Xbox 360 Pads for PC

[Champman99]

Hi all,

I've tried searching the internet for this but can't come up with quite the right search term so thought I'd post here to see if anyone has any first hand experience.

Basically my question is is the adapter that comes with

Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for Windows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...pf_rd_i=468294

The same as the standalone wireless adapter available for you to use your existing 360 pads with
Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver For Windows (Xbox 360)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...pf_rd_i=468294

What I'm really asking is, is the adapter bundled with the first product for a single controller only, or will it allow multiple controllers as per the second item. It just seems to me that if the adapter is the same, then the standalone adapter is quite poor value (assuming you are also happy to have an extra controller)

Cheers in advance!

[Ferral]

Yes it is.

If you have a pad that you got with a 360 then just get the wireless adapter, you press the button on the front of it then press the X button on the 360 controller and it connects within a few seconds. I have 2 360 controllers so put one of them to use on my PC (before my 360 died), with this adapter you can connect up to 4 controllers to it.

The one I have is the official Microsoft grey bottom and white top, only paid around a tenner for it from Amazon, that was at least a year ago though. I would also suggest getting some Duracell 2450 mAh rechargeable batteries and a USB battery charger, did that about 2 month ago and it hasn't half saved me some money on batteries. One set on charge and the other in the controller, you can get a 4 pack of those batteries from Amazon for about £6 and a USB charger for about a fiver.

[Larkspeed]

For the record the adapter lets you use any wireless xbox 360 peripheral with your PC. this includes guitars, microphones, steering wheels the lot.

Also if you use the controller with a headset plugged into it the headset will work as well. handy for skype and the like of you do not have a PC headset.

Brilliant things I use mine on a daily basis

[shaithis]

Yeah, the "Microsoft XBox 360 wireless adapter for PC" (to give it it's full title lol) is a lovely little bit of kit that was more then worth what I paid for it.

Admittedly, the drivers were terrible at the start but they have been pretty darn good for at least the last year.

They sometimes run out of stock and you need to wait a week or 2 for new supplies to arrive, so don't go paying over-the-odds if there is a stock shortage at the time you go to purchase.

[Pyrii]

Personally I use a wired controller, works on both 360 and windows with no input lag :3 I use it all the time on both. Except for FPS/Top-down RPG/strategy games.

Platforming/Driving/Sandbox games it's a godsend.

[Larkspeed]

I have never seen input lag on a wireless controller.

Except of course when the required specs are above my machine but that's not the controllers fault

[Oswald]

I don't experience any lag either. But I only use it for singleplayer. Maybe in multiplayer it is more noticable.

[Champman99]

I've always used a wired previously but got sick of the wire getting caught under my chair wheels. I've been using a PS3 pad with Bluetooth adaptor and MotioninJoy drivers and enjoyed the wirelessness alot, although I think the 360 pad is far more comfortable than the PS3 pad.

[u4dandy]

The thought of using a keyboard for driving or platform games anymore just makes my hands ache. I don't think i could live without the Xbox 360 controller for my pc gaming needs.

[KrisWragg]

I've always used a wired previously but got sick of the wire getting caught under my chair wheels. I've been using a PS3 pad with Bluetooth adaptor and MotioninJoy drivers and enjoyed the wirelessness alot, although I think the 360 pad is far more comfortable than the PS3 pad.

I had such a headache trying to use my PS3 pad on my PC I eventually gave up and bought a wired Xbox 360 PC controller... perhaps things have changed since I last tried, I think the main problem was 64bit drivers that just didn't seem to work properly!

[Champman99]

I didnt have any problem getting it set up Wired, worked straight away with the standard USB cable and MotionInJoy drivers. Wireless was a bit more tricky, I think its a bit sensitive about the Bluetooth adaptor it uses, in the end I decided to bite the bullet and buy the tiny dongle adaptor they design it with (only a few pounds), and once I had that it worked first time. Plus its much better to have it on a separate adaptor because it effectively overwrites your Bluetooth driver so if you use with primary bluetooth device you can only use it for controllers until you uninstall the PS3 driver.

http://www.motioninjoy.com/
http://www.gameaccy.com/bluetooth-do...or-motioninjoy

[KrisWragg]

I was trying to use mine with the bluetooth on my motherboard, which perhaps explains the headaches I was getting! It's good to know that there is a solution for it by buying a specific adapter, but now I have an Xbox pad for my PC and most games work really well with that as a lot of new games have the keys already mapped perfectly so no fiddling

[Champman99]

Indeed, many games detect you are using a pad (and assume its a 360 pad) and start saying "Press A to continue" etc. For me the perfect situation is something like GTA IV where it works seemlessly to use both at once. I can be shooting and doing foot sections on mouse and keyboard, but as soon as I enter a vehicle (especially a helicopter) the pad is ready to take over!

[Pyrii]

I just wish I could use my 360 pad on my PS3 instead of paying double for a PS3 controller which I hate using.

[Andi-C]

I also found the PS3 pad was a nightmare to set up, the left right hand stick did'nt work & the top buttons were all mapped wrong ! Being a PS3 user the Xbox pad feels wrong & the two thump stick's do my head in as they aren't togetter...Any way, I'm posting to say any one who is looking for a Pad for there PC I bought a Logitech F710 & it good ! The Wireless drivers worked first time...

[Oswald]

I just wish I could use my 360 pad on my PS3 instead of paying double for a PS3 controller which I hate using.

I game mostly on my PS3, but prefer the controller of my 360. I get cramps in my fingers when using the PS3 pad for too long. It seems they are made for midget hands or something.