Gaming

Taking a step back – PI Vs. Thin Client.

May 23, 2023April 9, 2023 by S-Config

We’ve blogged about single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi in the past. We got our power issues resolved. And in general, we loved them!

Originally these single-board machines were designed to teach children how computers worked by giving them access direct to processors via GPIO. Something that allowed perfect timing and was easy enough for children to program was also something the industrial world wanted as well. Eventually, the “PI” became the Swiss army knife of computing. From RL applications to running them as a low-power server. These were great.

But as time marches on along with world events. Something has me reconsidering my decision as the “PI” being the end-all solution to everything.

Read on to continue this diatribe.

Intel Arc A380 – Does it encode?!?

May 23, 2023March 8, 2023 by S-Config

Yes, the Intel Arc A380 encodes video! Wow! Easy Peasy!

Phew! That was an easy article! Pack it up boys, girls and synths! It’s time to move on to the next article! :D – S

As Covid, chip shortage, cryptocurrency, and video card prices got crazy stupid in 2022. We witnessed businesses spend $450 on a Geforce 1050ti (normally $125 at the time) because they needed SOMETHING to work with Adobe products. Getting 30xx series Nvidia card was just about $2,000 which given it was supposed to come at an initial price point of $600 the world of 3-d graphics cards was undoubtedly a stupid time! Now, these companies claim that they learned from their mistakes and will start building chip companies in different countries around the world instead of coming from a single location which sounds great and all. But that unfortunately will not be tested until we get another incident that shits out the entire world economy or shipping industry.

But then, out from the shadows of onboard laptop graphics chipsets. Intel announced the “ARC” series. An affordable graphics card that is good for gaming and applications. This article is going to focus a lot more on the video editing side of the ARC as it seems to shine better than the gaming side of things.

Would you like to know more? Read on!

Corsair and ASUS is bad at software.

April 9, 2023September 18, 2022 by S-Config

We at S-Config.com and Corsair will never see eye to eye. And ASUS too!

We will see eye to eye on almost nothing! Corsair refuses to address any problems they’ve had. And has in fact doubled down on their horse shit!

When we first decided to retire our classic Microsoft Intellimouse (shout out to Logitech actually)that we used (and have beaten) LAN games as well as single-player games throughout the years. We decided to update our rig with a decent mechanical keyboard and mouse. Well, with our hatred for Razer destroying Ouya as well as repairing a lot of my friends Razer based hardware that company was an obvious no-go for me. We thought buying Corsair would be a good alternative.

TLDR version: We were wrong! Buy RedDragon instead. At least all of RedDragons keyboards and mice operate perfectly fine without shit bloatware! Depending on the model of RedDragon you can repair it! But for better or worse, we purchased Corsair, we’re going to make the best of it by replacing the software with something else!

Read on if you want to read more!

The end of 2020, COVID, Cyberpunk and the RL

January 11, 2021December 29, 2020 by S-Config

As the end draws near we take a look at 2020.

We’re not the kind of website that will get all political. We understand the value of politics and the right to free speech and to debate things. But as the end draws to a close for 2020 we would like to talk about the perspective of us the lowly bloggers and perhaps a video game review sandwiched right in the middle. There may be a few readers interested in what we have to say and to that handful that read through all of this, we thank you greatly.

This article is going to be a lot more word heavy. In part because I don’t want to host images of video games. Except for the parody with Harold hiding the pain because in this situation it seems strangely appropriate. We would only be lying to you the reader if we told you that we were not inspired by the Cyberpunk aesthetic. It’s in part why we kept the mid-2000’s feel going for this site. Thus, talking about this game seems like the right thing to do.

Read on for one of those view times we go a game review here at S-Config.com.

Windows 10 build 2004 vs. The China Xbox 360 receiver.

May 23, 2023June 6, 2020 by S-Config

Windows 10 build 2004 vs. china xbox receiver.

Or should it be “Windows 10 vs. the world?!?” build 2004 edition?

Back in April 2014, we published a little blog about this cheap Chinese receiver and how we managed to get it back online. Now, back then we were completely aware there was videos on YouTube, Forums, and other sources so such an article was nothing new even back then. As end-user we found ourselves downloading from garbage share sites that only lead to either misleading links or infected files. It was at this time we used our blogging capabilities and power to make an official tutorial along with all software sources in one place. 190k downloads later, Yeah, we call it a success.

Fast forward to May of 2020, suddenly we were getting rained upon by users which were a part of the Microsoft partner program saying that the build 2004 version of Windows 10 disables their China Receiver. Common sense would be to direct those energies towards Microsoft and maybe they would fix the issue.

It appears that’s simply not the case. Read on if you wish to listen to my diatribe of corporate hate.

Ouya support in the year 2020.

August 21, 2021January 12, 2020 by S-Config

Support for Ouya android console that could in 2020.

We suppose if there is one truly cyberpunk thing about living in 2020 is the fascination of reviving decommissioned hardware from dead companies and continue to use it for our own personal entertainment. Technology that is no longer hindered by any company what-so-ever. Where does the Ouya fit into all of this? Well!

Linux, ADB, Raspberry Pi, Ouya? Lineage? Really?

February 20, 2023August 30, 2019 by S-Config

Linux ADB into your Ouya via the Raspberry Pi? With SSH even?!?! It’s more likely then you think!

With Razer finally pulling the plug on Ouya’s servers on June 25 of 2019. June 25, 2013, marks the birth date of the Ouya’s initial release (not bad for a console that was only designed to last for a few years). Users and preservationists have been scattering the net to find a way to keep these silver boxes running into 2019 and beyond. Of course, a lot of them have found our original Cyanogen blog entry. This article is helping people to this very day in getting rid of the Stock Ouya firmware and loading it with something that no longer requires Ouyas Authentication servers. For all of those who have come to our blog for help. Allow us to thank you for visiting this independent blog and hope that you found the answers you were looking for.

But as time progresses so does the way we think, and the way we hack our android boxes.

Read on if you want to know more.

RedDragon Gaming Gear.

May 23, 2023March 17, 2019 by S-Config

Well, since we keep talking about RedDragon in other hardware blogs…..

It should be fitting that we get ourselves some RedDragon hardware to try out because after working on Corsair and Razer gear pretty much calling it garbage. We’re pretty certain a lot of people get going to ask us

Why S? Why do you like RedDragon so much? Is Eastern Times Technology paying you? – rando

Hah! No company pays this site because they’d have to get ahold of us first. Hardly anyone pays us but ourselves! We’re doing this article because we can. It’s just that simple. This blog entry will serve as a reference point whenever someone asks me what type of keyboard do recommend. To which they’ll probably laugh. Ignore everything mentioned in this article And finally, purchase a name-brand piece of garbage for $200 only to throw it away in 6 months.

But for those who want to hear what my recommendation is then you can read on at your own risk.

Corsair M65 Pro RGB gaming mouse – Disassembly and repair.

May 23, 2023April 22, 2018 by S-Config

A Corsair M65 has now ended up on the repair bench. It is ours. Crap!

So the Corsair M65 mouse we use on one of our primary PCs is failing after only a year of operation. Honestly, we didn’t expect it to fail so soon! Partially because whenever a person purchases gaming hardware for everyday office and blogging activities such as what we do. Under less stressful environments the mouse should last a long time! Perhaps it’s also prior to this mouse we installed a Microsoft IntelliMouse for almost 15 years(blog article here). We thought that the corsair should last at LEAST that long. We should also note that during the entire year of operation with this mouse no known abuse has happened to this unit. No liquids or extreme physical abuse such as any long-term gaming. Read on for more!

Xbox 360 Controller Emulator (x360ce) for PC gaming.

May 23, 2023February 3, 2018 by S-Config

A quick review on a cool software known as x360ce.

The x360ce (Xbox 360 Controller Emulator) may not need any introduction to many in the gaming community. But we feel it should deserve a noteworthy review and basics as to the hows and why that this software exists. The reason why this software is handy and at times almost essential to play certain games is due to the way they are programmed.