Cooler Master Storm Havoc Gaming Mouse Review – An 8200 DPI Refresh

Cooler Master has quietly been chipping away on their new line of products, most notably those multifaceted devices ready for PC and console systems. Computer hardware and accessories are still the main priority, and Cooler Master are always building, always improving on their designs. The new Cooler Master Storm Havoc gaming mouse is the prime example. The best way to describe it is a meld between the Cooler Master Storm Sentinel Advance II and the Cooler Master Storm Recon. Sporting the same 8200 DPI laser sensor as the Advance II and a modified frame of the Recon, we will see if the Amazon priced $54.99 Havoc brings new features and additions to the table. PACKAGING AND SPECIFICATIONS For a $55 mouse, the specs are outstanding, especially the solid two-year warranty. The Avago ADNS-9800 LaserStream VCSEL gaming sensor is what propels the CM Storm Havoc to the ridiculous sensitivity level of 8200. The Havoc is not the first mouse to use the sensor, but compared to its ADNS-9500 predecessor, the 9800 brings some big improvements: 16-bits motion data registers High speed motion detection up to 150 ips and acceleration up to 30 g Advanced technology 832 - 865 nm wavelength VCSEL Single mode lasing No laser power calibration needed Self-adjusting frame rate for optimum performance Motion detect pin output Internal oscillator - no external clock input needed Enhanced Programmability Frame rate up to 12, 000 fps 1 to 5 mm lift detection Resolution up to 8200 dpi with 200 dpi step X and Y axes independent resolution setting The key points to take note of are the resolution, which is up from the 5040 DPI/90 DPI step of the 9500; the 12,000 FPS is also up from the 9500's 11,700 FPS; and finally, the 1 to 5 mm LoD. A 5mm LoD is a tad high, but we will assume the number is there either for extremely high DPI settings, customizable/auto length lift off, or both as there is no need to lift off at DPI higher than 3200. Ideally we want to stop tracking as soon as the Havoc leaves the surface. At lower resolutions the 9800 is a solid performer; at higher levels it maintains low acceleration and performs better due to automatically filtering cursor movement by steading the curve at high DPI. The sensor - found in the Sentinel Advance II as well - is said to suffer from some acceleration (~5%) at the higher DPI threshold. It is a minor flaw for an otherwise near-perfect laser sensor; hopefullbll be of no surprise if you own or have seen a Cooler Master Storm product. The Havoc follows the same red and black scheme we see from Cooler Master. On the front we have a logo of the mouse, and specifications on the back: A standard to Cooler Master mice is the teaser window which is present. The side-panel dissection of the mouse is also visible adjacent to the window: Opening it up we have the Havoc of course, as well as warranty information and a quick-install guide. Note that updated software and drivers are available from Cooler Master's Havoc product page and do not come bundled. EXTERIOR AND CLOSER LOOK The Cooler Master Storm Havoc has a very nice, sleek matte-black scheme with a slick rubber coating. The design, as mentioned previously, borrows from the two mice, but a little extra from the Sentinel Advance II. It has a similar large, wide frame, and unlike the Recon is not ambidextrous. It targets those users that favour flat-finger/fingertip-grip and/or palm-grip, and thus is not suited for the claw-grip orientation unless you have large hands. The top-front of the Havoc has five of the eight buttons with high-grade Omron switches: left, right, DPI increase, DPI decrease, and middle-scroll. Keep in mind that the on-the-fly DPI buttons do not change profiles as there is a dedicated button for that on the side, which is a happy change since the Sentinel Advance II has this format, yet the Recon did not have separate buttons, or have DPI and profile settings separately mapped. A nice little addition are the four LED ticks on the side which light-up depending on DPI sensitivity. On the flipside, the scroll wheel is almost identical to the Recon's, but unfortunately lacking the grooves that make gripping and sliding a whole lot easier. The top-back has the Cooler Master Storm logo that shines when connected. Note how it resembles the Sentinel Advance II's flat, broad base versus the Recon's rounded bottom, but shares the same logo position as the Recon. On the left side is a neat gill-like design acting as a thumb-rest. We also see the final three buttons, making a total of eight. All buttons are programmable, and thankfully so as by default the Recon has the small button in the middle designated as the 'back' button, while the one to the right is set for changing the profile/colour. Even so it would have been preferred if Cooler Master had transferred the middle button to above the scroll wheel like on the Sentinel Advance II. As it stands the chances of misclicks are highly likely in its current configuration. The right side goes a different route with a glossy-black outline void of any buttons. Again a confusing change as the Havoc would have looked better keeping a universal rubber coating, and further, prevent any slipping; but all-in-all it is a minor gripe. To be fair it does complement the feel of the rubberized grip on the left side quite well. The bottom of the mouse holds the Avago 9800 sensor as well as teflon strips for smooth movement: The Havoc connects via a gold-plated USB 2.0 header. The cable comes nicely braided allowing for extra protection against liquid, wear-and-tear longevity, and follows the overall simple aesthetics. Overall the Havoc feels great. The frame and design are perfect, the build quality is excellent, and the rubber coating makes it a pleasure to hold. The buttons are fast and responsive with 'clicky' Omron switch springs, and void of any input lag or lock-ups. COOLER MASTER STORM HAVOC GAMING SOFTWARE As with essentially all Cooler Master Storm mice, the Havoc comes with its own software suite. Once again we see functionality of the Sentinel Advance II software and Recon software melded together. Starting from the 'Main' tab we have an outline of customizable options, which essentially include the entire mouse: The 'Advanced' tab has DPI sliders, seven different LED colours for the four profiles, custom lighting style, brightness, sensitivity, button response times, and angle snapping. The test area is primarily to test the input speed of double-clicks. 'Macro' has recording features for different games in your library which are stored on your computer rather than the mouse: 'Profiles' on the other hand are programmed into the Havoc's 128KB pool. The 'Library' holds all the macros so they can be bound to profiles of your choosing, as well as providing a preview: Finally the 'Support' tab is for troubleshooting and updating the Havoc's firmware and software: TESTING AND RESULTS Cooler Master Storm Sentinel Advance (I) - Philips PLN 2032 (Twin Laser) - 3800 DPI Cooler Master Storm Recon - Avago ADNS-3090 - 3400 DPI Cooler Master Storm Havoc - Avago ADNS-9800 - 3800 DPI Since there are no reliable benchmarking tools for mice, gaming runs will suffice. The Storm Havoc handled very well during actual gameplay on the SteelSeries QCK Call of Duty Black Ops II Soldier Edition gaming surface/mousepad. Having played with both laser and optical mice, 3800 DPI is the subjective number the laser mice are set to in order to mimic identical feel and speed of the 3400 DPI optical. Like the Recon, the Havoc does not come weight control. Those who prefer low dpi settings will have no problem with LoD (lift-off distance) tracking, as the Havoc's 9800 sensor prevents excessive tracking the moment the mouse leaves the surface. The cursor will literally stop when the mouse is a millimeter off the ground - but at higher DPI this is obviously not the case. You should not be lifting-off at all when playing 3200-3800 DPI and above. In case you do, at 8200 DPI, tracking typically stops at around 4-5mm off the surface which is understandably substantial. Speaking of DPI, we tested the four little LED tickers and colour profiles. The buttons are synced with the software so when you press the DPI or profile buttons, the software will cycle through each in real-time and highlight the one you picked so you are not left guessing your configuration(s). For a closer look at the different colour profiles and LED tickers, check the gallery on the last page of the review. To conclude the results, the Havoc performed just like its other two counterparts. Tracking was exceptionally precise, and there were no erratic jitters, movements, or complications when playing Team Fortress 2, Battlefield 3, Dota 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Killing Floor, and Payday: The Heist. FINAL WORDS AND CONCLUSION It is clear Cooler Master went back and check their own designs to create the Storm Havoc. Borrowing from the Storm Sentinel Advance II and Storm Recon, the newest addition to the Storm line had most of its work cut out. Hence, it definitely is one of the best mice we have tested. It retains many of the best aspects and features that made its predecessors so great. The Havoc is nearly perfect, not only in design but also in functionality, as the software has a tighter, more clean interface than previous CM suites. There are a few quirks here and there however. The middle button between the forward and back on the side of the Havoc is in an awkward position, and would have been been better placed above the scroll wheel. Aesthetically, the glossy black exterior on the right side does not make sense, and would have looked better with the uniform matte-black rubber coating. Going back to the scroll wheel, it is missing the finger grooves that allow for a better hold when scrolling and depressing the wheel's middle button. For $54.99 there is not a lot going against the Cooler Master Storm Havoc. It is simply a solid meld of two previous hit gaming mice from Cooler Master. While it does not specifically bring anything new to the table, it does uphold the functionality, affordability, performance, and aesthetics we have come to expect from Cooler Master, which is what matters most when everything is said and done. Check Out CM Storm Havoc Pricing at Amazon! JOIN THE DISCUSSION FORUM For an extended look at colours and profiles check the gallery below. We would like to thank Cooler Master for providing the Havoc for testing and review, and kudos for acquiring the 'Top Value' award!

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Cooler Master Storm Havoc Gaming Mouse Review – An 8200 DPI Refresh

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