I have absolutely HAD IT with my external display cursor lag problem....Please Help!!

[Baggy Spandex]

Well, I'm seconds away from absolutely losing my my mind over this. I'm hoping maybe an Apple guru or graphic design major can help me out.

I have a problem that has been looming for about a year now. A little backstory...

There seems to be a slight lag, especially when making bigger circles in a fast motion with the cursor. I've tried to use the Steermouse App with limited success. It's better, but not great. The mouse is a Logitech VX Revolution, and the display is an NEC LCD2490WUXi. I've also noticed the same issue when using an HP 24". It kind of makes editing a pain to be honest, especially with shaping masks and such.

Anyone have a similar issue or solution? At work we use a Mac Pro and a G5, both hooked up to 22"ish Dell displays using a corded Apple mouse, and there is no lag at all...dead accurate and a pleasure to work with. I brought my new MBP to work and hooked it up to the cheap 22" Dell, and no lag. Seemed just fine.

I should also mention that I've tried multiple USB ports and locations for the receiver, all unobstructed and fresh batteries. Tried the MBP USB ports, the Belkin powered hub I use, and even the side of my Apple wired keyboard. All the same.

I've also noticed this on both my 15" Penryn and my new 15" UMBP. I simply cannot edit images on this setup, and that's extremely frustrating considering the amount of money I have spent for a good editing "station".

Is this common? I'm really losing sleep over it now as I'm losing money by the minute. Can someone point me towards someone that can help?

 

[adamk77]

Have you tried a wired mouse?

 

[Baggy Spandex]

Have you tried a wired mouse?

I tried a tiny Microsoft Notebook wired laser mouse, and it still had a delay. I also tried the wired Mighty Mouse at work, but there wasn't a problem with that nor was there with my Logitech on our work monitor. I should also note that I was using a different DVI cable with the Dell monitor...could a faulty DVI cable cause a lag? I'm almost positive that it wouldn't, and I would think that NEC is pretty good with supplying decent cables.

 

[bolen]

Sounds like the usual wireless mouse lag, use a corded mouse instead (if the answer to adamk77's question is no).

 

[Baggy Spandex]

Sounds like the usual wireless mouse lag, use a corded mouse instead (if the answer to adamk77's question is no).

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm just apprehensive about spending the money on a decent wired mouse to be in the same boat as before. I guess I could return it if need be.

It's just strange, because I have read from many people that have this combo and love it. Maybe they're not using an external display?

The strange thing is that the cursor lag either doesn't exist or isn't noticeable when I'm using the MBP display. Only when the cursor is on the NEC monitor.

 

[adamk77]

I doubt that it has anything to do with the DVI cable, but it wouldn't hurt to try anyway if you have a spare.

The thing to do is to eliminate the variables one by one. You've already tried hooking it up to two external monitors, various USB ports and different mice (wired and wireless). You could try making sure that all your software is up to date -- firmware, drivers, etc. Or maybe even go as far as to try reinstalling the operating system to see if that fixes anything. But somehow, I doubt that will help.

Are you still under warranty? About the only thing I can suggest is to take it in and have someone at Apple look at it. And if the problem is reproducible by them, then I'm sure they can do something to make it right.

 

[Baggy Spandex]

I doubt that it has anything to do with the DVI cable, but it wouldn't hurt to try anyway if you have a spare.

The thing to do is to eliminate the variables one by one. You've already tried hooking it up to two external monitors, various USB ports and different mice (wired and wireless). You could try making sure that all your software is up to date -- firmware, drivers, etc. Or maybe even go as far as to try reinstalling the operating system to see if that fixes anything. But somehow, I doubt that will help.

Are you still under warranty? About the only thing I can suggest is to take it in and have someone at Apple look at it. And if the problem is reproducible by them, then I'm sure they can do something to make it right.

Well, being that it occurred on both my MBP's I doubt it's a hardware issue. Two totally different graphics cards and everything. Both monitors I've tried displayed the same behavior, so I'm leaning towards eliminating that. Maybe it is the mouse? Seems odd though. I'll have to run out and grab a decent wired mouse to try out. Anyone have a suggestion for a good, readily available (read: mall or Apple store) wired mouse with the same functionality as my VX Rev.? Would a 'gaming' mouse be appropriate?

I certainly hope that's the root of my problem.

 

[adamk77]

On both MBP -- now, that's odd.

All the mice you've tried (wired laser mouse + wireless) display this behavior on both your MBP. This happens on both your external monitors on both MBP. The mouse you are having issues with at home is fine on a Mac Pro at work.

Could you perhaps try taking your external monitor at home and hooking it up to the MacPro at work?

I've had success with the Microsoft Corded Mouse (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7332013&type=product&id=1118845618939)

After you get it, I would try installing USBOverdrive in place of Steermouse.

 

[Baggy Spandex]

On both MBP -- now, that's odd.

All the mice you've tried (wired laser mouse + wireless) display this behavior on both your MBP. This happens on both your external monitors on both MBP. The mouse you are having issues with at home is fine on a Mac Pro at work.

Could you perhaps try taking your external monitor at home and hooking it up to the MacPro at work?

I've had success with the Microsoft Corded Mouse (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7332013&type=product&id=1118845618939)

After you get it, I would try installing USBOverdrive in place of Steermouse.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have as of recently uninstalled SteerMouse and installed USBoverdrive, but same issue.

I just find it so hard to believe that it's the monitor that's the problem. The NEC 2490 is apparently one of the best editing monitors out there and is trusted by many professionals, and the 24" HP wasn't a slouch either.

 

[woodsy1106]

Same Problem! Did you ever find a solution?

I've had the exact same problem with my 15" Macbook Pro hooked up to a Dell 2405 FPW.

To add to the issue....this behavior disappeared when running Windows XP in boot camp. I tried wired mice, wireless mice, and a Wacom Tablet (which did seem to fare better than the mice).

Tried SteerMouse and USB Overdrive. Tried plugging the monitor and laptop into different outlets. Reinstalled Leopard as well.

I ended up getting rid of the 24" display, just couldn't take the lag anymore. Settled on a Dell 2005FPW. The lag isn't as noticeable, but is STILL there when compared to any other Mac setup I've used.

Its nice to know at least one other person was experiencing the same thing.

 

[tasslehawf]

I'll have to test this on Monday when my UMBP comes in. I've got a Dell 2005fpw.

Are you guys that are experiencing lag running 10.5 or 10.6?

 

[Jottle]

I recently got an (admittedly) cheap 5 button dell bluetooth mouse. Man is there ever a ton of lag on my external Dell 2009w monitor connected to my unibody macbookpro. Doesn't go away when I boot into windows 7 via bootcamp either. I think it may have to do with the quality of the mouse hardware. I can't say for sure. I get zero lag with a wired mouse.

 

[hypermog]

At least you know there is a case where it works the way you want. That's a great thing to have in troubleshooting any problem. Then you just work your way back from there, trying 1 variable at a time as others have said.

 

[brentsg]

This could easily be latency introduced by the external monitor's processing. Some displays can add like 50ms of latency before an image is displayed.

 

[felt.]

Same issue here, only workaround I found so far is to use a wired mouse or use synergy and use my desktops mouse to control the mbp over Ethernet, wireless mouse works fine until I use an external display then its real laggy

 

[Timur]

Try all different combinations and see if any makes a difference. Also try rebooting after you changed one of the settings with your external display already being connected. Then try the same with connecting the external display when OS X is already running.

Clone mode with External display as primary (menu bar) and with internal as primary.

Extended mode with External display as primary and with internal as primary.

Make sure the external display is run in its *native* resolution. Using non native resolutions (internal scaling of the display) leads to at least one frame (16 ms) additional latency.