Razer Synapse 4 Brings a New User Interface and Up to 30% Performance Boost

[Nomad76]

Since its inception, Razer Synapse has been designed with the goal of empowering gamers and elevating their experience; with core functions like key remapping and macro creation, Synapse enables users to create personally tailored setups to make Razer peripherals truly their own. For years, Synapse has been constantly innovating to meet evolving user needs. And now, as the Vice President of Software at Razer, it is with great pleasure and excitement that I am able to announce the official full rollout of Razer Synapse 4.

What's new with Synapse 4
In this latest evolution, after nearly a year of intensive beta testing, Synapse 4 has redefined performance and usability, ensuring that all users will be able to enjoy a more reliable and intuitive experience on the platform.





Our new multi-threaded architecture in Synapse 4 boasts a 30% performance boost, granting users greater efficiency when performing popular tasks like macro creation, settings configuration, and driver installations. This new architecture also enhances system stability by compartmentalizing each device, so installing or updating one device will not disrupt other devices in use.

We have also taken significant strides in improving the experience: the user interface (UI) of Synapse 4 is completely rewritten and further refined with tons of beta testing and feedback. I am happy to say that Synapse 4 is easier to navigate and more user-friendly; in addition to the new modernized look, we added more floating tips and tools to provide more context to menu options. With fewer clicks and more on-screen information, Synapse 4's new UI will help users get their tasks done more efficiently.

The advanced features for mice customization that users love from Synapse 3 is also carried over to Synapse 4. Some of these options include:

• 1 DPI Steps Adjustments: Achieve pixel-perfect sensitivity with single DPI step increments.
• Sensitivity Matcher Calibration: Accurately port over DPI settings across Razer mice.
• Enhanced Asymmetric Cut-Off: Adjust mice lift-off and landing distances with greater accuracy.

Going forward, we'll be constantly adding new innovations into Synapse 4, like allowing users to enable Razer Snap Tap, a Razer-pioneered feature that enhances keyboard responsiveness by prioritizing the latest input between two selected keys without requiring the release of the previous key. Previously, Snap Tap was only available on the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line of analog gaming keyboards. Now, as announced earlier this week, Synapse 4 allows users to enable Snap Tap on more Razer keyboards—and even Razer Blade gaming laptops as well.

Backwards compatibility
To provide continuity, we have ensured that Synapse 4 is backwards compatible with Synapse 3 in both features and device support. Today, Synapse 4 supports over 230 Synapse 3 devices and their features.

• Highly popular features from Synapse 3 are still available on Synapse 4, such as:
• Razer Hypershift: Allow a single button to temporarily unlock an additional set of functions on top of existing button assignments.
• Rapid Trigger: Perform rapid keystrokes with less effort.
• Advanced Macros: Execute complex button presses with a single click.

Razer will continue to support Synapse 3 with bug fixes to accommodate our users who want to remain on the older version. However, going forward, future updates and new device features will be built around Synapse 4.

Thank You Beta-Testers!
Synapse 4 represents a leap forward in providing gamers with unparalleled control and customization, delivering exceptional breakthrough experiences by listening to our community. At Razer, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in gaming technology—but this could not have been possible without our 1.2 million beta testers. Your contributions have been instrumental in helping us to optimize Synapse 4 across a myriad of hardware and software environments. I would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to everyone involved in making this release a reality.

As always, we'll continue to improve Synapse 4 even more going forward. Users can continue providing suggestions using the "feedback" button inside the Synapse app. Your invaluable input guides our team in continually improving, innovating, and delivering the best possible experience for all gamers.

Synapse 4 is truly a testament to what we can achieve together. On behalf of the entire Razer team, thank you for being part of this, and we look forward to continuing this journey with our dedicated community. GG and play hard!

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[nageme]

PR blurb: our slow and clunky settings app has become still slow, but not as much?
Did I get that right?

 

[Chrispy_]

There shouldn't be room to improve reliability or performance of a mouse/keyboard driver.

If it's not 100% reliable, it's a disgrace.
If it's slow enough to measure the speed of it, it's a disgrace.

 

[JIWIL]

With fewer clicks and more on-screen information...

Haven't sold me, all the pertinent information that's supposed to be displayed is still truncated on their two provided screenshots, and it's not for lack of room. They can't even be arsed to bring two examples of their software doing a proper job.

 

[[crs]]

Install our bloatware, we promise it will make you a better gamer. FO!

 

[Minus Infinity]

What does a 30% more performant keyboard mean?

 

[nageme]

What does a 30% more performant keyboard mean?

Typematic rate?

 

[AsRock]

Typematic rate?

But how good \ bad was it in the first place ?. Maybe it was totally balls to the wall terrible and now it's 30% better

 

[HisDivineOrder]

I'm old enough to remember when peripheral drivers just made your peripheral work and didn't need optimizations to improve performance by 30% because they didn't use enough performance to actually impact the system in any meaningful way. That Razer is bragging about dragging down your system a little less than before is a very strange brag.

 

[Guwapo77]

I'm old enough to remember when peripheral drivers just made your peripheral work and didn't need optimizations to improve performance by 30% because they didn't use enough performance to actually impact the system in any meaningful way. That Razer is bragging about dragging down your system a little less than before is a very strange brag.

You're right, you had to buy a whole new keyboard. If it makes my existing KB/M combo even faster...by all means.

S4 - Lets goooo!

 

[Chaitanya]

I'm old enough to remember when peripheral drivers just made your peripheral work and didn't need optimizations to improve performance by 30% because they didn't use enough performance to actually impact the system in any meaningful way. That Razer is bragging about dragging down your system a little less than before is a very strange brag.

There even was a time with Win XP and 7 where only reason you needed manufacturer programs was to configure input devices. When manufacturers started to add onboard memory on input devices users could just configure according them to their preference and get rid of bloatware for good or configure device somewhere else(I get it done through VM) before using it on computer and OS of choice.

 

[_roman_]

The software was the reason why I stopped buying my 6th racer mice a long term ago. I even wrote them an email.
Also no gnu linux support. Saved me a lot of money. Those cheaper Sharkoon / E-Blue and other no name brand mice are more durable.

Long time ago my razer mouse could store the settings and I could use it for a long time without any windows or gnu linux software. There was even unoffical gnu linux software for it. Other brands have hardware buttons to change DPI resolutions for mice.

 

[Hakker]

I'm old enough to remember when peripheral drivers just made your peripheral work and didn't need optimizations to improve performance by 30% because they didn't use enough performance to actually impact the system in any meaningful way. That Razer is bragging about dragging down your system a little less than before is a very strange brag.

Up until half a year ago I still had a Logitech G19 which used a massive 7,5MB of memory to work. On top of that I had LCDHost as a 3rd party app for the screen it had which used a massive 20MB to work.
Nowadays if you want to have the frigging volume knob working you have a 500MB program always on in your memory it's absolutely insane.

 

[Pepamami]

yay bloatware!

 

[pcminirace]

In 2017 I built myself a PC after 10 years without one. I bought a Razer mouse, keyboard and headset. Apart from consuming resources on the PC, the synthetic leather on the wrist rest and headband of the headphones started to peel in 2023. For gamers, but not for long. I have no complaints about the performance of the peripherals, but I will go back to Logitech when I get tired of collecting bits of leather. ; )

By the way, does anyone remember when Razer offered you to use your PC for mining and offered unattainable goals in return? ; )

 

[JIWIL]

I've only used two Razer products, both mice. First was a Viper Mini that lasted a couple years before MMB stopped working. I installed Synapse, set DPI/Polling, turned off RGB, then uninstalled Synapse. It stored settings in hardware and all was fine until I tried to reinstall Synapse to see if MMB issue was software related. Took a couple hours and a silly amount of troubleshooting/searching to get it working again.

I didn't learn my lesson and bought another Razer mouse to replace the Viper Mini. Synapse wouldn't detect the new mouse, which is a pretty common problem apparently. Had to uninstall Synapse and it refused to reinstall again (at least this time I knew how to work around)... I've left it installed because now I can't remember what the issue was and don't feel like going through all that again.

I would buy the mice again if it weren't for the software.

 

[Vayra86]

What does a 30% more performant keyboard mean?

You will add your forehead to your hands for 33% more keystrokes, also dubbed 'F-type rollover' and can be enabled within Synapse after enabling 2FA for your login.

 

[dgianstefani]

In 2017 I built myself a PC after 10 years without one. I bought a Razer mouse, keyboard and headset. Apart from consuming resources on the PC, the synthetic leather on the wrist rest and headband of the headphones started to peel in 2023. For gamers, but not for long. I have no complaints about the performance of the peripherals, but I will go back to Logitech when I get tired of collecting bits of leather. ; )

By the way, does anyone remember when Razer offered you to use your PC for mining and offered unattainable goals in return? ; )

So the soft touch surfaces of your devices started to peel after... six years?

This seems fairly normal wear and tear.

 

[Prince Valiant]

Good of them to admit it's bloated. Now for Corsair and the rest to follow along. Then they can reduce their SW footprint to something reasonable and we'll be back to where we were years ago .

 

[neatfeatguy]

I remember when the Synapse software back in 2014 caused a variety of issues for me, not to mention the failure of the hardware that accompanied it. I'm honestly surprised they still offer this software or that people even like to use it.

I've only used two Razer products, both mice. First was a Viper Mini that lasted a couple years before MMB stopped working. I installed Synapse, set DPI/Polling, turned off RGB, then uninstalled Synapse. It stored settings in hardware and all was fine until I tried to reinstall Synapse to see if MMB issue was software related. Took a couple hours and a silly amount of troubleshooting/searching to get it working again.

I didn't learn my lesson and bought another Razer mouse to replace the Viper Mini. Synapse wouldn't detect the new mouse, which is a pretty common problem apparently. Had to uninstall Synapse and it refused to reinstall again (at least this time I knew how to work around)... I've left it installed because now I can't remember what the issue was and don't feel like going through all that again.

I would buy the mice again if it weren't for the software.

I had to scrub the registry to get the synapse software to re-install - per the troubleshooting steps given to me by Razer for issues with my mouse's tracking and MMB problems. I had removed the software some time before due to tracking issues with the mouse and when I was asked to re-install it it wouldn't. So I had to go through the registry and remove anything and everything razer related before I could get the software to install again.

When problems persisted I opted to remove the software again and whatever crap was still in the registry was still causing other problems the software gave me. So, I scrubbed the registry again and never put that crappy software back on my computer. By that time the warranty had expired on my mouse a few days before the complete failure of the MMB and even though I was just 4, maybe 5 days, past warranty Razer told me to F off (not in those words) because I was out of warranty there was nothing they would do. Even though I had 4 different tickets opened with them for the mouse over the 2 years I owned it, clearly showing I had many issues with it, they didn't give a shit and even try to extend a sign of gratitude for the awful hardware and software experiences I had been having and allow a few days grace period.

Screw Razer. Any experiences I had with them had all been awful across their whole spectrum of service: customer service, hardware and software.

 

[bonehead123]

"bloatwarez is as bloatwarez does" hahahahaha

As always, Razzerio just figures that since most folks have pretty fast cpu's, lots of storage space, and 16GB+ of ram, it's OK to just keep adding more & more crap to their crapwarez, and think that nobody would notice....

And then they have the gall to come out with this "performance boost" nonsense

Hello Razzerio, maybe you should FIRST try building something that:

A) Doesn't cause repeated BSOD's/crash your entire system
B) Doesn't need so many system resources just to enable basic functions
C) Doesn't cause repeated BSOD's/crash your entire system

Oh yea, and also: Doesn't need so many system resources just to enable basic functions

THEN maybe you could work on real world, actual "performance boosts" by improving your garbaggio hardware

 

[Vayra86]

So the soft touch surfaces of your devices started to peel after... six years?

This seems fairly normal wear and tear.

No its just shitty PU leather, stop fooling yourself. A good PU application, or something that isn't a composite like actual leather, does not do this. There are plenty of car wheels doing >10 years on PU, and even 15.

Cheaper PUs are just built up out of several super thin layers of composites glued together, the PU layer is too thin, and they just fall apart/dry out and then it breaks, or the glue between the layers doesn't hold and you get air bubbles under it and it then breaks, too. Did you know most of the stuff that comes off it then is carcinogenic, too? And a source of microplastics?

Awesome stuff that we consider 'a norm' these days. Also seen a lot in 'gamer' chairs, IKEA office chairs, etc.
Razer truly has your best interests at heart.

 

[EAS1974]

Started using it yesterday. Love it so far.

 

[dgianstefani]

Started using it yesterday. Love it so far.

Yeah been using it for a while in Beta, some minor bugs early on but it's clean and light.

 

[Jeager]

Started using it yesterday. Love it so far.

paid actor