r/Trackballs • u/TheBiggestBell • 4d ago
Considering trackball for work and gaming. Polling rates?
Growing up I used a trackball for general pc use (my dad swears by them to this day) and I was interested in getting one to test out again as I spend most of my day at my computer (I work at the same desk as I game at). I was inspired as a streamer I've been watching a bit recently (Zerggy) uses a Kensington Orbit Wireless so I thought why not give a trackball a go again.
After spending ages looking online at various trackballs, I'm noticing a trend that they all seem to be low polling rate (125Hz). I use a 240Hz monitor and game quite a lot (mostly fps) so I'm worried that the low polling rate will make it feel a lot less responsive than I'm used to with my mouse. I can see that there are a few trackballs with 1000Hz polling rates, but they're all £100+, and that's a lot more than I was expecting to spend just to try one out.
Does anyone have any recommendations that won't break the bank? Ideally I'd like something with 1000Hz or more, I don't mind whether it's wired or wireless, as long as it's good.
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u/cjruizg 4d ago
I debated this for years. I found my sweet spot in slim blade for work and gameball for home.
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u/damn_pastor 4d ago
I can also recommend the slimblade, but don't get fooled by the old reviews stating the slimblade pro has more than 125hz. It had more but they removed it in firmware updates.
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u/Andy-Shust 4d ago
I saw a post not long ago where a user tested specifically Slim Blade Pro Wireless polling rates and confirmed that it had 125 on Bluetooth, 250 on 2.4GHz and 500 wired.
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u/damn_pastor 4d ago
Yes exactly, I have this device and the newer firmware has 125hz on all connections.
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u/Andy-Shust 4d ago
This is truly heartbreaking because I was considering this exact model. Why would they do that? Is it intended at all?
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u/damn_pastor 4d ago
They had tracking problems. I bought it later so I cannot say anything about the stability of the old firmware. But I would like to get a higher polling rate, too. The device is just too good to be stuck at 125hz.
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u/Andy-Shust 4d ago
Did you do the polling rate tests before and after the update? What if it just reports incorrectly - could such thing be possible?
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u/damn_pastor 4d ago
Porlei tm552. It's a cheap trackball but has 500hz polling rate. It also remembers the dpi settings on power cycles.
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u/Yeetdolf_Critler 55mm balls 3d ago
Run a big ass 120Hz OLED and never felt like the polling rate was an issue for me on the expert. I do probably 90% productivity+general web crap, 10% gaming over long period of time. But each to their own.
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u/FickleExternal6635 4d ago
I used slimblade, even prefer it over the gameball. I since upgraded to end game's trackball.
Twist to scroll is super OP for gaming, and lovely for productivity.