HyperX Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse Review

If you're a first person shooter kind of gamer, you ought to spend some time checking out HyperX's new Pulsefire FPS gaming mouse.

Published
Updated
Manufacturer: HyperX
14 minutes & 21 seconds read time
TweakTown's Rating: 89%
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The Bottom Line

HyperX's Pulsefire FPS is a great solution for serious FPS gamers! While we thoroughly enjoyed using this mouse, its limitations might be a downfall for some. If you favor FPS titles like we do, you definitely want to check it out.

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

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HyperX, which is a division of Kingston for their high-performance division of products. Where Kingston and HyperX are more widely known, it is for their memory, SSDs, USB drives, maybe even headsets, but not all that long ago they jumped into keyboards with the release of the Alloy FPS. We were pleased with what we found on that device, and with its functionality, while driver-less are why we awarded it so highly, that and the affordability. This is not much to build an opinion of, as we have only tested one kit of RAM and a single keyboard thus far, but we have used HyperX products in the past, without much to discuss where issues or dysfunctionality are concerned.

If you are part of the e-Sports scene, it is highly likely that you have seen some HyperX logos on players' jerseys. This is because HyperX has been a longtime supporter of professional gaming, but up until now, had not had the ability to deliver all of the most important aspects of professional gaming, such as the matched set of peripherals. HyperX has had headsets for a while, and even a mouse pad or two, but since they took the leap into keyboards, it only makes sense for them to complete the set, and jump into mice production as well.

This is why we have you all reading this today, as HyperX releases the Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse to the masses. To get to this step, HyperX worked in conjunction with professional eSports players, and developed a product that should be the culmination of everything good in mice, all wrapped up in one single device. Many factors about the new mouse will bring many to the table throwing money at HyperX, as this product is designed with all aspects of the professional gamer's life in mind. Everything from the shape, the grip, the styling, fancy LED lights, even the fact that there are no drivers to slow you down, for those wanting a great product without all the bloat, you may want to look to HyperX to fill that need.

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The Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse is for right-hand users only, everything about it is black, and it is comprised of a plastic shell with rubber grips on either side. Dimensionally, the mouse is 127.54mm from front to back, it is 41.91mm tall at the highest point, and sits 71.07mm in width. The Pulsefire is based around the PixArt PMW3310 optical sensor for crisp and concise movement. There are four DPI levels set to the device, allowing the selection of 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 DPI. The PMW3310 can read movements as fast as 130 inches per second, and with forces as high as 30 G's. This mouse from HyperX delivers six buttons, the two main buttons being Omron switch backed, while secondary buttons are backed with Kailh switches. As for the Omron switches, they will deliver a twenty million click lifespan.

There is backlighting, found in the scroll wheel as well as under the logo on the heel, and are lit with red LEDs. The DPI selector button is also backlit, where the 400 DPI selection is lit white, 800 is red, 1600 is blue, and 3200 is yellow. The Pulsefire is powered via a red and black braided USB 2.0 cable, and is set by default to poll for motion or clicks at 1000Hz. The coefficient of friction is listed where the force required to move the mouse while on the move is slightly less than that needed to move it from a resting state. The Pulsefire weighs in at just 95 grams, but including the cable, the entire thing is 120 grams in weight. Speaking of the cable, it is 1.8 meters in length, and terminates in a connector with the HyperX logo in it, and does not opt for a gold-plated connection.

At this time, while we write this review, there are listings for this device, even slightly ahead of its release to the world. You can already see the product page at HyperX Gaming, where the features and MSRP are shown, but at this time there are no specifications offered. We also see that Amazon and Newegg have listings, but Newegg shows theirs as Out of Stock, while Amazon sticks to the $49.99 MSRP set forth by HyperX. With what we know of this gaming mouse so far, we can say that on paper as well as when it comes to the lack of a dent put into your bank account, HyperX and the Pulsefire FPS are off to a terrific start.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation

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On a matte black panel, we see a bit of mist or smoke behind the red highlighted image of the Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse. The names can be found near the top, and we also see the fact that the mouse is built upon a precise optical sensor which is designed for First Person Shooters. At the bottom, we see the Pulsefire is the official mouse of Souris and the Intel Extreme Masters ESL.

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One of the thin panels offers the name at the top again, but this time the bulk of the panel is used to display features. Here we see mentions of the four preset DPI levels, use of the PMW3310 sensor, Omron switches, that it has a comfortable and ergonomic design, and that it is lightweight. At the bottom, this time, we see that all you need to run this mouse is a free USB port and Windows 7, 8 or 10.

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The back follows what was found on the front as far as the background is concerned. Next to an image of the Pulsefire FPS, HyperX shows us that the mouse and some literature are found inside. At the bottom of the panel, we see that there is free tech support for this devices, it is covered with a two-year warranty, and we can also see the HX-MC001A/AM model number.

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The last panel on the exterior packaging is what we see here. The HyperX name is at the top, there is a view of the left side of the Pulsefire FPS, and the address to look this product up is located at the bottom.

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After cutting a seal, and then sliding the outer sleeve off of the box, this is what we see first. There is a HyperX logo atop a textured black box, which has a bright red stripe around three of the sides of it. You will also need to break the second seal before being able to open this part of the box.

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Once the top is lifted, the Pulsefire FPS is on full display. There is plenty of room in the top part of the box as not to rub the mouse, and it is sturdy enough to provide protection when in transit. The mouse is pressed into a plastic tray where the bumps on either side help to lock it into the tray. Lifting the mouse and the tray out is how you gain access to the paperwork and cable.

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HyperX sends along a quick start guide that shows you how to connect the mouse to the PC and then goes on to display all of the buttons and what their function is. Another card is included as well, and it congratulates the owner for joining the HyperX team and a description of what to expect spending time with the Pulsefire FPS.

HyperX Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse

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The left side of the Pulsefire FPS shows off its egg-like shape, and we see a lot of flat black plastic. There are a pair of buttons on this side of the mouse, surrounded by a large rubber grip, which has a pattern applied to it to ensure grip even in the most heated of situations.

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The heel of the Pulsefire FPS is well rounded and has the HyperX logo placed near the bottom. We also like the curves of the body lines which separates the sides from the larger center section and smaller plate where the backlit logo is found.

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The right side of the Pulsefire FPS sits much lower than the left increasing its ergonomic form, and we see no buttons, as this is not an ambidextrous design. HyperX did take the time to add another grip to the right side, using the same pattern we saw on the other side, just this time a bit smaller, filling the area where the ring and pinky fingers rest.

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From the front of the mouse, we find a design that is very Razer-esque in shape, but many successful mice share the open center and concave button styling. The cable leaves the mouse from the center, and the nose of the Pulsefire FPS has been blunted.

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The scroll wheel has a black center, a red trim ring around both sides, and an easy to grip rubberized center that runs around the wheel. Further back on top of the mouse, we see the DPI selector button with an opaque section in it to be backlit to denote which of the four stages is in use.

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What helps HyperX reduce the coefficient of friction it that two large feet allow this mouse to glide on the mouse pad. The eye of the sensor is set a bit forward from center but leaves room below it for the large product sticker showing electrical specifications and the model and serial numbers.

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There are 1.8memters of this red and black braided cable coming from the Pulsefire. Sadly we do not see an inline choke, nor do we see a hook and loop strap to contain the wire, but we do find a connector with the HyperX name on it and a standard USB 2.0 connection.

Inside the Pulsefire FPS

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The feet need to be removed to tear this mouse down, and a special foam tape is used, so it splits and is not reusable, so do this at your own risk. After removing four screws, we find that the top half comes off with nothing tied to the lower section. On the bottom section is a two-layer PCB design, and no extra weights are present.

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An Omron white switch us found under the left click button, and by now we all know how they feel and what they sound like. Rather than the usual suspects, HyperX opts for the D2FC-F-7N(20M) version that boasts a twenty million click life.

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Backing the page forward and page back buttons on the left side of the Pulsefire FPS, we find a pair of red Kailh switches. These require similar force to the Omron switches, and also have a similar report when actuated.

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The light green or yellow Kailh switch seen here is what we find under the DPI selector button. This requires much less force than the previous two switches, and the report is quieter with a more hollow sound to it.

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After removing the upper PCB, we could gain a view of the optical sensor used. The paint on the sensor is faint, and it took a magnifying glass to make out for certain that this is indeed the PixArt PWM3310.

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Making our way back to the front, this time on the right side, we see the second Omron twenty million click switch. Behind it is a pad style switch with a brown plunger for the scroll wheel, and is relatively soft and makes almost no noise when pressed.

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Plugged in and ready to test, the HyperX Pulsefire FPS comes to life with the glow of red under all of the LED zones for the time being. The red accent on the scroll wheel is backlit and is bright, as is the HyperX name on the heel. The DPI selector LED is dim, but will show three other colors dependent on the DPI level in use.

HyperX FURY S Pro Gaming Mouse Pad

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HyperX also sent along the HyperX FURY S Pro Gaming Mouse Pad for us to test the Pulsefire FPS on. This is the largest of four versions, where it arrives 900mm wide and 420mm deep. We also see mentions of the seamless anti-fray stitching, the superior fabric was chosen for optimal precision, its comfort and stability, and can be easily rolled up to go anywhere you take the mouse.

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On the back, we find out that the mouse pad is 4mm thick, and it too comes with a two-year warranty and free tech support. While they may be upside down, on the side, we do see the logos of Intel Extreme Masters ESL, SK Gaming, ECHO FOX, and NRG, which are teams which HyperX supports.

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The cloth chosen for the top of the mouse pad is a fine weave of nylon which leaves raised bumps with shallow valleys between the weaves. The colors applied to the fabric are thin enough that they do not change the ability of the sensor to read over them.

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Many know by now that foam pads tend to lift around the edges, and while many will thermally seal the edges, we know that doesn't work out long term either. HyperX chose to encase the sides in what looks like yarn, and that has been heavily stitched to the foam and cloth, ensuring the edges will always stay together.

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This is the first time we have ever seen a pad that looked like this under it. Most use the foam and pattern it, but in the FURY S, there is a mesh of thin stands which are weaved around egg-shaped rubber sections to make certain that this huge mouse pad will not move around under the mouse.

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Both so we could view the entire mouse pad, as well as adding perspective to the enormity of the FURY S, we placed the mouse in the center and snapped this image. With a lower DPI, we need lots of room, and users would have no issues supporting both the mouse as well as the keyboard on top of it. At this time, we do not know the cost, but its predecessor the Fury Pro, in this size, is roughly $34.

Gaming and General Impressions

DOOM & Battlefield 1

We have not had the Pulsefire FPS all that long, but it has opened our eyes a bit when it comes to professional gamers. HyperX claims that most of the eSports competitors use mice with one of the four DPI levels that this mouse offers. While the accuracy in both DOOM and Battlefield 1 went up, we realized just how much lifting is going on in the professional realm. While we had no issues with the polling rate or limitations imposed with customization for our games, we are happy to see that HyperX set the LOD nearly perfect. Only in a few instances did the crosshairs wander when we had to lift this Pulsefire FPS, and as much as we had to lift it during gameplay, we feel that you will never find yourself chasing the cursor to keep locked onto your opponents.

This also brings up the grips on the sides. As the weather is starting to get warmer, we tend to sweat more after a few hours killing things, and not once did we lose our grip on the mouse, but there is a slight downside. While the grip is superior to many we have seen before; the rubber is so soft, that anything that touches it will leave a print, and one could end up spending too much time having to clean them after gross things like dead skin and leftover Cheetos bits end up embedded in the grips. This design is also good for those with medium to large hands, and those who use a relaxed or fingertip grip will find the Pulsefire to be a near natural fit from the moment you plug it in.

Windows and Productivity

Using the Pulsefire in a browsing sense, we only have an issue with the scroll wheel. While it is built for gaming and is highly segmented, it does not free-wheel as easy as some of the others. On long pages of text or viewing PDFs, we did have to scroll what seemed like more than usual. While many use games to test things like angle snapping, we prefer to use PhotoShop for this, as we are looking for the mouse to do exactly what we need it to.

We found that with many images being edited, the cursor followed our movements to the slightest jiggle, and simplifies life due to the lack of acceleration. The shape is comfortable and easy to associate your right hand in the dark, and the LEDs, while stuck to red only, is pleasing to look at when you are typing away.

Final Thoughts

We get the whole idea of what HyperX is trying to do with the Pulsefire FPS, and we feel that they delivered in almost every aspect. They have limited themselves to doing one thing, but doing that one thing very well. HyperX wanted a comfortable mouse that is highly precise wanted to ensure no matter how long you had to use it you would never lose your grip and to make a mouse that was light and easy to slide around on whatever the surface may be. We feel they hit the nail on the head with all of these aspects and are now able to support teams with the full accouterment of gear to practice with and hopefully win at the tournaments. This is the same for the average Joe too. Since this is available off the shelf, it can improve gaming for not just eSports legends, but the average player like us, who will likely never see the big stage or prize money.

Two things are minimal to some, but we feel they need to be discussed. We get the fact that many users do not need software, but we do know of competing mice at this price range which does offer more features due to the inclusion if a UI. This has us looking at the Pulsefire FPS with harsher glasses on, as we then look at everything to see what else they may have missed. With professional gamers, and the fact they use top-tier PCs to play on, latency is less of an issue, but we do feel noise might be with so many similar devices talking so much at the same time. We do think the Pulsefire could benefit from an inline choke, and we know it could have used a hook and loop strap for the cable. As we said, these are no deal killer points we are making, but looking at the bigger picture of options for this amount of money, the Pulsefire FPS does have some stiff competition. That being said, for what the Pulsefire FPS is, and what features and comfort levels it does offer, it does all of them very well with no problems to be had.

We still feel that HyperX lead off with the right foot and has stepped onto the scene with an admirable product. Geared to professional gamers, built in cooperation with them, and designed for comfort, grip, accuracy, to be lightweight, and near effortless to use, HyperX delivers in spades on all of these points. If you are the type of player that would rather have a product designed for one specific task, raising your standings in any FPS you play, the Pulsefire FPS is a solid choice to make. If you are the type that likes to fiddle around in software, add Macros, have RGB lighting, the bloat associated with many products outside of these aspects, then the Pulsefire FPS is not for you. For the serious gamers out there, professional or not, the Pulsefire FPS Gaming Mouse is a pleasure to use, and we recommend it for anyone who is serious about First Person Shooter titles.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

TweakTown award
Performance 95%
Quality 97%
Features 80%
Value 85%
Overall 89%

The Bottom Line: HyperX's Pulsefire FPS is a great solution for serious FPS gamers! While we thoroughly enjoyed using this mouse, its limitations might be a downfall for some. If you favor FPS titles like we do, you definitely want to check it out.

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Chad joined the TweakTown team in 2009 and has since reviewed 100s of new techy items. After a year of gaming, Chad caught the OC bug. With overclocking comes the need for better cooling, and Chad has had many air and water setups. With a few years of abusing computer parts, he decided to take his chances and try to get a review job. As an avid overclocker, Chad is always looking for the next leg up in RAM and coolers.

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