Re: [Power/EMI] I discover why sometime PC become fast and low input lag and otherwise feel high input lag
Posted: 26 Aug 2021, 00:54
Hello, I know this is an old post so I'm going to be as straight forward as possible. I have basically the same symptoms as you in terms of input lag and desync, my symptoms with this problem are definitely not as bad as others but still makes games unplayable to me at a competitive level. This happens on my desktop too and I have replaced every hardware component and of my computer along with many different mouses/keyboards and have also tried a double conversion ups that only mitigates the problem a tiny bit. I'm just asking for an update on your apparent fix and if it's still working. The reason I point out your post specifically is because when I run the ups purely off battery, nothing changes, this points to my problem being similar to yours as you have also reported that running a ups off battery makes no difference for your particular situation. So I would be very grateful if you could give me an additional update on your input lag situation after fixing your fusebox/wiring, thank you!dervu wrote: ↑10 Mar 2021, 10:00I want to share some results I had in recent 3 months.
I am not saying it is permanent fix (that needs probably months to pass to be sure) let alone fix for everyone.
Seems that symptoms can overlap between different sources of this issue. For example I didn't have any problems with display quality, but with mouse movement, keyboard lag, desync. Others have both issues, but have already checked things I did and they didn't help them permanently/for longer time.
Didn't have other symptoms in any devices other than laptop/PC.
Also there is major difference in one test that I will mention below that shows something is really screwed up for many people who have more severe symptoms.
At beginning of this year I hired electrician to check my wiring. He found out fusebox was bad (30 y old fusebox with old type screwed in fuses).
Also my electrician told me that there is a problem on whole neighbourhood with voltage spikes. Measured by multimeter it showed max 2,5V drops, but UPS shows as low as 224V (when it should be 230V). They fixed those spikes for some period of time years ago (big grocery store near was the problem), but then it came back and since then it is there.
Month later electrician replaced fuse box, instant difference. Mouse behaves as it should, allowing to build muscle memory, gaming started to feel like it should.
After having it stable for 1 month I wanted to make sure that there is no difference between what should be perfect and what I had.
I bought online UPS (double conversion + voltage stabilization).
Comparing mouse movement while connected to UPS and straight to socket it shows clear but subtle difference ( compared to what fixing fusebox bring it is minor). On UPS cursor stops faster, without UPS it is more loose.
What UPS bring in measurements is lowering Total Harmonic Distortion from 01.8%-2.2% to 00.7% + voltage stabilization.
Then I went to main point of buying UPS. Checking if it runs different on battery (off grid) only vs connected to socket (on grid). No difference at all. < This is the major difference between me and others who have tried running on battery and having it run perfectly on battery and not while connected to grid, while also having more symptoms than me.
This shows that at least for me it was about wiring (major) and a bit of voltage spikes or lowering THD a bit (minor).
For others it might be more complicated. Don't expect anyone to bring out perfect solution for you, because there might not be universal fix Maybe only if you have symptoms perfectly aligning with other people. I think that trying to run on UPS battery only and comparing it at least can give you clear answer if something is wrong (if you do not have ability to move your PC somewhere else). At least for this pandemic time it is nice way to check.
Summary:
- Loose connections / wiring at old fuse box was major source
- UPS on battery shows no difference vs UPS connected to grid.
- Using UPS connected to grid vs PC connected straight to socket shows subtle difference - either having pure sine wave or stabilizing voltage brings that effect.
I hope that this helps someone.