Racing simulator setup advice

Gaz6002 · 9 Jun 2011 at 15:35

Hi all,

I've just bought a real race car with wheels and stuff, and would like to invest in a sim setup so I can learn basic track layouts before I attend test days or race weekends.

Currently I own a PS3, which really doesn't get used a lot. I'm a bit 'light' on computer nouse really and have no intention of playing other games on it - the most use it has had since I got it in November is watching a few films. However, since I have it, I may as well use it.

I've got a further £600 to spend on this, and my friend/colleague and member on this very site Lashout_UK told me that you guys are the consummate experts on the subject. What would you advise?

Regards,

Gaz

Mr Men · 9 Jun 2011 at 17:21

What tracks? probably better off looking into the PC area, rFactor would be a good starting point as it probably has every track in the world by now

Gaz6002 · 9 Jun 2011 at 17:24

UK tracks usually, but I'll be venturing off into Europe too.

I've considered the PC option, but there are a few problems:

a) I'm a bit of an ITphobe and think it'll just spawn never-ending problems

b) I don't think I'll be able to get a setup as good as I could by using a PS3 game with a seat and wheel within my budget.

I'm happy to be proved wrong on both counts though.

adam cool dude · 9 Jun 2011 at 18:12

£600 would be better spent on actually track tuition no? Any PC sim with a keyboard can learn you track layouts or watching video's on youtube.

Gaz6002 · 9 Jun 2011 at 20:45

I have a completely different budget for testing and tuition, but there are 15 race weekends in a year and test time is limited as I work full-time, so I figure this could give me a little extra advantage.

JoeBoi · 10 Jun 2011 at 06:46

Is £600 the total budget for everything?

craptakular · 10 Jun 2011 at 07:11

roflcopter you want to buy a race car for the ps3?

There aren't any simulators on console...

You need to look into rfactor, Live for Speed etc etc rfactor 2 is in production.

4T5 · 10 Jun 2011 at 07:30

RFactor is the only game that offers the tracks you want/need. Well worth the effort as well as there are literally Hundreds of tracks available for free download including Croft, Thruxton, Brands & Donny. Game plays really well an all & there are Busa powered Caterhams. :cool:

GravyMonster · 10 Jun 2011 at 08:48

Definately need to use a PC setup for this. Console racing games just aren't even close if you're looking to get a real simulation.

Logitech G27 + rFactor + the mod closest tothe car you drive + whatever track you need to learn = job done.

Mr Latte · 10 Jun 2011 at 09:09

Sorry to say but £600 will not go very far in making or buying a cockpit.
You don't explain what you have/need.

As you should be aware this can be an expensive hobby both in real terms and from the simulation side as well.

I've spent nearly that on a proper FIA raceseat and mounts alone.
Depends how far you want to take things but my own cockpit build (okay its going to be flash) but after 3 years working on it is currently over 4k with about 2k+ spent on audio/tactile immersion.

Gaz6002 · 10 Jun 2011 at 11:36

Oxy said:
roflcopter you want to buy a race car for the ps3?

There aren't any simulators on console...

You need to look into rfactor, Live for Speed etc etc rfactor 2 is in production.

No, I said I have a PS3 and around £600 to spend, and I'm open to suggestions.

4T5 said:
RFactor is the only game that offers the tracks you want/need. Well worth the effort as well as there are literally Hundreds of tracks available for free download including Croft, Thruxton, Brands & Donny. Game plays really well an all & there are Busa powered Caterhams.

Sounds good... actually, RFactor has the car I've bought as well. This could be a good option. Is it hard to set up? I have an old PC - what sort of spec do you need to run RFactor reliably? I suppose I'd need a new monitor as I only have a 17" one.

Mr Latte said:
Sorry to say but £600 will not go very far in making or buying a cockpit.
You don't explain what you have/need.

As you should be aware this can be an expensive hobby both in real terms and from the simulation side as well.

I've spent nearly that on a proper FIA raceseat and mounts alone.
Depends how far you want to take things but my own cockpit build (okay its going to be flash) but after 3 years working on it is currently over 4k with about 2k+ spent on audio/tactile immersion.

I'm fully aware how expensive motorsport is, believe me.

I'm also aware that you can end up spending silly money (as with everything!) but I want something rudimentary that's going to do the job. I don't need a hydraulically-powered F1 rig - it wouldn't fit in my gaff

Trixter · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:04

Mr Latte · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:05

Gaz6002 said:
I'm also aware that you can end up spending silly money (as with everything!) but I want something rudimentary that's going to do the job. I don't need a hydraulically-powered F1 rig - it wouldn't fit in my gaff

Very clever but I asked you actually what you do need.
All I know is you have £600 and a PS3 which is a budget someone spends on a playseat type cockpit and decent wheel.

As mentioned PC sims are your best source for simulation/handling and tracks.
Videos on youtube are free to watch but would probably be as useful as a PS3 game is regards training purposes.

I fail to see the benefit you realistically will get from driving even PC sims, particulary on such a basic setup towards helping your real driving/racing in the car whatever it is at wherever track.

The guys that do go for home simulation as a tool and not entertainment tend to spend quite large sums of money on it to gain some level of realisim or indeed accuracy to improve their lines/concentration and general consistency. I would also suggest that putting money into "driving training" the real thing would be money better spent to improve your real racing.

Gaz6002 · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:11

Mr Latte said:
Very clever but I asked you actually what you do need.
All I know is you have £600 and a PS3 which is a budget someone spends on a playseat type cockpit and decent wheel.

As mentioned PC sims are your best source for simulation/handling and tracks.
Videos on youtube are free to watch but would probably be as useful as a PS3 game is regards training purposes.

I fail to see the benefit you realistically will get from driving even PC sims, particulary on such a basic setup towards helping your real driving/racing in the car whatever it is at wherever track.

The guys that do go for home simulation as a tool and not entertainment tend to spend quite large sums of money on it to gain some level of realisim or indeed accuracy and improve their lines and general consistency. I would also suggest that putting money into "driving training" the real thing would be money better spent to improve your real racing.

I'm trying to figure out what I want/need - hence asking on here! TBH I wasn't expecting people to be so condescending to someone who obviously doesn't know a lot about it.

As I've already stated I have a separate budget for 'real' racing, and will be using that for tuition.

So with that in mind your suggestion is to not bother unless I spend significantly more?

Mr Men · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:21

£600 will be enough to set up a decent PC for rFactor and a wheel I imagine, real drivers use simulators to learn tracks so I don't see why anyone else can't

pretty sure I see most F1 teams simulators running the rFactor engine....but with a mega advance cockpit lol

Mr Latte · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:29

In all honesty if your wanting this for the usage as a tool then you need really to have a pretty decent level of input from the devices you use.

The Thrustmaster T500RS is currently the best mass market sim wheel for the general consumer. That alone is £400+. Its very accurate with much stronger resistance compared to other wheels inc Fanatec/Logitech. Comfort and seating poisition should be considered, perhaps you would want to replicate your own car so a d.i.y made cocklpit would be ideal.

By the sounds of it you may need the PC upgraded and certainly a larger monitor, possibly even use a HDTV. Id say triple screens are best for panaromic viewing not looking out a letterbox which one screen offers. With you having little PC knowledge then you are in at the deep end.

Really I think you need to be looking at £2000 to have a pretty decent setup that would be any usage towards replicating the real experience. How much even that actually does help your real driving is questionable. However as has be proven in the past many console/PC racing game fans can apply their speed to the real thing.

Sometimes it seems its actually harder for a quick driver to adapt to a PC/Console experience.

Mr Men · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:36

There is simply no need to go to those lengths to learn some tracks, decent PC that runs rFactor and a nice logitech wheel clamped to your desk, no need to build cockpits or anything like that

Mr Latte · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:39

Mr Men said:
There is simply no need to go to those lengths to learn some tracks, decent PC that runs rFactor and a nice logitech wheel clamped to your desk, no need to build cockpits or anything like that

Likewise their are probably loads of videos on youtube for the tracks he refers to and could learn the tracks, braking points and even possible gears depending on the videos available.

Gaz6002 · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:40

Mr Latte said:
Likewise their are probably loads of videos on youtube for the tracks he refers to and could learn the tracks, braking points and even possible gears depending on the videos available.

I'm a practical learner - watching and doing produce very different results

Mr Latte · 10 Jun 2011 at 12:52

Gaz6002 said:
I'm a practical learner - watching and doing produce very different results

Exactly, so sitting on any old chair with a 17" monitor and a fairly basic wheel that has crap gearchanges (unless your using paddles on the real car) is not going to help much regards simulating the real thing. Yes you learn to play a game and what gears and speeds to take corners, thats something you would learn in only a few short laps at a real track anyways.

I would say mocking your current car is a good idea regards simulating the real thing. As is having a decent sized screen and a good wheel. The quality you get from your wheel/pedals/gearstick is a big difference between various wheels. You are after all trying to recreate a real life experience.

Ask anyone in PC sim racing that takes it serious, if anything you want the T500 wheel first and foremost.
If you go for Logitech G27 then I strongly recommend you purchase the "Real Brake Mod" but that alone is about £200.