The decision to purchase your own dedicated sim racing rig is both thrilling and daunting. It’s not only a big investment but there are also a lot of ways to customize it: you can buy it ready-made, you can assemble it yourself, you can include fancy extras or stick with the bare minimum, and more. To make things easier, this article will walk you through how to shop and purchase a cheap sim racing rig.
Set Your Budget
If you’ve got forty grand lying around, by all means, grab an all-inclusive sim racing rig and go to work. However, some rely on the “do it yourself” approach. That’s why you should figure out your budget and how much you can spend on each component before you begin. This way, you won’t have to worry about being stuck with an unfinished project. To save money, you can make do with what you already have and invest in better stuff later. While saving up for a proper seat and mounts, you can certainly get by with attaching your steering wheel to your desktop and using an office chair.
Decide on the Ideal Spot
Whether you have a tiny studio or a big house, there is a rig out there that will work for you, but it’s best to decide where to place it before you make the purchase. For those living alone or in a dorm, the bedroom is a fantastic place for a racing sim. However, if you live with someone who feels a bedroom is better for things other than racing, you should choose an alternative location. If you play on a computer or just want a desk and chair setup, for the time being, a spare bedroom or office is a good choice, while the living room is the go-to spot for console gamers.
Once your rig is set up, relocating will likely be difficult and time-consuming. For this reason, it’s a good idea to find a spot where everyone can agree it can remain for good. Remember that it will take up a lot of room wherever you choose to put it and make sure to leave enough space for your buddies to watch you play.
Take precise measurements of the area after you have decided on a place. Your rig’s components and features will likely come in a range of sizes; knowing the exact dimensions of your setup is the quickest way to find out if your preferred parts will fit.
Pick a Wheel
The steering wheel is the first essential component of your cheap sim racing rig. As you gather the rest of the gear, spend some time getting used to the feel and feedback of a good wheel. Never forget that you can always upgrade in the future.
The best and most dependable wheel and pedal sets are manufactured by Logitech, Mad Catz, and Thrustmaster. The Logitech G27, with its six-speed shifter, powerful force feedback, and paddle shifters, is the most popular wheel among the gaming community.
Used wheels may seem like a fantastic deal, but you should think twice before you buy them. The previous owner may have abused them or put them through a lot of wear and tear. Buying a brand-new wheel with a warranty is the safest bet in case you lose your cool during your first race.
Invest in Your Monitors
Every aspect of the race, including your surroundings, your opponents’ cars, and your own, is displayed on your rig’s screens in real-time. They’re the only thing keeping you in the loop visually, so buying good ones is essential.
It’s not just about size; things like refresh rate, clarity, and quantity are also factors. Although you might be tempted to splurge on a curved monitor, there are cheaper alternatives that can fit your budget. Find the largest screen you can afford. For the most comfortable and clear viewing of your games, invest in a monitor with an anti-glare screen and LED backlighting.
If you want a gaming experience with less motion blur, aim for a monitor with a refresh rate of at least 120Hz. However, be wary of manufacturers’ attempts to mislead you into thinking their TVs have a faster refresh rate than they do.
You can get a “surround screen” experience by purchasing three monitors and positioning the outer two at an angle, but only if you have a graphics card that supports this setup. Once again, make use of whatever you have at hand to help you cut costs.
Choose Your Pedals, Shifters, and Handbrakes
The pedals are the single most important piece of equipment for both speed and stability. Some pedals are better than others, though. Pedals can be broken down into three distinct categories:
- Load cell: The most expensive option, a load cell uses a transducer to change the pressure applied to the pedal into an electric signal.
- Hall Effect: Hall effects are a cheaper alternative to load cells for measuring position since they use magnets instead of transducers.
- Potentiometer: The most cost-effective option, the potentiometer employs a mechanical sensor to determine where the foot is on the pedal.
Because they increase your speed in every direction, load cells are the priciest component. That’s because tactile sensations like pressure convey a wealth of information for a pedal. Carefully consider the weight limit when choosing one for your cheap sim racing rig. If the capacity is 100 kg, applying more pressure than that will have no effect. Only the brakes use load cells, but cheaper ones can also have a potentiometer or Hall effect.
The Bottom Line
There are few more thrilling experiences for a simulation racer than making the first financial investment in their own setup. You’re fired up to take your game to the next level, and you can’t wait to play in the comfort of your own home. But, when you realize you don’t know where to begin, you can quickly feel anxious instead of excited. Even though it can feel like a lot at the moment, there’s no need to freak out. You can get back on track by following these simple tips.
