Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse

[Rob Williams]

Razer has developed gaming mice for a while, but all have been ambidextrous. The DeathAdder breaks that habit to become the first Razer right-handed mouse. Aside from that, we quickly found out that the DeathAdder is one of the best looking and most comfortable mice on the market today.

You can read the full review here and discuss it here!

 

[NicePants42]

My main gripe with the Copperhead was that it required that USB legacy support be turned off in the motherboard BIOS, otherwise the mouse wouldn't be detected without unplugging/replugging it. (Not even the latest firmware, which supposedly turned the button underneath into a 'reboot' button solved allowed the mouse to be detected without being unplugged first.)

This in itself is not a major problem, but in my specific circumstance, I dual-boot XP 32 and XP 64, and I use a Logitech G15. For some reason, unless USB legacy support is enabled, the G15 will not respond during the 30 second time interval where I am supposed to choose the OS to boot.

So my question in a nutshell is this: did you have any driver/BIOS issues to speak of?

 

[Rob Williams]

That's strange. I've had that with wireless USB products, but not wired. Greg probably won't be able to reply to this until Monday, because he doesn't have net at home (as horrible as that sounds).

He lives in the sticks.

 

[Unregistered]

I paid out $60 for this mouse because the copperhead I bought was so uncomfortable to use, while gaming I got cramps in my hand. Button five does NOT work when it comes to mapping a KB key or using it as a macro. Yet any windows function (Dbl click, Paste) works just fine telling me the button does work. I play Battlefield series a lot, and I map Ctrl to thumb button #5 to kneel in game, but it doesn't work. What really ticks me off is...Razer has given me zero support via the phone, or the web. They just wanted to send me another mouse after I sent mine in...a three week turn-around. I don't think the problem likes with the mouse as the button seems to function find with Windows commands assigned to it, but wont simulate any key stroke. I believe the software or firmware has issues. I think a new mouse would so the same thing, and am quit pissed off. They said they would get right back to me and it’s been over a month. The only good thing I have to say is...Razer finaly designed a comfortable mouse, now I just need to sinsere support.

 

[Greg King]

@ Unregistered...

It's unfortunate to hear that. I have personally never had to deal with Razer's customer support because fortunately nothing of theirs that I have owned has ever crapped out. While it doesn't really help you out any at all, I hope that your an isolated incident and that this isn't the norm for their support group.

As for mapping keys to the mouse, that is something that I will look into on my own. I always program the back button to reload and the scroll wheel button to switch weapons. I will try this tonight in BF2 and see if I can reproduce the problems. While you loose all DPI settings and adjustability, have you tried using the mouse without the Razer software loaded?

 

[Greg King]

My main gripe with the Copperhead was that it required that USB legacy support be turned off in the motherboard BIOS, otherwise the mouse wouldn't be detected without unplugging/replugging it. (Not even the latest firmware, which supposedly turned the button underneath into a 'reboot' button solved allowed the mouse to be detected without being unplugged first.)

This in itself is not a major problem, but in my specific circumstance, I dual-boot XP 32 and XP 64, and I use a Logitech G15. For some reason, unless USB legacy support is enabled, the G15 will not respond during the 30 second time interval where I am supposed to choose the OS to boot.

So my question in a nutshell is this: did you have any driver/BIOS issues to speak of?

Pants,

This is something that I have not noticed but to be fair, haven't paid any attention too. I will test this out when I get home and see what problems, if any, I run into.

As for your G15, most motherboards that I have worked with have USB keyboard and USB mouse startup options. Can you enable one and disable the other in your BIOS or does it only give you the option to turn them both on?

 

[NicePants42]

As for your G15, most motherboards that I have worked with have USB keyboard and USB mouse startup options. Can you enable one and disable the other in your BIOS or does it only give you the option to turn them both on?

I'm running an ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe, and I have no options for independent boot control of mouse/keyboard. I have PS/2 control and USB1.1/2.0 control, but cannot selectively ignore a mouse/keyboard during boot.

 

[Unregistered]

I paid out $60 for this mouse because the copperhead I bought was so uncomfortable to use, while gaming I got cramps in my hand. Button five does NOT work when it comes to mapping a KB key or using it as a macro. Yet any windows function (Dbl click, Paste) works just fine telling me the button does work. I play Battlefield series a lot, and I map Ctrl to thumb button #5 to kneel in game, but it doesn't work. What really ticks me off is...Razer has given me zero support via the phone, or the web. They just wanted to send me another mouse after I sent mine in...a three week turn-around. I don't think the problem likes with the mouse as the button seems to function find with Windows commands assigned to it, but wont simulate any key stroke. I believe the software or firmware has issues. I think a new mouse would so the same thing, and am quit pissed off. They said they would get right back to me and it’s been over a month. The only good thing I have to say is...Razer finaly designed a comfortable mouse, now I just need to sinsere support.

Have exactely the same problem.... did you manage to solve it?

 

[Unregistered]

I play Battlefield series a lot, and I map Ctrl to thumb button #5 to kneel in game, but it doesn't work. What really ticks me off is...Razer has given me zero support via the phone, or the web. They just wanted to send me another mouse after I sent mine in...a three week turn-around. I don't think the problem likes with the mouse as the button seems to function find with Windows commands assigned to it, but wont simulate any key stroke. I believe the software or firmware has issues. I think a new mouse would so the same thing, and am quit pissed off. They said they would get right back to me and it’s been over a month. The only good thing I have to say is...Razer finaly designed a comfortable mouse, now I just need to sinsere support.

I have a Death Adder and I cannot map buttons in BF2 either. I'm sincerely considering getting a Logitech G5 (the new one with the extra side button). I know from experience with my Logitech MX518 that you can remap the buttons however you please, so Logitech's software works. If only the sensitivity on the G5 was as good as the Deathadder.

 

[Unregistered 3rd guy]

Have exactely the same problem.... did you manage to solve it?

Same here. Key assign doesn't work in Call of Duty 2 Multiplayer with the death adder mouse. Macros don't work.

I had to asign all my shiat to the belkin n52te buttons, which all work fine in all games.

Middle mouse, button 4 and button 5 are not seen by the game. If I use non-game keys like (,) or (.) it still won't work.

COD 2 is 1.3

OS is vista 32 home premium.

Ben from Germany

 

[Unregistered]

Tachyon

I also have the same problem with my Razer Deathadder. Buttons 4 and 5 are not even detected in Call of Duty 4 modern warfare. That clearly rules out even attempting to bind them to anything useful like grenade or special grenade.

In other applications like web browsers etc. buttons 4 and 5 work just fine.

Mouse: Razer DeathAdder
OS: Vista 32 home premium
MB: Gigabyte X38-DQ6
Mouse driver: HID-compatible ??!? (found in the device manager)
Razer Driver version 1.08 /Firmware version 1.27

Could there be two drivers for the mouse? One of them being the windows standard drivers and the other Raizers drivers. Could it be possible that call of duty (and other games) go looking for the drivers in the wrong place and find the standard windows mouse drivers? I only see the HID-compatible mentioned in the device manager.

 

[Unregistered]

I think the problem with the Death Adder is Vista. I could map buttons 5 and 6 to macros (for World of Warcraft) just fine in XP. When I switched the same mouse, driver, and firmware to Vista, the 5 and 6 button macros no longer trigger. I updated the firmware to 1.27 and that still didn't fix the problem.

 

[Doomsday]

I love my MX-518..but i really feel like buying something new this yr... so it'll be tha DeathAdder!!

 

[Doomsday]

just got it and i have to say..Pure Awesomeness!! i am a Razer guy now! next up, Razer Megalodons!


edit: One question though...My hands get sweaty so will it spoil the Deathadder's skin!!? i hope it doesn't start shedding it!

 

[Rob Williams]

edit: One question though...My hands get sweaty so will it spoil the Deathadder's skin!!? i hope it doesn't start shedding it!

I can't see it to be honest... Razer likely wouldn't overlook something like that, given their products are to be used by frantic gamers. I wish I could say the same about the mouse I'm using on this PC... the top is discolored either because of sweat or something from rubbing my fingers on it (some generic Gigabyte mouse).

 

[Doomsday]

I wish I could say the same about the mouse I'm using on this PC... the top is discolored either because of sweat or something from rubbing my fingers on it (some generic Gigabyte mouse).

that same thing happened to my MX-518...not the top but the sides have become rough.. i hope this doesnot happen to the DeathAdder!

 

[Rob Williams]

that same thing happened to my MX-518...not the top but the sides have become rough.. i hope this doesnot happen to the DeathAdder!

I didn't quite have that happen with my MX518, but I found it was VERY difficult to keep the surface of that one clean. Dirt just clung to it, especially from your fingers. I always had to unplug it and go clean it in the kitchen.

Come to think of it, I think I've had a beef with just about every mouse I've ever touched. I recently upgraded from a Logitech G5, because the tracking was starting to go, and the braided cable was also getting frayed. I think nowadays, you're good if you get at least a year out of your mouse, haha.

 

[Kougar]

I think nowadays, you're good if you get at least a year out of your mouse, haha.

Hmm, I've only been using mine for three years or so, and since I game a couple hours a day when not extremely busy that oughta be saying something. The only thing on it that shows the age are the skid feet (worn them down) and the rubber-coated sides that I've rubbed off. The rest of the mouse looks just like new.

It's one of these, but with the deep Metallic Blue top. I've thought about trying a new mouse, but there are some advantages to going wireless I've not wanted to give up, and mice only seem to be getting more expensive.

The biggest issue with this mouse would have to be none of that modern on-the-fly DPI adjusting, so using automatic weapons is great, but using a sniper rifle for pinhead precision shooting is something else altogether. That more than anything else will probably get me to upgrade my mouse soon.

 

[Rob Williams]

That mouse works quite well for gaming despite it being wireless? If so, I might have to pick one up. I <em>hate</em> cords.

 

[Kougar]

That mouse works quite well for gaming despite it being wireless? If so, I might have to pick one up. I <em>hate</em> cords.

It's an old model mouse, I've not tried the newer one (2.0 as opposed to 4.0). I wasn't that impressed with Razer's mice, but I'm keeping a look out for a more gamer oriented mouse... not sure I like the Razer/Microsoft hybrid Habu either but after eyeing your reviews I can say it is NOT simply a rebadged mouse. The internals are different, although I'd have loved to see some photos of the guts just to get an idea of what was changed.

The wireless has never seemed to be an issue with it, but the hassle of placing the base station in just the right spots where I can get reception makes it almost as bad as a wired mouse. Going wireless just never gets rid of all the wires... I guess I shouldn't be surprised though, the base station came with the keyboard and the mouse was separate... by simple curiosity I discovered the mouse worked on the keyboard's receiver so I was able to avoid using two wireless base stations.

The tracking has been excellent, I've never had "spinouts" or other issues old optical mice suffer from and the thing is quite sensitive. There is a software option that they call "Precision Booster" that mirrors the effect of changing the DPI, you can key a button on the mouse to drop/toggle the movement amount to any % of the orignal.