Learn About Gaming Mice
How do I pick a good mouse for video games?
In short, pick mice with:
- Inches Per Second (IPS): 250+
- Acceleration: 35G+
- Polling Rate (Hz): 1,000+
- Wireless (Optional)
Avoid mice with these features if they can't be turned off:
- Hardware/Software Acceleration
- Smoothing
- Angle Snapping
Generally speaking, most other aspects of mice are down to user preference.
- People often, but not always, prefer a lighter mouse
- If you play MMOs, you might prefer a mouse with a lot of buttons
Wireless Mice Are Now Good
Historically, wireless mouse were inferior to wired mice, but that is no longer the case. Technological advancements have brought wireless mice up to the capabilities of wired mice.
Wireless mice are better due to the fact that you don't have to deal with whipping the mouse cable around, having it fall back behind your desk, and getting it caught on things (like your mousepad).
It is still fine to use a wired mouse, but high-end wireless mice should perform better for you.
Mouse Settings Guide For Gaming
Windows Mouse Settings
Set your Windows Pointer Speed to be 6/11 (the middle).
- Modern games rarely ever use this, though.
Disable Windows Enhance Pointer Precision. By any other name, this is known as Mouse Acceleration, and Window's version of it is extra bad for gaming.
Mouse Surface
Use a mouse pad, if possible.
Calibrate your mouse to the surface your mouse is going to be used on. Only some mice offer this feature (e.g., some Razer mice).
Sensitivity
- Set your preferred DPI for your mouse. Most pro players prefer somewhere between 400-3600 DPI. Lower your in-game sensitivity first, if you need your mouse movement to be slower.
- Set your in-game sensitivity.
If you wish to have the same sensitivity across multiple games, use a website like mouse-sensitivity. It makes the calculations easy.
Unless you play with very high sensitivity, you will likely want a large mouse pad. Here are some example popular large mouse pads (Dimensions in brackets are: Length, Width, Height; in inches):
Polling Rate
Make sure your polling rate (Hz) is set as high as it can go.
Raw Input
In your game, turn on Raw Input, if that option exists.
Mouse Acceleration
It is recommended you turn off Mouse Acceleration. When it is on, it will make it harder to learn how to consistently and accurately move your mouse.
Even though it isn't recommended that you use Mouse Acceleration, if you really wish to try it, it is recommended you download the open source program Raw Accel(GitHub). Raw Accel allows for extremely in-depth, customizable mouse acceleration.
Name
The model or identifier of the mouse.
Brand
The company that manufactures the mouse.
Dots Per Inch (DPI)
Higher DPI means the cursor moves faster.
Dots Per Inch (DPI), also known as Counts Per Inch (CPI).
In-game sensitivity, and your mouse's DPI, can basically be viewed as the same thing--it makes the cursor move faster or slower.
Most pro FPS players use between 400-1600 DPI.
Most pro MOBA players use between 800-3200 DPI.
Advanced DPI Information
There is some evidence that a higher DPI can improve Mouse Sensor Latency (The time it takes for the mouse to register a movement and send that to the computer), thereby making a small difference. This benefit rapidly falls off the higher the DPI is; Going beyond 3,200 DPI likely won't yield much benefit.
cm/360, which is how how many inches or cm your mouse has to travel on your mouse pad in order to make your character do a 360° in game.
Games implement their in-game sensitivity differently; Using the in-game sensitivity number from one game will often not provide you with the same sensitivity of another game. The solution to this is to use a website like mouse-sensitivity, as they have accounted for the different implementations of in-game sensitivity in many different games. Once you put in your mouse DPI and in-game sensitivity, it will tell you what your cm/360 is.
Acceleration
How quickly the mouse can change its velocity without losing tracking accuracy.
Measured in g's (G-force).
When you make a quick movement with your mouse, there’s a force applied to it (similar to the lurching motion you feel when making a quick turn in a car, or when you quickly accelerate). The acceleration specification measures how much of this force (measured with standard gravitational pull as 1G) the sensor can handle before inconsistencies occur.
Want to be assured that your mouse can handle your flick speed? Go with a mouse that has 35+ acceleration.
A lot of people can likely get away with having a mouse with lower acceleration, because they don't move their arm very fast.
Inches Per Second (IPS)
The maximum speed the mouse can accurately track movement.
The top speed at which the mouse can be moved at. Want to do some nutty flick shots? Better have a mouse that can run that nutty speed.
Want to be assured that your mouse can handle your flick speed? Go with a mouse that has 250+ IPS.
A lot of people can likely get away with having a lower IPS mouse, because they don't move their arm very fast.
Polling Rate (Hz)
How often the mouse reports its position to the computer.
The Polling Rate (Hz), also known as the Report Rate, is a measurement of how fast the mouse updates its position. In other words, it makes the mouse's position more accurate.
Warning: Some games are improperly developed for mice that have higher Hz (most commonly 8K Hz has problems), and your mouse will perform poorly unless you turn the Hz down while playing that game. This isn't a problem with your mouse--it is a problem with the game.
- 1K Hz should have no problems
- 8K Hz will be problematic in some games
For a more in-depth look at the issue, click here.
How To Test My Mouse's Polling Rate (Hz)
Razer provides free software for testing your mouse polling rate (Hz) at this direct download link from Razer, or navigate to it on their website.
Lift-off Distance
The height at which the mouse stops tracking when lifted off the surface.
How far away from the mouse-pad will the mouse still function? Having a low lift-off distance can be important for people with really low sensitivity, as they lift up their mouse a lot to move their character around in game.
Uncommonly, some may even prefer a very high lift-off distance as they have a bespoke style of wielding a mouse.
Some mice allow you to adjust the lift-off distance, to an extent, in their downloadable software.
If you see it being measured in multiples of 1.2 (1.2, 2.4, 3.6) that likely means it is an estimate based on user testing with CD thickness as a measuring tool.
Ergonomics
The design and features that provide comfort during use.
A matter of preference, though the weight of the mouse can be an important factor.
Handed Orientation
Which of your hands the mouse is built for.
- Either: Either hand will work. Symmetrical shape & button placement.
- R-Sym: Symmetrical shape, but the buttons are placed for right handed people
- Right: for right handed people
- Left: for left handed people
Finger Rest
A place to set your thumb or pinky fingers on.
This can prevent your thumb or pinky from dragging along the mouse pad when moving the mouse.
Shell
The mouse shell is the outer part of a gaming mouse that you hold in your hand
- Solid
- Honeycomb (Many holes in it; often in the shape of a honeycomb)
Honeycomb reduces weight and allows your hand to breathe easier, but it also allows dust to get inside the mouse.
Weight
How heavy the mouse is, measured in grams. In some mice, this is adjustable. A mouse's weight is listed as its lowest possible weight, as that is generally most desirable.
A matter of preference. Most people prefer lighter mice (particularly for FPS games). Lighter mice can potentially be easier to use for extended periods of time, as it is less weight to throw around.
Length, Width, Height
The size of the mouse, measured in millimeters (mm).
Depending on your grip style (palm, claw, fingertip, etc.) you may want a bigger or smaller mouse. Also depends on your hand size.
Primary Use
The type of activity the mouse is designed for.
- Gaming
- Productivity (navigating through documents easier)
- Travelling (generally smaller size & longer battery life)
Release Date
When the mouse was first available for purchase.
Scroll Wheels
The types of mouse wheels are:
- Notched: Standard scroll wheel; rotates in discrete steps, providing tactile feedback with each step
- Free: Wheel spins without resistance; good for fast scrolling through long documents
- Tilt: Tilt the wheel to either side to scroll horizontally
- Adaptive: Scroll slowly: Notched Wheel. Scroll fast: Free Wheel
Some mice have toggleable Free/Notched.
Some people really dislike freewheel. So keep that in mind if you are checking out a mouse that has free-wheel only (no toggle), and haven't experienced it before. Others, still, quite enjoy it.
Steps per wheel scroll
The number of notches or steps you feel as you scroll.
A matter of preference.
Number of Buttons
Total number of buttons, excluding ones that are on the bottom of the mouse.
Buttons can be hotkeyed to various actions in games. Think of it as an extension of your keyboard, but the buttons are on your mouse instead.
The number of side buttons you want generally depends on what video games you intend to play, and is ultimately based on your preference.
- MMO: between 2 and 20+
- FPS: usually 2 is enough
Built In
A built in, rechargeable battery is built into the mouse.
AA, AAA: You must replace the batteries when they die, or recharge them outside the mouse.
Battery Life
Hours of constant usage before battery needs to be recharged/replaced.
Listed numbers are when using highest performance settings, with one exception:
Battery life when using separately purchasable accessories is not reflected in the table on this website. For example, the 1000-8000* Hz mice: their battery life is shown using the 1000 Hz, as that is the only option available when buying *just* the mouse.
Hardware Acceleration
A built-in function that makes the cursor travel faster the quicker you move the mouse.
This can be beneficial for users who have limited desk space or prefer faster cursor movement without moving the mouse a great distance. However, it can also lead to less precision, as the cursor’s movement is not a 1:1 reflection of the mouse’s movement, which is why most gamers prefer to turn it off.
If Hardware Acceleration can't be turned off, it is bad for gaming because it reduces your mouse's accuracy. For optimum gaming performance, you want your mouse to do exactly what you tell it to do--to be an extension of your arm and hand. Hardware Acceleration gets in the way of you, your mouse, and your video game.
Angle Snapping
A feature that changes the mouse's movement, typically for drawing straight lines.
If Angle Snapping can't be turned off, it is bad for gaming because it reduces your mouse's accuracy, as it has different goals in mind (like drawing a straight line). For optimum gaming performance, you want your mouse to do exactly what you tell it to do--to be an extension of your arm and hand. Angle Snapping gets in the way of you, your mouse, and your video game.
Smoothing
A feature that predicts the next position of the cursor based on previous movements, creating smoother motion.
While this can make movements appear smoother, especially on mice with lower polling rates, it can also introduce a delay between the physical movement of the mouse and the movement of the cursor on the screen. This is bad for gaming, as precision and responsiveness are critical.
Motion Sync
A feature that synchronizes the mouse's sensor readings with your PC's cursor position checks.
The goal here is to improve precision and reduce latency through more timely updates.
Sensors
The technology used to track movement (optical, laser).
- Optical: reads surface with an LED light
- Laser: reads surface with a laser
Technical Info About Sensors
The sensor is most of what is behind each mouse's performance stats like DPI, IPS, and Acceleration; often you are able to glean a lot of information about a mouse just by knowing the name of its sensor.
There are important caveats though, as companies that make mice, such as Logitech, Razer, etc. may make additional modifications (upgrades or downgrades) to the sensor that they bought from a sensor vendor (E.g. Pixart).
This means that you can't reliably infer the capabilities of a mouse just by looking at the sensor that it uses.
Sensor manufacturers have websites detailing their sensor's stats, E.g.:
Switches
The type of button mechanisms used, affecting click feel and lifespan.
Switches have a lifespan, measured in clicks, and often last for millions to tens of millions of clicks.
Anti-Debounce
A very small delay that is introduced to prevent registering multiple clicks from one button press.
Mouse Feet
The pads on the bottom that allow the mouse to glide over surfaces.
Grip Styles
How you hold the mouse. This is entirely up to each individual's preference.
There are 3 major grip styles:
- Fingertip
- Claw
- Palm
cm per 360
cm/360, also known as inches/360, measures the distance your mouse needs to move to turn your in-game character a full circle (360 degrees).
This is related to both your in-game mouse sensitivity settings, as well as the DPI that your mouse is currently set to.
Known Issues With Mice
Very High Polling Rate (Hz)
Some games work poorly (or not at all) with mice that have a very high polling rate (Hz). This is because the game developers did not make their game for 8K Hz mice, or the tools that the developer used to make the game did not support 8K Hz mice.
The workaround is simple: lower your mouse's Hz (to something like 1,000 Hz or 2,000 Hz) for games that 8K Hz doesn't work with.
Technical Information
Windows 11 Update That Improved Performance:
Windows 11 Moment 3 (KB5027303) improved performance for mice that have a high report rate. KB5027303 Description:
This update improves your computer’s performance when you use a mouse that has a high report rate for gaming. To learn more, see “Reduced game stutter with high report rate mice” in Delivering Delightful Performance for More Than One Billion Users Worldwide.