EVGA Torq X10 Gaming Mouse Review
by E. Fylladitakis on August 18, 2014 10:14 AM EST- Posted in
- Peripherals
- EVGA
- Mouse
Conclusion
We feel that the strongest positive points of the Torq X10 are its great performance and solid software. There is a reason the Avago 9800 laser sensor is widely used by gaming mice designers and manufacturers. It has excellent tracking performance even at DPI settings so high that they're virtually unusable, on nearly every surface available, with nearly zero (practically immeasurable) hardware acceleration. Paired with a good controller and solid software, this sensor is excellent for gaming.
The presence of such a controller and software also allows for the thorough customization of the mouse, allowing it to be fashioned to fit the exact needs of each user. As far as performance and customization are concerned, the EVGA Torq X10 left us no room for any serious complains. But while the Torq X10 performs very well, we have mixed feelings about its overall quality.
The quailty of the Torq X10 is not bad, not even mediocre, but this is supposed to be a top-tier gaming mouse and so we cannot be forgiving. Mechanically, the Torq X10 is very well made, with a solid chassis and good plastic body parts. It also features a very good scroll wheel and Omron primary switches. On the other hand, the glossy plastics are slippery and get dirty very easily.
Furthermore, the side buttons feel wobbly and their high location is far from ideal, as it makes it both difficult for your thumb to adjust and easy to accidentally press them with your ring or pinky fingers. With some practice, an advanced user can achieve the ability to press the two side buttons with his or her thumb and the other two side buttons with the ring/pinky fingers, but that would require a significant amount of practice, and the odd grip would tire out the user quickly.
The location of the side buttons is not the only complaint we can make about the ergonomics of this mouse. Even at its lowest possible setting, the Torq X10 feels excessively long and a user with small hands would be barely able to use the wheel. Having short fingers does not help either, as the force required to press either of the primary buttons increases dramatically as you move away from the front of the mouse, meaning that the high force would certainly tire the user in no time at all. It is doubtful that this mouse would be usable by people with very small hands at all, especially children.
And then we come to the cost. EVGA's suggested retail pricing is at $90 for the normal model and $130 for the carbon fiber model. Thankfully, retail pricing is considerably lower, with the standard model available for $70 while the carbon fiber version is $100. These prices are still quite high, but they're at least more palatable than the MSRP. It's also hard to justify the >30% price increase just for a layer of carbon fiber on the sides of the mouse, but aesthetics are a subjective matter and there may be users willing to pay the premium.
As the first gaming mouse from EVGA, we had high expectations. Perhaps we are being a little too strict for the same reason. Regardless of its shortcomings, the Torq X10 still remains an excellent all-around performer. However, pragmatism suggests that EVGA will be facing very strong competition, even with the discounted retail prices that we mentioned. There are literally dozens of gaming mice available as direct competitors to the Torq X10, and some priced quite a bit lower. For example, there's the $80 Logitech G502 Proteus Core, $50 Corsair Vengeance M65, and $70 Mad Catz R.A.T. 7, to name just a few examples. With its retail pricing at $70, we believe that the Torq X10 has a fighting chance in today's retail market, especially among ambidextrous and left-handed users, but $90 or $130 would be far too much.
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stevenmi89 - Monday, August 18, 2014 - link
logitech g502 MASTER RACE!Margalus - Monday, August 18, 2014 - link
I just bought a g502 to try it out. That tiny little toy is going back to the store pronto. It's only good for very petite young ladies it is so tiny. not comfortable at all. Buttons are all in bad places. Keep accidentally hitting the dpi change buttons, or it keeps changing by itself, not sure which. All I know, it is about the worst mouse I have ever used.Samus - Monday, August 18, 2014 - link
Not to mention every piece of overpriced Logitech crap I have ever owned has failed and their warranty process is appalling.I remember I had a set of 5.1 speakers and the two rear (wireless)speakers failed, and under warranty, they were UNABLE to replace them because they were discontinued, but offered to replace them with the "newer" model which didn't have wireless rear speakers....the whole point I bought them was for wireless rear channels.
Aside from that, my G15 LCD went out, and the replacements backlighting failed within a few months (but passed the 90-day warranty for replacement items) and the keyboard is basically useless without the backlighting since the etching and keys are similar in color.
Our DiNovo Edge had its warranty claim denied just months after owning it when the left button stuck. They claimed it was abused. Ironically the model I bought refurbished on eBay to replace it has lasted years. It's currently the ONLY Logitech product in my home. Turtle Beach headset, Steel Series mouse, Coolermaster keyboards, Creative speakers, all higher quality than their Logitech competition.
I have more depressing Logitech stories than Auschwitz so I'll just leave it be...
MadMan007 - Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - link
I did an RMA request with Logitech for a G400s because I am pretty picky and felt the mouse scroll wheel wasn't smooth. It was technically functional but didn't operate well...sometimes the notches were a bit rough and different scrolling up or down. They shipped me a replacement after I emailed them an image of my receipt, I didn't have to return the poorly functioning mouse which actually works 'ok'. All-in-all a pretty stellar RMA experience.Perhaps the RMA experience varies depending upon product type?
Remz246 - Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - link
I do a lot of RMA with my job and I can say Logitech is of the most bizzard ones. If you call and the support service begin to nitpick, just end the conversation and call back. For the same set of speakers, one asked me the send the whole unit at my charge, one ask me to cut the controler and send it and one just said to trash the thing because a new unit was on the way.On the product side, I try to revisit there product because they did some price drop but were pretty expensive. Razer is taking the same route as Logitech in the G5 years, and for that I'm slowly removing Razer product from my shelves.
Tunnah - Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - link
Razer are terrible. I was a big fan and got a keyboard and mouse. The keyboard failed at 12 months and a week. The mouse died at 14 months. However I really liked the mouse so bought another one...which died at 11 months. Took 2 months to get back to me, they didn't repair it though, simply gave me a credit note at the shop. They didn't have the Imperator in stock so ended up with the Deathadder, which has 2 less buttons and also the scroll wheel squeaks.Gonna try Corsair next I reckon
Mumrik - Tuesday, August 19, 2014 - link
"Not to mention every piece of overpriced Logitech crap I have ever owned has failed and their warranty process is appalling."Funny. Through more than decade I've never had a Logitech product fail. That's all keyboards/mice though, and this is the first time I hear about a negative experience with their support.
Kepe - Thursday, August 21, 2014 - link
I've owned Logitech products since I got my first own PC when I was ~14. Now I'm 27 and none of the Logitech products I have bought have failed. They all still work, a couple with minor issues though. My iTouch keyboard and Mouseman Dual Optical mouse work perfectly fine, after 13 years of service. Of course I've replaced them with newer hardware, but my sister used them both on her PC for a couple of years recently. I have the 1st gen G5 and G15, those work fine as well. The G15 has a flickering problem with the right side of the keyboard illumination, but it doesn't really bother me. Now I have a G502 and I absolutely love it. I have rather small hands and thin fingers and I've never had any problems with accidentally shifting the DPI. I also replaced the G15 because I wanted a mechanical keyboard. Unfortunately Logitech only makes one model and I didn't like it, so I bought a Func KB-460 with Cherry MX Red switches (it's amazing).I also have a Logitech Wingman 3D joystick (had it for way over a decade, 0 problems with it), a Logitech 4.1 speaker system that I've also had for over a decade and haven't had any problems at all (I still use it), and a Logitecg G25 wheel + pedals and a Webcam Pro 9000, both of which I've had for six years without any problems. The only faults with Logitech products I have encountered are the flickering lighting on my 7-year-old keyboard (started to flicker this year) and a calibration issue with a Logitech MOMO racing wheel, where the wheel won't maintain its calibration and drifts to either side so that I have to keep the wheel at an angle to drive straight. But that is a problem on a decade+ old device. Nothing lasts forever, but for me Logitech has always meant quality products that last way longer than the rate at which I replace them with better, newer stuff.
tcb4 - Monday, August 25, 2014 - link
Just had my g500 fail on me after about 3 years of ownership and some fairly heavy use over the last couple of years in particular. I can't say I'm that mad about it though, it still works, it's just the left click is intermittent (lost the receipt and I'm not even sure if I'm within the warranty period.) I decided to swap it out for the new (and hopefully more durable) G502 Proteus Core. That said, I am typing this up on my 5-6 year old logitech G15 V1 that has had 0 issues since I bought it new at Best Buy back in 08 or 09.AnnihilatorX - Friday, August 29, 2014 - link
@tcb4You can fix the intermittent click very easily on the G500. I have done so on mine and since then it has been perfect. Let me see if I can find the video guide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWJk4EWfyOA