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dpi vs. microsoft "pointer speed"?

post #1 of 21
6/3/12 at 2:09am
Thread Starter 
I know I sound beyond mouse illiterate, but I never really understood this. What exactly is the purpose to purchasing a mouse with a high dpi when you can just adjust the microsoft pointer speed higher. Does it become less accurate by doing so? Are you suppose to set the microsoft "pointer speed" to low and adjust the dpi accordingly for optimal precision?

Also, "enhanced pointer precision", is it better to have this disabled or enabled? what exactly does it do?
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post #2 of 21
6/3/12 at 2:34am
Windows pointer speed beyond 6/11 noticeably "skips counts".

3/11 = 0.25
4/11 = 0.5
5/11 = 0.75
6/11 = 1 (1:1 ratio of dots per inch)
7/11 = 1.5
8/11 = 2
9/11 = 2.5
10/11 = 3
11/11 = 3.5

A simple example would be the 8/11 notch (2). The pointer skips 1 whole count when moving your cursor.

If you would like to see the difference, set one mouse 6/11 800 DPI and set another at 8/11 400 DPI (Or use values where you can simply half the total count).

Enhance pointer precision is an acceleration curve. If ticked off, there's no acceleration, but some older games may auto enable it when launched.
Edited by Skylit - 6/3/12 at 2:39am
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post #3 of 21
6/3/12 at 3:35am
In theory it's best to leave it at 6/11 with EPP off and then lowering your sensitivity in games (and meanwhile increasing the dpi) to increase your precision.

Sort of like this:

1) You're currently using sensitivity 4.00 at 400 dpi
2) You want the precision of 2.00 sensitivity
3) Double your dpi to 800 and set ingame sensitivity to 2.0

Below 6/11 it drops counts. At 5/11 for instance (0.75), for every 4 counts from the mouse, Windows will drop 1.
This way you won't lose any on screen precision but you will lose your 1 to 1 ratio with mousemovement. Above 6/11 loss of precision on screen is going to become noticable so in general to put it simple:

< 6/11 --> OK'ish
6/11 --> Perfect
> 6/11 --> Mother of all evil
Edited by CorruptBE - 6/3/12 at 3:38am
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post #4 of 21
6/3/12 at 11:22am
I consider settings equal or lower than 4/11 to be as good as 6/11 and to be honest at 5/11 you wont notice any weirdness unless you really want to.
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post #5 of 21
6/3/12 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glymbol View Post

and to be honest at 5/11 you wont notice any weirdness unless you really want to.

I disagree wholeheartedly with this. If you have it at an uneven number you will experience an uneven and unpredictable pixel skip. Try it right now if you don't believe me. Set it to 4/11, spam draw circles with your cursor. You'll notice your cursor stays relatively centered and doesn't drift off. Now do the same with 5/11. The cursor will likely drift to the left top of your screen, and you will have to lift your mouse and re-adjust the position.
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post #6 of 21
6/4/12 at 8:04am
I hate the dpi marketing that it is precision.
It isn't ,its just sensitivity.
For example if you have a mouse that have 200 dpi and you are allready on 6/11 windows notch and you
want more speed then its the best ,to buy a mouse with more dpi.
That you not get any mouse problems.

If you have a mouse for example 400 dpi and its just a good speed for you (on6/11notch)
then you dont get more precision buy buying a more dpi mouse.
Only if the speed is to slow.

For me ,everything above 450 dpi on mine 1920x1080 monitor i lose precision.
Because its to fast for me ,but i can still be superfast.
I'm faster with 450 dpi then a 1800 dpi mouse even when i used both long time to get used to it.
I always stay at 450 to max 800 dpi (depends on mouse every mouse different weight shape) till maybe the monitor resolution is 4x bigger.
Edited by pruik6 - 6/4/12 at 8:10am
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post #7 of 21
6/4/12 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pruik6 View Post

I hate the dpi marketing that it is precision.
It isn't ,its just sensitivity.
For example if you have a mouse that have 200 dpi and you are allready on 6/11 windows notch and you
want more speed then its the best ,to buy a mouse with more dpi.
That you not get any mouse problems.
If you have a mouse for example 400 dpi and its just a good speed for you (on6/11notch)
then you dont get more precision buy buying a more dpi mouse.
Only if the speed is to slow.
For me ,everything above 450 dpi on mine 1920x1080 monitor i lose precision.
Because its to fast for me ,but i can still be superfast.
I'm faster with 450 dpi then a 1800 dpi mouse even when i used both long time to get used to it.
I always stay at 450 to max 800 dpi (depends on mouse every mouse different weight shape) till maybe the monitor resolution is 4x bigger.

Actually, higher DPI does allow for greater precision.

That part takes place in the game engine itself, specifically sensitivity settings. (Lower value = more precision)

Edit: The above is from a 3D game perspective
Edited by Skylit - 6/4/12 at 2:04pm
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post #8 of 21
6/4/12 at 1:23pm
So 6/11 and the lowest in game setting and the highest native DPI setting is gold? NEED MOAR DPI
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post #9 of 21
6/4/12 at 10:49pm
the general rule is very simple. 6/11, EPP off, then adjust the sensitivity in your game. try to find out if there is a numerical adjustment, as that's much more accurate. sometimes you have to search for the config file. also, always enable DirectInput or RAW input if available for best maximum perfect control speed performance at your DPI setting.
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post #10 of 21
6/5/12 at 6:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylit View Post

Actually, higher DPI does allow for greater precision.
That part takes place in the game engine itself, specifically sensitivity settings. (Lower value = more precision)
Edit: The above is from a 3D game perspective

So you want say if i take 5000 dpi and do it in game very low i get more precise.
I dont think so ,at least not for me.
The reason is if you keep adjusting mousepeed your not one with your speed and its hard to find the same speed with a sens bar.

At least for me :
I search a dpi where i not missclick or overshoot target.
- thats for me 450 dpi on 1920x1080 monitor.
If i do higher i need to learn the speed again take time and still i tried 1 year 1800 never worked for me missclicks on very fast gaming my precision was tons worser. i did aswell 5600 dpi with in game very low feels not the same and you cant never find the same speed what you use every where windows everywhere.
almost all games have different sensitivity bars hard to find the same speed.

So you wanne say if there is a mouse with 9 million dpi without interpolled dpi you gonna use it with in game 0.0001 sens rolleyes.gif
I know you one of the best mouse experts but this part not work for me.

Whats the reason behind it ,you think its true?

lol i have 2 account never knew that biggrin.gif
Edited by pruik - 6/5/12 at 6:58am
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