{"id":43877,"date":"2024-04-29T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=43877"},"modified":"2026-04-27T13:36:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:36:42","slug":"what-is-the-difference-cpi-vs-dpi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-the-difference-cpi-vs-dpi\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Difference: CPI vs DPI?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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CPI vs DPI <\/strong>\u2013 when shopping for your next mouse upgrade, you\u2019ve most likely heard these two terms. But what does it mean?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post, we\u2019re taking a deep dive into CPI and DPI, highlighting what each one means and exploring if there is a difference between them.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Does CPI Mean? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CPI <\/strong>stands for \u2018counts per inch\u2019\u2019 and refers to the number of pixels that fit into one inch of the sensor. The higher the CPI, the more sensitive your mouse is to your movements. However, with a low CPI, the cursor will move notably slower. This will require you to move your mouse further across your desk in order for the cursor to reach the other side of your screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Does DPI Mean? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, DPI stands for \u2018dots per inch\u2019. The dots refer to the number of pixels that the cursor travels through when you move your mouse. For example, if your mouse has a DPI of 800, the cursor will move through 800 pixels per inch. The higher the DPI, the faster your cursor will move across your screen and vice versa.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Want to learn more about DPI and how it can help to boost your in-game performance? Take a look at our blog post.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Read More<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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CPI vs DPI \u2013 What is the Difference? <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both CPI and DPI refer to mouse sensitivity, meaning there isn\u2019t really any key difference between them. CPI and DPI represent how much your cursor moves on the screen depending on physical mouse movement. It is simply a matter of counts vs dots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can customise both CPI and DPI to perfectly match your comfort and playstyle. For example, a high setting is beneficial in fast-paced FPS games as you can rapidly travel around the screen to hunt down targets without having to move your hand quite as much, limiting excess strain and allowing you to play for longer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Upgrade Your Mouse Game<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Looking to upgrade your mouse and in-game performance? At Overclockers UK<\/strong><\/a>, you can find plenty of high-quality wired and wireless gaming mice. We\u2019ve picked out a few of our faves for you below, but if these mice don\u2019t suit your vibes or gaming demands, you can shop the full range instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shop Gaming Mice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Ducky Feather USB Lightweight USB Optical Gaming Mouse<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n