0degreez

Tag: ROG Ally

  • 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/

  • Tutorial: How to Add a custom Startup video to your Legion Go or Windows 11 gaming device using VLC Media Player

    Update (2026): Built-in solution

    At the time, using VLC was the easiest way to add a custom boot video.
    Since then, I’ve integrated this feature directly into ZenDeck, removing the need for external tools while keeping full control over boot animations.

    This tutorial will guide you through adding a custom video to customize even more your Legion Go or Windows 11 gaming device using VLC to automatically play a video in fullscreen, stay on top of other windows and exit when finished.

    Step 1: Install VLC Media Player

    1. If you haven’t already installed VLC Media Player, download it from the official website and install it on your computer.

    Step 2: Download the Custom Video

    1. Download the custom startup video from the following link:
      Download Video
    2. Save the video to a location on your computer, such as C:\Users\YourUsername\Videos\startup_video.mp4.

    Step 3: Open the Windows Startup Folder

    1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
    2. Type shell:startup and press Enter.
      • This will open the Startup folder, where you can place shortcuts to programs or files you want to run automatically when Windows starts.

    Step 4: Create a VLC Shortcut

    1. Locate your VLC executable file:
      • By default, it is usually located at: C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe.
    2. Right-click the file vlc.exe and select Create Shortcut.
    3. Drag and drop the newly created shortcut into the Startup folder.

    Step 5: Edit the Shortcut Properties

    1. In the Startup folder, right-click the VLC shortcut and select Properties.
    2. In the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field.
    3. Modify the Target field to include the following command:"C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" --fullscreen --video-on-top --play-and-exit --no-video-title-show "C:\path\to\video.mp4"
      • Replace C:\path\to\video.mp4 with the full path to your video file.
      • The --no-video-title-show parameter removes the title display when the video starts.
    4. Click OK to save the changes.

    Step 6: Test the Shortcut

    1. Double-click the VLC shortcut in the Startup folder to test it.
      • VLC should start, play the specified video in fullscreen mode, stay on top of other windows, and exit when the video finishes.

    Step 7: Restart Your Computer

    1. Restart your computer to confirm that VLC starts automatically and plays the video when you log in.

    Notes

    • Ensure the video file path is correct; otherwise, VLC might not open.
    • If you want to prevent VLC from playing again after the initial video, make sure the playlist settings in VLC are configured not to loop or remember the last playlist.
    • You can add additional VLC commands as needed. For more options, check VLC’s official documentation.

    By following these steps, VLC Media Player will automatically start, play your video in fullscreen, and close itself when done, every time you log in to Windows.

    Bonus Animation

    This is another animation with the text LOADING and LEGION at the beginning you can download it here.

    For more animations check the Startup Animation category.