Latest news with #BradBourque
WIRED
01-05-2025
- WIRED
Lenovo's Legion Go S Portable Gaming Console Needs a Better OS
Since the graphical settings here are basically turned all the way down already, if you want to play the latest games, you'll have to compromise by dropping the resolution. I didn't find the medium option of 1,600x1,000 that compelling, and a few games didn't support it at all. At 1,280x800, I was hanging out more comfortably in the 45+ range, which felt playable, but none of the modern 3D games I tested were able to break 60 FPS to really take advantage of the high-refresh panel. One other callout I want to make, which I believe is related to CPU performance, is the 'Shaders Compiling' process that runs when you launch some new games takes an extremely long time on the Go S. I noticed it when I first launched Marvel Rivals, and used a well-timed update to time it. It took over 14 minutes to complete, long enough that my friends would already be playing without me by the time I got to the main menu. Photograph: Brad Bourque The fans on the Legion Go S are also surprisingly loud, particularly in performance mode, enough that the person sitting next to you on the bus will probably keep looking over to wonder whether you're cooking something. They're a bit quieter on the balanced setting, but that causes the GPU and CPU temps to quickly hit 80 degrees under load. Battery life isn't too bad compared to similar systems. I got two hours and change of runtime playing Marvel Rivals at full resolution and refresh, on Balanced power, with the screen brightness at 35%. I got well over three hours just jamming games of Balatro with the same settings. That's about the same as I get playing similar games on my Steam Deck, but with a higher resolution and refresh screen, so I'd call that a solid victory for the Legion Go S. A Real Windows Handheld? I can see some of you licking your chops about a proper Windows handheld, and I don't blame you. If you're willing to put in some effort, the Legion Go S could be the centerpiece of a very slick portable desktop setup. I can totally imagine having a setup for home with an external GPU and high-end monitor, playing some games on the way to the office, then plugging in at my desk with more productivity-focused peripherals. The biggest barrier here is definitely Windows, and the distinct lack of support for this kind of device, which may make the SteamOS version more appealing to casual gamers. Lenovo put some effort into making tools that help make the experience work better, but even those need some polish for usability and responsiveness. Still, the screen is a distinct upgrade from the Steam Deck, even if you won't get to really use it except while playing Terraria .
WIRED
30-04-2025
- WIRED
Corsair's Void Wireless v2 Is a Great-Sounding Headset for Big Heads
If I'm going to use a headset regularly, it needs a visible way to indicate that I'm muted. A light is preferable, but the Corsair's microphone clicks upward and gives an audible voiceover that lets you know the mic is muted or unmuted. There's a mix of voice prompts and beeps, and I generally prefer beeps to spoken voice prompts. Language issues aside, a voice prompt will always interrupt whatever is happening onscreen or in a chat, but eventually you'll always learn what a certain beeping means. You can turn off the voice prompts in iCUE, but that doesn't replace them with beeping, it just makes them not play at all. I'm glad we've reached a point where most gaming headsets can run for way longer than you could reasonably game in one sitting. Of course, I'm terrible at remembering to charge my devices, but charging them twice a week was enough for regular gaming without ever seeing a low battery warning. Corsair quotes them at 70 hours on 2.4 GHz, and with the lights on and regular gaming and video watching, I'd put them comfortably above 45 hours. The Software Photograph: Brad Bourque You can use the Void Wireless v2 on PC without an app, but if you want to use all of the features you really need to download iCUE. I already had Corsair's peripheral management software on my machine for my AIO cooler and some of my components, and it picked up the headset right away without an update. iCUE is stuffed to the brim with features and app connections, as well as the ability to change settings in a very granular way, but the interface can be a little awkward to use, especially for making more basic changes. There are two physical buttons on the side of the headphones, one of which has a power symbol on it. You can hold that button to turn the headphones on or off, or press it once to switch between Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz. It still works that way if you haven't set up a Bluetooth device, so if you press that button the audio will just mute until you press it again. The button beneath it is locked to media controls, which is great for quickly pausing your music, but I doubt anyone will take these to the gym, so I'd rather see that button be user-controlled.
WIRED
17-04-2025
- WIRED
The GameSir G7 SE Is a Great Cheap Controller
GameSir may not be a household name in tech, but when I was working on an update for our favorite Xbox accessories, I kept seeing it pop up. People seemed eager to recommend a budget-friendly controller from a relatively unknown brand. The appeal isn't hard to see. It offers Hall Effect sensors, a 1,000-Hz polling rate, and two rear bumpers, all for less than a first-party controller. The catch? It's only available in a wired version. I think that's a tradeoff most PC gamers will be happy to live with, but it may be less appealing if you intend to sit in front of a TV. If that isn't a deal-breaker, you may find the G7 SE is just the ticket for occasional controller gaming, with extensive customization options, the latest tech, and a very wallet-friendly price point. If you're looking for a new controller and are on budget, this might be the one. Photograph: Brad Bourque Sticks and Buttons Hall Effect sticks are all the rage lately, and they have been slowly replacing classic membrane joysticks over the last few years. While those can wear out with time, creating dreaded stick drift, magnetic Hall Effect sensors should have a much longer lifetime, more precise readings, and customizable options. We have a great article explaining their benefits if you want to learn more. The trade-off is typically that they cost more, but not in the G7 SE's case! Hall Effect sticks feel mostly like normal joysticks; they have a snappy centering action with a light recoil, and glide very smoothly, especially around the outside edge. They require a slightly heavy press for the button effect, but that at least will prevent accidentally bumping them. Photograph: Brad Bourque
WIRED
16-04-2025
- WIRED
The PNY GeForce RTX 5060 Ti OC Is Great If You Pay Retail
Not everyone wants to spend $1,000 or more on a graphics card for their PC. I personally know way more people gaming on modest, midrange cards than I do people with the latest and greatest. The newly announced RTX 5060 Ti, with a sub-$500 MSRP, could be the card you've been waiting for to replace an aging RTX 20 or 30 Series card. Unfortunately, that could also mean these cards are hard to come by. The higher-end 50 Series GPUs still require active effort to get a hold of, although they do seem to be trickling out to retailers. A lower price, plus weeks of low stock, might create a feeding frenzy. If you're updating an older system that's tied to a 1080p screen at 120 Hz or less, you'll be very pleased with the performance and ease of use. If you're building a new system in 2025, you should at least be targeting 1440p, and I think there are other cards that will have a longer life at that resolution. Photograph: Brad Bourque Form Factor and Power While the more expensive 50-Series GPUs have a new 12V-2x6 connector, the PNY card I have just takes a classic 8-pin connector, which should help with compatibility in older systems. One minor nitpick is that the power connector itself is way over by the bracket at the back of the case. It's technically closer to the power supply, but it may cause some awkwardness in modern gaming cases, or force you to re-run the cable. Physically, it's extremely compact, which you'd expect from a card that's trying to squeeze into random leftover cases. The two fans might get the job done, but it certainly sounds louder than three, although these fans are quieter than my case fans during regular use. It has a silent mode as well, and I found the fans didn't run all the time, especially at 1080p, so I don't imagine this will be a bother. Photograph: Brad Bourque Performance I turn the settings all the way up for these games, which is what most folks will do when they get a new graphics card. Photograph: Brad Bourque
WIRED
15-04-2025
- WIRED
PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless Controller Review: Great Sticks
Game controllers continue to creep up in price, and sometimes it feels like it's hard to justify. Especially with stick drift looming over the longevity of a potentially expensive controller, I wouldn't blame you for just grabbing whatever is on sale. The PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless is one of the few controllers I've used that actually feels worth it. At $150, it certainly isn't cheap, but it does come with an impressive set of features that cover a wide range of gamers, deep customization, durable Hall effect sensor joysticks, and an intriguing invisible RGB lighting setup. Wired or wireless, this is my favorite new game controller, and it comes equipped with everything you need to get going. Photograph: Brad Bourque New Sticks When you're spending well over $100 on a game controller, you want to know it's built to last, and durability is the main pitch here. Even the best physical joysticks will wear out eventually and develop drift. Hall effect sensors, which rely on magnets, should have a much longer lifetime. They have a super smooth feel, which is kind of hard to describe, but definitely stands out next to a standard Xbox controller. We have a great explainer on exactly how they work, as well as their benefits and limitations, if you want to learn more. One other big advantage of the PowerA Fusion Pro is that you have precise control over the inner and outer dead zones on each stick. There's no way to set this from the controller itself, so you'll have to do so in the software, but I imagine if you're getting to that level of specificity, you're already digging around in those settings.
