As with all mouse pad testing, the results are very much down to individual preference. There is no hard and fast rule to determine whether a pad is superior to another. However, I will be pairing the Mionix Saiph 1800 gaming mouse along with the Alioth 320 and examining its performance and comfort throughout 30 minutes of some intense gaming. 3 titles have been chosen for this performance test, all 3 titles are taken from different genres so that we really get a feel for a variation of mouse movements. The three titles I will be testing are:
Crysis
Prince of Persia
War Hammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
After a total of one and a half hours of gaming its safe to say that the Alioth 320 stood up to this challenge very well. In each genre – First-person shooter, 3rd person action adventure, real-time strategy the pad suffered no interruptions to glide, the large amount of space on the surface allowed some very wide sweeping movements that are required in Dawn of War II. Whether you are a low or high ‘sense’ gamer, the Alioth 320 will be more than suitable for your needs. The underside of the pad grips the desk comfortably and is hard to move even with strong force. The Saiph 1800 glides perfectly along the Alioth pad and although I tested the Saiph mouse only I couldn’t help but try my Logitech MX-518 and as I imagined, the pleasing performance I experienced with the Saiph was immediately noticeable with the Logitech mouse.
Comfort
The materials used on the Mionix Alioth 320 provide a satisfying surface to have contact with. The surface is extremely smooth, and whilst this does offer some performance gains you would imagine this would only cause moisture to gather but it doesn’t at all. The material is breathable and thick enough for a wide range of uses. Ideal for gaming and desktop tasks.
Conclusion
The Mionix Alioth 320 is easily one of the best looking pads I have ever seen. The intricate detailing and colours will suit nvidia fans down to a tee. Couple the pleasant aesthetics with the outstanding performance and comfort and the Alioth 320 makes for a very successful gaming pad.
The Alioth 320 comes in at a price of £14 (21USD/15.60EUR) which makes this pad even more attractive. I believe it to be a great buy, and would recommend this pad to anyone in the field for needing a new gaming pad. Mionix have once again impressed, producing yet another innovative product.
Vortez Hardware would like to thank Mionix for providing this sample. To discuss this review visit our forum.
