0degreez

Tag: PC handheld gaming

  • How to Install ZenDeck from Scratch and Use Smart Profiles (Beginner Friendly Guide)

    How to Install ZenDeck from Scratch and Use Smart Profiles (Beginner Friendly Guide)

    Intro

    If you’ve seen my recent Hogwarts Legacy comparison showing benchmark settings vs Smart Profiles, you might be wondering:

    How do I actually install ZenDeck and use it?

    This guide walks you through everything step-by-step — even if you’ve never used tools like this before.

    No technical knowledge required.

    What Is ZenDeck?

    ZenDeck is a lightweight performance manager and game launcher built specifically for Windows handheld gaming PCs like:

    • Lenovo Legion Go
    • ROG Ally
    • Other Windows handhelds (AMD based)

    It helps you:

    • Automatically apply optimized performance settings per game
    • Dynamically adjust TDP based on real gameplay conditions
    • Improve battery life without sacrificing stability
    • Make Windows sleep behavior more reliable during gaming
    • Eliminate constant manual tweaking

    Think of it as adding a “console-like” experience layer on top of Windows.

    Before You Start

    Before installing ZenDeck, make sure:

    • Your device is updated
    • You have administrator privileges
    • The game you want to use appears in the list of supported Smart Profiles

    ZenDeck will automatically notify you if a game needs to be launched once before Smart Profiles can be applied.

    Step 1 – Download ZenDeck

    1. Go to the official ZenDeck website
    2. Download the latest version
    3. Right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator
    4. Follow the installation steps

    The installer will handle everything for you. When it finishes, ZenDeck will open automatically.

    If Windows SmartScreen appears, click More Info → Run Anyway.

    Step 2 – First Launch

    When you open ZenDeck for the first time, it will automatically scan your installed games from:

    • Steam
    • Xbox PC (Game Pass)
    • Epic Games
    • Non-Steam games added to your system

    During this scan:

    • ZenDeck detects which games support Smart Profiles
    • Supported games will be marked with an “SP” badge
    • You can also use the “Smart Profiles Ready” filter in the Library view to quickly see compatible titles
    ZenDeck library view showing supported games marked with the SP badge and the Smart Profiles Ready filter enabled.
    Games that support Smart Profiles are marked with the SP badge and can be filtered using “Smart Profiles Ready”.

    If a Game Needs to Be Initialized

    Some games need to be launched once before Smart Profiles can be applied.

    If ZenDeck shows a message saying the game must be run first:

    • Simply launch the game
    • Let it fully open
    • Then close it

    That’s it.

    After that, ZenDeck will be able to apply Smart Profiles automatically.

    Legion Go Users – One Important Setting

    If you are using a Lenovo Legion Go, Legion Go S or Legion Go 2, make sure to do this before using ZenDeck:

    1. Open the Legion Space side menu
    2. Go to Thermal Mode
    3. Set it to Custom

    The slider values do not matter.

    ZenDeck requires Thermal Mode to be set to Custom in order to control TDP properly.

    You only need to configure this once.

    This is a Lenovo firmware requirement, not a ZenDeck limitation.

    Step 3 – Using Smart Profiles

    Once a supported game appears with the SP badge, you’re ready.

    You have two ways to apply a Smart Profile:

    Option 1 – From the Library

    1. Open ZenDeck
    2. Use the “Smart Profiles Ready” filter
    3. Select your game
    4. When prompted, choose Apply Profile

    Option 2 – Simply Launch the Game

    If ZenDeck is already running, just launch the supported game.

    ZenDeck will detect it and prompt you to apply the Smart Profile.

    Once applied, ZenDeck will automatically:

    • Adjust resolution to the optimal preset
    • Configure GPU features according to the Smart Profile
    • Apply recommended performance tuning

    No manual tweaking required every time you play.

    Optional – Let ZenDeck Control TDP

    If you also want ZenDeck to manage power automatically, you need to enable it:

    1. Open Settings
    2. Go to ZenDeck section
    3. Enable “Allow ZenDeck to control TDP”
    ZenDeck settings screen showing the Allow ZenDeck to control TDP toggle enabled in the Performance section.
    Enable this option to allow ZenDeck to manage power manually or through AutoPilot Dynamic TDP.

    After enabling this, you can choose how TDP is managed:

    • Fixed power profiles (Silent, Balanced, Performance, Custom)
    • Or fully automatic control using AutoPilot Dynamic TDP

    Optional – Using ZenDeck Pulse (In-Game Control)

    ZenDeck Pulse is a widget inside the Xbox Game Bar that lets you manage performance while gaming.

    To enable it:

    1. Go to Settings → Controller
    2. Enable “Remap special button to open Xbox Game Bar”

    This will:

    • Disable Legion Space (Legion Go)
    • Disable Armoury Crate overlay (ROG Ally)
    • Remap to open Xbox Game Bar:
      • Legion L button (Legion Go)
      • Command Center button (ROG Ally)
      • View + Menu (Other handhelds without guide button)

    Now you can access the ZenDeck Pulse widget during gameplay.

    Inside ZenDeck Pulse you can:

    • Select AutoPilot Dynamic TDP from the Power Profile dropdown
    ZenDeck Pulse widget inside Xbox Game Bar with AutoPilot Dynamic TDP selected as the active power profile.
    ZenDeck Pulse inside Xbox Game Bar with AutoPilot Dynamic TDP selected.
    • Change Refresh Rate
    • Adjust Resolution
    • Set Frame Limit
    • Enable FPS overlay

    When AutoPilot Dynamic TDP is selected, ZenDeck automatically adjusts power based on:

    • Game behavior
    • FPS stability
    • System conditions

    Real Example: Hogwarts Legacy

    In my recent Reddit post, I compared:

    • Benchmark-recommended settings
    vs
    • Smart Profiles automatically applied settings

    The result:

    • More stable frametimes
    • Better power efficiency
    • Smoother gameplay

    Smart Profiles focus on real-world stability, not just peak benchmark numbers.

    👉 You can watch the full comparison video and join the discussion here (300+ upvotes and counting):

    Tired of searching "best settings" for every PC handheld game, so I automated it
    byu/0degreez inLegionGo

    Do I Need to Reconfigure Every Time?

    No.

    Once a Smart Profile is enabled:

    ZenDeck remembers it.

    The next time you launch the game, everything is applied automatically.

    Common Questions

    Does this work with every game?

    Smart Profiles currently support selected games.
    More are being added over time.

    Is this safe?

    ZenDeck does not modify game files.
    It manages performance behavior externally.

    Why does my antivirus show a warning?

    Some antivirus programs may display a warning related to a driver called WinRing0.

    This driver is used to enable low-level power control (TDP adjustment) on certain devices.

    It is not malicious software.

    Some security tools flag it because it allows hardware-level access, which is commonly associated with system utilities.

    On Lenovo Legion Go (1/2/S), this driver is not used for TDP control.

    If you are unsure, you can always verify the file’s digital signature and download ZenDeck only from the official website.

    Final Thoughts

    Windows handhelds are powerful — but they require too much manual tuning.

    ZenDeck simplifies that.

    Instead of tweaking settings every time, you just play.

    If you haven’t tried Smart Profiles yet, this is the easiest way to start.

    Ready to Try It?

    Download the latest version of ZenDeck and try Smart Profiles in just a few minutes.

    Once configured, you won’t need to tweak settings every time you play.

    👉 Download ZenDeck here:

    https://zendeck.app/

  • What ZenDeck Does When You Press Play (Without Touching a Single Setting)

    What ZenDeck Does When You Press Play (Without Touching a Single Setting)

    On a PC handheld, pressing Play often comes with a mental checklist.

    If you’re new to Smart Profiles, this earlier post explains what they are and why they exist.

    Did I change the resolution last time?
    Are the in-game settings still right?
    Is this game going to drain my battery in 30 minutes?

    Smart Profiles exist to remove that friction — but what actually happens when you launch a game?

    Not the technical implementation.
    Not the hidden mechanics.
    Just the experience and intent behind it.

    The Moment You Press Play

    The instant a game is launched, ZenDeck looks at the context of that session.

    Not every launch is the same:

    • Different games behave differently on handheld hardware
    • Different devices have different limits
    • Different sessions have different goals

    ZenDeck treats launching a game as a decision point, not just an executable starting.

    Is This Game Supported?

    Some games are explicitly supported by AutoPilot Smart Profiles.

    ZenDeck library showing Smart Profiles supported games
    Supported games are clearly marked and organized inside the library.

    These titles are marked with an SP badge, which means:

    • The game has been tested intentionally
    • A Smart Profile exists for it
    • ZenDeck knows how to prepare it properly for handheld play

    If a game isn’t supported, nothing special happens — it launches normally, without interference.
    Smart Profiles are additive, never intrusive.

    Support is intentional and curated, not automatic or generic.

    Supported titles are clearly marked within ZenDeck and on the project website.

    Preparing the Game — Not Overpowering It

    Smart Profiles don’t aim for maximum settings or brute-force performance.

    Instead, they focus on starting the game in a sensible state for a handheld device:

    • Graphics options aligned with limited power and thermals
    • GPU features enabled only when they make sense
    • Resolution adjusted when necessary

    By the time the first frame is rendered, the game is already configured with efficiency in mind.

    No menus.
    No pop-ups.
    No presets to tweak.

    If you’d like a step-by-step walkthrough on how to install ZenDeck and enable Smart Profiles, you can follow this complete setup guide:

    https://0degreez.com/2026/02/11/how-to-install-zendeck-from-scratch-and-use-smart-profiles-beginner-friendly-guide/

    Before Gameplay Even Begins

    This is an important distinction.

    Smart Profiles operate before gameplay, not during it.

    They prepare the environment the game starts in, rather than reacting after performance problems appear.
    That preparation is what allows everything else to work more smoothly.

    This is also why Smart Profiles and Dynamic TDP don’t overlap — they do different jobs.

    Smart Profiles vs Dynamic TDP

    AutoPilot is made up of two complementary systems, each with a very different role.

    Smart Profiles focus on preparation.
    It decides how a game should start on a specific handheld device.

    Dynamic TDP focuses on adaptation.
    It manages power behavior in real time once the game is already running.

    They don’t overlap, and they don’t compete.
    One sets the baseline, the other continuously adjusts around it.

    Together, they reduce the need for manual tuning without exposing extra controls to the player.

    Not Every Session Needs Maximum Performance

    Sometimes you’re at home, plugged in, chasing smooth visuals.

    Other times, you’re on a couch.
    Or on a train.
    Or on a long flight, trying to play for hours without worrying about battery life.

    The intent of the session changes — even if the game doesn’t.

    Smart Profiles are designed with this flexibility in mind.
    They’re not about pushing hardware to its limits, but about aligning the game with the context it’s being played in.

    A more battery-conscious session may prioritize:

    • Lower in-game settings
    • Reduced power demands
    • Stability over headroom

    All without requiring the player to manage those tradeoffs manually.

    This is the kind of experience Smart Profiles are designed to support.

    What the User Never Has to Think About

    When everything works as intended, the user never asks:

    • Did I forget to change the resolution?
    • Are GPU features enabled correctly?
    • Should I lower settings for this device?
    • Is this game draining more power than it should?

    Those questions simply don’t come up.

    The goal isn’t to expose more controls — it’s to remove decisions that shouldn’t be necessary in the first place.