What Makcu ESP32 S3 is
Makcu ESP32 S3 is a small hardware board based on ESP32-S3 that is used as an intermediate device in the input chain: mouse, board, computer. For Rust and CS2 Faceit, this option is especially interesting because it lets you use macros through our AI macro program in a stable and safe way.
Below we will go through what to check before buying, how to connect the board, how to flash it, and how to connect everything afterward.
Where to buy a Makcu board
According to public store listings, Makcu is sold as an ESP32-S3 Arduino Development Board or MAKCU Development Board. You can find versions on AliExpress, Taobao, Temu, in electronics stores, on eBay and in specialized DMA or KMBOX shops. Prices vary a lot: some sellers list it at about 20-30 USD, while others charge more because of included cables, delivery or a local warehouse.
| Where to look | What to pay attention to |
|---|---|
| AliExpress / Taobao / Temu | The most common source. Check how many USB cables are included, photos of the exact revision, reviews with real pictures and the buyer protection period. |
| Online stores in your country | Convenient when fast delivery and a clear product page are important. |
| eBay and local sellers | Suitable if you need local stock. Check the listing status: some listings are already ended, and the price may be higher than on marketplaces. |
Before buying, check this: if the board kit includes only one USB-to-USB cable, you will need to buy a second identical cable separately. The board must have three USB ports and two Boot buttons on the sides:
How to flash Makcu ESP32 S3
Firmware is installed through the Makcu program. The logic is simple: first put the left side of the board into Flash mode and flash it through USB1 Flash, then repeat the same process for the right side through USB3 Flash.
What to prepare before flashing
- Program for Makcu. Download the Makcu program from this link - Download
- Two USB-to-USB cables. For normal board operation, two USB-to-USB cables are usually required, so if the kit includes only one cable, buy the second one in advance.
- Install the driver. Download and install the driver from this link - Download
MAKCU firmware
- Download the program, run it as administrator and disconnect Makcu completely from USB.
- Hold the left Boot button on Makcu and, without releasing it, connect the USB cable from the PC to the left USB1 port of the board.
- When the program detects the board in Flash mode, release the button. A connection status should appear at the top of the window, for example MAKCU Connected in Flash mode.
- Click USB1 Flash and wait until the left side firmware process is fully completed.
- After successful writing, unplug the USB cable from Makcu.
- Hold the right Boot button on Makcu and, without releasing it, connect the USB cable from the PC to the right USB3 port of the board.
- Click USB3 Flash and wait until the right side firmware process is completed.
- After it finishes, unplug the USB cable from Makcu and connect the board using the working connection scheme.
How to understand that everything went correctly
After flashing, the program should not show a connection or writing error. If Makcu is not detected, the most common reasons are that the Boot button was released too early, the wrong USB port was used, or the cable does not support data transfer. Repeat the step for the required side of the board: for the left side use the left button and left port, and for the right side use the right button and right port.
Connection after flashing
For 2 PCs
- Connect the left USB port of Makcu to the main gaming PC.
- Connect the middle USB port of Makcu to the second PC or laptop where the macro program will run.
- Connect the mouse to the right USB port of Makcu.
For 1 PC
- Connect the left USB port of Makcu to the main PC.
- Connect the middle USB port of Makcu to the same main PC with a second USB cable.
- Connect the mouse to the right USB port of Makcu.
If the mouse does not move after flashing or the software does not see the board, first check the port connection order. With Makcu, the firmware is important, but it also matters exactly where the left, middle and right USB ports are connected.
Setting up macros after flashing
After successful firmware installation and connection using the 1 PC or 2 PC scheme, run the macro program on the main PC or on the second one. When selecting the input mode in the program settings, you should see a message that Makcu is ready.
- Check the connection. Make sure the AI program sees the board.
- Configure the program. Set sensitivity, FOV and ADS so they match your in-game settings.
- Test in training mode. Before regular gameplay, test cursor movement and also macro activation and deactivation.