The left and right buttons, and scroll wheels are the most commonly used components in a mouse. But there is a lot to expect in a mouse, especially, when it comes to some precise moving action like gaming and Video editing. One of those crucial factors is the Polling rate, which users overlook while purchasing a new mouse.
A lot many times seasoned computer users or gamers who are unaware of the mouse polling rate, end up buying the wrong mouse for them. You may have come across the term 1000 Hz, 500 Hz, or 125 Hz in the specification section of a mouse, and wondered what it stands for.
Well, if you have already found this article, there is a fair chance you will get the right answer and value for your time, by buying the right gaming mouse. In this guide, I have provided a detailed comparison of the 500 hz vs 1000 hz polling rate, which are popular in the gaming segment.
What is Mouse Polling Rate?
Mouse polling rate is the speed or in the technical language the frequency at which a mouse communicates with your computer. It is mostly the time gap between your interaction with your mouse to the actual output shown on the screen ( For example, cursor movement, clicks, scrolls, etc).
Generally, the polling rate in a mouse starts from 125 Hz and can go as high as 8000 Hz in some gaming mice. The time delay is measured in milliseconds.
You can follow this table to get a clearer idea about it
| Mouse Polling Rate | Time delay ( milliseconds) |
| 125 Hz | 8 ms |
| 250 Hz | 4 ms |
| 500 Hz | 2 ms |
| 1000 Hz | 1 ms |
| 4000 Hz | 025 ms |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125 ms |
From the above table, you can understand that it takes 8 milliseconds to show the input on the screen after you do an interaction with a 125 Hz mouse.
It may look like the highest number on this list. But, it is quite impossible to detect the time delay with the naked eye. For reference, the normal blink of an eye takes around 150 to 300 ms. So, there’s almost no impact on the common activities on your PC and laptop due to the polling rates.
Here is a detailed guide on the best polling rate for mice.
But, it plays a huge role during precise gaming action ( e.g. FPS, RTS, and MOBA games, etc.). A limited polling rate is not desired in action-packed gaming, as it may get you killed ( in your game of choice, of course!). So, professional gamers prefer higher polling rate mice. You can also check out this list of best gaming mice under 1000.
500 vs 1000 Hz Polling Rate
The lower mouse polling rates like 125 and 250 Hz are quite normal in the budget segments, whereas the mid-range gaming mouse starts with a 500 and 1000Hz polling rate.
You may think that a higher polling rate may have all the advantages as it results in faster response and lesser latency. But, there are a couple of reasons, why one should prefer a 500 Hz polling rate over 1000.
As 1000 Hz may feel like a real hand movement, that may create an issue for people with shaky hands and capture all the jitters, which is not desirable in gaming or some precise movements like graphics editing.
So, a 500 Hz mouse can be an absolute boon in this scenario. Lowering the polling rate gives you a fair chance to have more control, especially, if you are practising for smoother tracking. It will capture fewer erratic movements of your hand and allows you to develop better precision.
Moreover, if you are going with a wireless variant, having a 500 Hz polling rate mouse will result in lesser power consumption by the sensor and more battery life over a 1000 Hz variant.
See the impact of both polling rates during gaming.
When it comes to the advantages of a 100o Hz polling rate in a mouse, it’s all about speed, responsiveness, and accuracy.
Difference in frequency and polling rate in Wireless Mouse
You may have come across the term 2.4 GHz wireless mouse or keyboard or 5 GHz wireless technology, etc. and wondered what it stands for. But, wait! Before you misapprehend the term as the polling rate due to the same unit as Hertz(Hz), let me be clear that both are quite different from each other.
If you are using a wireless mouse with a USB adaptor, then the 2.4 of 5 GHz frequency at which the adapter/dongle receives the signal from a mouse. Which sequentially sends the data about the input to the processor. This frequency has nothing to do with the polling rate of the mouse. These numbers also denote the effectiveness of the wireless device to send and receive signals from a certain distance, even penetrating any obstacle in between.
Most of the budget 2.4 GHz wireless mice for the day-to-day task, have a polling rate between 125- 135 Hz. Mostly the Bluetooth mice have a polling rate of 125 Hz. Generally, a wireless mouse with a higher polling rate costs more than a wired mouse with the similar polling rate.
Follow this link to learn more difference between a wired and a wireless mouse.
How to check the polling rate of your mouse
Well, there are many applications as well as online platforms to check the polling rate of your mouse accurately. However, checking it on the website is my personal preference. After all, who wants to go through a tedious process to download and install a program to check just the polling rate of a mouse?
So, here are some websites you may visit for the mouse hz test.
Moreover, some reputed gaming mouse manufacturers provide the polling rate customization option through their applications, and you can of course check the existing polling rate of the mouse.
Important factors along with the polling rate
As I mentioned earlier above, the polling rate is not a considerable factor for normal computer usage. So, if you are not in extensive gaming and precise graphic editing tasks, you can pretty well overlook the term.
But, if you are planning to buy a gaming mouse there is a checklist to tick off a few things for getting the right option. You can follow this guide to know more about the considerable factors before buying a mouse. Some factors like DPI, sensors and programmable buttons have a huge impact during extensive gaming action.
So, here is all about the head-to-head comparison of the 500 Hz vs 1000 Hz polling rate. Hope you find some valuable information reading this article. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, feel free to express them in the comment box. For more useful information regarding the computer mouse, keep checking the content right here. Till then happy clicking and typing.
Roy is a seasoned technical blog writer with a passion for unravelling the complexities of cutting-edge technology. With a background in Electronics Engineering, he has a keen interest in writing about the intricacies of keyboard and mouse in a simple way.