Need for help shi-t

Merlin5 · 20 Dec 2009 at 03:49

I downloaded NFS shift demo then I dusted off my old thrustmaster force feedback wheel which I've had for years and plugged it all in. This one: http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/1...orce_feedback_racing_wheel_review/index2.html

I got it working ingame, but it freezes frequently when I turn the wheel, and bluescreens regularly. No freeze ups or bluescreens if I just use the keyboard for the game. There's no win7 drivers for the wheel so I used a vista 64 driver.
Also, I can't find the power supply so I'm using a uniross power supply (from a battery charger) which fits the wheel. Could it be that the power supply is making it freeze up because it might be the wrong voltage, or could it be the wrong drivers? This happens regardless of whether I choose custom wheel or analogue gamepad ingame.

Amnesia · 20 Dec 2009 at 04:59

i had the same stuttering problem (no blue screen) in test drive unlimited with that wheel...was a major pain since i loved just cruising about using a wheel.

one day someones kid had a go and ended up breaking 1 of the flappy panel gear levers off, i was a bit annoyed so i pulled the other 1 off aswell and tbh it didnt take much effort so i'd say it was more down to poor build quality than the kids fault. it's a shame though as the rest of the wheel is pretty solid with great ffb.

anyway i ended up buying a driving force gt which is a pretty good wheel for the price and hey guess what ..the stuttering has gone.

Merlin5 · 20 Dec 2009 at 05:30

Amnesia said:
i had the same stuttering problem (no blue screen) in test drive unlimited with that wheel...was a major pain since i loved just cruising about using a wheel.

one day someones kid had a go and ended up breaking 1 of the flappy panel gear levers off, i was a bit annoyed so i pulled the other 1 off aswell and tbh it didnt take much effort so i'd say it was more down to poor build quality than the kids fault. it's a shame though as the rest of the wheel is pretty solid with great ffb.

anyway i ended up buying a driving force gt which is a pretty good wheel for the price and hey guess what ..the stuttering has gone.

I don't know anything about that driving force GT wheel, is it a fairly recent product with win7 support and does it work in most new racing games? If I buy a new one, I don't want to spend much more than the cost of say, this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-022-LG&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=

Is that a good wheel btw? The one I have is as you mentioned very solid and clamps down to my desktop very firmly.

Amnesia · 20 Dec 2009 at 06:52

Merlin5 said:
I don't know anything about that driving force GT wheel, is it a fairly recent product with win7 support and does it work in most new racing games? If I buy a new one, I don't want to spend much more than the cost of say, this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GC-022-LG&groupid=702&catid=288&subcat=

Is that a good wheel btw? The one I have is as you mentioned very solid and clamps down to my desktop very firmly.

it was released around the time of gran turismo prologue i think as its the official wheel for it(works for ps3 too).

its a logitech wheel so you should be fine with win 7, as for games i haven't had any problems with it and i have a few racing games.
rfactor
gtr evolution
race 07
live for speed
test drive unlimited

i have a few more nfs/grid type but usually just use a joypad with them.

the wheel itself is great and only lacks a manual gear box and clutch but for around the £50 mark its cheeky to expect it.

the wheel you have linked is only vibration feedback which isnt the same thing and uses only suction cups .
the driving force gt has proper force feedback and uses clamps to stay put..i have seen it advertised for as little as £45 so is only £10 more and easily worth the small extra.

Merlin5 · 23 Dec 2009 at 18:34

oops wrong thread.

Merlin5 · 29 Dec 2009 at 10:19

I bought a Thrustmaster Ferrari GT Experience 3-in-1 today

Brand new from a high street shop, reduced from £34.99 to £29.99, and it works brilliantly. No more freeze ups or bluescreens. No power adaptor either, just the usb. Seems to be a better wheel than my other. Happy happy

Merlin5 · 19 Jan 2010 at 01:57

Update (for anyone remotely interested, prolly not

)

Merlin5 said:
I bought a Thrustmaster Ferrari GT Experience 3-in-1 today
Brand new from a high street shop, reduced from £34.99 to £29.99, and it works brilliantly. No more freeze ups or bluescreens. No power adaptor either, just the usb. Seems to be a better wheel than my other. Happy happy

Well that wheel was a load of crapola with a very weak force feedback, more like a rumble pack. I only just managed to get a refund on it eventually, but not from the first shop manager I saw, he wouldn't have it. I had to go to another branch and persuade another manager who showed me some goodwill and refunded me.

Anyway, the upshot is, I contacted thrustmaster/guillemot, paypal'd them 20 euros and they sent me a replacement 20v uk power supply with adaptor for my old wheel. No more BSOD's.\o/

Mine is several years old, nice weighty wheel, solid clamping, paddles and gearstick, not been used too much, and far better built than the cheapo one I got returned. It's probably every bit as good as anything else out there today apart from probably the top of the range wheels like the G25. I'm happy I got it sorted for hardly any money. Gotta test it properly in dirt 2 and NFS shift.