Software

Much like other recent HyperX products, the Pulsefire Haste 2 is compatible with HyperX NGENUITY. NGENUITY is a fully UWP-integrated app exclusively available through the Windows Store. These days, NGENUITY thankfully no longer instantly crashes when having MSI Afterburner running. While analytics functions are present, one has the option to opt-out.

All options are distributed across three pages. The first page concerns lighting options and is detailed below. The second page has button remapping to mouse, keyboard, media, and macro functions. The third page has CPI adjustment for up to five color-coded levels ranging from 200 to 26,000 CPI in increments of 50. Values can be input manually, and any non-native values are truncated to native ones. Furthermore, options for polling rate (125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, or 8000 Hz) and lift-off distance (1/2 mm) are present.

All settings changes can be saved to the on-board memory, so the software does not need to be running (or be installed) all the time. On my system, the software had a RAM footprint of 96 MB on average along with considerable CPU cost when running in the foreground, which drops to 24 MB and no CPU cost when minimized to the system tray. Upon exiting the application, all processes are terminated, as they should be.

Lighting

The Pulsefire Haste 2 has a single physical zone for RGB lighting, which is the scroll wheel. A total of three pre-defined lighting effects are available in the software: Solid, Cycle, and Breathing. For most effects, brightness and the speed of transitions can be adjusted. Of course, the lighting can also be disabled altogether.

Color accuracy and vibrancy are excellent throughout. Below is a short demonstration video in which I go through the Cycle and Breathing lighting effects: