Keyboard FREEZES during gaming help

[Carsomyr]

Hi I've encountered this new problem which started a few weeks back... I haven't changed any hardware. I've got a Logitech mouse and keyboard. I believe they're both listed in my specs (which you can see by checking my profile)

So yeah, this NEVER happens when I'm doing other things on my PC such as web browsing, document editing, or any other work... It ONLY happens when I'm gaming...

I've tried a bunch of things to resolve the issue such as

1. Uninstalling both the keyboard and mouse from device manager... Reinstalling the latest drivers do em...
2. Removed all Overclocks from cpu and gpu
3. Made sure to close as many other programs to make sure its not ram related...
4. Monitored the temps closely... It's the only thing in thinking that MIGHT BE the culprit but it feels unrelated...

I've done other troubleshooting steps but I cant recall them atm... I don't think I've tried a system restore yet... That could be a smart thing to try I guess.

It's really weird... This whole thing feels like there's some sort of "electric short" going on inside the pc case... But it only happens during gaming... It's so weird..

Did any of you ever come across a similar problem?

Oh and by the way... The way this happens is:

I'm gaming for about say 15 mins, and the keyboard freezes... The rgb effects on it still work during that time but no key input on the keyboard works... That is until I unplug the USB cable and RE-PLUG it... Once I do, the keyboard works for about 5-15 mins before this happens again...

Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Frick]

Tried different USB ports? What happens if you say write a document using the same keys as you would whan playing a game?

 

[Carsomyr]

Tried different USB ports? What happens if you say write a document using the same keys as you would whan playing a game?

Yeah it's not that either...

I tried multiple usb ports. I tested multiple keys as well... It's not specific keys. It's really something about "gaming" that triggers the bug somehow. I don't know what it is...

I can work 10 hours straight without an issue... I game 10 mins and boom the keyboard freezes

 

[AlwaysHope]

Does this happen with only one game or with others too?

 

[Frick]

Yeah it's not that either...

I tried multiple usb ports. I tested multiple keys as well... It's not specific keys. It's really something about "gaming" that triggers the bug somehow. I don't know what it is...

I can work 10 hours straight without an issue... I game 10 mins and boom the keyboard freezes

I assume you don't use the keyboard in the same way when you work though. IE hammering WASD and space or whatever. I also assume it only happens in in games where you use the keyboard a lot, or does it happen if you play say a point and click adventure as well?

 

[AsRock]

Try using a different keyboard to see if it stops.

 

[Solaris17]

I assume you don't use the keyboard in the same way when you work though. IE hammering WASD and space or whatever. I also assume it only happens in in games where you use the keyboard a lot, or does it happen if you play say a point and click adventure as well?

NKRO? I bet.

 

[AlwaysHope]

NKRO? I bet.

Interesting, I didn't even know what that acronym means, learn a new thing everyday I suppose.

 

[Night]

Do you by any chance use any software that's used for controlling the RGB, mouse's DPI, etc (like a Logitech app)? In case you do, try uninstalling it and see if the issue persists.

 

[Carsomyr]

Does this happen with only one game or with others too?

Yes It happens in at least 2 titles. Tested in warzone and elden ring up to now

NKRO? I bet.

I don't tend to hammer anything when gaming no. This is a 230$ mechanical keyboard

Do you by any chance use any software that's used for controlling the RGB, mouse's DPI, etc (like a Logitech app)? In case you do, try uninstalling it and see if the issue persists.

Yes the Logitech gaming app I uninstalled and reinstalled. As I said, it's something related to gaming, because the issue never arises else where. Could it be the gpu? Can the gpu somehow affect the mouse?

Try using a different keyboard to see if it stops.

Yes I'll have to try. Good idea

 

[ARF]

Yes the Logitech gaming app I uninstalled and reinstalled. As I said, it's something related to gaming, because the issue never arises else where. Could it be the gpu? Can the gpu somehow affect the mouse?

Sounds like overload on the CPU which makes conflicts with the overall motherboard function and ultimately leads to a USB port stop responding.
Can be a driver, can be anything.

You can try to install a fresh Windows. Maybe change the keyboard and mouse. Try with others.

Any ideas/suggestions?

I would go radical and not popular and say you need a new PC. Because that Core i7-9700 with 8 threads probably bottlenecks and has no enough resources to keep all processes active.

The other thing you can do - follow the Windows/drivers updates and roll back to the versions prior to the issue start date.
Once you get back to a working configuration, keep it as is - disable all Windows/drivers updates.

 

[Carsomyr]

Sounds like overload on the CPU which makes conflicts with the overall motherboard function and ultimately leads to a USB port stop responding.
Can be a driver, can be anything.

You can try to install a fresh Windows. Maybe change the keyboard and mouse. Try with others.



I would go radical and not popular and say you need a new PC. Because that Core i7-9700 with 8 threads probably bottlenecks and has no enough resources to keep all processes active.

The other thing you can do - follow the Windows/drivers updates and roll back to the versions prior to the issue start date.
Once you get back to a working configuration, keep it as is - disable all Windows/drivers updates.

I've had this same setup for years and the problem only started happening like 2 months ago. I'd be surprised that my CPU would have anything to do with it. But a fresh windows install might not be a bad idea... I always hate the whole process of having to do a windows clean install, but yeah maybe it will work. I'll give it a shot and report back. Right now I'm trying a different keyboard just to see if the problems happens on that keyboard as well.

I'll get back as soon as I can

edit: I'll also test other game titles... I'm aware that some games might see the logitech gaming software as a "cheat" and try to actively block it...

 

[Night]

Yes the Logitech gaming app I uninstalled and reinstalled.

Ok, but did you try to play games while the app was uninstalled before installing it again? I'm asking this because maybe a Logitech app update was broken. Any new software installed in the last 2 months? It could be something stupid like the bloated CCleaner. Somehow I feel this is software/firmware related. On the side note like mentioned before, try any other keyboard you might have, see if you still have the issue. That should eliminate Logitech software from being the culprit.

 

[Carsomyr]

Ok, but did you try to play games while the app was uninstalled before installing it again? I'm asking this because maybe a Logitech app update was broken. Any new software installed in the last 2 months? It could be something stupid like the bloated CCleaner. Somehow I feel this is software/firmware related. On the side note like mentioned before, try any other keyboard you might have, see if you still have the issue. That should eliminate Logitech software from being the culprit.

thanks guys for all the help, I really appreciate it. Here's an update

To answer Nigth, no I haven't tried playing WITHOUT logitech gaming software as it is a vital piece of software I need to keep using. I haven't tried ealier versions to test whether a latest update is causing issues... I do not have bloatware installed. I'm always careful to "refuse" those trash offers whenever a software wants to install a bunch of bloatware...

Anyhow, I tried using a different keyboard, and the glitch doesn't seem to affect IT as much. I think it happened maybe once, but it was very brief. Anyhow I noticed something else:
Whenever the bug happens, I can see the RGB components "resetting" if thats the correct word to use here.

Basically, there is a visual clue whenever the bug happens, I've got a steelseries xtra large Mouse pad (covers the whole desk) which has RGB all around it, whenever the bug happens, I notice the mouse pad briefly BREAKS from its RGB custom color (which I have selected) and goes into its demo mode (u know... by default these rgb devices like to show off all their colors...) that color light show happens for a few micro seconds whenever the bug happens...

The keyboard and mouse do the same when the bug happens... Although the mouse functions aren't affected... just the keyboard and the mousepad rgb... Anyways, I tried different usb ports, and now I'm starting to wonder if there's not some sort of "short" happening within the case. Not so long ago I drained the water loop and filled it up again, in the process of doing that, I wonder if some cable didn't come loose and maybe it's making contact with the case causing those "brief shorts" in the usb circuitry... its a farfethed thesis, but I'll check just in case.

 

[Night]

To answer Nigth, no I haven't tried playing WITHOUT logitech gaming software as it is a vital piece of software I need to keep using.

Please humor me and try this, but this time with the Logitech keyboard:

I believe the mousepad RGB is also controlled by a different app, yes?
Uninstall that app for the sake of testing, try a game to see if the issue persists.
If it does, uninstall the Logitech app as well, you will have full mouse and keyboard functionality, that software is not essential for the sake of testing.
If nothing changes, plug in the mouse and keyboard to the front panel (if available), front panel ports use a different controller. This way we could see if the ports on the motherboard's rear I/O are the fault.

edit: Also try playing a game with the mousepad disconnected from USB. Maybe it's getting shorted somewhere and it's messing with the USB ports. I had a cheap microphone few years ago that was getting shorted somewhere in the wires, it would cause complete system shutdown, thankfully nothing was damaged.

 

[AlwaysHope]

Please humor me and try this, but this time with the Logitech keyboard:

I believe the mousepad RGB is also controlled by a different app, yes?
Uninstall that app for the sake of testing, try a game to see if the issue persists.
If it does, uninstall the Logitech app as well, you will have full mouse and keyboard functionality, that software is not essential for the sake of testing.
If nothing changes, plug in the mouse and keyboard to the front panel (if available), front panel ports use a different controller. This way we could see if the ports on the motherboard's rear I/O are the fault.

edit: Also try playing a game with the mousepad disconnected from USB. Maybe it's getting shorted somewhere and it's messing with the USB ports. I had a cheap microphone few years ago that was getting shorted somewhere in the wires, it would cause complete system shutdown, thankfully nothing was damaged.

Good points there for troubleshooting, with the new info about the logitech app, I'm betting on that being the problem.

 

[Carsomyr]

Please humor me and try this, but this time with the Logitech keyboard:

I believe the mousepad RGB is also controlled by a different app, yes?
Uninstall that app for the sake of testing, try a game to see if the issue persists.
If it does, uninstall the Logitech app as well, you will have full mouse and keyboard functionality, that software is not essential for the sake of testing.
If nothing changes, plug in the mouse and keyboard to the front panel (if available), front panel ports use a different controller. This way we could see if the ports on the motherboard's rear I/O are the fault.

edit: Also try playing a game with the mousepad disconnected from USB. Maybe it's getting shorted somewhere and it's messing with the USB ports. I had a cheap microphone few years ago that was getting shorted somewhere in the wires, it would cause complete system shutdown, thankfully nothing was damaged.

I'll give it a shot and report back. Haven't had the chance to sit a the computer since my last reply.

 

[Udyr]

To answer Nigth, no I haven't tried playing WITHOUT logitech gaming software as it is a vital piece of software I need to keep using. I haven't tried ealier versions to test whether a latest update is causing issues... I do not have bloatware installed. I'm always careful to "refuse" those trash offers whenever a software wants to install a bunch of bloatware...

I really doubt the Logitech software is vital for anything other than RGB and macro functions (when applicable).

I believe Night hit the nail with the suggestion, and I also suspect the issue is software related. Trying with another keyboard might not produce the same issue because the other keyboard would not communicate with the Logitech software.

 

[Carsomyr]

I really doubt the Logitech software is vital for anything other than RGB and macro functions (when applicable).

I believe Night hit the nail with the suggestion, and I also suspect the issue is software related. Trying with another keyboard might not produce the same issue because the other keyboard would not communicate with the Logitech software.

well when I said vital, I meant all my custom macros are setup in it, both for the mouse and keyboard, I've got multiples profiles on there...
Never had issues before... But yes, its possible that the logitech software is somehow acting up ... maybe their latest version has issues I dunno...

I tried uninstalling the MOUSE PAD RGB software completly and the problem persists... I'm now gonna back up my logitech profiles and custom settings and I'll try UNINSTALLING logitech gaming software completly, rebooting and I'll test to see if I get the same bug during gaming. I'll report back

 

[Solaris17]

I haven’t kept up with this but humor me. Unplug the mouse mat and just try using the system.

 

[Carsomyr]

I haven’t kept up with this but humor me. Unplug the mouse mat and just try using the system.

yeah I tried that long ago. didnt work BUT...

I might onto something now. I uninstalled the LOGITECH gaming software completly and rebooted the pc, I then proceeded to try gaming with the keyboard without any of those rgb software installed... I also unplugged the rgb mouse mat... But the bug kept happening... I tried different usb ports on the motherboard and front panel and the issue persists... BUT here's what I'm thinking might be the issue:
My monitor is an acer predator x34p, it has multiple usb 3.0 ports behind it, which basically form a USB hub which is connected to my PC using a single USB cable... It is THAT usb cable that I've been moving around...
NOW I'm going to try plugging the keyboard DIRECTLY into the usb 3.0 port on the mobo, without PASSING THROUGH the acer predator monitor hub. I'm thinking MAYBE its the acer predator usb ports that have gone bad... and it would make sense that it only happens when I'm gaming, because it is ONLY THEN that the monitor is using "more power" and is more taxed (gsync and all)

Just a theory, but I bet you thats the culprit, the acer predator usb ports. I'll report back

UPDATE: I tried plugging the keyboard straight into the mobo instead of going through the ACER PREDATOR monitor usb hub, and HAVEN'T encountered the bug ever since then... looks like we might have found the culprit. I'll do some further testing. I also found this while looking at other people who had issues with the acer predator usb hub:

Predator X34 USB 3.0 Hub Not Working

I've searched the forum and found an old post about this, but it won't fix my issue.

community.acer.com

There's an interesting fix mentionned at the bottom of the forum thread...
I had that setting turned (quick start) I disabled it as well and will test whether this fixes this issue.

So what I'm gonna do next before updating the thread is:
1- Keep testing the keyboard as it is right now (direct to mobo) to make sure I don't get the bug at all
2- Re-install logitech software and test whether the bug manifests again even with the keyboard plugged in the mobo instead of back of monitor
3- replug the kb in the back of monitor with logitech software on but with the "quick start" function off (from the monitor menu) and see if that fixes everything.

I'll post my findings soon

 

[kilo]

This might sound stupid, but what happens when you launch a game in windowed mode? It sounds like as soon as you launch a game, it's activating something you can't see in the background. There used to be a pesky feature with AVG (I haven't used it in years) where it would popup every time you entered full screen. If you are gaming full screen, you might not see what's becoming active.

 

[Carsomyr]

ok guys problem solved, it was the usb hug thats part of the ACER PREDATOR monitor that is the issue. I just now need to confirm whether its the cable linking it to the pc that is the problem or if the whole usb hub is defective... but at least my keyboard is working superb again

 

[Night]

ok guys problem solved, it was the usb hug thats part of the ACER PREDATOR monitor that is the issue. I just now need to confirm whether its the cable linking it to the pc that is the problem or if the whole usb hub is defective... but at least my keyboard is working superb again

Glad you got it fixed! You should have mentioned that the mouse an keyboard were connected to the monitor instead directly to the motherboard, would've made it much easier to solve.

 

[puddlejumper6999]

Similar issue here, been dealing with this issue for a few years, been through 6 full rebuilds and numerous upgrades but never fixed the issue. New hardware is
Ryzen 5 3600x
Rtx 2060 6gb
64Gb f4-3200c16-16gvk 16x4 @2666
Tuff gaming B-550 plus bios 3002 uefi
Corsair rm1000e
1Tb sn550 nvme boot
2Tb Toshiba 7200
4Tb wd 5400
3440X1440x75hz Samsung ultra wide
1920X1080x60 Acer g235h

Keyboard is a hyperx core alloy
Mouse is a Razer basilisk v3
Headset is a logi G635
Mic is a blue yeti
Vr is a oculus rift with fiber optic link cable
Speakers are logi x230 satellite 2.1 full range

If i play a game keyboard freezes on the last keystroke and does not recover. Doesn't matter what game I play. No spikes anywhere that I can see and no interruption of rgb. I've tried uninstalling the keyboard devices but that causes an instant hang and reboot. I've tried uninstalling g hub. No change. Bios updates and chipset updates did nothing. I'm at a loss as everything is plugged in direct and not though a hub. I've tried plugging in via different ports and nothing.

Video attached is using a brand new g105 a while ago but otherwise the same