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Starting out with Sim Racing

Hi everyone, I’m new to sim racing but very interested in pursuing it as a hobby. I’ve done lots of research (and still am doing research) about cockpits, equipment, etc, and working out how to most effectively get started with my budget. I’m serious enough to want a mid-range wheel base such as the Moza R9 or R12, and I’m looking into making a DIY aluminum frame cockpit to save cash. One question I’m having trouble answering one question, though: should I invest in peripherals that are compatible with a PS5 (because I already have one) so I can save tons on buying a speced-out gaming PC (which I do not have)? What are the differences in the gaming experience, game availability, etc between PC and PS5? Which would you recommend? For context, I am based in the United States and have a budget of around $1,000, but looking to get the best bang for my buck.

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You can actually make a set up that is compatible with both PC and PS5. Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Fanatec are your three options for this. If you just want to game exclusively on PC, Moza would do the job well. The premium one would be Fanatec, but a full kit of a PS5 bundle might be slightly out of your budget by a couple hundred dollars for the cheapest one. The next best option is the Logitech RS50, which has 8 nm for a total price of around $900 with the pedals and clutch (clutch is $40). To answer your other questions, sim racing on consoles in general is not quite great as of right now, but a couple of games are coming to PS5 and Xbox, like Le Mans Ultimate, Assetto Corsa Evo, as well as Project Motor Racing if that game gets fixed. For now, you have ACC, the original Assetto Corsa, PMR, and GT7 for a less realistic option, as well as arcade racing games. Sorry for the whole essay!

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Thanks so much for the helpful answers! I know Logitech is great for entry-level stuff at a good price, but (and I recognize some of my own irrationality here) I'm particularly interested in formula-style equipment because I enjoy F1 a lot (like the Simagic FX Pro wheel, which seems to be the best deal I've found on a high-end formula wheel with a display). Thanks for the info regarding the games, looks like PC may be the better option. Out of curiosity, how come the F1 games aren't super popular for sim racing? From all the content I've seen out there, everyone seems to play all the games outside F1 or F1-style games.

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Sim racing on PC is definitely a better experience, but I don't think you know about the new Logitech bases. They're DD, 8 and 11 nm, and actually have a formula-style wheel (not sure about a screen). Just something to keep in mind, and the 8 nm one definitely fits in your budget. Anyways, Simagic is quite good, and you could use their wheels on a Moza wheelbase and vice versa, since it's all open ecosystem. About the F1 games, they're not very popular because they lean more towards the arcade side than the simulator side, especially 25. This doesn't mean that they're bad, but they're just not what most sim racers are looking for 

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Replying to arrestedcash

Awesome, thanks so much for the help!

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Replying to kda123

No problem! Happy sim racing!

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