How to reduce input lag for competitive gaming in Linux

✨ Quick Answer

Excessive input delay or input lag when playing competitive titles on Linux occurs due to the accumulation of buffers in the graphics composition server (especially in Wayland with forced vertical synchronization) and due to the default active power saving configuration that suspends or slows down the response frequency of USB ports.

Quick Diagnostics

Cause

Window compositing enabled causing frame latency (VSync)

Solution

Disable screen compositor or switch to a native Wayland session

Cause

CPU frequency governor set to powersave mode

Solution

Set CPU to performance mode: gamemoded -r or powerprofilesctl set performance

Excessive input delay or input lag when playing competitive titles on Linux occurs due to the accumulation of buffers in the graphics composition server (especially in Wayland with forced vertical synchronization) and due to the default active power saving configuration that suspends or slows down the response frequency of USB ports.

Step-by-Step Solution

1. 1

   Step 1: Configurar la frecuencia de sondeo (polling rate) de tus periféricos

   To make your competitive mouse and keyboard respond instantly, force the kernel driver to use a constant refresh rate of 1000 Hz on the USB ports:

   BASH Copy

   # Crear un archivo de reglas para el módulo del ratón USB
   echo "options usbhid mousepoll=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/usbhid.conf
   
   # Recargar el módulo HID para aplicar los cambios de inmediato
   sudo rmmod usbhid && sudo modprobe usbhid
   

2. 2

   Step 2: Desactivar la sincronización vertical y activar desgarro (tearing) en Wayland

   If you use KDE Plasma or GNOME environments under Wayland, vertical synchronization adds latency. Allow screen tearing in full-screen games to eliminate render delay:

   BASH Copy

   # En KDE Plasma 6, añade esta regla a tu configuración local para permitir Tearing
   kwriteconfig6 --file kwinrc --group Wayland --key AllowTearing true
   
   # Reiniciar el compositor gráfico para aplicar
   systemctl --user restart plasma-kwin_wayland
   

3. 3

   Step 3: Configurar el daemon de energía en modo Rendimiento

   Prevent the Linux processor regulator from reducing the clock frequency of the system data bus during your game sessions:

   BASH Copy

   # Cambiar el perfil de energía del sistema a alto rendimiento
   powerprofilesctl set performance
   
   # Verificar que el perfil se haya activado correctamente
   powerprofilesctl get