SPECS
Size: 130mm x 60mm x 43mm
Weight: 101g
Interface: USB.20
Buttons: 7
Sensor: Pixart 3988
Programmable: Yes
GIGABYTE XM300
Gaming Mouse
Value Award
RRP: $39.99 | Website: www.gigabyte.com
I
n line with the Core i3 feature of
this issue. I am looking at the
lower end of PC gaming.
The GIGABYTE XM300 is one such
mouse that can be had for as little at
$40. Ideally for the same individual
that would be looking at the Core i3
6300/6320 and other such
components.
THE XM300’s direct competitor
is probably the ASUS SICA which I
looked at several issues ago or the
Logitech G302 Daedalus Prime.
While both mice are slightly cheaper,
the XM300 offers significantly more
in terms of functionality against the
SICA and build quality against the
G302 Prime. The XM300 feels
noticeably better than both
competitor’s offerings.
The first thing about the XM300 is that,
unlike the SICA, it's exlucsively
designed for right handed users, so to
all the lefties you’re out of luck so you
best look at other mice from GIGABYTE.
With that that said you, for the right
handed individuals, this mouse
will be a more comfortable option in
comparison. Not only because of the
ergonomics, but simply because it is
larger than the SICA and allows for a
variety of grips as well.
56 The OverClocker Issue 38 | 2016
For the $7 extra, what GIGABYTE
provides you with are several more
buttons, specifically for adjusting DPI
on the fly and of course two side
buttons. A pretty standard layout for
the modern FPS game and it just may
be what sways you towards this
mouse rather than the SICA.
Gaming with the XM300 is pretty
good as it does not have any obvious
weight bias. It has a relatively high
centre of gravity at least when
compared to the ROCCAT KOVA for
instance, but that does not affect
performance negatively at all. At
roughly 100g it is on the light side
and I’d have appreciated a little
more weight, but it is workable and
you’ll soon get used to it after 20
minutes or longer.
The rest of the mouse is a pretty
standard affair making use of the
familiar Omron switches for the two
primary buttons. You are not able to
switch these out as you would with the
SICA, but I can’t imagine a meaningful
percentage of users needing this
functionality at all. As has become
tradition with GIGABYTE mice, it
comes with an alternate set of feet.
Trying these didn’t change the mouse
behaviour at all so they will likely go
unused by most users.
The XM300 makes use on a Pixart
3988 sensor with a maximum
resolution of 6400. Acceleration is up
to 50g (Does anyone actually care
about such figures?) and of course
polling rate can be configured. So
again, pretty standard stuff for gaming
mice in this day and age.
When it comes to the software,
GIGABYTE makes use of the Xtreme
Macro Engine, which has all the basic
functionality you’d expect for
configuring the RGB lighting,
the optical sensitivity and of course
setting Macros. It isn’t overly
complicated and is certainly one of the
simpler interfaces of any mouse I’ve
come across. Certainly a boon given
just how convoluted some interfaces
can be these days.
Overall, this is a solid offering for
$40. When compared to its chief
rivals, the XM300 is a better purchase
in just about every respect. From the
material quality, functionality and
subsequent configuration options
available. It is simply the better mouse
of the lot. For $40 you’re not going to
do much better than the XM300.
[ Iron-Synapse ]