What is the polling rate in games?
What is the polling rate in games?
Well, I hope this is a good place for this thread 🙈
My mouse: Razer Deathadder Elite
I have quick question about polling rate. Which one is better 500hz or 1000hz. Will 500hz give me a smoother and more accurate feeling in games like CoD etc ?
Is there any downside for 1000hz other than a bit higher CPU usage ?
i don't believe there will be any change at this refresh rate
The idea is that if you have a frequency of 1000Hz and your opponent operates at 125Hz (reporting every 8ms), clicking simultaneously could result in your input being delayed more than yours. This suggests it might help the computer process things quicker, sending your command out faster before the other's. Originally I wondered if this really counts if the client timestamps its packets and sends them to the server, which seems uncertain because it raises doubts about reliability and clock drift. But it appears there are methods to keep time consistent across networks, so if everything is properly synced, faster sending could matter even without network delays. This also applies regardless of network latency, as good game servers already handle such timing issues.
However, another concern is how the server handles client states. Most games use a tick-based system, processing states only at fixed intervals. So even if your command arrives first, it might be grouped with others in the same tick, making it seem like both were sent at the same time.
TL;dr, polling helps ensure commands are dispatched sooner, not affecting how movement feels.
Yes, a straightforward illustration. I mostly chose random numbers, but still achieved a satisfactory outcome for the explanation.
The monitor operates at around 6ms refresh rate with an 165hz frequency.
It also includes input lag and signal delay, typically in the 10s of ms on gaming displays.
Your eyes and reflexes can add up to 100ms to that.
If the server runs at roughly 60hz, each tick lasts about 16.67 ms.
Assume the monitor’s input lag is 15 ms plus 6ms plus reflexes at 60ms:
Other player actions occur during the first tick, so you won’t notice until the second tick, and it will take two more ticks to reach the end of the tick (4.85 ticks).
With a polling rate of 125Hz, your response would be recorded in tick 6.
If your mouse has a 1000hz polling rate, it should register in tick 5.
The idea is that minimizing any response time and input lag across the whole system maximizes your chances of having your data captured by the server in sync with your actions.