High dpi mouse players get a lot of flak. Especially since the vast majority of top mouse players use low sensitivity, there are many who support low sensitivity as a superior solution. As a former high dpi mouse player I think I know why.

Mouse Sensitivity

What is mouse dpi? Well dpi (dots per inch) simply put is your hardware sensitivity. The higher the number, the more seemingly "faster" the cursor travels. So 400 dpi would mean that for every inch the cursor travels 400 pixels (dots) across the screen, or at least that's the idea. This is not to be confused with the term mouse sensitivity, which also takes software configuration into consideration. The general rule of thumb is to ensure that there is minimal acceleration, otherwise known as "pixel skipping". There are bazillions of software configurations that can affect mouse sensitivity and cause acceleration, here I will briefly go over three of them:

1. Windows settings: the general rule of thumb is to have "Windows 6/11 off". No this is not a new version of windows, this is referring to windows mouse options. "6/11" means that the bar is set to the 6th tick, and "off" is the acceleration option, marketed as "Enhanced pointer precision". Windows 6/11 off ensures 1:1 mouse movement, meaning that if your mouse is 800dpi then you will experience clean 800dpi movement on screen.




2. osu! in-game settings: this is straightforward. Adjusting the "Mouse Sensitivity" bar sets the dpi multiplier. To be safe, I would only recommend using whole numbers (x1, x2, x3, etc.). Using an odd number might incur uneven pixel skipping, and thus incur unwanted acceleration. Use Raw Input to bypass windows settings if you so wish.

3. Driver Utility Software: this one can be dangerous depending on the driver software. Some drivers can enable acceleration in one form or another. It may be a blatant "Enable acceleration" tick box, or in the case of Logitech driver which enable an extra dpi option which is actually an accelerated dpi setting.

High DPI vs Low DPI

After playing several months with high sensitivity, I switched from 2000dpi to 800dpi. Windows settings, osu settings and in-game resolution of 1280x960 have remained the same. I want to point out that 2000dpi @ 1280x960 is equivalent to 1600dpi @ 1024x768, and 800dpi @ 1280x960 is equivalent to 640dpi @ 1024x768. I am still fingertip, but I now have my wrist lifted and use full arm movement. The first week was hell, arm/wrist pain everywhere, mouse drift was uncontrollable, then after a while the pain went away and the drift became smaller as I got used to this new playstyle. So if you are a high sens fingertip user like I was, you might consider trying this out. I recently changed to 400dpi with 1440x900 resolution (equal to roughly ~341dpi at 1024x768), there is no notable difference in performance between 400dpi and 800dpi. Nonetheless here is a summary:

- No more cursor harlem shake from full-combo nervousness, it is only very slightly now.
- Far less cable resistance due to utilising the strength of full arm to move the mouse.
- A small improvement in aim.
- Mouse drift is less of a problem as wrist is constantly lifted anyway.
- More pp.

I want to point out that there is no such thing as a superior dpi so long as it is not absurdly high like accelerated 8000dpi or something. Lower dpi worked for me, but you might be the type who like to keep their wrist planted, or maybe palm grip. Therefore there is a dpi that is right for you, or in other words, a mouse sensitivity that works best for a particular playstyle. 2000dpi is still a viable solution but only for those who can control the FC nervousness.

tbh the score below it was a bigger sin

I use 2000dpi on 1024x600... I just can't stand slow movement. At this resolution, I am like barely even moving my hand

Would use more dpi if i had, but my cheap mouse only goes to 2000

800dpi at 1280x960 isn't that low, I'd personally consider it within the normal range. When I think of low dpi, I think of having to move where your wrist is planted, unless you use a fingertip grip like cptnXn. But I guess it's all relative, with everyone agreeing that 800dpi at 1024x768 being normal sens.

Coming from a, retired, low dpi player, that is relatively normal dpi. I used to use 400 dpi, 1440x900 full screen res, razer deathadder 2013 edition. Here goes some footage of it. http://www.twitch.tv/0clappie/c/3433705

I will go lower if I get used to this dpi, I can't survive 400 at all yet.

Interested to see your progress. I personally wouldn't suggest to someone that their dpi is too high and needs to be turned down unless it's above 2k, providing they are using standard windows settings and x1 in osu! on a screen <1080p. I don't think anyone should have any issues with using lower than 2k dpi, and from there using a lower sens should help with precision in the long run.

what about
800 dpi on 1024x768 (since the beginning)
1000 dpi on 1024x768 (since june 2013)
1200 dpi on 1280x900 (since feb 2014-now)

Well there is some progress. Full combo GARNiDELiA - ambiguous twice in a row so I know it wasn't just a fluke, albeit with disappointing 98% acc (gotta fix that). My aim is very close to where it was before at 2k dpi. I wouldn't consider it the same unless I get a fc on 45nen or somethin.

@theramdans: 1200dpi @ 1280x960 is equivalent to 960dpi @ 1024x768.

Yeah, 1200dpi with 1280x960 = 960dpi with 1024x768. It's the higher end of normal sens. I personally consider 600/650dpi to 1000dpi on 1024x768 normal range. I use 800dpi with 1024x768, which is as normal as it gets since it's basically default everything.

NixXSkate wrote:

Yeah, 1200dpi with 1280x960 = 960dpi with 1024x768. It's the higher end of normal sens. I personally consider 600/650dpi to 1000dpi on 1024x768 normal range. I use 800dpi with 1024x768, which is as normal as it gets since it's basically default everything.

1k DPI @ 1024x768 definitely seems a bit high for normal range, I'm at 1k DPI @ 1080p and this feels pretty fast, I'm only using it because I have little desk space for the mouse.

cheezstik wrote:

NixXSkate wrote:

Yeah, 1200dpi with 1280x960 = 960dpi with 1024x768. It's the higher end of normal sens. I personally consider 600/650dpi to 1000dpi on 1024x768 normal range. I use 800dpi with 1024x768, which is as normal as it gets since it's basically default everything.

1k DPI @ 1024x768 definitely seems a bit high for normal range, I'm at 1k DPI @ 1080p and this feels pretty fast, I'm only using it because I have little desk space for the mouse.

It's what SiLviA used, and it's the default dpi for many mice. I used to switch between 800 to 1000dpi depending on the default dpi on whatever mouse I was using, before I fully understood what dpi I was actually using. 1000dpi isn't too bad, but then again, it's not like I ever touched HR back then. I can get used to 900dpi easily, so I'm sure I could get used to 1000dpi still without too much trouble.

1000dpi at 1080 is like 750dpi on default, so it's definitely more within the normal range. Doomsday uses slightly over 1300dpi at 1600x900, which is like 1120dpi on default res, and sometimes SiLviA used 1000dpi in 800x600, which is like 1280dpi on default res. Those are what I'd consider in the high range.

It's mostly based on relativity, but my reasoning for 600dpi-1000dpi on default res being in normal range is because it's from 800dpi at 1080p to 1000dpi at default res, and mice are normally 800-1000dpi by default unless they're weird like Zowie. I'm just trying to create a range for determining high or low sensitivity for simplicity, but 800dpi at 1080p should probably be considered in low sens range.

I prefer a DPI where I don't ahve too move my entire hand around. Atleast that's is what I use for CSGO.

DPI is just like sensitivity. But "more precise".

But if anyone asks, I'm running at 1200dpi on 800x600 resolution. Raw Input on.

I'm using 1200 DPI and 1024x768 osu! resolution, works fine for me.

Switching from 2000 to 1260dpi made my aim much better. I had problems with short jumps, because moving the cursor fast and precisely for short distances with a high DPI was too hard for me. I play fullscreen 1920x1080.

I use 1000dpi on 1280x800 resolution. It's fine for me.

I actually wanted to use 800dpi, but I heard that in-game sensitivity beside 1.0x is not really recommended. So I stick with 1000dpi.

43k plays with 1000dpi and 2.0x in-game sensitivity and I think aim is my weakest aspect, not to mention it's the first thing I forget after taking a break.

I just returned from a 3 day break and my speed/accuracy/reading has hardly changed, but after 2 hours of playing I still miss adjacent notes on nomod hards.

Res. is 1920x1080 borderless

EDIT: Spinning is the hardest skill

Basically I'm playing on 1200dpi, fullscreen 1920x1080 ever since I started. And I don't know I think it's always up to the player cause I'm getting better and better as I play. My biggest weakness is correcting the mouse-grip all the time. You can imagine what happens on high dpi, when your mouse starts to slip away from your grasp (sweaty hands ftw) and you have to correct it...
I'd love to see the results of this experiment, because I was always thinking about changing the dpi for lower.

Your experiment doesn't isolate any variables.

6/11, 1.0, 400 dpi, 1024x768, palm grip, 1 and a half year _:(´□` _ ∠):_

I play on 2.6k DPI 1980 x 1080. I'm pretty comfortable with my aim and accuracy.

1250 DPI at 1920x1080 here.

Edit: 1000 dpi as of 10/30/2014

Edit 2: 400 dpi at 803x452 now

I use 1200 DPI with my mouse; I use the finger grip style also. I can't imagine going any lower without either developing some super finger strength, or switching grip styles to use my arm to move the mouse.

LoGo wrote:

6/11, 1.0, 400 dpi, 1024x768, palm grip, 1 and a half year _:(´□` _ ∠):_

Impossibruh! How can anyone play at such a low sensitivity is beyond me. Just tried 400, on the same resolution 1024x768, and the cursor barely even moves. Jumps and transitions are like impossible, but i guess with practise it becomes easier.

Raw Input, 1000 dpi on 1366x768

I think i hit the sweet spot, the dpi is enough for me to do precise snap jump.

ditzix wrote:

LoGo wrote:

6/11, 1.0, 400 dpi, 1024x768, palm grip, 1 and a half year _:(´□` _ ∠):_

Impossibruh! How can anyone play at such a low sensitivity is beyond me. Just tried 400, on the same resolution 1024x768, and the cursor barely even moves. Jumps and transitions are like impossible, but i guess with practise it becomes easier.

yep, requires quite some practice, but after some time you don't get tired so fast (but would want to try 800 dpi mouse (400 is max for my mouse ))

I'm surprised at the efficiency of this lower dpi. I am getting less misses, I have more stability, cable resistance is less noticeable. But my hand friggin hurts!

Just finished a 4 hour play session... Started using 400dpi today on 1024x768 instead of 2000dpi and 1024x768 and my hand is killing me right now. So far i noticed that lower dpi kinda improves my streaming, and spining, but who am i to say, as i only started playing osu 1 month ago.

There is definetly improvement in stability, but as it's only the first day of change, i can't judge it yet.

I had to go back to easy and normals again, cause the difference in mouse movement is huge, and my muscle memory is useless now.

Raw 3200dpi on 1920x1080
I feel like I've been playing this game wrong since no one's dpi anywhere close to that at all right now.

KukiMonster wrote:

I will continue to use this for the next 2 weeks

Exactly 2 weeks have passed since I wrote this, and I think the result speaks for itself:


pp went up by roughly 400, which is a 20% increase in a relatively short amount of time. Fun fact: I've played less in the last 2 weeks than I did in the one week before I started this, due to arm pain while adjusting to new playstyle. I recommend for others out there who are fingertip like me to try lower sens if you haven't done so already.

I will update the first post.

I think I'll stick with 1600 dpi till I actually hit a wall. I don't like moving my mouse like a madman nor do I have the stamina for it.

changing to 750dpi here (from 1000dpi) with 1280x800 play-field since a week ago. so far It's pretty good actually.

Dropped my dpi down to 1600 since my post yesterday. Still not sure about the changes being the right thing to do, due to that my current mouse has crazy sensor drift. Waiting for my new mouse to arrive in the mail before playing again.

AcrylicBlaze wrote:

Raw 3200dpi on 1920x1080
I feel like I've been playing this game wrong since no one's dpi anywhere close to that at all right now.

Salochin is a hybrid click style mouse player who uses 3000-3600 dpi depending on the map and is ranked on the top 1k (he's currently inactive to finish off last semester of classes and had carpet tunel in his mouse hand from playing 8 hours a day).

My dpi adventure continues. A moment ago I changed to the lowest this mouse has to offer (400dpi) and set the in-game res to 1440x900. That's equal to ~341dpi at 1024x768. Although this may seem like another drastic change, it actually feels quite similar to 800dpi. I'm having no problem adjusting, although I did rearrange my cables and stuff on my desk to make room, that was a lot of work.

Okay I lied, I'm still playing. Seems to be getting used to the lower dpi and increased drift now. Previously on 3.2k dpi I would almost surely break before 700 combo or something due to a complete miss-aim that I will always get, but now I seem to be able to avoid that with lower dpi. Still having problem with jumps after switching dpi, but control-wise I've probably improved!

So far, I feel this change has helped me become a better player, albeit playing terribly for the first few days of switching. I think I will be staying at this dpi for a while, if not until I find a need to go back to 3.2k (I miss spinning >400spm, not that it matters).

chainpullz wrote:

Salochin is a hybrid click style mouse player who uses 3000-3600 dpi depending on the map and is ranked on the top 1k (he's currently inactive to finish off last semester of classes and had carpet tunel in his mouse hand from playing 8 hours a day).

Cool, I went to check his page out as well as his youtube. How he is so accurate clicking the circles is pretty amazing to me, especially since I changed to zx because I couldn't click and aim at the same time without moving the cursor by quite a visible amount at 3.5k dpi