Hope you guys enjoyed the video! If this was helpful, don't forget to subscribe, and if you want-follow me over on Twitch, I'm almost at Affiliate! www.twitch.tv/brian_folchetti What was your first sim racing wheel? Comment down below! 👇
I went down a similar path. Started with a Logitech G29 then had a full fanatec kit with the belt driven wheelbase. I later sold it all to throw into a motorcycle. Then did a huge detour into DCS (Moza’s AB9 is awesome.) Now I’m dipping my toe back into driving after a few years. Bought a second hand R12 and found some Sprints on ebay for $300. If I did it all again I would change nothing. The journey was the adventure. Anyway, excellent video and best of luck in the utoobin!
@@tickledpinkmist appreciate you sharing your journey! What a deal on those Sprints, that rules. I do agree that only through the long and winding journey do you gain the clarity to understand what makes a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ purchase (and sometimes that’s half the fun). Welcome back, and enjoy!
Been on a G29 for a few years, it's finally time for a serious upgrade. After much research decided to go full Simagic. Alpha U, Gt Neo, P1000, DS-8X. I've always been a buy once cry once fan, and from all the research I did, I believe on average this is the absolute best setup that fits in my budget, that could only be improved with like ridiculously pricey things like Simucube. Good video, even thought I was already decided before watching xD
@@PPedroFernandes you’re definitely doing the upgrade in the ideal way, and probably spending a lot less than others who wind up doing a bunch of ‘sidegrading’. I hope you’ve been keeping your forearms in shape because the Alpha U is going to be a real workout 😆 Your new setup should be amazing though. Enjoy!
Orderd simagic mini, gt sim pro, simssons pedals, Moza seq shifter, build a 4 actuator Motion platform with surge, build an active seatbelt tensioner, a wind simulator , bought gamer2 pro, 48” lg oled tv , evo gt rig with stand , bought vr quest 3…. Maybe i am crazy but never played a sim racing game only Some tests on the keyboard… but i go for it.. and i am not a rich Guy , but start building up in 2019
From g29 upgrading to Cammus C5, rn i only can afford a deskclamp set up xD. Thank you for the video, you gave some good ideas, like the blackbox addon
Yesterday I happened to encounter the Simsonn pedals on amazon and the seller seemed to be Simsonn themselves (also shipped by them so it will probably take a while to arrive).
Good to know, interesting to see some of these products escape the AliExpress sphere and make their way to Amazon. Makes it that much easier for people to pull the trigger on good budget gear
You sir, have motivated me. Buy once, cry once is what i need to start doing. Unfortunately I’m addicted to buying then selling until i get to my end goal. Im sitting on the t300 right now. Want to pull the trigger on everything moza. Great video. Got my attention.
@@SemperFi_Bry Moza R9 or R12 with the CRP2 (or even the SR-P) would be a great bundle and a massive leap from the T300. I believe the T300 sat in between the TMX and TSPC Thrustmaster wheelbases in terms of performance, so to go from that to an R12 or even an Alpha Mini would feel like a galactic leap in fidelity. Would love to hear what you eventually settle on, and enjoy!
@@BrianFolchetti I ordered a alpha mini and gt neo, also coming from a T300, its working on 50% now because it overheats if the ambient room temp exceeds 22c (even with the Noctua fan upgrade and extra breathing holes). Tried to upgrade to Alpha after putting in my order about 3 days after but their blackfriday alocation was done already. It comes halfway in January.
@@RADERFPV This is my first time hearing of this headset. The design looks just a little inspired from the headset I have, the HyperX Cloud 3’s. These look like a really good alternative for the price!
@@BrianFolchetti Gotcha, thanks man. It looks like my headset is a complete rip off of yours, lol! It's totally legit though, I'm digging it. I checked out a few of your shorts, great content, sub'd.
I see you disconnected a clutch pedal and moved position of brake and throttle. I saw a thread on reedit that’s says it’s really difficult to unscrew those. Did you also noticed any problem?
@@lucasnoline for the CSL pedals it’s a matter of either just setting them up with or without the clutch from the get go or have a very annoying time tearing them all apart to take the clutch off. Very annoying, can confirm haha
Ur vid came up in suggested since I've been checking out all this sim racing stuff/tech again after about 3-4 years. Crazy timing on this video honestly. I've been laser vision on wheel bases the last few days and was honestly thinking to myself for the money to nm power/torque ratio what would beat the simagic alpha? ha. boom. Also funny i was eyeing mainly a sim lab cockpit. Doing the back and forth ok on sale you can get simagic 15 nm for 600ish. 15 nm in a fanatec is 1000. Also have the issue of i like the look and the buttons and the actual wheel choices of the fanatec products. and so on and so forth we go lol.
@@kevinplagman841 before I landed on this setup, the back and forth and comparing and contrasting different components was endless. I do it with almost everything in life and honestly it drives my wife bonkers haha. I will say the Simagic offering at the moment is a little more enticing because of how cheap their quick releases are, you can get almost any rim and make it compatible with their wheelbases. Fanatec on the other hand has a ton of different rims for any discipline, but be prepared to pay a bit more. Once Simagic fills out their rim range, they’ll be tough to beat!
@@kevinplagman841 my bad I may have misspoke lol. You can definitely do a little DIYing to make them work, but any 6 bolt pattern rim should fit on their QR. Other examples like say a GSI or Cube Controls rim should also be able to fit using their quick releases and pair to your PC via Bluetooth. It’s also the other way around for their GT Neo where you can use that on non-Simagic bases with a USB adapter. Things are getting more open and standardized between manufacturers, and it’s been awesome to see people pair some wild combos together
@BrianFolchetti ooooooo ok. So really I need to actually research and pay attention to the connections/QRs etc. I didn't even really know that was a 'thing'. Just more casually assumed wheels only worked on their own wheelbases, etc. Appreciate the back n forth 👍. Do u have anything negative to say on the sim lab rig?
@@kevinplagman841 SimLab has some newer rig designs which I feel ‘look’ nicer, but the ability to just chuck any extruded aluminum bits you want on to customize it may be limited because of the more intentional design of the rigs. I will say most of my complaints with the GT1 Evo lie with the lack of rigidity of the integrated monitor mount (it does move around a bit if I’m going bananas on the wheel) but the rig itself is built like a tank. Absolutely no flex, would recommend. I’d suggest checking out what TrakRacer and NextLevelRacing have to offer in comparison and see which you like best. 8020 is 8020 at the end of the day, all comes down to personal preference and the support for the array of add-ons you want to throw on
@@JordanH69420 there are some decent budget options but I would try not to skimp out here and get something you can upgrade around. Good options from GT Omega, Next Level Racing, TrakRacer and of course SimLab
I went much the same route. Moza R9 with ES wheel+12" mod for rally and a Moza KS wheel for GT/Formula racing, SRP pedals with the performance kit, Moza seq shifter and Moza handbrake. For cockpit i went for TrakRacer TR8pro. And a 40" ultrawide monitor.
Especially with VR I would advise to go brand new (you have no idea where those headsets have been lol), but the Quest 2 specifically can be found used for basically nothing. For someone who is super unsure if VR is for them, a used Quest 2 is a great option. For someone who knows they want to get into VR to replace their monitor setup, I would suggest saving up and just going for the Quest 3. The jump in clarity is significant
Outside of US or maybe Europe, all this is crazy expensive, you make 1/4 in income and things cost at least twice as much. Buying from aliexpress is the only option, so you have to go with Moza. Same with rig, but for that better to buy a seat in a junkyard and build it yourself. I don't know why people go all crazy on high nm bases when you don't want to simulate non power drive cars, nice to have, but you can get a much cheaper lower dd like moza r5 and be 99% covered.
I am seeking to re-enter the realm of sim racing and would greatly appreciate any recommendations. Specifically, I am interested in guidance regarding suitable steering wheels and pedals for someone who is a first-time sim racer returning to this discipline. My primary focus will be utilizing this equipment for Formula 1 games. Thank you for your assistance.
Facebook Marketplace: look for a used Logitech G29/920, or if you’re lucky, you could even snag a used Thrustmaster or Fanatec combo at a huge discount. I would start there to see if jumping back into sim racing is something you want to stick with. This way if in 6 months you feel one way or the other about it, you can recoup the cost of your used wheel by selling it and upgrading or exiting the hobby without losing very much. For a nicer setup from the get go I’d say take a look at the Moza R5 bundle-decent price, direct drive, and a reasonable amount of force feedback to start. The F1 games are more ‘simcade’ and you might be totally content with sticking with those, but if you dive a little deeper into other simulators, this setup should treat you well also. It all comes down to budget and how much you want to throw at the hobby while still being reasonable. While I do mention ‘buying once, crying once’ several times in the video, I still think a total noob should get their sim racing sea legs on budget gear first. Once you get past the learning curve and things start to click on track, you’ll have a better idea of what features you want out of a midrange setup. Hope this is helpful, and good luck!
2 days ago, i took advantage of the fanatec sale and spent $1300 on a full Fanatec CSL setup. Includes the cockpit, seat+sliders, 8NM DD, v2 hub+podium wheel, throttle +clutch+loadcell brake pedals. He also got a Quest3 gift for XMas(~$500). That is about $2000 after i get his shifter. Does anybody have experience with the Fanatec cockpit?
@@billy9995 As far as official options you’re going to be limited to Fanatec, Thrustmaster, and Logitech. PlayStation is the more ‘restrictive’ of the console wheel platforms as their peripherals require a security chip for compatibility. Unofficially: you can look into the Drive Hub from Collective Minds for $90. It’s sort of finicky and is not the most elegant solution, but hey, it allowed me to use my setup to play GT7 with very little hassle. If you’re starting from scratch, I would look into a setup that allows you to play on both PC and PS5 from the get go!
@BrianFolchetti i got a g29 wanna upgrade to DD but idk wtf I'm doin lol ....idk what the drive hub does...been trying to figure this out and I agree something pc/ps5 all in one....the gt wheel from fanatec i dont care for since I just don't dirt oval id like to not have buttons but I'm not sure if that works for ps or not
@@billy9995 good call, almost forgot about the Sigma Cortex (what a name lol). For an option like Fanatec, I believe the wheelbase will have the PS5 compatibility built in and you can just get any rim to pair with that. So a hypothetical you can get any round rim, pair that with their Podium Hub, and I believe you should be good to go. I would do more research into your specific use case as this is inching further away from my immediate area of expertise. Good luck though!
@BrianFolchetti yea the compatability is the part that confuses me with the ps application...I get it they got their gt7 blah blah but its just not my thing....appreciate the help id really like to go with simmagic with a mpi wheel just unsure about how it works im not sure if I can use the controller for button use to get in the game and use the wheel to race if that makes sense...thanks for the help oval racing is where it's at 👊
@@vitto7922 Yes, unfortunately I didn’t take into account our fellow enthusiasts across the ocean, so the final pricing here is going to be applicable to the US only. I’m sure there are similar European distributors which have different bundles which would be better for you. Unsure if there is a European equivalent to a big-box computer chain like Microcenter, but hey you guys get cool stuff like the Sim Racing Expo so it all evens out 😆
@@coreyslusars3341 perhaps cheap isn’t the correct word haha, but more of a ‘budget’ option for those who see the current midrange offerings of wheelbases and ecosystems as their ‘end-game’ like I do. Until then-the trusty Logitech G29’s of the world should do just fine.
@ I’m a big fan of mixing and matching and don’t have a ton of brand loyalty to one specific company, but yes, going the bundle route is the way to go if you want to save a decent chunk of change
Hope you guys enjoyed the video! If this was helpful, don't forget to subscribe, and if you want-follow me over on Twitch, I'm almost at Affiliate! www.twitch.tv/brian_folchetti
What was your first sim racing wheel? Comment down below! 👇
I went down a similar path. Started with a Logitech G29 then had a full fanatec kit with the belt driven wheelbase. I later sold it all to throw into a motorcycle. Then did a huge detour into DCS (Moza’s AB9 is awesome.) Now I’m dipping my toe back into driving after a few years. Bought a second hand R12 and found some Sprints on ebay for $300.
If I did it all again I would change nothing. The journey was the adventure.
Anyway, excellent video and best of luck in the utoobin!
@@tickledpinkmist appreciate you sharing your journey! What a deal on those Sprints, that rules.
I do agree that only through the long and winding journey do you gain the clarity to understand what makes a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ purchase (and sometimes that’s half the fun). Welcome back, and enjoy!
Been on a G29 for a few years, it's finally time for a serious upgrade.
After much research decided to go full Simagic.
Alpha U, Gt Neo, P1000, DS-8X.
I've always been a buy once cry once fan, and from all the research I did, I believe on average this is the absolute best setup that fits in my budget, that could only be improved with like ridiculously pricey things like Simucube.
Good video, even thought I was already decided before watching xD
@@PPedroFernandes you’re definitely doing the upgrade in the ideal way, and probably spending a lot less than others who wind up doing a bunch of ‘sidegrading’. I hope you’ve been keeping your forearms in shape because the Alpha U is going to be a real workout 😆
Your new setup should be amazing though. Enjoy!
Orderd simagic mini, gt sim pro, simssons pedals, Moza seq shifter, build a 4 actuator Motion platform with surge, build an active seatbelt tensioner, a wind simulator , bought gamer2 pro, 48” lg oled tv , evo gt rig with stand , bought vr quest 3…. Maybe i am crazy but never played a sim racing game only Some tests on the keyboard… but i go for it.. and i am not a rich Guy , but start building up in 2019
@@Arvidje this is a hell of a setup! Enjoy!
im on T248 currently, will be fully upgrading everything once i move house but 100% (in the process of a move)
From g29 upgrading to Cammus C5, rn i only can afford a deskclamp set up xD. Thank you for the video, you gave some good ideas, like the blackbox addon
Yesterday I happened to encounter the Simsonn pedals on amazon and the seller seemed to be Simsonn themselves (also shipped by them so it will probably take a while to arrive).
Good to know, interesting to see some of these products escape the AliExpress sphere and make their way to Amazon. Makes it that much easier for people to pull the trigger on good budget gear
You sir, have motivated me. Buy once, cry once is what i need to start doing. Unfortunately I’m addicted to buying then selling until i get to my end goal. Im sitting on the t300 right now. Want to pull the trigger on everything moza. Great video. Got my attention.
@@SemperFi_Bry Moza R9 or R12 with the CRP2 (or even the SR-P) would be a great bundle and a massive leap from the T300. I believe the T300 sat in between the TMX and TSPC Thrustmaster wheelbases in terms of performance, so to go from that to an R12 or even an Alpha Mini would feel like a galactic leap in fidelity. Would love to hear what you eventually settle on, and enjoy!
@@BrianFolchetti I ordered a alpha mini and gt neo, also coming from a T300, its working on 50% now because it overheats if the ambient room temp exceeds 22c (even with the Noctua fan upgrade and extra breathing holes). Tried to upgrade to Alpha after putting in my order about 3 days after but their blackfriday alocation was done already. It comes halfway in January.
@@BrianFolchetti just posted a short. I came across a great deal on a t818
Looks like you're using the Gonbouyoku headset. If so, it's darn good for the price. I went with the Alpha as well, it's a great wheelbase.
@@RADERFPV This is my first time hearing of this headset. The design looks just a little inspired from the headset I have, the HyperX Cloud 3’s. These look like a really good alternative for the price!
@@BrianFolchetti Gotcha, thanks man. It looks like my headset is a complete rip off of yours, lol! It's totally legit though, I'm digging it. I checked out a few of your shorts, great content, sub'd.
@@RADERFPVhey if it works, it works haha! Appreciate the sub!
@@BrianFolchetti 👍
I see you disconnected a clutch pedal and moved position of brake and throttle. I saw a thread on reedit that’s says it’s really difficult to unscrew those. Did you also noticed any problem?
@@lucasnoline for the CSL pedals it’s a matter of either just setting them up with or without the clutch from the get go or have a very annoying time tearing them all apart to take the clutch off. Very annoying, can confirm haha
Up the Reds!
Im exited for the VRS dfp15 and the simlab wheelbases
Ur vid came up in suggested since I've been checking out all this sim racing stuff/tech again after about 3-4 years. Crazy timing on this video honestly. I've been laser vision on wheel bases the last few days and was honestly thinking to myself for the money to nm power/torque ratio what would beat the simagic alpha? ha. boom. Also funny i was eyeing mainly a sim lab cockpit. Doing the back and forth ok on sale you can get simagic 15 nm for 600ish. 15 nm in a fanatec is 1000. Also have the issue of i like the look and the buttons and the actual wheel choices of the fanatec products. and so on and so forth we go lol.
@@kevinplagman841 before I landed on this setup, the back and forth and comparing and contrasting different components was endless. I do it with almost everything in life and honestly it drives my wife bonkers haha.
I will say the Simagic offering at the moment is a little more enticing because of how cheap their quick releases are, you can get almost any rim and make it compatible with their wheelbases. Fanatec on the other hand has a ton of different rims for any discipline, but be prepared to pay a bit more. Once Simagic fills out their rim range, they’ll be tough to beat!
@BrianFolchetti tiiiiiiime out. Ha. How is any rim able to work with the simagic wheel base?
@@kevinplagman841 my bad I may have misspoke lol. You can definitely do a little DIYing to make them work, but any 6 bolt pattern rim should fit on their QR. Other examples like say a GSI or Cube Controls rim should also be able to fit using their quick releases and pair to your PC via Bluetooth. It’s also the other way around for their GT Neo where you can use that on non-Simagic bases with a USB adapter.
Things are getting more open and standardized between manufacturers, and it’s been awesome to see people pair some wild combos together
@BrianFolchetti ooooooo ok. So really I need to actually research and pay attention to the connections/QRs etc. I didn't even really know that was a 'thing'. Just more casually assumed wheels only worked on their own wheelbases, etc. Appreciate the back n forth 👍. Do u have anything negative to say on the sim lab rig?
@@kevinplagman841 SimLab has some newer rig designs which I feel ‘look’ nicer, but the ability to just chuck any extruded aluminum bits you want on to customize it may be limited because of the more intentional design of the rigs. I will say most of my complaints with the GT1 Evo lie with the lack of rigidity of the integrated monitor mount (it does move around a bit if I’m going bananas on the wheel) but the rig itself is built like a tank. Absolutely no flex, would recommend. I’d suggest checking out what TrakRacer and NextLevelRacing have to offer in comparison and see which you like best. 8020 is 8020 at the end of the day, all comes down to personal preference and the support for the array of add-ons you want to throw on
Recently went r9, cs v2p wheel and srp pedals as my first setup, just got to find a cockpit
@@JordanH69420 there are some decent budget options but I would try not to skimp out here and get something you can upgrade around. Good options from GT Omega, Next Level Racing, TrakRacer and of course SimLab
@BrianFolchetti I was looking at the upshift r-pro with a seat. Tried to use the moza desk mount but the vibrations were too much for my pc 😅.
@@JordanH69420 haha I had to mount my desk to the wall using L-brackets when I was a desk racer. Good memories
I went much the same route. Moza R9 with ES wheel+12" mod for rally and a Moza KS wheel for GT/Formula racing, SRP pedals with the performance kit, Moza seq shifter and Moza handbrake. For cockpit i went for TrakRacer TR8pro. And a 40" ultrawide monitor.
Instead of quest2, just look at quest3s if money is an issue
Especially with VR I would advise to go brand new (you have no idea where those headsets have been lol), but the Quest 2 specifically can be found used for basically nothing. For someone who is super unsure if VR is for them, a used Quest 2 is a great option. For someone who knows they want to get into VR to replace their monitor setup, I would suggest saving up and just going for the Quest 3. The jump in clarity is significant
Outside of US or maybe Europe, all this is crazy expensive, you make 1/4 in income and things cost at least twice as much. Buying from aliexpress is the only option, so you have to go with Moza.
Same with rig, but for that better to buy a seat in a junkyard and build it yourself.
I don't know why people go all crazy on high nm bases when you don't want to simulate non power drive cars, nice to have, but you can get a much cheaper lower dd like moza r5 and be 99% covered.
I am seeking to re-enter the realm of sim racing and would greatly appreciate any recommendations. Specifically, I am interested in guidance regarding suitable steering wheels and pedals for someone who is a first-time sim racer returning to this discipline. My primary focus will be utilizing this equipment for Formula 1 games. Thank you for your assistance.
Facebook Marketplace: look for a used Logitech G29/920, or if you’re lucky, you could even snag a used Thrustmaster or Fanatec combo at a huge discount. I would start there to see if jumping back into sim racing is something you want to stick with. This way if in 6 months you feel one way or the other about it, you can recoup the cost of your used wheel by selling it and upgrading or exiting the hobby without losing very much.
For a nicer setup from the get go I’d say take a look at the Moza R5 bundle-decent price, direct drive, and a reasonable amount of force feedback to start. The F1 games are more ‘simcade’ and you might be totally content with sticking with those, but if you dive a little deeper into other simulators, this setup should treat you well also.
It all comes down to budget and how much you want to throw at the hobby while still being reasonable. While I do mention ‘buying once, crying once’ several times in the video, I still think a total noob should get their sim racing sea legs on budget gear first. Once you get past the learning curve and things start to click on track, you’ll have a better idea of what features you want out of a midrange setup.
Hope this is helpful, and good luck!
2 days ago, i took advantage of the fanatec sale and spent $1300 on a full Fanatec CSL setup. Includes the cockpit, seat+sliders, 8NM DD, v2 hub+podium wheel, throttle +clutch+loadcell brake pedals.
He also got a Quest3 gift for XMas(~$500). That is about $2000 after i get his shifter.
Does anybody have experience with the Fanatec cockpit?
@@Android415 Congrats! That’s a hell of a deal, enjoy your new gear!
Mandatory comment for the cap.
@@somhunt5446 YNWA
What are my options for ps5? Can i still go with a wheel with no buttons? I only race the world of outlaws game
@@billy9995 As far as official options you’re going to be limited to Fanatec, Thrustmaster, and Logitech. PlayStation is the more ‘restrictive’ of the console wheel platforms as their peripherals require a security chip for compatibility. Unofficially: you can look into the Drive Hub from Collective Minds for $90. It’s sort of finicky and is not the most elegant solution, but hey, it allowed me to use my setup to play GT7 with very little hassle. If you’re starting from scratch, I would look into a setup that allows you to play on both PC and PS5 from the get go!
@BrianFolchetti i got a g29 wanna upgrade to DD but idk wtf I'm doin lol ....idk what the drive hub does...been trying to figure this out and I agree something pc/ps5 all in one....the gt wheel from fanatec i dont care for since I just don't dirt oval id like to not have buttons but I'm not sure if that works for ps or not
Simmagic has the converter I believe just not sure how it all works
@@billy9995 good call, almost forgot about the Sigma Cortex (what a name lol). For an option like Fanatec, I believe the wheelbase will have the PS5 compatibility built in and you can just get any rim to pair with that. So a hypothetical you can get any round rim, pair that with their Podium Hub, and I believe you should be good to go. I would do more research into your specific use case as this is inching further away from my immediate area of expertise. Good luck though!
@BrianFolchetti yea the compatability is the part that confuses me with the ps application...I get it they got their gt7 blah blah but its just not my thing....appreciate the help id really like to go with simmagic with a mpi wheel just unsure about how it works im not sure if I can use the controller for button use to get in the game and use the wheel to race if that makes sense...thanks for the help oval racing is where it's at 👊
i see you're a lefty
@@94nolo how the heck did you figure this out lol
Edit: oh yeah, the guitar 😂
What about the wireless Xbox 360 wheel? The u shaped one
@@Deckbuttons I never had the Speed Wheel unfortunately :(
European fellow here, those prices are before taxes right?
@@vitto7922 Yes, unfortunately I didn’t take into account our fellow enthusiasts across the ocean, so the final pricing here is going to be applicable to the US only. I’m sure there are similar European distributors which have different bundles which would be better for you. Unsure if there is a European equivalent to a big-box computer chain like Microcenter, but hey you guys get cool stuff like the Sim Racing Expo so it all evens out 😆
Alpha Mini Cheap I just feel off my chair
@@coreyslusars3341 perhaps cheap isn’t the correct word haha, but more of a ‘budget’ option for those who see the current midrange offerings of wheelbases and ecosystems as their ‘end-game’ like I do. Until then-the trusty Logitech G29’s of the world should do just fine.
@ ya my G29 is solid! Seems like a bundle from 1 Brand is a cheaper option then building separate
@ I’m a big fan of mixing and matching and don’t have a ton of brand loyalty to one specific company, but yes, going the bundle route is the way to go if you want to save a decent chunk of change