Customer Reviews

Logitech MX 518 High Performance Optical Gaming Mouse (Metal)

5 star:		(422)
4 star:		(107)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

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 / decrease sensitivity 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!

I like this mouse a lot. With the right mouse pad (a Microthin Wow!Pad from Office Depot), this mouse glides beautifully, never seen one better. The main buttons are easy to push (only Microsoft does this right also). The forward and back side buttons are a little small but work fine. The scroll wheel is not as nice as the MS Intellimouse 4 as it still clicks and is harder to roll. Never used the tilt wheel on the MS mouse. It is gaming where this mouse shines. The mouse tracks no matter how fast I move the mouse. The mouse never sleeps so it always responds perfectly. Frankly, I have not yet found any use that I needed to change the mouse resolution (i.e. speed) but in trials that is easy to do.
Feel is good, middle to small sized so fits most of my family. Cord is thin and a little stiff so it does not always lay completely flat (I have not found on that did). Very lightweight. Contoured nicely to fit the cupped hand.
Worked with Win XP as soon as I plugged it in, drivers and program loaded with no hassle.
Nice job, Logitech!

I bought this mouse in April of 2005 and I haven't had a problem with it. Perfectly tracks on all surfaces I have tested (though I'm sure highly reflective ones might cause a bit of problem). Honestly, I haven't found the DPI switching to be a feature I use very often, but it doesn't hurt.

Buttons have a very nice tactile feel. Especially useful are the two buttons on the left side of the mouse which default to paging forward and back in your webpages. After spending any significant time with this mouse, it's hard to surf the web with any other mouse; you'll constantly be pressing the nonexistant side buttons in an effort to navigate. The forward and back action also works when browsing through files and folders, which is also very helpful.

Finally, ergonomics on this mouse are absolutely incredible, at least if you are right handed.

Do not hesitate to buy this mouse

Update 2/28/09:

I am still using this mouse 3 years after buying it. The buttons started sticking slightly but it still works fine. I'll be very sad when it eventually died

I've gone through about 6 different mice, and each one had their pros and cons (mostly cons). I finally found the MX518, and trust me, you don't know what you're missing until you've used it. *Edit: how did I find it? On SK-Gaming, there are tons of threads about "what's the best mouse"? This mouse came up so frequently that it seemed like a no-brainer.

This is the first time I can use a mouse and never have to worry about unexpected friction or hiccups. It controls with extreme precision and ease. At first, it was a little hard for me to get used to the shape and size, since it feels different from other mice I've used...but once I got used to it, it's flawless.

I am also a pretty avid gamer, and since I got this mouse, my performance has gone up noticeably. In fact, that's the reason I got this mouse to begin with: my biggest weakness in-play was my inability to consistently click quickly on small units in battle. With the MX518, those kinds of dumb problems go away.

Another thing I love is that even if I used it for hours, my hand feels completely rested and fresh. No more taking quick hand breaks, stretching it out or what not.

It's also very easy to customize the speed and feel of the mouse using the software. I've read some complaints about it, but I can't see any way to improve it.

Coupled with my Steelpad S&S mousepad, it's so much more fun to get on the computer. Like upgrading car audio, you really don't know what you're missing until you get rid of your outdated junk and try the best.

I have been gaming for all of my life, and after getting this mouse I decided that having never reviewed any other product, I should review this one. I did my research before I got this mouse, and noticed only one review here, so hopefully this will help some of you out.

This mouse is amazing, comfortable (even for large hands), fast, precise, and worth every cent I paid for it. I got it for a shade under $40, at Amazon.com, it was the cheapest place I could find it. MSRP = $50


DPI = 1600


This matters in games because the higher the DPI, the faster the mouse will move with less effort. In contrast, the lower the DPI, the slower the cursor will move with more effort. In effect, high DPI for navigation in fast games like UT 2k4 and CS. Low DPI for sniping. Awesome!


15 g of acceleration (480 ft/s squared)


I own a Microsoft Wireless Suite (Optical Mouse 2.0) and there is obviously lag whenever I move the mosue too quickly, not so good for gaming. I did a little math after looking at the specs on this mouse, and you would have to move the mouse faster than 327 mph for it not to be able to track your movement (assuming that's not impossible and you have a big enough mouse pad!) This mouse is really ergonomic and I think it's important to note that your thumb is supported completely off of the mouse pad. For those serious gamers: there are those of you who like the thumb on the mousepad for precision control (I suggest teh Razor for that) and then there are the majority who don't like the thumb on the mousepad. Get this mouse, your pinky and thumb will not be touching the mousepad. This mouse is very light and slick and easily glides on the mousepad. However, I recommend a plastic-type mousepad over the cloth for maximum precision. Mostly because it glides easier on this surface than any other.


The only beef I got is: it's pricey for a mouse! But it's worth it!

I've had it for a few days and i love it already. It works perfectly fine. It's accurate. And i dont use it for games, just for designing...and it's really good for that. I recommend it!!! =)

I've used the MX500 for years but needed a new mouse and Logitech don't sell that one anymore. I got the MX518 but there are no Mac drivers for it from Logitech. After trying USBOverdrive which didn't work I found Steermouse which does.

Supports all the buttons in a wide variety of options. And has the Holy Grail that the Logitech drivers didn't have; the ability to have different button sets for different applications.

The MX518 is lighter than the earlier MX mice I've had which is good for feel but we'll see how it lasts. But for now I love it.

I do alot of graphic design and 1st person shooter games. I have used several mouse's from the razor boomslang to the G5 and all of them went to ebay. This MX518 is top notch super high dpi for quick reaction and on the fly dpi dropping for sniping or pixel to pixel movement. If this mouse dont make you extremely satisfied then nothing will.

-RaT

Excellent mouse. It's only slightly better than the 510, so if you already own that mouse, i don't recommend it. The sensitivity adjustment button is not useful for counter-strike, but i hear its quite useful for BF2.
If you are going to buy this pro-grade mouse for gaming, i would highly recommend purchasing a quality mousepad along with it. The mouse-feet on the pad is very good and it glides like ice along most surfaces, but nice mousepads, in my opinion make a bigger difference than the mouse itself. I would recommend a steelpad QcK, it's very cheap and made of cloth, yet is durable. It has just the right amount of friction. If you don't like cloth-type mousepads, there are so many other good ones, such as Icemat, or another steelpad.

I've used this mouse for 3 months so far after my Microsoft mouse died on me. It has been great, the clicks are perfect and the overall feeling is very good. There are no cons to this mouse and thats why I love it.