What are the proper steps to calibrate my mouse before playing FPS games?
I always have problem to properly calibrate my mouse when playing FPS games (Combat Arms). Sometimes it is too slow or too fast, sometime my movements are not smooth enough. My mouse is Razer Copperhead.
What are the proper steps to calibrate my mouse before playing FPS games?
Is it better to set it fast in the Configurator and slow in the game or in reverse?
What is better DPI higher or not for FPS games?
Solution 1:
"I always have problem to properly calibrate my mouse when playing FPS games (Combat Arms)."
I know this answer is very late; but I've played quite a bit of Combat Arms over the years and I believe it's critical to OP's (former) issues.
Combat Arms in 2011 was using an engine similar to what is now available as "Combat Arms: Classic" (this is not the same as the one available on Steam called "Combat Arms:Reloaded"; which doesn't have these issues). In the old engine, there are a couple things to note about mouse movement.
Combat Arms had forced mouse smoothing (I can't find the reference for this anymore, it was said by a developer on Nexon forums when they were working on CA:Reloaded). The best way to help avoid major effects from that was to put a cap on the FPS that you could maintain constantly.
"My mouse is Razer Copperhead."
Razer Copperhead, like many gaming mice, has a polling rate up to 1000 Hz. Combat Arms doesn't like that. The aim will zig zag and not follow straight paths if the polling rate is above 125 Hz. Most gaming mice have settings to limit the polling rate in their software.
TL:DR The Combat Arms: Classic (or Combat Arms in 2011) engine does not work well for calibrating mice in general. The game has forced mouse smoothing so using fixed FPS is suggested. It also requires a polling rate of 125 Hz or below to allow the mouse to move in straight lines.
Update: If (for some reason) you do still want to play Combat Arms Classic with a 1000Hz mouse, I have found the workaround for that as well.
In your Combat Arms Classic folder there are two .exe's for the game. Engine and Engine2. Engine2 is actually a "beta" build that has been included with classic for awhile.
The Engine2.exe actually works to run the game, (and removes forced mouse smoothing) as long as the game is up to date (which means you need to run the normal launcher to update the game).
You'll want to make a shortcut for Engine2.exe. Then right-click on the shortcut and go to properties. Where it says Target, add -windowtitle to the end of the target. It should look something like:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\CombatArms Classic\Engine2.exe" -windowtitle
This shortcut will launch the game with the build which removes the forced mouse smoothing.
Solution 2:
It is very difficult answer which are the best DPI settings for an FPS. There any too many different variables like the mouse device self (resolution, weight, etc.), the material/brand of your mouse pad or the surface if you haven't one, your hand posture and the force you apply, etc.
Then it depends also how the game implements the mouse input, and even sometimes depends on the class you are using. For example in Team Fortress 2 I use two different settings if I play Sniper or I use Heavy instead.
In the end, if it can help, I suggest you to define as many different profiles as your mouse control software can support (3, 5 or more) and set constant DPI interval between them.
For example I set my Logitech profiles to 800-1000-1200-1400-1600 DPI and then in-game I can easily change between them using the dedicated buttons.