 | Razer Diamondback Plasma Limited Edition - Ice Blue
All considered, this is best all-around purchase for a gaming mouse.
With concave buttons and smallish form factor, the Diamondback Plasma feels, looks, and plays great. At 1600 DPI, there are "more sensitive" mice, but with a superior performance profile, this mouse outperforms more expensive competition.
Oh, and this mouse is ambidextrous, unlike most of its competition.
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 | Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Buy used from: $59.99 If you're new to the gaming mouse scene, the MX500 is definitely the best bang-for-buck purchase you can make. It's smooth and comfortable, the buttons are large and easy to click, and at 1000 DPI, it's decently sensitive.
It's not as customizable, nor as sensitive, as most higher end gaming mice, but gaming mice-novices, this is a great way to get up to speed without spending too much.
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 | Logitech MX518 Gaming Optical Mouse - Metal
Buy new: $44.24 / Used from: $24.99 A slight upgrade of the MX500, the MX518 goes up to 1600 DPI with an "on the fly" sensitivity changing.
The best part is that is uses the 500 ergonomics, so it feels great in your hand and is more sensitive. The "on the fly" option is interesting, but I found I needed to stop moving to use it reliably. A little pricey for what it is. I like the Diamondback better.
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 | Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (931376-0403)
This is the 2005 edition G5, a 2000 DPI LASER (most other gaming mice are infra-red opticals) version of the MX518 with customizable weight options.
Unfortunately, it's outperformed by its older sibling; the laser tends to badly diffract at higher speeds. Folks who keep their mousehand movement to a minimum will like it just fine, anyone else will probably get frustrated. Stick with your 518.
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 | Razer Copperhead Tempest Blue 2000 Dpi Mouse with built-in Memory
Buy new: $49.99 / Used from: $58.09 The Copperhead, Razer's expensive followup to the award-winning Diamondback, just disappoints. The tweaked form factor feels off, and Somehow, they managed to make the Copperhead's performance less robust. While the new 2000 DPI laser setting is definitely more sensitive, it is also a lot less reliable and prone to signal loss.
For shame, Razer!
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 | Logitech NEW G5 Laser Mouse
Buy new: $48.23 / Used from: $40.99 I haven't had a really good chance to work with the 2007 edition yet, so I'll keep it brief.
Same form factor as always, they added another button, and they seem to have fixed the lackadaisical performance profile of the original G5.
It's definitely high on the pricey side for a mouse (half again at least as expensive as its predecesors), so only the real mouse fanatics should look at this one.
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 | Logitech 931375-0403-GREEN G7 Laser Cordless Mouse
Buy new: $61.08 / Used from: $49.49 This is simply the wireless version of the G5. Exact same characteristics, sans wires, sans weights, add another $15.
While I love wireless mice, this is the point where the cost really starts getting intimidating for what you actually get out of it.
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 | Razer DeathAdder 3G Infrared Gaming Mouse
Buy new: $50.28 The Death Adder, is IMHO the best gaming mouse I have ever used.
Replacing the 2000 DPI laser with a 1600 DPI 3G infra-red sensor, we lost a tiny amount of sensitivity for a massive increase in refresh rates. This is the connoisseur's mouse. It's expensive (though not as expensive as most Logitech devices), but worth it.
Unlike the Diamondback, DA is not ambidextrous.
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