Frequently Asked Questions

DPI (Dots Per Inch) and CPI (Counts Per Inch) are often used interchangeably, but there is a technical difference:

• CPI (Counts Per Inch) is actually the more accurate term for mouse sensitivity. It refers to how many counts (or steps) the mouse sensor reports when moving one inch.
• DPI (Dots Per Inch) originally referred to printer resolution (how many dots of ink a printer could place in one inch), but has become the common marketing term for mouse sensitivity.

Mouse manufacturers typically use DPI in their marketing and software, which is why it's become the standard term despite CPI being technically more accurate for describing mouse sensor resolution.

No, higher DPI isn't always better. While higher DPI provides smoother cursor movement and can be beneficial for high-resolution displays, it also makes the cursor more sensitive to small movements, which can make precise aiming more difficult.

Advantages of higher DPI:

• Smoother cursor movement with less pixelation
• Better for high-resolution monitors (4K, etc.)
• Faster cursor movement across large screens
• Beneficial for games requiring quick, sweeping movements
• Requires less physical movement, which can be good for limited desk space

Advantages of lower DPI:

• More precise control for small adjustments
• Easier to develop consistent muscle memory
• Preferred by most professional FPS players
• Less susceptible to hand tremors affecting aim

The best DPI setting depends on your specific needs, preferences, and the task at hand.

eDPI (effective DPI) is a way to standardize sensitivity across different games and settings. It's calculated by multiplying your mouse DPI by your in-game sensitivity setting:

For example, if you use 800 DPI on your mouse and your in-game sensitivity is 2.5, your eDPI would be 800 × 2.5 = 2000.

eDPI is useful because it gives you a single number that represents your true sensitivity, making it easier to compare settings across different games or with other players. Many professional gamers share their eDPI rather than just their DPI or in-game sensitivity alone.

You can use our eDPI Calculator to quickly determine your eDPI for various games.

The ideal DPI setting depends on your gaming style, the game you're playing, and personal preference. Here are some general guidelines:

Other factors to consider:

• Monitor Resolution: Higher resolution monitors may benefit from higher DPI settings.
• Mousepad Size: Larger mousepads allow for lower DPI settings since you have more physical space to move.
• Aiming Style: Arm aimers typically prefer lower DPI (400-800), while wrist aimers often use higher DPI (1000+).

We recommend experimenting with different settings to find what works best for you. You can use our DPI Analyzer to measure your current settings and our Sensitivity Converter to match sensitivities across different games.

Your mouse feels different across games because each game has its own sensitivity scaling, acceleration settings, and processing methods. Several factors contribute to this:

• Sensitivity Scaling: Each game engine implements sensitivity differently, using different scales and calculations.
• Input Processing: Some games may apply additional processing like acceleration or smoothing, while others use raw input.
• FOV (Field of View): Different games have different FOV settings, which can affect how cursor/camera movement feels.
• Frame Rate: Games running at different frame rates can make mouse movement feel different.
• Game-Specific Settings: Some games have additional mouse settings like "ADS sensitivity multiplier" that affect how aiming feels in different contexts.

Using our Sensitivity Converter tool can help you maintain consistent feel across different games by calculating equivalent sensitivity settings that account for these differences.

Mouse acceleration is a feature that increases cursor movement based on how quickly you move your mouse, not just how far you move it. With acceleration enabled, moving your mouse quickly will result in the cursor traveling further than if you moved the same distance slowly.

Should you turn it off?

Most competitive gamers prefer to turn acceleration off because:

• It makes mouse movements inconsistent and harder to build muscle memory
• The same physical movement can produce different results depending on speed
• It can make precise aiming more difficult, especially in FPS games

However, some users, particularly those with limited desk space or who use very high resolution displays, may prefer having acceleration enabled as it allows for both fine control (with slow movements) and the ability to quickly traverse the screen (with fast movements).

For gaming, especially in FPS games, we generally recommend disabling mouse acceleration for more consistent aim.

To convert sensitivity between games, you can use our Sensitivity Converter tool. This tool accounts for the different sensitivity scaling used by various games and calculates equivalent settings that will give you the same effective mouse movement.

The process is simple:

1. Select your source game (the game where you already have comfortable settings)
2. Enter your current DPI and in-game sensitivity for that game
3. Select your target game (the game you want to match sensitivity for)
4. The tool will calculate the equivalent sensitivity for the target game

For manual conversion, you can use the following formula if you know the sensitivity scaling ratios between games:

Target Sensitivity = Source Sensitivity × (Source Game Ratio ÷ Target Game Ratio)

However, these ratios can be difficult to find and may not account for all the factors that affect mouse feel, which is why our converter tool is recommended for most users.

You can find your mouse's current DPI through several methods:

1. Mouse Manufacturer's Software: If you have software installed for your mouse (like Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, Corsair iCUE, etc.), you can check and adjust your DPI settings there.
2. Using Our DPI Analyzer Tool: Our DPI Analyzer tool can measure your mouse's actual DPI by tracking how far your cursor moves when you move your mouse a specific distance.
3. Check Documentation: Your mouse's manual or the manufacturer's website should list the default DPI settings and how to adjust them.
4. DPI Button: Many gaming mice have a DPI adjustment button that cycles through different preset values. Some mice have LED indicators that show which DPI setting is currently active.

Note that the actual DPI might differ slightly from the advertised or set value due to sensor variations, surface quality, and other factors. Our DPI Analyzer tool can help you measure the effective DPI your system is actually registering.

Our DPI measurement tools are designed to be as accurate as possible within the constraints of browser-based technology. For most users, our tools provide measurements within 3-5% of laboratory-grade equipment.

Factors that can affect accuracy include:

• Mouse Sensor Quality: Higher-quality sensors generally provide more consistent readings
• Surface Type: Different mousepad materials can affect sensor readings
• Browser Settings: Some browser settings or extensions might affect cursor tracking
• System Performance: CPU/GPU load can affect polling rate and measurement accuracy
• User Technique: The steadiness and consistency of your hand movement during measurement

To get the most accurate results:

• Perform multiple measurements and take the average
• Use a ruler or measuring tape for precise distance measurement
• Move your mouse as straight and consistently as possible
• Close unnecessary applications and browser tabs
• Disable mouse acceleration ("Enhance pointer precision" in Windows)

For professional or competitive use cases where absolute precision is required, we recommend verifying our measurements against manufacturer specifications or dedicated hardware testing tools.

Our Mouse Distance Estimator tool calculates how far you physically move your mouse during gameplay or regular computer use. This information can be valuable for:

• Optimizing Setup: Determining if your current sensitivity settings are causing excessive or insufficient mouse movement
• Mousepad Selection: Helping you choose an appropriately sized mousepad based on your movement patterns
• Ergonomic Assessment: Identifying potential strain issues from excessive movement
• Gaming Performance Analysis: Understanding how your physical movements translate to in-game actions
• Comparing Playstyles: Seeing how your mouse movement compares to professional players or friends

The tool works by taking your DPI setting, in-game sensitivity, and gameplay duration as inputs, then calculating the estimated distance your mouse travels based on average movement patterns for different game types.

For more accurate personalized results, you can use our Movement Recorder tool to track your actual mouse movement during a session.

Yes, our tools work on all major operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, as they are browser-based and don't require any software installation. However, there are some platform-specific considerations:

• Windows: All tools are fully compatible. For best results, disable "Enhance pointer precision" (mouse acceleration) in mouse settings.
• macOS: All tools work, but macOS has built-in mouse acceleration that can't be fully disabled through system settings. For the most accurate measurements, we recommend using a third-party tool like "Linear Mouse" or "SteerMouse" to disable acceleration.
• Linux: All tools are compatible. Depending on your distribution and desktop environment, you may need to adjust mouse acceleration settings for optimal results.
• Mobile Devices: Our website is mobile-friendly, but the mouse-specific tools naturally require a mouse input device to function properly.

Browser compatibility: Our tools work best on modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version for optimal performance.

Several factors can cause your actual DPI to differ from your mouse's settings:

1. Sensor Inaccuracy: Not all mouse sensors are perfectly calibrated. Budget mice in particular may have actual DPI that differs from advertised values.
2. Surface Issues: Different mouse pads or surfaces can affect how the sensor reads movement. Some sensors perform better on specific surface types.
3. Driver Settings: Mouse driver software might apply additional processing, scaling, or acceleration that affects the effective DPI.
4. Windows Mouse Settings: The Windows pointer speed slider and "Enhance pointer precision" setting can modify the raw input from your mouse.
5. Display Scaling: If you're using Windows display scaling (e.g., 125% or 150%), this can affect how cursor movement relates to physical mouse movement.
6. Game Settings: Some games apply their own scaling or processing to mouse input.

To get a more accurate measurement of your actual effective DPI, use our DPI Analyzer tool, which measures how your system is actually processing mouse movement.

For the most accurate results, make sure to:

• Disable "Enhance pointer precision" in Windows mouse settings
• Set Windows pointer speed to the middle position (6/11)
• Close any mouse software that might be applying additional processing
• Use a consistent, high-quality mouse surface

We recommend recalibrating or checking your mouse DPI in the following situations:

• After changing mousepads or surfaces: Different surfaces can affect sensor readings
• After updating mouse drivers or software: Updates might reset or change your DPI settings
• If you notice inconsistent cursor movement: This could indicate a change in effective DPI
• After cleaning your mouse sensor: Dust or debris can affect sensor accuracy
• Every few months as general maintenance: Sensors can drift slightly over time

Regular gamers, especially competitive players, might benefit from more frequent checks to ensure consistent performance. Professional esports players often check their settings before every practice session or competition.

Use our DPI Analyzer tool to quickly verify your current effective DPI and make adjustments as needed.

Inconsistent mouse movement can be caused by several factors:

1. Mouse Acceleration: If enabled, this makes cursor movement depend on how quickly you move the mouse, not just how far. Check if "Enhance pointer precision" is enabled in Windows mouse settings or if you have acceleration enabled in game settings.
2. Dirty Sensor or Mousepad: Dust, hair, or debris on your mouse sensor or mousepad can cause tracking issues. Clean both regularly.
3. Unsuitable Surface: Some mouse sensors don't work well on certain surfaces (particularly glass, highly reflective, or very dark surfaces).
4. Low Polling Rate: A low polling rate (125Hz vs 1000Hz) can make mouse movement feel less responsive. Check your mouse software for polling rate settings.
5. Wireless Interference: For wireless mice, interference from other devices can cause inconsistent tracking. Try changing the USB port or moving the receiver closer to the mouse.
6. Low Battery: Wireless mice may perform inconsistently when battery levels are low.
7. CPU/GPU Performance Issues: If your computer is struggling to maintain consistent frame rates, mouse movement can feel inconsistent even if the mouse itself is working properly.
8. Outdated or Corrupted Drivers: Make sure your mouse drivers are up to date.

To diagnose the issue, you can use our DPI Analyzer tool to check if your mouse is reporting consistent DPI values across multiple tests. Significant variation in results could indicate a hardware or configuration problem.

For more detailed troubleshooting advice, check our blog post on Troubleshooting DPI Issues.

Many professional gamers, especially in FPS games, use relatively low DPI settings (typically 400-800) for several reasons:

1. Precision and Control: Lower DPI allows for more precise aiming adjustments, as small hand movements translate to smaller cursor/crosshair movements.
2. Consistency: Lower DPI settings are often more consistent across different surfaces and conditions.
3. Historical Precedent: Many pros started playing on older mice with lower DPI capabilities and maintained those settings for muscle memory consistency.
4. Arm Aiming vs. Wrist Aiming: Lower DPI encourages arm aiming (moving the entire arm rather than just the wrist), which some players find more precise and less prone to injury over long sessions.
5. Large Mousepads: Professional setups typically include very large mousepads, allowing for extensive mouse movement even with low DPI.
6. In-Game Sensitivity Multiplication: Many pros combine low DPI with higher in-game sensitivity to achieve their desired effective sensitivity while maintaining the benefits of lower DPI.

It's worth noting that not all professionals use low DPI. Players in different genres (like MOBA or RTS) often prefer higher DPI settings for faster cursor movement across the screen. Even within FPS games, some professionals use higher DPI settings based on personal preference and playstyle.

The most important factor is finding settings that feel comfortable and consistent for your specific needs and setup. You can use our DPI Analyzer and eDPI Calculator tools to experiment with different settings.