VOGONS


First post, by Harry_Grunge

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I bought a brand new Logitech F310 for my Retro WinXP Machine and it was a bit janky to get working. I'm already used to playing with a Regular Xbox 1 Controller that I use on my Modern Laptop.

I learned about Dinput and Xinput, and I'll list a few things I'd like to know

(1) After Installing Logitech Profiler Version 5.10.127, I wasn't able to open it if my controller was set to the "Xinput Setting" Is this normal?
What I did was install an Xbox 360 Driver for Windows XP and was able to use the Xinput Setting that way. But I'd still like to know if there's a solution to the Logitech Profiler Issue

(2) A variety of games play well with either Dinput or Xinput. However instead of manually switching from Dinput to Xinput by toggling the switch of the Controller, I want to.. I guess "emulate" One or the other. Ex: I wanna keep the switch of the Controller set to Dinput and be able to play an Xinput game with Xinput Settings. Is that also possible??

Again, just some tips to get the best experience from this Controller.

Reply 1 of 4, by Horun

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Good questions ! The best experience from any joystick/game pad is learn how it behaves. Glad you got it to work under XP but do not expect it to work same as on a Xbox 1.
If you lookup some other "old" game controllers (MS 3D Pro comes to mind) you find you had to switch to change their input/type depending on Game you played like you do now. It is part of the Vintage experience.
If you have an issue using it under XP and having to switch it then maybe try a diff game pad ? Just a thought and that was my nice explanation 😁

Hate posting a reply and then have to edit it because it made no sense 😁 First computer was an IBM 3270 workstation with CGA monitor. Stuff: https://archive.org/details/@horun

Reply 2 of 4, by Harry_Grunge

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Horun wrote on 2022-02-20, 03:28:

Good questions ! The best experience from any joystick/game pad is learn how it behaves. Glad you got it to work under XP but do not expect it to work same as on a Xbox 1.
If you lookup some other "old" game controllers (MS 3D Pro comes to mind) you find you had to switch to change their input/type depending on Game you played like you do now. It is part of the Vintage experience.
If you have an issue using it under XP and having to switch it then maybe try a diff game pad ? Just a thought and that was my nice explanation 😁

Thank you for the detailed explanation.

I currently don't have any issues, I want to know if Logitech Profiler only works in Dinput mode and not Xinput Mode. Since I installed the WinXP Xbox 360 Xinput Driver just to use the Logitech F31 in Xinput Mode.

The Controller I do like but I'm afraid of the F31's Xinput and Dinput Slider wearing out. Again it's a budget Controller that I really like, but I worry a lot about the Slider wearing out and eventually breaking since I plan on using the F31 in the long run.

Reply 3 of 4, by dr_st

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The Logitech Profiler indeed only works in DirectInput mode. In XInput mode, the pad is detected as an Xbox 360 controller, not a Logitech one, and uses different APIs.

You bought yourself a controller whose key feature is the D/X hardware switch, and you don't want to use it, and instead stick to clunky emulation (which you could have done with any pad)? Because you are worried that the switch will wear out?

Seems backwards to me. Avoid using something now because it might break later? Then why do you care if it breaks or not if you don't even use it?

In any case: the hardware switch on the F310 is quite sturdy. Wearing out should be a non-issue. If you do manage to break it, then know that the controller is quite easy to disassemble and work on; it is also very common, so parts should not be too hard to come by nor too expensive, and heck, the controller itself is so cheap that you can just get another one (or 2, or 5).

Do know that there are also controllers that implement the D/X mode switch not via a physical switch, but via a long button press. This includes, for example, the Speedlink Rait or Strike NX:
https://www.speedlink.com/en/PC-Gaming/Gaming-Controller/
Both are fine pads (as you can read in my roundup), but tend to be more expensive that the Logitech offerings.

https://cloakedthargoid.wordpress.com/ - Random content on hardware, software, games and toys

Reply 4 of 4, by Harry_Grunge

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dr_st wrote on 2022-02-20, 06:46:
The Logitech Profiler indeed only works in DirectInput mode. In XInput mode, the pad is detected as an Xbox 360 controller, not […]
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The Logitech Profiler indeed only works in DirectInput mode. In XInput mode, the pad is detected as an Xbox 360 controller, not a Logitech one, and uses different APIs.

You bought yourself a controller whose key feature is the D/X hardware switch, and you don't want to use it, and instead stick to clunky emulation (which you could have done with any pad)? Because you are worried that the switch will wear out?

Seems backwards to me. Avoid using something now because it might break later? Then why do you care if it breaks or not if you don't even use it?

In any case: the hardware switch on the F310 is quite sturdy. Wearing out should be a non-issue. If you do manage to break it, then know that the controller is quite easy to disassemble and work on; it is also very common, so parts should not be too hard to come by nor too expensive, and heck, the controller itself is so cheap that you can just get another one (or 2, or 5).

Do know that there are also controllers that implement the D/X mode switch not via a physical switch, but via a long button press. This includes, for example, the Speedlink Rait or Strike NX:
https://www.speedlink.com/en/PC-Gaming/Gaming-Controller/
Both are fine pads (as you can read in my roundup), but tend to be more expensive that the Logitech offerings.

I actually never knew the D/X Switch was a Key Feature, thank you for letting me know! I'll stick to the controller and maintain as best I can, I just learned about this whole Dinput/Xinput stuff and I thought I could find a way to not use the physical switch to change from Xinput to Dinput.