Gaming controller

Garry Edwards

Garry Edwards

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Garry Edwards
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I would like to be able to play simple games on my Windows 10 Pro PC, for relaxation. I also have a laptop, running Windows 11, but I prefer to use my PC, which is also high-spec with a good graphics card.

So, I bought a Xbox 360 controller, but it didn’t work. The seller then told me that I needed to get a dongle, which cost around £50, which was more than I was happy to spend, so I bought the dedicated lead instead, but it still didn’t work.

My daughter has told me that I don’t need a controller at all for most games and can use the keyboard, but I’m struggling with that and really want to use some kind of controller.

Can anyone advise me on what to buy please, bearing in mind that I’m pretty useless?
 
Has your PC got bluetooth? I thought Xbox controllers worked with bluetooth - I bought one a while back and successfully connected it to my Mac, to play games on Steam. It was just a bog-standard controller I think, not an elite or anything.
 
Garry Edwards said:
I would like to be able to play simple games on my Windows 10 Pro PC, for relaxation. I also have a laptop, running Windows 11, but I prefer to use my PC, which is also high-spec with a good graphics card.

So, I bought a Xbox 360 controller, but it didn’t work. The seller then told me that I needed to get a dongle, which cost around £50, which was more than I was happy to spend, so I bought the dedicated lead instead, but it still didn’t work.

My daughter has told me that I don’t need a controller at all for most games and can use the keyboard, but I’m struggling with that and really want to use some kind of controller.

Can anyone advise me on what to buy please, bearing in mind that I’m pretty useless?
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I have a Win10 PC that I occasionally use for gaming. The easiest would be a current gen (Xbox Series X) controller I would have thought as it's a Microsoft item (as your daughter said). It should connect easily through bluetooth which I am assuming your PC has?

You CAN use a PS5 controller too which is what I do as I already had one so there was no extra outlay and it connected easily through Win10

Oops, as above, does your PC have bluetooth? I had to buy a teeny USB Bluetooth adapter for mine.
 
It does have Bluetooth, but the seller of the controller told me that Bluetooth doesn't work with controllers - but the one I bought was second-hand, maybe the new ones do have Bluetooth, I don't know.
 
Garry Edwards said:
It does have Bluetooth, but the seller of the controller told me that Bluetooth doesn't work with controllers - but the one I bought was second-hand, maybe the new ones do have Bluetooth, I don't know.
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From the Microsoft website....

Bluetooth

If you want to use Bluetooth to connect your Xbox controller to your PC, your computer will need to have the Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later. It’s easy to figure out which version of Windows you are running. If you haven’t yet, upgrade to Windows 11 for the best gaming experience on Windows.

To pair your Xbox controller using Bluetooth, follow these steps:

  1. Press Xbox on the controller to turn the controller on.
  2. Hold Pair for three seconds. The Xbox button will light up and start flashing.
  3. Select Start on your computer. The Start button looks like four squares.
  4. With the Start panel open in Windows 11, select Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
  5. Toggle the Bluetooth option on.
  6. Select Add device to find and add your Xbox controller.
 
Garry Edwards said:
It does have Bluetooth, but the seller of the controller told me that Bluetooth doesn't work with controllers - but the one I bought was second-hand, maybe the new ones do have Bluetooth, I don't know.
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Exactly that. Xbox controllers use some low latency communications protocol to Xboxes. Newer / more expensive ones also have BT but if the controller you buy doesn't have BT you need a dongle which adds spooky low latency radio to your PC.

Looking at @Downhill Specialist 's post above it's possible all new controllers have BT - MS like to tell you how things are now rather than admitting things used to be different :)

This will probably make the controller you purchased work with your PC but you may be happier with a wired controller like this.
 
Older Xbox 360 controllers don't use bluetooth, you need a dongle. I'm not sure if the above one would work with those.

If you can share a picture of your gamepad I could tell you what it is.

8bitdo is a good third party brand of compatible controllers, they do wired ones for PC too if you want plug and play (and also wireless, but if you're in front of a PC it matters less).
 
I've got an Xbox type controller which I use for some games (where either a mouse, steering wheel or flight sim controllers aren't suitable). It plugs in via USB and just works. Its a Microsoft product. USB rather than USB-C so may need an adaptor for a new computer. I've had it 10 years or so, so whatever Xbox was current then.

Has two thumb-sticks, an 8 way pad, 4 buttons on top, plus a trigger and another button for first and second fingers.
 
As above, the Xbox 360 controller is extremely old now and never supported bluetooth. The early Xbox One controllers also didn't support bluetooth but most did and the Xbox Series S/X controllers all support bluetooth.

I've been using an Xbox One controller for a while with my PC and one of the main advantages is it's very well supported in games many of which will have the right graphics or names to refer to the Xbox buttons correctly.
 
8bitdo ultimate with bluetooth and 2.4ghz wifi dongle. it works with everything because you can bluetooth to things that has bluetooth (phone, tablet, steam deck) and use the dongle for everything that does not (PS5, Xbox), or use it for both like Nintendo Switch.

Hall effects joysticks so no drift.


q63IP8k.jpg


YPD37Am.jpg


fNtTq3r.jpg
 
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Well, I sent back the one I bought, so that's now history.

Will this do, used via a USB? My PC doesn't have USB C, the listing doesn't indicate whether it needs to or not, and the link kindly supplied by Jonathan says nothing at all . . .

www.ebay.co.uk

Turtle Beach React-R Red Wired Gaming Controller with Audio Controls, 731855007363 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Turtle Beach React-R Red Wired Gaming Controller with Audio Controls, at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Many thanks for all the help. As you will have worked out, I have some basic understanding of physics, which is useful for photography and my shooting hobby, but computers are complicated:)
 
Garry Edwards said:
Well, I sent back the one I bought, so that's now history.

Will this do, used via a USB? My PC doesn't have USB C, the listing doesn't indicate whether it needs to or not, and the link kindly supplied by Jonathan says nothing at all . . .

www.ebay.co.uk

Turtle Beach React-R Red Wired Gaming Controller with Audio Controls, 731855007363 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Turtle Beach React-R Red Wired Gaming Controller with Audio Controls, at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.
www.ebay.co.uk

Many thanks for all the help. As you will have worked out, I have some basic understanding of physics, which is useful for photography and my shooting hobby, but computers are complicated:)
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If you are getting a wired one, I wouldn't get that or get it from ebay.

Get this instead.


If your PC don't have USB-C port then you just need to get a cable like this if the controller only come with a USB-C cable.

 
I also won't get Turtle Beach either, they are an old brand who are clinging on their old reputation from 20 years ago. GameSir, 8bitDo etc are modern new companies putting out decent 3rd party controllers these days, to name a few.
 
Raymond Lin said:
If you are getting a wired one, I wouldn't get that or get it from ebay.

Get this instead.


If your PC don't have USB-C port then you just need to get a cable like this if the controller only come with a USB-C cable.

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Sounds good, but out of stock, and the same with other sellers, so perhaps a new model that isn't available yet
Raymond Lin said:
8bitdo ultimate with bluetooth and 2.4ghz wifi dongle. it works with everything because you can bluetooth to things that has bluetooth (phone, tablet, steam deck) and use the dongle for everything that does not (PS5, Xbox), or use it for both like Nintendo Switch.

Hall effects joysticks so no drift.


q63IP8k.jpg


YPD37Am.jpg


fNtTq3r.jpg
Click to expand...
I'd rather not spend that amount, but will if it's worth it
 
I`ve just use a cheap wired one from amazon. About £20 ish IIRC
 
Garry Edwards said:
Sounds good, but out of stock, and the same with other sellers, so perhaps a new model that isn't available yet

I'd rather not spend that amount, but will if it's worth it
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You can always just go up 1 model to get the wireless one but instead, use a cable.

 
 
Thanks, now ordered. Will let you know how I get on, hope it's really simple to use:)
 
I know you have one now Garry but my other half plays games on her PC she just plugged in a standard xbox controller with cable , it works perfectly
 
LCPete said:
I know you have one now Garry but my other half plays games on her PC she just plugged in a standard xbox controller with cable , it works perfectly
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You can plug in a standard Xbox One or Series S/X controller to a PC using a micro USB or USB-C cable respectively but from what I remember the cable for the Xbox 360 wireless controller only charged it, the wired controller was different and would work with a PC. I'm surprised an Xbox 360 controller is still being sold given it was discontinued in 2016 and the controller is nearly 20 years old.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
You can plug in a standard Xbox One or Series S/X controller to a PC using a micro USB or USB-C cable respectively but from what I remember the cable for the Xbox 360 wireless controller only charged it, the wired controller was different and would work with a PC. I'm surprised an Xbox 360 controller is still being sold given it was discontinued in 2016 and the controller is nearly 20 years old.
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Not sure what exact controller she is using to be honest , she just picked up one of our spares and uses it on the PC with a cable
 
What games do you like to play Garry?

I tend to play EASports FC (Fifa) using a controller (albeit that is on a Playstation but can imagine it is same on PC), but I prefer to play my PC games (Civilization 6, Football Manger and a bit of Fortnite!) using keyboard and mouse. My son does use our playstation 5 controller on his (Win 11) PC. It does work with blueooth but he uses a cable just because it keeps it charged
 
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Good question . . .
Simple ones, for relaxation. I just thought that it would be good to be able to.

The recent snow kept me indoors for just over 2 weeks and I became very bored, so thought that it was time to try games.
Years ago, I used to play "Need for Speed", very badly, and I also used to play Black Hawk Down.
Complicated strategy games won't suit me.
 
The Spiderman games are quite good if you like those kinds of arcade type games. Although I confess it took me a while to get used to the controls etc

That's probably true for all games though
 
Raymond Lin said:
View: https://youtu.be/TNUf2LI-K8o?si=fuHE-4_5VBYej2CO


The controller you bought, the 8bitdo ultimate 2C, came 2nd in this shootout. That their lab picked as the lab's choice.
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Very annoying presenter, but some useful info:)
The thing that strikes me is the very good VFM, especially at the cheaper end - I know that the market for gaming controllers will be much bigger than for electronic photography gadgets, but I've got used to the very high prices of remote controls for flashes and similar . . .

Old age and stupidity won't be helping me, but so far I'm really struggling. I've tried a couple of driving games but can't even keep the car in anything like a straight line, driving a real car is so much easier - but I'll get there eventually:)
 
Garry Edwards said:
Old age and stupidity won't be helping me, but so far I'm really struggling. I've tried a couple of driving games but can't even keep the car in anything like a straight line, driving a real car is so much easier - but I'll get there eventually:)
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Have you tried adjusting the sensitivity and response timings in the game settings?
 
Downhill Specialist said:
I have a Win10 PC that I occasionally use for gaming. The easiest would be a current gen (Xbox Series X) controller I would have thought as it's a Microsoft item (as your daughter said). It should connect easily through bluetooth which I am assuming your PC has?

You CAN use a PS5 controller too which is what I do as I already had one so there was no extra outlay and it connected easily through Win10

Oops, as above, does your PC have bluetooth? I had to buy a teeny USB Bluetooth adapter for mine.

I remember when I first entered the world of gaming and was looking for something I liked.

I was surprised when I tried https://pokiespros.com/best-payout-pokies/ and won money. This game can be played even without a controller, which is convenient! A great alternative while you are looking for a controller.
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The Xbox Series X controller works best with Win10 via Bluetooth. I think if Bluetooth isn't available, it's better to just buy a cheap USB adapter than look for something else!
 
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