Razer Diamondback Gaming Mouse Review

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by Blake Bonfiglio

Introduction

The Razer Diamondback is a gaming mouse with a strong sense of style. It is made by Razer, a company known for their hardcore gaming products. Their mice always feature extremely high DPI (Dots Per Inch), and always have an edge above the competition in style.

Technical Specs

The Razer Diamondback has formidable specs for a mouse of any caliber, and holds its own against even the newest of the gaming mice, all for a much more attractive price.

• Optical engine powered by Razer Precision
• 1600 DPI, twice that of conventional high performance sensors
• Ultra large non-slip mouse buttons, tactile response design
• Award winning Razer drivers featuring On-the-Fly sensitivity adjustment
• 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
• Always-On™ Mode – the optical sensor never powers down - provides instantaneous response at all times during gameplay
• High speed motion detection, up to 40ips and 15g Buttons – 7 physical buttons optimized for gaming response and
  independently programmable
• 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
• Size: 5.04&quot; length x 2.5&quot; width x 1.54&quot; height
• 7 foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord

Reasons For Buying

I recently bought a laptop capable of doing some pretty good gaming, and I wanted a mouse that could keep up. I typically used bargain mice I found on sale, and my last one was a small notebook mouse. I figured it was time to treat myself to something nice. I have a few friends who are pretty loyal to Razer, and I have used their Diamondbacks a few times, so I was relatively familiar with the design of them. After doing a few searches for what to buy, this seemed like the best choice for the price, and my addiction to style and things that stand out.

Where and How Purchased

(view large image)

I purchased my Razer Diamodback from NewEgg.com for $39.99. This price was $20 cheaper than the retail price from the Razer store, excluding shipping costs. NewEgg gave me a very fast response and processed my order quickly. I received my mouse a day earlier than the target time. Overall I was very happy with their service and will definitely look to them for more online purchases.

Design

Razer Copperhead on the right, Razer Diamondback on the left (view large image)

This is the part that makes a Razer, a Razer. The Diamondback I purchased is the Acid Green edition. There are also Plasma Blue and Salamander Red editions availabe for purchase. It has a translucent shell, and a clear scroll wheel, all of which light up green when plugged into the USB port. It blows normal mice away, and looks killer in the dark. It also features an &quot;Always On&quot; mode, meaning that the optical sensor never powers down as long as it's connected to your computer, this is handy while gaming. The design of the Diamondback is very different from ordinary mice. It has a symmetrical design, meaning that both right and left handed users can use this mouse with the same precision. It has 2 programmable buttons on each side, very handy for any kind of gaming and even everyday office tasks. The main 2 buttons have a rubber coating, so no matter how frantic a firefight gets, and how sweaty your hands are, you can deliver the killing blow every time. The mouse also feautures 3 large teflon feet, making it easy to skate the mouse across any surface.

Razer Copperhead on the right, Razer Diamondback on the left (view large image)

Performance and Extra Features

The Razer Diamondback performs better than any mouse I have ever used. With its 1600 DPI engine and adjustable sensitvity, it can track more accurately than almost any mouse made, and can be tailored to how you like to play. The buttons are all programmable and can be assigned macros as well. The default is the bottom left side button controlling the On The Fly Sensitivity. If you hold this button down, you can use your scroll wheel to heighten or lower the sensitivity depending on what kind of weapon you are using, or what type of document you are working on. Another thing that stands out is the 7 foot cord. This is much longer than many, making it useful in almost any location. The cord also features a gold plated usb connecter, supposedly for maximum conductivity. I can't say whether this makes a difference or not, but the mouse doesn't skip a beat, so either way is fine with me.

Conclusion

The Razer Diamondback is a high performance mouse with a very attractive price tag. It holds its own against nearly every mouse pitted against it, and offers a symmetrical design so right and left handed users can use it the same. Definitely a mouse to put on the list when shopping for a new one, gamer or not.

Pros

• High DPI Optical tracking engine with Always On mode
• Symmetrical Design
• Choice of LED colors
• Extremely Affordable
• On the Fly Sensitivity Adjustment

Cons

• Design takes some getting used to
• Wired
• Right side buttons are hard to use

Related Reviews

• Razer Copperhead Mouse Review

 

Great review, Blake. Is the size/shape of the Diamondback as similar to the Copperhead as it seems (based on the photos)?

 

Nice review, Blake.

 

Thanks so much guys. This one is my baby, and I'm glad you guys liked it.

It has a nearly identical shape to the Copperhead. The Copperhead has a slightly higher arch on the palm rest area and the buttons are slightly different on the sides, but other than that, they are identical.

 

I own a diamondback (Acid green) and i couldn't be more satisfied with it. The lights are cool addition to it too .

 

The Diamondback is a fantastic mouse, I used to have one before I replaced it with my Copperhead. Excellent review Blake, you're quite the Razer fan.

The one thing that I miss about the Copperhead vs. the Diamondback is that the Diamondback came with a cool neoprene carry case.

 

Haha, yeah I was just thinking about that. I really do like them. I just love how they take "nerdiness" and give it a "cool" factor. Plus, I love having LED's. That and their products are pretty darn amazing.