Polling Rate Test — Check Your Mouse Hz

Polling rate is how many times per second your mouse sends its position to the computer. 125 Hz = 8ms update interval, 500 Hz = 2ms, 1000 Hz = 1ms. A higher polling rate means your cursor position is more current, reducing perceived lag.

1000 Hz is the standard for competitive gaming. 500 Hz is acceptable for most players. Below 500 Hz, you may notice cursor lag at high sensitivity. High-end gaming mice now offer 4000–8000 Hz for those who want the absolute lowest latency.

Browsers can throttle mousemove events. USB bandwidth and Windows HID processing may further reduce the measured rate. The true hardware polling rate is best verified via mouse manufacturer software. Use Chrome or Edge over a wired connection for the most accurate browser-based result.

Slightly. At 1000 Hz, the OS handles 1000 mouse interrupts per second, which is negligible on modern CPUs. At 8000 Hz, CPU overhead becomes measurable on weak machines. For most gaming PCs, even 4000 Hz has no meaningful performance impact.

Many gaming mice have a DPI/polling button on the underside or use companion software such as Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries GG, or Corsair iCUE to change the polling rate. Budget or office mice typically have a fixed 125 Hz rate that cannot be changed.