Guide A guide: Find the Right Sensi


A guide: Find the Right Sensi​

I have seen a lot of discussions going on about the art of "aiming" in FPS games like Counter Strike (: Source) and Q3A (Oh, the Railing!)

Well, I thought why not write a little guide showing a FAST approach at finding a approximate sensi from where you can work on and find the "sweet" combination (more on this later.)

Prerequisites:

A good quality "USB" mouse with decent DPI (atleast > 400 dpi)
A good quality "cloth" mouse pad.

What are we doing?

I will try my best to give details of a procedure, which will allow you to get within +- .2 of your "sensi." Yes, its true, some people PLAY best at certain particular sensis. Its dependent on several factors, including:
  • reflex (a very major factor)
  • quality of the mouse
  • screen size, etc.

Software required:

CPL Mouse Fix (download)
USB Poll Rate Changer (download)
Mouse Rate Checker (download)

(i will explain in detail what each software is meant to do. I have scanned each zip before uploading them, so THEY should be viri free, but CAUTION is advised as always :P)

Before proceeding to the NEXT section, please download all the above mentioned software and try to meet the prerequisites as closely as possible. But this is NOT to say that people who do not meet the prerequisities cannot use this GUIDE. Infact, they would be actually be benefitted the most because I will provide certain OPTIONS and settings which will allow them to get most of their hardware (which can be a BIG boost sometimes.)

Hmm, as usual, where's the source?

Heheh, and as usual, alls mine buddy.... ALLs mine.... neways, read on.


[break=Pre-Preparations]


Pre Preparations : CPLMouseFix​

There are a few things we need to do to ensure a BASE playing environment. First off, software configurations:

Drivers, drivers, dRiVeRs!

I dont want you guys to run 24x7 with drivers.... They are more of a hinderance than anything else. And guess what, they DO cause more problems than THEY provide short cuts to.... BUT, if you need to do a driver install to go to higher DPI options, then by all means, PLEASE do so.... But after than ensure that the driver is cleaned up properly, because we usually dont need drivers to maintain the DPI setting (it is automatically set and stored in the hardware and thus persisted, atleast with Logitech and Razer, dont know about other exotic mice :P)

Software Configurations

Now that the drivers are taken care of and shipped off to Timbaktu, lets focus on software configurations required.

CPL Mouse Fix

Generally, EVEN after turning off acceleration in Control Panel > Mouse, some acceleration remains and that is really REALLY detrimental to getting a sharp and fast aim. What happens is that as you play a game for a considerable period of time, your aim starts developing and you start aiming instinctively based upon reflex reaction.



Your hand-eye coordination ensures that you move your hands a PARTICULAR amount based upon the distance you see between the crosshair and the target (especially applicable for budding snipers, because here its a ONE SHOT KILL and no recoil.) Now you dont want stupid acceleration to spoil your developing aim right? Thats why we must ensure that WE negate acceleration as much possible....

Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse] 
"SmoothMouseXCurve"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,a0,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,40,\ 
01,00,00,00,00,00,00,80,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,05,00,00,00,00,00 
"SmoothMouseYCurve"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,66,a6,02,00,00,00,00,00,cd,4c,\ 
05,00,00,00,00,00,a0,99,0a,00,00,00,00,00,38,33,15,00,00,00,00,00

That is exactly what the above registry entries do. Disable acceleration (actually make them like they were in Windows 98, minimum amongst all the Windows versions till date.) So applying this patch is as easy as double-clicking on the included registry file. Safe and easy. Now, lets move on!

Next we move on to USBmouserate....


[break=Pre Preparations : USBMouseRate]


Pre Preparations : USBMouseRate​

The mouse we use (generally assuming USB) are polled "a" certain times per second to get the data. Because they are polled the communication is not seemless and there are short periods of time where any movement is not recorded and thus they result in in-accuracies.

However, we have a way to deal with this.... We can change the default polling frequency of Windows USB driver and increase it from the default 125 Hz (8 ms responce time) to something like 250 (4 ms responce) or 500 (2 ms responce) to significantly improve the smoothness and accuracy.

However remember that TOO much will be a unnecessary overkill and only cause problems like high CPU utilization and drop in frame-rates. So find a compromise between performance and cpu utilization. Ofcourse, all this is possible if the hardware (the mouse) can cope up with the increased rate. Most mice can happily take 250 and most gaming mice take upwards of 500 hz easily (they are designed keeping high polling rates in mind.)

With the theory behind out backs :P, lets fire up usbmouse rate. The software is very well documented and easy enough to use. SO i guess any TE members wont have any issues using it :P In case of any issues, I will be more than happy to help you out. Just try it out. Its easy :P

REMEMBER: Dont kill your mouse trying to juice the cow too much.... Enough said.

Checking the Polling Rate

After successfully applying the patch, just fire up MouseRate checker utility included to ensure that the patch actually worked.

You should get something like this:




[break=Pre Preparations : Mouse Settings]


Pre Preparations : Mouse Settings​

After DPI and USB polling rate are taken care of, we need to start prepareing ourshelves for the final act.



Have a look ^^

Turn off 'Enhance Pointer Precision' first thing. It does more damage to precision than "Enhance" it.

Then adjust your pointer speed to something that you are comfortable at using in desktop. Not too fast, NOT too slow. Try moving it around and seeing if you are overshotting the ICONs by too much. But this is not important, the real adjust ment comes in game.


[break=Pre Preparations : In Game]


Pre Preparations : In Game​

In relation to Counter Strike, it helps to start the game with the following option in command line:

-noforcemparms -noforcemaccel -noforcemspd

This turns off all related "acceleration" inside the game so you get the exact movement that you do with the mouse.

How to put them in command line?

Right click the game in Steam Games Menu, Properties. You will see the command to set options in startup (sorry I am unable to provide screenshot as I dont have Steam installed in office.)

Now that this is taken care of, start the game and search for and disable any acceleration related options you can find. Many-a-times they are labelled "Mouse Acceleration", "Smooth Mouse" etc. Just use intuition and disable them.

[break=The Real Deal]


The Real Deal​

Now comes the real adjustment.....

Start the game. If you can create a local server then create it otherwise join some internet server. Pings etc hardly matter. You just need to be in game to follow the following :P procedure:

Mark a spot on a facing wall.... for example shoot a few bullets to make a dark mark. Start with some random sensitivity.

Now take the crosshair further away..... and TRY to aim and shot the "mark" you made without actually consciously trying to aim. For example, just move the mouse fast and try to make your bullets come as close the the mark as possible. It is expected that you will miss, SO please DONT try to make them hit. They will automatically hit, once your sensi is alright.

If you were overshooting your target (the mark), then your sensi is too high.... adjust your ingame sensi downwards till you start coming close to the mark in your drags (remember, drags, NOT aims.)

If you were undershooting (like falling short of the mark while dragging) then increase your sensi ever so slightly and try and come right on the mark.

Repeat the procedure till more-or-less all your drags land perfectly on the mark.

Note the sensi set in your game. Thats your "BASE SENSI." Now that you have your base sensi, you can work on that and improve as you start playing and improving in game. Its a gradual process, but this will HOPEFULLY give you a head start in getting a deadly aim ingame.

GUYS: I am really really sorry for not providing proper diagrams for this.... I will make up for this, just let me get home tonight ok? I will record demos of WHAT exactly I mean and you can take it up from there. I have tried my best to describe it in words. Try to follow it.

[break=Conclusion and Final Thoughts]


Conclusion and Final Thoughts​

As many of you might know, I do not like unfinished and inperfect work. This guide needs a video (and or recorded demo) to be complete. I will forward it to mods for updation ASAP.

However, I hope the guide was helpful to you. I am open to any and all queries and will respond to them with all details possible.

I am regretful if any errors (factual or otherwise) creeped in.... Please feel free to report them so I can work on them in future.

Reps are welcome too :P ofcourse :D

Regards,

Karan

TradeMarc Gamingâ„¢
 

Attachments

Click to expand...
Waah...Just what we've come to expect of karan,an awesome guide!!!
Just the guide I needed for adjusting my new mouse speeds.
Looking forward to guide updation and video demo.
Reps++ :).

Edit: Awww...You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Karan again :(.Reps due.
 
Good guide !!! Now, I consider those reps given as very very well deserved !!!

But anyway where can I change the polling rates ?? (I have not yet downloaded the softwares)

EDIT:

Forget it..... saw everything....

Anyway it is saying my avg refresh rate is 115 hz.....good or bad ?? How much can I increase it to ?? WIll it make a damn difference ?? Mine is a cordless mouse....

I increased it to 250...didnt feel any difference

And in windows, without acceleration, I hate it..... I cant live with it.

So, I checked the box called "Disable Acceleration in games"

EDIT n(forgot number of times I have edited this post :P) ....

Anyway disabled acceleration in games and with a sensi of 16 or so, I get back my old speed.....

And at the moment, playing with abt 14 or so.....Still seems slow compared to what I had earlier (that is 7.9 with acceleration)

EDIT: after changing it to even 250, I didnt feel any difference. Ran mouse rate checker..... and it is still at 115 hz!!

Why TF didnt it change ??

hmm...... went to SAFE mode and changed the polling rate to 500

Then rebooted and then checked the mouse rate checker..... it is saying average is 129..... This is more than 125...wonder if that should please me or not :P

Then rebooted again and went to change the USB rate.... it said "your current USB rate is 500 hz" !! I immediately checked in mouse rate checker but it was still 129.....

What to do ???
 
^ I don't think a usb rate changer would work with cordless usb mice, since the mouse is not connected to the usb port directly.

I guess the rate changer would need to be coded to work beyond the receiver unit or something.
 
saumilsingh said:
^ I don't think a usb rate changer would work with cordless usb mice, since the mouse is not connected to the usb port directly.

I guess the rate changer would need to be coded to work beyond the receiver unit or something.
Click to expand...

Exactly.... My bad... I forgot to mention that the "usb rate changer" trick doesnt work too well with cordless mouse. Now mouse like the latest Gx series from Logitech also allow for higher polling rates on their wireless mice, but for conventional b/w starved mice, its a big NO NO.

But no harm done. Just bypass that USB rate changer part and you will be golden.

Take care.
I will upload the demo shortly.

PS: On another note, can someone tell me the easiest WAY to convert the demo to a video (low res is ok) so that I can upload it to youtube or something.
 
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