Cooler Master MasterMouse MM530 Gaming Mouse Review

CoolerMaster MasterMouse MM530 is one of the best gaming mice EVER!

Published
Updated
Manufacturer: Cooler Master
14 minutes & 14 seconds read time
TweakTown's Rating: 99%
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The Bottom Line

We removed points only due to mushy DPI buttons, and the limited LED zones! Outside of that, the MM530 is a superb example of a mouse done right! Dual layer functionality, endless options and customization, all at a great price! Cooler Master certainly delivers the goods!

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

Not too long ago, we had a look at the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520, and all in all, we found the mouse to sufficiently fit the needs of many gamers, but Cooler Master also offers a second variation. The reasoning behind this idea is to provide claw and fingertip grip users a mouse which lends itself to a better feel for to those users. However, there is a third grip style, palm grip, which we believe is more widely used, and in most cases, the shape is a huge factor in whether the mouse is a success or not.

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The mouse which we are about to display today has much of what the MM520 offered, even down to the components used inside. The concept comes from redefining the highly successful CM Storm Mizar mouse, yet at the same time, deliver it with all of the features available today.

It has the lighting; it has software with all the bells and whistles, it is based on an optical sensor which gamers tend to gravitate to, and also comes with 12,000 DPI. The outward appearance is not like that of the MM520, this time we are given a mouse on a diet with an hourglass figure. While very similar to the Mizar, this new version has cosmetic changes too, to go along with the upgrades found under the hood.

Today we will be showing off the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM530 Gaming Mouse. This rugged partner for FPS and RTS games is said to be perfect for the palm gripper. Rubber side grips ensure this mouse is responsive in the most heated of battles and is intended to give users a 1:1 input from the mouse, with no need to tweak the OS sensitivity.

With no lag and zero acceleration, the MM530 looks like the right answer on paper. However, we do like to reserve our opinion until we go through all the paces, but as it sits, Cooler Master seems to be heading in the right direction with the MasterMouse MM530 already.

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The MasterMouse MM530 is also known by its part number, SGM-4007-KLLW1, and as we stated, it is intended for palm grip users, but can also be comfortable for claw grip gamers as well. The MM530 is made of plastic, with rubber side panels, but the plastic used is not ABS, but PBT, which is some of the most robust plastic on the market.

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The only color choice currently is black, and it is designated at M14 black for those particular about which shade of black it is. Also, in two zones on the outside, there are RGB LED options, where one can pick through 16.7 million colors. The cable which attaches it to the PC is rubberized, it is 1.8 meters in length, and includes a gold-plated connection. All told, the MM530 is 60.4mm wide, 40.2mm tall, 124.8mm long, and weighs in at 99 grams without the cable included.

Features found in the MM530 are as follows. It is based on the PixArt 3360 optical sensor, which offers four levels to set the DPI in a range of 100 to 12,000 DPI. Tracking capabilities are quite high with a 250 IPS ability, and at 50 G's no less. Lift Off Distance is set to 2mm as the default, but it is adjustable, and the polling rate is 1ms by default as well. Angle snapping can be addressed in either on or off options, there is no acceleration, and there are five profiles and TactiX to play with as well.

Controlling this beast is a 32bit ARM Cortex-M0 MCU, which also delivers 512 KB of onboard memory to put all of your favorite settings on the mouse and not the hard drive. There are seven buttons in total, and two of them are backed with twenty million click Omron switches. Something else worth noting is that the MM530 is guaranteed for two years against defects.

Pricing can and usually is a significant factor in whether the masses will buy a product, and we feel the Cooler Master has this under control. The MSRP was set to $49.99, and for what you get, we do not think that this is out of line in the slightest. However, as we write this review, we see sales on this mouse across the board.

Considering at this time, at Newegg and Amazon, we are finding the MasterMouse MM530 for the paltry sum of $29.99. At $50 we felt you were getting quite the bang-for-the-buck, but at $30, the MM530 may just be the best mouse money can buy. In what we have seen, and with what we are going to show you, we feel it won't take long for you to come to a similar conclusion.

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

Packaging, Accessories, and Documentation

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On a matte black box, we see the company name and slogan to the left, with a notation to the color options at the right. The middle of the front panel is used for an image of the mouse, while below it, Cooler Master presents the MasterMouse MM539 name and its intended audience.

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The front panel is held closed with Velcro, and after opening it to get a view of the product inside, we also find information on the back of the front panel. Four of the features are listed under the image of the MM530, as well as a description of the idea behind its development.

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On this thin side of the box, we see yet another image of the MasterMouse MM530, but this time we see the product, serial, and UPC numbers, along with the fact that this mouse is made in China.

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The back of the box presents much of what we have already seen at the top. The lower section offers up five features such as the styling, the DPI range, programmability, its rugged quality, and RGB LED illumination. All of which is repeated in seven other languages before we find the addresses for Cooler Master and their site address for support.

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The last of the panels on the exterior of the packaging is used to state two things. In twenty-three languages, we are told that the MasterMouse MM530 is a Gaming Mouse, and where you should go for more information on this product.

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As always, out MasterMouse MM530 is resting between a layer of black and clear plastic. This keeps the mouse in place while in motion, and with the tall edges, ensures the mouse will not be crushed either. This is an excellent solution for inner packaging and leaves the MM530 inside of it in stellar condition.

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Along with the MM530, inside of the box, you will also find the manual. It shows everything from connectivity, to features, and even where to go for the software which accompanies it.

Cooler Master MasterMouse MM530 Gaming Mouse

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Initially, we do see much resemblance to the Mizar. The shape is identical when viewed from the left side, and the pair of buttons are the same as well, where they contrast from shiny to the matte finish of the MM530. The rubberized area is similar to the Mizar, but rather than tiny holed for grip, the MM530 sports a honeycomb pattern.

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Viewing the MM530 from the back, we can see a definite slope to the right side for a more ergonomic grip of the mouse. The Cooler Master name and LED illuminated ring around it sits high on the back of the mouse, and replaces the CM Storm logo found on the Mizar.

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The right side of the MM530 does not offer any buttons on this side, but we do see a large rubber section to ensure that lifting and gripping the mouse is effortless. Just like we saw on the left, the honeycomb pattern is found here as well.

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The front of the MM530 is blunt, with the bottom section angled away from the main PBT buttons on the top. The buttons come together in the middle for a cleaner look, with a defined section in the middle of them.

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Between the pair of large buttons, in the center section, we see the LED backlit, clear rubber, scroll wheel. Behind it, you see a pair of buttons with select DPI levels by default, but as like all the other buttons, they can be reprogrammed.

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The cable starts from the center of the front of the mouse and is 1.8 meters in length. While the cable does not have a braided covering, there is an inline Ferrite choke, and the connection is gold-plated with purple plastic used inside of it.

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To support and allows the mouse to glide on nearly any surface, PTFE feet are used. We do like having two large feet under the MM520, as they snag less and are less of a hassle to clean later in life.

Inside the MM530

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Two screws under the back foot and a pair of tabs at the front are what holds the MM530 together. There is a weight added inside of the mouse, and you also need to mind the short ribbon cable, which connects the top PCB to the main PCB in the lower half of the mouse.

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When adjusting the DPI, you are compressing pad switches which have tall plungers on them. The travel is long, the feel is soft, and there is almost no report from them at all. As for the red Huano switches for the side mouse buttons, they are much crisper in feel, require minimal force to actuate, and the report is audible, but hollow sounding.

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By now we are all familiar with the feel and sound of a white Omron switch, but this one is built to last twenty million clicks. The ALPS switch used for the scroll wheel is segmented, but the action is smoother than many, and the rubber coating ensures you won't miss the right weapon when scrolling with it.

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The sensor is identical to the one we saw in the MM520, and we see no reason to deviate from the PixArt PMW3360DM-T2QU optical sensor. It offers a wide range of DPI, and you will never likely surpass its capabilities to take images and detect movements.

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Holtek is who makes the ARM Cortex-M0 32 bit processor. The HT32F25352 is a capable MCU, and has more than enough power to deliver the feature set, communicate with the PC, and offer up the massive amount of onboard storage.

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Reporting a solid sounding click when used and requiring firm pressure for actuation, there is a brown Kailh switch used for the click feature of the scroll wheel. Used under the right click button, we find the match to the white Omron switch found on the left side.

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Once powered, the light show begins. The ring around the logo on the heel is illuminated, as is the scroll wheel at the front. Both areas are addressable as a group, or can be set individually to nearly any color imaginable.

The Software

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After installing the downloadable software, this s what we find. We are currently in the main control section, where we can address remapping of the mouse, but we also five subsections as well as five profiles we can select across the bottom. Not only can you select the profiles used, but you can also add images 384 by 100 pixels in size to help dress things up in here.

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We see the number six button is pink, which in profile one is always the TactiX button, which allows for dual layers of profile button assignments. In this example, we picked button one, and to the right, we can select from eleven main menus, five of which offer subsection as well. There is a considerable amount of options.

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When it comes to dealing with the TactiX system, there is a tab for that. In this tab, we can now select all of the buttons again, offering now 14 programmable buttons per profile. All of the options we saw previously are available, plus a few like LED mode which we did not see in the first menu for remapping.

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The LED tab is where you can address the lighting. There are seven preset modes to the right, the eighth being the custom mode to address either light on its own. The black box will show custom colors of what is set in the RGB sliders or by what is picked from the gradient chart and rainbow below it. The S slider is so you can also address the speed of the preset modes presentation.

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The optical sensor has its section for control too. You may separate the X and Y axis for the DPI levels, of which there are four which can be set to each profile. The polling rate can be adjusted in four stages, angle tuning is done with a slider, while angle snapping is an on or off affair, and the LOD can be set high or low. There are even buttons to program the use of mouse pads, by selecting CM Storm products, or testing on a new pad.

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OS sensitivity is where you can go to overdrive or underdrive the settings you have applied with the OS sensitivity slider. It is also where double-click speed and button response time is addressed for those looking to get the MM530 to be tuned precisely to your gaming style.

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The Macro manager is what we expect to see. On the left, you can make and name the Macro, even importing pre-existing ones already stored on the PC. The larger window to the right, after clicking start and picking the mode, 1:1, speed mode reduced, or God Mode with zero delays, you may enter the commands, and they will show here. Once completed, you can insert mouse and keyboard functions as well as adding delays where needed.

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Once you have a profile finely tuned precisely as you need it, you can venture into the Library tab. This is where you can store all of your settings. Once they are saved, and there can be a huge list of them, you can select which of the profile files is currently in use, and to which profile you want them to be.

Gaming and General Impressions

DOOM & PUBG

Even without the wing on the right side that the MM520 has, the MM530 is very comfortable to work with. Tracking is smooth, and this can be detected in FPS titles right away. When tracking enemies in PUBG through the 8X scope, we feel we had much more exceptional control, and our kills were increasing. At the same time, when you are whipping around to fight demons from Hell, we always ended up where we expected to be.

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As much as we try, there is just no way for us to game at 12,000 DPI, but we did have 8400 DPI set for a while. Even though PUBG has us wanting to use a lower DPI, we can quickly enough set up a profile for both. That means we can have the gun selection, grenades, and reload, all on the mouse, for DOOM.

With the press of a button, be able to inject med kits, throw grenades, drink some Redbull, look at the menu, swap vies, change the rate of fire, or bring up the MAP and never have to move our left hand from the WASD keys. Cooler Master has what it takes to be competitive in gaming and with as hot as the e-sports segment is, we can see many looking to a mouse such as this to win the tournaments.

Windows and Productivity

In our daily grind, we tend to be highlighting a lot of text documents, and tons of photo editing, along with basic point and shoot activities on the internet. In our time with the MM530, we find it to read the mousepad better than what we saw in the MM520.

All things being the same on the inside, we have to assume that a slight flaw was showing, or the way in which the base is shaped is the deciding factor. Point and click activity is precise, and once used to whatever DPI you are comfortable with, it does become an extension of the right arm and flows naturally across the screen.

In image editing, even when requiring small movements, we find the MM530 to be on point and able to do everything you need, from broad strokes to pinpoint accuracy. The only thing that needs mentioning is that profile one always has button six set to TactiX, so you will have to swap profiles and remap the button to get the page back functionality. Outside of that, we find no reason to pass on such a device.

Final Thoughts

For what it is, the MM530 is a solid gaming mouse that delivers in all relative aspects of gaming, as well as some that are there just to look good. On its own, the MasterMouse 530 is ready and willing to deliver all of the 12,000 DPI with the press of the DPI selector button and is very comfortable to use.

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The ergonomic shape, the rubber side grips, PBT plastic use on the main buttons so that they will wear much slower than almost anything else on the market, these are all great reasons to start looking at the MM530. Keep in mind, that by default, there is acceleration, angle snapping is off, and the polling rate is already set to 1ms. Not only that, but the mouse ships in color cycle mode, which means for many, until the need for customization arises, The MasterMouse MM530 is a damn nice mouse right out of the box.

What puts the cherry on top of the sundae is that there is well-developed software to go along with it. With this software, you can have up to 60 buttons programmed across five profiles, allowing one button for TactiX on each profile, and another button to cycle the profiles. Each profile can have an individual lighting theme to help discern which is currently active, and you can even set custom colors for solid illumination.

The Macro Manager is not the best available but comes a close second, and every bit on the MM530 can be changed, adjusted, or addressed in some form or fashion. No stone was left unturned, and took what was a solid product out of the box, and sends it up to the top contenders of all time. Many try to get to this point, but so far, only ROCCAT comes to mind with a mouse that is similar in capabilities.

If you happen to be able to get the MasterMouse MM530 on sale at $29.99, as we see now, grab it and run to the counter to purchase it or click "buy" on whatever site you see it on. With as minimal as an investment as this is, you will be hard-pressed to find a solution with this ability and customizations offered for that price.

Even if you miss the sales, and see that you have to shell out the asking price set by Cooler Master, the same argument can be made at $50 that we offered for a $30 mouse. Granted the options of mice do increase, but only a select few gaming mice provide dual layer functionality, even fewer offer 512KB of memory, and fewer still will perform on the level that this MM530 allowed us to enjoy thoroughly.

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If the money were coming from our account, we would not balk for even a second to by this. When advising others to get one, there would be even less of a delay recommending the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM530 to any right-hand user who palm grips a mouse and loves to shoot stuff on the PC or have superb accuracy and customizability to improve daily

Chad's Peripherals Test System Specifications

TweakTown award
Performance 100%
Quality 96%
Features 98%
Value 100%
Overall 99%

The Bottom Line: We removed points only due to mushy DPI buttons, and the limited LED zones! Outside of that, the MM530 is a superb example of a mouse done right! Dual layer functionality, endless options and customization, all at a great price! Cooler Master certainly delivers the goods!

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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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