Mouse Polling Rate: How It Impacts Gaming Performance

When you purchase a gaming mouse, do you know what should be considered? Two key specifications often discussed are DPI (dots per inch) and polling rate. But does higher always mean better? Today, let's dive into what polling rates are and how they impact your gaming performance.

What is the polling rate of a mouse?

The mouse polling rate describes the frequency of communication between the mouse and the computer per second, which is Hz. The mouse constantly "reports" its current position and operations to the computer. In order for a movement or skill release to be accomplished in the game, the player must wait for the computer to get the mouse report before verifying that the action has been taken.

For example, a mouse will refresh its position on the screen 125 times per second if its polling rate is set to 125 Hz. A higher polling rate minimizes the delay between mouse movements and on-screen actions. Just like our AG ONE 8K Gaming Mouse, which provides an 8000 polling rate in 2.4G and wirded mode, it amplifies operational data throughput by 8x, maintaining virtually zero latency. And there is a millisecond latency for the common polling rate. 

Polling rate(Hz)	Millsecond latency(ms)
125 Hz	8 ms
250 Hz	4 ms
500 Hz	2 ms
1000 Hz	1 ms
4000 Hz	0.25 ms
8000 Hz	0.125 ms

What is the best mouse polling rate for gaming?

The majority of standard mice polling rate at 100, 125, or 250 Hz. A 0.1-second lag is insignificant for jobs that don't require rapid response, including working on documents or playing casual games. But even a small input lag from a low polling rate can have a big effect on gameplay and performance for esports players. So what is the best polling rate for games?

The best polling rate on a mouse should be based on your game types. Of course, higher polling rates greatly reduce input lag, which is beneficial for fast-paced esports titles. Games like RPGs and strategy games don't necessarily require such high rates. 

• For fast-paced competitive gaming, esports, and professional gaming, a 1000 Hz polling rate will benefit a lot. Of course, if possible, an 8000 Hz polling rate will be better for fast speeds.
• For MOBA (e.g., League of Legends) and real-time strategy games, a 500 Hz polling rate offers a good mix of responsiveness and stability, but if you’re playing at a high level, a 1000 Hz rate can provide a slight edge in precision, helping with quick movements and fine control during intense moments. 
• For less demanding games like RPGs, casual games, or single-player titles, a polling rate of 250Hz to 500Hz is usually sufficient. These games often don’t require split-second reactions, so the benefits of a higher polling rate might not be noticeable. A lower polling rate also puts less strain on the CPU, which can be beneficial for older systems. 

And we don’t recommend the polling rate going below 500 Hz because input delays greater than 1 ms become perceptible to human senses. Furthermore, the majority of gaming monitors reduce input latency variations brought on by the mouse; thus, if the refresh rate of your monitor is higher than 120 Hz, it's advisable to stay away from polling at a rate lower than 500 Hz.

In conclusion, depending on your game, a mouse polling rate between 500 Hz and 1000 Hz is ideal.

Is a higher polling rate better?

As we have discussed above, a higher polling rate is beneficial for a gaming mouse. A higher polling rate is often considered better because it reduces input lag, especially when you factor in your monitor’s input delay and refresh rate. In this context, a higher polling rate can indeed make your gaming experience feel more responsive. The higher the polling rate, the quicker the response.

However, in fact, the difference in latency between a 500Hz and a 1000Hz polling rate is 1 ms—right at the edge of what most people can actually perceive. Maybe most people will not notice the significant difference between them.

Additionally, polling rates of 1000 Hz or higher can put more strain on your CPU. While this isn’t a problem for modern processors and won’t affect most systems, those using older CPUs might run into issues with ultra-high polling rates. In these cases, opting for a more moderate polling rate is often the better choice.

Keep your polling rate between 250 Hz and 500 Hz if your machine is older or has a less potent CPU to avoid putting undue stress on your hardware. This setting ensures seamless operation without taxing your system excessively by providing a fair balance between performance and responsiveness.

How do I know my mouse polling rate?

Generally, you can know about the mouse polling rate from the product specifications provided by the brand. Also, you can use the software the brand provides to check your mouse’s polling rate. In addition, there are third-party tools for you to test your polling rate.

For online polling rate checker, you can choose just like testufo, mousedpianalyzer and devicetests. These tools are easy to use, and they can provide an exact polling rate for your mouse.

Of course, you can download some third-party software like “Mouse Rate Checker” or "Direct Input Mouse Rate" to check your mouse polling rate. These programs will measure the polling rate by tracking your mouse's input data in real time.

How do you change the polling rate of a gaming mouse?

Polling rate is key to optimizing precision and responsiveness, making it a crucial factor in gaming performance. While higher polling rates can improve response times and accuracy, it's important to find the right balance to avoid unnecessary strain on your system. So adjusting the right polling rate for your mouse is important. If your mouse is from Akko, you can easily adjust your mouse polling rate from our cloud driver.

1. Firstly, you can download the Akko Cloud Driver or AG One NearLink Driver from our download page: https://akkogear.eu/pages/download-center

2. You can easily find the polling rate setting in Performance and then Apply changes (AG One NearLink Driver).

Conclusion

Particularly in fast-paced games, a high polling rate on the mouse will improve responsiveness and speed. It's not always required, though, in all situations. A moderate polling rate frequently offers an excellent compromise between system load and performance for everyday usage or light gaming. To guarantee the greatest experience, your decision should ultimately be in line with your game requirements, system capabilities, and personal preferences.