Mouse Polling Rate Test

What is Mouse Polling Rate?

Polling rate is the frequency at which your mouse reports its position to your computer, measured in Hertz (Hz). A higher polling rate means more frequent updates and potentially lower input lag. For example:

125 Hz: Updates every 8ms (typical for office mice)
500 Hz: Updates every 2ms (good for casual gaming)
1000 Hz: Updates every 1ms (standard for gaming mice)
2000+ Hz: Updates every 0.5ms or less (premium gaming mice)

While manufacturers often advertise specific polling rates, the actual performance can vary due to USB controller limitations, driver issues, or system load. This tool helps you verify your mouse's true polling rate.

Test Your Mouse Polling Rate

Move your mouse rapidly within the test area below. The faster you move, the more accurate the measurement.

Test Duration:

Click "Start Test" and move your mouse rapidly within this area

Current Polling Rate: -

Average Polling Rate: -

Samples Collected: -

Stability: -

Interpreting Your Results

Excellent

Your measured polling rate is within 5% of the advertised rate with high stability (low variance).

Good

Your measured polling rate is within 10-15% of the advertised rate with moderate stability.

Fair

Your measured polling rate is significantly lower than advertised or shows high variance.

Poor

Your measured polling rate is inconsistent or much lower than expected. Consider checking for interference or driver issues.

Tips for Accurate Testing

Move quickly: Faster mouse movements provide more accurate polling rate measurements
Close background apps: Other CPU-intensive applications can affect polling rate accuracy
Test multiple times: Run the test 2-3 times for consistent results
Use different surfaces: Try testing on different mouse pads or surfaces
Check USB ports: Try different USB ports, especially direct motherboard connections

Common Issues & Solutions

Lower than expected polling rate

If your polling rate is lower than expected:

Check if your mouse software has polling rate settings
Try a different USB port (preferably USB 2.0 for older mice)
Update mouse drivers and firmware
Disable USB power saving in Device Manager
Close background applications that might be consuming CPU resources

Unstable polling rate

If your polling rate fluctuates significantly:

Check for USB controller issues or conflicts
Try disabling other USB devices temporarily
Update your motherboard chipset drivers
Ensure your CPU isn't thermal throttling
Test with a different mouse to isolate the issue

Test not working properly

If the test isn't working correctly:

Try a different web browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
Disable browser extensions that might interfere
Clear browser cache and cookies
Ensure JavaScript is enabled
Try disabling hardware acceleration in your browser