Key Repeat during Gaming

Framework Laptop 16 Linux
1

Which Linux distro are you using?

Arch/KDE

Which release version?
(if rolling release without a release version, skip this question)

(If rolling release, last date updated?)

Last week.

Which kernel are you using?

6.19.11

Which BIOS version are you using?

04.03

Which Framework Laptop 16 model are you using? (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series)

AMD Ryzen 7040/7700S

I’m noticing while playing games that use WASD for movement, that after holding down W for some amount of time, when it’s released, the character continues moving forward. The duration of the “ghost input” seems to be tied to duration of how long W key was held down for.

I’ve tried disabling Key Repeat from the KDE settings, but that didn’t help.

What other settings might there be that could be triggering this?

2

If you’re not using an external keyboard then it might be a mechanical issue with the keyboard associated with heat. Better to use an external keyboard for gaming.

For context, a laptop keyboard works like this:

layers-of-a-membrane-keyboard
layers-of-a-membrane-keyboard1600×575 50.7 KB

Unfortunately the material which the membrane layers are made of is not particularly heat resistant - it will start to soften anywhere in the range of 67-85°C.

Worse still, in the Framework 16 there’s a support pad right below the “D” key, underneath which runs one of the heatpipes, making that part of the keyboard pretty hot under load.

I’ve had this problem and it got so bad my “D” stopped working. On a whim I put the laptop upside down while it was running and started mashing the offending key. At first it was behaving erratically, but now it’s as if nothing ever happened to it.

3

That is a very interesting theory. I’ll have to try to test with an external keyboard – but that severely reduces the purpose of using a laptop :cry:

4

Ah, that would explain why so many people (myself included) had the D key fail.

5

…and why replacing the keyboard does not fix the issue.

I had a “duh!” moment the other day regarding the solution to this issue:

parchment paper

Its thermal conductivity is just 2-3x that of aerogel, but it’s cheap, available and easily layered to the desired thickness.

Tested out a sheet folded into two layers and yeah - there’s a noticeable difference.

6

Oh that’s clever. I might try this and see if helps reduce my issue.

1 Like
7

Replacing the keyboard did get my D key working again, naturally. The new keyboard hasn’t failed yet, but the last one lasted a couple years before failing, so I wouldn’t necessarily have expected it to fail yet. Perhaps I’ll add some additional insulation to that part of the heatpipe.

8

Do let us know if it helped.

I’ve found that while it doesn’t prevent the heat from reaching the top, it does spread it so that you don’t land with a keyboard-key-sized heat island cooking your “D”, “W” and even “S” keys.

9

I haven’t tried the parchment paper trick yet, but testing with an external keyboard worked fine, so I think this helps to confirm that the heat is likely the issue. I’m not sure I would have thought of this!

1 Like