I think i solved my input lag permanently
Posted: 04 Aug 2025, 07:50
Hello blur busters,
I'm very new to the formatting of forums similar to these, however as a lurker I just wanted to detail my experience with this phantom input lag/desync I've experienced these past few years.
Similar to many of you, I've owned both intel PC's (14th GEN) and AMD system on DDR4 and DDR5 (both 5800X3D, 7800X3D) on all types of different ram timings, bios configurations and even grounding scenarios. I've moved into houses AND apartments with incredibly advanced and robust power delivery including the surrounding power grid, and I've lived in homes who still used residential circuitry from the 70s. I even purchased and configured a high end UPS and accompanying accessories, like pure sinewave output. As clean energy as somebody can get before reaching commercial grade power delivery systems. Regardless of what window's tweak, overclock, or even how many screws/ground offs I switched out for chrome plated counterparts, I would still face the same issues and frustrations, until I bought a gaming laptop for school.
Due to the fact that I was entering uni in a few weeks, I decided to pick up a gaming laptop for the convivence and portability, however even on paper with far less powerful specs, (i9-14900HX, RTX 4060) all my problems dissapeared down to WINDOWS responsiveness.
I wish I could explain in better detail what I was feeling, but when I did all my basic optimizations, it felt like I had just relearned how to use my mouse again. The most accurate comparison I can make is, instead of my mouse trailing behind my real time movements - it was like I was pushing my mouse from behind with pinpoint accuracy. Even though the laptop was only a 165Hz screen compared to my desktops 360, in game, it FELT smoother. Even my purchase of a hall effect keyboard was rendered useless, my laptops built in membrane keyboard felt far more instant and responsive than even a 200$ HE board polling at 8K did on my desktop PC's.
Anecdotally, it objectively felt better to me. However anecdotes are anecdote. I wanted to find out if what I was feeling was actually real. In my best attempt to benchmark/assign a number to what exactly felt different, I borrowed an OSLTT/LDAT equivalent from a friend, ran several DPC latency tests, and FPS benches, and the laptop scored consistently and considerably below my desktop Intel and AMD across the board. However, the laptop STILL felt FAR better to play on in pretty much game I played, and my gameplay reflected that. I went as far as to review my gameplay frame by frame digitally and physically with a camera on both desktop demos/replays across SEVERAL different games (Apex, CS2,Valorant, Rust, Roblox even
) and I wasn't getting Ferrari peeked in cs, I wasn't dying before swinging in Valorant, and my PK shots landed in apex. The same issues you all face JUST like me went away by playing on this laptop.
I just wanted to share this quite frankly monumental epiphany, at least for me. However I do have questions I want answered.
Is this possibly due to how laptops are not "grounded" in the traditional sense (electrically floated) .....is this because they are more isolated from the outlet even compared to a UPS? (Would A UPS configured better than mine fix the issue I had)
Is it because of the physically shorter distance of traces on a laptop, I would imagine that integrated monitor is less latency than a 6 foot long DP cable, or just the fact that everything on a laptop is soldered, meaning physically stronger electrical connection.
I'm very new to the formatting of forums similar to these, however as a lurker I just wanted to detail my experience with this phantom input lag/desync I've experienced these past few years.
Similar to many of you, I've owned both intel PC's (14th GEN) and AMD system on DDR4 and DDR5 (both 5800X3D, 7800X3D) on all types of different ram timings, bios configurations and even grounding scenarios. I've moved into houses AND apartments with incredibly advanced and robust power delivery including the surrounding power grid, and I've lived in homes who still used residential circuitry from the 70s. I even purchased and configured a high end UPS and accompanying accessories, like pure sinewave output. As clean energy as somebody can get before reaching commercial grade power delivery systems. Regardless of what window's tweak, overclock, or even how many screws/ground offs I switched out for chrome plated counterparts, I would still face the same issues and frustrations, until I bought a gaming laptop for school.
Due to the fact that I was entering uni in a few weeks, I decided to pick up a gaming laptop for the convivence and portability, however even on paper with far less powerful specs, (i9-14900HX, RTX 4060) all my problems dissapeared down to WINDOWS responsiveness.
I wish I could explain in better detail what I was feeling, but when I did all my basic optimizations, it felt like I had just relearned how to use my mouse again. The most accurate comparison I can make is, instead of my mouse trailing behind my real time movements - it was like I was pushing my mouse from behind with pinpoint accuracy. Even though the laptop was only a 165Hz screen compared to my desktops 360, in game, it FELT smoother. Even my purchase of a hall effect keyboard was rendered useless, my laptops built in membrane keyboard felt far more instant and responsive than even a 200$ HE board polling at 8K did on my desktop PC's.
Anecdotally, it objectively felt better to me. However anecdotes are anecdote. I wanted to find out if what I was feeling was actually real. In my best attempt to benchmark/assign a number to what exactly felt different, I borrowed an OSLTT/LDAT equivalent from a friend, ran several DPC latency tests, and FPS benches, and the laptop scored consistently and considerably below my desktop Intel and AMD across the board. However, the laptop STILL felt FAR better to play on in pretty much game I played, and my gameplay reflected that. I went as far as to review my gameplay frame by frame digitally and physically with a camera on both desktop demos/replays across SEVERAL different games (Apex, CS2,Valorant, Rust, Roblox even
) and I wasn't getting Ferrari peeked in cs, I wasn't dying before swinging in Valorant, and my PK shots landed in apex. The same issues you all face JUST like me went away by playing on this laptop.I just wanted to share this quite frankly monumental epiphany, at least for me. However I do have questions I want answered.
Is this possibly due to how laptops are not "grounded" in the traditional sense (electrically floated) .....is this because they are more isolated from the outlet even compared to a UPS? (Would A UPS configured better than mine fix the issue I had)
Is it because of the physically shorter distance of traces on a laptop, I would imagine that integrated monitor is less latency than a 6 foot long DP cable, or just the fact that everything on a laptop is soldered, meaning physically stronger electrical connection.