DPI vs eDPI: what each number actually tells you
DPI and eDPI are related, but they answer different questions. DPI is a mouse setting. eDPI combines that setting with a game's sensitivity multiplier. Knowing the difference prevents a common mistake: copying another player's sensitivity number without accounting for their mouse DPI.
What DPI means
DPI is short for dots per inch. In mouse settings it describes how many counts the sensor reports for one inch of physical movement. At 800 DPI, a theoretical one-inch move produces roughly 800 counts. Manufacturers may call the same setting CPI, or counts per inch, which is the more literal term.
A higher DPI sends more counts for the same physical distance. That does not automatically make aim better, faster, or more accurate. The final movement you see depends on the operating system, raw-input behavior, game sensitivity, field of view, resolution, acceleration, and other processing.
What eDPI means
eDPI is a convenient product:
If you use 800 DPI and a sensitivity of 0.35, your eDPI is 280. A player at 400 DPI and 0.70 sensitivity also has an eDPI of 280 in that same game. Their physical turn distance should be similar when the game applies the same scale and both setups avoid extra acceleration.
Why eDPI is game-specific
An in-game sensitivity value is not a universal unit. One game's 0.35 may use a different angular multiplier from another game's 0.35. Therefore, eDPI works well for comparing two setups inside the same title, but it does not reliably transfer sensitivity between unrelated games.
For cross-game comparisons, use centimetres per 360-degree turn. That physical measurement accounts for each game's scale and gives you a more portable reference.
Examples
| DPI | Game sensitivity | eDPI | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 0.70 | 280 | Same in-game product as the next row |
| 800 | 0.35 | 280 | Similar turn rate within the same game |
| 1600 | 0.175 | 280 | More sensor counts, same mathematical product |
| 800 | 0.50 | 400 | Faster than 280 eDPI in that game |
Should you change DPI or game sensitivity?
If your mouse tracks reliably at the chosen DPI, either variable can produce the same eDPI. In practice, pick a DPI that feels comfortable on the desktop and is supported natively by your mouse, then adjust the game sensitivity in small steps. Avoid changing both at once because that makes comparisons harder.
Some players prefer 800 or 1600 DPI for finer input granularity, but the difference is only one part of a complete setup. Sensor implementation, polling rate, frame rate, input pipeline, and your own control matter too. A familiar, repeatable setting is usually more useful than chasing a single “best” DPI.
A sensible testing routine
- Confirm the actual DPI stage in your mouse software.
- Record DPI, game sensitivity, and calculated eDPI.
- Run the same short practice task at least three times.
- Change sensitivity by about 3–5%, not by a large jump.
- Use the new setting for several normal sessions before judging it.
Bottom line
DPI describes sensor counts; eDPI combines DPI with one game's sensitivity. Use eDPI for same-game comparisons and cm/360 for cross-game physical distance. Neither number can tell you which setting will feel best without consistent real-world testing.