How to use
- Type your current DPI and the in-game sensitivity you play with now.
- Type the new DPI you want to use (for example 800 → 1600).
- Read the new sensitivity. eDPI stays constant, so the game feels identical — only the numbers changed.
- Optionally pick the game to see the cm/360° for the pair; it is the same before and after, which is the whole point.
The formula and a worked example
Your turning speed is DPI × sensitivity (eDPI). To change DPI without changing how the game feels, keep that product constant:
new sensitivity = old sensitivity × old DPI / new DPI
Example: you play CS2 at 400 DPI × 2.2 (880 eDPI) and want 1600 DPI for a smoother desktop cursor. New sensitivity = 2.2 × 400 / 1600 = 0.55. Check: 1600 × 0.55 = 880 eDPI — identical. In Valorant, 800 DPI × 0.4 becomes 1600 DPI × 0.2; in Apex, 800 × 1.5 becomes 400 × 3.0.
The calculation is exact, but games round: CS2 accepts two decimals, Valorant three, Fortnite one decimal of a percent. If the exact value is 0.5625 and the game only takes 0.56, your cm/360 shifts by about 0.4 % — below anything you can feel.
| Old setup | eDPI | New DPI | New sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 DPI × 2.0 | 800 | 800 | 1.0 |
| 400 DPI × 2.0 | 800 | 1600 | 0.5 |
| 800 DPI × 0.35 (Valorant) | 280 | 1600 | 0.175 |
| 800 DPI × 0.35 (Valorant) | 280 | 400 | 0.7 |
| 1600 DPI × 0.6 (Apex) | 960 | 800 | 1.2 |
| 800 DPI × 6 % (Fortnite) | 48 | 1600 | 3 % |
DPI vs CPI — and how to find yours
DPI (dots per inch) and CPI (counts per inch) mean the same thing for a mouse: how many movement reports it sends per inch of travel. "Dots" is a printer term that stuck; sensor makers such as PixArt and some brands (Zowie, SteelSeries) say CPI, everyone else says DPI. There is no conversion — 800 CPI is 800 DPI.
How to find the DPI of your mouse:
- Mouse software — Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries GG, Glorious Core, Zowie has none but prints the DPI steps on the underside LED colours. This is the only reliable source.
- DPI button — most gaming mice cycle through presets (often 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200) and change the LED colour; the manual lists the order.
- Measure it — set Windows pointer speed to 6/11, disable "Enhance pointer precision", put a ruler under the mouse, move it exactly 1 inch (2.54 cm) with a straight edge and read how many pixels the cursor moved in a paint program. Repeat three times and average. Accuracy is ±5 %, which is enough to tell 800 from 1000.
- Look it up — the box or product page lists the default and the maximum; the default is what you have if you never changed it.
Windows does not show DPI anywhere: its pointer-speed slider is a multiplier on top of the mouse DPI, not the DPI itself.
Which DPI to choose
Modern sensors (PixArt 3395, 3950, Hero 2, Focus Pro) are accurate across the whole range, so 400, 800 and 1600 are all "correct". The differences are practical:
- 400 — historic CS default; coarse desktop cursor on 1440p/4K screens, and some games cannot go low enough in sensitivity if you ever want a slower setting.
- 800 — the most common choice among CS2, Valorant and Apex pros on ProSettings lists; enough resolution for the desktop and every game slider fits.
- 1600 — finer input steps at the same eDPI (useful at very low sensitivity for tiny corrections) and a smooth 4K desktop; requires small sensitivity numbers like 0.2–0.5.
- 3200+ — no in-game benefit; you will hit the minimum sensitivity in many games and Windows menus become twitchy.
The pros' advice is consistent: pick one DPI, convert your sensitivity with the formula above, and never touch DPI again. Muscle memory is built on eDPI, not on the two numbers separately.
What makes ours different
Most "DPI calculators" are a disguised eDPI multiplier. This page solves the actual question — what sensitivity keeps my aim after a DPI change — and shows the cm/360 for the chosen game so you can confirm it did not move. The formula and a ready table are printed right here, no download or account, and the tool runs entirely in your browser with no ad over the inputs.
Privacy
The numbers you enter are processed by a script in your browser and never sent anywhere. There are no requests to a server while you use the calculator and nothing is stored.
FAQ
I switched from 800 to 1600 DPI — what sensitivity do I use?
Halve it. 800 × 0.5 = 400 eDPI → 1600 × 0.25 = 400 eDPI. The rule is new sens = old sens × 800 / 1600.
Is a higher DPI more accurate?
Not in the sense of hitting more shots. Higher DPI gives smaller steps for the same eDPI, which smooths very low sensitivities; the sensor accuracy itself is the same at 400 and 1600 on any modern mouse.
How do I check my DPI without software?
Move the mouse exactly 2.54 cm along a ruler with pointer speed at 6/11 and acceleration off, and count how many pixels the cursor travelled. That number is your DPI, give or take 5 %.
Does Windows pointer speed change my DPI?
No, it multiplies the input on top of the DPI. At 6/11 the multiplier is 1.0; every other position scales counts and breaks the eDPI math. Keep it at 6/11 and "Enhance pointer precision" off.
What is the difference between DPI and CPI?
Nothing for a mouse — both mean counts per inch of movement. CPI is the technically correct term used by sensor makers and some brands; DPI is the marketing term everyone recognises.
Does DPI matter for controller players?
No. DPI is a mouse sensor property. Controller sensitivity is a separate in-game setting with its own curves and has no DPI equivalent.
