DPI and frequency of a gaming mouse. How do these parameters influence the gaming process?

Almost every fan of video games tries to buy various gaming devices as fast as possible in order to raise his chances to succeed in online matches. All gaming devices: a mouse, a keyboard, a monitor, headphones make more or less impact on a gaming process by improving the response between a gamer and a PC. A mouse is ahead of other PC devices and for a reason. An accuracy of gamer’s actions in online shooters, MOBA, and real-time strategies depends on its quality. 

Gaming mice are often evaluated by two parameters: DPI and frequency (at least, these two are highlighted by manufacturers and online shops). But do DPI and frequency really play a key role if we talk about gaming mice? Let’s try to solve the question.

It is worth saying now that these specifications are particularly meaningful for gamers. A high accuracy and response speed do not make much difference for a regular PC user. A common mouse is perfect for web-surfing or an office job. Those who play video games for fun should not dwell on DPI and frequency as well. Instead, those who want to receive a competitive advantage in online matches need to learn this topic. An accurate gaming mouse will also be useful for professional designers or artists.

Working principle of an optical mouse

PC input devices have passed a long development path. Construction of a plastic ball and a few rolls was used in mice to register movements quite a bit of time. A cursor was moving on a screen in response to the ball’s movements. Due to a mouse was touching a mouse pad directly, it was taking all the dust and mud. Special rolls, which were being moved by a ball, registered horizontal and vertical movements of a cursor.

The main working principle of modern mice has left the same. But instead of spinning elements, small laser emitters or light-emitting diodes and also sensors, which register the reflected light. When a device is moved on a table’s surface, light from an emitter is reflected and lands on a light detecting element. A mouse can register hundreds of reflected images in one second. Mouse software compares an image and determined, in which direction the movement is made. This data is sent to a PC, as a result.

What does DPI mean?

This specification reflects gaming mouse speed – a number of dots per inch. The bigger DPI ratio, the further cursor will move on a screen in response to a mouse movement by one inch. A device with bigger DPI responds even to the slightest hand movements.

It does not always make sense in running for a bigger DPI ratio. There might be a situation when a mouse cursor «flies over» from one side of a monitor to another with the help of the slightest mouse movement on a table. However, a high sensitivity held a sensor to find out absolutely all user’s hand movements and appropriately respond to them. This allows a player to direct a cursor more accurately to objects on a monitor. For example, a big DPI ratio might be useful in an FPS game, while shooting a sniper rifle. A gamer can quickly and smoothly move a crosshair on a small aim with the help of a small mouse movement. But during usual gaming, such DPI can make a mouse too sensitive, on the outcome of which small aims will become invincible. Due to this, many gaming mice are equipped with a special button to switch DPI. A user evaluates what ratio will be perfect for one or another gaming situation.  

Mouse sensitivity can be set up directly on a computer. But his option can’t fully replace DPI. Sensitivity is configured on a software level, while DPI is related to a hardware feature of a mouse. For example, a cheap model with low DPI with the increased sensibility in settings will not be able to perform in action as well as a gaming mouse with high DPI. It will be difficult to control a cursor of such a mouse when you try to target small objects. It can simply miss a required dot on a screen and that is not surprising that a PC misses it too. A high DPI ratio does not limit the user’s abilities. With the help of special software, he can set up a device sensibility in accordance with his/her wish.

Frequency of a device 

This specification shows how frequently new data is sent to a PC by a mouse. For example, at a frequency of 125 Hz, a data of a cursor location is updated 125 times per 1 second or 1 time each 8 ms. The increase of frequency to 500 Hz means that a mouse sends new data every 2 ms (500 times per 1 second). A high frequency reduces a delay between a mouse movement and a display of cursor movements on a PC monitor. On the other hand, a PC’s CPU usage is increased because it has to receive and process new data more frequently. Frequency can be changed in software settings and directly on a mouse (some gaming models are equipped with a special switch for this in parallel with a DPI button).

Big DPI and frequency – it is better or not?

A DPI ratio and frequency of a mouse is a controversial topic among gamers and PC users. Some people seriously protect these parameters and can provide a lot of arguments about why you should seek to big DPI ratios and frequency. Others think that a human does not perceive such big ratios and it is better to focus on more basic mouse specifications: size, shape, a place where buttons are set up and a number of buttons, connection methods, materials, etc. In such a way, manufacturers of gaming devices are divided into two camps in relation to DPI and frequency but when it comes to gaming mice, no one considers to forget about a high sensibility or work speed. The choice of a mouse depends on a gamer’s genre preference, a screen resolution, and a gaming style.