Gaming Mousepads: Worth it?

[Arc'xer]

Asus PA246q but it's an IPS panel so that's understandable. To be honest I don't really bother gaming anyways because the CRT was low end and to keep up with the higher refresh rate I had to put up with lower resolution. And yes I know all about the 120hz LCDs but it's not like I play many games either way.

I haven't had to deal with ghosting on an LCD monitor since 2005. What monitor did you get? Even relatively inexpensive LCDs these days have almost no ghosting

All LCDs have it in some way shape or form being an LCD(inherit with the technology) and considering I used a CRT for the better part of over a year you tend to get used to the refresh rate and response time of the CRT.

[dion2k]

I used Razer Goliathus speed for a couple years, it is a very nice pad but the slick finish tends to wear out pretty quick giving way to dreaded dead spots. It became very expensive to replace every 2 months so I opted for the cheaper QcK+. Do NOT buy a Razer Megasoma, absolute garbage for tracking. I have not tried the Artisan but it looks like I'm going to have to get one now

My mice path has been MX510>518>G5>G500, I prefer the G5's tracking due to the low laser position. The G500 has a wonderful mousewheel and few extra buttons (which I only use for teambinds) but the laser position being high up near the fingers is just not as stable. I've tried pretty much every mouse on the market but I always return to logitech due to comfort.

As far as monitors go, if you like to play games 120Hz is a must. I've had my Sony GDM-FW900 for years and it is still hands down the best monitor I have ever seen. 1440x900 at 120Hz is my resolution of choice. However it weighs 95lbs so once you crane it onto your desk it isn't going anywhere. The 120Hz LCDs are a major step in the right direction but still can't put up a fight with my CRT. Maybe in a few years.. They are wonderful for LANs though.

[Arc'xer]

As far as monitors go, if you like to play games 120Hz is a must. I've had my Sony GDM-FW900 for years and it is still hands down the best monitor I have ever seen. 1440x900 at 120Hz is my resolution of choice. However it weighs 95lbs so once you crane it onto your desk it isn't going anywhere. The 120Hz LCDs are a major step in the right direction but still can't put up a fight with my CRT. Maybe in a few years.. They are wonderful for LANs though.

Can it do 125hz at 1440x900 since you play quake, or is that pushing it? that way it syncs up with the polling rate as a divisor(I'm guessing 500hz for consistency rather than 1Khz) and framerate(125fps(if you run it with vsync or put up with tearing), 250fps)(well except 333, but then again you can run it at 111hz and most mice have 333hz setting but some might not like the lower refresh rate and framerate consistency of 125fps/125hz/500hz).

[J888www]

In answer to the OP, before I may have said no but after using a little GUP pad, my answer is a definite Yes.

[Skylit]

Can it do 125hz at 1440x900 since you play quake, or is that pushing it? that way it syncs up with the polling rate as a divisor(I'm guessing 500hz for consistency rather than 1Khz) and framerate(125fps(if you run it with vsync or put up with tearing), 250fps)(well except 333, but then again you can run it at 111hz and most mice have 333hz setting but some might not like the lower refresh rate and framerate consistency of 125fps/125hz/500hz).

I'll answer that for him and say yes lol.

Fw900 is fine up to 131hz at 1440x900

[dion2k]

I actually never even thought about putting it at 125, good call. Now running at 125, can't say that I really tell a difference but even numbers are always good.

[Arc'xer]

I actually never even thought about putting it at 125, good call. Now running at 125, can't say that I really tell a difference but even numbers are always good.

Well technically speaking the quake engine will round up from 120 to 125 or any other number to one of the magic numbers of the framerate dependent-physics if it's close to it. Except QL since they changed the netcode it just adds smoothness or frames for refresh rate.

But then again one has to wonder if the 120 rounding to 125 is providing real framerates. Plus it's an extra 5 frames to process not like it's gonna bog down your system.

[Bucky]

anyone used a Steelseries QcK Mass? I just ordered one because my old crappy mousepad has been causing my laser mouse to freak out.  If I am on the mouse pad the pointer just is crazy jittery, and I am not sure why. If I try to clean the bottom with compressed air that helps a bit, but still it shakes.

Weirdest thing is it works better on books/magazines than the mouse pad (which I recently cleaned), so I am really hoping this works because it drives me crazy.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

+1 that gaming mousepads are worth it. More so than gaming mice, actually. You just need to make sure the mouse fits the pad if you're using a laser mouse or still using a ball mouse (which I actually like better than optical, barring low DPIs). Some of the best pads I've tried have not been designated as gaming, one was a custom made but really, it was only about putting a specific photo on it. Turned out the fabric was superb later on. The other was a round pad I bought as a souvenir in a boutique at a Greek museum. Wasn't cheap, so probably wasn't meant to be trash, but it certainly wasn't designated as a "gaming grade" pad. It was great, actually.

I've had Razer Goliathus Speed for a while and enjoyed it. Gotta replace it due to wear but it's been some 2 years for a coupla bucks. Some best coupla bucks ever spent.