Logitech MX 518 High Performance Optical Gaming Mouse (Metal) Review

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(More customer reviews)Those of you who have read my G5 review might be surprised that I bought an MX518 instead of a G5. I'm pretty high on the G5, and rather sad about breaking it, but I was curious about the MX518, if for no other reason than it is the standard by which the G5 is so often compared.

I've been using the new mouse for about a week and it's hard to distinguish performance-wise from a G5. But there are some differences worth mentioning.

What I Miss About the G5 -

Separate X and Y axis sensitivity settings - this feature was only available in SetPoint's Game Mode but did give me some flexibility in opening up the horizontal sensitivity for close-in sweeping without sacrificing vertical precision.

Adjustable weights - My G5 as described in my review weighs 140g; the MX518 weighs 105g. The weight module on the G5 makes the entire difference. I've noticed the difference, but have adjusted without too much trouble.

Sensitivity Indicator - Occasionally I'd lose track of the mouse sensitivity and had to look at the G5's LED indicator, which in some cases was easier than wiggling the mouse.

What I Like Better About the MX518 -

Two thumb buttons which I've set for raising and lowering sensitivity a la user.xml customization similar to what I did on my G5. Their location is still a bit high.

BTW, the SetPoint software will detect the MX518 and append user.xml with default settings for the MX518. This is cool as it allows one to switch back (or use in parallel) to a G5 without losing any customization.

Toss-Ups -

The size and shape of the MX518 and G5 are identical, however my G5 had a slightly rougher texture both on its' topside and its' gripping surfaces. The MX518 is more slippery in both areas, so those who tend to rely on palm friction for grip might prefer a G5. I tend to use my thumb and pinky to hold the mouse, so it's not as noticeable.

Conclusion -

The G5 was the best mouse I ever owned, but the MX518 is an acceptable and more cost-effective replacement.

Public Service Announcement - How to "Deep Hack" your MX518 --

The SetPoint utility keeps its' configuration info in a file called user.xml (I forget the path, but it's stored in the Documents and Settings directory on XP). Editing the file itself is not difficult - because it's XML, any text editor will do. It's WHEN one edits that's important. SetPoint guards against accidental changes or deletions by rebuilding the user.xml file when it exits. So you have to do the following:

1)Close SetPoint, either from the system tray or going into the task manager.
2)Copy user.xml to user.xml.orig or whatever suffix you use to save an archival copy.
3)Edit user.xml, by copying and pasting the tags for the normal "increase sensitivity" button to button 4. For the MX518, I also copy and paste the normal "decrease sensitivity" button tags to button 5. If like me you want to use it for games that you've set up for SetPoint's "game mode", you'll also have to change the section in user.xml dealing with game mode. Otherwise, the change will fail as soon as you run the game.
4)Delete last_user.xml.
5)Open SetPoint. In my case, I logged out of XP then logged back in to reload SetPoint.

The end result is that outside of game mode, both the standard increase / decreasesensitivity buttons and the thumb buttons can change the mouse sensitivity. In game mode, only the thumb buttons can change the mouse sensitivity. This is because game mode has a different XML syntax than default mode. Conceivably this technique can be used to arbitrarily reprogram all of the buttons. Make sure you backup user.xml before charging in!

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Product Description:
If youre going to play at the highest level, you need a mouse that gives you an edge. The Logitech MX 518 Gaming-Grade Optical Mouse does exactly that with its ultra-high resolution, 1600-dpi MX Optical Engine that delivers lightning-fast response and mirror-smooth tracking. The MX 518s advantages dont stop there. You get instant, on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment that lets you switch effortlessly from pixel-precise targeting to fast-twitch acceleration, without any software. And the contoured grip ensures peak performance and comfort, even during the most intense gaming sessions.

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