PC racing

[Rick101]

Hi,

Need to buy a new PC as mine has about had it. I'm wondering if it's worth getting a gaming rig.

I have an xbox and play forza with the MS wheel.

I'm wondering if I'll get a better simulator experience with a PC. I like Forza but it still seems quite arcade rather than sim.
Are there racing games on PC that compare? Is the online community easy to get into?
I know there are a better selection of wheels such as Logitec for PC.

It'll prob cost me £200 over a standard PC, plus any extra bits I need. is it worth it or should I stick with the xbox?

Thanks.

[SlipStream77]

For racing simulations, PC is the only option IMO.

iRacing is probably the most well known, it's subscription based but very good.

http://www.iracing.com/

RFactor 1 is pretty old now, there was a PH league using it. It's made by the same company behind RFactor Pro which is used by several F1 teams as their sim software.

http://rfactor.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_aR7523K-0

One of the big advantages of rFactor is the number of mods available, most of them available at rFactor central.

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/

RFactor 2 is currently a playable beta, much improved over RF1 and the final version will have some new features such as a dynamic track surface and weather.

http://rfactor.net/web/rf2/

NetKar Pro is another sim worth looking at, IMO this has some of the best physics.

http://www.netkar-pro.com/main/

The team behind NetKar is releasing a new sim soon called Assetto Corsa which will be worth trying.

http://www.assettocorsa.net/?lang=en

Another to be released soon is GTR3 from Simbin, they were behind some of the other great sims such as GT Legends, GTR2 and GTR Evo.

http://gtr3.com/

Personally I would recommend you try iRacing using their new member promotion which will give you 3 months racing for $12. The online community there is excellent, there is a very active forum and a lot of advice is given.

http://www.iracing.com/3-for-1/

Initially, with a rookie license you will be driving quite sedate but fun cars but with clean driving to improve your license you can soon be driving some quick vehicles.
Unlike most other sims, deliberate troublemakers are dealt with by an official steward so 'wreckers' are quite rare.

The basic iracing sub comes with 5 cars I think, and several tracks, if you want to use any others they have to be purchased. Also note that I think the subscription rolls over automatically at the end of the 3 months unless you specifically set it to not renew.

The iRacing Youtube channel is a good place to get an idea of what it's like...

http://www.youtube.com/user/iRacingTV

A couple of good sites for sim racing...

http://www.virtualr.net/

http://www.insidesimracing.tv/

Have fun!

[mrmr96]

^ what a good post!

[robmlufc]

iRacing is amazing! Some of upcoming cars are pretty exciting, RUF, MP4-12C and Lotus 49 + Bathurst, Donington, Zolder, Long Beach, Interlagos and Tsukuba all on the way Plus a lot of pros race on it, Sean Edwards often hosts races for drivers and fans.

Edited by robmlufc on Wednesday 4th April 10:14

[Rob P]

Another shout here for iRacing. I gave up on console racing a few months ago and got myself a PC and G27 wheel, not looked back.

Learning curve is pretty steep for iRacing, it really forces you to race clean (a new concept having spent too long on the consoles) and you need to build up your license to gain access to the better cars.

It is fantastic though, the highest quality online racing environment I have ever seen.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Don't forget to keep an eye on;

Project C.A.R.S;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2YLhXplu2k&fea...

[weyland yutani]

I went from playing on the xbox/MS wheel to pc/G27 and I'm really glad I did. Forza is fun but the physics ddint cut it anymore, for proper sims you have to be on pc.

I'd highly recommend rFactor for the tons of available cars and tracks. Granted some of it is poor but there are some very high quality ones too and its all free.

Search VirtuaR for tracks by VLM, they made Sebring, Mid Ohio, Fuji, 1970s Le Mans and Rouen and they are extremely high quality.

http://www.virtualr.net/sebring-international-race... Link to Sebring.

Have a look at rfactorcentral for tracks by Com8 and Carrera4 too.

http://rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Laguna%20S... Link to Com8's Laguna Seca.

Some of the best mods I'd recommend

DRM Revival (brutal old school cars) http://www.virtualr.net/drm-revival-mod-1-1-releas... Links appear to be down but search around you should find it.
Enduracers (Le Mans series) http://www.enduracers.com/downloads_es.html
V8Unleashed (Auzzie V8s) http://www.racedepartment.com/forum/threads/v8fact...
PCC07 (Porsche Carrera Cup) http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=PCC%20...
FSONE2008/2009 (modern F1) http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=FSONE%...

Edited by weyland yutani on Wednesday 4th April 13:49

Edited by weyland yutani on Wednesday 4th April 13:52

[Rick101]

Great stuff guys. Thanks for all the input.

One of the lads at work is into PC racing and echos what has been said above.

[FourWheelDrift]

SlipStream77 said:

The team behind NetKar is releasing a new sim soon called Assetto Corsa which will be worth trying.

http://www.assettocorsa.net/?lang=en

Right now, that is the only one interesting me.

[weyland yutani]

Yep being Kunos you know the physics/ffb will be great but it's also looking fantastic. pCARS has the graphics but at the moment it's handling/physics is lacking to be honest.

GTR3 looks promising too!

Edited by weyland yutani on Monday 16th April 12:03

[Xtype]

+1 for iracing, I spend my time racing in the Indy cars both oval and road.

I like the impalla class a car too but I don't have the time to practice and set the car up

[Chunkychucky]

FourWheelDrift said:

Right now, that is the only one interesting me.

Coming to iRacing at some point, along with the McLaren MP4-12C and Donington Park, can't wait to drift the Lotus around Oulton..

[FourWheelDrift]

I have no interest at all in iRacing.

[weyland yutani]

FourWheelDrift said:

I have no interest at all in iRacing.

I'm interested but the stock content isn't to my taste at all and I wont/cant pay so much for all then extra content I'd need to enjoy it. rFactor is close enough and there's tons of free stuff for it.

[FourWheelDrift]

I know, I've created some of it

[Chunkychucky]

FourWheelDrift said:

I have no interest at all in iRacing.

Oh dear!

[robmlufc]

weyland yutani said:

I'm interested but the stock content isn't to my taste at all and I wont/cant pay so much for all then extra content I'd need to enjoy it. rFactor is close enough and there's tons of free stuff for it.

The mx5 racing on iRacing is good fun and always really close. LMP2 and Lotus 79 is where it is at though

[Chunkychucky]

robmlufc said:

The mx5 racing on iRacing is good fun and always really close. LMP2 and Lotus 79 is where it is at though

i really like the Mustang as well, just the right gripower ratio for my liking..

[theshrew]

Not raced PC stuff for a while but when i did it was rfactor was a good game.

Whats Iracing like to use ? do you have to faff about downloading files etc like on Rfactor ?

[weyland yutani]

whats the average cost of a car and a track now?