's 7 buttons. Each button can be assigned to perform virtually any function. In addition to an ample drop-down list of functions to choose from, each button can also be assigned with user defined macros (which can consist of any single or combination of keystrokes). The other standout set of functions that each key can be assigned to are DPI functions. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/entirescreen.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/entirescreenth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="134" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>As mentioned earlier, the two right side buttons by default are assigned to perform DPI UP and DOWN functions. However, any button(s) can be assigned these functions. In addition, there is the option to have a button set to a certain fixed DPI setting instead of as a DPI toggle. For example, if a button is set to 800dpi, whenever that button is pressed Copperhead will be set to 800dpi no matter what DPI setting it was on.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/DPIsettings.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/DPIsettingsth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="146" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>In addition to button assignments, the Advance Drive Control window features some unique options exclusive to Copperhead. The first of which is the ability to natively adjust the Polling Rate. A very basic idea of the Polling Rate is the frequency at which the mouse communicates with the computer through the USB connection; the higher the rate (frequency), the less the response time (lag) between the physical mouse movement and cursor movement. There are three Polling Rates to choose from: 125Hz which has a 8ms response time (what "standard" mice use), 500Hz which has a 2ms response time, and 1000Hz which has a 1ms response time. The reason the lower rates are even available is because slower computers may struggle to handle the 1000Hz Polling Rate, though I would estimate, any computer bought in the last two years can handle it without any problems. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/DriverControl.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/DriverControlth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="160" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>The other unique feature of the Copperhead is the ability to have 5 different profiles setup for the mouse. Each profile consists of all the button assignments as well as the Polling Rate and default DPI setting. What makes this truly unique is that instead of the profiles being saved on the computer, they are stored on the Copperhead's 32kb of onboard memory (which Razer dubs Synapse)! With the profiles saved on the mouse, no matter what subsequent computer you use Copperhead on, all the button assignments as well as the Polling Rate will be retained with no Razer drivers installation needed.</p> <p>The earlier mentioned button at the bottom of the mouse allows you to toggle through the 5 profiles in sequential order. To let you know what profile you are on, the lights on the Copperhead will flash the corresponding number of times (e.g. flash 4 times for profile 4).</p> <p>While the Synapse options are undoubtedly impressive, they are not the only options from the Razer Configuration utility. The Razer Configuration utility features some options that are not stored in the Copperhead and require the drivers to be installed and running (tray icon) to function. The most worth noting of these functions is Razer's infamous On-The-Fly sensitivity adjustment. Whereas DPI adjustment lets you adjust the cursor speed with only 4 increment levels, On-The-Fly sensitivity adjustment allows you to adjust the cursor speed at 20 different increments. Furthermore, On-The-Fly sensitivity and DPI switching are not mutually exclusive features; they can work together to provide an utterly ridiculous amount of cursor speed adjustment. On-The-Fly adjustment can be set to show a colorful bar meter at the lower right corner of the screen when it is being used.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/sensitivity.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/sensitivityth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="169" height="250" border="0"></a><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/file:///D|/atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/onthefly.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/RazerCopperhead/ontheflyth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="61" height="250" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>Lastly, Razer's drivers have the option to adjust the sensitivity of the X and Y axis of cursor movement separately as well as the acceleration amount.</p> <p><strong>Logitech G5 Installation:</strong></p> <p>Though not uniformly as visually impressive as Razer's drivers, Logitech's SetPoint drivers for the G5 are jam packed with options as well. SetPoint's initial page features button assignments which allow you to customize most of the G5's buttons. Except for the main two buttons, each button has its own list of tasks that it can be assigned. This includes the two DPI buttons which can be assigned to other functions if one feels inclined to do so. Whereas Razer features 5 profiles of button assignment for the Copperhead, the G5 can be setup to link button assignments to programs (one button profile for MS Word, one for Doom 3, one for Internet Explorer, etc).</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/Setpoint.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/Setpointth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="188" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>In addition to button assignments, the SetPoint drivers also offer other windows of options (accessible via tabs on the left side of the screen). There is a Mouse Movement window, which features simple cursor movement options such as pointer speed, trails (remember those!), and acceleration.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/mousemovement.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/mousemovementth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="188" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>Another window, called Mouse Game Settings, features simple options regarding whether some settings (such as mouse speed and/or acceleration) should be kept when you are in a game. At the bottom right corner of this window is a rectangular button labeled Advanced Game Settings. Clicking on this button brings up SetPoint's Advance Game Settings where the G5's DPI settings can be further customized. As mentioned earlier, without drivers, the G5 can switch between 2000, 800, and 400 DPI. Well, in the Advance Game Settings window, those three DPI settings can be changed to any value you would like. </p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/gamesettings.jpg"><img src="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/LogitechG5/gamesettingsth.jpg" alt="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" title="Razer Copperhead and Logitech G5" width="250" height="188" border="0"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>Furthermore, two additional DPI settings can be utilized for a total of 5 DPI settings to flip through. The two additional DPI settings are represented on the G5's DPI meter by having two of the three orange squares that light up together (top and middle or middle and bottom). DPI settings can be setup so that the X and Y axis of cursor movement are matching or they can be setup to be different.</p> <p>All the above mentioned settings for the G5 require SetPoint to be running (tray icon). This means whatever computer you use the G5 on, if you want to customize the buttons and DPI settings, the drivers will need to be installed.</p> <table width="100%"> <tr> <td><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/razer_copperhead.php"></a> <a href="two_gaming_mice/razer_copperhead.php">Previous (Razer Copperhead Description)</a></td> <td> <p align="right"><a href="atruereview/two_gaming_mice/gamingmouse_performance.php"></a> <a href="two_gaming_mice/gamingmouse_performance.php">Next (Performance)</a></p> </td> </tr> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer"> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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