Apparently bored with PC cases and cooling accessories, Cooler Master has decided to branch out into the gaming peripheral market. Their first offering comes in the form of the Sentinel Advance gaming mouse, and ‘gaming grade’ is certainly a fitting title.

The mouse boasts a tracking resolution of up to 5600 Dots Per Inch (DPI), using a twin laser configuration, giving a huge range to play with. In order to configure the DPI settings, Coolmaster recommends multiplying screen resolution by 2.5 – of course, personal preference and play style will be the determining factor for most.

The software package that accompanies the Storm Sentinel is extremely comprehensive, without being overwhelming, giving control over the myriad of customisable options. Everything from X and Y plane DPI settings, to USB report rate can be tweaked. The software even features a ‘driverless-setup’ – one simply copies the files onto a flash drive for using the mouse on a different system.

There are four profiles in which one can configure the eight buttons, and set up to four DPI settings.

A fifth profile disallows reconfiguration of buttons (but still allows DPI changes), probably intended to keep the mouse functioning normally within the operating system.

A feature that will be attractive to those who never leave home without their mouse, is the 64KB of memory on-board, which stores all previously customised profiles.

The mouse has also has a mono OLED display on top which shows off DPI and profile information. If that isn’t enough customisation, each profile can also display a 32×32 pixel image. Clans will love it.

One will have to spend a fair amount of time tweaking all the various settings until they hit the sweet spot, an activity that dedicated gamers are bound to revel in.

The customisable DPI may also appeal to those who work in design programs.

In action, the mouse performs well, with the twin laser technology never missing a beat. The real performance gain comes from devoting some time to tweaking settings to personal preference.

However, the particular product we tested did have some Teflon glide pad trouble – the glue seemed to be coming adrift, and the loose pads hindered movement.
Ergonomically, the Storm Sentinel is quite comfortable. The mouse is sizable enough for those who like to rest their palm on the device while gaming, but not too big so as to be ungainly for those who prefer to manoeuvre using their fingertips. There are five 4.5g weights which can be fitted into the base offering a degree of flexibility between a light or hefty device.

Above the scroll wheel is the button used to change profiles – easily within reach, but not likely to be knocked accidentally. Below the scroll wheel are two buttons typically reserved for on-the-fly DPI adjustment, also well positioned to avoid accidents, but provide quick access.

Above the thumb rest are two buttons (typically of ‘forward’ and ‘back’ Web browser function) which are also easily within reach, but not likely to be clicked accidentally. The scroll wheel feels rather heavy-duty – a firm press is required to depress the wheel, which hopefully means it won’t succumb to constant gaming abuse.

The mouse cable is covered with braided fabric and the USB connector is gold plated, which supposedly ensures the longevity of the connector. The PCI bracket that comes in the package is worth a mention – the bracket allows the mouse cord to be threaded through it before it is affixed to a computer case, acting as a deterrent to criminal elements at LANs.

Aesthetically, the mouse appears rather plain at first glance. The matt black surface is punctuated with a plastic grill which surrounds the OLED on the top. This might be one of the minor points of complaint for the mouse, as the grill surface will likely collect a lot of palm grime and sweat over time.

Once plugged in, the Storm Sentinel comes to life. The reason for the grill becomes apparent – the top and front of the mouse are illuminated with LEDs, customisable to seven different colours. The two LED areas can each display different colours, and there are three different illumination styles to boot.

With a recommended retail price of R699 the Sentinel Stormo competes well with other gaming mice, especially considering the feature rich package. The mouse performs its task with aplomb and a degree of flair that will turn some heads at the next frag-fest.

Pros

Extremely accurate laser sensor; highly customisable; on-board memory; OLED

Cons

Minor glide pad issue

Rating 5/5

Price R699