Why Gamers are Switching to High DPI

Summary

The video script details a comprehensive test of gaming mice, comparing sensor latency between wired and wireless models. Using a custom-built belt-driven machine and NVIDIA's LDAP software, the creator measures and analyzes the impact of different DPI settings and movement speeds on latency. The results show minimal differences in sensor latency across various gaming mice, with higher DPI settings offering lower latency, especially at slower mouse movements. The script concludes that a 2-millisecond increase in sensor lag for wireless mice is a fair trade-off for the benefits of a cable-free experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video tests the latency difference between wired and wireless gaming mice, finding no significant correlation that wireless mice are slower than wired ones.
• 🔍 The primary factor affecting quick latency is the mouse's debounce delay, not the type of connection.
• 🛠️ A belt-driven machine was built to independently control a gaming mouse and measure sensor latency using NVIDIA's LDP software.
• 🎥 The testing setup uses an Arduino, stepper motor, and speaker to trigger the mouse movement and software simultaneously, ensuring accurate latency measurements.
• 🐭 The Logitech G Pro Super Light mouse was tested multiple times, showing consistent results with a small standard deviation, validating the test rig's effectiveness.
• 🔍 Higher DPI settings were found to decrease sensor latency and reduce the standard deviation, suggesting benefits for quick movements and high sensitivity play.
• 🤔 The benefits of higher DPI settings diminish as the DPI increases beyond 1600, with only minor improvements at 3200 DPI.
• 🔌 Plugging in the G Pro Super Light did not change the latency results, indicating that the wireless connection does not impact sensor latency.
• 🐦 Comparing different wireless gaming mice showed minimal differences in sensor latency, with most falling within a similar range.
• 🔌 Wired gaming mice generally showed slightly lower sensor latency, but the difference was minimal (2-3 milliseconds) and not perceptible in gameplay.
• 🔋 The trade-off between a 2 millisecond increase in sensor latency and the benefits of a wireless, tether-free connection is deemed worthwhile for most players.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video was to test and demonstrate the latency differences between wired and wireless gaming mice, as well as to investigate the impact of various factors such as DPI settings and mouse movement speed on sensor latency.

What did the video creator build to measure mouse sensor latency?

The video creator built a belt-driven machine that can independently control a gaming mouse and trigger NVIDIA's LDAR (Latency Detection and Reporting) software to measure mouse sensor latency.

How does the testing rig work?

The testing rig works by using an Arduino to trigger a stepper motor and a speaker simultaneously. The speaker emits a beep that triggers the LDAR software, and the stepper motor moves the mouse. The LDAR software detects mouse movement and flashes the screen to record the delay between the movement and its display.

What is the significance of the standard deviation in the test results?

The standard deviation in the test results indicates the consistency of the latency measurements. A smaller standard deviation, like the one observed in the video, suggests that the test rig is reliable and produces consistent results.

What is DPI in the context of gaming mice?

DPI, or dots per inch, refers to the resolution of the mouse sensor, which determines the amount of information the sensor can read per inch of movement. Higher DPI settings provide more samples and potentially lower latency.

How did the video creator test the impact of DPI on sensor latency?

The video creator tested different DPI settings on a gaming mouse while using the testing rig. The results showed that higher DPI settings generally resulted in lower sensor latency and smaller standard deviations.

What is the relationship between mouse movement speed and DPI settings?

When the mouse movement speed is slower, such as when using wrist movement to track an enemy, higher DPI settings can be more beneficial for reducing latency because there is less information for the sensor to collect.

Did the video creator find a significant difference in sensor latency between different wireless gaming mice?

Surprisingly, the sensor latency difference between different wireless gaming mice was not significant, with most being within a similar range, despite differences in sensors, firmware, and battery life.

What was the conclusion about the impact of being wired on sensor latency?

Wired gaming mice, which do not have to consider battery saving techniques or sleep modes, showed a slight trend towards having lower sensor latency compared to wireless mice, but the difference was only a few milliseconds on average.

What trade-off does the video suggest between wired and wireless gaming mice?

The video suggests that for a small increase in sensor latency (around 2 milliseconds), the trade-off of having a completely wireless, tether-free connection is worth it, especially for players who value comfort and freedom of movement.

What future improvements does the video creator plan for the testing rig?

The video creator plans to evolve the testing rig to test additional aspects such as mouse acceleration, sensor accuracy, and micro tracking. This will involve 3D printing upgrades and writing new testing code.

Outlines

00:00

🖱️ Wireless vs Wired Gaming Mice Latency Comparison

The video discusses the negligible latency difference between wired and wireless gaming mice, dispelling myths about wireless mice being slower. It emphasizes that the debounce delay of a mouse affects latency more significantly. The video aims to prove that wireless technology won't hinder gaming performance and questions the equality of sensors and firmware across different mice.

05:01

⚙️ Testing Sensor Latency with a Custom Rig

The creator introduces a belt-driven machine built to measure mouse sensor latency using NVIDIA's LDAT software. The machine uses an Arduino to trigger a stepper motor and a speaker, ensuring simultaneous execution with minimal delay. The setup automates mouse movements for consistent testing, demonstrating the machine's accuracy through repeated tests with minimal deviation.

📊 DPI Settings and Sensor Latency

Higher DPI settings result in lower sensor latency, with noticeable improvements up to 1600 DPI. The video explains that higher DPI allows the sensor to collect more information, reducing latency. However, the benefits diminish beyond 1600 DPI. The video also explores how lower DPI settings increase latency, especially with slower mouse movements, highlighting the importance of DPI in gaming performance.

🎮 Optimizing Sensitivity for Lower Latency

The video advises gamers to achieve higher sensitivity through DPI settings rather than in-game sensitivity multipliers to reduce sensor lag. It provides examples of how adjusting DPI settings can improve sensor performance, even for players using low to moderate sensitivity. The creator emphasizes that proper DPI settings enhance micro-adjustments and tracking accuracy.

🔌 Wired vs Wireless Gaming Mice Performance

Testing reveals minimal latency difference between various wireless gaming mice, with a maximum discrepancy of 3.5 milliseconds. Wired mice generally show slightly lower latency due to the absence of battery-saving modes and continuous sampling. The video concludes that the small latency advantage of wired mice is outweighed by the comfort and accuracy benefits of wireless mice, especially at lower sensitivities.

🔬 Future Testing and Innovations

The creator plans to expand the testing rig to measure other factors like mouse acceleration and sensor accuracy. The video expresses excitement about future developments in wireless gaming mice and emphasizes the importance of sensor latency and quick latency tests in evaluating new models. Future reviews will continue to focus on essential aspects like shape and build quality while incorporating advanced latency tests.

Keywords

💡Latency

Latency refers to the delay between the initiation of a task and its completion, especially in the context of data transmission or input response time. In the video, latency is a critical factor when comparing wired and wireless gaming mice, as lower latency can provide a competitive edge in gaming. The script discusses how the difference in latency between these mice is minimal and not significant enough to affect performance.

💡D-bounce delay

D-bounce delay is a term related to the debounce mechanism in electronic switches, which prevents a switch from triggering multiple times due to contact bounce. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as having a significant impact on quick latency, more so than the type of connection (wired or wireless) a mouse has.

💡Wireless gaming mice

Wireless gaming mice are mice that connect to a computer without a physical cable, providing more freedom of movement. The video aims to dispel the myth that wireless gaming mice have higher latency compared to their wired counterparts, showing that modern wireless technology does not hinder gaming performance.

💡Sensor latency

Sensor latency is the time it takes for a mouse sensor to register movement and communicate it to the computer. The script discusses testing various gaming mice to measure sensor latency, revealing that higher DPI settings can reduce this latency, which is crucial for quick response in gaming.

💡DPI (Dots Per Inch)

DPI stands for dots per inch and is a measure of spatial printing or video dot density. In the context of gaming mice, DPI refers to the resolution of the mouse sensor, determining how sensitive the mouse is to movement. The video script explains that higher DPI settings can lead to lower sensor latency and better performance.

💡Stepper motor

A stepper motor is a type of electric motor that divides a full rotation into a number of equal steps. In the script, a stepper motor is used in the testing rig to move the gaming mouse in a controlled and repeatable manner, allowing for accurate measurement of sensor latency.

💡LDAP software

LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, which is used for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services over an IP network. In the video, the term 'ldap' seems to be a misnomer or a typo, as it is used to describe software that triggers and measures mouse sensor latency, which would more likely be related to input detection and response time measurement tools.

💡Polling rate

The polling rate of a mouse is the frequency at which it sends data to the computer, measured in hertz (Hz). A higher polling rate means the mouse reports its position more often, which can be beneficial for gaming. The script mentions that wired gaming mice can continuously sample the sensor at full capacity, often at a 1000 Hz polling rate, which can affect sensor latency.

💡Sensitivity

In gaming, sensitivity refers to how quickly the in-game cursor moves in response to mouse movement. The script discusses the relationship between DPI and sensitivity, suggesting that using a higher DPI can provide the same sensitivity feel with lower sensor lag, which is advantageous for gamers.

💡Micro tracking

Micro tracking is a term that refers to the precision of a mouse sensor in detecting and responding to very small movements. The video script mentions future plans to test micro tracking, which is an important aspect of sensor performance, especially for gamers who require high precision in their mouse movements.

💡3D print

3D printing is a process of making three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The script mentions the need to 3D print some upgrades for the testing rig, indicating that the presenter is planning to enhance the testing apparatus to measure additional aspects of mouse performance, such as sensor accuracy and micro tracking.

Highlights

A video was made to demonstrate the negligible latency difference between wired and wireless gaming mice, dispelling the myth that wireless mice are slower.

D-bounce delay has a more significant impact on quick latency than the type of mouse connection.

Wireless technology does not hold gamers back, as confirmed by the test results.

A belt-driven machine was created to test mouse sensor latency, showcasing innovation in performance measurement.

The testing setup uses an Arduino to trigger a stepper motor and speaker simultaneously to measure sensor latency.

The Logitech G Pro Super Light showed consistent results in multiple tests, validating the testing rig's reliability.

Higher DPI settings result in lower sensor latency and smaller standard deviation.

At 100 DPI, sensor latency is significantly higher compared to 400, 800, and 1600 DPI settings.

The benefits of higher DPI settings diminish as DPI increases beyond 800 DPI.

Higher DPI is more beneficial for reducing latency during slower mouse movements.

Playing on higher DPI can provide lower sensor lag and higher sensor resolution for high sensitivity players.

Wired gaming mice show a slight advantage in sensor latency, but the difference is minimal.

The Finalmouse Ultra Light 2, with a 500 Hz polling rate, showed lower sensor latency compared to other wired mice at 1000 Hz.

The trade-off between a 2 millisecond latency increase and a wireless connection is worth it for most gamers.

The testing tool will be evolved to measure mouse acceleration, sensor accuracy, and micro tracking in the future.

The testing methodology and results emphasize the importance of sensor latency and quick latency tests for gaming mice.

Transcripts

so a while ago i made a video showing

that the quick latency difference

between wide and wireless gaming mice

was basically nothing to consider there

was no correlation showing that wireless

gaming mice was slower than wired as

some people still believe today and

really more than anything it's the

d-bounce delay of the mouse that has the

biggest impact on quick latency more

than anything so for those that were

currently using or considering upgrading

to a wireless gaming mouse this was

basically proof that wireless technology

wasn't going to hold you back but

there's one thing missing from that

testing and it's when it comes to the

sensor and with a lot of gaming mice

becoming wireless and a lot of new

brands coming to the market you have to

wonder if all sensors and firmware are

made equally are all modern sensors

actually the same are they all good

enough and what does that mean when it

comes to sensor latency well to start

answering at least a few of these

questions i built this it's a belt

driven machine which can independently

control a gaming mouse and at the same

time trigger nvidia's ldap software so

that we can measure mouse sensor latency

so let's take it through a bit of a test

run today with some different gaming

mics and some different settings and

without spoiling anything yeah there are

some very interesting results

[Music]

so first of all let me explain how all

of this works basically using an arduino

and a few lines of code both a stepper

motor and a speaker are triggered at the

exact same time the speaker emits a loud

beep which triggers the ldap software

and the stepper motor moves the mouse

these two separate instructions are

executed only 150 micro seconds apart so

they're happening pretty much at the

same time once the ldap software hears

the beep from the speaker it then waits

for mouse movement at which point it

detects that and it'll flash the screen

once the screen flashes we get our

result which is the delay between the

mouse movement and the movement being

displayed on the screen i will also

mention that the movement of the mouse

is completely automated with no human

input whatsoever it basically just

repeats the same move over and over

again for a total sample count of 50. so

of course before we actually go ahead

and test anything and compare different

gaming mice in different settings we

need to first see if this thing actually

works in the first place and well yes it

actually works really well admittedly a

lot better than i expected so here's the

same gaming mouse the logitech g pro

super light taken through the same test

five different times and between each

test it was removed and then reinstalled

back into the test rig and the results

here are incredibly close what's even

cooler to see is the incredibly small

standard deviation for each individual

test run illustrated by the orange line

here which is about 1.4 milliseconds for

each test here over 50 samples all right

so the test rig works everything is good

to go and the first thing that i wanted

to test here was whether or not higher

dpi would result in lower sensor latency

dpi is essentially the set resolution of

the sensor the amount of dots per inch

that the sensor is reading so we'd

assume that with higher dpi and more

samples that information can be read

sooner and that results in lower latency

and yeah that's pretty much exactly what

we see not only does sensor latency

decrease as we increase mouse dpi but

the standard deviation also shrinks a

noticeable amount as well with the mouse

sensor set to just 100 dpi we're getting

mouse movement registering on the screen

at 25.7 milliseconds on average but with

some readings above 30 milliseconds now

i don't know anyone who plays on 100 dpi

most people play on either 400 or 800

and there there's about a two to 2.5

millisecond difference in sensor latency

the latency benefits then trail off the

higher that you raise dpi 1600 gives us

a further 1.7 millisecond improvement

over 800 dpi but 3200 dpi only gives us

about a half millisecond improvement on

average so while it's pretty cool for me

to measure and be able to show you these

differences it's not enough for me to

convince you to bump up your mouse dpi

however another factor at play here is

the actual movement speed of the mouse

the results that you've seen so far have

been with the mouse moving at a pretty

typical movement speed if you play on a

low or moderate sensitivity or from

another perspective if you're flicking

to an angle or different target in game

but what about if you're moving your

mouse less for example using only wrist

movement to track an enemy at a moderate

or long distance with less mouse

movement there's less information for

the mouse sensor to collect and so

potentially higher dpi might be more

useful here luckily we can test this

just by simply changing the speed of the

motor and just as we expected the

differences in the results do grow with

the higher dpi setting showing more

beneficial for reducing latency when you

have slower mouse movement now again

obviously no one is going to play on 100

dpi but it's pretty crazy to see the

insane sensor latency that this results

in over 50 milliseconds from end to end

interestingly though the dpi settings

that players are using 400 800 and 1600

there is a measurable decrease in sensor

latency about six milliseconds going

from 400 to 800 dpi and then a further

three milliseconds by bumping up to 1600

so what we can conclude from this

testing is that if you play on a higher

sensitivity it's more beneficial for you

to get that higher sensitivity from your

dpi as opposed to just cranking up the

sensitivity multiplier in game for

example if you play on 400 dpi 1.0 cents

in valorem you'd be better off playing

at 0.5 at 800 dpi or maybe 0.25 at 1600

dpi effectively the feel and sensitivity

will be identical but you'll have lower

sensor lag and higher sensor resolution

at those higher dpi settings and i think

even for low to moderate sensitivity

players this can still be beneficial

when it comes to micro adjustments

tracking and anything that involves fine

mouse control the next thing that i

wanted to test was whether plugging in

the g pro super light would somehow

improve or change the latency result

just out of curiosity and nope the

result is pretty much exactly the same

nothing really worth noting or wasting

time on here next up though let's

compare a bunch of different wireless

gaming mice different sensors different

firmware different battery life and

battery saving techniques but the sensor

latency difference between them is

surprisingly similar at most there's a

3.5 millisecond latency difference

between the g pro super light and the

pwnage ultra custom honestly i was

expecting some bigger differences to

talk about here but it looks like

they're all within pretty much the same

range but lastly what about wired gaming

mice here there's no need to consider

any battery saving techniques or sleep

modes you can just continuously sample

the sensor at full capacity at 1 000

hertz polling rate but does that

actually make a difference well actually

kind of i'll highlight the wired gaming

mics here for reference in white and

yeah they do trend towards the top of

the stack when it comes to sensor lag

granted it's only by two to three

milliseconds on average and again we are

measuring the entire latency chain here

which includes the pc and the display

but it's still really really interesting

to see the only wide mouse that sits

towards the bottom here is the final

mouse ultra light 2 and that's because

that mouse has a max polling rate of 500

hertz whereas the other mice are set to

1 000 hertz so yeah some pretty

interesting results for sure that in the

end the difference here from top to

bottom is only 5 milliseconds that's not

a perceivable difference or one that

will help you win most gunfights but it

does highlight that there are measurable

differences here for whatever reason

that is still though when we're

comparing wide and wireless here for a

mere two millisecond increase in sensor

lag in return for a completely wireless

tether free connection that's a

trade-off that most people should make

especially if you play on a lower

sensitivity wireless is significantly

more comfortable to play with than

slapping around a cable on your desk

you'll probably make better plays in

return and your accuracy will probably

be a little bit better as well than any

2 millisecond latency reduction can give

you at the very least i'm really glad

that i built this tool at least to

validate new models or brands of gaming

mice on the market especially the

wireless gaming mice era that we're all

trending towards no doubt we will see

some different wireless implementations

and sensor sampling techniques in the

future and you can bet more gaming mice

will be put to the test the next step

for the tool will be to evolve it to

test things like mouse acceleration

sensor accuracy micro tracking and

things like that i will need to 3d print

some more upgrades and write some new

testing which will take a couple weeks

but i'm really excited to push that

testing further and further and don't

worry mouse reviews will still focus

heavily on shape and build quality and

all of that important stuff as well but

i think that you know sensor latency and

quick latency tests are really important

too moving forward

until then a huge thanks for watching

and i will see you all in the next one