INTRODUCTION

   With the release of Mass Effect Andromeda the highly anticipated PC game title by Bioware and the latest updates on alpha/beta titles we support like Dreadnought and Star Citizen we've ended up spending the largest part of April testing every single gaming peripheral we could get our hands on (can't complain really) from a large number of manufacturers. It wasn't really a surprise of course that most of the gaming peripherals that made it to our lab were input devices like keyboards and mice so it goes without saying really that the majority of our upcoming reviews will be about those products. HyperX is among those manufacturers and since they just released their latest Pulsefire FPS optical gaming mouse we decided to take it for a spin and see if it's the perfect companion to their very successful Alloy FPS mechanical gaming keyboard which we reviewed a while back.

   HyperX is the high-performance product division of Kingston Technology, the world’s largest independent memory manufacturer. Started in 2002, HyperX began with one line of high-performance memory and has grown over the years to encompass multiple product lines of memory modules, solid-state drives, USB Flash drives, headsets and mouse pads. Featuring best-in-class components that have delivered superior performance, quality and aesthetic design for more than a decade, HyperX products are the choice of top-rated gamers, tech enthusiasts and overclockers worldwide. From setting memory world records to achieving the most stringent product certifications, HyperX is committed to delivering reliable products with the highest performance standards. In addition, HyperX is the proud sponsor of over 20 gaming teams globally and the main sponsor of the Intel Extreme Masters and DreamHack festivals. HyperX products are designed to meet the most rigorous demands of professional gamers to give them the winning edge and help gamers stay on top of their game.

   Just like the Alloy FPS mechanical gaming keyboard the Pulsefire FPS optical gaming mouse is all about performance and endurance rather than available bells and whistles so don't expect multiple programmable buttons, macros or even a software. Under the hood of the Pulsefire FPS by HyperX we find white OMRON switches for the two primary buttons (20 million clicks), red color Kailh switches for the side and top buttons, single color backlight (red LEDs) and the Pixart PMW3310DH-AWQT IR-LED sensor which delivers a resolution of up to 3200DPI (dots per inch) via four preset settings (400/800/1600/3200DPI) with a speed of up to 130IPS (inches per second) and up to 30g acceleration. The Pulsefire FPS optical gaming mouse may sound as somewhat basic compared to other gaming mice currently in the market but considering that the FK1 by Zowie has been one of my all-time favorites that's not really a bad thing.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Pulsefire FPS gets shipped inside a small black box that has a large product image at the front right over the company logo.

Both the product features and the OS compatibility list are printed on the left side in 3 languages.

At the rear of the box we find the package contents list in 7 languages right next to yet another product picture.

Once the exterior cover is removed you will be greeted by the HyperX logo.

The mouse is safely "stuck" inside a piece of formed plastic.

We were expecting more from HyperX in terms of a bundle (perhaps replacement feet and/or a case badge?) than just the quick start guide and a congratulations paper.

THE PULSEFIRE FPS

The Pulsefire FPS enclosure is rubber coated, weighs a total of 95g (120g with the cable) and measures 127.54mm in length, 71.07mm in width and 41.91mm in height (slightly larger compared to the FK1 by Zowie for example).

Two buttons and a large rubberized textured area are placed on the left side of the mouse.

HyperX has placed their logo on the lower rear end.

Most of the right side also features rubberized textured material.

You can change the DPI preset setting by a single button placed at the top.

The clickable scroll wheel is rubber coated and almost inaudible when used.

At the base of the Pulsefire FPS we find two very large rubber feet and the PMW3310 IR-LED sensor.

There's a regular (not gold plated) USB plug at the end of the 1.8 meter long braided cable.

For optimal performance HyperX recommends also getting their brand new 4mm thick Fury S Pro Mousepad (the Extra Large 420mm x 900mm version is showcased above).

The backlight system of the Pulsefire FPS is not bad since aside the LED underneath the scroll wheel there's a second one behind the HyperX logo and one beneath the DPI preset selection button.

A different LED color is tied to each of the presets so there's white for 400DPI, red for 800DPI, blue for 1600DPI and yellow for 3200DPI.

CONCLUSION

   We only had three days to play around with the Pulsefire FPS but that was more than enough since it features our favorite claw grip design (palm grip is also supported). Overall we only have good things to say about the Pulsefire FPS since it’s a very comfortable mouse with sufficient tracking speed and near-excellent LOD. Of course we were somewhat surprised to see that HyperX “limited” the PMW3310 optical sensor by Pixart to 3200DPI as opposed to the 5000DPI it supports as maximum but most eSports gamers seem to prefer using 3200DPI so I guess it does make sense. As for grip the rubberized textured areas placed on both sides do improve grip but they are way too soft and for some strange reason the moment our hands started sweating they did become quite slippery. That’s not to say the Pulsefire FPS offers less in terms of grip compared to other gaming mice but the rubberized sections could be slightly better. The lack of programmable buttons and RGB illumination may turn some potential buyers away but these should not disappoint serious gamers looking for a comfortable, fast and accurate gaming mouse.

   HyperX started shipping the Pulsefire FPS optical gaming mouse today (that’s why we didn’t spend as much time with it as we usually would) with an attached price tag of USD49.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and 59.49Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de). At the end of the day we don’t really think HyperX asks much for their Pulsefire FPS optical gaming mouse especially if you happen to be living in the USA. Certainly it may not be the fastest nor the best looking gaming mouse in the market but it does extremely well In terms of grip, comfort and accuracy meaning all the things HyperX prioritized when developing it and since we liked it so much that we may even be using it in our lab it goes without question that it’s worth our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Ergonomic Shape
- Near Excellent Grip
- Very Accurate & Fast (Pixart PMW3310 IR LED Optical Sensor)
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Single Color Illumination
- No Control Panel