So now we come to the most important aspect of the review. How does the Alumic respond on both sides of the pad with an optical and laser gaming mouse? There is no definitive guide to testing the pad other than to examine performance using two different sensor mice for an extended period of time on both sides of Alumic. Of course to do this, it is necessary to load up some popular titles and indulge in a series of gaming sessions. Normal office usage is also important so the general types of operation such as web browser and graphic design will also be undertaken.

ROCCAT have tested the Alumic with the following gaming mice. Obviously with such an extensive list of optical and laser mice already having been experimented with, it goes without saying that if you don't have a mouse from the list below there is no need to worry.


Test Mice

• ROCCAT Kone[+] (Laser)
• GIGABYTE M6900 (Optical)



Gaming - Crysis 2 & Call of Duty Black Ops

Testing out pads and gaming peripherals is definitely one of the perks of this job. Loading up some of the most popular titles I used the Alumic with the two different gaming mice for many hours and of course experimented with both sides of the Alumic pad. What became apparent was that the topside was certainly the side that I prefer to use because I am playing FPS and use low sensitivity (500-800DPI). The top surface is designed for speed as it is smoother than the underside which is granular and tends to lean towards those who use high sensitivity.

In all my experience with the pad within a gaming environment the Alumic worked flawlessly. Due to the rubber feet on each edge being symmetrical the pad is kept perfectly flat, it also has an anodized aluminium core beneath each layer so this is not only robust but its also rigid and doesn't bend out of shape. Another interesting characteristic of this aluminium core is the fact that the pad is kept cool across the surface area. This, believe it or not does keep the palm/hand cooler and thus less prone to sweat.

Both mice worked flawlessly on the Alumic without any problems. This is an extremely precise gaming surface and I love the option of switching the pad over for a different surface texture. The rubberised feet also do a great job at preventing the Alumic from moving.

General use - graphic design

Those purchasing the Alumic won't always be using the pad within a gaming environment. We all browse the internet, use office applications and some of us use graphic design software suites. So how does it perform in this area of use?

Well, the Alumic again works very well in this field too. The top side appears to provide a quieter transition for the mouse compared to the underside. Due to the grainy surface on the underside it is of course rougher for the mouse to glide across.

Its important for graphic designers to have a reliable set of peripherals. The mouse and pad are a key element in accuracy within graphic design. The last thing you want when you are intricately designing graphics is mouse stutter, pauses and inconsistencies.