Tips To Choose Gaming Mouse DPI for Optimizing Gameplay
Your gaming mouse has a significant impact on your gaming experience. Irrespective of the brand, every gaming mouse shares key features. Some of these features help improve the hardware of the mouse while others have to do with optimizing the connection between the mouse and the other game components like the monitor, the operating system of the computer, and the game being played. Gaming mouse DPI is one of the features most gaming mice share, and getting the DPI right can optimize gameplay.
Choose a gaming mouse with a DPI of over 600 to improve agility in fast-paced games and a DPI of around 400 for slower, more precise movements. The choice of a gaming mouse’s DPI to optimize gameplay is dependent on the type of game and the demand these games put on the mouse.
In this article, we will be addressing key concerns and answering specific questions you might have about DPI and your mouse. We will look at what DPI means, what the best DPI is for a gaming mouse, what the average DPI for mice is, how to check the DPI setting of a mouse on Windows 10 and Mac OS, and finally, how to use a DPI button on a mouse.
Our guide on what a gaming mouse will cost with tips to optimize quality vs. price has some great tips for choosing the right features and capabilities in a mouse.
If you're still in the market for a gaming mouse, be sure to check out our related article explaining what to look for in a gaming mouse for more information. Also, you might find interest in these tips to optimize gaming mouse drag clicking, so be sure to check that out too.
What Is the DPI of a Gaming Mouse?
DPI (dots per inch) is the measure of the movement of a cursor per inch. To fully understand what this measurement stands for, we must understand how an optical mouse works. This article from the South Asian Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Studies explains how an optical mouse works, where every movement of the mouse is translated into the movement of the cursor on the screen.
DPI stands for dots per inch and is a measure of the relationship between the movement of a mouse and its relative effect on the movement of the cursor on the screen. Choose a higher DPI for quicker movements and a lower DPI for more controlled movements.
DPI is a measure of the correlation between the movement of the mouse on the mouse pad and the movement of the cursor on the screen. A 400 DPI in a mouse like this means 1-inch of mouse movement will move the cursor 400 pixels on the screen. A low DPI means that every inch of mouse movement results in the cursor moving a short distance, while a high DPI means an inch of the movement of the mouse results in the cursor traveling a larger distance on the screen.
You may also wonder whether or not you can use a gaming mouse vs. a controller. If so, be sure to check out our related article for more information.
What Is eDPI?
You can change the DPI of a mouse from low to high depending on your preference. Every gamer over time gets used to a specific range of DPI. However, a comfortable DPI for a gamer is also determined by the sensitivity of the particular game being played, also called “In-Game Sensitivity.” For each game, the most comfortable and responsive DPI for a player is determined by the DPI setting on the mouse and the sensitivity of the game.
To calculate EDPI (effective DPI), multiply game sensitivity and mouse DPI. For games with high sensitivity, choose a lower DPI gaming mouse. For games with low sensitivity, choose a higher DPI gaming mouse.
You can calculate the eDPI yourself by using this eDPI calculator from Omnialculator.com. If your mouse is set at 400 DPI and the In-Game Sensitivity is 2x, the EDPI is 800. In essence, the speed of the cursor for 2 gamers with different DPI can add up to the amounts illustrated in the calculations below:
400 DPI X 2 in-game sensitivity = 800 eDPI
800 DPI X 1 in-game sensitivity = 800 eDPI
To determine the comfortable speed of your cursor for each game, all you need to do is change the DPI of your game based on the in-game sensitivity of the game. You can determine the sensitivity of any game based on its settings. If you desire a higher eDPI for a game with low sensitivity, increase the DPI of your mouse. If you desire a lower eDPI for a game with high sensitivity, reduce the DPI of your mouse.
Factors That Affect a Good DPI For a Gaming Mouse
You might wonder, what is a good DPI for gaming mice? There is no consensus on a good DPI for a gaming mouse.
The average DPI used by gamers is between 400 and 800, irrespective of the type of game. Anything lower than 400 is considered too low, and anything higher than 800 is considered too high.
What’s considered good for a gaming mouse used for a particular game can be extremely poor for another game. If however, you find that your mouse is slow no matter how you adjust the DPI settings then you should read our article about fixing a gaming mouse that’s slow.
A good DPI for a mouse is determined by several factors, mainly the choice of the individual gamer, the type of game being played and its required sensitivity, as well as the type of mouse being used and its DPI range.
These factors jointly determine what can be described as a good DPI for a gaming mouse, as in an example like this. DPI settings are more of a subjective opinion than an objective one. We can attempt to suggest an average DPI based on each parameter but do not forget, it’s a combination of these factors that informs the suggested values that gamers recommend for specific games.
The following factors determine a good gaming mouse DPI:
1. The Choice of the Individual Gamer
It’s key to understand that your mind adjusts to a DPI. This means that the combined effect of your brain cells working alongside your eyes and hands at a particular DPI ends up confining you to that DPI. An abrupt change in the measure of the DPI or EDPI will affect your muscle memory according to this article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
So, it’s always better to note the DPI setting you’re accustomed to and then move either up or down gradually, to give yourself time to adjust to the change. Any abrupt change and you will lose control of the cursor movements. Modern mice like this one come with a DPI button which gamers can use to adjust their DPI. However, the DPI range for mice differs from one mouse to another.
2. The Type of Game Being Played and Its Sensitivity
According to this article by HP there are several genres of games, and each game has several techniques gamers have to learn. These techniques demand that the gaming mouse be used in several ways. Interestingly, some of these techniques depend on alternating between two DPI’s within the same game.
To illustrate, using FPS (First Player Shooter Games), the recommended mouse DPI for sniping and strafing is 400 DPI. This DPI is recommended because both techniques require the slightest cursor movement. However, for this game, a DPI of 800 is recommended for firing from the hip, and this is because this technique requires a gamer to fire at several targets randomly, requiring the cursor to move fast between several targets. So for games where the DPI has to be changed regularly, we recommend a mouse like this.
3. The Type of Mouse Being Used and Its Range of DPI
There are several types of mice and apart from obvious physical features, both functional and aesthetic, each one comes with its range of DPI and a gaming mouse offers gamers a choice of the highest possible DPI ranges. Our article comparing gaming mice vs. regular mice explains the importance of features with regards to the overall gaming experience. Furthermore, this article will also explain whether or not you can use your gaming mouse as a regular mouse, so be sure to check that one out too.
Below is a table that lists some popular mouse products and their DPI range.
| Mouse | DPI Range |
|---|---|
| Logitech G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse | 200 - 12,000 |
| Razer Orochi V2 Mobile Wireless Gaming Mouse | 26,000 |
| Steel Series Rival 3 Wireless Gaming Mouse | 200 - 8,500 in 100 CPI increments |
| Mouse Gamer Cooler Master Mm710 Black Glossy | 400 - 16,000 |
You may also find interest in learning more about a wireless gaming mouse and a wired one to find out which will be best for you. Be sure to read our related article to find out more.
What Is the Average DPI of a Gaming Mouse?
The average DPI of a gaming mouse is a figure that reflects the average DPI most users prefer for their mouse. It doesn’t describe the DPI of mice as hardware, because as stated earlier, individual mice come with their own DPI ranges.
The average DPI for a gaming mouse is between 400 to 800 DPI. This figure reflects the typical DPI used by most gamers. It also shows that most gamers prefer to use their mouse in the low DPI range considering most mice come with a high DPI above 10,000.
How To Check Gaming Mouse DPI Settings on Windows 10
There are several ways to check the DPI settings of a gaming mouse.
To check gaming mouse DPI settings on Windows 10, first, click on the Windows icon, then click on “Settings.” Next, click on “Devices” and then on “Mouse.” Finally, click on “Additional Options” and adjust the DPI setting.
The first way to check DPI settings is through the use of software like Logitech G Hub or Synapse or the software of the particular manufacturer of your mouse. Some games allow you to access the DPI settings of the mouse during the game. A final option is to adjust the DPI through the operating system of the computer that the game is being played on. It may be e good idea to read our article that explains easy gaming mouse quality tests to make sure that your mouse is working optimally.
Follow these steps to check the DPI of your gaming mouse on your Windows computer:
Step 1. Navigate to “Settings”
Click on the Windows icon located at the bottom left. Then, click on “Settings.”
Step 2. Click on “Devices”
From the “Settings” menu select “Devices”.
Step 3. Click on “Mouse”
From the “Bluetooth and other devices” window select “Mouse”.
Step 4. Finally, click on “Additional mouse options”
While in the “Mouse” settings select “Additional mouse options”.
Step 5. Adjust the DPI
Adjust the DPI of your mouse accordingly and then click the OK button when you are done.
How To Check Gaming Mouse DPI Settings on MacOS
If you’re a Mac user, you can also access the mouse DPI setting on your macOS. The process is straightforward.
To check gaming mouse DPI settings on macOS first choose “Apple Menu,” then click on “Apple Preferences,” and finally click on “Mouse.”
On the macOS, the mouse settings cover tracking, double-clicking, and scrolling. The settings make it easy to alter your DPI settings as explained in this MacOS User Guide.
Follow these steps to check the DPI of your gaming mouse on your Mac computer:
Step 1. Navigate to “Apple Preference”
On your Mac, click the “Apple Menu,” then click “Apple Preference”.
Step 2. Click “Mouse”
Step 3. Adjust the DPI
Adjust the mouse DPI by moving the slider.
How To Use the DPI Button on a Mouse
Most modern mice come with buttons that you can press to control the DPI.
To adjust the DPI on a mouse first locate the DPI button on the mouse body, usually close to the scroll wheel on the top of the mouse. Click the DPI button until the desired DPI is selected.
Our article about how to test and change mouse DPI explains the step-by-step process to tweak your DPI so that your mouse feels more responsive.
We will be looking at how to use the DPI button of a Razer Mouse. A Razer mouse like this has a range of 100 DPI to 26,000 DPI.
Follow the steps below to adjust the DPI manually:
Step 1. Locate the DPI buttons.
You can find it at the back of the scroll wheel. A Razer Mouse is equipped with either a dual sensitive button or a single sensitive button.
Step 2. Press the Appropriate Button to Raise or Lower the DPI
For the dual sensitive button, clicking the first button increases the DPI while clicking the second button reduces the DPI.
Step 3. Select Your Desired Sensitivity
For single sensitive buttons, simply click on the cycle button till you reach your desired sensitivity.
