PC Hardware: Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse Review

Logitech MX518

The Cadillac of Mice

Whenever you have a job to do, having the right tools for that job will make it go a lot easier if you know what you’re doing. The same principle applies to PC gaming. You can play any game with any old mouse, but if you want to get serious about it, I think you should check out the Logitech MX518 Gaming Mouse. You’ll be the envy of all your gamer friends. It works perfectly with Windows XP as well as Vista.

I’ve been using this mouse for a little over two years and still love it. I didn’t even know such a mouse existed until one day I needed to get a new one and headed over to my local Circuit City to see what all they had. I was going to just spend twenty bucks on some kind of slightly better than average optical mouse, and then I saw this thing. I think the main thing that stuck out about it was the word ‘Gaming’ on the box. I read the product description and the next thing I knew, I was on the way home with one of my own.

This is considered a ‘gaming-grade’ mouse. Do you know what that means? It’s called that because it is much more precise than your average $20 optical mouse. Most of those plain optical mice scan at 400 dpi, or dots per inch, and that’s how they detect movement. This mouse scans at a whopping 1600 dpi, meaning it is extremely precise. Why would this be important? If you have to ask that, then you’ve probably never played a tough first person shooter like Call of Duty 4.

Not only does this mouse go up to 1600 dpi, but it also has a push-button DPI adjustment that works on the fly, even in mid-game. You can jump between 1600, 800, or 400 DPI just by hitting an up or down button located by the scroll wheel. This comes in handy in games where you might need tighter controls to fly a plane or operate some kind of machinery. It also lets you push a button and keep playing rather than having to pause or leave the game, then go edit some Options or system settings.

After having used this mouse for over two years, I must tell you that it has improved my game. When you’re playing fast-paced shooting games where you need to react in a split second, a highly sensitive mouse just like this one is the perfect solution. On top of that, it just looks cool. If you look at the photo, you’ll see how the body is seamless from front to back, rather than having two giant panels for the buttons. It also has a humpback design that makes it far more ergonomic than the standard flat egg-shaped mouse.

You can find the Logitech MX518 for about $40-50 at most places that sell computer peripherals. As of this writing, Amazon.com lists it for $41.98, and that price includes free shipping.