Just as headphones are your ears when gaming mice and keyboards are your hands and feet. Without your mouse you would not be able to aim, shoot, select, scope and dozens of other actions. Choosing the appropriate mouse is important and unlike in the case of some peripherals, the term “gaming” does make a difference in the world of mice. Basically, gaming mice tend to have higher DPI (Dots per Inch) allowing high velocity movements and immense precision.

Though essential for gaming, gaming mice also tend to cost a few more dollars than your average mouse, at least most people think so, but gaming mice don’t have to be expensive.

New comers, students or others just don’t want to invest $100 for a mouse, and that is reasonable. There are differences as higher end mice use sensors with higher sensitivity and better stability at higher speeds, more buttons, and some other bells and whistles, yet this doesn’t mean a more affordable gaming mouse is necessarily useless.

There are still many great options in the 30$+/- range. These options include some of the biggest names in the gaming industry: Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries and Microsoft. Moreover the majority of these options have proven their worth by sticking around for multiple refreshes and lasting for half a decade or even more.

Some of the mice may have a higher retail price-tag, but if you keep your eye out for deals or cleverly use price comparison sites such as price-grabber you should be able to get it within $5 of $30.

Razer Abyssus

The Razer Abyssus is the most garnished mouse in the affordable price range, though it is the most expensive. It is powered by a 3500 3.5G infrared sensor which matches up to some mice double its price. It only features a total three buttons (left, scroll wheel, right) though has adjustable DPI and polling range through two switches on the base. It does not even need a driver to switch between 450/1800/3500dpi and 125/1000Hz polling rate adjustments.

Further, it does not only give you gaming performance, but the gaming image. Its aggressive and sharp design reflects other mice in the Razer line up. The black body and glowing Razer logo add the final touches to give the ambidextrous mouse a true gaming appearance.

Highlights
. 3500dpi Precision 3.5G infrared sensor . 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response time . Mechanical dpi/polling rate switches . Ultra-large non-slip buttons . 60-120 inches per second and 15g of acceleration . Ambidextrous design . Ultraslick Teflon feet . Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord . Approx. size in mm: 115(L) x 63(W) x 40(H)

SteelSeries Kinzu

The Kinzu is clearly up there with the Abyssus but keeps a lower profile. From a design point of view it appears to be a regular mouse but with a slight mysterious edge. It has 3 buttons (left, scroll wheel, right) and features a fully matte black finish and braided cable. It does not cry gamer, but at the same time it is showing itself to be quite a unique mouse.

SteelSeries loaded the Kinzu up with a 3200 optical sensor which is plenty. Only high sensitivity gamers would really want much higher. Also it is another valid option for left-handed gamers.

Highlights
. 9.375 Frames per second . 50 inches per second and 20g of acceleration . 3200 DPI Optical Sensor . Cord: 2 m / 7,9 ft (braided) . Polling rate up to 1000 Hz . Large pressure points that reduce friction for optimized glide . Driverless, plug-and-play feature for LAN gamers . Built-in memory for 3 profiles . Measurements: 117 x 64 x 36 mm / 4,6 x 2,5 x 1,43 in

Logitech MX518

The MX518 has stuck around for half a decade. Still recruiting new die-hard fans, it has become a staple in the PC gaming industry. It features 7 buttons, double of every other mouse in this [Top 5] article.

It’s banged up, bullet-ridden, holographic appearance, carried over from predecessors such as the MX510, is aesthetically appealing to the majority of gamers. Its only drawback is its DPI. It runs an optical sensor but only pumps out 1800 DPI. For non-high sensitivity gamers it should be fine.

Highlights
. In-game sensitivity switching . 5.8 megapixel/second image processing . Up to 15G of acceleration . 1800DPI Optical Sensor . Advanced gaming software . Super-slick feet . 7 Customizable Buttons . Optimized right hand usage . 6” x 14” x 4.5” (W x D x H)

Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0

The Explorer has been around for what seems to be forever. It has become a staple of the LAN community since its release back in 1999. It was the first mouse brought forth by Microsoft using an optical sensor, and in 1999 it commanded a whopping $75. Today, the price is slashed down to a mere 25$.

Its optical sensor is only 400DPI, though some, especially low sensitivity gamers find it enough. Moreover, its other features such as high acceleration tolerance and 9000 fps.  The IntelliMouse is basically history in your hand. It is still used in LAN centers all across the world as it is durable, has decent performance and is comfortable to hold.

Highlights
. 400DPI Optical engine . 9000 FPS tracking . 54+ Inches per second (maximum speed) . Acceleration of up to 25G . 5 Buttons . Centered optical sensor . Gaming Toggle . Dimensions: 2.72” x 5.20”

Razer Salmosa

The Salmosa is Razer’s last gen budget minded mouse. It features all round decent specifications and has quite a unique design. Basically, the design is optimized for gamers who solely use their fingers to move their mouse. It’s entirely black with a white Razer logo printed on the rear section of the mouse.

From a performance perspective the Salmosa 3G has a 1800 DPI Infrared engine with a 1000hz polling and 1ms response time.  Like its newer sibling, the Abyssus has mechanical switches for changing the dpi and polling rate.

Highlights
. 1800dpi 3G infrared sensor . 1000Hz Ultrapolling / 1ms response time . Mechanical dpi/polling rate switches . Ultra-large non-slip buttons . 16-bit wide data path . 60-120 inches per second . Three independently programmable . Ambidextrous design . Ultraslick Teflon feet . Seven-foot, lightweight, non-tangle cord . Approximate size: 115mm (length) x 63mm (width) x 37mm (height)