Razer
Diamondback Precision Gaming Mouse - Page 1 of 4
Review By Clay Angelly - January 10, 2005
INTRODUCTION
The Razer Diamondback Precision Gaming Mouse is the latest mouse built
specifically for gamers by
Razer USA. As with the past products such as the Viper and Boomslang (see
MUYA's review of the Sniper Boomslang 2100), this mouse garners the "powered
by kärna precision™" moniker. Razer's parent company,
kärna LLC, is at the
heart of what makes the high precision of these products unique and advanced
above other mice.
The Razer Diamondback comes in two "chassis" options: Chameleon Green and
Magma (red) translucent. The Chameleon Green has a type of color-shifting
paintjob while the Magma has a smoky clear housing.
1600 dpi, twice that of conventional high performance sensors
for increased precision accuracy and tracking ability
Ultra-High Speed motion detection, up to 40ips and 15g, for
either low or high-sensitivity players
Frame rate over 6400 frames per second (5.8 megapixels per
second)
16-bit data path, as compared to 8 bit and 12 bit data paths
used by other conventional mice; the Razer Diamondback will be
running on an unprecedented and unparalleled 16-bit data pipe
Always On Mode - the optical sensor never powers down - provides
instantaneous response at all times during gameplay
Buttons - 7 physical buttons optimized for gaming response and
all independently programmable
Ultra large non-slip mouse buttons, tactile response design,
rubberized for sure grip
Non-slip side rails and new ergonomic ambidextrous design
Zero acoustic Teflon feet for smooth motion over any surface
Gold plated USB connector for maximum conductivity
7', ultra-thin, lightweight, non-tangle cord
Award winning Razer drivers featuring On-the-Fly sensitivity
adjustment and many advanced settings
The technical areas that determine the performance of a mouse
are:
1.
DPI of the encoder technology in the mouse
2.
Speed/baud of communication between mouse and compute
3.
Driver features/equations that turn mouse signals into
motion
4.
DPR of the encoder technology of the scroll wheel
1)
Encoder DPI
The encoder DPI/CPI (dots/counts per inch) is the most
important factor in determining the smoothness and speed of a mouse. This is
described by how many discrete signals are sent to the controller chip when the
mouse moves one inch. As the number of signals sent to the chip increases, mouse
resolution becomes finer and the resulting motion smoother. The Razer
Diamondback and Razer Viper use a patented encoder technology that allows much
higher DPI than current mice. Most mechanical mice perform at 400-800 DPI, while
the Razer line of mice offers resolutions from 1140 to 1600 DPI.
2)
Connection speed/baud
The next critical link to performance is the
connection between the mouse and the computer. USB 1.0 has a polling rate fixed
at 125 polls/sec and allows for communication to and from the peripheral. See
below (HID Drivers) for advanced 16-bit data-rate technology for the
Diamondback.
3)
Driver Software
The driver software converts the signals or
pulses that the mouse sends into actual on-screen movement. This conversion is
basically an equation that correlates the number of pulses the mouse sends to
the number of pixels on the screen. When the user adjusts the speed/sensitivity
of their mouse, they are changing the numbers in the equation. For instance from
1 pulse = 1 pixel to 1 pulse = 2 pixels. This would make the mouse twice as
fast.
The Razer line of mice offer smooth and controllable movement at ALL speeds,
with speed/sensitivity adjustable "on the fly" by a special key combination. The
user can adjust sensitivity settings from application to application, or within
game environments, such as land to water or air. No other mouse offers this
timesaving function.
4)
Scroll wheel
The scroll wheel in the Razer mice is
extremely sensitive, providing increased click points per revolution versus the
standard scroll wheel. This added capability enhances the current gaming
experience and will do so even more as game developers continue to take
advantage of advanced scroll wheel technology.
PACKAGE AND CONTENTS
Box Front, Back and Contents
Inside you'll find the following: Razer Diamondback, install note, CD (contains the
Razer driver software and thorough HTML documentation),
and a neat little neoprene case for the mouse. Packaging was well done and the
box was sturdy. The mouse case would be great in transit to LAN parties or a
nice place to keep your voodoo chicken bones, inhaler, pudding, whatever.
