You are looking to optimize your aim even more, and you are searching for the perfect DPI for FPS gaming. Well, you are in luck. Choosing the right DPI and sensitivity is crucial for improving in FPS games. Choosing the wrong values will harm you and your improvement journey.
Therefore, I’ve made myself a task, that this will be the last article, the last information source you will ever need about this topic. I will cover everything you might want to know, so that you will be an expert as well.
What Is DPI?
DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It is the measurement of the speed of your cursor, in relation to your mouse movement. For example, 800 DPI, means that moving your mouse by 1 inch, will move the cursor 800 pixels. The higher the DPI, the faster your cursor moves.
There is another useful term I would like to introduce. Which is eDPI.
What Is eDPI?
eDPI stands for effective dots per inch. It is calculated by multiplying your in-game sensitivity with your DPI. This way, you get the true sensitivity of different players, regardless of different DPI, sensitivity values, different hardware etc. This is also known as raw sensitivity.
This is the sensitivity itself. eDPI takes into account your in-game sensitivity and your DPI. Therefore, it can be viewed as the complete package of your sensitivity.
Imagine asking a friend what his sensitivity is, and he says 400 DPI. Well, he may be playing on a sensitivity of 1, and on a sensitivity of 1000. There is a drastic difference between the two, and knowing of the DPI only, is not enough to be able to understand his sensitivity.
Note: eDPI varies between games due to different engines. Therefore, eDPI is not the best metric for evaluating sensitivity between games. Measuring cm per 360 degree turn is the most accurate sensitivity comparison between multiple games.
The Best DPI Setting
The truth is, there is no best DPI setting. DPI, by itself is a useless metric. It is essentially just a multiplier. The DPI number does not take into account your field of view, your in-game sensitivity, or even the game of your choice. Therefore, it is useless by itself.
You can have a DPI of 400 and a sensitivity of 1, and a DPI of 800 and a sensitivity of 0.5. Both essentially have the same eDPI. (800 * 0.5 = 400 = 400 * 1). Meaning that they will basically have the same raw sensitivity with different DPI’s.
But the question arises, how to pick a DPI? Is 16000 better than 100? Let’s analyze pro players DPI setting and adjust it from there.
Pro Players DPI Choice
According to prosettings.net,
43% of pro players use 800 DPI.
40% of pro players use 400 DPI.
6% of pro players use 1600 DPI.
As we can see, more than 80% of pro players use either 400 DPI or 800 DPI. These numbers, come from historical reasons as most of the old mice were prone to inconsistency or sensor issues when were configured on a higher DPI setting.
But as a general thumb rule, these are the best DPI settings for you. Many mice may perform inconsistently on higher DPI values. As a result, 400 DPI and 800 DPI (even 1600 DPI in some cases) are the old, reliable safe picks in the FPS genre.
400 DPI vs 800 DPI
There is no evidence that one is better than the other. 800 DPI might feel smoother, while 400 DPI might feel snappier. But the difference is very negligible and might be a placebo. I would say, choose a DPI (400 or 800) you’re comfortable with on the Desktop and set your in-game sensitivity relative to that.
Seriously, I can’t stress enough the importance of just choosing a DPI. Some pro players use 800 DPI. Some pro players use 400 DPI. Just choose something you are comfortable with and forget about it. The only thing that matters is your sensitivity in general, or your eDPI.
By the way, if you can’t choose your mouse DPI, then I would suggest upgrading your mouse. Check out What Gaming Mice Do Professional FPS Players Use? – Top 5 Gaming Mice In 2022
Sensitivity Or DPI?
There are many misconceptions about this topic. As I previously said, DPI is just merely the measurement of the speed of your cursor, in relation to your mouse movement. Sensitivity is the eDPI. Basically, it is the whole package. Sensitivity takes into account your DPI, your in-game sensitivity, and everything that is correlated. DPI is just one factor of sensitivity. You have to make sure you choose the right sensitivity for you, that is comfortable and allowing you to perform at your peak.
If you are looking for a good sensitivity for your game, then check out one of my best guides: How To Find The Perfect Sensitivity For You. If you are looking for the best sensitivity in general, like slow vs fast and more on the topic, then go ahead to BEST Sensitivity For FPS Games.
DPI is just a mouse setting. In the end, what matters is your sensitivity, so make sure you get one that fits your needs and that is comfortable for you. As I said before, 400 DPI with 1 in-game sensitivity will feel the same sensitivity as someone with 800 DPI with 0.5 in-game sensitivity.
Final Words
Over 80% of analyzed pro players use either 400 DPI or 800 DPI. Its safe to say, that these are the optimal ones. Pick one of them as there is no evidence that one is better than the other, and choose an in-game sensitivity that is comfortable for you.
Remember, DPI, by itself is a useless metric, so make sure you have an effective DPI, that suits your needs and is comfortable for you. In the end, eDPI is the only thing that matters.
FAQ
Is Higher DPI Better For Gaming?
Higher DPI does not mean it is better for gaming. high DPI numbers will cause your mouse to become too sensitive to play with and it can cause smoothing, inconsistency issues and even higher input lag. Furthermore, more than 85% of pro players use 800 DPI or less.
Do Gaming Mice With Higher DPI Are Better?
Higher DPI does not mean a better mouse. It is one of the most common marketing strategies that gaming mice brands advertise. It is unrealistic to use these high DPI numbers as your mouse will become too sensitive to play with and it can cause smoothing, inconsistency issues and even higher input lag.
Photo by Pew Nguyen
