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Title: Input stuttering and Jittery movement when playing games on Steam Play with Proton on Kubuntu20.04
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Jeremy 28 Nov 2020
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My System Info

Linux Distribution: Kubuntu 20.04 LTS
Desktop Environment: KDE 5.18.5
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 1050 Ti
GPU Driver Version: 455.45.01

Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No]

If this is to do with Steam, please add your system read-out from Steam -> Help -> System Information (please put that into Pastebin/Gist as linked above!): https://pastebin.com/ZxFWQHPx

You can note your issue below here

I have recently switched to Kubuntu and have setup Steam with Proton 5.13-2 and installed the Nvidia proprietary drivers.

When i go play a game no matter which one it is (example: it happens in GTA5 and Killing Floor) sometimes when i press and hold the "W" key (or any other movement key) the character randomly stops or starts having very Jittery movement almost as if the input is being registered only every other frame.

Also sometimes the mouse position will change in a sudden burst to a random direction ( like when playing Killing Floor i will suddenly aim to the sky when trying to aim at the enemies), it doesn't happen all that often but it does happen from time to time.

The frame rate doesn't drop and everything that is not movement related works fine. I checked the keyboard settings and it doesn't seem that any setting is what causes the problem. It's sad because i was so excited with how well everything else was working without requiring much effort.

Anyone has an idea of what may be causing this and what i can do to fix this? Haven't found anyone with the same problem on the internet when searching.

Thanks in advance!

Note any particular steps to reproduce it below here

I don't know what one would do to reproduce this, i have just done a normal install of Kubuntu20.04, installed the drivers i thought i should install and booted up Steam to play my games with Proton. It really is a strange problem i don't see anyone else having and i don't know of anything i have done that may have caused it.
Jeremy 30 Nov 2020
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Quoting: GuestTried with another keyboard / mouse / mouse pad ?
I don't have another keyboard, neither another mouse.

I tried running a non-Steam game (Witch Hunt) using only wine and after clicking "new game" the world loaded up but the keyboard and the mouse stopped working entirely. The terminal started inputting this non stop:
0032:err:d3d:wined3d_debug_callback 0x109dce80: "GL_INVALID_FRAMEBUFFER_OPERATION error generated. Operation is not valid because a bound framebuffer is not framebuffer complete.".
0032:fixme:d3d:wined3d_context_gl_check_fbo_status FBO status GL_FRAMEBUFFER_INCOMPLETE_LAYER_TARGETS (0x8da8).
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_DEPTH_ATTACHMENT: 2d texture 1834, 1024x1024, 0 samples, format 0x81a5.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_STENCIL_ATTACHMENT: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0: 2d-array texture 1830, 1024x1024, 0 samples, format 0x822e.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT1: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT2: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT3: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT4: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT5: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT6: NONE.
0032:fixme:d3d:context_dump_fbo_attachment GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT7: NONE.

Maybe it is a Witch Hunt only problem but it seems to be related because both problems involve the keyboard and mouse even though at least on Steam the keyboard and mouse still worked somewhat.
Guppy 30 Nov 2020
And if you play a native game this doesn't happen?
Xpander 30 Nov 2020
if i was you, i would try another window manager or desktop enviroment first to see if the problem goes away.
The log for Witch Hunt indicates you dont even use DXVK on thisone, but the regular wined3d which is using opengl. So this log might have nothing to do with the other issues. Proton defaults to DXVK for all dx9, dx10 and dx11 games. Now if it was a mouse issue only i would suggest trying to lower polling rate of your mouse, as i remember some people had issues with 1000hz polling for some reason, but since you also have keyboard input issues, i think thats not the problem.

Long story short.. try other Desktop Environment or even LiveUSB distro like PopOS or Manjaro that comes with nvidia drivers by default so you could just run some test game on live environment to see.

Last edited by Xpander on 30 Nov 2020 at 12:26 pm UTC
Ehvis 30 Nov 2020
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From my experience this happens with an nvidia card with bad compositors. Last time I checked, the kwin compositor still fell into that category. IIRC, there is a setting to change kwin to use xrender (ask a kde person for more detail), which could potentially alleviate the problem.
Jeremy 30 Nov 2020
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Quoting: XpanderThe log for Witch Hunt indicates you dont even use DXVK on thisone, but the regular wined3d which is using opengl. So this log might have nothing to do with the other issues.
Weird, i remember running the DXVK installer script on the wineprefix i used to run Witch Hunt. I must have done something wrong then...

Quoting: XpanderLong story short.. try other Desktop Environment or even LiveUSB distro like PopOS or Manjaro that comes with nvidia drivers by default so you could just run some test game on live environment to see.
Thanks for the advice! i probably will try using the liveUSB as i don't know how to change the Desktop Environment, and besides i was contemplating distro hoping to PopOS or Manjaro anyways :tongue:.
Jeremy 1 Dec 2020
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Quoting: JeremyThanks for the advice! i probably will try using the liveUSB as i don't know how to change the Desktop Environment, and besides i was contemplating distro hoping to PopOS or Manjaro anyways :tongue:.
Just installed Pop!_OS. First thing i did was install Steam and then Killing Floor, the problem sadly persists :sad:.

Now it is slightly different, when i hold "w"(or any other movement key) the character seems to slide more than being jittery but it is very slow and it keeps moving for a while after i stop pressing the key. if i press any other key like space to jump it will sometimes take a while to register the input if the character is already "sliding".

I will install more games to test with Proton, and some native Linux games as well, but now i don't know what is the problem if it wasn't something with KDE or my Kubuntu install :huh:.
Xpander 1 Dec 2020
do you have some sort of oddball usb hub maybe?
or maybe some bizarre bios option that does something to the usb ports?

maybe your keyboard just releases the button straight after you pressing it down.
like every press you make is instantly press down and release.

but then that should come up with typing also then i think.
Jeremy 1 Dec 2020
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Quoting: JeremyI will install more games to test with Proton, and some native Linux games as well, but now i don't know what is the problem if it wasn't something with KDE or my Kubuntu install :huh:.
I have tested many games and all of them (regardless of being native or through Proton) had problems with holding down keys, instead of a continuous input it appears to give many short inputs.

When i tried to play Team Fortress 2 ( native Linux game) i coudn't move when i connected to the server, when i tried to move by holding down "W" i was kicked out of the server and this message appeared:

issued too many commands to the server

While testing other games like Hollow Knight and Metro 2033 i noticed that the problem extends to pretty much every key of the keyboard, while the mouse and the mouse buttons seem to work fine( as well as controller input).

Quoting: GuppyAnd if you play a native game this doesn't happen?
I have found out that it actually does happen with native games as well

Quoting: EhvisFrom my experience this happens with an nvidia card with bad compositors. Last time I checked, the kwin compositor still fell into that category. IIRC, there is a setting to change kwin to use xrender (ask a kde person for more detail), which could potentially alleviate the problem.
Well, now that i'm using Pop!_OS could this still be the problem? if so how could i go about solving it?
Jeremy 1 Dec 2020
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Quoting: Xpanderdo you have some sort of oddball usb hub maybe?
or maybe some bizarre bios option that does something to the usb ports?
Not that i know of.

Quoting: Xpandermaybe your keyboard just releases the button straight after you pressing it down.
like every press you make is instantly press down and release.

but then that should come up with typing also then i think.
I would believe that's the case, but when i'm typing i can hold down any letter i wish for as long as i want.
Xpander 2 Dec 2020
can you install evtest
then run it in terminal, select your keyboard from the device list it gives and press keys
put the output log here, so we can compare if something weird happens.
Guppy 2 Dec 2020
Quoting: Jeremy
Quoting: GuppyAnd if you play a native game this doesn't happen?
I have found out that it actually does happen with native games as well
First test;

  • start a game where the problem manifests

  • unplug every USB device, except your keyboard

  • Wait ~30s

  • test if the problem still occurs



If it doesn't occur, the you need to re-arrange your USB devices on different ports - you have too many on the same HUB on the mother board and it's eating up the bandwidth.

if it *does* still occur you will have to look elsewhere - properly start by testing if your cpu is getting maxed out.
For example; I have had some very strange jerky performance "randomly" occur in games - turns out it is timeshift that starts ~5 minutes after boot and eats cpu cycles. Good thing there is no way to pause that crap once running 🤬
Jeremy 2 Dec 2020
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Quoting: Xpandercan you install evtest
then run it in terminal, select your keyboard from the device list it gives and press keys
put the output log here, so we can compare if something weird happens.
Ok, here is the pastebin link: https://pastebin.com/V6LbHMa6

Quoting: GuppyFirst test;

start a game where the problem manifests

unplug every USB device, except your keyboard

Wait ~30s

test if the problem still occurs
I did this test in more than one game and the problem persisted.

Quoting: Guppyif it *does* still occur you will have to look elsewhere - properly start by testing if your cpu is getting maxed out.
i ran Htop and it showed the CPU going up to 102% and regularly staying around 100% with only Steam and Firefox open, when i close Steam the CPU stays at around 0-10%. When running a native non-Steam game with Steam closed the CPU percentage goes up to around 150% and stays at around 120%.

I have a Intel® Core™ i5-7400 CPU @ 3.00GHz × 4 processor, this shouldn't be happening :sad:, what may be causing this?
Xpander 2 Dec 2020
checked your log. i don't see value 2 coming up at all?
value 2 should be when you hold down the button
value 0 is when you press it, value 1 is when you release it

for example my log: https://pastebin.com/EfXqmZBM
i start by holding down W and then i just press it few times at the end
Jeremy 2 Dec 2020
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Quoting: Xpanderchecked your log. i don't see value 2 coming up at all?
value 2 should be when you hold down the button
value 0 is when you press it, value 1 is when you release it

for example my log: https://pastebin.com/EfXqmZBM
i start by holding down W and then i just press it few times at the end
That's weird, i definitely held down W and some other keys as well.

I tested evtest again but with Htop running at the same time while only pressing and holding W and it only showed value 0 and 1, but what is weirder is that the CPU was maxed out when i held W as shown here: https://imgur.com/a/wsC8V0M

Last edited by Jeremy on 2 Dec 2020 at 11:45 pm UTC
Xpander 3 Dec 2020
This has to be some sort hardware "issue" (incompatibility) if it occurs with multiple distros.
very weird..can you paste all of your dmesg log, maybe we can spot something weird there
Jeremy 3 Dec 2020
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Quoting: XpanderThis has to be some sort hardware "issue" (incompatibility) if it occurs with multiple distros.
very weird..can you paste all of your dmesg log, maybe we can spot something weird there
Sure thing! Here you go: https://pastebin.com/dHpRUiHT

Quoting: TheReaperUKTry turning off shader cache in steam settings, shut steam down and reload and see if that helps,
I turned off shader cache in Steam settings and the problem persisted, also the problem occurs even outside Steam so i don't think the issue is anything within Steam.

Quoting: TheReaperUKAlso 150% CPU??, I've never seen my I7 6700 go over 100% and that's rare, are you over-clocking your CPU?
If i am i am not doing it intentionally and don't know how to stop it.

Last edited by Jeremy on 3 Dec 2020 at 4:52 pm UTC
Xpander 3 Dec 2020
im not sure if related, but from that log i can see your USB2.0 Camera keeps spawning new input events.

have you tried with all other USB devices removed?

i see few usb related segfaults also there. Also your keyboard seems to spawn 3 input events. Does your keyboard also have some sort of touchpad functionality or something like sdcard reader slots? i cant understand why it spawns 3 input events.

Last edited by Xpander on 3 Dec 2020 at 5:23 pm UTC
Guppy 3 Dec 2020
Quoting: Jeremy
Quoting: Xpanderchecked your log. i don't see value 2 coming up at all?
value 2 should be when you hold down the button
value 0 is when you press it, value 1 is when you release it

for example my log: https://pastebin.com/EfXqmZBM
i start by holding down W and then i just press it few times at the end
That's weird, i definitely held down W and some other keys as well.

I tested evtest again but with Htop running at the same time while only pressing and holding W and it only showed value 0 and 1, but what is weirder is that the CPU was maxed out when i held W as shown here: https://imgur.com/a/wsC8V0M
It's just core 4 getting maxed, it's being overworked by 'alacritty' which wierdly seems to be a terminal bragging about offloading to the GPU. :unsure:
https://github.com/alacritty/alacritty

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literally notting else in your system is eating cpu cycles.

So that is out.

Going through you log reveals a stunning number of usb devices - you seem to even have your phone hooked up to your computer 😲

did you really do the test of disconnecting *all* USB devices except your keyboard?

if you did, my last ditch test would be to replace the keyboard with a different one and repeat that test.

After that all I can think of is testing a live image of your distro to see if an vanilla* version has the same issues

*) as in unburdened by the packages and drivers you may have installed
Guppy 3 Dec 2020
the letter before the cpu% in top is the program state R=running, S=Sleeping .

Your load averages are also very low so I suspect most of that "load" htop is showing is IO wait, which is anoying doesn't show, unlike regular top;
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Jeremy 3 Dec 2020
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Quoting: Xpanderim not sure if related, but from that log i can see your USB2.0 Camera keeps spawning new input events.
Quoting: GuppyGoing through you log reveals a stunning number of usb devices - you seem to even have your phone hooked up to your computer 😲
Weird, i am pretty sure those things where not connected when i ran the test, but maybe i just had to reboot so i ran dmesg again after rebooting:
https://pastebin.com/cw8SRVVd

Quoting: XpanderDoes your keyboard also have some sort of touchpad functionality or something like sdcard reader slots? i cant understand why it spawns 3 input events.
I also don't understand, it is a simple chinese RGB semi-mechanical keyboard, doesn't do anything other than normal keyboard stuff (and the RGB isn't programmable, it's just colourful LEDs). The name is "Leadership Gamer" i guess, i just bought it because it was cheap :tongue:.

Quoting: GuppyIt's just core 4 getting maxed, it's being overworked by 'alacritty' which wierdly seems to be a terminal bragging about offloading to the GPU.
Woah, i admit that i just downloaded because i thought it was prettier :unsure:.

So now that i uninstalled alacritty when i put top and evtest at the same time the CPU isn't overclocked as shown here:
https://imgur.com/a/A9bCOFd

When i run Steam it still shows around 100% CPU. Not from steam, but from fossilize_repla:
https://imgur.com/a/AO2hfAq
That is pretty strange, but when i look it up it appears that it is part of Vulkan.
Also when booting up Steam Xorg flashed at 200% CPU:
https://imgur.com/a/Ub9Nzwy

When i run a simple Unity game like RE:RUN the CPU again went over board reaching around 116%: https://imgur.com/a/yfFhYyX

Quoting: Guppydid you really do the test of disconnecting *all* USB devices except your keyboard?

if you did, my last ditch test would be to replace the keyboard with a different one and repeat that test.
I did, luckily i got hold of my father's old even cheaper keyboard and now the in-game movement is fine, and when i run evtest it shows the correct value when holding down keys:
https://pastebin.com/UBv1p2AJ
I also ran dmesg again in case it is helpful:
https://pastebin.com/CEk0NBdh

I guess this solves the problem, but the CPU thing still bothers me and i still have to give this keyboard back to my father eventually...

Anyways we are closer to solving this, and i want to thank everyone that helped along the way! :heart:

Last edited by Jeremy on 3 Dec 2020 at 10:08 pm UTC
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