The DPI (dots per inch) setting for gaming depends on personal preference and the type of game being played. Generally, a lower DPI setting allows for more precise aiming and control in first-person shooter (FPS) games. In comparison, a higher DPI setting allows for faster movement across the screen in real-time strategy (RTS) games.
For FPS games, a DPI setting of 400-800 is commonly used by professional players, as it allows for precise aiming with minimal cursor movement. However, some players prefer higher DPI settings, up to 1600, for faster movement and quick turns.
For RTS games, a higher DPI setting, around 1200-1600, is often used to allow for quick movement and scrolling across the screen.
Ultimately, the best DPI setting for gaming is the one that feels comfortable and allows for accurate and efficient movement. It may take some experimentation to find the optimal DPI setting for your gaming style and preferences.
Table Of Contents
What Is DPI?
DPI, also called counts per inch (CPI) and mickeys per second, measures the number of pixels the cursor moves for every inch the mouse moves. Simply put, it refers to mouse sensitivity. However, sensitivity differs from accuracy, so they are two different things.
Each dot correlates to one pixel on the screen. So if your game has 1080p resolution and has a 1000 DPI mouse that you move one inch vertically, it means your mouse moved 1000 pixels, almost reaching the top of the display. But if you have a 2000 DPI mouse, you will get it from the bottom to the top in only one-half inch.
You might be tempted to go for a higher number, but there are some mice out there with a DPI that goes up to 16000. You can imagine how sensitive they are, and it will take some time. The most important thing is to know how high a DPI is high enough and how much is too high or too low.
The DPI talks about how much you need to move your hand to get your cursor from one part of the screen to another. With a higher number, you only need to move the mouse a tiny bit, and it will move from left to right.
If you have a lower DPI, you will need to make more effort and move the mouse to move the same distance. This also means that your character will move slower with a low DPI number than a high one when playing FPS games.
A 100 DPI is relatively low, and a 16000 DPI is possibly too sensitive and fast. Some games will benefit from a higher DPI, like when you move the mouse to make the character move. But a super fast and sensitive mouse is not a good idea if you are playing something that requires precise aiming. Otherwise, you will find yourself missing the target.
How High a DPI Do You Need?
Do not get tempted by the excellent price of mice for sale with 8000 DPI and higher just because you automatically think it is better. The most important question is, “where is the sweet spot in the middle, where your DPI is high enough to improve your game performance?”
One of the first things to do is to consider your monitor’s resolution. Since most gaming monitors have 1080p or 1440p resolution, an 8000 DPI mouse is still too fast and sensitive, especially when accuracy is vital in the game.
Fortunately, many of these mice with a DPI have one huge advantage. While they may have insanely high DPI specs, they can be adjusted based on your needs. Not only can you change between different sensitivity settings, but you can easily and quickly do it by pressing a button you can generally find above the scroll wheel.
This convenient feature allows you to switch between a low-sensitivity and a high-sensitivity setting, depending on your needs. It can be very convenient in certain situations, like when you are playing shooting games. Thus, you can keep a high DPI as your default and switch to a lower-DPI setting in seconds when you need an accurate and steady aim.
Gaming Mouse Buying Guide
As with many things, there is no one perfect option for everyone. You need to ask yourself, what exactly do you need? This is based on which games you love to play and your monitor’s horizontal resolution. It will help you decide whether you need that ultra-high DPI mouse.
If you want something cheap, you will still end up with a mouse that has a DPI of 2400 to 3200. Compared to ordinary mice, this is quite good. If you ever try to use a low DPI mouse with gaming, you can expect jerky cursor movements when moving it. Although, with a 2400 or 3200 DPI, you are very far from that max of 16000, so if your games need the higher sensitivity, you might be better off investing in a better one.
Because of the possibility of shifting the settings of your mouse, a very high DPI is no problem. But while it is a good thing to have, it is not the only thing you need to consider when buying a mouse. After all, a high mouse sensitivity does not mean maximum accuracy.
Final Words
What is the ideal DPI for gamers? You can also refer to these recommended settings for the common types of computer games.
- You need a 1000 DPI to 1600 DPI for MMOs and RPG games.
- A lower 400 DPI to 1000 DPI is best for FPS and other shooter games.
- You only need 400 DPI to 800 DPI for MOBA games.
- A 1000 DPI to 1200 DPI is the best setting for Real-Time strategy games.
Based on these suggestions, you will see that a 16000 DPI mouse can already be overkill for most games. But thanks to their ability to shift settings with just a press of a button, they can be pretty good when playing different games. This means you can quickly prioritize accuracy over sensitivity whenever needed. However, if you keep a lower DPI setting often, you should opt for a larger mouse pad!
