Microsoft SideWinder X3

It appears one of the hot topics in the gaming world today is the announcement of the new Microsoft SideWinder x3 mouse made for gamers. To start, the $40.00 USD price tag is a big relief when compared to the previous x5 model which came in at around $60.00. This is also a very reasonable price point when compared to other gaming mice currently in the market. The Ikari Laser Mouse came in at just under $90 in 2008, the razer rang in at a healthy $79.99 MSRP, the Logitech G9 had a bloated $99 price point and the Microsoft Sidewinder rings in at $79.99.

The x3 also packs on features. 2,000 DPI is the standard for gaming mice today but the SideWinder x3 comes with an on-the-fly DPI switch that allows you to adjust your sensitivity in order to fit situations where an overly responsive mouse may not be as useful. If, for example, you’re playing an FPS and you lock your opponent in your sights and need a little extra accuracy to send them packing you can switch the DPI settings between 400, 800 and 2,000 DPI on the fly. This is especially useful in situations where you are playing the sniper. Add 5 programmable buttons, recessed side buttons for east access and bundled macro software and you’ve got one respectable gaming mouse.

Downsides? The absence of an abundance of information is concerning when dealing with hardware especially from Microsoft. Polling figures are missing from many of the press releases that many major sites are quoting. This normally means either base standard or sub-standard polling on the device. 2,000 DPI is standard but in a market where the x3 could compete with high-end gaming mice it makes me wonder why they didn’t opt for a bit more accuracy. The Logitech G9 has a notable 3,200 DPI on their model from 2008.

Overall if you’re not wanting to spend a bare minimum of almost $100 this has promise as a great gaming mouse. There are high-end products out there that have noticeably improved specs over the x3 but this comes with incredible cost.

Rating: 90 out of 100

Source: Microsoft