Mouse Polling Rate Test
Check your mouse's real-time reporting rate (Hz) and stability.
Click Start to Begin
The test will run for 10 seconds
Common Polling Rates
Standard office mouse. 8ms delay. Good for battery life.
Entry gaming. 2ms delay. Smooth and stable.
Standard gaming. 1ms delay. Recommended for FPS.
Enthusiast grade. < 0.25ms delay. Requires high-end CPU.
What is Mouse Polling Rate?
Mouse Polling Rate, measured in Hz (Hertz), refers to how often your mouse reports its position to your computer per second. For example, a polling rate of 1000 Hz means the mouse sends data 1,000 times every second.
A higher polling rate reduces "input lag" (the delay between moving your mouse and seeing the cursor move). This is crucial for competitive gaming where milliseconds matter.
Polling Rate vs. Response Time
- 125 Hz: 8ms delay (Standard office mice)
- 500 Hz: 2ms delay (Entry-level gaming)
- 1000 Hz: 1ms delay (Standard competitive gaming)
- 4000 Hz / 8000 Hz: 0.25ms / 0.125ms delay (High-end enthusiast mice)
How to Use This Test
- Click the Start Test button or simply move your mouse into the tracking area.
- Move your mouse continuously in circles within the box.
- Watch the real-time Hertz (Hz) counter and the stability graph.
- Try moving faster to hit your mouse's peak polling rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 500Hz or 1000Hz better for gaming?
1000Hz is generally better because it offers lower latency (1ms). However, some players prefer 500Hz because it feels "smoother" or consumes less CPU power on older PCs.
How do I change my mouse polling rate?
You can usually change this in your mouse's software (like Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, or SteelSeries GG). Some mice also have a physical button on the bottom to switch Hz.
Does high polling rate use more CPU?
Yes. Moving from 125Hz to 1000Hz increases CPU usage slightly because the processor has to handle more interrupts. 8000Hz mice can significantly impact FPS in games that aren't optimized for it.