CM Storm Reaper - Review

Written by Profi | 10 November 2013
Posted in Articles - Reviews

In today’s article we will review Reaper mouse from Gaming Aluminum Set from CM Storm.

For those who don’t know, CM Storm is a gaming division of the world-known manufacturer Cooler Master. They have a big experience in working with metal, including aluminum, and engineers have decided to use such experience in gaming devices as well.

We liked the keyboard MECH. You can read review about CM Storm MECH here. What about the mouse? Let’s check it out!
 

Specifications:

• Form Factor: right-handed
• Materials: aluminum, plastic, rubber
• Sensor: Avago 9800
• DPI: up to 8200
• Switch: Omron
• Onboard memory: 128Kb
• Polling rate: 1000 Hz
• Lift Off Distance: adjustable
• LED color: white
• Cable length: 1.8m
• Size: 73.85mm (W) x 127.2mm (L) x 37.2 (H)
• Weight: 145g

The Box

Reaper comes in “traditional” box with new re-branded colors of CM Storm. In front of the box there is a big picture of the mouse and description of main features.

More detailed description of Reaper’s features can be found on backside. Translation in 10 languages is included.

Box is pretty simple to open. Just remove top cover and you’re done. Inside the box there is Quick Guide and mouse itself.
 

Design and Construction

Mouse has a medium size and it is oriented for right-handed users.

The matte materials, aluminum shell and wheel are making it look solid and attractive.
 
On the left-side of CM Storm Reaper mouse there are three buttons: two horizontal and the big one is placed vertically. There is a deepening for thumb finger for more comfortable placement and for avoiding accidental clicks on that side buttons.

Right-side remained without any buttons. There is just matte surface.

On top of the mouse we can find two buttons and a wheel. I can easily call it “dat wheel”, because it looks awesome.

There are three slide-zones on the bottom of the mouse and nothing else.

The cable is coated and USB connector is gold plated.

Software

I’ve downloaded latest software and firmware from the official website. It was easy procedure to update firmware and to install the software for CM Storm Reaper. Just follow the wizard during the installation and you will be fine.

The first tab is Main where you can reassign absolutely all buttons of the mouse. You should select desired action for particular button from the drop-down and that’s it. In lower part, there is profile selection. Actually that “profile part” available for all tabs.

In Advanced tab you can adjust almost everything: DPI levels, USB polling rate, LED Mode and Brightness (including full off), etc.. Also, from the same tab you can manipulate with OS’s settings related to mouse.

The third tab is for those who are not satisfied with existing commands. Here you can create your own macro combination and assign it to any button. You can adjust delay as well.

Mouse itself can hold 4 profile inside onboard memory. It means that after settings things up, you can use your mouse on any computer without installing CM Storm Reaper software. All your settings and commands are located inside your mouse. Also, you can have unlimited number of profiles on your computer. For easy transferring profile to PC and vice versa, Profiles tab is here.

If you will have a lot of macro-commands lately, Library tab will help you to manage them, assign to different profiles and respective buttons, use import and export operations.

On Support tab you can find the button for checking software and firmware version, and button-link to official website for support if you will need to.

Overall, software is giving opportunity to customize almost everything related to your mouse. The only con which I found that “auto-switch” functionality based on launched application is not available. You have to switch between profiles manually every time.

In Usage and Conclusion

You can use CM Storm Reaper in pure plug-and-play mode. But for customization and checking firmware version – it’s better to install the software.

As usual, I started to work with mouse by doing my routine work. Mouse is very accurate and easy to control. Side buttons are placed very well and you will not click on them accidentally in any case.

Aluminum shell and soft touch material are keeping mouse cold and comfortable for long use sessions. Same time, soft touch material made mouse little bit slipper. It’s not noticeable when you are moving mouse on pad, but when you’re lifting it up – it feels that mouse slipping out of hand. I never drop it though, but I’m recommending you to test this point if you have option to do so before the purchase.

Mouse has a “warm” LED light and looks cool in the long night sessions:

In front of the mouse there is some light as well:

Never thought that I’ll write dedicated paragraph in reviews devoted to mouse wheel, but I have to do that. The wheel is brutal and epic. I’m sure that at first time you will keep scrolling without any reason just to touch that cold aluminum wheel one more time.

The hardcore gamers who prefer to customize the weight of the mouse will not like it. CM Storm Reaper is not customizable from this point of view.

Another con which I found is that software not supporting auto-switch profile based on launched software or game. It means that you have to switch profiles manually and devote at least one button of the mouse for this procedure.

Conclusion is that CM Storm Reaper is excellent, but not ideal mouse. It has great build materials, amazing design and will look very stylish even on boss’s office table especially in combination with CM Storm MECH keyboard, but same time, there is not too much options in terms of customization for hardcore gamers, lack of auto-switch profile inside the software and for my type of grip mouse is slipping off when I’m lifting it.

Pros:

• Awesome design
• Excellent build materials, including top sensor
• Tons of customization options via software
• Onboard memory
• Braided cable

Cons:

• For some type of grip - mouse is slipping when lifted
• Lack of auto-switch profile functionality inside software
• Weight is not adjustable