Mouse Polling Rate Test
Test your mouse polling rate in real time. Move your mouse inside the test area continuously — the tool counts how many position update events your mouse sends per second, giving you your actual reporting frequency in Hz.
- Click inside the test box to focus it.
- Move your mouse continuously in smooth circles or lines.
- Observe the live Hz reading and stability chart.
- Run for 5–10 seconds for a stable average reading.
1000Hz reports your position every 1ms. 125Hz reports every 8ms. At 8ms intervals, a fast mouse movement between reports is simply invisible to the OS — it never happened as far as your game is concerned.
What This Test Measures: Firmware Reporting Frequency
Polling rate is how many times per second your mouse sends a position report to your computer. At 500Hz, it sends 500 reports per second — one every 2ms. At 1000Hz, one every 1ms. This test counts those reports as they arrive in the browser via the browser's pointermove Pointer Events API, and calculates the reports-per-second rate in real time. You can compare this reporting rate with your click delay by choosing to run a full mouse test.
This is a direct measurement of your mouse firmware's USB communication frequency — measured live here, as your mouse actually reports, not based on what your settings panel claims. Some mice report lower than their advertised rate in certain USB ports or OS configurations. This test reveals the actual Hz your hardware is delivering in your current setup.
Polling rate is one of the most important timing attributes of a mouse as a system. Cursor movement between polling reports is invisible to the OS — it's as if it didn't happen. A 1000Hz mouse can "miss" up to 1ms of motion between reports. A 125Hz mouse can miss up to 8ms — significant when a fast flick can cross a target's hitbox in under 10ms at high sensitivity.
How to Read Your Result: Hz Ranges
- 125Hz: Entry-level. Found on office mice and budget peripherals. Maximum update interval is 8ms — noticeable micro-stuttering at high sensitivity.
- 500Hz: Mid-tier. Good for casual gaming. 2ms update interval is acceptable for most players.
- 1000Hz: Gaming standard. 1ms update interval. Sufficient for all competitive gaming up to very high DPI configurations.
- 2000Hz / 4000Hz / 8000Hz: High-refresh territory. Razer, Logitech, and Wooting offer mice in this range. Benefits are measurable in controlled tests but debated in real-world gameplay. Requires CPU headroom — 8000Hz mice can consume significant CPU cycles.
Note: browser-based measurement has a practical ceiling around 1000–2000Hz due to browser event loop timing. If your mouse is rated above 2000Hz, verify with manufacturer software for confirmed ultra-high-Hz readings.
What Causes a Lower-Than-Expected Polling Rate
- USB hub throttling: Unpowered or low-speed USB hubs do not support 1000Hz HID polling. The hub downgrades the mouse to 125Hz. Plug directly into a motherboard port.
- OS power management: Windows USB Selective Suspend can reduce polling frequency when the CPU is under load. Disable USB power saving in Device Manager.
- Wrong software setting: Many gaming mice default to 500Hz in firmware. You must manually set 1000Hz in the manufacturer's software (G Hub, Synapse, iCUE, etc.).
- Browser event throttling: In background tabs or battery-saver mode, browsers throttle input events. Always run this test in an active, foreground tab.
How to Set Your Polling Rate
- Open your mouse's software (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, Corsair iCUE, SteelSeries GG).
- Find the "Polling Rate" or "Report Rate" slider and set it to 1000Hz (or higher if supported).
- Plug directly into a USB 3.0 or USB-A port on your motherboard, not a hub.
- Re-run this test to confirm the change registered.
Want to understand the physical difference between polling rate and input latency, and which matters more for your playstyle? Read our guide on the click latency vs. input lag pipeline — and check our DPI configuration guide to pair the right polling rate with your DPI setting.
Browsers cap pointer event delivery rate, and some USB hubs throttle HID polling. Move the mouse faster in larger arcs — slow movements can look like fewer reports per second because fewer position changes are sent. Also ensure you are testing in a foreground browser tab.
Yes, measurably — but with diminishing returns above 1000Hz for most players. Going from 125Hz to 1000Hz is a significant improvement. Going from 1000Hz to 4000Hz is detectable in controlled tests but most players cannot distinguish it in real gameplay.
No. Polling rate is a firmware setting, not a hardware stress. Running at 1000Hz or 4000Hz is normal operating mode for supported mice — it uses slightly more CPU processing but does not wear hardware.