What is a Controller Health Score?
Controller Health Score is a single 0–100 rating DriftNo calculates from resting drift, circularity error, jitter and trigger behaviour. It exists so you can compare the same controller before and after a fix, or against another pad, without relying on how it feels.
Before / After
- Resting drift4.8% → 0.9%
- Centre offset0.07 → 0.01
- Circularity11% → 6%
What goes into the score
Sticks dominate it, because sticks are what fail.
| Input | What it measures | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Resting drift | Movement reported while untouched | The headline symptom of stick drift. |
| Centre error | How far the rest point sits from true centre | The part calibration can correct. |
| Jitter | Instability in the signal at rest | High jitter points to wear, not offset. |
| Circularity error | Whether a traced circle reads as a circle | Reveals uneven range and shape problems. |
| Range | Whether full deflection is reachable | Limits how much input a game ever receives. |
| Trigger behaviour | Resting offset on analogue triggers | Catches creeping triggers people miss. |
Severity bands
The band matters more than the exact number - it maps to a course of action.
| Score | Band | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| 88–100 | Healthy | Nothing needed. Save it as your baseline. |
| 72–87 | Minor issues | Optional calibration and a measured deadzone. |
| 55–71 | Moderate wear | Run Quick Fix, then re-test. |
| 35–54 | Significant issues | Expect hardware involvement. |
| 0–34 | Severe | Replace the module, then calibrate. |
Why one number, and what it is not
A single figure is the only practical way to answer "did that help?". Individual metrics move in different directions after a fix - a deadzone can cut resting drift while circularity stays unchanged - and a composite score settles the argument.
It is not a measure of how good a controller is, and it is not comparable to a benchmark from another tool. It is a measure of your hardware and its current calibration state, on a scale that stays consistent between your own scans.
Reading the breakdown
Always look underneath the headline figure. A pad at 64 with one stick at 90 and the other at 40 is a one-stick repair, not a tired controller. The component view tells you which stick, and the diagnosis line tells you which fault pattern it matches.
Related
FAQ
What is Controller Health Score?
A single 0–100 rating DriftNo calculates from resting drift, circularity error, jitter and trigger behaviour, with a component breakdown underneath. It exists so you can compare the same controller before and after a fix instead of relying on how it feels.
Are the Before/After numbers on this site real results?
The 58 → 81 figure shown on these pages is labelled as an example session, not an average or a promise. Your own Before/After numbers are generated from your own scans in the Lab, and software-only fixes often move the score much less than a repair does.
Does DriftNo fix stick drift permanently?
It depends on the cause. If the stick rests off-centre but is otherwise stable, calibration can correct it and the correction holds. If the potentiometer is worn - scratchy, jumpy, drift that comes back within minutes - no software can repair that. DriftNo tells you which case you are in instead of guessing.
Is DriftNo free?
Yes for the part that matters. The stick drift test, Controller Health Score, Quick Fix, Before/After comparison and the gamepad tester are free, and so is transferring centre and range onto a DualSense or DualShock 4 over USB. Premium (£14.99 once) remembers your work in this browser with named profiles, history and Auto Optimise.
Score your controller
Run a free scan and get your 0–100 figure with the full component breakdown.