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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

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Lightweight mice had undergone this common trend, where the mouse’s design needed to have cut-out holes. Ever since they came out, and to this day, I’ve hated the design. While you may like this design, let me explain the reason behind my hatred. 

Why Mouse With Cut-Out Holes Is A Big No No

When the cut-out holes design was first launched, it became an epitome for a lightweight mouse because it clearly had its weight reduced. The Finalmouse Ultralight Pro and the Glorious Model O were among the first to introduce this trend.

On paper, it seemed great because a lightweight mouse would mean faster flicks, high response time without wrist fatigue, and faster tracking. But the design had its cons when it came to practicality.

Uncomfortable Design Comparatively

You see, the honeycomb cut-out holes design isn’t as comfortable as your standard mouse with a plain surface. This meant that prolonged gaming sessions would be uncomfortable for your sweaty palms.

Additionally, the constant feeling of holes in your palm presents as this annoyance, which could be ignored for some, but for a few like me, becomes a source of irritation, which then affects the gameplay negatively as well.

For me, gaming should be done with utmost comfort. This means the peripherals should be comfortable to use, the latency should be low, and the FPS should be high, or else it defeats the whole purpose of having an enjoyable gaming session at the end of the day.

Prone To Dust & Debris

Another frustration is regarding the dust and debris. While most mouse companies claim that their lightweight mouse with holes is dust-proof, the opposite usually happens. These types of mice become a welcome mat for dirt.

This means food crumbs, sweat, skin particles, and tiny hair end up inside the mouse since it is partially open. So cleaning it also becomes a hassle because you have to blow air inside of it, or simply remove the cover to clean it extensively.

Sure, you can just leave it as it is, but the dust and debris will pile up inside the components, and you’ll eventually have to clean it because of how disgusting it looks. It also makes the mouse look cheap, regardless of how expensive it was.

Doesn’t Feel Durable

Durability is another big issue. After using a mouse like the [insert mouse link], you get used to the feeling of a rigid and durable mouse. But the mice with holes tend to be fragile and are prone to give a bit of flex when pressed.

Even though companies claim their honeycomb mouse is strong enough, because there are holes and less surface area (basic physics), the structure, especially at the bottom, feels flexible and thus feels cheap. 

Poor Aesthetics

Aesthetics play a huge role for me as well. While some may like the honeycomb design, I can’t help but dislike it. For me, the more solid, well-built mouse with a good textured finish appears more premium, and that’s what I usually prefer as well.

Most of these mice offer a plastic build, which is something I mostly hate because of how cheap it looks and feels. I like the usage of other materials, which is why I’m a sucker for the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition, because its Magnesium Alloy looks extremely appealing. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a complete hater of this design. I’ve found that mice with smaller holes, such as in the Glorious Model O2, look far better than the ones with larger holes. 

I’ve also noticed that putting grip tape on either of these mice with cut-out holes (even larger holes) fixes most of the issues. Not only does it appear aesthetic comparatively, but the discomfort and the grip issues go away.

New Mice Without Holes Is The New Way

Now the mouse market is being shifted to cutting weight without literally cutting holes in their mice, which is great to see. Now we’ve got mice that are super lightweight without having any cut-out holes, where some even weigh less than 40g.

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Uzair Shabir

At Tech4Gamers, I’m a Senior Error Fix Writer specializing in troubleshooting problems. Each article results from deep research, testing fixes and providing solutions.

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When I first switched to AIO coolers I was really impressed. They looked good, were compact and delivered impressive cooling capabilities which to me seemed like an upgrade over my bulky air cooler. My system looked significantly cleaner, cable management was easier and at first the temperatures delivered seemed amazing. It all really had me feeling that AIO was the way to go.

However, as time passed frustrations started to pile up. The pump started making noises, I had a constant fear of leaks and then the performance slowly started declining which made me think are AIO coolers really worth it? After 3 years of daily use across 2 AIO units I finally decided to switch back to air cooling and honestly don’t even miss AIOs.

Reliability Over Looks

The biggest issue with AIO liquid coolers is their reliability. Fans can be easily replaced alongside their motors but when a pump starts to fail there is no easy fix and inevitably you have to replace the entire unit. Then there comes the risk of a leak. The user is always fearful that one leak could mean saying goodbye to their setup. Just the thought of a coolant leak near the CPU and GPU used to make me anxious as it does to many others. 

Air coolers on the other hand have no such issues. They rely on simple time-tested methods of a fan and a heatsink. As they have lesser moving parts not much could go wrong. These air coolers can last for up to years with the occasional fan swap. For me that peace pf mind was invaluable.

AIOs Can be Noisy

Another issue that I faced with AIOs was noise. These coolers constantly generate a humming noise which to me became very annoying very fast. As the unit ages that hum can grow to a rattling or a whining noise especially when under strain.

Now, I’m not saying this is a major issue for all I just happened to find the noise distracting during late night work or gaming sessions. I personally had a Ocypus Iota L36 AIO cooler which was a good cooler, but I like my peace and quiet when gaming more.

Air coolers on the other hand are much quieter especially from brands like Noctua. These coolers keep the internals cool even during heavy payloads. Also, the lack of a pump noise is great hen competitive gaming if you care about acoustics.

Near Equal Performance

One of the biggest selling points of AIO is performance. But the difference between air and liquid cooling isn’t as much as marketing suggests. High end air coolers such as the Noctua NH-D15, DeepCool Assassin IV, or be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 work equally as good as 240mm or 360mm AIO liquid coolers. Unless you are using an AMD Threadripper or an overclocked i9 processor the cooling difference is negligible.

When I switched back to air cooling my CPU temperatures remained close to what they were when using AIO. The supposed performance downgrade I had in my mind never happened and system efficiency is smooth.

Maintenance and Useful Life

All machinery wears out sooner or later. But this is where Air coolers shine the brightest as AIOs tend to degrade over time. Pumps wear down and coolant evaporates slowly over time. As time passes the cooling efficiency becomes lower and lower until a time comes when replacement becomes necessary. 

Air coolers on the other hand do not need much maintenance. The fans if damaged are easy to replace, cost less and can increase the air coolers lifespan. Heatsinks themselves rarely fail and do not need much attention. Once installed an air cooler could easily last a long time and frankly even old models run flawlessly today.

Final Thoughts

After 3 years of using AIO I realized that the drawbacks were far more than the benefits. For me switching back to air cooling wasn’t all about maintaining good thermals it was about peace of mind. I no longer had to worry about pump failures or leaks which in my books was a major relief. If you prefer reliability, durability, simplicity air cooling is the way to go.

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Moiz Banoori

At Tech4Gamers, he is recognized for his insightful features and opinion pieces, where he blends his passion for gaming with a keen understanding of technological trends. His work, marked by depth and accessibility, makes him a respected voice in the tech and gaming community.

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When it comes to game development, developers have used visual effects such as motion blur and depth of field for ages to achieve cinematic realism. While these features can make a game seem more like a movie being played, in 2025, many gamers choose to keep them off. Whether it is for a competitive edge, better performance, or whatever, this goes to show how player preferences are evolving.

The Appeal vs Reality

Motion blur is basically the simulation of the streaking effect you see when objects move quickly in real life. Depth of field, on the other hand, blurs out part of the screen to mimic how a camera lens focuses on a subject, essentially serving as a sort of portrait mode in gaming. Both effects are great for cutscenes, trailers, and immersion.

However, when it comes to fast-paced shooter games, esports, or games that require a high refresh rate, these effects may become somewhat of a hindrance rather than a benefit. Many gamers have said that motion blur makes tracking enemies harder. They reported that fast-moving enemies appear as smears on the screen. 

Similarly, gamers said that depth of field can make environments look less crisp, causing players to miss out on details that could’ve been beneficial. To improve their chances at a win, they have to turn off these effects.

Need For a Competitive Edge

One of the biggest reasons why gamers turn off DOF and motion blur is to gain a competitive advantage. In esports titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, or Call of Duty, every millisecond could mean the difference between a win and a loss. Any visual effect that interferes with spotting an enemy or reaction time is seen as a liability. 

Even pro players often recommend turning off these effects before starting a match. The trend has also reached casual players. With many players watching professional gameplay or guides on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube, guides often suggest disabling these effects. What started as a means to get a competitive edge has now become mainstream advice. 

Performance Gain

Apart from improving clarity, turning off DOF and motion blur can also help improve game performance. These effects put strain on the GPU, especially in titles that demand good graphics. High-end builds with RTX 3060 and above can handle them easily; however, midrange builds may falter. Mid-range PC gamers can significantly benefit more from the extra frames attained from turning these effects off. 

For gamers playing on old hardware or those trying to maximize frame rates on a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, every performance boost counts. Even if the difference isn’t that much, smoother gameplay often outweighs visuals.

High Refresh Rate Gaming

Another reason why gamers may turn off these effects is the widespread adoption of high refresh rate monitors. At 144Hz, 20Hz, or even 360Hz, motion clarity is already significantly good. Motion blur in these cases only reduces the crispness of fast movements in games.

Similarly, depth of field is less necessary when games are displayed on a larger, high-resolution screen. With the monitors already delivering such an amazing experience, gamers do not want artificial blur ruining their gaming experience.

Developers are Noticing

Developers are beginning to recognize this trend. Modern games are now being shipped with DOF and motion blur turned off by default or dialed down significantly. Some games now even allow players to fine-tune these effects rather than having an all-or-nothing scenario. 

Interestingly, some developers are also using friendlier, more performance-friendly versions of these effects as well. Rather than heavy cinematic blur, games are now making use of per-object motion blur that only affects certain animations or weapons, keeping the rest of the gameplay sharp.

Not Everyone Dislikes Them

It’s an important point to note that not all gamers dislike these effects. Casual gamers who prioritize immersion or enjoy a single-player cinematic experience often leave these effects enabled. In games like The Last of Us or Red Dead Redemption 2, these effects often make the game seem as if it were a movie, fitting the slower pacing.

Final Thoughts

It all depends on what you want as a player. Do you want a cinematic movie-like experience, or do you care more about sharpness and responsiveness? As technology continues to advance, developers are likely to give players even more control over these effects. 

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

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PCle 5.0 is the latest generation of SSD storage. The common misconception gamers have is that anyone with these SSDs will have a major increase in PC performance. Though this remains true, the question arises does the common gamer really need it? Let’s discuss the details. 

What it Offers

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is basically the interface standard that measures how fast data moves from your SSD to the rest of the PC. PCle 5.0 SSDs double the bandwidth provided by PCle 4.0 offering speeds of over 10000 MB/s. 

This may seem like a huge leap in performance to any gamer making them think games would load instantly.  No doubt, PCle 5.0 SSDs totally crush benchmark tests, however games are not capable of leveraging the full capability of these SSDs yet. In actuality, games already load really fast with PCle 3.0 or 4.0 making PCle 5.0 over kill.

Real World Performance

Let’s be real when you launch a game using a PCle 3.0 SSD load times are already from a few seconds to a minute or two. Upgrade to PCle 4.0 and these load times are a tiny bit faster, unnoticeable unless you’re using a stopwatch. Move further, towards PCle 5.0 and still not that big of a difference to note, you’re saving milliseconds not minutes therefore its useless. 

Games these days rarely stream assets fast enough to demand 10GBs worth of read/write speeds. When a game loads slowly its usually because of bottlenecks from the CPU, GPU or other areas, its rarely ever the SSDs fault. What this all means is that whether your play Cyber Punk 2077 or Elden Ring PCle 3.0 or 4.0 already offer enough.

Where it Actually Comes in Handy

It isn’t right to totally dismiss PCle 5.0 SSDs though, they simply shine in other areas. If you’re a content creator constantly moving massive 4k or 8k videos or a scientist managing huge sums of data PCle 5.0 may save you some real time. 

The same applies when 3D modeling, machine learning, or compiling large codebases. Here the extra bandwidth helps improve productivity and efficiency. In gaming however, the advantages are low so they can be skipped for now.

Affordability and Availability 

PCle 5.0 is very expensive and sits at the top of SSD at the premium end of the market. Buyers usually font just pay for the SSD they also need to pay for cooling solutions such as dedicated fans or heatsinks as these SSDs tend to overheat. This is not optionable it’s mandatory to maintain good thermals and avoid damage to the setup.

In comparison PCle 3.0 and 4.0 are much more affordable and offer excellent performance at half the cost. Why invest more in PCle 5.0 when its predecessors offer nearly the same when it comes to gaming. You are better off purchasing a PCle 4.0 SSD set and investing what you have left on other PC components that will actually better your gameplay. 

Future Proofing Argument

One of the biggest reasons why gamers take to PCle 5.0 is to future proof their setup. Developers are slowly beginning to take to something called DirectStorage which allows faster asset streaming from SSDs to GPUs. Theoretically PCle 5.0 could give gamers an edge when DirectStorage becomes a standard. 

The transition to this technology, however, will take long. Right now, only a few games support DirectStorage and do not show any major performance difference between all  PCle generations. By the time we actually need PCle 5.0 prices will have likely dropped significantly so therefore, it’s better to just stay grounded with PCle 3.0 or 4.0 for now.

Final Thoughts

PCle 5.0 is an amazing technology that delivers record breaking speeds, pushing storage to a new level. But, In the current day and age they are more of a luxury than a necessity. Unless your someone dealing with heavy workloads you really don’t need them. It’s better to invest in a larger PCle 4.0 drive, better GPU or even a better monitor. 

For those seeking performance practicality beats hype. PCLe 5.0 may be what we need in the future but for now it’s just not worth the purchase.

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Shehryar Khan

Senior Editor and Content Writer:

• Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
• Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
• Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
• Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.

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It’s always been about pushing boundaries in gaming, including higher frame rates, lower latency, sharper visuals, and more. Recently, we’re seeing a rise in 8000Hz polling rate mice. These mice are being marketed as the next big leap in responsiveness. But many are asking, do you actually need such a high polling rate? Let’s dive right into it.

What a Polling Rate Means

The polling rate of a mouse refers to how fast it reports its position to the computer and is measured in hertz. A typical office mouse has a polling rate of 125Hz. For gaming mice, 1000Hz, meaning one update every millisecond, has been the standard for a long time. 

At 8,000Hz, the mouse sends an update to the PC every 0.125 seconds. On paper, this may seem impressive, as it is 8 times faster than what 1000Hz can achieve. For competitive gamers, shaving off milliseconds in response time may seem appealing, but for the standard gamer, the benefits are more complicated. 

Theoretical vs Real World Gains

As discussed above, 8000Hz reduces the latency to 0.125 milliseconds, which is still under 1 millisecond when compared to 1000Hz. For most of us, this improvement falls below the normal level of perception we have and therefore doesn’t translate to a meaningful advantage.

If you’re not a competitive gamer who values the most minor reaction time improvements, you may not even see a difference. Many reviewers and professional gamers have highlighted that the jump from 125Hz to 1000Hz was revolutionary but the leap from 1000Hz to 8000Hz is not very exciting. 

Downsides of 8000Hz Polling Rates

A higher polling rate translates to more CPU usage. Constantly sending updates every 0.125 seconds is a heavy workload, especially when playing titles that already demand a lot from the processor. On a budget build, this may lead to issues such as stuttering and low performance, which players don’t want.

Secondly, a high polling rate demands more power. Some wireless models, such as the Razer Viper V2 Pro, which offer 8000Hz polling rates, must be plugged in to achieve this, which eliminates the entire wireless experience. It’s like trying to make full use of 1000+ FPS in a game when your monitor maxes at 240Hz.

Who Actually Benefits?

Despite the drawbacks, 8000Hz polling isn’t entirely unnecessary. Competitive esports players in titles such as Valorant, Fortnite, or CS2 may notice the change. To these players, even the most minor improvement may matter.

It also appeals to enthusiasts seeking a very low-latency setup. When paired with a 340Hz or 500Hz screen, a high-end GPU, and adjusted system settings, 8000Hz can reduce micro latency bottlenecks throughout the setup. However, for a typical gamer, the high CPU strain, combined with increased power consumption and an imperceptible change in latency, may not seem worthwhile.

1000Hz is Best for Now

After years of testing and feedback from professionals, it has become evident that 1000Hz remains the practical sweet spot for polling rates in mice in 2025. It delivers a good response time without putting strain on the CPU.

Apart from this, it also works across all systems and doesn’t require high-end hardware to justify itself. Many manufacturers ship their 8,000Hz-capable mice with 1,000Hz set as the default, resulting in the extra capability going unused. 

Final Thoughts

As technology continues to advance, an 8000Hz polling rate may soon become relevant. Overkill today may become tomorrow’s standard, just as 1000Hz was once seen as excessively high compared to 125Hz. 

The bottom line is that in 2025, 8000Hz polling is more of a luxury than a necessity. It may seem impressive and, in the hands of the right person, may also be meaningful, but truth be told, to the average gamer, it’s a gimmick. Whether it’s valid depends on you, as a gamer, giving it credibility in your setup.