Mouse Sensitivity

Can anyone tell me what the "mouse cursor speed" setting in Windows actually changes to make the cursor move faster. For example, I know that if I have a 1000 DPI mouse, there is no way to make it actually scan faster, its a limit of the hardware in the mouse. So I am assuming that the mouse cursor speed setting is just an acceleration multiplier.

However, what does that actually break down to in terms of numbers? Is one tick 2x, 2 ticks 3x etc. or is it something else? Maybe a percentage of the mouse DPI. +10%, +20% etc.,..

I've tried Googling this but either I'm using the wrong terms or something because I cant seem to find just what I'm looking for.

Attached is a screen snip of the setting I'm referring to.

Up until now I have been happy with my Generic Wired USB Mouse at 1000 DPI and 3-4 ticks on the cursor speed slider. However I just got a new RGB mouse (Coolermaster MM531) with DPI settings from 100 to 12000 DPI and I'm having difficulty finding the right DPI setting for it. I'm either under or over shooting and its making gaming a little more frustrating than it has been/should be.

Any input or advice anyone could offer is appreciated. Thanks.

Windows 10 Home x64 v.2004, OS Bld 19041.508

@Corelogik

I'm no expert, but I'd assume it changes how many pixels it travels compared to how far you've moved the mouse itself.

Just making up some numbers here...

Let's say the sensitivity is set so the cursor moves 40 pixels when the mouse is moved 1/4". When you turn the sensitivity up, it then moves 80 pixels when the mouse is moved 1/4".


Back in the day, and probably still true.... the screen was marked out like an X and Y axis.
Y being the vertical and on the left, with X being the horizontal and on the bottom.

From things I've seen in the registry, it seems that they still use that system. Like... a windows coordinates (location on the screen) for example.
Or the mouse cursor... etc.

On the new PC Settings option for this there seems to be 20 levels. So if set to 10 = 0, then every tick up would be similar to 2x, 3x, 4x etc, (40, 80, 120, 160) and every tick down from 10 would be -2x, -3x, -4x etc,.. (40, 20, 10, 5) and so on.

That's how I'm reading it and how it seems to act in my completely unscientific estimation.

If anyone has an opinion on what DPI I should try setting my mouse to, that would be appreciated as well.

I play FPS and RTS games, nothing majorly AAA. I just want to be able to control my character like I did before without them spinning all around every time my hand twitches.

Corelogik said:

On the new PC Settings option for this there seems to be 20 levels. So if set to 10 = 0, then every tick up would be similar to 2x, 3x, 4x etc, (40, 80, 120, 160) and every tick down from 10 would be -2x, -3x, -4x etc,.. (40, 20, 10, 5) and so on.

That's how I'm reading it and how it seems to act in my completely unscientific estimation.

If anyone has an opinion on what DPI I should try setting my mouse to, that would be appreciated as well.

I play FPS and RTS games, nothing majorly AAA. I just want to be able to control my character like I did before without them spinning all around every time my hand twitches.

For FPS games you want the DPI set as high as you can get it. For RTS, I would use a lower setting, like, 1000 DPI.
Ofc you'll have to test a bit. Everyone's twitch reflex is a bit different.



/edit

Just looked it up... the X axis goes across the top, the Y axis, down the left side. (0,0) is the top left corner.