Video games input delay and slow FPS. Why?

Question

I asked a question 12 days ago about why my PC froze and had a rough time after that freeze, and I’ve given it 12 days to just shut off and take a break. That was probably a foolish idea, but it seemed to have some minimal effect. I figured that only video games now slow down the PC. Mouse inputs and keyboard inputs are all delayed in game. The mouse cursor was just fine, but if I were to look around my Minecraft world, everything was delayed half a second to a whole second. I don’t think this is a hardware issue, maybe just a storage issue, but I can’t confirm anything. Before the great crash, my gameplay was smooth, now it’s just unsatisfying. My storage is almost half of the local disc, I only use something over 10000 RAM to run my modded Minecraft. I use a windows 11, a small rectangular box that could almost fit in your pocket. Could I get help on what I’m dealing with and how to deal with it? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello,

There are a few possible causes for game-specific lag (such as delayed inputs and low FPS) that can stem from issues with software, drivers, or even some hardware behavior that wasn’t immediately obvious before. Since you mentioned that the delay started after your machine froze and “took a break” for 12 days, here are some things to investigate and try:

1. Windows or Driver Glitches after the Freeze

 • A hard freeze can sometimes leave behind corrupted drivers or system settings. It might be that your graphics or chipset drivers aren’t running optimally.

 • Try updating (or reinstalling) your GPU and chipset drivers. If you’re already on the latest version, doing a clean reinstallation may help remove any lingering issues.

2. Operating System Health and Background Processes

 • Windows 11 might have applied updates or changed settings after the crash. Check the Task Manager for processes that are using an unusually high amount of CPU, GPU, or disk bandwidth whenever you launch a game.

 • Perform a clean boot to see if a background service or application is conflicting with game performance.

3. Input Polling and DirectX Issues

 • Since your desktop mouse pointer works fine while in-game inputs are delayed, that might indicate an issue with how Windows and the game are handling direct input from your devices.

 • Ensure that DirectX and other related runtimes (Visual C++ Redistributables) are up to date. Some games, especially modded ones like your Minecraft setup, might interact differently with these runtimes.

4. Software Corruption or Hardware State Changes

 • The freeze could have left some system files corrupted. Running a System File Checker (SFC) scan or DISM command might repair damaged system files. You can do this by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and executing "sfc /scannow" followed by "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth".

 • If you still suspect storage issues, check the health of your drive(s) with a tool like CrystalDiskInfo or the manufacturer’s diagnostic utilities. Even if half your local disk is free, an underlying firmware issue or a corrupted file system can cause performance problems that only become really noticeable under load (such as when running games).

5. Resource Allocation and Game Settings

 • You noted that modded Minecraft is using over “10000 RAM” (likely referring to around 10 GB or more). Over-allocating memory or misconfiguring Java parameters can sometimes lead to performance issues.

 • Try adjusting the allocated memory (or considering a more balanced allocation) and check Java's garbage collection settings if you use mods. Also, look at your Minecraft settings—sometimes settings changes (like render distance or graphics options) can interact unexpectedly with a stressed system.

6. Power Settings and Thermal Throttling

 • Even though you described your PC as a “small rectangular box,” if it’s a mini PC or has integrated graphics, it might be prone to thermal throttling. Check your power management settings in Windows (set to “High performance” or “Best performance” rather than “Balanced”) and monitor temperatures while gaming using a tool like HWMonitor.

 • If thermal limits are being hit, cleaning any dust from inside or repasting thermal compound (if you’re comfortable doing so) might help.

7. Event Viewer and Crash Logs

 • Check Windows Event Viewer for any warnings or errors around the times when you experience the lag. Sometimes system errors or hardware warnings can provide clues—especially if something went wrong during or after the freeze.

8. If all else fails: a fresh OS reinstall

 • If issues keep persisting and you suspect that the freeze left your system in a bad state, backing up your data and doing a clean reinstall of Windows might clear out any lingering issues.

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