Apex Legends input lag changes from day to day
Posted: 12 Jun 2024, 11:40
DISCLAIMER: This is only speculation based off of tests and observations but I think I have enough evidence to support these claims.
Background
I've been playing Apex Legends for about three years and I've constantly been chasing a "settings ghost" I've tried every settings guide you can image and they work...until they don't. This is how my experience goes. I play Apex for a few hours and something feels "off" (game feels heavy, aim is bad and it feels like I'm running through mud) so I Google around till I find some Apex setting I haven't tried. I give it a try and test. Wow everything feels great! I've finally solved the input lag problem in Apex!!! Till the next time I login and it's back to playing like garbage. I repeat the steps of Googling my issues and making a change only to have temp results. What gives??? This is seriously maddening. How am I supposed to improve in a game that's constantly changing? I thought it was hopeless till I came across these videos.
Showcasing how Input response/aim assist doesn't act the same on resolution that you used before.
TLDR this tester is in the firing range and showing how aim and input lag change based on what resolution they are on. You might be thinking like me "ok maybe the lower resolution is easier on the CPU thus resulting in better performance" but this is where it gets interesting. He tries this on different days. One day the lower resolution provides better results (better results = better aim and movement) the next day the lower resolution results in higher input lag and worse results. The game's input lag varies based on resolutions, which change from day to day!? This seems unbelievable, so I had to test it out.
How I tested this theory.
I go into the firing range, I keep all my settings the same (low everything) and only change the resolution, making note of my accuracy percentage (you can turn this accuracy metric on in the range settings). Each resolution results in different accuracy. I choose the resolution with the best accuracy and use it for the day. When I play Apex for that day, everything feels really good - I land more shots and do more damage. But the next time I log into Apex (days later), it feels "off" again. I repeat this process, and wouldn't you know it, I get better results on a different resolution! Sometimes it's better on lower resolutions, and sometimes it's better on higher resolutions.
How can this be happening? I have a theory (this is the speculation part): EA is randomly making the game worse for retention reasons. I play longer/more when I'm doing badly in the game (gamblers addiction), than I do when I'm playing well. When I do well in the game, I play less; "That was a good session, I'm jumping off for the day." I know that sounds wild, but it's the only explanation for this strange behavior with the resolution. Please give it a try and report back your findings.
My Specs
Intel i5 13700K (water cooled not overheating issues)
MSI Tomahawk z790
DDR4 cas 13 3600 b-die
RTX 3080 ti
MSI 360hz gaming monitor
PS dual sense 250hz polling rate controller (Tried OC to 1000hz made no difference in apex inconsistency problem)
My current settings (I've tried everything. No difference in apex inconsistency problem)
Stock clocks, high performance power plan, VSYNC/GSYNC disabled, 360hz refresh rate, 120fps cap, 250hz controller polling rate, disabled hyperthreading, disabled e-cores, disabled c-states, disabled turbo boost
Background
I've been playing Apex Legends for about three years and I've constantly been chasing a "settings ghost" I've tried every settings guide you can image and they work...until they don't. This is how my experience goes. I play Apex for a few hours and something feels "off" (game feels heavy, aim is bad and it feels like I'm running through mud) so I Google around till I find some Apex setting I haven't tried. I give it a try and test. Wow everything feels great! I've finally solved the input lag problem in Apex!!! Till the next time I login and it's back to playing like garbage. I repeat the steps of Googling my issues and making a change only to have temp results. What gives??? This is seriously maddening. How am I supposed to improve in a game that's constantly changing? I thought it was hopeless till I came across these videos.
Showcasing how Input response/aim assist doesn't act the same on resolution that you used before.
TLDR this tester is in the firing range and showing how aim and input lag change based on what resolution they are on. You might be thinking like me "ok maybe the lower resolution is easier on the CPU thus resulting in better performance" but this is where it gets interesting. He tries this on different days. One day the lower resolution provides better results (better results = better aim and movement) the next day the lower resolution results in higher input lag and worse results. The game's input lag varies based on resolutions, which change from day to day!? This seems unbelievable, so I had to test it out.
How I tested this theory.
I go into the firing range, I keep all my settings the same (low everything) and only change the resolution, making note of my accuracy percentage (you can turn this accuracy metric on in the range settings). Each resolution results in different accuracy. I choose the resolution with the best accuracy and use it for the day. When I play Apex for that day, everything feels really good - I land more shots and do more damage. But the next time I log into Apex (days later), it feels "off" again. I repeat this process, and wouldn't you know it, I get better results on a different resolution! Sometimes it's better on lower resolutions, and sometimes it's better on higher resolutions.
How can this be happening? I have a theory (this is the speculation part): EA is randomly making the game worse for retention reasons. I play longer/more when I'm doing badly in the game (gamblers addiction), than I do when I'm playing well. When I do well in the game, I play less; "That was a good session, I'm jumping off for the day." I know that sounds wild, but it's the only explanation for this strange behavior with the resolution. Please give it a try and report back your findings.
My Specs
Intel i5 13700K (water cooled not overheating issues)
MSI Tomahawk z790
DDR4 cas 13 3600 b-die
RTX 3080 ti
MSI 360hz gaming monitor
PS dual sense 250hz polling rate controller (Tried OC to 1000hz made no difference in apex inconsistency problem)
My current settings (I've tried everything. No difference in apex inconsistency problem)
Stock clocks, high performance power plan, VSYNC/GSYNC disabled, 360hz refresh rate, 120fps cap, 250hz controller polling rate, disabled hyperthreading, disabled e-cores, disabled c-states, disabled turbo boost