Sim Racing ?

[Andics]

Anyone in Sim Racing?

I find it to be best way to supplement the lack of shifts and engine noise ?

 

[Jhenson29]

I’m not yet, but I plan on buying a rig at the end of the year to keep practicing in the off season.

 

[Jhenson29]

@Andics why don’t you post some information about your setup.

 

[stormrider762]

Wow… setup info please!

 

[WuffvonTrips]

What a timely thread- not involved yet, but I've an upcoming appointment with Demon Tweeks to try out various options on their rig.
I'm looking for a setup primarily for virtual track sessions so I can prep for the real thing (track days rather than racing) and experience places I'm unlikely to get to, and try cars I definitely won't have access to, in the real world.
Very interested in hearing more about others' experiences and advice.

 

[Andics]

Very happy to help with any info, it took me a good few months and many wrong purchases to get it "right". Needless to say it is incredibly fun and really challenging to get good at it (playing mostly iRacing).

This is the list of the components:



Next Level Racing F-GT Elite cockpit
Next Level Racing Elite Keyboard mount
Next Level Racing Elite Monitor Mount
Next Level Racing Elite Overhead Monitor Mount

Heusinkveld ultimate+ pedals
Heusinkveld mounting plate
Sim3d Rumble Motors (buying now I would go for Simagic haptics)



Simucube 2 Pro wheelbase
Ascher Racing DDU 5"
Ascher Racing Artura Pro wireless wheel
Simucube Tahko 21 Wheel + Cube Controls GT Rim



Sparco EVO XL seat
Next Level Racing HF8 haptic feedback pad
Buttkicker Gamer Pro

Simagic Shifter Ds-8x

Reaperware RaceConsole Podium Button Box

Samsung G9 NEO mini led 57" monitor
Samsung G5 32 overhead monitor

Stream Deck
Logitech K400 keyboard
3 x Philips Hue Light Bars

USB hub 10 ports

 

[WuffvonTrips]

Very happy to help with any info, it took me a good few months and many wrong purchases to get it "right"...

I can well imagine! From my brief research to date, I recognise quite a few of those product names, and am reassured that the pedals and wheelbase I'd provisionally picked are the exact same as yours, and it seems that iRacing is my best option for realism and car/circuit selection.

Thanks for the product breakdown- I need to consider everything but not get distracted from picking a good-enough but not too extravagant setup (so far, my learning experience is like that with hifi's and music production studio- the more I learn, the more I have to upwardly revise my concept of a "sensible" budget...)

 

[Andics]

I started with a logitech g pro and ps5 with GT7....upgraded after 3 weeks...and since then I swapped like 40-50s parts.... ?

These are my tips:

- wheelbase = no brainer, simucube 2 pro is the best in class

- pedals = you have 2 alternatives to the Heusinkveld, Simagic P1000 with their own motors (these add so much realism to simulate the ABS...it is a must for any model) or if you really want to splash the Simucube Active Pedal (having the brake as active is enough...but still £2k for 1 pedal)

- buttkicker / haptic pad = add those, the realism you get from the vibrations is the best thing about the whole setups

- rig = get the best (mine or simlab p1x pro) you can find upfront, it won't change for years and if you do the mistake of getting something half way there at some point you will regret it.

- wheels = I bought like 5 or 6....the ones with the screens are beautiful to look at but usability really depends on your seating position. I tried VPG, Cube Controls, GSI, Simucube but none has the quality of Ascher Racing in my opinion.

- Seat = if you can try those in a shop do it, I bought 4 until I got one in which I was comfortable to sit for more than 30minutes

 

[MrJones02]

Wow, that is some serious gear you got there very nice

I switched to VR a couple years ago, cant go back to regular screen(s) now.

On a tight budget as I dont race that often and cant have it take up too much room:

Fanatec CSL DD wheelbase
Basic Fanatec CSL pedals
Custom wheelstand in 40/80 profiles
HP reverb G2

Mainly play assetto corsa competizione, GT3 races

 

[Andics]

I tried VR (oculus quest 2 & 3) and the immersion is incredible, however I am a screen nob so I can't stand the lower resolution compared to monitors - I just need a Apple Vision Pro competitor to deliver higher quality and then I agree...VR & Sim Racing are incredible.

Triple sceen is the most common configuration to enjoy the full field of view, however I'd say that a samsung super yltra wide 49 or 57 do an incredible job with way less hassle to configure.

i started with Gt7, then assetto corsa competizione...but once you do a couple of weeks on iRacing there is no turning back

 

[Jhenson29]

Fanatec CSL DD wheelbase
Basic Fanatec CSL pedals

How do you like the Fanatec? That’s what I’m looking at in my budget. I’m trying to do the whole build for <$5k (not including iRacing costs).

 

[MrJones02]

I like the fanatec CSL DD, and I only got the 5nm one ... its plenty of power for me.

My history in wheelbases isnt anything very high end
logitech g25 -> logitech T300rs -> fanatec CSW 2.5 -> fanatec CSL DD

Id like to say I feel more detail etc etc because its a direct-drive, but honestly Im not sure LOL, maybe its the game that doesnt pass through a ton of detail like for example iracing does ... it works just fine and is silent, no complaints.

CSL pedals are cheap, they are nothing special, for the price they are ok ... i've had the fanatec V3 pedals and they were better/nicer (not Heusinkveld nice, but still nice).
Probably should have gone with the V3 pedals again.


For VR, I had the oculus CV1 for a very long time ... massive screendoor-effect, but the immersion was incredible. Im not easily impressed, but that first time racing in VR was amazing.

HP reverb G2 has way better image-quality ... FOV is indeed still a downside, sweetspot is ok-ish.
I forget all that when Im sitting in the start-grid in an open-wheel car, in the rain, hearing the raindrops hitting my imagenary helmet

 

[Andics]

Unfortunately Fanatec is now in lots of troubles, I would stay away from them, they were the first movers but they didn't really improve their products in years and customer service is shocking these days.

if there are no console compatibility requirements Simagic and Moza are both better option these days.

 

[Jhenson29]

HP reverb G2 has way better image-quality ... FOV is indeed still a downside, sweetspot is ok-ish.

I want to start with VR. I’ve been looking at the HTC Vive Pro 2. Open to hearing about options and experiences though.

Unfortunately Fanatec is now in lots of troubles, I would stay away from them, they were the first movers but they didn't really improve their products in years and customer service is shocking these days.

if there are no console compatibility requirements Simagic and Moza are both better option these days.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[WuffvonTrips]

- pedals = you have 2 alternatives to the Heusinkveld, Simagic P1000 with their own motors (these add so much realism to simulate the ABS...it is a must for any model) or if you really want to splash the Simucube Active Pedal (having the brake as active is enough...but still £2k for 1 pedal)

How does the ABS feedback hardware on the pedal determine when to activate? I'm guessing the sim software doesn't directly signal ABS activation, so is it assumed when there's rapid pulsing of the brakes?