📡 Keyboard Polling Rate Test

The test records the precise timestamp of every keydown event using JavaScript's performance.now() API, which provides sub-millisecond timing. By measuring the gaps (intervals) between consecutive keydown events and computing their average, it derives how many times per second your keyboard is reporting input — which is its polling rate in Hz. Statistical analysis including standard deviation identifies jitter in your keyboard's polling consistency.

Several factors can cause lower-than-rated results: (1) OS scheduling jitter adds overhead to event delivery, (2) the browser introduces additional latency between hardware events and JavaScript callbacks, (3) USB hubs and extension cables add latency, and (4) insufficient keystroke samples reduce statistical accuracy. For the most accurate result, hold a key continuously for the full 10 seconds and ensure your keyboard is plugged directly into the motherboard USB port.

1000Hz (1ms interval) is the gold standard for competitive gaming keyboards and is used by the vast majority of professional esports players. The 8000Hz polling rate offered by keyboards like the Wooting 60HE+ and Razer Huntsman V3 Pro reduces latency to 0.125ms, which is theoretically beneficial but indistinguishable for most players. For office use and non-competitive gaming, 125Hz is perfectly adequate.

A minimum of 20 samples (keystrokes) is needed for a low-confidence estimate, 50+ samples for medium confidence, and 100+ samples for high confidence. The test automatically classifies confidence based on sample count. For the most accurate result, hold a key for the full 10-second test duration which will collect 1000+ samples at 1000Hz polling rate.

Jitter in the keyboard polling rate test is the standard deviation (σ) of interval measurements in milliseconds. A lower jitter value means your keyboard is delivering events very consistently — desirable for gaming. A high jitter value (>0.5ms) suggests unstable polling, possibly due to USB bandwidth issues, faulty cable, or interference. Gaming-grade keyboards typically show jitter below 0.3ms.

Browser-based testing has limitations at 8000Hz (0.125ms interval). Most browsers cannot resolve individual events at this speed due to their event loop architecture, so 8000Hz keyboards will typically test at 1000–4000Hz in a browser environment. For definitive 8000Hz verification, use the manufacturer's official software (Wooting app, Razer Synapse) which accesses hardware directly.

Yes. Built-in laptop keyboards are typically fixed at 125Hz (8ms interval) through their embedded PS/2 or I²C controller and cannot be changed via software. This is why laptop keyboards test at approximately 125Hz regardless of what games or software you use. For gaming on a laptop, connect an external USB gaming keyboard which will operate at its rated polling rate (usually 1000Hz).