To overclock mouse polling rate, download HIDUSBF, install the unsigned driver, and set your target Hz – but for most gamers, buying a mouse with native 4000Hz or 8000Hz support is safer and more effective. Your mouse probably runs at 1000Hz by default, sending its position to your PC 1,000 times per second. Pushing it to 2000Hz, 4000Hz, or 8000Hz reduces the time between updates, giving you smoother cursor movement and lower input latency.
Quick Answer: You can overclock mouse polling rate with HIDUSBF, but if your mouse already runs at 1000Hz, real-world gains are tiny. Overclocking makes the most sense for older 125Hz/250Hz mice. For most gamers, buying a mouse with native 2000Hz/4000Hz/8000Hz support is safer and more reliable than driver-level overclocking.
Is it worth it? For most gamers, the honest answer is: probably not. The difference between 1000Hz and 2000Hz is just 0.5 milliseconds. But if you’re playing competitive FPS games on a high-refresh monitor (240Hz+) and want every edge you can get, or you’re overclocking an older mouse stuck at 125Hz, this guide walks you through exactly how to do it.
Two paths: You can overclock an existing mouse using third-party drivers (covered in this guide), or you can buy a mouse that natively supports high polling rates (the safer and easier option). We cover both.
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Warning: Overclocking your mouse polling rate using third-party drivers requires disabling Windows driver signature enforcement, which weakens system security. There is a small risk of USB port damage or system instability. Proceed at your own risk. Create a system restore point before making changes.
Quick Refresher: What Is Polling Rate?
Polling rate is how often your mouse reports its position to your computer, measured in Hertz (Hz). Higher polling rate = more frequent updates = smoother cursor movement and lower input delay.
| Polling Rate | Update Interval | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8ms | Default for many older or budget mice |
| 500 Hz | 2ms | Older gaming mice, some wireless mice |
| 1000 Hz | 1ms | Standard for modern gaming mice |
| 2000 Hz | 0.5ms | Overclocked or native high-polling mice |
| 4000 Hz | 0.25ms | Native 4K polling mice (Razer, ROG) |
| 8000 Hz | 0.125ms | Razer Viper 8KHz, overclocked MLT04 mice |
For a deeper explanation, see our full mouse polling rate guide.
Should You Overclock Your Polling Rate?
Before spending time on this, consider whether it’s worth it for your situation:
Overclocking makes sense if:
- You have an older mouse stuck at 125Hz or 250Hz and want to reach 500Hz or 1000Hz – this is the biggest perceptible jump
- You play competitive FPS games at 240Hz+ refresh rates and want every microsecond of latency reduction
- You’re a tinkerer who enjoys optimizing every aspect of your setup
Overclocking probably isn’t worth it if:
- Your mouse already runs at 1000Hz – the jump from 1000Hz to 2000Hz is only 0.5ms, which is imperceptible to most people
- You play on a 60Hz or 144Hz monitor – your display is the bottleneck, not your mouse
- You’re not comfortable disabling Windows driver signing or editing system drivers
- You use your PC for work or sensitive tasks where system stability matters
Option 1: Buy a Mouse with Native High Polling Rate (Recommended)
The safest and easiest way to get higher-than-1000Hz polling is to buy a mouse that supports it natively. No driver hacks, no system modifications, no risk.
| Mouse | Native Polling Rate | Wireless | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Razer Viper V3 Pro | 8000 Hz | Yes | Requires Razer HyperPolling dongle |
| Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed | 4000 Hz | Yes | 4K with HyperPolling dongle |
| ROG Harpe Ace Extreme | 4000 Hz | Yes | Native 4K, no dongle required |
| Corsair M75 Air | 2000 Hz | Yes | 2K wireless polling natively |
| Endgame Gear OP1we | 4000 Hz | Yes | 4K with included dongle |
If you’re in the market for a new mouse anyway, this is the way to go. Skip the driver hacking entirely.
Option 2: Overclock with HIDUSBF (Windows)
HIDUSBF (developed by SweetLow) is the primary tool for overclocking USB mouse polling rates on Windows. It replaces the Windows USB HID driver with a modified version that supports higher polling rates.
What you need
- Windows 10 or 11
- HIDUSBF driver package (available on GitHub)
- Administrator access
- A USB mouse (not Bluetooth)
- A system restore point (create one before starting)
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Create a system restore point
Before modifying any drivers, create a restore point so you can roll back if something goes wrong. Search for “Create a restore point” in Windows Settings, click Create, and name it something like “Before mouse overclock.”
Step 2: Download HIDUSBF
Download the latest HIDUSBF package from the GitHub repository (search for “LordOfMice hidusbf” or “vadash 1000hz” on GitHub). Extract the ZIP file to a folder.
Step 3: Install the certificate
Locate the SweetLow certificate file in the extracted folder. Double-click it and click Install Certificate. Choose Current User as the store location. This lets Windows recognize the modified driver as trusted.
Step 4: Install the HIDUSBF driver
Locate HIDUSBF.INF in the extracted folder. Right-click it and select Install. Windows may show a security warning – click through to proceed.
Step 5: Configure the polling rate
- Run
UsbMouseRate.exeas Administrator - Check the “Mouses Only” filter to show only mouse devices
- Select your mouse from the device list
- Choose your desired polling rate from the dropdown (500, 1000, 2000, etc.)
- Check the “Filter On Device” checkbox
- Click Restart
Step 6: Restart Windows
A full system restart is required for the new polling rate to take effect.
Step 7: Verify the new polling rate
After restarting, verify the change worked by using the mouserate.exe tool included in the HIDUSBF package, or by visiting an online mouse polling rate tester. Move your mouse rapidly in circles – the measured rate should match or be close to your target.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Driver won’t install / Windows blocks it
Windows may block the unsigned driver. You have two options:
- Disable Memory Integrity (HVCI): Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Device Security → Core isolation details → Turn off Memory integrity. Restart.
- Enable test signing mode: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run
bcdedit /set testsigning on. Restart. This puts Windows in test mode, which allows unsigned drivers. A watermark will appear on your desktop. To disable later:bcdedit /set testsigning off.
Note: Both options weaken system security. Only do this on a dedicated gaming PC, not a work machine.
Polling rate caps at a lower value than expected
Not all mice can reach every polling rate. The maximum depends on the mouse’s sensor and firmware. Mice with the MLT04 sensor (Microsoft WMO 1.1, IMO 1.1, IME 3.0) are known to reach 8000Hz. Many modern mice cap at 1000Hz or 2000Hz even with HIDUSBF. If your mouse caps early, that’s its hardware limit.
Mouse feels jittery or unstable after overclocking
You may have pushed beyond what your mouse or USB controller can handle. Drop back to the next lower polling rate. Also try plugging into a USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.0 – some USB 3.0 controllers have compatibility issues with overclocked polling.
Games feel worse after overclocking
Some games don’t handle polling rates above 1000Hz well. Source engine games and some older titles may exhibit hitching or erratic input at 2000Hz+. If a game feels off, drop back to 1000Hz for that game.
Anti-cheat software blocks the driver
Some anti-cheat systems (notably Vanguard, EasyAntiCheat) may flag HIDUSBF as suspicious software. If you get banned or blocked, you’ll need to uninstall HIDUSBF and revert to the default driver.
Overclocking on Linux
Linux handles mouse polling rate differently than Windows. The default polling rate is controlled by the usbhid kernel module.
Method 1: Kernel parameter
Add usbhid.mousepoll=1 to your kernel boot parameters (in GRUB config) to set 1000Hz polling. The value is the polling interval in milliseconds:
usbhid.mousepoll=8= 125 Hzusbhid.mousepoll=2= 500 Hzusbhid.mousepoll=1= 1000 Hz
This method only works up to 1000Hz.
Method 2: Custom kernel module
For polling rates above 1000Hz on Linux, you need a custom kernel module like wmo_oc-dkms (available on GitHub). This is advanced territory – you’ll need to compile and load the module, and it only works with specific mice and USB controllers.
Is Overclocking Your Polling Rate Worth It?
Here’s a realistic assessment:
| Overclock | Latency Saved | Noticeable? | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz → 1000 Hz | 7ms | Very noticeable – smoother movement, less input lag | Yes |
| 500 Hz → 1000 Hz | 1ms | Noticeable in fast-paced games on 144Hz+ monitors | Yes |
| 1000 Hz → 2000 Hz | 0.5ms | Barely perceptible, only on 240Hz+ monitors | Marginal |
| 1000 Hz → 4000 Hz | 0.75ms | Smoother cursor motion visible in slow-motion analysis | Diminishing returns |
| 1000 Hz → 8000 Hz | 0.875ms | Almost imperceptible in practice, increases CPU overhead | Only for enthusiasts |
The biggest gains come from getting to 1000Hz. If your mouse is stuck at 125Hz or 500Hz, overclocking to 1000Hz is a worthwhile improvement. Beyond 1000Hz, the returns diminish rapidly and the risks (driver instability, anti-cheat issues, CPU overhead) increase.
The Real Risks of Polling Rate Overclocking
Most overclocking guides gloss over the downsides. Here is what can go wrong:
USB controller overload
Older motherboards (pre-2020) often share a single USB controller across multiple ports. Pushing one device to 2000Hz+ can starve bandwidth from other USB devices on the same controller. Symptoms include keyboard input lag, audio interface crackling, or USB drives disconnecting. Intel 100/200 series chipsets are especially prone to this. Even newer boards can struggle if you have multiple high-polling devices (mouse + keyboard both overclocked).
Measurable CPU overhead
At 8000Hz, your CPU processes 8,000 USB interrupts per second from a single device. Open Task Manager and watch the “System interrupts” process before and after overclocking. On a Ryzen 5600X, 8000Hz polling adds roughly 1-2% CPU usage at idle. During gaming, this stacks with everything else your CPU handles. On older quad-core CPUs or CPUs already running near capacity, that extra interrupt load causes frame time spikes of 2-5ms – enough to feel as micro-stutter in competitive shooters.
Game engine incompatibility
Not all game engines process mouse input at arbitrary rates. Source engine games (CS2, Dota 2) handle high polling well, but Unity-based games and some Unreal Engine titles poll mouse input on a fixed tick. Pushing 4000Hz into a game engine that samples at 128 ticks per second wastes the extra data. Worse, some older engines interpret rapid input as jitter, causing erratic crosshair movement.
Security trade-offs are permanent (while active)
HIDUSBF requires either disabled Memory Integrity (HVCI) or test signing mode. Both weaken Windows kernel security. Memory Integrity protects against driver-level exploits – turning it off means any malicious driver can load without Windows checking its signature. If you browse the web or download files on the same PC, this is a real exposure, not a theoretical one.
Warranty and anti-cheat risks
Mouse manufacturers do not cover damage from third-party driver modifications. If your USB port stops working after running HIDUSBF at 8000Hz, that repair is on you. Anti-cheat systems including Vanguard, FACEIT, and EasyAntiCheat scan for modified USB drivers. Bans are rare but documented – and they are typically permanent with no appeal process.
Should You Overclock? A Quick Decision Guide
Skip the 30-minute driver installation if it does not match your situation. Use this to decide in 60 seconds.
Overclock your polling rate if ALL of these are true:
- Your mouse is stuck at 125Hz or 250Hz and you cannot afford a new one
- You play competitive FPS on a 144Hz+ monitor
- You have a dedicated gaming PC (not a work or school machine)
- You are comfortable disabling Memory Integrity or enabling test signing
Buy a mouse with native high polling instead if:
- Your mouse already runs at 1000Hz – overclocking to 2000Hz saves only 0.5ms, which no human can perceive
- You want wireless – HIDUSBF only affects the USB dongle-to-PC link, not the mouse-to-dongle wireless signal
- You play on a shared or work PC where disabling driver signing is not an option
- You play games with kernel-level anti-cheat (Valorant, FACEIT CS2, Fortnite) – modified USB drivers risk a permanent ban
Do not bother at all if:
- You play on a 60Hz monitor – your display updates every 16.7ms, so the difference between 1ms and 0.5ms polling is invisible
- You play single-player, strategy, or MMO games – input latency below 8ms has zero impact on gameplay in these genres
- You use a pre-2018 CPU (i5-7th gen or older, Ryzen 1000/2000) – the extra USB interrupt load causes more harm than the latency reduction helps
Bottom line: The only scenario where HIDUSBF overclocking clearly pays off is pushing an old 125Hz mouse to 1000Hz on a dedicated gaming rig. For everything else, buy a mouse that supports higher polling natively – it is safer, more stable, and works out of the box.
Research Sources
- HIDUSBF GitHub Repository (LordOfMice) – source code, driver files, and installation documentation for USB polling rate overclocking
- MouseTester Utility (GitHub) – open-source tool for verifying actual polling rate, sensor tracking consistency, and xCounts data
- Razer HyperPolling Technology – manufacturer documentation on native 4000Hz and 8000Hz polling implementation
- Overclock.net USB Mouse Hard Overclocking Thread – community testing data on USB controller compatibility, CPU overhead measurements, and hardware-specific polling rate ceilings
Learn more about polling rate in our polling rate explainer. Compare mice by polling rate in our Gaming Mouse Database. For the best high-polling mice, see our lightweight gaming mouse guide.
Overclocking Polling Rate in 2026
With native 4000-8000Hz polling available on flagship mice, overclocking 1000Hz mice to higher rates is less relevant than it was in 2024. However, if you have a solid 1000Hz mouse you love, overclocking to 2000Hz via hidusbf or Razer Synapse can provide a noticeable smoothness improvement on 240Hz+ monitors at zero cost. Beyond 2000Hz, CPU overhead makes software overclocking unreliable – if you want 4000Hz+, buy a mouse with native hardware support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can overclocking my mouse damage it?
No, overclocking will not damage the mouse itself – it changes the USB controller polling frequency, not the mouse hardware. USB ports can become unresponsive after aggressive overclocking to 8000Hz+, but a system restore point lets you revert the driver changes and recover.
Does higher polling rate increase CPU usage?
Yes, higher polling rates increase CPU usage. At 8000Hz your CPU processes 8x more USB interrupts than at 1000Hz. On modern Ryzen 5000+ or 12th gen Intel CPUs the overhead is 1-2% – barely noticeable. On older quad-core CPUs, it can cause micro-stuttering and frame time spikes. Check Task Manager’s “System interrupts” process after overclocking.
Will I get banned for using HIDUSBF in online games?
Bans are possible but uncommon. Riot Vanguard, EasyAntiCheat, and BattlEye all scan for modified USB drivers and can flag HIDUSBF as suspicious. VAC bans have been reported in CS:GO/CS2 threads. The risk is highest with kernel-level anti-cheat (Valorant, FACEIT). If you play ranked competitive games, use native high-polling mice instead.
Can I overclock a wireless mouse?
Only partially. HIDUSBF increases the USB polling rate between the wireless dongle and your PC, but it cannot change the wireless link between the mouse and dongle – that rate is firmware-locked. The result: you speed up one half of the connection while the other stays capped. For true high-rate wireless, buy a mouse with native 4000Hz support like the Razer Viper V3 Pro.
How do I check my current polling rate?
Use mouserate.exe (included with HIDUSBF) or any online mouse rate checker. Move your mouse in fast circles while the tool measures. Expect readings to fluctuate by 10-20Hz – that is normal. Browser-based tests cap at roughly 1000Hz due to browser event handling limits, so use a desktop tool if you are verifying rates above 1000Hz.
What mouse sensors support overclocking above 1000Hz?
The Microsoft MLT04 sensor (found in the WMO 1.1, IMO 1.1, IME 3.0) reliably reaches 8000Hz with HIDUSBF. Most modern PixArt and Razer sensors are firmware-capped at 1000Hz regardless of driver modifications. Logitech mice are the hardest to overclock due to firmware-level polling rate locks. If your mouse caps at 1000Hz with HIDUSBF installed, that is its hardware ceiling.
Read Next
- What Is Mouse Polling Rate? – Full explainer on how polling rate works
- How to Fix Gaming Mouse Stuttering – Troubleshoot mouse tracking issues
- Gaming Mouse Sensor Database – Compare sensors across hundreds of mice
- The Ultimate Gaming Mouse Guide – Our complete gaming mouse resource
- Gaming Mouse DPI Guide – Understand DPI and find your ideal sensitivity
- Best Wireless Gaming Mice – Top wireless picks with native high polling rate support
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