I solved my input lag by changing cable positions

[wolfie01]

I've been struggling for a long time (3-4 years) with what I thought was input lag caused by external electricity. Yesterday I accidentally kicked my modem, the cables probably moved from where they were and the input lag was unbelievably gone. Someone suggested in the comments of a YouTube video before to separate your cables, move them away from each other, but I didn't pay attention. In my previous house, there was no grounding, so I had input lag, but it was solved when I moved to the new house, it has been happening all the time lately, but grounding is normal in this house. I think it is the Ethernet cable, it is a very cheap and unprotected cable (UTP), now I ordered a F/FTP Cat7 cable, it should arrive tomorrow, I will update the topic.

By the way, I changed most of my computer parts and there was no change. I mean, maybe your input lag caused by external electricity is not really caused by electricity or grounding.

EDIT: I changed ethernet cable, everything about latency is fine right now.

[Chief Blur Buster]

One of the more valid advices here that is often overlooked.

I already write about this: Keep your power wires (e.g. biggest interference generators) away from data wires (e.g. USB/Ethernet/etc cables), and keep your power bricks (e.g. biggest interference generators) away from data wires (e.g. USB/Ethernet/etc cables).

Also the reseated connections helps (loose connections that create error-correction latency spikes), this also helps on things like PCIe slots, SATA cables and M.2 slots (loose connectors = more subject to electrical interference)

By the way, I changed most of my computer parts and there was no change. I mean, maybe your input lag caused by electricity is not really caused by electricity or grounding.

Nuances: It's still electricity, just local electricity (interference between cables) not external electricity (interference from grid).

But yes. This is one of the toughest problems to troubleshoot.

I think it is the Ethernet cable, it is a very cheap and unprotected cable (UTP), now I ordered a F/FTP Cat7 cable, it should arrive tomorrow, I will update the topic.

Yes, that's one good move. However, if your run is 50 feet or longer, it's cheaper to go fiber optic nowadays than genuine non-fake "STP" Ethernet (STP Cat-6a/Cat-7). Just get a couple of cheap media converters + some generic fiber optic cable. (Keep the media converter AC adaptors away from your data cables though). From things like the $30 brand name media converters to the $7 media converters from aliexpress, optical fiber is now super cheap!

(Ethernet Port) - (Media Converter) - (Optical Fiber Cable) - (Media Converter) - (Ethernet Port)

Some media converters use SFP or SFP+ slots; others use a direct optical fiber cable connection. Be careful to match them up; easy to spend 2x-5x as much by accident; just get the basic gigabit stuff, usually OM3 optical cables. OM3 optical cables are now cheaper than even brand-name CAT-5 ethernet, it's the media converters that add the $$, but you can still make it cheaper than STP Ethernet if your run is long enough (50 foot). Or even 25-feet if you aliexpress it (media converters for under $10!).

Long Ethernet runs can receive electrical interference within your household, like all the mudane electrical outlets thru televisions through lamps through refrigerators near your Ethernet run; so expensive Ethernet STP or going optical is useful.

STP Ethernet (CAT-6a/CAT-7) is much easier; just adding an additional option of household optical Ethernet.

[howcani]

One of the more valid advices here that is often overlooked.

I already write about this: Keep your power wires (e.g. biggest interference generators) away from data wires (e.g. USB/Ethernet/etc cables), and keep your power bricks (e.g. biggest interference generators) away from data wires (e.g. USB/Ethernet/etc cables).

Also the reseated connections helps (loose connections that create error-correction latency spikes), this also helps on things like PCIe slots, SATA cables and M.2 slots (loose connectors = more subject to electrical interference)

By the way, I changed most of my computer parts and there was no change. I mean, maybe your input lag caused by electricity is not really caused by electricity or grounding.

Nuances: It's still electricity, just local electricity (interference between cables) not external electricity (interference from grid).

But yes. This is one of the toughest problems to troubleshoot.

I think it is the Ethernet cable, it is a very cheap and unprotected cable (UTP), now I ordered a F/FTP Cat7 cable, it should arrive tomorrow, I will update the topic.

Yes, that's one good move. However, if your run is 50 feet or longer, it's cheaper to go fiber optic nowadays than genuine non-fake "STP" Ethernet (STP Cat-6a/Cat-7). Just get a couple of cheap media converters + some generic fiber optic cable. (Keep the media converter AC adaptors away from your data cables though). From things like the $30 brand name media converters to the $7 media converters from aliexpress, optical fiber is now super cheap!

(Ethernet Port) - (Media Converter) - (Optical Fiber Cable) - (Media Converter) - (Ethernet Port)

Some media converters use SFP or SFP+ slots; others use a direct optical fiber cable connection. Be careful to match them up; easy to spend 2x-5x as much by accident; just get the basic gigabit stuff, usually OM3 optical cables. OM3 optical cables are now cheaper than even brand-name CAT-5 ethernet, it's the media converters that add the $$, but you can still make it cheaper than STP Ethernet if your run is long enough (50 foot). Or even 25-feet if you aliexpress it (media converters for under $10!).

Long Ethernet runs can receive electrical interference within your household, like all the mudane electrical outlets thru televisions through lamps through refrigerators near your Ethernet run; so expensive Ethernet STP or going optical is useful.

STP Ethernet (CAT-6a/CAT-7) is much easier; just adding an additional option of household optical Ethernet.

Can you recommend the brands that can i order to europe? Cause some ppl say that some cables are fake or whatever

[Chief Blur Buster]

Can you recommend the brands that can i order to europe? Cause some ppl say that some cables are fake or whatever

There's just thousands of different brands worldwide so even I've lost track, and they are changing all the time. In the past I've done things like Monoprice and BetterCables, great product if it's cheap to you! Being that said, launching the game of Trade Wars 2025 are constantly changing people's preferences of where they purchase from because of customs duties/HST/VAT/tax/etc/etc. And you might have cheaper good local brands in your country that I don't know of.

For now, go by the reviews / go by the trusted brands / buy from direct manufacturer storefronts / Buy from popular cable sellers etc. The common advice. Regardless of Ethernet or optical.

For example, one would trust a "CableMatters-branded" STP cable purchased from CableMatters's very own manufacturer storefront (or their own 'Verified' manufacturer-run Amazon storefront), but one might not trust a "CableMatters cable" from aliexpress or unknown reseller, because it might be counterfeit.

(Note: I only mention CableMatters as one of the many usually-trusted brands, it may not be cheap in your specific country, and your country may already have a good brand).

[aaronramsdale]

There's just thousands of different brands worldwide so even I've lost track, and they are changing all the time. In the past I've done things like Monoprice and BetterCables, great product if it's cheap to you! Being that said, launching the game of Trade Wars 2025 are constantly changing people's preferences of where they purchase from because of customs duties/HST/VAT/tax/etc/etc. And you might have cheaper good local brands in your country that I don't know of.

For now, go by the reviews / go by the trusted brands / buy from direct manufacturer storefronts / Buy from popular cable sellers etc. The common advice. Regardless of Ethernet or optical.

For example, one would trust a "CableMatters-branded" STP cable purchased from CableMatters's very own manufacturer storefront (or their own 'Verified' manufacturer-run Amazon storefront), but one might not trust a "CableMatters cable" from aliexpress or unknown reseller, because it might be counterfeit.

(Note: I only mention CableMatters as one of the many usually-trusted brands, it may not be cheap in your specific country, and your country may already have a good brand).

Thanks for sharing, I also bought a 'branded' cable but ordered from a third party so the quality was very bad. After that, I only buy directly from the official store or major distributor, it is much more secure.