What Is Polling Rate on a Mouse? Everything You Need to Know

Every click and movement you make depends on speed. Most people talk about DPI and sensor models, but the polling rate is also responsible for smooth cursor movement. Let’s find out how this setting can affect your performance. This will aid you in picking a suitable mouse and earning you the win in any game.

What is the Polling Rate on a Mouse?

Polling rate is defined as how often a mouse communicates its location to a computer. You can imagine this from a conversation perspective. Let’s say you update your friend about what you are doing every hour. You update another friend every minute. This means the second friend has a lot more information about what you are doing.

Polling rate indicates how many times per second a mouse communicates its location to a computer. In most cases, this speed is expressed in Hertz (Hz). 

How Polling Rate Affects Your Mouse Performance

Once you adjust to a specific polling rate on your mouse, it can influence your overall experience. You may notice your cursor seems to jump, stutter, or lag if you use an average polling rate.

Conversely, if you use a high polling rate, your cursor may seem to stick to your hand, giving an experience of a perfect 1:1 feedback loop between your movements and the cursor.

1. The Role of Polling Rate in Gaming

When it comes to PC gaming, the polling rate on your mouse can be the difference between winning and losing any round. For example, the polling rate can determine if your mouse actually has registered a click or a flick in a fast-paced first-person shooter. This is referred to as “input latency”, which means the amount of time it takes for your mouse to communicate with your computer. 

There is negligible input latency when your mouse is operating at 1000Hz. In comparison, a mouse running at 125Hz polling rate can experience delays of up to 8 milliseconds. This may sound like a small number, but it’s statistically an 800% increase in latency.

Low polling rate won’t be able to guarantee you precise tracking of moving enemies in games, and will be detrimental to your gameplay. A mouse with a higher polling rate is going to update its position more frequently, leading to cleaner mouse movements. This allows you to easily hit the shots that require precise timing and fast speed.

2. The Impact of Polling Rate for Everyday Use

The impact of a high polling rate is minimal in daily tasks. Usual activities such as checking emails or browsing the Internet don't require precision. Still, the experience will generally feel more fluid. If you have a high refresh rate monitor, a low polling rate might cause visible  inconsistencies where your cursor will stutter as you move your mouse.

125Hz is a sufficient polling rate for your mouse for office tasks. It will save more battery and free up some processing power on your CPU. Most people prefer the experience of a 500Hz or 1000Hz polling rate, as it makes the computer feel more responsive.

Polling Rate vs. DPI: What's the Difference?

Polling rate and DPI are completely different concepts while some people use them interchangeably. Polling rate is a measurement of how often the mouse sends data to the computer. DPI indicates the sensitivity of the mouse sensor to mouse movement.

1. What is DPI (Dots Per Inch)?

Dots per inch refers to the distance the cursor moves on the computer screen, per inch of the physical movement of your mouse. A higher DPI means you need less physical movement of the mouse to get the cursor across the screen. Lower DPI settings require more movement to get the pointer to the desired position.

It is important to know that DPI settings practically do not control the speed multiplier of the cursor. What it affects is the physical distance that must be moved to get the same distance moved on the screen. 

2. When to Focus on Polling Rate vs. DPI

You should focus on DPI if you are thinking of changing the distance your hand has to move. This is why designers prefer higher DPI to have an easier time using 4k monitors, and professional gamers prefer lower DPI to have better control while aiming.

You also need to understand the polling rate to reduce input lag as much as possible. The aim is to get the highest polling rate your computer can manage without causing significant CPU usage due to having to process all the mouse input. Most modern gaming mice would let you adjust both of these settings. 

How to Choose the Right Polling Rate for Your Mouse

The best polling rate for you depends on your preferences and what you are using your mouse for. You can have a great experience without selecting the highest polling rate.

1. Choosing the Best Polling Rate for Your Game Style

Do you play competitive online shooters? You definitely need a mouse with a higher polling rate. Gaming mice made for professional gaming have access to polling rates ranging from 1000Hz to 8000Hz. Do you prefer playing simulation, sandbox or roleplaying games? You will be fine with low polling rates.

2. Consider Your System Compatibility

A very high polling rate, such as 8000Hz, puts pressure on the CPU. The CPU has to respond to the mouse 8000 times in a second. This can cause lag in the game if your PC cannot handle it. Your frame rate can drop. Make sure your computer is capable enough to handle this polling rate.

3. Common Recommendation Polling Rates for Your Needs

Here are some common polling rate examples and their use.

Unlock Your Gaming Potential with the MelGeek Horus Mouse

If you want the newest technology available, check out the MelGeek Horus—an ultra-lightweight gaming mouse. Engineered to perfection, it weighs only 49 grams while incorporating a Nordic NRF54L chip and the flagship PAW3950 sensor, providing smooth tracking experience and exceptional input speed. It also features the Louvre Pyramid Receiver, which gives you the speed of a wired mouse without the annoyance of a cable.

The shell is hollow to remove extra weight, but the mouse is still sturdy and strong. The shape is tuned to fit hybrid grip and designed specifically for users with medium to large hands. It will feel like an extension of your arm.

The lightweight gaming mouse is also equipped with intelligent power optimization, which allows the battery to last a long time even with high polling rate settings. With up to 215 hours at 125 Hz, 155 hours at 1000 Hz, and up to 22 hours at 8000 Hz, you’ll experience unmatched speed, balance, and control without worrying about constant recharging. Whether you're tackling daily tasks, enjoying ultra-fluid gaming performance, or competing at esports level, this mouse provides the endurance to keep you in the game for hours on end.

How to Change Your Mouse Polling Rate

You can easily change the mouse settings if you have the right tools. Customization is easy with MelGeek.

1. Using the MelGeek Hive

MelGeek Hive is MelGeek’s proprietary software used to customize MelGeek peripherals. Download the software onto your computer and plug in your Horus mouse, and you will be able to access all the customization settings in MelGeek Hive.

Change the polling rate from 125Hz to 8000Hz with just a click. Adjust your DPI and customize your macros, you can even change the sensor angle offset, which has been something that the best aimers have been experimenting with. It's the perfect all-in-one tool for your mouse.

2. Manual Adjustments on MelGeek Horus Mouse

What if you are at a LAN tournament and don't have the software? The Horus mouse allows for manual on-board adjustments. The buttons on the top can be used to cycle through different modes. This makes it easy to switch from “work mode” to “gaming mode” in mere seconds.

3. Test Your Mouse Polling Rate

You can check the polling rate of your mouse online. There are several “mouse rate checker” sites online that let you test polling rate in real-time. You circle your mouse over a certain area, and the site reports the actual Hertz. It is a quick way to confirm the mouse settings.

Conclusion

The polling rate of a mouse is a critical element for gamers. It affects the smoothness of the mouse movement on the screen. 125Hz might be fine for social browsing, but gamers should go for 1000Hz at a minimum. The MelGeek Horus makes all this easy and accessible with its lightweight 49g construction, the powerful PAW3950 sensor, and the MelGeek Hive software.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is 500Hz better than 1000Hz?

1000Hz is a better choice as it offers less lag and better performance. However, 500Hz can be better for some old games. If your computer is older or less powerful, 500Hz could be better.

2. Does a Higher Polling Rate Always Make a Difference?

The difference is noticeable on faster monitors with 144Hz and 240Hz monitors. You may not feel a difference if you use the computer only for simple tasks such as email checking. 

3. Is a Higher Polling Rate Always Better?

A higher polling rate can also have some drawbacks, as it uses more CPU resources. It can cause in-game stuttering. Wireless mice will drain the battery at a faster rate with a higher polling rate. 

4. Is a 2000Hz polling rate good?

Yes, 2000Hz is excellent. It is twice as fast as the standard 1000Hz polling rate. It provides a very smooth feel. The MelGeek Horus handles high rates with ease thanks to its Nordic chip.

5. What polling rate do pros use?

Most pro gamers use 1000Hz. It is the gold standard for esports. Some pros are now moving to 4000Hz or 8000Hz as technology gets better. They want the lowest possible delay to stay on top.