[SOLVED] Mouse lag when connecting an external HDD

[tronoslycer]

Like the title says, I just installed Kubuntu 22.04 and every time I connect an external USB HDD the mouse starts to lag A LOT, anyone has experiences this before, is there a solution for this?

[oshunluvr]

I might assume it was the USB channel being overloaded - although I've not experienced that. I would start by reviewing the output of dmesg and putting one of the two USB devices on a different USB channel if possible. You didn't provide any specifications about your system at all so I've no other guesses.

[tronoslycer]

Thanks for responding!
I have an intel i7 13700k, RX 7800xt and 32 gb RAM DDR5, what are the things I need to check in the dmesg output?

[oshunluvr]

I would boot up with the mouse installed but the drive not attached. Then open Konsole and run "sudo dmesg" and note the last line of output. Then attach the drive, observe your issue (meaning verify the mouse is indeed lagging) and then check the dmesg output again. Carefully review all lines after the previous last line and see if anything re. the USB interfaces or devices shows up. There may be some hints in there.

[oshunluvr]

Thanks for responding!
I have an intel i7 13700k, RX 7800xt and 32 gb RAM DDR5, what are the things I need to check in the dmesg output?

So I assume not a laptop then. You should have more than one USB controller. For example @here I have three:

stuart@office:~$ lspci |grep USB
2a:00.1 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Matisse USB 3.0 Host Controller
2a:00.3 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Matisse USB 3.0 Host Controller
2f:00.3 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Matisse USB 3.0 Host Controller
​

Maybe just having the two devices on different controllers will solve the problem.

[oshunluvr]

Again - in my case there are six different USB busses in use also:

stuart@office:~$ lsusb
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 2109:0822 VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.1 Hub              
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 004: ID 256f:c652 3Dconnexion Universal Receiver
Bus 005 Device 003: ID 03f0:d407 HP, Inc HP Link-5 Micro Receiver
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 2109:2822 VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub              
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 2537:1081 Norelsys NS1081
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 2109:0817 VIA Labs, Inc. USB3.0 Hub              
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 004: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. Hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1462:7d52 Micro Star International MYSTIC LIGHT  
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 2109:2817 VIA Labs, Inc. USB2.0 Hub              
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 1e91:de2c Other World Computing Mercury Pro Optical
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 174c:3074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 SuperSpeed hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0c45:6366 Microdia Webcam Vitade AF
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 8087:0032 Intel Corp. AX210 Bluetooth
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0db0:419c Micro Star International USB Audio
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0764:0501 Cyber Power System, Inc. CP1500 AVR UPS
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 174c:2074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 High-Speed hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
​

Using a separate bus might help as well.
However, seems likely that you USB drive or it's enclosure might have an issue. Your machine is clearly powerful enough to handle a mouse and USB drive at the same time.

[tronoslycer]

Thanks! the issue is solved if I connect the mouse in a different USB port in the rear part of the PC and the USB hard disk in the front panel the mouse doesn't lag

[tronoslycer]

These is the output of lsusb

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 174c:3074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 SuperSpeed hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 174c:2074 ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1074 High-Speed hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0c45:5004 Microdia Redragon Mitra RGB Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0b05:19af ASUSTek Computer, Inc. AURA LED Controller
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 8087:0026 Intel Corp. AX201 Bluetooth
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 046d:c534 Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 1b3f:2247 Generalplus Technology Inc. GENERAL WEBCAM
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

[oshunluvr]

Cool, that was easy. It may be related to the front panel not being as responsive as the rear ports simply because the rear ports are a direct connection to the USB controller.

[oshunluvr]

I took the liberty of marking this thread as "solved."

To do that yourself in the future, go back to your initial post and click "Edit" in the lower right of the post window. Then in the thread title where it says "Prefix" select "SOLVED" and save.