best console controller for windows 7?

[mizzou]

xbox360 vanilla or logitech type? Don't want Playstation because of the hoops you have to go through to get it to work.... I have 2 PS3 and bluetooth dongles so I CAN do it but its a pain and doesnt work well

 

[Clinkster]

The XBOX 360 controller is really solid. I'd go with that.

 

[thilanliyan]

I have a Razer XBOX 360 controller. I like it.

 

[mizzou]

thanks!

 

[The Boston Dangler]

stay away from razer garbage. get a logitech f710 - hardware and software work great, switchable between xbox and pc modes

 

[NickelPlate]

I have a Razer Onza, it's a nice controller and not garbage as has been suggested. But I'm not sure you can get them anymore unless you scour the web for one. Their new one (Sabertooth) is really expensive ($80) so it might just be best to get a 360 controller.

 

[Soundmanred]

XBOX 360 controller, wired or wireless. Both work very well.

 

[Yreka]

The XBOX 360 controller is really solid. I'd go with that.

^ ^ ^

 

[WiseUp216]

As someone who can't stand the XBOX 360 controller, I've been really happy with the Logitech F310 & F710. They work like a charm with zero effort.

 

[Zenoth]

I've tried the Logitech F710 and I liked it a lot. It's sort of a mix of the 360 and the Dual Shock designs. I for one don't really like the placement of the left joystick on the 360 controller, it's 'ok' there's nothing awful about it. But I do prefer it as it is on the Dual Shocks, when horizontally aligned by the Start button's sides, which the F710 offers.

For fighting games, however, I'm still using my MadCatz Street Fighter Fightpad. Although I have to say that I'm not a fan of its shoulder buttons due to having to reach the inner ends to press them, rather than the outer ends like the SNES shoulder buttons for example.

 

[sash1]

i use a logitech f710 and an xbox 360 controller. both are great, don't have much preference between the two.

 

[Chime]

I use a wireless 360 controller and have no complaints. Just be aware that Microsoft no longer sells their official wireless receiver anymore, most sold on amazon and such are 3rd party clones. I have one of the 3rd party ones, and it does work, but I had to go in and manually select which driver to install when I first installed it. It wasnt automatically recognized like my old official MS receiver was.

 

[Malik2981]

I use a wired Xbox 360 controller and its rock solid but the Dual Shock 4 is also good.

 

[Maximilian]

stay away from razer garbage. get a logitech f710 - hardware and software work great, switchable between xbox and pc modes

This. Razer is trash, get the official xbox 360 controller or a logitech. I use a wired 360 controller and also a PS2 dualshock controller with adapter for certain games.

 

[mizzou]

I use a wireless 360 controller and have no complaints. Just be aware that Microsoft no longer sells their official wireless receiver anymore, most sold on amazon and such are 3rd party clones. I have one of the 3rd party ones, and it does work, but I had to go in and manually select which driver to install when I first installed it. It wasnt automatically recognized like my old official MS receiver was.

didnt realize this...it's not just bluetooth??

 

[PrincessFrosty]

Hoops?

The motionjoy drivers are pretty basic, you just install the software, make sure to run as administrator and select to install all the drivers, connect the USB adaptors and then pair them with the controllers, I use this reguarly and it's a bit fiddly the first time you install but works fine once configured.

For a lot of games you can just set the controllers to Xbox emulation mode which makes them emulate the 360 controller for maximum compatibility with Xbox games.

I hear the PS4 controller has native windows support now although I'm not sure if that's limited to USB cable only?

I'm personally waiting for the Steam controller, controllers are generally pretty useless, they offer extremely constrained control but the steam controller looks to really advance that, I think it's worth waiting for.

 

[Rhezuss]

Xbox 360 wired controller here. Best controller I used in years.

 

[cbrunny]

I believe the PS4 controller is/will be supported on PC.

But, Xbox 360 is king right now. Might change when Xbone or Steam controllers are more mainstream.

 

[rivethead]

I use a wireless 360 controller and have no complaints. Just be aware that Microsoft no longer sells their official wireless receiver anymore, most sold on amazon and such are 3rd party clones. I have one of the 3rd party ones, and it does work, but I had to go in and manually select which driver to install when I first installed it. It wasnt automatically recognized like my old official MS receiver was.

I have an official Microsoft wireless receiver and still had to do what you describe. I'm actually thinking a 3rd party clone would be better because you're more likely to get updated drivers with the device (the disc MSFT sent with the receiver was incompatible with Windows 7.....had to spend 20 minutes searching their support site for a download which contained the drivers (which weren't installed directly....had to manually choose the correct driver)).

I was very angry with MSFT on this........

 

[rivethead]

didnt realize this...it's not just bluetooth??

Nope. But the wireless receiver is only $8 at Newegg (shipped directly from China!).

 

[thilanliyan]

This. Razer is trash, get the official xbox 360 controller or a logitech. I use a wired 360 controller and also a PS2 dualshock controller with adapter for certain games.

Really? Is it bad quality or something?

Mine has held up fine for about 6 months now... :hmm:

 

[Nate_007]

No matter what you do don't go for the Razer controller. I have gone through 3 of them so far, and will not buy it ever again. So I now I have the black Xbox 360 wireless for 2 yrs now, no problem whatsoever so far.

I have good experience with their Razer mouse so far though such as the Deathadder, still have the 1st gen and still kickin hard.

 

[alkemyst]

The XBOX 360 controller is really solid. I'd go with that.

Any of the Microsoft ones

 

[Maximilian]

Really? Is it bad quality or something?

Mine has held up fine for about 6 months now... :hmm:

Just found razer stuff in general to be lousy, 100000 DPI mice that last a few months and cost an arm and a leg etc.

 

[Barfo]

Yech, the Logitech F710's digital pad looks as bad as the Xbox360's.