Calculate total input lag from display latency, frame time, system delay, and peripheral latency. Understand every millisecond between click and screen response.
Input lag is the total time between pressing a key/clicking your mouse and seeing the result on screen. It's the sum of multiple delays: peripheral processing (1-10ms), system/game engine processing (5-20ms), GPU rendering (frame time), and display processing (2-15ms).
Competitive gamers obsess over input lag because every millisecond matters in fast-paced games. At 60 FPS with a slow monitor, total input lag can exceed 50ms. At 360 FPS with a low-latency setup, it can drop below 10ms — a 5× improvement that's perceptible.
This calculator sums all delay sources to show your total input lag. Enter each component's latency to identify which link in the chain is the weakest and deserves an upgrade.
Gamers, streamers, and content creators benefit from precise input lag data when optimizing their setup, planning purchases, or maximizing performance and value. Bookmark this tool and return whenever your hardware, games, or streaming requirements change.
From casual players to competitive esports enthusiasts, knowing your precise input lag numbers empowers smarter hardware investments, streaming decisions, and long-term upgrade planning. Adjust the inputs above to mirror your actual setup and discover optimizations you may have overlooked.
From casual players to competitive esports enthusiasts, knowing your precise input lag numbers empowers smarter hardware investments, streaming decisions, and long-term upgrade planning. Adjust the inputs above to mirror your actual setup and discover optimizations you may have overlooked.
Input lag has multiple sources and it's hard to know which component to upgrade. This calculator breaks down total latency into its components, showing you exactly where your milliseconds are going — so you invest in the right upgrade for the biggest improvement. Instant results let you compare different configurations and scenarios quickly, helping you get the best performance and value from your gaming budget.
Total Input Lag = Display Latency + Frame Time + System Delay + Peripheral Latency Frame Time = 1000 / FPS
Result: 20.2ms total input lag
Display (4ms) + Frame time (1000/240 = 4.17ms) + System (10ms) + Peripheral (2ms) = 20.2ms total. This is excellent for competitive gaming. Compare to 60 FPS: 4 + 16.67 + 10 + 2 = 32.67ms — 62% higher lag.
When you click your mouse: (1) The mouse sensor detects movement/click (0.5-1ms). (2) USB transmits the signal to the PC (0.125-8ms depending on polling rate). (3) The OS and game engine process the input (5-20ms). (4) The GPU renders the frame reflecting your action (frame time). (5) The display processes and shows the frame (2-15ms). Each stage adds latency.
Peripherals: Use 1000Hz+ polling rate mice. System: Enable NVIDIA Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag. Rendering: Maximize FPS (reduce settings if needed). Display: Use Game Mode, avoid post-processing features. The single most impactful upgrade is usually higher FPS — it reduces the largest variable component.
Competitive shooters (CS2, Valorant) reward low input lag the most. Fighting games have tight frame windows. MOBAs and RTS games are less sensitive. Single-player games can tolerate higher latency. Match your latency optimization to your game genre and competitive level.
Under 20ms is excellent for competitive gaming. 20-40ms is good for most players. 40-60ms is noticeable but acceptable for casual play. Above 60ms feels "sluggish" to most gamers. Professional esports players target under 15ms total.
Yes, directly. Higher FPS means shorter frame times, which reduces the rendering delay component. Going from 60 FPS (16.7ms frame time) to 240 FPS (4.2ms frame time) saves 12.5ms per frame — a major latency reduction.
NVIDIA Reflex is a technology that reduces the render queue in the GPU driver, cutting system latency by 20-40%. It works in supported games with NVIDIA GPUs. The "On + Boost" mode maintains high GPU clocks for the most consistent low latency.
Refresh rate affects how often the display updates, but display processing delay is the input lag component from the monitor. However, higher refresh rate monitors typically also have lower processing delay because they're designed for competitive gaming.
NVIDIA's Reflex Latency Analyzer (built into some monitors) measures end-to-end latency. You can also use slow-motion cameras (240fps+) filming both the mouse click and screen response. Software tools like LatencyMon measure system-level delays.
Top wireless gaming mice (Logitech Lightspeed, Razer HyperSpeed) achieve 1-2ms latency — matching wired mice. Budget wireless mice can have 5-10ms latency. For competitive gaming, premium wireless or wired both work; avoid budget wireless.