PH315-51: Keyboard input lag during gaming

Have this weird problem I only get during playing games and only certain games. Want to see if anyone experienced something similar and if they have a solution to it.

There is lag like when I let go of the forward key "w", I would keep moving forward in the game for a couple more seconds. The strange thing is it is only happening to two games, Dying Light and Apex Legends both are from Steam. Also strange is that this problem cannot be replicated on any other keys during the game, ONLY the "w" key has this problem and only happening during those games. When not gaming the "w" key works fine and very responsive.

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-51

CPU and GPU temps during gaming for hours never goes above 65c so I am pretty sure they are not the problem and I'm not throttling

The game runs smooth and FPS for both games are above 60. I run both games on Nvidia Experience recommended settings.

I have tried to delete and reinstall keyboard drivers - no luck

Updated Windows to most current - no luck

Upated Nvidia drivers to the latest one - no luck

Removed the "w" key and cleaned it to make sure it isn't sticky - no luck

Adjusted all the keyboard settings available in Windows - no luck

Restarted laptop - no luck

Made sure to have enough ram by closing all other programs - no luck

I am running out of ideas why this is happening

Hoping someone that is more technical than me in computers can give me some assistance.

Thank you

Bob

[ Title edited to add the name of the product]

Accepted answers

All comments

busu3

It most likely is a problem with the games or steam. Try downloading apex through origin and see if the problem occurs. If it doesnt that means nothing is wrong except steam.

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

It most likely is a problem with the games or steam. Try downloading apex through origin and see if the problem occurs. If it doesnt that means nothing is wrong except steam.

Tried it and got the same results.

What else can it be?

busu3

U can try using some other key other than w for moving forward and see if it occurs.

Commodore_1995#

Also check the keyboard properties:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/b0/ybdenzmz7zzu.png

BLeeBlee

I decided to do another test by remapping the movement keys to use others instead of the default setting with "w" as the forward key. The problem disappeared!

I have found out what is the problem and it is the "w" key, but I do not know whats the cause of it. Does not seem like a software issue more like a hardware issue.

The mystery continues.

busu3

I think it has to do something with steam and some keyboard software since u said it only happens in games from steam. If u think its hardware issue u can see if w key works under a full stress test on cpu and gpu. This will replicate a situation where u r doing intense gaming just to see if temps or clocks have something to do with it. Also remapping the key w to lets say v only makes the software think that if u press w the v key is getting pressed so this still means u r pressing the w key which in turn means its not likely to be a hardware issue.

Commodore_1995#

I would also check if the same problem occurs, using an external usb keyboard.

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

U can try using some other key other than w for moving forward and see if it occurs.

I have tried it with all other keys that is used in game and none of the other keys have this problem.

busu3 said:

I think it has to do something with steam and some keyboard software since u said it only happens in games from steam. If u think its hardware issue u can see if w key works under a full stress test on cpu and gpu. This will replicate a situation where u r doing intense gaming just to see if temps or clocks have something to do with it. Also remapping the key w to lets say v only makes the software think that if u press w the v key is getting pressed so this still means u r pressing the w key which in turn means its not likely to be a hardware issue.

Yes it only happens to only two games I have on steam, Apex Legends and Dying Light.

Did the stress test on the cpu and gpu and the "w" key works normally.

Not quite understanding your last statement. If I change the key from "w" to "e" the only thing the software see is a keystroke no matter what key I remapped it to right? So if the problem isn't repeatable on other keys then doesn't it mean it's the hardware "w" that's the problem?

BLeeBlee

egydiocoelho said:

I would also check if the same problem occurs, using an external usb keyboard.

Unfortunately I would not be able to test that out as I do not own any keyboards. I don't think I will purchase one just to check if this problems occurs with the external keyboard.

Commodore_1995#

Have you checked the keyboard properties?

egydiocoelho said:

Also check the keyboard properties:

busu3

BLeeBlee said:

busu3 said:

U can try using some other key other than w for moving forward and see if it occurs.

I have tried it with all other keys that is used in game and none of the other keys have this problem.

busu3 said:

I think it has to do something with steam and some keyboard software since u said it only happens in games from steam. If u think its hardware issue u can see if w key works under a full stress test on cpu and gpu. This will replicate a situation where u r doing intense gaming just to see if temps or clocks have something to do with it. Also remapping the key w to lets say v only makes the software think that if u press w the v key is getting pressed so this still means u r pressing the w key which in turn means its not likely to be a hardware issue.

Yes it only happens to only two games I have on steam, Apex Legends and Dying Light.
Did the stress test on the cpu and gpu and the "w" key works normally.
Not quite understanding your last statement. If I change the key from "w" to "e" the only thing the software see is a keystroke no matter what key I remapped it to right? So if the problem isn't repeatable on other keys then doesn't it mean it's the hardware "w" that's the problem?

If u remap a key say w to e, then when u hit w, it registers as an e. It is not that the w key has moved to the place of e, only the software thinks that w means an e. The underlying key is still the w key and since when u remap it and hit e, there is no delay, that means only a w causes the problem not the w key.

BLeeBlee

egydiocoelho said:

Have you checked the keyboard properties?

egydiocoelho said:

Also check the keyboard properties:

The keyboard setting is like that when I had the problem.

Seems the setting is not the solution.

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

BLeeBlee said:

busu3 said:

U can try using some other key other than w for moving forward and see if it occurs.

I have tried it with all other keys that is used in game and none of the other keys have this problem.

busu3 said:

I think it has to do something with steam and some keyboard software since u said it only happens in games from steam. If u think its hardware issue u can see if w key works under a full stress test on cpu and gpu. This will replicate a situation where u r doing intense gaming just to see if temps or clocks have something to do with it. Also remapping the key w to lets say v only makes the software think that if u press w the v key is getting pressed so this still means u r pressing the w key which in turn means its not likely to be a hardware issue.

Yes it only happens to only two games I have on steam, Apex Legends and Dying Light.
Did the stress test on the cpu and gpu and the "w" key works normally.
Not quite understanding your last statement. If I change the key from "w" to "e" the only thing the software see is a keystroke no matter what key I remapped it to right? So if the problem isn't repeatable on other keys then doesn't it mean it's the hardware "w" that's the problem?

If u remap a key say w to e, then when u hit w, it registers as an e. It is not that the w key has moved to the place of e, only the software thinks that w means an e. The underlying key is still the w key and since when u remap it and hit e, there is no delay, that means only a w causes the problem not the w key.

I'm not too familiar with how software works when I change the default forward movement key from W to E. Maybe I shouldn't use the term remapped as it may have another technical definition that I do not fully understand but it does not seem like what you said is what I did. I do not use the W key for forward movement so I don't quite understand how pressing the E key is now equal to pressing the W key from what the software's point of view. The W key is now used for something else that doesn't require long press, I use it to deploy an item and it seems like it works fine like that. The problem is when I need to use the W key holding it now.

busu3

Am guessing u used a software like autohotkey to set the w key as e?

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

Am guessing u used a software like autohotkey to set the w key as e?

No, I just used the in game custom key settings.

Anything outside of the game is normal operation.

busu3

Ok so u just changed move forward to e. But i still feel its not hardware because in everything else it is fine except these 2 games.

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

Ok so u just changed move forward to e. But i still feel its not hardware because in everything else it is fine except these 2 games.

That might be the case, but if it is not the hardware fault what else can it be?

Just software within the games?

busu3

Yes could be because otherwise it should happen always right in other games too...

BLeeBlee

busu3 said:

Yes could be because otherwise it should happen always right in other games too...

Thank you for your help.

Appreciate it.

busu3

For the past few days am getting a delay too in the forward key in apex legends. I guess its due to some connectivity issues with their server.

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