The Razer Viper 8K Hz is the latest in a long list of snake-obsessed peripherals and mice from the PC maker, subtly tweaking existing fan favorites. We've had some classic wireless spins, or updated ones with better optics; in the case of the Viper 8K Hz, Razer has taken the standard Viper and increased the polling rate. While most mice stick to 1,000 Hz, this new mouse is polled at 8 times that rate, 8,000 Hz.

Why is this important? Frankly, it probably doesn't matter to most normal humans. Because if you check the position of your mouse 1,000 times a second, you will know what you are doing. Even if you move quickly from side to side when someone suddenly grabs you by the side, you can still record it accurately enough.

However, we are in an era where refresh rates are on the rise (I tested this mouse with Alienware's 360Hz panel) and professional gamers are pushing the limits of their hardware. Raising the polling rate of a mouse seems like the latest logical step, since when money is on the line, hardware is not an option to let you down.

Razer appreciates that the Viper 8K Hz is very easy to get up and running. There are no settings to adjust; simply plug it in and use it. If you are curious what color the Razer logo hidden under your palm glows, you can install the Chroma software, but it is not required to use the mouse.

The thing you will notice most clearly with Windows is how much more of the mouse pointer is visible when the mouse is swung around. Sometimes you have to move the mouse around on the screen at regular intervals to make sure the mouse is still moving.

In games, this effect is less noticeable.

In theory, it is more accurate. A higher polling rate would result in a more regular sampling of where the mouse is, which would increase the accuracy of killing rather than being killed. However, just writing that seems unreasonable, and my own responses and precision definitely do not stand up to that level of scrutiny. I used this mouse for about a week and saw no improvement on Apex Legends or Valorant compared to my main gaming mouse, the aging Logitech G402.

The good news is that the Razer Viper 8K Hz is not just a one-trick snake. It has a lot going for it that makes it an attractive option for aspiring pro gamers. First, it can take advantage of Razer's ultra-sensitive Focus+ 20K optical sensor. You probably won't need to set the sensitivity, but it gives you complete control to set the sensitivity to as high as a twist of the wrist.

The mouse buttons are also Razer's second generation optical mouse switches, which can withstand 70 million clicks and are faster acting. This is a very competitive mouse and weighs in at a very light 71 grams. It glides easily and smoothly in use, aided by the large PTFE foot on the back. Speaking of which, when you flip this over, there is a DPI switch that allows you to toggle between pre-set DPI settings. The position of this switch is interesting, but you won't accidentally click it (ed. note: this hassle is real); the Viper 8K Hz is an ambidextrous mouse, with two buttons located where your thumb naturally fits, no matter which hand you use.

However, I did not like the shape of the Viper 8K Hz, and as a fingertip player, I felt that this design did not support my pinky as well as other mice. Also, the overall lightness of the Viper 8K Hz and the materials used made it feel cheaper than it actually is. At least the mouse wheel has a solid click to it and the buttons are clicky.

The good news is that Razer is not charging extra for the Viper 8K Hz - it's the same $80/£80 as the regular Viper, so if you've used Razer's esports model before, this is an obvious upgrade. And in fact, aside from the higher polling rate, this is the same Viper that has been around for a year and a half.

All in all, I can appreciate the increased accuracy of the mouse by increasing the polling rate, but you have to love a mouse with something like this implemented. And I do not like the Viper 8K Hz. It's not bad to use, but it just doesn't work for my hands, and I hope to see this upgrade throughout Razer's mouse lineup, and elsewhere.