SteelSeries SX Gaming Mouse Pad (Black)

by SteelSeries

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 11 x 0.6 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000V05F5Y
• Item model number: 63019
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

All mousepads from SteelSeries are thoroughly researched, tested and optimized for gaming. By definition, a true gaming product is superior to any other piece of computer hardware and accessory. Gamers constantly make split-second decisions, razor-sharp movements and use their equipment much more extensively than practically any other consumer group in the world. That's why SteelSeries spends so much time testing materials, durability, glide, precision and compatibility. And why there's no compromise on any of the above. And that means SteelSeries surfaces provide unparalleled performance and precision. The bottom line is, if you want to maximize your game, you have to maximize your equipment.

Compressed fibers add stain and water resistance to several SteelSeries surfaces (NP+ pictured)

Associated with some of the best players in the world of esports (SX pictured)

Achieve maximum gaming accuracy with non-slip rubber bases (NP+ pictured)

Picking the SteelSeries Mousepad That's Right for You

All SteelSeries surfaces offer something unique. The glide, feel, and comfort differs based on the material used to manufacture the product, but they all offer "gaming grade" precision and accuracy. How you personally feel about touching the material used to create the product, what mouse technology you use, and your playing style will help determine the SteelSeries mousepad that's suitable for you.

SteelSeries 4HD/9HD

SteelSeries 4HD and 9HD, differing only in size, consist of a hard plastic composition specifically engineered for professional gamers who demand extremely consistent precision, accuracy and stability. The finely textured surface consists of tens of thousands of light reflecting microscopic points, optimized to enhance the tracking capabilities of next-generation gaming mice. A rubber layer on the back gives the mousepad a steady and firm grip of your desk at all times, so you never have to worry about missing that headshot due to a wobbly surface.

Thanks to the sophisticated tracking capabilities of the surface, the user is capable of performing exceptionally precise mouse operations, both in terms of minimal movements as well as high velocity "slingshots". This gaming surface was researched and developed in parallel with the SteelSeries Xai Laser Mouse to ensure that advanced high definition mice fully benefit from this surface.

SteelSeries NP+

The SteelSeries NP+ is unlike any other mousepad that SteelSeries offers. Its pressure compressed fibers offer extreme durability, making its surface resistant to water and most stains. The SteelSeries NP+ is targeted for gamers that prefer a medium to rough glide and higher level of mouse to surface friction.

Regardless of their preference, users can effectively operate any optical or laser mouse on the SteelSeries NP+. Its extra large size and non-slip rubber base provides a firm grip and prevents the pad from sliding no matter what surface the SteelSeries NP+ is placed on.

SteelSeries S&S and S&S Solo

This mouse pad offers unprecedented control and accuracy allowing the user to perform minimal and extremely precise movements. The surface is made of specially responsive plastic compound and the back side features small soft rubber elements offering non-slip steadiness. The highly durable surface obtains increasing durability and offers a consistent glide experience that will even improve over time. The SteelSeries S&S comes with a protective sleeve to protect the mouse pad during transportation to and from LAN-events, while the Solo comes without the protective sleeve.

SteelSeries SX

SteelSeries SX offers a truly unique and smooth gliding experience. The surface is amazingly responsive and precise thanks to fiber polished aluminum and anodized oxide coating. The surface is quiet to use thanks to a rubber base which absorbs noise and vibrations and is optimized for both optical and laser mice technologies. During development and testing the professional Counter-Strike players in Team NoA described SteelSeries SX as "the purest form of glide in the world".

SteelSeries QcK Series

The SteelSeries QcK is a dream of a mouse pad for every gamer that prefers cloth surfaces. This mouse pad went through extensive testing by gaming professionals before its release and with their feedback, the SteelSeries QcK was further developed to make it the ultimate cloth pad every gamer desired. With the use of high quality cloth material, an optimized texture which guarantees both smoothness and glide and a specially designed non-slip rubber base this mouse pad blows away the competition and is a great choice not only for the hardcore gamer but also for graphic designers and others who use their mouse for extended periods of time. The SteelSeries QcK is compatible with all types of mice and is ideal for starters because of its great value for the money.

What's in the Box

SteelSeries gaming mousepad and cleaning cloth.

What Critics Are Saying About the SteelSeries Gaming Mouse Pads

"The 9HD is an excellent product that deserves a place on any gamer's desk. Those who haven't used a mouse mat for years may shirk at the cost, but for the rest of us, this should help step up your game." Score: 9/10
--CNet.com (Editor's Choice)

"The SteelPad S&S Mousing Surface is a great choice for gamers and non-gamers alike, it offers excellent tracking, easy gliding and a thin profile that won't stress your wrist after long periods of use."
--DragonSteelMods.com

"This mat performs really good under any given circumstances. Both when it comes to control, precision, and tracking. In other words the surface featured on the SX has a lot of excellent qualities. I think that the combination of a really fine grained surface with above average gliding performance makes it a really good mat for most gamers."
--TechPowerUp.com ("Recommended" review)

Which SteelSeries Gaming Mousepad is Right for You?
						QCK Series
	9HD	4HD	SX	S&S	NP+	QCK mini	QCK	QCK Heavy	QCK+
Comfortability
Material	Plastic	Plastic	Aluminum	Plastic	Cloth	Cloth	Cloth	Cloth	Cloth
Roughness
Friction
Size/Lowsens
Durability
Stability on Table
Looks
Waterproof

Product Description

SteelSeries SX offers a truly unique and smooth gliding experience. The surface is amazingly responsive and precise thanks to fiber polished aluminum and anodized oxide coating. The surface is quiet to use thanks to a rubber base which absorbs noise and vibrations and is optimized for both optical and laser mice technologies. During development and testing, the professional Counter-Strike players in Team NoA described SteelSeries SX as "the purest form of glide in the world".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very smooth, February 19, 2009

By 

Gabriel Fernandez (Pewaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SteelSeries SX Gaming Mouse Pad (Black) (Personal Computers)

Packaging:
The pad is covered by a plastic clamshell, which comes inside a very stylish cardboard sleeve that bares just enough of the clamshell to show you the pad itself.
Either Amazon packaging, storage or delivery is a problem because the pad did not lie completely flat on the table. I am talking about a 2 mm offset on the upper right corner. With careful manipulation, you can get it flat again, but I am surprised that even with the nice packaging from SteelSeries, the metal pad is still susceptible to slight bends.
Included in the package you will receive a set of Glide MS mouse feet, a steel series catalogue, a pamphlet about SteelSeries Security and an oily cloth to help keep your pad clean and smooth. The mouse feet are a nice addition if you want to go the extra mile to get the maximum smooth glide.

Size:
The SX is not a large mouse pad, but it is bigger than any of the freebies you get from trade shows or bundled with games like WoW. I would say it's basically your average size now, i.e., approximately 12"x10".

Product Finish:
If you look close enough, you can see the anodized fiber polished finish. You will notice right away that the finish easily accumulates dust, dirt, fingerprints and the like especially moisture created marks such as sweat. These, however, can be cleaned up very easily with the supplied oily cloth or any water based cleaner if you don't really want to add more glide (I used the Monster cleaner for screens with their supplied blue cloth).
Scratches aren't a prominent problem, but the SteelSeries SX is quite vulnerable to permanent surface marks if you are going to travel with it (not a problem for me, but likely an issue for gamers).
The underside of the SX, and in many regards one of the most crucial parts of any mouse pad, is your basic rubber pad that can be found on the bottom of most cloth mouse pads. Since the aluminum construction of the SX is completely rigid, it stands to reason that any frictional force inherited by the mouse pad from the mouse would be transferred directly to this rubber subsurface with a greater magnitude than that of cloth pads. Cloth pads can be skewed horizontally from top to bottom, meaning some of the frictional force is transferred into that motion, making it easier for the underside to grip the desk, table, or what have you. This whole concept here is rendered irrelevant, however, because there is so little friction on the SX. I did notice that the grip was better over flat smooth surfaces (e.g., glass, aluminum) than it was over faux wooden finish because of the irregularity of the surface. In general, due to the little friction, the grip to the desk is very firm and it won't be compromised unless you are actually trying to push the pad off the desk.

Performance:
I have used this pad with the Logitech MX Revolution and Ikari Laser mice over a period of about a month and I cannot find any faults with it. From web browsing to graphics work to games this is the best mouse pad I have ever had the pleasure of using. The surface is "really, really smooth" as stated in the specifications.
Note: The Ikari Laser mouse was set to Low: 800 CPI and High: 1600 CPI. Any CPI setting higher than 1600 was too erratic for me for precise and slow movements.
It does take some getting used to if you are switching from nothing or a very bad pad. I tended to overcompensate a lot at first seeing as I'm used to a little more resistance in my mouse pad. However, I noticed that when you put pressure on the mouse you get more resistance thanks to the texture of the pad. This is very useful for those of you who like detailed graphics work or sniping in a game. After a few minutes however I quickly got used to it.

Durability:
Not once did I think about the quality of the surface degrading, nor did I encounter any defects in the surface. This is an inherent advantage of using a comparably strong material like aluminum instead of the plastic that is found on virtually all hard pads. Defects in stronger materials are far less frequent, and the chance of them becoming deformed is also greatly reduced. I would also attribute the flatness of the SX to the uniformly distributed rubber backing, which does not allow bowing of any sort, except for the initial problem I mentioned above.
If you use mice with Teflon feet/skates, you will be happy to know that the wear on the skates after normal everyday use is very low.

Comfort:
This mat is quite easy on the wrist. All the edges on the SX are filed down and are grate free, which means that you won't hurt your wrist on minor imperfections in the mat.
Since the mat is made of aluminum it feels quite cold. On of the problems that I've experienced with this mat is that after using it for a while, a little moisture builds up where you keep your hand most of the time. This is due to the fact that the aluminum dissipates the heat that you generate and therefore the temperature difference between you and the mat is so high that the water in the air condensates on the cold side. This isn't a major problem in my case because my room temperature is warm and the mat is easy to clean. But if you like your room cool this could evolve into a serious issue because the bigger the temperature difference is, the more condensation will form.
Note: The is mostly an issue for people who like to rest their hand or pinky finger on the mat (a.k.a. claw grip). If you move your hand around with the mouse, this may not be a problem for you.
Something else I noted is that the surface is noisier that cloth or plastic surfaces due to the harder surface. In fact, it becomes quite loud to use when there is a little bit of dirt or dust on it. Of course it easy to clean so this isn't a real problem, but still something you should consider if you are looking for a quiet surface. This is not it.

Price:
At the time of this review, the full price for this mouse pad is USD 59.99, but you can get it for anything between $40.00 and $50.00. If you use your computer a lot and you have already invested more than $50.00 in the mouse, then the price of this mat is reasonable and offers great value.
If you still think the price is too high, then you should look into the SteelSeries S&S, which, to me, is the next best mouse pad.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Pad, not so amazing packaging., January 23, 2009

By 

Despair (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SteelSeries SX Gaming Mouse Pad (Black) (Personal Computers)

Pros: Most amazing mousepad I have ever owned. I do heavy FPS gaming and have previously owned a Q-Pad XTR, a Razer Destructor, and an I-2 Icemat (which I still use on my 2nd rig). The tracking on this Steelseries SX is very very smooth as they mention, and it's not so slick that you lose out on precision or control but feels like a balance between the two. I'm a low sensitivity user and coming from using the Destructor before which wore out quite quickly with my G9 mouse I can tell this pad will last a long while. The coating on top of the aluminum surface wears off sort of quickly but the cloth provided with the pad can easily resurface the pad. However if you want as someone mentioned you can just let it wear off and have a consistent yet not as fast of a glide but still smooth. Just be sure your mouse is equipped with some relatively new feet or aftermarket. Just got it today, and love it so far.

Cons: None really with the pad, just takes getting used to a bit. The REAL CON I have is with the packaging done either by Steelseries themselves or Amazon. When I first put the pad on my completely flat desk I noticed the bottom left and top right corners where not laying flat whatsoever. Upon picking up the pad and inspecting it closer I noticed that the sturdy aluminum had actually been bent! In disbelief of spending this much money on a mouse pad I did not want to deal with the hassle of returning it, purchasing a new one, waiting, etc. So I carefully began to attempt bending it back to it's manufactured state. It took about 30-40 minutes of careful rotating and bending sections of the pad to finally achieve it's normal shape. Once it laid flat with all four corners on the desk, and double checking the middle to be sure no lifts or other bends were in the pad I was satisfied.

Whoever packaged this expensive item needs to be fired and/or slapped. Wtf are people so careless nowadays? Yeah, cause it's not theirs. VERY disappointed with the packaging done prior to shipping. I think it's utter bull that something cannot simply be replaced because of a packaging error, and that you must send it back to them, wait 3-5 days for a refund, then hopefully the same item is still in stock and at the same price to repurchase and then wait again for the time of processing/shipping. Fortunately I was able to mend it on my own.

Again, amazing product as the durability and performance on this pad is unmatched thus far even by glass pads. Please in the future work on more reliable packaging in the future. Thanks.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality mousepad, but expensive, December 10, 2009

By 

W. Horng (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SteelSeries SX Gaming Mouse Pad (Black) (Personal Computers)

This is a great mouse pad which I have owned since late May 2009.
But before I write down what I like and do no like I wanted to say most of the low reviews are ignorant reviewers, and does not warrant those reviews.

The SteelSeries SX mouse pad, which I will address as SX from now on, requires a break in period.
At first the grinding feel and noise bugged me too which prompted me to thoroughly clean the SX and my Logitech G5 mouse over and over again.
Unfortunately that did not fix the issue. Even using the mouse skates and lubricant did not completely eliminate the problem. The grinding only went away after a certain break in period.
Throughout the breaking in period you will notice a decrease in grinding, friction, and noise.
The grinding feeling and noise, and the unhappiness with friction can be found in most of the negative reviews...

The included mouse skates are not needed if you already have a relatively new mouse with good feet.
For me I picked up a new Cyber Snipa mouse (soon after the SX purchase) and it glided slightly better than my old Logitech G5. As stated above, I had the SX since May 2009 and my Cyber Snipa's feet are not worn at all.
Most importantly there is absolutely no wear on the mouse pad itself!

Many users cite the erratic or impossible use of their optical mouse on the SX. The reason is that particular optical mouse uses older sensors and thus cannot be used on the SX surface.
Honestly, there is no reason to pick up one of the most expensive mouse pads for a low end non gaming optical mouse.

What I like about this mouse pad:
-It is large (almost too big)
-The surface is extremely durable and has an excellent "glide". It is far more durable than the hard plastic mouse pads.
I did not realize why it was more difficult for me to aim (jitters), but once I finally realized it was due to the wear in my Func surface mouse pad I immediately did some mouse pad research.
I am absolutely not going back to a hard plastic mouse pad that can wear out fast. Spend $X now for a SX instead of buying hard plastic mouse pads over and over again.
-Easy to clean as opposed to cloth mouse pads

What I do not like about this mouse pad:
-If you get a small spec of "crap" (crumbs) it can cause a grinding feel and noise. The SX is more sensitive than other mouse pads.
-It is not bendable. This makes it less than idea to carry with you and if it bends it will be tough to flatten it.
-It is taller than other mouse pads making it less comfortable (more strain)
-Can get cold and frequently has condensation (properties of aluminum)
-SteelSeries does not mention a break in period is required. It would save them money due to returns and also prevent customer headaches.

The bottom line:
Superb mouse pad for gamers or non gamers who want extremely durable and low friction characteristics.
However a break in period is needed to obtain that low friction glide and quieter experience.