When I got my first gaming mouse I was thinking what DPI should I use for gaming? It is the question all gamers stumble someday or another. I check online and found very mixed opinions and was confused about what should be the right DPI for gaming. So, I have decided to do some research and get a simple answer in this article.
So. what DPI should I use for gaming? You should use 400 – 1000 DPI for FPS – first-person shooter games. A 400 – 800 DPI for MOBA – multiplayer online battle arena. A 1000 – 1200 DPI for RTS – real-time strategy games. And 1000 – 1600 DPI for MMORPG – massively multiplayer online role-playing games.
Since there is much more than the right DPI setting to make your gaming better. You need to know the right sensitivity which goes hand-to-hand when it comes to the performance. I will explain this DPI and sensitivity correlation in the article.
How to know: What DPI should I use for gaming?
I have a gaming mouse to add an additional benefit to my gaming skills. But does setting a proper DPI can help in gaming? Let’s find out. So to start let’s understand what is DPI. DPI is a short form for “Dots per inches”. However, another called PPI which is “Pixels per inches” also common.
When you have more dots per inch you will have better sharpness and detail of the image on the screen. hence while gaming, your DPI set for the mouse will detect the dots per inch by your mouse and reflect into the gaming performance. These settings are generally used in DPI printing while getting a physical output from the settings.
What is the average mouse DPI?
The average mouse sold in the market comes with 400, 800, and 1600 DPI at most common settings. Whereas gaming mouse comes with default 4000 DPI and can be higher till 6000 DPI.
Since all mouse including gaming mouse come with higher default settings of DPI which is considered good for gaming. But there is one factor that most of us need to know while we choose the DPI. I will explain this in a bit to you but what kind of mouse is one for you?
Mouse types and which one to choose?
There are three types of mouse such as a trackball, optical, and laser, where a trackball mouse is no more available as the usage of the ball in the mouse, had its limits. In today’s world, you have two options to choose from where the optical mouse comes with red light and laser with infrared light. All the gaming mouse comes with both options where you have to make a choice.
Optical
The optical mouse has a red light and a camera to detect the distance traveled. They have LED light which is not very strong. This means the optical mouse is more reflective and won’t be able to penetrate the surface likely. One of the disadvantages of using an optical mouse is that you can not use them on a glossy surface like glass.
Laser
A laser mouse uses infrared light which works the same as an optical mouse. The LED light for the laser mouse is much more powerful. This type of mouse you can use on glossy surfaces like glass. The laser mouse provides a more detailed reflection than an optical mouse.
DPI & Sensitivity
When your mouse has a high DPI that means you have to move the mouse farther to reach where you want to reach. Sensitivity is a factor that limits the movement of the mouse. The high sensitivity setting needs you to move much farther than the low sensitivity. Both DPI and sensitivity are correlated as both settings can be crucial for performance.
The gaming mouse with high DPI such as 4000 which comes by default will need a much larger surface for the mouse in order to reach the destined point on the screen. The dots per inch will be higher with high DPI settings on the screen and you will have to move the mouse more likely.
Sensitivity will be an important factor where decreasing it will enable fewer movements. But that will eventually decrease performance while gaming. When you are playing competitive multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike, Overwatch, PUBG, and Fortnite headshots hold key importance. I will explain how to choose the right DPI and sensitivity settings for optimal performance in further points.
Mouse DPI settings
As you know companies like Razer, Logitech, and Corsair manufacture gaming mouse which have software that makes you able to change the DPI from the settings from their app. You can simply change the desired DPI with just a one-click on the software or app that comes along with this gaming mouse.
Many gaming mice have an on-the-fly DPI button. You just need to figure out that button which is generally located on the top or at the bottom. Then you need to press or slide it which will open a setting window on the screen. I would not recommend the windows method but it can be handy if you are not having software or an app for the gaming mouse. In the mouse settings, you need to increase the mouse pointer speed too fast to increase the sensitivity.
Choosing the best DPI for your gaming
Every gamer from the casual level to the pro-level has its own preferences. I would recommend you to first do this experiment before you settle with any DPI for your gaming. This will involve changing the DPI and sensitivity settings a number of times until you find the suitable for your style.
- Drop the DPI from the 4000 range to the 400-800 range for optimal performance. This you need to do for the gaming mouse.
- Change the DPI if your gaming mouse gives you the option from the software or the app it comes with or you need to install the software first. Just find the on-the-fly DPI button and click to open the settings.
- To start with select the DPI from 400 to 800 and try the few games online. Make sure you note the difference while playing whereas it could be harder or easier.
- Once you know the suitable range of DPI from the previous experiment, try switching the sensitivity from the control panel. Test your performance on different combinations of selected DPI and sensitivity.
- Make sure you have enough space for the mouse movement while having a high DPI and a better mouse pad.
Is low DPI better for gaming?
Low DPI is better for gaming if you are playing with snipers where your accuracy is at most but the movement is limited. Every gamer can adjust the DPI based on their preferences and type of gameplay. You can use low DPI and still have a great gaming experience but make sure it should be in the range of 400 – 800 DPI.
Is 1000 DPI good for gaming?
High DPI such as 1000 is useful and can give you better performance if you have a high-resolution screen monitor. Make sure your screen resolution is checked before you select the DPI for the gaming. This will ultimately affect the mouse movement as there will be much more movement needed for high-resolution screens.
Is 2000 DPI enough for gaming?
With 2000 DPI you will be able to get the accurate tracking of the surface and your performance can be better. Make sure you have ample space for the mouse and sensitivity at the low setting for optimal performance. Most of the pro gamers do set the DPI at a high level as they also keep in mind that low sensitivity can be much harder with the movement of the mouse it requires.
What DPI is best for FPS?
400 DPI is the best for FPS based on most professional gamers’ preferences. All first-person games such as Call of duty, Doom, Destiny, Half-life, Counter-Strike are mostly competitive and you want the best settings to be done at your end to get the best performance.
The best combination is 400 DPI and low sensitivity for FPS games. You can experiment with higher DPI if you are using higher screen resolutions. I would recommend keeping the range of 400 – 800 DPI for optimal performance. I hope this article has answered the question of what DPI should I use for gaming. Please let me know your suggestion and feedback in the comment box below.
Also read: How To Choose A Gaming Mouse? 8 Best Factors To Consider
