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Sim Racing Equipment Guide

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You want Go to
To be driving this week Quick Start Guide
To understand it before buying Slow Start Guide
A setup for your budget The chart below

Pick a setup

flowchart TD
    A[Want to try a wheel at home] --> B{Can a rig stay set up?}
    B -- No, desk only --> T0[Tier 0: Desk Starter<br>$200 to $400]
    B -- No, must fold away --> T1[Tier 1: Foldable<br>$500 to $700]
    B -- Yes --> C{Budget, without PC or screen}
    C -- ~$1,400 --> T2[Tier 2: First Dedicated Rig]
    C -- ~$2,000 --> T3[Tier 3: Sweet Spot]
    C -- ~$4,500 --> T4[Tier 4: Triples / VR]
    C -- $10,000+ --> T5[Tier 5: Motion]
    click T0 "builds/tier-0-desk-starter/"
    click T1 "builds/tier-1-foldable-apartment/"
    click T2 "builds/tier-2-first-dedicated-rig/"
    click T3 "builds/tier-3-sweet-spot-enthusiast/"
    click T4 "builds/tier-4-triples-vr-enthusiast/"
    click T5 "builds/tier-5-motion-pro/"

Types of setups

Tier Cost What it is
0: Desk Starter $200 to $400 Wheel clamped to your desk
1: Foldable / Apartment $500 to $700 Entry direct drive on a seat that folds into a closet
2: First Dedicated Rig $1,200 to $1,600 Fixed cockpit, 8 to 9 Nm, load cell brake
3: Sweet Spot Enthusiast $1,800 to $2,200 Aluminum rig, 12 Nm, pedals you keep for 10 years
4: Triples / VR Enthusiast $3,500 to $5,500 Tier 3 plus wraparound screens or VR, shifter, shakers
5: Motion / Pro $10,000 to $18,000 The rig moves under you
  • Costs exclude PC or console, and the screen until Tier 4
  • Each tier page ends with a full example build: parts, prices, links to buy
  • Side by side: Types of Setups

Words to know

Word Means
Wheelbase The motor the steering wheel attaches to. It makes the force feedback
Direct drive Wheel bolted straight to the motor. Smooth, quiet, detailed. The standard now
Nm Wheelbase strength. 5 is light, 12 is plenty
Load cell A brake pedal that reads how hard you press, not how far
Rig The frame that holds seat, wheel and pedals

Three decisions, in order

Decision Options Why
Platform PC, PlayStation or Xbox It limits which wheels work before budget does
Space Desk only, fold away, or permanent It picks the mount
Budget $200 to $18,000 It picks the tier

Rules of thumb

  • Spend order: direct drive wheelbase first, then a load cell brake, then everything else
  • 5 to 8 Nm is plenty to start. 12 Nm is the sweet spot. 10 to 15 Nm covers nearly everyone
  • Direct drive now starts at ~$280. Skip gear-driven wheels unless used
  • Used Logitech G29 at ~$120 resells for ~$120: a free trial
  • PlayStation is the expensive platform at every tier
  • Motion and big torque add immersion, not lap time

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