The overall refresh-rate cannot get better than the refresh-rate (CRT) or response-time (LCD) of the monitor, but it is possible for the mouse-refresh rate to get out of sync with the monitor-refresh rate. This can also lead to a jerky feeling.
- Mouse position is updated (Every 8 ms = 125 Hz)
- 8 ms
- Monitor displays mouse position (Every 10 ms = 100 Hz)
- Mouse position is updated
- 8 ms
- Mouse position is updated
- 2 ms
- Monitor displays mouse position (Seems jerky because of two position jumps in between)
- WinNT4: Change the PS/2 refresh rate with this registry key (REG_DWORD):
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SYSTEM \CurrentControlSet \Services \i8042prt \Parameters]
SampleRate=200 (A value from 1-200 Hz and 60 Hz is the default)
More Info MS KB102989 - Win2k: Change the PS/2 refresh rate using the Mouse applet in the Control Panel.
- WinXP: Change the PS/2 refresh rate at Control Panel -> Mouse -> Hardware-tab -> Select "PS/2 Compatible Mouse" -> Properties-button -> Advanced Settings-tab -> Sample Rate.
Note the USB controller is polled every 1 millisec (1000 Hz), and there is an option that can lower the polling rate to every 5 millisec (200 hz), which can be necessary if having a laptop that is having problems entering powersafe mode.
Related MouseRate (Will display the current refresh-rate of the mouse)[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Control \Class \{36FC9E60-C465-11CF-8056-444553540000} \0000]
IdleEnable = 1 (0 = 1000 Hz, 1 = 200 Hz, Default = 0)
More Info MS KB297045
How do we change the PS/2 mouse sample rate in
Vista (Vista 64)? The geniuses at Microsoft have removed
the "sample rate" control from the mouse properties
in the control panel for Vista.