Strange micro stuttering in games with new keyboard

Breakage · 2014-03-19 01:09:10

I recently upgraded my keyboard to one with mechanical switches and a much higher polling rate at 1000 Hz /1 ms.
After switching over to this keyboard, I'm getting strange fps microstutters in games. Not sure how to diagnose and fix this issue.

I've done some simple A/B tests with the same game and my old Logitech K120 USB membrane keyboard and the new keyboard also changing USB 2.0 ports even trying on 3.0 and PS/2 via a USB to PS/2 adapter, although the keyboard wont work via PS/2 (PS/2 hook is enabled via mkinitcpio and a regular PS/2 keyboard works).

With the old keyboard everything is buttery smooth with a high frame rate, the new keyboard causes strange stuttering in almost all games, although I have the same frame rates.

The new keyboard is a CM Storm Quickfire TK, which I'm assuming is putting out a hardware based 1000hz polling rate over USB?
Would there be anyway to lower the polling rate of the keyboard to test if that is the cause of the issue? Can only seem to find info on changing mouse polling rate.

The only other hardware connected to USB is a Razer Deathadder mouse running at 450 DPI & 500Hz, using the razercfg drivers from AUR.
I've tried lowering the polling rate of the mouse to 125Hz and also disabling razerd.service but the issue still stands.

Currently running Arch on a FX 6350 CPU, GA-970-DS3 Gigabyte board and a Nvidia GT 660.

Any suggestions?

Last edited by Breakage (2014-03-19 01:10:50)

stqn · 2014-03-20 06:35:52

Since no one else has any idea, just a shot in the dark from me: you could try the linux-ck kernel from the AUR and see if it helps… It hugely increased the framerate of Serious Sam 3 for me, and also removed some stuttering in Bit.Trip Runner 2. However I have no idea what polling rate my keyboard has; most probably it’s just the usual rate because it’s not a gaming keyboard.

Breakage · 2014-03-20 09:42:56

Thanks stqn, tried out the ck kernel w/ piledriver optimizations and the bfq scheduler.
It seems to have easied the stutter somewhat, although it still happens. But the games are definitely more playable.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-03-19 01:09:10

Strange micro stuttering in games with new keyboard

#2 2014-03-20 06:35:52

Re: Strange micro stuttering in games with new keyboard

#3 2014-03-20 09:42:56

Re: Strange micro stuttering in games with new keyboard

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