"Good Enough" Mouse?

Right now, I use a standard-sized Ativa (OfficeDepot generic) mouse when I'm at my desk, and a Targus mini mouse for when I'm on the move. I'm tired of using the Ativa since it's not very accurate while playing games, it feels too light-weight for me, and I've used the left-click so much that it is noticeably "mushier" than the right-click. The only good thing about it is that the larger size is comfortable for me, due to my rather large hands.

I would like to replace it with a decent mouse that will last me longer than two years (as long as I've had the Ativa). I don't really need a "gaming mouse" per se, though I'm looking for something that's high quality relative to its price range (I don't want to spend more than $30). Basically, what I'm looking for is this:

-Relatively inexpensive ($30 or less)
-Full-sized (like a desktop mouse, not a travel version)
-Good DPI (nothing crazy like for FPS, but something good for RTS games. Around 1600DPI?)
-Has weight to it (basically, it doesn't feel hallow)
-Optical or Laser
-Doesn't matter if it's wired/wireless. Wireless might be better for the limited desk space I have, though

I've been looking at mice from Microsoft and Logitech, and I like the Logitech MX518 and the Microsoft SideWinder X5. Is there anything else I should know about mice that could help me choose? There's a lot of talk about high-end gaming mice, though I don't see a lot about mid-range mice out there.

Also, does anyone have a Logitech M305 or Razer Abyssus? They look to be a good mouse as well.

 

I have both the Logitech MX518 and Logitech M305.

The Logitech MX518 is one of my favorite gaming mice; I highly recommend it. It's extremely comfortable to use for hours and it's very reponsive in games. It's still $40-50 for most retailers, so that Amazon price is a steal.

The Logitech M305 is a travel mouse and it's smaller than the MX518. However, it's still quite responsive for a wireless mouse and I use it to play FPS games like Counter-Strike: Source and Starcraft 2 on my laptop.

 

The MX518 is a good choice...you might also want to look at the Razer DeathAdder. The current version is 3,500 DPI, which may be a little overkill, but it's still a top-notch mouse, and you can lower the DPI yourself. If you don't want that, you can also find the original DeathAdder which has 1,800 DPI.

 

I probably should mention that I have a "palm grip", as opposed to a "claw grip".

 

The DeathAdder and MX518 are both excellent choices for palm-gripping.

 

What about the Logitech M400? Any thoughts on that?

 

double post

 

From all i have heard the MX518 is the best gaming mouse available, go for that unless you want wireless.