SysOpt > Features > Networking & Peripherals > Aiming for the High-end Gamer: NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse Review

Aiming for the High-end Gamer: NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse Review- Page /4
November 19, 2008
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The NZXT product brand was established in 2004, with the release of the Guardian PC case, and now four years later, NZXT has evolved into a company with a full line-up of PC hardware and peripherals. The company was designed to cater to the PC gaming crowd, by introducing products specifically designed for the hardware enthusiast. In 2008, NZXT grew even larger and launched its first gaming mouse, which added its burgeoning line-up of PC accessories. That mouse just happens to be the NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse, which like much of their line, is designed for gamers.

But this isn't an automatic slam dunk, as there is already a wealth of potential options in this market, and for NZXT to be successful, the Avatar Gaming Mouse must have the features, performance and usability of the top gaming mice, and also get a lot of early adopters to jump on the NZXT bandwagon. With the Avatar Gaming Mouse, NZXT has tried to do exactly that, even though the Avatar isn't exactly a significant departure from the standard gaming mouse design, but the more choices, the merrier.

Now let's take a closer look at what features and performance the NZXT Avatar packs into its dark black housing.

When the NZXT Avatar first arrived, it was a bit of a surprise to see that the retail package is tiny compared to other manufacturers. When you open it up, you find the Avatar mouse, the driver CD (in mini format), and a user's manual.

The user's manual and the CD are located in the opening cover of the box, and although this is hard to find initially, it is a nice place to store those items. The inclusion of a mini-CD is a concern, as more notebooks are using slot-loaders that are incompatible with this media format.

The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse is a traditional wired mouse, with a cable ending in a USB port. The Avatar features a 2600 DPI optical sensor capable of 5.8 MPixels/s tracking and rate of 6469 frames/s for smooth and accurate gaming. The Avatar is also built on an ambidextrous ergonomic design and includes 7 programmable mouse buttons.

The 2600 DPI laser engine is supported using a 4-Speed DPI switch to change the DPI level on the fly, using 600, 1200, 1800, and 2600 DPI settings. The mouse also provides a visual indicator of the DPI setting you are running, thanks to a set of blue LED indicators on the top-left of the mouse, which look very similar to the ones used in the Logitech G5 and G7 mice.

Much like the Razer Lachesis, the Avatar features an ambidextrous design, which NZXT also claims to be ergonomic. Other than the LED indicators, the Avatar mouse is symmetrical, and offers the same features to both right- and left-handed gamers. NZXT also promotes this as an ergonomic design, but that definition is a bit more problematic. The sides of the Avatar do have rubber lining, combined with a rounded overall format, and but there are also trade-offs like a single thumb button (back/forward) on either side and the lack of a true "ergonomic" feel.

Programmable buttons are nothing new to gaming mice and newer mice in general. The NZXT software drivers allow you to assign commands to each of the seven buttons, and since this mouse is ambidextrous, it allows the users to customize the mouse exactly like they want it. The bottom of the Avatar features three Teflon mouse feet and the 2600 DPI optical eye.

The NZXT drivers that ship with the Avatar have a simple interface, and are very easy to use. In the first "Advanced Functions" screen, you are able to assign commands to each button, set the left/right-handed orientation, save and load configurations, load profiles 1-5, set the DPI, and assign the polling rate (up to 1000 Hz).

The second tab is labeled "Sensitivity", and here you can assign X-Axis, and Y-Axis Master Sensitivity. This is a nice feature, as you can configure the sensitivity for the X-Axis and Y-Axis separately. There are also settings for the mouse pointer speed and acceleration, as well as the option of turning it off.

The third and final tab is the "Advanced Settings" settings area, which allows you to configure the scroll speed and sensitivity, as well as the double-click speed. These options are similar to the standard Windows Mouse Settings, and there is also a "Test Area", where you can test out your configuration.

In our initial real-world testing, the NZXT Avatar mouse seemed small and a bit awkward, and even extended usage didn't solve all the problems. The top-mounted buttons are very nice and have excellent feedback, but the two side buttons, which by default function as "Forward" and "Backward" keys, seem to be placed in the wrong area and were always getting in the way. The DPI settings can be changed using the DPI Up/Down buttons on the top of the mouse (with drivers loaded), or by holding down the left button and then moving the scroll wheel (without drivers).

The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse is well built, and once you get used to the "Forward" and "Backward" buttons, and become comfortable with changing the DPI level, this mouse is fun to use. The lack of a true laser engine is also of concern, and although it tracks well, even a high-grade optical sensor seems to be a small step backwards. There is also no method of changing the overall look, feel and heft of the Avatar, while many competing products supply weighted cartridges and custom outer shells.

Overall, the Avatar mouse is a quality product, but it does feel a bit small and some of the concessions needed to make it ambidextrous do take some getting used to. It runs smooth on every surface, and the top-mounted buttons seem perfect when you press them. The drivers are also well-designed and work nicely with the Avatar, and users will be able to customize the mouse to their liking. The price is still a concern, and at approximately $60 US, NZXT has placed the Avatar in the high-end bracket, where there are some very serious contenders.

The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse has a lot going for it. It offers smooth tracking, excellent software customization, and good button feedback, but it also comes with some potential negatives. The mouse is smaller and lighter than usual, and while its ambidextrous design does allow both left and right-handed usage, this does negate much of its ergonomic appeal. The $60 price tag is also a bit high, and while the Avatar seems to want to compete with the high-end contenders, it may not have the necessary ammunition to take them all on.

Pros:

• 7 customizable buttons
• Ambidextrous design
• Quality construction
• Easy to use drivers
• Glides smoothly

Cons:

• Seems small and light
• Forward and Backward buttons are easy to accidentally hit
• Expensive
• Optical sensor

The Verdict: The NZXT Avatar Gaming Mouse is a quality controller, with plenty of features, but it may find unwelcome competition at this price level.

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