[0.98] Stardock Tiles is causing cursor lag

by messing about with the Windows USB polling rate

November 21, 2011 5:36 PM from

Hi,

I just purchased and installed Tiles the other day, and I've encountered a bug which is cause for concern as it severely impacts the usability of Windows as a whole.

The problem is that Tiles causes a very perceptible mouse cursor lag. I started checking if someone else was having the same problem, and I did see it mentioned in the beta feedback thread. There you suggested the user to lower his USB polling rate in the mouse driver, so as I have the same mouse I decided to try the same and lowered mine to 125 Hz. Well, the result was disappointing. Sure it made it less noticeable, but it's still very much there.

Next thing I tested was to use the stock Windows mouse driver, and the same thing happens there. So I reinstalled the latest Razer DeathAdder driver verson 3.03, but still the same.

At this point I started getting a bit frustrated, but hunted around the web for a bit and found a nice little tool that reports the USB polling rate in realtime (the tool can be found here: link). This returned some very interesting results, indentical for both mice.

Turns out that when I'm launching Tiles and for as long as it's running, the polling frequency is forced down to just ~65 Hz, which is about half of what Windows is supposed to use by default. No wonder the cursor feels laggy, this polling rate means that there is a ~15ms delay from when you move the mouse until it responds, compared to the Windows default of 8ms.

Software versions tested:

Stardock Tiles 0.95 and 0.98, downloaded from https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

Here's the mice I've tested with:

Razer DeathAdder Left-Hand Edition
Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000

Here's a summary of the rest of my system:

Computer
Computer Type               ACPI x64-based PC
Operating System           Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
OS Service Pack               Service Pack 1
Internet Explorer            9.0.8112.16421 (IE 9.0)
DirectX DirectX 11.0
Date / Time        2011-11-21 / 23:25

Motherboard
CPU Type            QuadCore Intel Core i5-750, 3685 MHz (23 x 160)
Motherboard Name      MSI P55A Fuzion (MS-7688) (2 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR3 DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset   Intel Ibex Peak P55, Intel Lynnfield
System Memory             8183 MB (DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM)
DIMM1: Kingston 9905403-151.A00LF    2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz)
DIMM2: Kingston 9905403-151.A00LF    2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz)
DIMM3: Kingston 9905403-151.A00LF    2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz)
DIMM4: Kingston 9905403-151.A00LF    2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (8-8-8-22 @ 609 MHz) (7-7-7-20 @ 533 MHz) (6-6-6-17 @ 457 MHz)

BIOS Type AMI (03/17/11)

Display
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (1024 MB)
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (1024 MB)
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (1024 MB)
Video Adapter AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series (1024 MB)
3D Accelerator AMD Radeon HD 6870 (Barts)
Monitor               BenQ V2400Eco (HDMI) [24" LCD]
Monitor               Dell U2412M(Digital) [NoDB]
Monitor               LG TV

Multimedia
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ AMD Barts - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter ATI Radeon HDMI @ AMD Barts - High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Adapter Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card
Audio Adapter Realtek ALC892 @ Intel Ibex Peak PCH - High Definition Audio Controller [B-3]

Storage
Storage Controller          AA6CGDXX IDE Controller
Storage Controller          Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller
Disk Drive           KINGSTON SH100S3120G (111 GB, IDE)
Disk Drive           Seagate RAID (596 GB, IDE)
Disk Drive           WD 1600BEV External USB Device (149 GB, USB)
Disk Drive           WD Ext HDD 1021 USB Device (1397 GB, USB)
Disk Drive           WD Ext HDD 1021 USB Device (1863 GB, USB)
Disk Drive           WDC WD2000JS-00MHB1 (186 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive      ATAPI iHAS124   B (DVD+R9:8x, DVD-R9:8x, DVD+RW:24x/8x, DVD-RW:24x/6x, DVD-RAM:12x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/32x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
Optical Drive      JKZQDAT JKPEJSL2N SCSI CdRom Device
SMART Hard Disks Status            OK

Partitions
C: (NTFS)             111.7 GB (63.5 GB free)
D: (NTFS)            596.2 GB (322.3 GB free)
E: (NTFS)             186.3 GB (135.7 GB free)
M: (NTFS)           149.0 GB (0.3 GB free)
Y: (NTFS)             1863.0 GB (831.3 GB free)
Z: (NTFS)             1397.3 GB (8.0 GB free)
Total Size            4303.5 GB (1361.2 GB free)

Input
Keyboard            HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard            HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard            HID Keyboard Device
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Game Controller             Microsoft PC-joystick driver

Network
Network Adapter Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10.0.0.1)
Network Adapter TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS

Peripherals
Printer Fax
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
FireWire Controller        VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller (PHY: VIA VT6307)
USB2 Controller               Intel Ibex Peak PCH - USB 2.0 EHCI Controller 1 [B-3]
USB2 Controller               Intel Ibex Peak PCH - USB 2.0 EHCI Controller 2 [B-3]
USB3 Controller               NEC uPD720200 USB 3.0 Host Controller
USB Device        Generic USB Hub
USB Device        Generic USB Hub
USB Device        Generic USB Hub
USB Device        Generic USB Hub
USB Device        Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Detection Driver (USB)
USB Device        Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Detection Driver (USB)
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Input Device
USB Device        USB Mass Storage Device
USB Device        USB Mass Storage Device
USB Device        USB Mass Storage Device
USB Device        Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

DMI
DMI BIOS Vendor           American Megatrends Inc.
DMI BIOS Version           V1.2
DMI System Manufacturer         MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
DMI System Product     MS-7688
DMI System Version      1.0
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer            MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
DMI Motherboard Product        P55A Fuzion (MS-7688)
DMI Motherboard Version         1.0
DMI Chassis Manufacturer         MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO.,LTD
DMI Chassis Version      1.0
DMI Chassis Type            Desktop Case
DMI Total / Free Memory Sockets          4 / 0

2,401 views 5 replies

Reply #1 November 21, 2011 7:36 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

Dirhael....thanks for the detailed info. I expect the backroom boffins can put it all to good use....;)

Reply #2 November 21, 2011 8:43 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I just tried this here on my 64 bit Windows 7 machine and the tool continues to display just over 120Hz when Tiles is running.

What other software do you have running that might set mouse hooks?

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor

Reply #3 November 21, 2011 9:13 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 2

I just tried this here on my 64 bit Windows 7 machine and the tool continues to display just over 120Hz when Tiles is running.

What other software do you have running that might set mouse hooks?

End of Neil's quote

Right now, as far as I know there shouldn't be any 3rd party tools with mouse hooks. I just disabled more or less everything I reasonably could from the boot process, disabled my AV, killed explorer.exe just because, and ran "tasklist /fo list /v" from a console.

Result:

Code: php
Image Name: System Idle Process
PID: 0
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 24 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:26:48
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: System
PID: 4
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 304 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: N/A
CPU Time: 0:00:10
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: smss.exe
PID: 352
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 1 280 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: csrss.exe
PID: 456
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 4 628 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:02
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: wininit.exe
PID: 560
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 5 720 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: csrss.exe
PID: 568
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 14 788 K
Status: Running
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:03
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: services.exe
PID: 608
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 10 644 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: lsass.exe
PID: 628
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 11 800 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: lsm.exe
PID: 636
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 5 168 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 728
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 10 692 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:02
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 824
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 9 004 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: atiesrxx.exe
PID: 884
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 5 416 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: winlogon.exe
PID: 940
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 8 924 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 980
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 22 640 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 1020
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 16 028 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 392
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 101 024 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:03
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: CTAudSvc.exe
PID: 600
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 4 820 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 1080
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 17 812 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 1180
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 16 316 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: AvastSvc.exe
PID: 1244
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 25 672 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:02
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: atieclxx.exe
PID: 1568
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 7 820 K
Status: Running
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: AMD EEU Client
Image Name: dwm.exe
PID: 1724
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 75 944 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:04
Window Title: DWM Notification Window
Image Name: AvastUI.exe
PID: 1960
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 8 972 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: CAvastTrayIcon
Image Name: spoolsv.exe
PID: 1524
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 13 100 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: taskhost.exe
PID: 1544
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 8 440 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: MCI command handling window
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 2056
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 17 912 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
PID: 2160
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 9 972 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: mDNSResponder.exe
PID: 2204
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 6 772 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 2276
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 6 624 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: WLIDSVC.EXE
PID: 2316
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 13 916 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: SearchIndexer.exe
PID: 2780
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 25 000 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: CTxfispi.exe
PID: 3020
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 10 800 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: WLIDSVCM.EXE
PID: 3040
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 4 284 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: wmpnetwk.exe
PID: 1836
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 2 448 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: svchost.exe
PID: 3152
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 11 776 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: Tiles64.exe
PID: 3428
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 21 828 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:01
Window Title: Main
Image Name: Tiles32Help.exe
PID: 3476
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 552 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: IAStorDataMgrSvc.exe
PID: 2996
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 21 368 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: sppsvc.exe
PID: 3036
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 9 748 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: cmd.exe
PID: 1140
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 4 080 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: Administrator: C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe - tasklist /FO list /V 
Image Name: conhost.exe
PID: 192
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 7 244 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: OleMainThreadWndName
Image Name: TrustedInstaller.exe
PID: 692
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 9 252 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: WmiPrvSE.exe
PID: 3320
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 7 448 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: SearchProtocolHost.exe
PID: 2700
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 6 960 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: SearchFilterHost.exe
PID: 756
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 6 252 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: audiodg.exe
PID: 3364
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 17 732 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\LOCAL SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: dx_mouse_timer_dialog.exe
PID: 3244
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 6 336 K
Status: Running
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: Direct Input Mouse Rate
Image Name: WmiPrvSE.exe
PID: 1212
Session Name: Services
Session#: 0
Mem Usage: 7 116 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
Image Name: tasklist.exe
PID: 3580
Session Name: Console
Session#: 1
Mem Usage: 6 132 K
Status: Unknown
User Name: PRESTER\&lt;username censored&gt;
CPU Time: 0:00:00
Window Title: N/A
</span><span>

EDIT: One "funny" thing I've observed is that if I launch the Opera web browser, the polling rate goes back to almost normal (slightly below what it is before I start Tiles) again and stays there as long as said browser keeps running. Doesn't matter if it's the active window or not.

Reply #4 November 28, 2011 3:42 PM from

WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm experiencing the same problem. Maybe a quarter-second of mouse response lag. Goes away when I close Tiles, comes back when I open it. Only happens when the bar is actually shown - For example, if I go into options and change the size of the bar or move it to a different monitor, during the second or two that the bar disappears from the screen and moves/resizes itself, the mouse returns to normal.

I went through all of the settings in Tiles and toggled each one on and off to see if they had any effect on the mouse lag, and they do not.

I run Tiles on my home computer as well, and I don't have this issue there. I think the only difference that might be in place is that I run LogMeIn on my work computer, and not on my home computer.

Any progress on this particular issue?

Reply #5 December 20, 2011 10:01 PM from

Stardock Forums Top

Logitech Mouse setup with setpoint software installed. Win7 x64. 3 monitor setup, tiles running not on the main display. Extreme mouse lag/acceleration issues present in games, i.e. Skyrim and MW3. Closing tiles fixes it. Using tiles v0.98

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