Performance

So what exactly does 2000dpi do for you? Provided you find a use for it, on a basic level 2000dpi decreases the distance you have to move the mouse in order to turn around. An example using the extremes: at 400dpi it might take 2.0in. for me to move the cursor from the center of the screen to the edge; at 2000dpi it might take 0.5in. to move the same distance. In games where you need to make twitch movements such as in an FPS (especially online) 2000dpi enable you to make that movement faster. 400dpi on the other hand will give you a "slower" cursor but will increase your accuracy -- especially while sniping. You can make very precise and minute movements with such a low dpi. Being able to switch between 5 different sensitivity settings in-game is a priceless feature for many gamers. We didn't have any concerns with the mouse and no matter how fast/much we moved the mouse, it accurately relayed the information to the PC. We weren't able to notice any lag, however we did experience some system slowdown with the newer version of SetPoint; however after a fresh format, we didn't seem to have any further issues which makes this a moot point. In the event that you do experience a slowdown (we even were able to observe it on the Start menu) we'd reformat; if you don't want to do that reverting to a previous version of SetPoint seemed to fix the issue however it won't keep you up to date with new fixes and/or features.

The increase/decrease buttons could be placed somewhere a little more convenient. Despite that, sensitivity switching proved to be excellent. There was no lag when switching to a different dpi, even directly from 400 - 2000. Through the use of the software you can set 5 different dpi settings to switch through; and we really like the fact that you can opt to not install SetPoint and still benefit from 3 settings (however they are not customizable without the software). The meter on the side also comes in handy when you're wondering which dpi you're using and don't want to ALT-TAB out to check SetPoint.

In SetPoint you have some extra options with the G5 such as per application button mapping (above) as well as the ability to set up to 5 different levels of sensitivity to switch through (below). The sensitivity setttings must go in numerical order, top to bottom, highest to lowest dpi which makes enough sense. We wouldn't want to push the increase button only to have your dpi drop to 400 and the onboard light move to the lowest position. There are also other features, such as the recognized games list (add your game executables to ensure that SetPoint recognizes them), audio notification of dpi changes (select the sound that plays from Windows Control Panel), and independent X/Y-axis resolution settings. This software enables a lot of extra fine-tuning to help the user, you, get the exact configuration that you prefer.

Another thing we found helpful is to find out the dpi/resolution of your previous mouse and set that to the 3^rd or 4^th dpi setting and base the rest of your choices around that. This way most of your applications and games won't need severe tuning from your previous settings; you can just go into the game, start playing, and then figure out where you want to take your settings and dpi from there.

The last part that we're going to take a look at before we make our verdict is the weight system. This is one of the features that make the G5 such an original creation by Logitech. As we mentioned before, included with the mouse is a set of 16 weights (8 at 1.7g and 8 at 4.5g) and a slide-in tray that can hold 8 weights at a time. Obviously the goal of this is to enable the user to create a mouse of the weight of their choosing. Like a heavier peripheral? Put in 8x 4.5g weights. For those of you that prefer the lighter side of things, don't put any in, or maybe just a 1.7g weight in each corner.

The big question here is: do the weights make a noticeable difference? It's what we've been wondering since we first heard about the G5 and we're sure that you're a little curious as well. After serious testing, hours of gaming and application use, with different arrangements of both weights and placement we do feel that they do have an impact. Obviously going between the extremes makes the most noticeable difference, no weights versus all 4.5g weights. Logitech has placed a PTFE foot on the inner left side of the mouse which helps when a user moves the mouse quickly from right to left and may tip the right side of the mouse up (putting more pressure on the PTFE pad on the left). We've had this happen, especially in fast pace games such as UT2K4 or Prey; if you align weights on the inner left side of the mouse it becomes more succeptible to tipping, which some users like. Push heavier weights to the right side and you'll help to counteract the tilt. Moving the weights around do make a difference and ultimately you will have to move them around to figure out which setup you prefer.

Conclusion

When everything is said and done, we look highly upon the Logitech G5. While it has minor shortcomings the G5 is one of the most advanced gaming mice to date and would certainly make a great addition to any serious gamers arsenal of devices. 2000dpi, on-the-fly sensitivity changing, customizable weight system, great looks, no-slip grip, and PTFE feet outweight the negatives. That said, we really would like to see a shape change; discomfort with a mouse can really dampen any PC experience let alone gaming. Give yourself a chance to adjust to the shape of the mouse and you should be set to go after some time with regular use. If a buddy has one, try it out for a while. That's the best route to take before purchasing something. For overall excellence and superior performance the Logitech G5 Laser Mouse takes the Gold and an Editors Choice home today.

Thanks goes to Logitech for making this review possible.