Need a new mousepad

I'm looking for a new mousepad to replace my Razer eXactMat. It's an excellent surface (well, two excellent surfaces technically ), but lately I've been using lower and lower sensitivity settings for all of my games. Between my display resolution, mouse DPI and sensitivity, I complete a 360-degree turn in most games in about 10 inches, and the eXactMat just doesn't have the surface area to accommodate that sort of motion.

My eXactMat measures about 13 inches across by 10 inches deep. The depth is more or less just fine; I don't aim up and down nearly to the same degree that I do left and right, so the width is really the issue. I'm looking for something at least 18 inches wide, and more is always welcome.

The problem is, I'd really prefer a hard mat. I love the surface of my eXactMat; specifically, the Speed side. It's so perfectly smooth and my Mamba just glides over it with no effort. Unfortunately, the only pads I've been seeing in large dimensions like that are soft mats.

The three pads I'm currently looking at are the Razer Goliathus extra-large size, the SteelSeries QcK+ or QcK Heavy, and the Func Industries F-series.

The extra-large Goliathus measures about 17 inches by 14 inches, and is available in both Speed and Control versions, depending on preference. If I go with this, I'd get the Speed surface. Razer is also claiming that they've recently re-designed the Goliathus series with new stitching methods to prevent fraying at the edges, which sounds promising.

As for the QcK series, as far as I know, there's only one surface texture available, and I don't know what it's like. On the upside, the QcK+ is cheaper than the Goliathus, and the QcK Heavy is the same price. They're about 17 inches by 15 inches, so the size is comparable. The main difference is that the Heavy is much thicker, at about a quarter of an inch, compared to the QcK+ at less than a tenth of an inch.

The Func F-series' larger model is about 17 inches by 11 inches, and comes in both smooth and rough varieties, much like the Goliathus, and is the exact same price. The main drawback is that their online store seems to be down

So, if anyone has any other recommendations for a mouse pad that large, preferably of the hard variety, I would greatly appreciate it. If I have to choose between these, any insight would also be great.

 

I ended up going with the Goliathus Alpha Speed version; I got it $5 off at Amazon with free Prime 2-day shipping.

I guess this thread can be closed now, unless someone wants to discuss mouse pads

 

I have the razer Death Adder and coudlnt be happier, comes with its own carrying case and everything..mat is definitly hard liek your looking for, doesnt bend or anything its reinforced with rubber padding on the bottom

 

The DeathAdder is a mouse...based on the description, I assume you're talking about the Destructor

I've heard it's got a good surface, but it's not significantly larger than my eXactMat.

 

Hope you enjoy your Goliathus Never really liked the QcK, which is why I gave mine to Baka

 

I hope I like it too, or else that was a waste of $20

 

It will be hard to switch from a hard mousepad to a soft one. I speak from experience, and exactly the same as you, i used an exactmat, then i wanted something larger so i got a Goliathus speed extended edition, after trying it out for 2 weeks i went back to my exactmat, i just placed it on top of the goliathus.

 

Hopefully I don't have trouble adjusting to the surface...the main issue here is surface area. The eXactMat's texture is perfect for me; I just wish it were twice its size.

 

Yea, its strange no one makes an oversized hard gaming mousepad, i could use one and so would many low sensitivity gamers.

 

nice purchase never used one in person so can't comment on the surface texture. Gotta love Amazon and prime 2-day shipping

Since you always help me out I gotta put in my .02 too!

OCZ Behemouth

15x10 a little bit smaller than the 17 inchers you're looking for. But, can't complain; the G700 is smooth as a properly detailed car with wax followed by a clear coat, then a polish coat and a finishing coat. not joking.

Not sure which razer pad my brother has, but man the texture is just so... "fibrous"? Just isn't smooth. But I know Razer has "a lot" of different pads.

Hopefully you like it! What mouse are you daily using now? Still the DA? Mamba?

 

Yeah, I love Prime. My free year runs out pretty soon...but I have like three other .edu email addresses I can use

Not a bad price at all, looks like a good surface...although $6 shipping kinda kills the "bargain" aspect Good to hear you're enjoying your G700 though. I haven't had the pleasure of trying one, but I hear it's just top-notch.

Hmm, sounds like a control-type surface. If it's a soft pad, maybe the Goliathus Control edition?

I hope so too

I'm still using the Mamba and couldn't be happier with it. For a $70 refurbished mouse from a Woot one-day deal, this thing's still going strong, knock on wood. Apart from the lack of fancy packaging (it came in bubble wrap in a cardboard box, not the usual display case retail packaging), I couldn't tell it apart from a brand new one.

Both DeathAdders are still doing fine as well, although not with me. I gave the 2007 1,800 DPI one to my ex-girlfriend when she started to play TF2 with me, and she says she still uses it. The 3,500 DPI model is under the care of a friend of mine from West Virginia; I mailed it to him to replace his dying G5.

 

haha dang very nice, not sure what to do now since I graduated this spring. We'll see how long until my school does something with my email. Hopefully it lasts until July; that's when I signed up for the student prime when I ordered that orochi.

Yeah, ugh newegg and that shipping cost oh well =\

G700, man.. you know how much I rave about it haha it definitely is. Keep that on the back burner if you need a new mouse!

After mentioning it, you are correct. It is the Goliathus. ughh just don't like that textured feeling. It's so rough.

I remember about you telling me that you snatched the mamba for that cheap when I was deciding to try the orochi last summer. Such a steal man, that's where Razer gets you. It's all in that packaging, seriously. All you need is a basic box, some logos here and there

Nice man right here, giving away your DA's

Let us know how it works out! I'm starting to think about moving up to the 17 inchers now since I'll be moving back home and using my big desk. When playing BFBC2 I noticed I get really close, sometimes rimming the edges. Might be time to take it up a notch to 17" soon for BF3

 

If it's anything like any of the schools I've gone to, it's probably still going to be there. The first college I went to, I only attended for two quarters, from September of 2008 to March of 2009. That email still works

I'll be sure to post about it as soon as it gets here, which should be today, according to the tracking thing I just checked.

Well that's a pleasant surprise...when I placed the order, it estimated delivery on Saturday the 4th. Now it says it's already in Columbus, about 2 hours south of here, due for delivery today. Not bad I can honestly say I've never had anything arrive before the original estimated date

 

Woot! Got to love that feeling, it's just like christmas every time you receive something

What I like about amazon's prime shipping, they're actually smart about it. A lot of times if the shipping cost is roughly the same between the 2 day and next day; they'll just send it next day air saver (by end of day). Happened numerous of times, unless the warehouse where it's shipped from is closer to me; love getting things earlier!

 

yep Amazon prime is awesome. Even better is that same-day shipping is the same price as next-day shipping.

Gotta suck to live in a state that's trying to tax Amazon though...feel bad for all those residents

 

Woohoo, the package got here even earlier than expected (estimated 7pm or later, it showed up around 1:30)



I've heard complaints about Amazon's packaging before, but honestly, I don't think they physically could have done a better job with this; the box it came in was stuffed full of air pillows so that the actual mousepad box was literally suspended in the middle of the package, surrounded by pillows on all sides.

I put my old eXactMat on top of the Goliathus for a size comparison. As you can see, the Goliathus is much larger; exactly what I was looking for.



This thing absolutely dwarfs my keyboard when next to it; I can actually fit the entirety of my keyboard on the pad.





As for the quality of the pad, it seems pretty good, although an hour isn't necessarily a good indicator of how it will hold up in the future. It took me a minute to flatten out the edges at first when I placed it on my desk, but since then it's been lying perfectly flat all over; no bumps, folds or ridges. The bottom side is non-slip rubber, so it doesn't slide on my smooth wooden desk. It also has Razer's new anti-fray stitching around the edges, and it looks and feels durable.

My Mamba tracks very well on the pad on all parts of it, the plain black areas and the green logo image. It slides very smoothly; if I nudge the Mamba, it slides a few inches with its momentum. Not quite as slick as my eXactMat's Speed side, but I find it agreeable enough. And the extra surface area is absolutely a god-send. I haven't done any gaming yet, but I've already lowered my Windows sensitivity by almost half, since it felt unusually fast with all this mousing area. I'll probably lower my TF2 sensitivity next time I play and give that a try.

Overall, I'd say this was a good use of $20. No tracking issues, good mouse movement, and more than enough surface area for low-sensitivity gaming.

 

I'm pleased to report that my third Razer Ironclad has lasted 2-3 full weeks! That's an amazing lifespan for that product as far as I'm concerned

 

Haha third time's a charm, right?

What was wrong with the first two?

 

The layer of whatever they put on top of the aluminum rubbed off within hours/days of use, making the pad unusable.

 

Nice shroom, that thing is a monster! I think I'm starting to consider a 17" now, dang it you. Can't give up the OCZ right now though, love that thing.

Nice desk looks like a typical dorm desk

gawd that thing is huge, the more I look at it I want to try a 17"

hmm....

Yeah definitely seems like amazon has put more effort in quality control for their packaging; definitely better than how it used to be before.

very nice mouse pad looks like another solid purchase!

 

Yikes >_<

Lol this is my own desk, actually. My desk back when I lived in the dorms was just awful.

I highly recommend a huge pad. I'm enjoying it so far

I'm already starting to use lower sensitivity; I bumped my DPI down to 800 at 1.0 TF2 sensitivity; that's about 20 inches for a 360 degree turn.

 

oops, looks like the desk I had when I was in the dorms last year lol

nice nice as long as you're like it so far! Yeah you got me into it, starting to look at 17 inchers now. man...

 

I've been lowering my sensitivity...currently playing TF2 at 1.0 in-game sensitivity at 800 DPI. That's about 20 inches of motion for a 360 degree turn, which is pretty damn low. And it feels so good on this pad...I have so much room to make those kinds of motions with no trouble, and the level of control I get is just unbelievable.

 

i never thought theres actually a point in lower sensitivity for TF2, i always thought it was played at a higher sensitivity just for more chaos.

 

Lower sensitivity is generally better all-around; with high sensitivity it's easy to overshoot your motions. With lower sensitivity, you have to use greater magnitude of physical motion, which gives you more control and generally makes it easier to aim exactly where you want to. And gameplay really has nothing to do with sensitivity; TF2 is exactly the kind of game it is regardless of your sensitivity.

Besides, TF2 is anything but chaotic. There's a natural order to every aspect of that game, and the way the classes all affect each other. Serious competitive TF2 is some of the most organized gameplay in any comp league.

 

Is there a mousepad that doesn't wear out fast?

 

My eXactMat is about two and a half years old, and both sides are still in great shape.