Xbox controller on PC

jamesy505 · 24 Aug 2011 at 08:57

Can I use the USB cable that I would use for charging an Xbox controller to connect to my PC?

The Xbox controller has a charger kit, instead of batteries.

Always assumed i'd need some kind of adapter, but just wondered.

Thanks

macca672 · 24 Aug 2011 at 09:00

no you cant as the charge cable only carries power no data, you need to buy a wireless reciever, you can get them for between £8-£14

ryujinjakka · 24 Aug 2011 at 09:25

As said above you need a wireless reciever for the xbox pad. think i paid around £9 for mine from ebay.

SoAdCrAzY · 24 Aug 2011 at 10:05

I'm interested in getting a new wireless controller.

What is the wireless receiver like? Is it like a pen drive? How big is it?

Thanks.

jamesy505 · 24 Aug 2011 at 10:26

Thanks guys, I assume a wired controller would work though with no additional adapters?

Washout · 24 Aug 2011 at 10:28

older wired controllers work fine though.

jamesy505 · 24 Aug 2011 at 10:29

macca672 said:
no you cant as the charge cable only carries power no data,

Just thought, this is different to the Xbox, as I can plug it in there and still use it.

I'll have a look on ebay. Cheers

Nismo · 24 Aug 2011 at 11:24

jamesy505 said:
Just thought, this is different to the Xbox, as I can plug it in there and still use it.

It's still transmitting via wireless, the cable is only capable of powering the device.

orderoftheflame · 24 Aug 2011 at 12:14

jamesy505 said:
Just thought, this is different to the Xbox, as I can plug it in there and still use it.

I'll have a look on ebay. Cheers

It's no different I'm afraid, even when you have the play and charge kit connected on the Xbox, data is still transmitted wirelessly. The cable carries only power as Macca said.

Any wired Xbox 360 pad will work fine, otherwise you'll need the adapter.

SoAdCrAzY · 24 Aug 2011 at 18:29

Just seen a video of a wireless controller being unboxed. Do new models require batteries?

orderoftheflame · 24 Aug 2011 at 18:33

SoAdCrAzY said:
Just seen a video of a wireless controller being unboxed. Do new models require batteries?

All of them require batteries. :confused:

You'll get your first two AAs free.

SoAdCrAzY · 24 Aug 2011 at 18:45

orderoftheflame said:
All of them require batteries.

You'll get your first two AAs free.

Ah Ok, thanks. Bit annoying, I know some normal wireless XBox controllers don't contain batteries and charge using only the USB port.

C64 · 24 Aug 2011 at 19:06

get a wired pad the wireless receivers seem to all break quite quicly due to a fuse blowing you have to solder to fix them

orderoftheflame · 24 Aug 2011 at 19:11

SoAdCrAzY said:
Ah Ok, thanks. Bit annoying, I know some normal wireless XBox controllers don't contain batteries and charge using only the USB port.

Um... No they don't. :confused:

There's a battery pack (play and charge kit) that you can buy in a bundle with them or sepearately. Every Xbox 360 controller takes AAs though, and they always have.

SoAdCrAzY · 24 Aug 2011 at 19:35

orderoftheflame said:
Um... No they don't.

There's a battery pack (play and charge kit) that you can buy in a bundle with them or sepearately. Every Xbox 360 controller takes AAs though, and they always have.

Ah ok, I don't know what I'm thinking of then.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I was thinking of getting one as the wired pad I have at the moment is really annoying. But I guess I'll stick with a wired one though.

[EDIT] I found what I meant: Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack

Not available for PC though.

C64 · 24 Aug 2011 at 23:41

you can still charge a gamepad on a pc using the play and charge pack and cable though

kylew · 25 Aug 2011 at 01:04

C64 said:
get a wired pad the wireless receivers seem to all break quite quicly due to a fuse blowing you have to solder to fix them

I've had one for about 4 years that's still going strong.

kylew · 25 Aug 2011 at 01:05

SoAdCrAzY said:
Ah ok, I don't know what I'm thinking of then.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I was thinking of getting one as the wired pad I have at the moment is really annoying. But I guess I'll stick with a wired one though.

[EDIT] I found what I meant: Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack

Not available for PC though.

Just think about that for a moment.

orderoftheflame · 25 Aug 2011 at 07:42

SoAdCrAzY said:
[EDIT] I found what I meant: Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack

Not available for PC though.

Xbox 360 wireless pads and "Windows" Xbox 360 Wireless pads are the exact same thing.

The only difference is that the PC requires an adapter, wheras the console has the 2.4Ghz wireless adapter built in.

GIBURROWS · 25 Aug 2011 at 09:08

Yet another oversight by Microsoft