Mouse and keyboard input lag

Question

Level 1

8 points

Mouse and keyboard input lag

In certain (usually older) applications, I am experiencing quite a big lag in getting across my input to the application.

Like, pressing a key on my keyboard or clicking a mouse button triggers feedback around 1-1.5 seconds later. After key/button release, it is like the input went on for a little while, for around the same 1-1.5 seconds.

Interestingly enough, the mouse cursor (x and y axis) movements are not affected, the feedback are real-time.

Tried with external keyboard and also with Bluetooth mouse but to no avail.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, Windows 10, Late 2015, 16G, 256 SSD

Posted on Nov 4, 2016 8:09 AM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 23, 2016 9:48 AM in response to Zarani

If your laggy games need to send input events to a server on the network, moving closer to access point is providing better throughput and lower latency. This may also indicate interference. Instead of a wireless connection, can you test this with a wired (ethernet) connection to observe any change in behavior?

You can also run Wireless Diagnostics check for wireless signal quality and interference. Check for Wi-Fi issues using your Mac - Apple Support .

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Answer 2

Zarani Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 11, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Loner T

Older games (cca 2007-8 technology, e.g. Football Superstars)

The SMC and NVRAM reset is new to me, thanks for the hint - will try and will report back.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2881177/how-to-reset-your-macs-nvram-pram-and-sm c.html

Cheers.

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Answer 3

Zarani Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 14, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Loner T

Did both resets but to no avail.

During use, the lagging fluctuates - for some minutes it is quite noticeable and disturbing, while outside of those minutes it is almost back to zero latency.

Any ideas?

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Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 14, 2016 5:01 PM in response to Zarani

Can you check System Preferences -> Accessibility -> Mouse and Keyboard settings? Older applications may not have sufficiently large input buffers to queue the input from HIDs.

Check the game settings to see if any tuning is offered on each game. If there is an alternative to a using mouse (like arrow keys), check how they behave.

The X-Y movement may be implemented in hardware, before it gets to the application. The App can ask for specific types of events leaving others for the OS to handle.

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Answer 5

Zarani Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2016 9:02 AM in response to Loner T

Checked Accessibility: nothing there (everything is OFF, anyway)

Game: so the input lag is both for keyboard key clicks (any key) and mouse button clicks. Nothing to tune for this in the applications.

Besides, I can run the application simultaneously on the MacBook and on another, non-Apple laptop and the difference is quite noticeable: the non-Apple laptop does not show any input lag whereas the Apple MBP does.

Regardless of the above, I may have found a potential reason for the input lag, given that the lag only manifests itself with heavy online real-time communications.

I simply tried moving closer to the wifi router with my MacBook Pro and I could instantly experience an improvement, that was, barely any input lag. I also installed a free TCP optimizer and modified MTU from 1500 to 1488 as it hinted.

Will keep checking and it could easily be the case that the Apple wifi hardware/comms are much inferior in quality yo the other non-Apple laptop (a mid-business class, but much older Dell).

Will keep checking (I wish I could check through UTP but I haven't got an adapter...)

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Answer 6

Zarani Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 30, 2016 6:30 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks for the hints, Loner T.

The wireless feature of this MacBook *hardware* has proven to be much inferior to other non-Apple hardware, which is discouraging and unfortunate, really.

By now I have moved the wifi router within the house so that that quality gap would not handicap my networking experience, so I am fine now.

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Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 30, 2016 6:42 AM in response to Zarani

You may want to run Wireless Diagnostics on the OS X side and generate a 'heat' map to provide a good set of locations to use. BT, Microwaves, Cordless phones generate interference. 5G may provide better experience, but is shorter in range.

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Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Nov 4, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Zarani

What are these 'older' applications? Have you tried a SMC and NVRAM reset?

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