Microsoft KB Archive/70180

= Difference Between Mouse Sensitivity and Acceleration Controls =

PSS ID Number: 70180

Article Last Modified on 9/23/2003

-

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Mouse

-



This article was previously published under Q70180



SUMMARY
The following is more information on the sensitivity and acceleration of the Microsoft Mouse.

Sensitivity
Sensitivity controls the mouse-to-cursor motion. There are 20 possible settings, from 5 to 100, in steps of 5. The numbers of the settings do not relate to any actual PPI values; they are reference points only (like the numbers on the volume knob of a radio).

A setting number of 50 means that the ratio of mouse motion to cursor motion is unchanged -- a movement of one inch moves the cursor 400 pixels (points). The following table describes each of the settings: Sensitivity Number in             Effective              Mouse-to-Cursor Control Panel         PPI                    Movement Ratio -         -              --

5                  12                       .031 : 1    10                   25                       .062 : 1    15                   50                       .125 : 1    20                  100                       .25  : 1    25                  150                       .375 : 1    30                  200                       .5   : 1    35                  250                       .625 : 1    40                  300                       .75  : 1    45                  350                       .875 : 1    50                  400                      1.0   : 1    55                  500                      1.25  : 1    60                  600                      1.5   : 1    65                  700                      1.75  : 1    70                  800                      2.00  : 1    75                  900                      2.25  : 1    80                 1000                      2.5   : 1    85                 1100                      2.75  : 1    90                 1200                      3.0   : 1    95                 1300                      3.25  : 1   100                 1400                      3.5   : 1 The sensitivity control allows selecting an effective PPI range from 12 PPI to 1400 PPI. Both DOS and Windows mouse drivers have a default sensitivity number of 50, which is 400 PPI.

Acceleration
Acceleration controls the SPEED of mouse motion to cursor motion. As the mouse moves, the driver sees how fast the mouse is moving and applies a scaling factor, either slowing it down (typically used for slow movements), leaving it unchanged, or speeding it up (for fast motions). The range of acceleration is from 1/16 actual speed (de-acceleration) to 16, in steps of 1/16.

The acceleration is applied on top of the sensitivity, thus the effective PPI range is from 3/4 PPI (1/16 of 12 PPI) to 22,400 PPI (16 X 1400 PPI).

Additional query words: 7.x 8.x 8.10 8.20

Keywords: 7.x KB70180

Technology: kbMouseSearch kbMSHardwareSearch

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.