Advice on sim racing gear
Discussion
Bullett said:
Solid man-maths there.
By replaced I meant that I purchased a whole PC. The only way to get a card at a reasonable price, I usually self build but it was impossible to get what I wanted as bits.
Interesting thanks. Well that shows you how f'ked the market is! Likewise I always build my own, mostly for fun but you usually can't buy a system close in terms of performance for the same money. Where did you buy from if you don't mind sharing?By replaced I meant that I purchased a whole PC. The only way to get a card at a reasonable price, I usually self build but it was impossible to get what I wanted as bits.
Bullett said:
Scan. I think they are the UK distributor so obviously have an inside track.
The whole thing was £2067 inc a 3080, i9, 16GB mem and 1TB ssd.
Cheers. I've been looking on a few US sites (usually cheaper and easier for me to ship) and 3080 built systems are about $500 cheaper than buying separate! Makes no sense. If it was a chip shortage you'd think it would affect their supplies all the same and I don't think anyone mines crypto with gfx anymore do they?The whole thing was £2067 inc a 3080, i9, 16GB mem and 1TB ssd.
wombleh said:
CSL DD base is showing as not in stock until June next year!
...
Yeah they are having a supply chain shocker by the look of it. Mine was ordered in Oct for Nov delivery, then Dec, then Jan and it just arrived at my freight forwarder in Miami yesterday so they are all over the place. Hopefully it will make them reconsider manufacturing in China!...
What alternatives are there, I've come across:
Simcube - cheapest full setup seems nearly 3000euro: https://simucube.com/bundles/
Accuforce $1000 without pedals https://www.simxperience.com/shop/accuforce-pro-v2...
Simagic - 1100euro (1500euro for ones in stock) without pedals https://www.directdrive.it/en/sim-racing-wheels/bu...
VRS Directforce - around 1200euro, then you need a wheel and a base for pedals: https://virtualracingschool.appspot.com/#/Store
Thrustmaster allegedly releasing a direct drive wheel but don't think it's made an appearance yet.
Presumably prices need to all be plus VAT & import duties
Simcube - cheapest full setup seems nearly 3000euro: https://simucube.com/bundles/
Accuforce $1000 without pedals https://www.simxperience.com/shop/accuforce-pro-v2...
Simagic - 1100euro (1500euro for ones in stock) without pedals https://www.directdrive.it/en/sim-racing-wheels/bu...
VRS Directforce - around 1200euro, then you need a wheel and a base for pedals: https://virtualracingschool.appspot.com/#/Store
Thrustmaster allegedly releasing a direct drive wheel but don't think it's made an appearance yet.
Presumably prices need to all be plus VAT & import duties
wombleh said:
CSL DD base is showing as not in stock until June next year!
Looks like they're releasing a mclaren wheel at £200 and CSL loadcell pedals which reduce the cost a lot from the sort of prices I was seeing for a Fanatec DD setup last year!
Interested as I'm also looking at a cheap(ish) Fanatec setup that I can maybe add to / build up or just sell and recoup if I don't get into it.Looks like they're releasing a mclaren wheel at £200 and CSL loadcell pedals which reduce the cost a lot from the sort of prices I was seeing for a Fanatec DD setup last year!
What is the minimum you need do you know? wanting to build something for under a grand (excluding chair / screen and console)
I'm assuming if you play games in an 'auto' mode you don't need a shifter or clutch pedal to begin with?
So Wheel, Wheel Base, 2 Pedals with Loadcell as above? What else?
Taken a while but the CSL DD wheel and Clubsport v3 pedals finally arrived. Took a bit of effort to fit as the geometry of the wheel base is completely different. First impressions are very good. Amazing quality stuff. I didn't really understand what the benefit of all that power in the dd wheels is but it's clear as day in game; it's not that it rips the wheel out your hand but that you feel everything going on between the tyres and the road, like a real car, not like some random rumble. I mean you really feel everything it's absolutely brilliant. If I have a complaint it's that the quick release collar that I'll never use is maybe nylon and there is some flex, small but meh; maybe it's better that that flex than you bend the column if you clobber the wheel getting in and out your seat I don't know. The pedals are as good if not better than most real cars and the brake on it's hardest setting feels about the same as a sports car but I've yet to do the supplied mod which replaces the spring with a hard rubber for the full race car feel. The shakers on the pedals are kind of fun for some feel of slip and wheel spin but the brake one feels very weak as it struggles to shake it on the hard spring; not sure I'll feel it at all after the mod.
So the proof is in the driving I guess and I thought I'd do a few iracing laps of Spa in the legacy GT3 Cup which I haven't played for about 4 months. I absolutely smashed my lap record time and time again like 2-3-4 seconds but even more surprising instead of crashing out every other lap I ran out of fuel after 10 laps of practice... I'm honestly totally shocked, I struggled so much with that car before with the old Fanatec elite wheel and didn't even try with the logitech.
I think if you learned to drive in a real car then your muscle memory and skills are probably more transferable to sims with the more realistic kit, which kind of makes sense. Hopefully with the kids learning on it it'll be more transferable into real life too. Maybe. If you learned to race on a sim with less expensive kit I don't know if more realistic kit would necessarily make you faster, but it certainly has me.
In summary, the DD is absolutely brilliant IMO, even for a casual sim racer like me.
So the proof is in the driving I guess and I thought I'd do a few iracing laps of Spa in the legacy GT3 Cup which I haven't played for about 4 months. I absolutely smashed my lap record time and time again like 2-3-4 seconds but even more surprising instead of crashing out every other lap I ran out of fuel after 10 laps of practice... I'm honestly totally shocked, I struggled so much with that car before with the old Fanatec elite wheel and didn't even try with the logitech.
I think if you learned to drive in a real car then your muscle memory and skills are probably more transferable to sims with the more realistic kit, which kind of makes sense. Hopefully with the kids learning on it it'll be more transferable into real life too. Maybe. If you learned to race on a sim with less expensive kit I don't know if more realistic kit would necessarily make you faster, but it certainly has me.
In summary, the DD is absolutely brilliant IMO, even for a casual sim racer like me.
fblm said:
Taken a while but the CSL DD wheel and Clubsport v3 pedals finally arrived. Took a bit of effort to fit as the geometry of the wheel base is completely different. First impressions are very good. Amazing quality stuff. I didn't really understand what the benefit of all that power in the dd wheels is but it's clear as day in game; it's not that it rips the wheel out your hand but that you feel everything going on between the tyres and the road, like a real car, not like some random rumble. I mean you really feel everything it's absolutely brilliant. If I have a complaint it's that the quick release collar that I'll never use is maybe nylon and there is some flex, small but meh; maybe it's better that that flex than you bend the column if you clobber the wheel getting in and out your seat I don't know. The pedals are as good if not better than most real cars and the brake on it's hardest setting feels about the same as a sports car but I've yet to do the supplied mod which replaces the spring with a hard rubber for the full race car feel. The shakers on the pedals are kind of fun for some feel of slip and wheel spin but the brake one feels very weak as it struggles to shake it on the hard spring; not sure I'll feel it at all after the mod.
So the proof is in the driving I guess and I thought I'd do a few iracing laps of Spa in the legacy GT3 Cup which I haven't played for about 4 months. I absolutely smashed my lap record time and time again like 2-3-4 seconds but even more surprising instead of crashing out every other lap I ran out of fuel after 10 laps of practice... I'm honestly totally shocked, I struggled so much with that car before with the old Fanatec elite wheel and didn't even try with the logitech.
I think if you learned to drive in a real car then your muscle memory and skills are probably more transferable to sims with the more realistic kit, which kind of makes sense. Hopefully with the kids learning on it it'll be more transferable into real life too. Maybe. If you learned to race on a sim with less expensive kit I don't know if more realistic kit would necessarily make you faster, but it certainly has me.
In summary, the DD is absolutely brilliant IMO, even for a casual sim racer like me.
Awesome! glad you've made the upgrade - The brake perf kit for the V3 pedals really is a game changer though so you've got more to come!So the proof is in the driving I guess and I thought I'd do a few iracing laps of Spa in the legacy GT3 Cup which I haven't played for about 4 months. I absolutely smashed my lap record time and time again like 2-3-4 seconds but even more surprising instead of crashing out every other lap I ran out of fuel after 10 laps of practice... I'm honestly totally shocked, I struggled so much with that car before with the old Fanatec elite wheel and didn't even try with the logitech.
I think if you learned to drive in a real car then your muscle memory and skills are probably more transferable to sims with the more realistic kit, which kind of makes sense. Hopefully with the kids learning on it it'll be more transferable into real life too. Maybe. If you learned to race on a sim with less expensive kit I don't know if more realistic kit would necessarily make you faster, but it certainly has me.
In summary, the DD is absolutely brilliant IMO, even for a casual sim racer like me.
I just received my Fanatec Gran Turismo DD Pro setup for my PS5 and it is certainly a massive step up from my old Logitech G27.
I need to set it all up on a more solid rig to do it justice, but have a Trakracer rig on order so that should help as my old Gameracer flexes like hell with all the forces going through the wheel and pedals now.
From what I hear the PC users get a great integration with their existing sims and the feedback quality through the wheel is excellent. On my PS5 i'm only running backwards compatible PS4 games so far and there is no direct support for the DD Pro yet. That will change with Gran Turismo 7 in a few days. I hope that direct support for the DD Pro brings better feel through the wheel as it's hard to discerne understeer and wheel slip so far. I have no doubt i'm quicker and more consistent than before, but the wheel is capable of so much more it just needs direct in game support to do it justice. I am downloading the PS5 update to Assetto Corsa Competitzione later today so am eager to see if that supports the kit.
I upgraded to the 8nm boost kit. It is way more powerful than anything i've experienced before. Bodes well.
I also purchased the load cell brake pedal and am really glad I did. It needs a solid rig, but it's much easier to modulate and to trail brake than it was with the standard setup.
Next purchase will be the shifter and possibly a Mclaren wheel.
It's been well worth the wait.
I need to set it all up on a more solid rig to do it justice, but have a Trakracer rig on order so that should help as my old Gameracer flexes like hell with all the forces going through the wheel and pedals now.
From what I hear the PC users get a great integration with their existing sims and the feedback quality through the wheel is excellent. On my PS5 i'm only running backwards compatible PS4 games so far and there is no direct support for the DD Pro yet. That will change with Gran Turismo 7 in a few days. I hope that direct support for the DD Pro brings better feel through the wheel as it's hard to discerne understeer and wheel slip so far. I have no doubt i'm quicker and more consistent than before, but the wheel is capable of so much more it just needs direct in game support to do it justice. I am downloading the PS5 update to Assetto Corsa Competitzione later today so am eager to see if that supports the kit.
I upgraded to the 8nm boost kit. It is way more powerful than anything i've experienced before. Bodes well.
I also purchased the load cell brake pedal and am really glad I did. It needs a solid rig, but it's much easier to modulate and to trail brake than it was with the standard setup.
Next purchase will be the shifter and possibly a Mclaren wheel.
It's been well worth the wait.
Hope you have some luck with game support. Yes mine is the 8NM one too (which is just a very expensive power supply, AIUI the base is identical ). When it gets supported I'm certain you'll be able to discern slip and spin if you can in a real car, it feels so realistic, it's pretty remarkable. I want to go play now but the wife is WFH today and I'll get in trouble 
I need a plan.
With GT7 out next week I need a new/another mount. The CSL DD and pedals is on a Playseat Challenge, not ideal but it can be packed away. That is not compatible with GT7/PS5 so the T300 needs to come out again.
1)Get a Wheelstand type arrangement for the T300. Portable and collapsible, no additional wife approval required and the boy can use it in his room at his desk. Under £150.
2)Get a better rig for the CSL and ask for permission or forgiveness. I have the space but the room is also used for VR and other gaming/cinema room. So needs to be at least partially movable if not collapsible.
No requirement for monitor mounts, handbrakes or gear levers.
I don't have the time to build something from scratch so no home builds.
Ideas?
With GT7 out next week I need a new/another mount. The CSL DD and pedals is on a Playseat Challenge, not ideal but it can be packed away. That is not compatible with GT7/PS5 so the T300 needs to come out again.
1)Get a Wheelstand type arrangement for the T300. Portable and collapsible, no additional wife approval required and the boy can use it in his room at his desk. Under £150.
2)Get a better rig for the CSL and ask for permission or forgiveness. I have the space but the room is also used for VR and other gaming/cinema room. So needs to be at least partially movable if not collapsible.
No requirement for monitor mounts, handbrakes or gear levers.
I don't have the time to build something from scratch so no home builds.
Ideas?
Bullett said:
I need a plan.
With GT7 out next week I need a new/another mount. The CSL DD and pedals is on a Playseat Challenge, not ideal but it can be packed away. That is not compatible with GT7/PS5 so the T300 needs to come out again.
1)Get a Wheelstand type arrangement for the T300. Portable and collapsible, no additional wife approval required and the boy can use it in his room at his desk. Under £150.
2)Get a better rig for the CSL and ask for permission or forgiveness. I have the space but the room is also used for VR and other gaming/cinema room. So needs to be at least partially movable if not collapsible.
No requirement for monitor mounts, handbrakes or gear levers.
I don't have the time to build something from scratch so no home builds.
Ideas?
I've just invested in a full rig for my new Fanatec.With GT7 out next week I need a new/another mount. The CSL DD and pedals is on a Playseat Challenge, not ideal but it can be packed away. That is not compatible with GT7/PS5 so the T300 needs to come out again.
1)Get a Wheelstand type arrangement for the T300. Portable and collapsible, no additional wife approval required and the boy can use it in his room at his desk. Under £150.
2)Get a better rig for the CSL and ask for permission or forgiveness. I have the space but the room is also used for VR and other gaming/cinema room. So needs to be at least partially movable if not collapsible.
No requirement for monitor mounts, handbrakes or gear levers.
I don't have the time to build something from scratch so no home builds.
Ideas?
I've had a GameRacer setup for years - it looks like this"
It's dismantles easily and can collapse up so it takes less space when you're not using it. It's well used and the seat is tatty. If you want it, just come and collect it. It's too good to throw away but I would rather avoid the hassle of eBay.
Thought I'd do a quick update on the miss shifts I've been plagued with on the Fanatec Clubsport Shifter for the last couple of years. It has such a beautiful mechanical motion that I've persevered every 6 months with a new fix that didn't work. I noticed that it got worse with my mobile near it... then it dawned on me... did a quick continuity test from the metal shell of the shifter and earth and it's not grounded. Made a quick earth cable to the PC case and can't get it to miss-shift no matter how many times I try. Finally! Yes I'm very pleased with myself So lesson learned; if you've got a wooden rig and spurious issues, check your grounds!
(of course having now figured this out, if you search for Fanatec EMI issues 'the internet' tells you to make sure everything is properly grounded... which presupposes you know you have EMI issues)
So lesson learned; if you've got a wooden rig and spurious issues, check your grounds!(of course having now figured this out, if you search for Fanatec EMI issues 'the internet' tells you to make sure everything is properly grounded... which presupposes you know you have EMI issues)
I might do my own wee build thread on this at some point but I've decided to jump in and upgrade my setup. Been racing loads in ACC recently and currently using a Next Level Racing GT-lite folding chair and the Thrustmaster TMX and playing through a Quest 2. Seeing as it was Black Friday sales and there was actually some decent enough discounts I have on order and arriving soon:
PRO SIMRIG PSR3
COBRA IMOLA GT seat
SIMUCUBE 2 Sport
SimLine 720 GT3 wheel
Venym Atrax 2 pedal set
Buttkicker Gamer Plus
Not decided on screen yet but looking at the 49" curved options. Also not decided if I'm going to upgrade VR headset or stick with the monitor for playing. VR is awsome for immersion but not so handy for having to type or move between applications.
PRO SIMRIG PSR3
COBRA IMOLA GT seat
SIMUCUBE 2 Sport
SimLine 720 GT3 wheel
Venym Atrax 2 pedal set
Buttkicker Gamer Plus
Not decided on screen yet but looking at the 49" curved options. Also not decided if I'm going to upgrade VR headset or stick with the monitor for playing. VR is awsome for immersion but not so handy for having to type or move between applications.
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