I set out to prove polling rate affects my aim and instead found my favourite DPI setting
News Source
β’Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:31:00 +0000
π° What Happened
A PC Gamer writer tested whether a mouse's polling rate really helps your aim. Higher polling rates did not clearly improve his scores. Instead he found he aimed best at a low setting of 400 DPI, which many pro players use. His scores at 400 DPI were far better than the ones he got at 4,000 DPI, so he now has a new favourite setting.
π The Backstory
DPI measures how far the cursor moves when you slide the mouse an inch. Polling rate is how many times per second the mouse reports to the PC, with gaming mice now reaching 8,000 Hz. Marketing pushes ever bigger numbers. Pro shooter players usually run 400 to 800 DPI and adjust sensitivity inside the game instead.
π― Why It Matters
Gamers spend a lot on mice that promise better aim. Tests like this suggest skill and comfortable settings matter more than the biggest numbers.
A PC Gamer writer tested whether a mouse's polling rate really helps your aim. Higher polling rates did not clearly improve his scores. Instead he found he aimed best at a low setting of 400 DPI, which many pro players use. His scores at 400 DPI were far better than the ones he got at 4,000 DPI, so he now has a new favourite setting.
DPI measures how far the cursor moves when you slide the mouse an inch. Polling rate is how many times per second the mouse reports to the PC, with gaming mice now reaching 8,000 Hz. Marketing pushes ever bigger numbers. Pro shooter players usually run 400 to 800 DPI and adjust sensitivity inside the game instead.
Gamers spend a lot on mice that promise better aim. Tests like this suggest skill and comfortable settings matter more than the biggest numbers.