I just watched this for the second time after I did the same upgrade, spot on honest review. I agree with your assessment. Thanks so much for starting at the end and then filing in the details. Nobody else does that.
I went from G29 to CSW v2.5 to a Simucube 1 with 20 Nm motor. If you've felt the difference between a G29 and the v2.5, then it's basically that difference again stepping up to a DD. Smoother, faster response, more detail and much, much more torque. For pedals I went from G29 to Fanatec V3's with the BPK to HPP PRX-SE's. Again, same big difference over the V3's. Maybe bigger in the case of the pedals, IMO. And please don't take this as me knocking the Fanatec stuff. I loved my Fanatec setup and I recommend it all the time. They make really nice stuff, especially for the price point. DD wheels and high end pedals like HPP's or HE's are just on another level. I've had my current setup for over a year and it still wows me all the time.
For anyone wondering without checking the video, there is a substantial difference in FFB strength, but the FFB speed difference and detail difference is much more subtle than it was going from G29 to CSL.
Thanks man, this was exactly the kind of review I needed. I like the fact that you didn’t do any of those youtuber gimmicks to draw attention. Honest review from personal experience, that’s what we need. Cheers
Thanks for the more 'common man' perspective. Not all of us are really fast aliens or professional RUclipsrs. So you've made a very useful video. And you present yourself on camera just fine!
This reminds me of when RUclips first started. Just a guy explaining everything you want to know, without being biased by companies sending him free hardware, or needing to just make a video for the income. I love it!
@@BottomSplitPodium It looks like it's about to come to an end. GPU prices in the last month have dropped about 30%. The thinking, is this is due to China coming down hard on mining. This means we might have a massive sell off of used cards, along with the new stock catching up, and prices dropping a ton. Let's hope :)
Fantastic info and you did it brilliantly. You should youtube, i like truthful honest opinion and thats what you gave. Keep it going please. I am sat on the G29 to Fanatec fence but will go for the CSL. 👍🏼
It's a great wheel base! And with the money saved, you can get load cell pedals. I only went CSW because I got it the same price, but CSL was really good.
After using the g29 for a while I can say that it can be difficult to find the edge of the tires grip but the feeling is definitely there but you only can really notice it half a second after it is too late. Additionally the brake is hard to get a feel for because you’re relying on visuals to see how weight transfer is happening. These are probably the only major downsides to the wheel 😊
If you drive the FWD cars in iracing, you can actually get a pretty good feel for when you're losing grip with the g29/g27, although feeling the loss of grip *right* at the edge of grip is less obvious. That said, it's waaaaaay harder to get that feeling for RWD cars, which is obviously a big problem, even in the MX-5, Skippy, or SRF.
This hobby is definitely a rabbit hole. Years ago I got a new T300RS and a TX to be able to play on any platform. I bought a set of Clubsport V2 pedals and a basher board adapter to plug them into the Thrustmaster base. All of that was on a home built ricmotech plan rs1 rig. I got a Fanatec Clubsport shifter and after running all of that for a couple of years I upgraded to a Clubsport v2 wheel base. I started to want more and when the covid shortage hit and I decided I’d take advantage and sell my clubsport v2 wheel and go direct drive. I decided on an accuforce v2 as the sim commander software can make games with otherwise bland FFB come to life and feel amazing. Of course the accuforce v2 was deserving of something better than a home built wooden rig so I ordered a sim lab gt1 evo, integrated triple monitor mount, and three MSI curved monitors. I wanted to make sure I had the horsepower so of course I needed to build a new x570 Ryzen 9 3900x 2080 super PC. I had inverted my clubsport pedals and instead of undoing that I figured it was a perfect time for some Heusinkveld sprints. Here I am thousands later and am starting to contemplate a motion setup. 😂 Decide early on if you enjoy sim racing. If you do try to minimize money wasted by saving up and getting what you want in the first place and not dealing with the hassle of constantly selling and buying.
This is a very real, and great review. I have a G29 myself and the longer I use it, the more i do begin to think it may be holding me back. I especially want to change the pedals out, as it doesn't feel like I'm actually using real pedals at all.
yes its holding you back, especially with the pedals. Braking is sooo much better with the pedals from Fanatec. I had the Thrustmaster 300RS for 2 years, and spende 699euro on the CSL set. Its a lot of money, and if your not a fanatec in racing with the wheel I shouldnt spend it , but if you are....its the upgrade you wont regret. I do have to say that I had issues(squeaking sound) after a couple weeks with the first wheel, but after some effort on my side and cooperation on Fanatec's side I got a new wheel and everything is awesome now. Its a lotta money, so you dont want anything happening to it, but sometimes it happens, even with cars that cost 30.000euro as example. I was the unlucky buyer at that point, but they really helped me in the end of that situation.
Love the part about making your time more enjoyable because your wife needs your help! I'm pretty new to sim racing and I can spend too much time trying to dial in a car and force feedback settings on my T150. My wife hates it! Haha
Thanks for your video. I was wondering for upgrades on my simracing setup (got old g27 :s) and watched a lot of videos from simracinggarage or boosted media who speak very well about the technique and all of that kind of stuff wich is very great, but couldn't find any video like this one where someone really answer the questions and feels I have to choose whatever stuff I should upgrade to or if it's really worth it when you're not like this guys real pro or working in simracing or whatever not spending 20h a week in sim racing so thank you. Very very very usefull video for me :)
I am currently using a g29 and have my cart full on the fanatec website. Was second guessing myself and was doing some research. Came across your video and wanted to let you know how helpful your video was. Thanks so much.
I loved your direct and candid approach right off the bat during your conclusion. A trait that is seemingly in short supply these days. Bravo, if this is what to expect from you then I look forward to more of the same and try to maintain this level. With this, I think you'd make a great YT'r because for me it is not all about the flash & shine but the raw honesty delivered in a respectful manner. Have a sub and a like. 😀
My opinion is that for the casual racer the CSL wheelbase is the best option for performance/ value combined. Also it is possible with the play station CLS wheelbase version that the one wheelbase can be used for PC, Xbox (with an Xbox compatible wheel installed) and Playstation 4 or 5 which makes for one of the most versatile setups available. The biggest difference I see between the logitec/thrustmaster wheel setups is in the CSL Elite pedals with the loadcell option on the brake. To me that is where I see the biggest difference in gaining speed and consistency is in the pedals. Yes there is a definite upgrade with the wheelbase in smoothness and detail as well but the biggest gains in lap times I feel are tied to the better pedals. As an older guy that sim racing is just for fun and casual (I do the best my ability allows! lol!) I do not prefer to combine my sim racing with a gym workout trying to build muscles using the maximum force feedback levels but rather enough FF I know what the car is trying to tell me in the GAME I AM PLAYING but not to where I want something that requires an emergency shutoff that literally can break my wrist from a crash within the game. To me adding those types of risk to playing a video game is not one of the wisest choices as regardless at the end of the day it is still just a video game you are playing with pretend cars on pretend tracks and adding in the risk for real physical injury does not make sense. This I think is where many make the mistake and forget it is just a video game they are playing. Yes you can spend multiple upon multiple thousands of dollars in a rig to play racing video games in your basement if that is what you prefer but it is not required to go to that level to get enjoyment out of the game. If your budget cannot do the Fanatec route you can still have lots of fun with the Logitec/Thrustmaster lines of wheels.
I really liked my CSL Elite until it started randomly dying yesterday after 8 months of use...Thankfully there is still warranty but support has been very slow.
This might be a bit late but when I received my G29 for PS from my lovely GF all I had was our sons plastic dinner table which I had to balance on paint tins, never stopped me trying to compete, a friend actually uses is lap sitting on the floor with pedals against a block of wood, you make the most of what you got.
Nice video, I use a Logi G25 long time. Now upgrade to Fana CS 2.5 Base and V3 pedals. My Sim with great FF effects is rFactor 2. the differents are amazing ! With the CS 2.5 base and V3 Pedals you "feel" what the car is doing, understeer, oversteer, effekts from the road and curbs, while braking and accelerating. You can feel and handle the car on his limits very nice, with the G25 I was only steering a car and I got not much feedback from the limits. I want to test a Direct Drive wheelbase but I don't think that I need this cause the CS 2.5 is a great thing for me and srtong enough from his FF effects. One of the biggest game changers for me was .... my first VR Glass test. I have since 4 weeks now a HP Reverb G2. If you can, please test a VR glass and drive your Sim Race. It's from another Space ..... amazing to sit IN this car and drive ON the Racetrack.
Really good video! I’ve got a csl elite on order and can’t go the club sport route as it’s for a PS5 so just out of curiosity I wondered what I was missing out on if anything. Nice to see it from a person who’s buying it with their own money rather than here’s something company x sent me. I think even with an unbiased review it’s very different still when someone has spent their own money on it.
Really appreciate your video and glad you made it! I'm in the same exact dilemma. The hard part is trying to decide between the CSL Elite base vs the Clubsport v2.5. I'm 90% PC sims but I do play GT Sport of the PS4 occasionally. If the v2.5 (PC/Xbox One only) is that much better vs the CSL base+ (PC/PS4) then I would be willing to just use a gamepad played on the PS4 lol.
Completely agree with the Clubsport V3s not really being what they need to be without the brake performance kit. It should be included but it seems like they only created the kit as a reaction to criticism over the way the pedals come as standard.
Super convincing, you're right at the spot I'm at, answering the questions I ask myself, we even have the same job! Great video, I enjoyed it even more because it's _not_ flawless. Thanks a lot for publishing it!
Great video! As I'm considering all sorts of sim options (lack of space. grr) I've been watching loads of vids on the topic and this vid properly stands out. Right to the point followed by plenty of extra detail. cracking stuff.
Hey man! Thank you very much for the review. I am in the same position you are. I can only play on weekends and maybe some days in between but your review was very very helpful and I wish you the best of luck moving forward with both you job and your channel. Hope to see more videos from you in the future. Take care.
As a full-time programmer and casual racer, I must say: this video is incredibly helpful. I think I'll just save money for this upgrade instead of getting a Thrustmaster. Unrelated question though: how'd you like the EZ keyboard?
My big comment is the best in class casual midrange budget wheel base is the "Fanatec CSL Elite+ PS4/5 with CSL Elite Load Cell Pedals".( It can run on everything PC, Xbox, PlayStation ) I started with Logitech wheels and quickly graduated to ThrustMaster eco system upgrades over 10 years ago. This year I made the Fanatec jump via ebay sales of my ThrustMaster TS-PC eco system to make possible the Fanatec CSL Elite+ PS4/5 wheel and CSL Elite Load Cell Pedals than for the summer to Fanatec Poduim DD2 which is an excellent wheel base but, my bank account & the Sony PlayStation Eco system made me eBay the Fanatec Poduim DD2. (DD2 with DriveHub worked for PS4 but, it was not pretty) The Fanatec Podium Racing F1 for PS4/5 (DD1 & DD2) & ClubSport V3 both should have a solid well built SimRig to get your money out of them. I totally argree with the video, start with really well built simrig before getting higher end wheel bases or direct drive. My SimRig is ok but, it needs to be upgraded before I would spend money on a direct drive wheel again. I don't think it can be over stated your wheel base strength needs to match your simrig setup for the most fun and health.
Great video, I’m at the point you describe, enjoy sim-racing, but lack confidence for online. Have the G920 and enjoy it but considering the leap and your video really helped :)
For me, a cockpit more so than a wheel upgrade made me confident to drive online. The immersion and connection to the "driving feel" felt better with a cockpit. I wouldn't have even upgraded my wheelbase or started racing every day if I didn't buy that initial racing seat add on.
I’d like to hear about gaming on non racing games in your rig. I’m in the planning stage of my build and I like lots of different types of games so would like to hear what you have to say. Loved this video too by the way.
Sure! I don't mind it at all but sometimes the wheelbase gets in the way. I think having the monitor on a rising mount so you can lift it out of the way would go a long way to making regular gaming comfortable. The downside to "good FOV" is it usually means your steering wheel/wheelbase is jammed right in front of the monitor.
Good stuff, great video. I’m still sat on the fence, I own a G29 and am using it on a PS4Pro with a good cockpit. I have the Next Level GT Track, I can’t make my my mind up if I should upgrade my steering wheel to a Fanatec setup or save the money and put towards a decent PC & stick with the Logitech . I love Gran Turismo but I am currently finding Assetto Corsa Competizione much more realistic and enjoyable but the graphics look shite on the PS4. ( it either looks great at 30fps pre update or looks shite at 60fps after update)
Honestly G29 is good enough to get into sim racing. The only thing I'd consider is maybe adding a load cell upgrade to the brake like AXC TrueBrake or Ricmotech. Fanatec is great but it's a huge investment. The wheel and pedals alone will set you back nearly $700. Adding the load cell and shifter puts you at $1000. Another possibility is if you were to sell your G29 and buy a T300RS GT? It's a better system and later you can get the F1 add on and T-LCM pedals (which are better than Fanatec's starter pedals).
I also started sim racing on my ps4 pro + g29 with the games assetto corsa and project cars 2 and then switched to a pc +g29 and i can tell you the change is like day and night. I not once played a racing sim on my ps4 pro again since then. For me the biggest differences are the higher fps which help a lot, support for wide screen monitors which are also a massive advantage while racing in my opinion and the modding community in assetto corsa. The ability to mod is just such an epic feature! I personaly would really switch from ps4 to a pc first before upgrading the wheel! 👍
Hey man, awesome video. I'm in your shoes, having used a G920 for about 8 months and enjoying iRacing. I've been getting better and better and decided do buy the CSL Elite 1.1, wheel and V2 pedals with load cell kit. I thought about purchasing the V3 but I prefer the look of the V2's also being a bit cheaper. I watched a few videos regarding the Elite 1.1 base Vs. the CSW... and ultimately choose the Elite + a wheel. Can't wait to try it all out. Next will be a cockpit. I'm using the GT omega stand at the moment, just like in your photo. It beats the desk but it's not quite right and my body is not liking long hours. I thought about the Playseat Challenge as a starter cockpit but eventually want to upgrade to a GT Omega. This sim racing can get expensive, but quite enjoyable. Cheers!
EXCELLENT! Thank you for this video. I am you! Same story straight down the line. Very relevant and to the point on things I can relate to. You are better at YouTubing than most youtooooobers. More videos please. Blessings to all....
Interesting video, thanks! I’m also a casual sim racer (I like lots of game genres). Presently using a G920 (which I upgraded to a while back from a really basic budget Thrustmaster wheel the F430). The difference was night and day too! I drive mostly in VR, and like you say, there are lots of upgrade options to improve your driving experience. I was thinking of upgrading from the Vive to an Index, but that would probably require a gfx upgrade too. You can easily throw a load of money at this hobby! Certainly like to try a Fanatec too at some point.
Very detailled video, maybe you're not a youtube like you say, but you very much have what it takes to be one . What a video you made , especially without script
Casual's opinion; the CSL is good enough. Opinion of a sim racer suffering from G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome); the CSW is not enough! For me. I need to get pedals, a wheel stand (no room for a full cockpit), and then my wheel will be an Accuforce. I have a Fanatec CSR and its decent. But I want a direct drive setup, and the Accuforce sounds like a very good option. I can justify spending a grand for a full solution, I can't justify spending $1400 and up just for a wheel base.
I think the CSW gets too close to the cost of a DD that the benefits are overestimated compared to CSL over T300/G29/G920. After Fanatec upgraded the CSL, CSW is basically a very high quality stop gap.
Great video, well done, you spent the time and it shows. I'm Frankensteining my G29 pedals with the Leo Bodnar cable and the AXCsim truebrake is in the mail, to simulate a loadcell :) I don't have the space for a rig, and assume that these wheelbases will rock my Playseat Challenge too much... So my next upgrade will be just pedals instead of the wheelbase, or maybe not if the truebrake works well enough.
You will enjoy it! Those AXC guys made a nice piece of kit. And it's probably the only real low point of G29 that can last you a while before getting nice gear.
Very informative and nice video. I have a T300 GT wheel and I relate to the things you said. It sometimes feels like skating on ice, you have grip, and then you don't. The in between is missing, there is no gradual feel of being on the edge, it is just lost. You could also make a video showing the difference you feel in using a cockpit and using a table mount, because I have never used a cockpit, and I have aways wondered what the difference is, and what the benefits are. Also on pedals and other equipment vs the basic gear you get cheap. Keep making more videos!
hey buddy. you would be supprised how much your seating makes a difference. i went from a folding chair to a racing bucket (from a real car) and i was WAY more consistant/ faster. if you are using something like a couch your body will move around when you are turning and braking. make sure you are sitting on something solid and the wheel isnt moving aroung. you dont need a million dollar setup if you can make it yourself. also make sure you have the right wheel angle (not straight up and down)
dude!, the only thing that wasn't "pro youtuber" was that there was no clickbait, you started with the important stuff first instead of dragging it out (still watched the whole thing), and you where only at 720P resolution. great info tnx! all in all pedals wheels and wheel base, what did you end up spending?
I agree that the Fanatec Setups are a massive step up compared to the g29, but what you described about the FFB feeling of slipping and grip losing control, i can already feel on the g29, not as pronounced as with Fanatec gear, but it is there. If you want a more realistic and in depth feel for the immersion, or want to get more competetive, then the upgrade is a no brainer to either of the Fanatec Products.
An excellent video, thank you. I own the Fanatec CSR wheel (10 years old) and need to upgrade soon. I am not sure if I should go CSL or ClubSport V2. I echo other’s requesting for your rig plans. Please keep the videos coming!
The csl is newer tech on the inside. Csw has 8nm of max torque the csl has 6nm. Otherwise they're mostly the same. Only the csl elite has a PS4/5 compatible version, which then also will work on Xbox one/series x.
I've had previous Logitech wheel and pedals, then Xbox 360 wheel and pedals, so this time I purchased the Logitech G920 wheel, pedals, and shifter. The G920 is nice, but it kept slipping out of place on my desk, so I bought the Strasse racing rig and extra components to stiffen all the component arms, and also the TV stand, so it works really well. After spending about $1k on the rig, I decided to upgrade to the Fanatec shifter and handbrake as I didn't like the Logitech one that much, seems a little cheap and misses gears a lot. Now I'm looking at the Clubsport base and pedals, thanks for your input, I was wondering if the DD was worth the upgrade, but I will probably stick with the Clubsport. That's the other reason I decided to completely switch over to Fanatec, you can use a mixed setup on your PC, but not on the Xbox or Playstation. costick.co.jp/strasse/rcz01/
stupid question - i’m looking to get my first wheel and was looking at the 920 or csl elite - is it THAT big a difference - ie it will meaningfully enhance my Dirt Rally 2.0, F1, etc experience over the G920 ... ? not looking to burn cash - but if it’s something I’m going to own and do for years - I’m open to it ...
@@TubeYouDSilvy Well in the end it always comes down to budget. If money isn't an issue then Fanatec all day everyday. Saying that, if your are new to sim racing, I would always recommend not going to crazy at first. What if after a couple months of racing you find out, it just isn't for you, or you just dont have the time anymore to commit and you went a spent 1k plus...... the logitech g920 is a great bundle to get into sim racing. Comes with everything you need to hop right on the track and race for under $400. I, like most sim racers started with the g920 or variation of that and then upgrade to fanatec down the road. If you are wondering if buying one over the other will make you faster..... tbh practice is what makes you faster. People win races all the time on entry level gear. In sim racing upgrading almost never ends, mostly for immersion purposes. Yes a load cell brake set can save you time on laps, and yes a belt driven motor will give you better feedback and information.... but none of that will do any good if you don't have the practice time behind the wheel. Learning the tracks, how many corners, where the breaking points are etc that's what will make you faster. Hope that helps, and goodluck with your purchase whichever it may be.
UnknownRacing Thanks - really appreciate the feedback! Truthfully - it’s not about being fast/faster ... although that’s always a nice side benefit. I’m competitive and like to be good at what I do. It’s more that I don’t honestly get that much time to steal away at my PC - and, ironically, you’d think that would suggest to spend less on a kit - but it means to me that when I do get 2 hrs to get behind the wheel - I want it to be really great/fun/immersive so that I can forget about the day/crap/etc - and REALLY enjoy myself for a couple hours. And the way it is described - the G920/29 sounds a bit on the “arcady” side - will get the job done and is a good value for sure - but the Fanatec will be a really noticeable step-up in the experience and immersion and the overall feel. Perhaps the difference between a great steak and good burger. I’m not a food snob - cheeseburgers are my favorite - but as far as analogies go ...
@@TubeYouDSilvy No worries at all, and I love a good steak! The way I like to look at it is the g920 is a Ford and the Fanatec is Mercedes. The overall build quality is very apparent. Like the second you open the box you will feel like a kid on Christmas morning again. Not trying to bully the g920 but the overwhelming plastic and gear driven motor is most likely why people find it arcade like. Also fanatec has an amazing eco system, so much to choose from. In the end if you want it to look the part and feel it you can't go wrong with fanatec. Happy shopping;)
first, nice taste in keyboards. i never had a G29 but i had the driving force pro for GT4 back in 2004, i'm told they're similar. planning into getting into real racing so i wanna build a very legit sim rig, trying to figure out how crazy i want to go with the wheel, so this is helpful. thanks for the heads up on the brake performance kit.
corniel Try ordering everything from Australia! If you really wanted it you would just pay the shipping, and whats that cost compared to the overall cost of fanatec products? If the shipping is too expensive then you didnt have enough to buy it in the first place!
I'd just wait until you can afford a DD wheelbase myself, you're going to go down that rabbit hole eventually if you're considering upgrading from the logitech, so in the long run, it'll be cheaper to save the extra cash and go straight to a DD wheelbase IMO.
Although I get your point, I don't think everyone has the budget to get a DD ready cockpit. You need to have a decent rig to stabilize a DD due to their overall power delivery. Not to mention not all games play nice with DD sets and I'm willing to bet most casuals are not going to want to spend all their time tweaking all their inputs and FFB to be perfect and up to a DD's full potential. The CSL and equivalent are designed for those who are in between casual and hardcore
I think this helped me quite a bit. I was previously thinking about going with a CSL elite 1.1 and the CSL elite LC pedals, along with the fanatec shifter and handbrake (I like both grip racing and drifting, plus I heavily prefer using the H pattern for H pattern cars). I'm pretty sure I'm just going to keep using my current shifter and handbrake setup, though, and instead go for the CSW and v3 pedals + performance kit, since the price of that is actually still just a hair cheaper than the CSL elite stuff + shifter + handbrake.
For the price of a clubsport and steering wheel package you can get an accuforce v2 which is a MUCH better wheel for the price. I went from a clubsport wheel to an accuforce myself and the difference is staggering especially now with the sim commander cloud tuning update that makes tuning the wheel for different sims a simple click.
please make videos on your rig, and the plans on it. also for drifting do you think the csl elite is good? i just want a good wheel and some pedals for drifting. im borrowing my friends g920 right now to see if i like sim racing, and I do so my next decision is whether the clubsport or csl elite..
Apparently i am the only simracer that does stuff backwards and cares for some ergonomy. Meaning ive bought my rig immediately after geting my wheel, simply because it was to painfull to set it all up. Wires everywhere oooh god.. :O Not to mention lower back pain from sitting on my regular kitchen chair, and stiff knees from hovering my foot over the brake wt my whole leg up in the air as the angle is a bit weird when you set your pedals flat on the floor. But the biggest issue i think wt g29 is inconsistency with braking due to its design and the way its sized. The brake and gas are so pushed together that since im more into gt3/4 cars i even thought about removing the clutch completely and switching my brake pedal there. This video convinced me its probably not worth it as the set is still in waranty - better to switch. But i wish i saw this video in dec 19 LOL
Thanks for your video! I have a TM - TX, and T-LCM pedals (they're great!), I'm also looking to upgrade my wheelbase. However the Fanatec prices can be encroaching into DD territory (M10). I don't really want to spend that kind of money at the moment. So CSL Elite is the only logical contender, is it really worth it guys? (M10 but its quite a leap!)
One of the most informative videos of a G29 user upgrading to Fanatec. Btw, do you reckon the CSL Elite LC pedal would be ok for a wheelstand + office chair setup (with locked castors), I'm considering just going for a non-LC CSL Elite.
Depends on the floor to be honest. Even with a caster lock, the force of the LC is still quite heavy and you might just push backward anyway and maybe scratch the floor? But you could always reduce the brake pressure so they're not as firm but the travel distance will be longer. I recommend getting a regular chair, like maybe a folding chair from Wal-Mart? And maybe get some of those "roof tension bands" to tie the wheel stand to the chair. That's a good cheap way to make sure the pedals don't push you backward. I highly recommend the load cell though. The CSL pedals without it aren't much better than regular G29 pedals.
@@BottomSplitPodium Alright, cheers man. Think I'll start with Non-LC first, since all I drive on is GT Sport and F1 atm. Then save the LC kit for a future upgrade. Mostly considering Fanatec since a T300RS costs 80% as much in Australia, so it's a logical upgrade from the G29 without having to deal with Thrustmaster reliability haha.
@@ark14700 may be too late now, but i have a wheel stand - office chair "rig" and at first just had the CSL pedals w/o the LC. spent the extra $$ for the LC soon after. the advice to get the CSL w/LC is the way to go.
Hey mate, an insanely useful video, game developer here, and one question, you mentioned playing regular games from your rig, but, can you, and how does it feel to actually program and develop from the same rig? is it doable, how comfortable does it feel? I just might do something like that... Thanks.
I was wondering if you could comment on the noise levels? Obviously everyone's noise tolerance is different but if you could provide a comparison that would be much appreciated!
video quality was not the best, but you also articulate very well considering this is no script video, overall great content with honest opinion. Personally i have t150 pro + SHH shifter and while it is OK setup im eyeing csl elite or clubsport 2.5 for some time, however i will upgrade my gpu and probably cpu first, this and in upcoming year so the wheel will have to wait.
But honestly im still undecided between csl elite and clubsport, what i like in csl elite that its cheaper, still good upgrade from my t150 base, but i personally think that clubsport would be final upgrade and i think that if i get csl elite i would always regret by not going all out on clusport. We will see i think when the time comes i might as well go full out and just get clubsport and stick with it.
CLS also works on console, the only fanitec that does i think. There are steps inbetween a G29 and a fanitec tho. Great gear fanitec but its bloody expencive. Also don't overlook the setting menus. You can tune the same wheel from brilliant to utterly useless. He's spot on about budget managment. If you buy an state of the art wheel but don't have good pedals or seat its gonna be a wast of money.
Leading with the conclusion- very refreshing. 🙏
I just watched this for the second time after I did the same upgrade, spot on honest review. I agree with your assessment. Thanks so much for starting at the end and then filing in the details. Nobody else does that.
so helpful from someone more like me rather than an influencer!
Yeah fuck that influencer tag
This was so much easier to watch than the typical sim race snob video. Straight to the point for casual racers. Nice work man 👍
As a casual driver as well, I hope you'll do a similar video when you finally decide to upgrade to DD!
I got one up on my channel now! :)
I went from G29 to CSW v2.5 to a Simucube 1 with 20 Nm motor. If you've felt the difference between a G29 and the v2.5, then it's basically that difference again stepping up to a DD. Smoother, faster response, more detail and much, much more torque. For pedals I went from G29 to Fanatec V3's with the BPK to HPP PRX-SE's. Again, same big difference over the V3's. Maybe bigger in the case of the pedals, IMO. And please don't take this as me knocking the Fanatec stuff. I loved my Fanatec setup and I recommend it all the time. They make really nice stuff, especially for the price point. DD wheels and high end pedals like HPP's or HE's are just on another level. I've had my current setup for over a year and it still wows me all the time.
For anyone wondering without checking the video, there is a substantial difference in FFB strength, but the FFB speed difference and detail difference is much more subtle than it was going from G29 to CSL.
Enjoyed your down to earth honest review. You should make more video’s, I can feel your passion.
Thanks man, this was exactly the kind of review I needed. I like the fact that you didn’t do any of those youtuber gimmicks to draw attention. Honest review from personal experience, that’s what we need. Cheers
Thanks for the more 'common man' perspective. Not all of us are really fast aliens or professional RUclipsrs. So you've made a very useful video. And you present yourself on camera just fine!
This reminds me of when RUclips first started. Just a guy explaining everything you want to know, without being biased by companies sending him free hardware, or needing to just make a video for the income. I love it!
I still try to keep it real! Posting a video soon about buying/building a PC for sim racing (in today's awful market).
@@BottomSplitPodium It looks like it's about to come to an end. GPU prices in the last month have dropped about 30%. The thinking, is this is due to China coming down hard on mining. This means we might have a massive sell off of used cards, along with the new stock catching up, and prices dropping a ton. Let's hope :)
Many thanks for this video, that I came across today. I’m moving to DD and your detailed experience was most wellcomed. Congrats from Portugal.
Conclusion first = I watch the full Video
Thx you mate, that helps me a lot😃
Fantastic info and you did it brilliantly. You should youtube, i like truthful honest opinion and thats what you gave. Keep it going please. I am sat on the G29 to Fanatec fence but will go for the CSL. 👍🏼
It's a great wheel base! And with the money saved, you can get load cell pedals. I only went CSW because I got it the same price, but CSL was really good.
Agree, the Elite CSL is a leap from the G29, where the Club Sport DD set up is only a step from the Elite CSL with a much bigger jump in price.
This was the best video I've found about these wheels and bases, cheers :)
After using the g29 for a while I can say that it can be difficult to find the edge of the tires grip but the feeling is definitely there but you only can really notice it half a second after it is too late. Additionally the brake is hard to get a feel for because you’re relying on visuals to see how weight transfer is happening. These are probably the only major downsides to the wheel 😊
If you drive the FWD cars in iracing, you can actually get a pretty good feel for when you're losing grip with the g29/g27, although feeling the loss of grip *right* at the edge of grip is less obvious. That said, it's waaaaaay harder to get that feeling for RWD cars, which is obviously a big problem, even in the MX-5, Skippy, or SRF.
This hobby is definitely a rabbit hole. Years ago I got a new T300RS and a TX to be able to play on any platform. I bought a set of Clubsport V2 pedals and a basher board adapter to plug them into the Thrustmaster base. All of that was on a home built ricmotech plan rs1 rig. I got a Fanatec Clubsport shifter and after running all of that for a couple of years I upgraded to a Clubsport v2 wheel base. I started to want more and when the covid shortage hit and I decided I’d take advantage and sell my clubsport v2 wheel and go direct drive. I decided on an accuforce v2 as the sim commander software can make games with otherwise bland FFB come to life and feel amazing. Of course the accuforce v2 was deserving of something better than a home built wooden rig so I ordered a sim lab gt1 evo, integrated triple monitor mount, and three MSI curved monitors. I wanted to make sure I had the horsepower so of course I needed to build a new x570 Ryzen 9 3900x 2080 super PC. I had inverted my clubsport pedals and instead of undoing that I figured it was a perfect time for some Heusinkveld sprints. Here I am thousands later and am starting to contemplate a motion setup. 😂 Decide early on if you enjoy sim racing. If you do try to minimize money wasted by saving up and getting what you want in the first place and not dealing with the hassle of constantly selling and buying.
Totally agree and exact same path, went from G29 to CSL and got the V3 pedals on Black Friday last year. Next will be a cockpit then a Direct Drive.
CSL imo is the best price/performance. The level of detail going to DD wasn't as drastic as I thought it would be.
This is a very real, and great review. I have a G29 myself and the longer I use it, the more i do begin to think it may be holding me back. I especially want to change the pedals out, as it doesn't feel like I'm actually using real pedals at all.
yes its holding you back, especially with the pedals. Braking is sooo much better with the pedals from Fanatec. I had the Thrustmaster 300RS for 2 years, and spende 699euro on the CSL set. Its a lot of money, and if your not a fanatec in racing with the wheel I shouldnt spend it , but if you are....its the upgrade you wont regret. I do have to say that I had issues(squeaking sound) after a couple weeks with the first wheel, but after some effort on my side and cooperation on Fanatec's side I got a new wheel and everything is awesome now. Its a lotta money, so you dont want anything happening to it, but sometimes it happens, even with cars that cost 30.000euro as example. I was the unlucky buyer at that point, but they really helped me in the end of that situation.
Your video was absolutely fine with me! And you are right I’m exactly in your position right now. Really enjoyed it thank you!
i had both.. clubsport is more detailed and articulate..but sincerely i like much more the csl because it's more rough and brutal
Love the part about making your time more enjoyable because your wife needs your help! I'm pretty new to sim racing and I can spend too much time trying to dial in a car and force feedback settings on my T150. My wife hates it! Haha
Really great video that I definitely identified with. Thank you for taking the time to record this, really enjoyed your insight
This guy really comes off as such a great dude. Thanks so much for this video man.
Thanks for your video. I was wondering for upgrades on my simracing setup (got old g27 :s) and watched a lot of videos from simracinggarage or boosted media who speak very well about the technique and all of that kind of stuff wich is very great, but couldn't find any video like this one where someone really answer the questions and feels I have to choose whatever stuff I should upgrade to or if it's really worth it when you're not like this guys real pro or working in simracing or whatever not spending 20h a week in sim racing so thank you. Very very very usefull video for me :)
Still got the G27, cant wait to upgrade to the CSL elite soon!
me to, but now i want to wait and see what the new DD is gooing to be like
I saw this video on YT so... you are technically a youtuber :)
Great vid!
Lol yeah it will be even more funny if he starts making more videos and say he is not a youtuber as an intro in every video😂
I am currently using a g29 and have my cart full on the fanatec website. Was second guessing myself and was doing some research. Came across your video and wanted to let you know how helpful your video was. Thanks so much.
Been sitting on the fence and you just pushed me over. Great job, very well explained and you should keep creating content
Excellent review, thanks
My CSL elite just arrived today. I live in Germany so delivery was super fast. Can’t wait to set it up. Thanks for the review
I loved your direct and candid approach right off the bat during your conclusion. A trait that is seemingly in short supply these days. Bravo, if this is what to expect from you then I look forward to more of the same and try to maintain this level. With this, I think you'd make a great YT'r because for me it is not all about the flash & shine but the raw honesty delivered in a respectful manner. Have a sub and a like. 😀
My opinion is that for the casual racer the CSL wheelbase is the best option for performance/ value combined. Also it is possible with the play station CLS wheelbase version that the one wheelbase can be used for PC, Xbox (with an Xbox compatible wheel installed) and Playstation 4 or 5 which makes for one of the most versatile setups available.
The biggest difference I see between the logitec/thrustmaster wheel setups is in the CSL Elite pedals with the loadcell option on the brake. To me that is where I see the biggest difference in gaining speed and consistency is in the pedals.
Yes there is a definite upgrade with the wheelbase in smoothness and detail as well but the biggest gains in lap times I feel are tied to the better pedals.
As an older guy that sim racing is just for fun and casual (I do the best my ability allows! lol!) I do not prefer to combine my sim racing with a gym workout trying to build muscles using the maximum force feedback levels but rather enough FF I know what the car is trying to tell me in the GAME I AM PLAYING but not to where I want something that requires an emergency shutoff that literally can break my wrist from a crash within the game.
To me adding those types of risk to playing a video game is not one of the wisest choices as regardless at the end of the day it is still just a video game you are playing with pretend cars on pretend tracks and adding in the risk for real physical injury does not make sense.
This I think is where many make the mistake and forget it is just a video game they are playing. Yes you can spend multiple upon multiple thousands of dollars in a rig to play racing video games in your basement if that is what you prefer but it is not required to go to that level to get enjoyment out of the game.
If your budget cannot do the Fanatec route you can still have lots of fun with the Logitec/Thrustmaster lines of wheels.
I really liked my CSL Elite until it started randomly dying yesterday after 8 months of use...Thankfully there is still warranty but support has been very slow.
Did they repair it or did you get a new one and how long did it take to go back to racing?
Max Verstappen I had to pay shipping up front but they refund that after the repair is complete. Whole process took about 2-3 weeks
Thank you for your input here. I am happy to hear they are decent at support. Saving up for my upgrade from g29 to fanatec.
From my experience on fanatec group is that i see a lot of people having issues with CSL wheels. CSW owners never complain. Good choice.
@tusi 74 that happened? I still have to install my bpk.
@tusi 74 sorry I meant what happend. What did break?
@tusi 74 glad I never had a issue with it.
Dude, great video! Very honest, good info and no pretentious behaviour. So much more relevant to a much larger majority too! Good work!
This might be a bit late but when I received my G29 for PS from my lovely GF all I had was our sons plastic dinner table which I had to balance on paint tins, never stopped me trying to compete, a friend actually uses is lap sitting on the floor with pedals against a block of wood, you make the most of what you got.
Nice video, I use a Logi G25 long time. Now upgrade to Fana CS 2.5 Base and V3 pedals. My Sim with great FF effects is rFactor 2. the differents are amazing !
With the CS 2.5 base and V3 Pedals you "feel" what the car is doing, understeer, oversteer, effekts from the road and curbs, while braking and accelerating. You can feel and handle the car on his limits very nice, with the G25 I was only steering a car and I got not much feedback from the limits.
I want to test a Direct Drive wheelbase but I don't think that I need this cause the CS 2.5 is a great thing for me and srtong enough from his FF effects.
One of the biggest game changers for me was .... my first VR Glass test. I have since 4 weeks now a HP Reverb G2. If you can, please test a VR glass and drive your Sim Race. It's from another Space ..... amazing to sit IN this car and drive ON the Racetrack.
I'd definitely love to see the plans of your rig dude!
same here !
This will be my next video and I'll explain the parts to order. :)
Thankyou. Very honest and well built up video. And that without a script. You must be very good at analysing.
Amazing video, so surprised your channel isn't bigger. Awesome explanation, great on camera. I'd love to see more, definitely make the rig videos!
Really good video!
I’ve got a csl elite on order and can’t go the club sport route as it’s for a PS5 so just out of curiosity I wondered what I was missing out on if anything.
Nice to see it from a person who’s buying it with their own money rather than here’s something company x sent me. I think even with an unbiased review it’s very different still when someone has spent their own money on it.
Really appreciate your video and glad you made it! I'm in the same exact dilemma. The hard part is trying to decide between the CSL Elite base vs the Clubsport v2.5. I'm 90% PC sims but I do play GT Sport of the PS4 occasionally. If the v2.5 (PC/Xbox One only) is that much better vs the CSL base+ (PC/PS4) then I would be willing to just use a gamepad played on the PS4 lol.
Completely agree with the Clubsport V3s not really being what they need to be without the brake performance kit. It should be included but it seems like they only created the kit as a reaction to criticism over the way the pedals come as standard.
Super convincing, you're right at the spot I'm at, answering the questions I ask myself, we even have the same job! Great video, I enjoyed it even more because it's _not_ flawless. Thanks a lot for publishing it!
Great video! As I'm considering all sorts of sim options (lack of space. grr) I've been watching loads of vids on the topic and this vid properly stands out. Right to the point followed by plenty of extra detail. cracking stuff.
Hey man! Thank you very much for the review. I am in the same position you are. I can only play on weekends and maybe some days in between but your review was very very helpful and I wish you the best of luck moving forward with both you job and your channel. Hope to see more videos from you in the future. Take care.
As a full-time programmer and casual racer, I must say: this video is incredibly helpful. I think I'll just save money for this upgrade instead of getting a Thrustmaster.
Unrelated question though: how'd you like the EZ keyboard?
The hot swap switches are worth every penny! But the metal mounting legs are hard to use.
@@BottomSplitPodium Thanks for letting me know!
My big comment is the best in class casual midrange budget wheel base is the "Fanatec CSL Elite+ PS4/5 with CSL Elite Load Cell Pedals".( It can run on everything PC, Xbox, PlayStation )
I started with Logitech wheels and quickly graduated to ThrustMaster eco system upgrades over 10 years ago. This year I made the Fanatec jump via ebay sales of my ThrustMaster TS-PC eco system to make possible the Fanatec CSL Elite+ PS4/5 wheel and CSL Elite Load Cell Pedals than for the summer to Fanatec Poduim DD2 which is an excellent wheel base but, my bank account & the Sony PlayStation Eco system made me eBay the Fanatec Poduim DD2. (DD2 with DriveHub worked for PS4 but, it was not pretty)
The Fanatec Podium Racing F1 for PS4/5 (DD1 & DD2) & ClubSport V3 both should have a solid well built SimRig to get your money out of them. I totally argree with the video, start with really well built simrig before getting higher end wheel bases or direct drive. My SimRig is ok but, it needs to be upgraded before I would spend money on a direct drive wheel again.
I don't think it can be over stated your wheel base strength needs to match your simrig setup for the most fun and health.
Thank you! Very good video, helps a lot.
Great video!
Ordered my csl elite base and pedals :)
Great video, I’m at the point you describe, enjoy sim-racing, but lack confidence for online. Have the G920 and enjoy it but considering the leap and your video really helped :)
For me, a cockpit more so than a wheel upgrade made me confident to drive online. The immersion and connection to the "driving feel" felt better with a cockpit. I wouldn't have even upgraded my wheelbase or started racing every day if I didn't buy that initial racing seat add on.
Thanks for your time, some great advice and much appreciated.
I’d like to hear about gaming on non racing games in your rig. I’m in the planning stage of my build and I like lots of different types of games so would like to hear what you have to say.
Loved this video too by the way.
Sure! I don't mind it at all but sometimes the wheelbase gets in the way. I think having the monitor on a rising mount so you can lift it out of the way would go a long way to making regular gaming comfortable. The downside to "good FOV" is it usually means your steering wheel/wheelbase is jammed right in front of the monitor.
Good stuff, great video. I’m still sat on the fence, I own a G29 and am using it on a PS4Pro with a good cockpit. I have the Next Level GT Track, I can’t make my my mind up if I should upgrade my steering wheel to a Fanatec setup or save the money and put towards a decent PC & stick with the Logitech . I love Gran Turismo but I am currently finding Assetto Corsa Competizione much more realistic and enjoyable but the graphics look shite on the PS4. ( it either looks great at 30fps pre update or looks shite at 60fps after update)
Honestly G29 is good enough to get into sim racing. The only thing I'd consider is maybe adding a load cell upgrade to the brake like AXC TrueBrake or Ricmotech. Fanatec is great but it's a huge investment. The wheel and pedals alone will set you back nearly $700. Adding the load cell and shifter puts you at $1000. Another possibility is if you were to sell your G29 and buy a T300RS GT? It's a better system and later you can get the F1 add on and T-LCM pedals (which are better than Fanatec's starter pedals).
Get a pc first
I also started sim racing on my ps4 pro + g29 with the games assetto corsa and project cars 2 and then switched to a pc +g29 and i can tell you the change is like day and night. I not once played a racing sim on my ps4 pro again since then. For me the biggest differences are the higher fps which help a lot, support for wide screen monitors which are also a massive advantage while racing in my opinion and the modding community in assetto corsa. The ability to mod is just such an epic feature! I personaly would really switch from ps4 to a pc first before upgrading the wheel! 👍
thank you for sharing , that help me decide just go fanatec club sport
Thanks for the video, super informative.
Hey man, awesome video. I'm in your shoes, having used a G920 for about 8 months and enjoying iRacing. I've been getting better and better and decided do buy the CSL Elite 1.1, wheel and V2 pedals with load cell kit. I thought about purchasing the V3 but I prefer the look of the V2's also being a bit cheaper. I watched a few videos regarding the Elite 1.1 base Vs. the CSW... and ultimately choose the Elite + a wheel. Can't wait to try it all out. Next will be a cockpit. I'm using the GT omega stand at the moment, just like in your photo. It beats the desk but it's not quite right and my body is not liking long hours. I thought about the Playseat Challenge as a starter cockpit but eventually want to upgrade to a GT Omega. This sim racing can get expensive, but quite enjoyable. Cheers!
EXCELLENT! Thank you for this video. I am you! Same story straight down the line. Very relevant and to the point on things I can relate to. You are better at YouTubing than most youtooooobers. More videos please. Blessings to all....
Interesting video, thanks!
I’m also a casual sim racer (I like lots of game genres). Presently using a G920 (which I upgraded to a while back from a really basic budget Thrustmaster wheel the F430). The difference was night and day too! I drive mostly in VR, and like you say, there are lots of upgrade options to improve your driving experience. I was thinking of upgrading from the Vive to an Index, but that would probably require a gfx upgrade too. You can easily throw a load of money at this hobby! Certainly like to try a Fanatec too at some point.
Very detailled video, maybe you're not a youtube like you say, but you very much have what it takes to be one . What a video you made , especially without script
Casual's opinion; the CSL is good enough.
Opinion of a sim racer suffering from G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome); the CSW is not enough!
For me. I need to get pedals, a wheel stand (no room for a full cockpit), and then my wheel will be an Accuforce. I have a Fanatec CSR and its decent. But I want a direct drive setup, and the Accuforce sounds like a very good option. I can justify spending a grand for a full solution, I can't justify spending $1400 and up just for a wheel base.
I think the CSW gets too close to the cost of a DD that the benefits are overestimated compared to CSL over T300/G29/G920. After Fanatec upgraded the CSL, CSW is basically a very high quality stop gap.
Enjoyed your video I didn't no that the little joy sticks on the wheel spin cheers
Great video, great feedback and info for people like myself looking to upgrade to one of these products.
The best guide I've seen for the casual user. Thanks.
That's the information I was looking for, thanks for making an average joe review video for fanatec
Great video, well done, you spent the time and it shows. I'm Frankensteining my G29 pedals with the Leo Bodnar cable and the AXCsim truebrake is in the mail, to simulate a loadcell :) I don't have the space for a rig, and assume that these wheelbases will rock my Playseat Challenge too much... So my next upgrade will be just pedals instead of the wheelbase, or maybe not if the truebrake works well enough.
You will enjoy it! Those AXC guys made a nice piece of kit. And it's probably the only real low point of G29 that can last you a while before getting nice gear.
Great video, ordered the fanatec club sport bundle
Very informative and nice video. I have a T300 GT wheel and I relate to the things you said. It sometimes feels like skating on ice, you have grip, and then you don't. The in between is missing, there is no gradual feel of being on the edge, it is just lost. You could also make a video showing the difference you feel in using a cockpit and using a table mount, because I have never used a cockpit, and I have aways wondered what the difference is, and what the benefits are. Also on pedals and other equipment vs the basic gear you get cheap. Keep making more videos!
hey buddy. you would be supprised how much your seating makes a difference. i went from a folding chair to a racing bucket (from a real car) and i was WAY more consistant/ faster. if you are using something like a couch your body will move around when you are turning and braking. make sure you are sitting on something solid and the wheel isnt moving aroung. you dont need a million dollar setup if you can make it yourself. also make sure you have the right wheel angle (not straight up and down)
dude!, the only thing that wasn't "pro youtuber" was that there was no clickbait, you started with the important stuff first instead of dragging it out (still watched the whole thing), and you where only at 720P resolution. great info tnx! all in all pedals wheels and wheel base, what did you end up spending?
Yes, thank you for the video. Appreciate the honest review.
Hi. Already upgraded to the CSL a few years ago but I still enjoyed this video.
Would you recommend the CSL Elite for a beginner?
@@jewulo For someone starting from scratch I'd recommend Logitech wheels. Unless sim racing is a long term hobby.
I agree that the Fanatec Setups are a massive step up compared to the g29, but what you described about the FFB feeling of slipping and grip losing control, i can already feel on the g29, not as pronounced as with Fanatec gear, but it is there. If you want a more realistic and in depth feel for the immersion, or want to get more competetive, then the upgrade is a no brainer to either of the Fanatec Products.
An excellent video, thank you. I own the Fanatec CSR wheel (10 years old) and need to upgrade soon. I am not sure if I should go CSL or ClubSport V2. I echo other’s requesting for your rig plans. Please keep the videos coming!
The csl is newer tech on the inside. Csw has 8nm of max torque the csl has 6nm. Otherwise they're mostly the same. Only the csl elite has a PS4/5 compatible version, which then also will work on Xbox one/series x.
I've just moved from Logitech G920 to CSL Elite wheel base + loadcell pedals. To anyone on the fence, this is a HUGE upgrade over the g920.
mate great video it is very helpful to hear the opinion of a fellow casual sim racer :D
Very informative video, Thanks!
Thanks for great video! Been on the verge of buying the CSL, upgrading from g920.
I've had previous Logitech wheel and pedals, then Xbox 360 wheel and pedals, so this time I purchased the Logitech G920 wheel, pedals, and shifter. The G920 is nice, but it kept slipping out of place on my desk, so I bought the Strasse racing rig and extra components to stiffen all the component arms, and also the TV stand, so it works really well. After spending about $1k on the rig, I decided to upgrade to the Fanatec shifter and handbrake as I didn't like the Logitech one that much, seems a little cheap and misses gears a lot. Now I'm looking at the Clubsport base and pedals, thanks for your input, I was wondering if the DD was worth the upgrade, but I will probably stick with the Clubsport. That's the other reason I decided to completely switch over to Fanatec, you can use a mixed setup on your PC, but not on the Xbox or Playstation. costick.co.jp/strasse/rcz01/
Any recommendations for an all around wheel. I play the F1, but not seriously, I prefer Dirt and Forza games more.
Because he lead with the conclusion I liked and subscribed. Good on you dude.
Great video, I recently upgraded from the g920 to the csl elite with V3s.... and will never look back! You can't beat the German engineering.
stupid question - i’m looking to get my first wheel and was looking at the 920 or csl elite - is it THAT big a difference - ie it will meaningfully enhance my Dirt Rally 2.0, F1, etc experience over the G920 ... ? not looking to burn cash - but if it’s something I’m going to own and do for years - I’m open to it ...
@@TubeYouDSilvy Well in the end it always comes down to budget. If money isn't an issue then Fanatec all day everyday. Saying that, if your are new to sim racing, I would always recommend not going to crazy at first. What if after a couple months of racing you find out, it just isn't for you, or you just dont have the time anymore to commit and you went a spent 1k plus...... the logitech g920 is a great bundle to get into sim racing. Comes with everything you need to hop right on the track and race for under $400. I, like most sim racers started with the g920 or variation of that and then upgrade to fanatec down the road. If you are wondering if buying one over the other will make you faster..... tbh practice is what makes you faster. People win races all the time on entry level gear. In sim racing upgrading almost never ends, mostly for immersion purposes. Yes a load cell brake set can save you time on laps, and yes a belt driven motor will give you better feedback and information.... but none of that will do any good if you don't have the practice time behind the wheel. Learning the tracks, how many corners, where the breaking points are etc that's what will make you faster. Hope that helps, and goodluck with your purchase whichever it may be.
UnknownRacing Thanks - really appreciate the feedback!
Truthfully - it’s not about being fast/faster ... although that’s always a nice side benefit. I’m competitive and like to be good at what I do. It’s more that I don’t honestly get that much time to steal away at my PC - and, ironically, you’d think that would suggest to spend less on a kit - but it means to me that when I do get 2 hrs to get behind the wheel - I want it to be really great/fun/immersive so that I can forget about the day/crap/etc - and REALLY enjoy myself for a couple hours.
And the way it is described - the G920/29 sounds a bit on the “arcady” side - will get the job done and is a good value for sure - but the Fanatec will be a really noticeable step-up in the experience and immersion and the overall feel. Perhaps the difference between a great steak and good burger. I’m not a food snob - cheeseburgers are my favorite - but as far as analogies go ...
@@TubeYouDSilvy No worries at all, and I love a good steak! The way I like to look at it is the g920 is a Ford and the Fanatec is Mercedes. The overall build quality is very apparent. Like the second you open the box you will feel like a kid on Christmas morning again. Not trying to bully the g920 but the overwhelming plastic and gear driven motor is most likely why people find it arcade like. Also fanatec has an amazing eco system, so much to choose from. In the end if you want it to look the part and feel it you can't go wrong with fanatec. Happy shopping;)
first, nice taste in keyboards. i never had a G29 but i had the driving force pro for GT4 back in 2004, i'm told they're similar. planning into getting into real racing so i wanna build a very legit sim rig, trying to figure out how crazy i want to go with the wheel, so this is helpful. thanks for the heads up on the brake performance kit.
The first thing I’ll say is the conclusion!
Really helpful video, thank you
Sadly fanatec doesn't sell globally, I really want to try one of their stuff
They do. I live in Mexico and got my CSL yesterday.
It's amazing. You need to try it, the weight transfer and dynamics of the car and track you get is incredible
yeah i mean they don't stock locally from where i live, shipping cost from europe is insane
corniel Try ordering everything from Australia! If you really wanted it you would just pay the shipping, and whats that cost compared to the overall cost of fanatec products? If the shipping is too expensive then you didnt have enough to buy it in the first place!
@@Skippy-id9yt fair enough maybe I shouldn't have consider trying sim racing at all 😂
Please yes!! Your rig looks very fine tho!! Go on with the video of the rig pls! :)
I'd just wait until you can afford a DD wheelbase myself, you're going to go down that rabbit hole eventually if you're considering upgrading from the logitech, so in the long run, it'll be cheaper to save the extra cash and go straight to a DD wheelbase IMO.
Although I get your point, I don't think everyone has the budget to get a DD ready cockpit. You need to have a decent rig to stabilize a DD due to their overall power delivery. Not to mention not all games play nice with DD sets and I'm willing to bet most casuals are not going to want to spend all their time tweaking all their inputs and FFB to be perfect and up to a DD's full potential. The CSL and equivalent are designed for those who are in between casual and hardcore
Ex excellent comparison review! What size is your curved monitor in the video? And are you using a cockpit or wheel stand?
I think this helped me quite a bit. I was previously thinking about going with a CSL elite 1.1 and the CSL elite LC pedals, along with the fanatec shifter and handbrake (I like both grip racing and drifting, plus I heavily prefer using the H pattern for H pattern cars). I'm pretty sure I'm just going to keep using my current shifter and handbrake setup, though, and instead go for the CSW and v3 pedals + performance kit, since the price of that is actually still just a hair cheaper than the CSL elite stuff + shifter + handbrake.
For the price of a clubsport and steering wheel package you can get an accuforce v2 which is a MUCH better wheel for the price. I went from a clubsport wheel to an accuforce myself and the difference is staggering especially now with the sim commander cloud tuning update that makes tuning the wheel for different sims a simple click.
The wheelbase costs like 800€
please make videos on your rig, and the plans on it. also for drifting do you think the csl elite is good? i just want a good wheel and some pedals for drifting. im borrowing my friends g920 right now to see if i like sim racing, and I do so my next decision is whether the clubsport or csl elite..
Apparently i am the only simracer that does stuff backwards and cares for some ergonomy. Meaning ive bought my rig immediately after geting my wheel, simply because it was to painfull to set it all up. Wires everywhere oooh god.. :O Not to mention lower back pain from sitting on my regular kitchen chair, and stiff knees from hovering my foot over the brake wt my whole leg up in the air as the angle is a bit weird when you set your pedals flat on the floor. But the biggest issue i think wt g29 is inconsistency with braking due to its design and the way its sized. The brake and gas are so pushed together that since im more into gt3/4 cars i even thought about removing the clutch completely and switching my brake pedal there. This video convinced me its probably not worth it as the set is still in waranty - better to switch. But i wish i saw this video in dec 19 LOL
Thanks for your video!
I have a TM - TX, and T-LCM pedals (they're great!), I'm also looking to upgrade my wheelbase. However the Fanatec prices can be encroaching into DD territory (M10).
I don't really want to spend that kind of money at the moment.
So CSL Elite is the only logical contender, is it really worth it guys?
(M10 but its quite a leap!)
One of the most informative videos of a G29 user upgrading to Fanatec. Btw, do you reckon the CSL Elite LC pedal would be ok for a wheelstand + office chair setup (with locked castors), I'm considering just going for a non-LC CSL Elite.
Depends on the floor to be honest. Even with a caster lock, the force of the LC is still quite heavy and you might just push backward anyway and maybe scratch the floor? But you could always reduce the brake pressure so they're not as firm but the travel distance will be longer. I recommend getting a regular chair, like maybe a folding chair from Wal-Mart? And maybe get some of those "roof tension bands" to tie the wheel stand to the chair. That's a good cheap way to make sure the pedals don't push you backward.
I highly recommend the load cell though. The CSL pedals without it aren't much better than regular G29 pedals.
@@BottomSplitPodium Alright, cheers man. Think I'll start with Non-LC first, since all I drive on is GT Sport and F1 atm. Then save the LC kit for a future upgrade.
Mostly considering Fanatec since a T300RS costs 80% as much in Australia, so it's a logical upgrade from the G29 without having to deal with Thrustmaster reliability haha.
@@ark14700 may be too late now, but i have a wheel stand - office chair "rig" and at first just had the CSL pedals w/o the LC. spent the extra $$ for the LC soon after. the advice to get the CSL w/LC is the way to go.
@@10002One Too late, decided to stick with my g29 haha
Hey mate, an insanely useful video, game developer here, and one question, you mentioned playing regular games from your rig, but, can you, and how does it feel to actually program and develop from the same rig? is it doable, how comfortable does it feel? I just might do something like that... Thanks.
I was wondering if you could comment on the noise levels? Obviously everyone's noise tolerance is different but if you could provide a comparison that would be much appreciated!
Great review thank you!
Good review! Informative.
video quality was not the best, but you also articulate very well considering this is no script video, overall great content with honest opinion. Personally i have t150 pro + SHH shifter and while it is OK setup im eyeing csl elite or clubsport 2.5 for some time, however i will upgrade my gpu and probably cpu first, this and in upcoming year so the wheel will have to wait.
But honestly im still undecided between csl elite and clubsport, what i like in csl elite that its cheaper, still good upgrade from my t150 base, but i personally think that clubsport would be final upgrade and i think that if i get csl elite i would always regret by not going all out on clusport. We will see i think when the time comes i might as well go full out and just get clubsport and stick with it.
i went V2.5 just way better all round in my opinion, but that is only my personal preference, definately no regrets tho
I did the same and love it. But I do have a soft spot for the g920
CLS also works on console, the only fanitec that does i think. There are steps inbetween a G29 and a fanitec tho. Great gear fanitec but its bloody expencive.
Also don't overlook the setting menus. You can tune the same wheel from brilliant to utterly useless. He's spot on about budget managment. If you buy an state of the art wheel but don't have good pedals or seat its gonna be a wast of money.