Hardware & Technical Question about X52 Pro drivers/software

[FoxTwo]

Hi all,

Here's the background before I ask my question. I'm a new owner (less than 3 weeks) of a set of X52 Pro HOTAS. When it first arrived, I immediately unpacked and plugged it into the PC, and installing whatever drivers I could. Nothing was wrong, everything worked fine, I remapped half of the default X52 settings actually

This weekend I reformatted my PC, so it's now rather bare. So this time, when I plugged the X52 Pro into the USB, Windows immediately started to install drivers automatically, without me even doing a thing. It pulled the "Saitek X52 Pro drivers" from Windows Update.

At this point I have not manually installed the drivers like I did previously (Logitech drivers).

I went into the configuration screen and it looks "normal" to me. MFDs, LCD settings, clutch etc - they're all there.

So I went into ED, did the whole rebind buttons thing again (man it's a pain!)... and everything works as before.

The only difference is that now I seem to notice that the LCD screen on the Throttle is rather bare - used to show "Profile 1" and whatever button I pressed. Now, nada. But everything still works in ED.

Question - do I/should I still need to install the Logitech drivers? It seems to me what the Logitech drivers offer is just the extra profile-creating software which I do not even use for ED...

Would appreciate thoughts and comments from veteran owners of the X52 Pro, thanks!

 

[CMDR Caderyn Abbadon]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
mine doesn't show anything except the time in the LCD screen. Works like a charm tho.

 

[Asp Explorer]

It might depend on what driver Windows has decided to install.

Generally, if you have no mode display - it's an older driver. It'll work ok, but expect to find your LED settings and clutch button unbound at unexpected times, and the whole thing going dark on a reboot until you replug it.

 

[Borgkube]

Logitech? I think you mean Saitek?

Have both X52 and X65. I am puzzled about your comment about Logitech Drivers. The X52 is by Saitek not Logitech. The screen works with a Saitek profile created by the profile editor and loaded to the stick before you load up the game. If you are not loading a custom profile, you won't get the screen info. Microsoft also only loads MS certified drivers. This process can be expensive and not all vendors vendors bother to certify every release. I would get the latest drivers and profile editor software directly from Saitek. That is what I have always done and feel it works better then what MS chooses to load automatically for you. Also, if you wiped the computer and installed clean, then you don't have any profiles unless you restored them from a backup so you will have to recreate your profiles using the Saitek Profile editor. Otherwise you are just running in the ED X52 default config which is not a Saitek Profile it is merely ED sensing the Saitek X52 and setting the program to match that stick. In that case, there is no Profile/program and therefore nothing for the Throttle screen to display because the mapping is being done inside Elite Dangerous and not via the Saitek Software. Hope that helps. One more think. I know the profile editor seems like a pain, but if you learn to use it you have way more power and flexibility in configuring the HOTAS. With the thumb switch you have 4 possible setting for each control, times 2 if configure the pinky (or other button) as a shift key. I have my mode switch programed to open and close different panels and I have macro programed to request docking clearance when I press the certain button. Thanks like that. You can get really creative and it isn't really that hard to do.

 

[FoxTwo]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
mine doesn't show anything except the time in the LCD screen. Works like a charm tho.

LOL yeah was thinking about this adage too...

It might depend on what driver Windows has decided to install.

Generally, if you have no mode display - it's an older driver. It'll work ok, but expect to find your LED settings and clutch button unbound at unexpected times, and the whole thing going dark on a reboot until you replug it.

Hmm maybe it will be a good idea to go ahead and install the Logitech drivers....

Have both X52 and X65. I am puzzled about your comment about Logitech Drivers. The X52 is by Saitek not Logitech.

No, I mean LOGITECH drivers. Saitek recently got sold to them I believe. The latest drivers are from Logitech. Apparently (according to previous threads I've read), Logitech finally fixed the "clutch problem" in older Saitek drivers. I personally do not know what this "clutch problem" could be... the default drivers Windows pulled from Windows Update did not exhibit any issues with the clutch button... I use it as an SC toggle button.

Link to Logitech X52 Pro drivers -> http://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/x52-pro-space-flight-simulator-controller/downloads

The screen works with a Saitek profile created by the profile editor and loaded to the stick before you load up the game. If you are not loading a custom profile, you won't get the screen info. Microsoft also only loads MS certified drivers. This process can be expensive and not all vendors vendors bother to certify every release. I would get the latest drivers and profile editor software directly from Saitek. That is what I have always done and feel it works better then what MS chooses to load automatically for you. Also, if you wiped the computer and installed clean, then you don't have any profiles unless you restored them from a backup so you will have to recreate your profiles using the Saitek Profile editor. Otherwise you are just running in the ED X52 default config which is not a Saitek Profile it is merely ED sensing the Saitek X52 and setting the program to match that stick. In that case, there is no Profile/program and therefore nothing for the Throttle screen to display because the mapping is being done inside Elite Dangerous and not via the Saitek Software. Hope that helps. One more think. I know the profile editor seems like a pain, but if you learn to use it you have way more power and flexibility in configuring the HOTAS. With the thumb switch you have 4 possible setting for each control, times 2 if configure the pinky (or other button) as a shift key. I have my mode switch programed to open and close different panels and I have macro programed to request docking clearance when I press the certain button. Thanks like that. You can get really creative and it isn't really that hard to do.

Yeah I kinda figured it's like Logitech profiler software - where you can program some creative stuff if needed to. At this point tho, I do not have this need yet My keyboard already has some macros defined for energy management (full pips to shield, weapons etc) and automated some stuff (request docking), so yes I know what the X52 Pro software might be capable of doing... but as I said, as yet I do not have a pressing need for it.... I configured the pinkie button as a "mode" switch inside ED too... via ED menus... sort of. When the pinkie trigger is pulled, other buttons do various other stuff as configured in the ED menus Example - POV2 by default targets various ships. When pinkie trigger button is pulled, it targets subsystems on the current target.

So yeah I get what you're saying... no Logitech profiler, nothing loaded, and thus the LCD shows nothing.... well I may just go ahead and install the Logitech drivers, like before. May as well prevent whatever bad things that could happen....

Thanks everyone for your comments!

 

[Asp Explorer]

Apparently (according to previous threads I've read), Logitech finally fixed the "clutch problem" in older Saitek drivers. I personally do not know what this "clutch problem" could be... the default drivers Windows pulled from Windows Update did not exhibit any issues with the clutch button...

They still haven't actually fixed it though

The problem manifests after a reboot, with no adjustment to anything the X52 reverts to "default" settings where the clutch button (i) goes back to doing nothing but flash the lower green hat LED, even though it appears properly bound in joy.cpl

This has been a problem for years, and I doubt Logitech can actually fix it completely, it appears tied to specific hardware / driver combinations.

Of course, on top of that you've got the Windows USB power saving that gets reapplied after seemingly unconnected updates. That's simply great fun to fix, as it needs registry changes for every device you have connected.

And on top of that there's the well documented problems some people have had with the X99 and forwards chipsets. Just pure entertainment all round

 

[BurnyBurns]

Would appreciate thoughts and comments from veteran owners of the X52 Pro, thanks!

I've had my... gripes with the X52 Pro, but I found a fix...

Spoiler

They're not perfect either (I'm using MFG Crosswids as pedals instead of CH ones, which pretty much are though) and the CH HOTAS is imo too pricey for what it delivers, especially when bought at the German distributor. But they cut all the male cow dung you have with the X52. And with other Saitek HOTAS, if tales of breaking units are to be believed (being ubiquitous, they probably can be believed).

I may sound like a right behind, but imo, don't touch Saitek stuff with a 10 foot pole if you want a well designed and lasting HOTAS. Thrustmasters and CH Products make great sticks, with even reasonably priced good options, with the FSC finally bringing a mini stick to the table.

 

[FoxTwo]

They still haven't actually fixed it though

Ouch, I'm now wondering why I didn't read about these when I was doing my research. At the time I was deciding between the X52 Pro or the Thrustmaster... and I was originally leaning towards the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Hotas... then something I read about ergonomics and wrist aches convinced me to get the X52 instead....

I've had my... gripes with the X52 Pro, but I found a fix...

Kinda late now for me I'll wait till the current HOTAS dies before spending $300 for a new (and different) set.

 

[BurnyBurns]

Kinda late now for me I'll wait till the current HOTAS dies before spending $300 for a new (and different) set.

So it was for me. Not falling into the sunken cost fallacy though (throwing perfectly fine investment down the drain, just because one has already made a bad investment), because time spend on crap like this is a cost as well. I sold off my X52 on Ebay to somebody who may hopefully be happier with it and got myself the CH HOTAS. Given it lacks a twist axis and I paired it with such a beauty, it was bloody damn expensive, but I never have to wonder why there are switches on the Joystick's bloody base again, instead of having a bunch of useful hats right on the throttle.

If I was looking for a reasonably priced HOTAS with twist axis and usable mini stick (not the bloody, crappy, useless, waste of space mouse nub on the X52's throttle... *URGH*! >.< Sorry, really can't comprehend for what usage scenario Saitek build the X52) right now however, I would probably go for the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS.


I can only lament that there currently does not seem to be a good high end throttle with mini stick available. For very high end sticks, there are the VKB ones and Virpil is a new player pushing into the market, with what seems like very high quality stuff. But neither have a throttle available, yet. And the Warthog seems to be all metal for show and plastic where it counts.

 

[Straha Yeagar]

I have two x52pro setups on two different computers, and have never installed anything for either of them...just let windows install it's stuff, and have never had any issues what so ever in Elite. Obviously there are others whose mileage has varied.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Ouch, I'm now wondering why I didn't read about these when I was doing my research. At the time I was deciding between the X52 Pro or the Thrustmaster... and I was originally leaning towards the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Hotas... then something I read about ergonomics and wrist aches convinced me to get the X52 instead....

The wrist-ache is real. I love the sensor on my T16000.M, but the spring is simply too stiff. The x52 Pro has a much better action, and despite the issues reported here and elsewhere, mine works just fine apart from a well-used button starting to wear out (it's worked for nearly 4,000 hours in-game) and the pitch/roll axes needing a little lubricant.

Not bad for ¥22,000.

 

[Asp Explorer]

Indeed - I've been very happy with all three of my X52 Pros.

The issues I've experienced have been, while annoying, quite minor and easy to fix.

Some people though, well for whatever reason enough things have gone wrong to make them simply throw them in the bin - far more technical people than me have had completely unsolvable issues, and some of the stories out there about people going through 10+ units just to find one that worked for more than five minutes are definitely enough to give pause.

I'm not buying the one about the X52 bricking macbooks though.