Microsoft SideWinder X5 Mouse

10 Review to this product

• 

  Seanna
  December 30th, 2008 on 4:08 pm

  Rating

  So what is a gaming mouse and why do you need one? Well a gaming mouse is optical so it is more precise and accurate than a standard mouse. This is important when you are playing first person shooters (or games like that) where every move counts. They usually have a better button arrangement and programmable buttons so you can access in-game features quickly. They are also ergonomically designed so they are more comfortable so you can spend hours playing your favorite computer game without straining yourself. All this may not seem that important (after all it is just a mouse) but to a gamer it is all about split-second decisions so a high standard mouse is a must.

  The Sidewinder name has been linked to gaming for a long time and has always been known for quality and high standard. The Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joystick is probably the most popular joystick ever made and the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick is often acknowledged as the best one. The name also stands for reliability so it was interesting see how the Sidewinder X5 Mouse would shape up.

  I hooked up the mouse to a Windows XP Computer via the USB socket. I didn’t use the software, it installed automatically. When I decided to install the software to get extra features, I realized the Sidewinder X5 was not in the list but the Laser Mouse 6000 seemed to match. It didn’t matter; the features are all still there so it just took getting use to it. This is pretty easy; the mouse acts as standard mouse for most things. It is just when you play a computer game that it comes into its own. I had previously struggled to play BioShock (PC Game of the Year 2007) with a standard mouse so here was the test.

  On playing Bioshock, the mouse was a joy to use. I set it up so I could have certain features ready at the press of a button so it made the game easier to play. It was also very quick and responsive to every move I made and very accurate when I was shooting or making any quick moves. It blows a standard mouse away (even an optical one). The reason why is because this mouse uses an infra-red laser instead of a LED so the resolution of the image taken by the mouse is better and it also tracks a lot more efficiently (20 times better than a standard LED optical mouse).

  The built quality of the mouse also looks pretty sound, it has a smooth design and it feels comfortable.

  Overall I would recommend this – another option is the original Microsoft SideWinder Gaming Mouse but both are comparable in speed. Microsoft claims the Sidewinder X5 is built to last and it should be good for around 10 million clicks!
  
• 

  Brian Palomares
  June 7th, 2009 on 12:23 pm

  Rating

  This mouse was at a great price. It is very comfortable for my hand, i love where mouse 3 and 4 are located. The dpi buttons are great for games. The only bad thing i can say about this mouse is the scroll wheel click, its not as easily pressed as my previous mouses but its still a terrific mouse 5 *
• 

  Andrew Piekarz
  January 8th, 2010 on 10:17 pm

  Rating

  I have very big hands so I was happy to read other reviews on how huge this mouse is. It fits like a glove for me and couldnt get any better. Perfect button placement and very high quality design. I thought this was made of cheap plastic but it is very well designed and crafted. My only problem Ihave to get used to is how sensitive the buttons are. That i my fault though for using a cheap dell mouse that came with the computer. If you have at least medium sized hands this will be great for you.
• 

  Joseph Hampton
  February 7th, 2010 on 4:30 pm

  Rating

  I had a basic optical mouse, and when gaming it got the “spins”. I picked this mouse up cheap, and I am glad I didn’t waste money on something overpriced, this is just what I wanted.
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  M. Maliski
  February 11th, 2010 on 1:32 am

  Rating

  Great mouse and a solid upgrade over basic mice bundled with most desktops. The forward/backward buttons on the left side are quite useful for web and folder browsing, and the adjustable DPI buttons are great for gaming. Don’t get this if you’re a lefty though because it’s designed for righties. I’m a lefty but was raised using the mouse right-handed.
• 

  Jim D
  February 24th, 2010 on 2:08 pm

  Rating

  I purchased this mouse for my son for gaming and he says it works great, with no hesitation.

  I would purchase another one.
• 

  jschristian44
  March 6th, 2010 on 1:42 am

  Rating

  I have tried many many gaming mice. The Logitech MX518, Razer Deathadder, etc etc. This mouse is similar to those and it has a cool red underlight. The on the fly DPI switching works great when sniping and the autoscroll is very comfy and works great. All in all you can’t go wrong with this mouse, it matches my X6 Keyboard and they look AMAZING togethers.
• 

  J. Polen
  March 18th, 2010 on 9:05 am

  Rating

  We bought this as a gift for our grandson. He seems very happy with it.
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  Brian R. Valenti
  April 12th, 2010 on 6:09 pm

  Rating

  Great product. Fits naturally into my hand, the extra buttons are well placed for gaming. Everything on the mouse feels very well put together. If you don’t mind using a wired mouse, this is about as good as it gets for the price. The only negative I can think of is that the scroll mouse clicks each time that you move it. This doesn’t really bother me, but some people may like a smoother scroll wheel.
• 

  CorpsePenis
  May 1st, 2010 on 2:15 pm

  Rating

  I bought this for use at work. For the price, its an excellent mouse. Feels great, really surprised me, exceeded expectations. Has a nice click to it, good weight, very comfortable, and easy to use. Very quick and precise movement. Installed very quickly. Recommended.