FPS Game Mouse Settings for Windows & macOS

You’ve got a brand new gaming mouse, ready to click heads in Valorant or Apex Legends. But then you dive into the settings and see a mess of options: DPI, polling rate, pointer precision… what does it all mean? We sat down with Ben, our in-house tech expert and former competitive player, to demystify the essential mouse settings for FPS games. He’s here to give South African gamers on both Windows and macOS the no-nonsense guide to unlocking consistent, reliable aim. 🔧

Glorious Model O Minus - Worlds Lightest RGB Gaming Mouse (Glossy White Edition) / Max DPI 12,000 / HoneyComb Shell /Ascended Cord (ultra-flexible) / G-Skates Premium Mouse Feet / 59 grams / 6 Programable Buttons / GOM-GWHITE

R999.00In Stock

Logitech Signature M650 Wireless Mouse - For Small to Medium Sized Hands, 2-Year Battery, Silent Clicks, Customizable Side Buttons, Bluetooth, for PC/Mac/Multi-Device/Chromebook - Off White - 910-006255

R569.00In Stock

MARVO G964W Niro 60 Gaming Mouse - Black / 6D Wired & 2.4G Wireless & Bluetooth Mouse / Pixart 3311 Sensor / Battery Capacity: 300mah / 1.5m type C Detachable Braided Cable / Switch Type: 50 Million Times / Pulling Rate: BT 125HZ Wire+2.4G 1000HZ / DPI: 800-1200-2400-3200-5000-12000 / G964W-BK

R499.00In Stock

Marvo M360 Tepo 70 Wired Gaming Mouse - Black / 12800 DPI / 6-Step DPI / Polling Report: 500HZ (up to 1000HZ) / RGB backlight with 7 modes / M360

R249.00In Stock

Logitech® Pebble Mouse 2 M350s - Tonal Graphite / Ambidextrous / Multi-device pairing / Customizable middle button with Logi Options+ App / Silent clicks with Silent Touch Technology / 1 x AA Alkaline battery (pre-installed) / 910-007015

R599.00In Stock

Logitech M196 Wireless Bluetooth Mouse, Compact and Portable Mouse for Laptops, Tablets and more, 12 Months Battery Life, Smooth Reading, Compatible with PC and Mac, Windows and macOS - Rose / 910-007461

R219.00In Stock

Your FPS Mouse Settings, Answered

Q: What’s the absolute first thing I should change on my PC for better aim? A: Before you even launch a game, you need to turn off mouse acceleration in your operating system. This feature, called ‘Enhance pointer precision’ in Windows, makes your cursor move further the faster you move your mouse. It’s terrible for gaming because it makes building muscle memory impossible. You want your aim to be predictable; this setting does the opposite.

Q: Okay, I’m sold. How do I turn off pointer acceleration on my system? A: On Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings. In the new window, click the Pointer Options tab and make sure the “Enhance pointer precision” box is unchecked. On macOS, go to System Settings > Mouse, click Advanced, and toggle Pointer acceleration to off. This one simple change ensures a 1:1 response between your hand and the cursor.

Q: What about that pointer speed slider in the OS settings? Where should I set it? A: This is a big one. You should always leave the OS pointer speed slider on its default setting. For Windows, that’s the 6th notch out of 11. Changing this from the default can cause the OS to skip pixels or introduce weird acceleration, even with ‘Enhance pointer precision’ turned off. Control your sensitivity with your mouse’s DPI, not this slider.

Q: So what is DPI, and what’s a good starting point for FPS games? A: DPI, or Dots Per Inch, is the hardware sensitivity of your mouse. A higher DPI means the cursor moves further for every inch you move the mouse. While mice can go up to 20,000 DPI or more, most pro FPS players use a much lower setting—typically 400, 800, or 1600 DPI. This allows for smoother, more controlled movements. Mentioned gear: The high-quality sensors in modern Logitech Gaming Mice handle these DPI levels flawlessly.

SteelSeries Prime Mini Gaming Mouse - Black / 18000 CPI Increments / Prestige OM Optical Magnetic Switches / TrueMove Pro Gaming Sensor / Super Mesh USB-C Cable / 61g Ultra Lightweight / 62421

R1279.00In Stock

Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse, Wireless, Bluetooth or Logi Bolt USB receiver, Quiet clicks, 4 buttons, compatible with Windows/macOS/iPadOS, Laptop, PC - Graphite / 910-006473

R1279.00In Stock

Razer DeathAdder V3 Wired Gaming Mouse - Black / 59g Ultra Lightweight / Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor / Fast Optical Switches Gen-3 / 8K Hz HyperPolling / 6 Programmable Buttons / Ergonomic / Speedflex Cable / RZ01-04640100-R3M1

R1699.00In Stock

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless - Super Light Gaming Mouse - 18,000 CPI TrueMove Air Optical Sensor - Ultra-Lightweight 68g Water Resistant Design - 200 Hour Battery Life – Snow / 62608

R2499.00In Stock

Razer Cobra Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse - Black / 10 Customizable Controls / Chroma RGB Lighting / 30K Optical Sensor / Gen-3 Optical Switches / 2.4GHz, Bluetooth & USB Type C / Up to 170 Hr Battery / RZ01-04660100-R3G1

R2999.00In Stock

Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition Wireless Mouse / Vertical 6-Button Ergonomic Design with Base Support / AI Prompt Master / Up to 6 Months of Battery Life / RZ01-05250100-R3G1

R2899.00In Stock

Q: My mouse software also shows a ‘Polling Rate’ in Hz. What should I choose? A: Polling rate is how many times per second your mouse reports its position to your PC. A higher number means less delay. For years, 1000Hz (a 1ms response time) has been the gold standard for competitive gaming. While some newer mice offer 4000Hz or 8000Hz, 1000Hz is still the perfect sweet spot for performance and system compatibility for almost every gamer. Mentioned gear: Esports-focused brands like Steelseries Gaming Mice are built around this responsive, 1000Hz standard.

Q: Many games have a ‘Raw Input’ setting. Should I use it? A: Yes, almost always. Enabling ‘Raw Input’ tells the game to take the signal directly from your mouse, completely bypassing any processing from Windows or macOS. This gives you the purest, most responsive aim possible and ensures those OS settings you just fixed don’t interfere with your in-game performance. Mentioned gear: Performance-first mice, like those in the Glorious Gaming Mouse line-up, are designed to shine when using raw input.

Q: This is great info, but where can I find a mouse with these features without breaking the bank? A: The good news is that features like adjustable DPI and a 1000Hz polling rate are now standard on most quality gaming mice, not just the ultra-expensive ones. You can find a mouse with a great sensor and all the right specs at a very reasonable price if you know where to look. Mentioned gear: Checking out the best gaming mouse deals is always a smart first step.

Logitech M185 Wireless Mouse - Grey / 2.4GHz Wireless Connectivity / Plug And Play / 910-002235-SN

R299.00In Stock

ASUS TUF M4 Gaming Wireless Gaming Mouse | Dual Wireless Modes - Bluetooth/RF 2.4 GHz, 12K DPI Optical Sensor, 6 Programmable Buttons / 90MP02F0-BMUA00

R699.00In Stock

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless - Super Light Gaming Mouse - 18,000 CPI TrueMove Air Optical Sensor - Ultra-Lightweight 68g Water Resistant Design - 200 Hour Battery Life – Snow / 62608

R2499.00In Stock

Logitech MX Anywhere 3S Compact Performance Mouse / Wireless / Fast Scrolling / Any Surface / 8000DPI / Customizable Buttons / USB-C, Bluetooth / 910-006929

R1669.00In Stock

Logitech G502 X PLUS LIGHTSPEED Wireless RGB Gaming Mouse - Optical Mouse with LIGHTFORCE Hybrid Switches, LIGHTSYNC RGB, HERO 25K Gaming Sensor, Compatible with PC - macOS/Windows - White / 910-006172

R2929.00In Stock

Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse - White / 64g Ultra Lightweight / Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor / Fast Optical Switches Gen-3 / HyperSpeed Wireless / 5 Programmable Buttons / 90 Hr Battery / RZ01-04630200-R3G1

R3499.00In Stock

Key Takeaways

• Disable Acceleration: Turn off ‘Enhance pointer precision’ in your OS for predictable aim.
• Set & Forget OS Speed: Leave the Windows pointer speed slider on the 6/11 notch.
• Low DPI is Pro: Start with 400, 800, or 1600 DPI for smooth, controlled aiming.
• 1000Hz is the Gold Standard: Set your mouse’s polling rate to 1000Hz for maximum responsiveness.
• Go Raw: Always enable ‘Raw Input’ in your game settings for the purest aim possible. ✨