M510 performs poorly with the same USB controller as an external drive
M510 performs poorly with the same USB controller as an external drive
I own a Logitech M510 wireless mouse which I rely on every day. This problem has been a persistent issue for years. Whenever I connect my mouse dongle to my device—whether it's an HP laptop from 2019 or an M1 iPad Pro—and insert a flash drive or external drive into the nearby USB ports (as shown on the hardware or via a USB dongle)—the mouse becomes extremely slow. It’s not just occasional lag; the delay is severe and affects performance significantly. My trackpad works fine in this setup. The only workaround I’ve tried is using another USB port for the Unifying receiver, connecting drives through the USB-C dongle, and keeping the mouse in the built-in USB-A ports. This issue remains consistent across all storage devices, from Walmart flash drives to SanDisk drives and a Micro Center SATA SSD connected via an external case to a 4TB WD My Book. All are USB 3. What might be happening? I suspect some kind of digital interference. Operating systems: iPadOS 15, 16, 17, 18 and Windows 10/11 (version 1903+ for 10, 21996 and all Windows 11 versions up to the latest update today). BIOS versions: unknown, but it stays the same even after updates.
It seems like interference from USB3 traffic is the issue. The ports' bandwidth is shared among multiple devices, and fast data transfers from external drives can disrupt RF signals in receivers. If you can, connect it to a USB2 port or switch to non-adjacent ports if available. Moving the receiver away from the laptop using a USB extension might also resolve the problem.