Still not ready for PC gaming
Now that I have a new laptop with a processor from this decade (yes my previous one was that old) I wanted to put this new one through its paces and test its gaming chops.
I wasn't going crazy and trying out some recent AAA game, in part because I don't have one linked to my Steam account and I can't be bothered to download one via the Xbox (Game Pass) app.
A good initial test was Portal 2 as even though I can play it on my Xbox Series X thanks to backwards compatibility, it's locked at 30FPS, whereas on PC I can at least get 60FPS. Downloading took no time at all because this laptop has a decent Wi-Fi chip that can actually make good use of my Full Fibre connection. The game itself looks as good as it should for a 14 year old game(!) and does indeed run over 60FPS, at times it was even saying over 120FPS. Although this is pointless for now as both my laptop screen and my monitor cap out at 60FPS and if I'm going to use my TV then again I'd rather use a console.
Despite reaching well above 60FPS, the initial video settings I had selected were resulting in noticeable drops. This is where VRR would be a great help, but again, my monitor does not support it. I think my laptop could support VRR if connected to a suitable screen. I just know that my laptop does not come with such a screen.
I also manged to get my 8bitdo SN30pro controller working including modifying the inputs so that Steam realises that when I press B on the controller to recognise it as such, and not go with the default Xbox controller setting as call it A instead. This made this particular controller far more usable. Although initially Portal 2 refused to acknowledge it with the exception of the "home" button?
It's these bits and pieces that continue to remind me why PC gaming is not my default go to for playing games. Sure, performance can be far better, but my time is increasingly limited and when I want to play a game, I just want it to run and be stable (not in a Digital Foundry sense, but in general playability). The Switch 2 has been great at this and has been my main console since it came out.
I'm not saying I'll never play games on PC, in fact, I intend to play more. But only specific games, mostly indie's and retro games that aren't (yet) on Switch.
I wasn't going crazy and trying out some recent AAA game, in part because I don't have one linked to my Steam account and I can't be bothered to download one via the Xbox (Game Pass) app.
A good initial test was Portal 2 as even though I can play it on my Xbox Series X thanks to backwards compatibility, it's locked at 30FPS, whereas on PC I can at least get 60FPS. Downloading took no time at all because this laptop has a decent Wi-Fi chip that can actually make good use of my Full Fibre connection. The game itself looks as good as it should for a 14 year old game(!) and does indeed run over 60FPS, at times it was even saying over 120FPS. Although this is pointless for now as both my laptop screen and my monitor cap out at 60FPS and if I'm going to use my TV then again I'd rather use a console.
Despite reaching well above 60FPS, the initial video settings I had selected were resulting in noticeable drops. This is where VRR would be a great help, but again, my monitor does not support it. I think my laptop could support VRR if connected to a suitable screen. I just know that my laptop does not come with such a screen.
I also manged to get my 8bitdo SN30pro controller working including modifying the inputs so that Steam realises that when I press B on the controller to recognise it as such, and not go with the default Xbox controller setting as call it A instead. This made this particular controller far more usable. Although initially Portal 2 refused to acknowledge it with the exception of the "home" button?
It's these bits and pieces that continue to remind me why PC gaming is not my default go to for playing games. Sure, performance can be far better, but my time is increasingly limited and when I want to play a game, I just want it to run and be stable (not in a Digital Foundry sense, but in general playability). The Switch 2 has been great at this and has been my main console since it came out.
I'm not saying I'll never play games on PC, in fact, I intend to play more. But only specific games, mostly indie's and retro games that aren't (yet) on Switch.