Fanatec CSR Elite Wheel Unboxings and Reviews

  • Thread starter faddish
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faddish

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faddish
With the unboxing and review embargo soon to be lifted I thought it a good idea to get the vids and comments in one spot. So lets see this baby.
 
no full reviews yet, only unboxing and first impressions. Full reviews are expected after all beta testers receive their wheels. Thomas will confirm the date later today or tomorrow I guess
 
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faddish
Here are a couple more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oySkXmDLnms
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Only 5A for the power supply???
2nh0obk.jpg


Seems weak compared to 7A - 160W of T500 RS:
1538i7s.jpg


Probably will be increased on final product or on CSW ;)
 
WildRun
Only 5A for the power supply???

Seems weak compared to 7A - 160W of T500 RS:

Probably will be increased on final product or on CSW ;)
Click to expand...

Keep in mind the T500 uses a single large motor.

The CSR E and CSW use dual Mabuchi 550's.....same motor Fanatec uses in their other wheels which use a power supply that's 24 volts with 2.5 amps output.

And that IS the final production version you're looking at and the CSW will use the same power supply.

Don't make a judgement based on power supply specs as it doesn't say anything in regards to how it will perform compared to another product that uses a larger one. Motor efficiency comes into play here and I can't speak on the T500 motor but the 550's are known to be quite efficient.
 
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Great way to think about it hawk. I discussed this same.thing a little while back privately and that is about what we come up with as well. I wonder what in the T500 makes it draw so much more power? Is it simply one stronger motor requiring more power to do the "same or lesser" job than 2 smaller motors?
 
I guess somebody has to open up the wheel and measure how much juice the motor is getting by using a multimeter on the motor's contacts.
I also am not sure yet if the CSW has the same or a slightly more powerful brick due to the electronics in the base and future rims that want their share of power as well.
 
Caz
I wonder what in the T500 makes it draw so much more power? Is it simply one stronger motor requiring more power to do the "same or lesser" job than 2 smaller motors?
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Rotational mass with anything electrical is a big deal and although I've only seen very little photo wise of the T500 it's single motor is substantially larger than a 550. It would definitely take more juice to get that motor rocking.
 
lemansfanatic
I can't wait to hear the vs reviews of the Elite vs the T500... Should be very interesting
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I put several technical questions to Thomas to get an idea of how Fanatecs methods and design with the new chassis takes a completely different perception on producing a better wheel to the way Thrustmaster went about their T500RS.

Thrustmaster perhaps has been playing the numbers game.
However like any good meal the list of the ingredients and how the menu sells it is not a guarantee of anything. The proof is in the eating. The main question however, is the CSRE a McDonalds or a Gordon Ramsey?

Regards these amp ratings and the figures, lets remember that the T500RS uses a MAX of 160w it doesnt say it is a steady rate but more likely a peak output. It is no real bases of comparing the FFB strength, sorry rephrase that, performance as different motors have very different specs and running efficiencies. The Mabauchi 550 motor is also available in different specs. Fanatec's "motor" we do not know if it is an off the shelf model or specifically tweaked version.

I tried to get technical data for my review in both the "wheel sensor" and "motors" to put it in for a paper comparison however Fanatec do not release technical data. I dont need it to make my own judgements on each product but it would of been good for the geeks.

The Fanatec website "still" has the CSRE listed as using dual 120w motors.
I emailed Thomas stating that was innacurate two weeks ago. Well to me it reads as offering 2x 120w motors not dual 60W motors. The wheel has to use dual 60W capable motors as the PSU shows it can only output upto 120W.

I took this on my iphone about a month ago when the wheel arrived.




PWTS 1.75 amp
CSRE 5.0 amp
T500RS 6.67 amp
 
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Mr Latte
The Fanatec website "still" has the CSRE listed as using dual 120w motors.
I emailed Thomas stating that was innacurate two weeks ago. Well to me it reads as offering 2x 120w motors not dual 60W motors. The wheel has to use dual 60W capable motors as the PSU shows it can only output upto 120W.
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It could still be dual 120watt motors just not set up to be used as 2 units running at 100%. Just throwing that out there as a possibility. It could be like speakers listing peak power instead of RMS.
 
Possible example only.

Fanatec could have a customer motor with varied specs.
The motors are meant to be the same as the other wheels just 2 instead of 1.

Going offtrack for this thread so apologies.
 
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CRACKMAGIK
I'm very interested in this steering wheel since I bought Forza 4 and need a wheel for it.
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There won't be a better wheel then the Elite for Forza any time soon. So it's an easy choice, it's just the money you need to have.
 
I'm in the middle of a "should i buy a wheel for a console, or buy a console/cpu for a wheel?" decision right now... Buy the clubsport/T500 then i can have a shift light and all the goodies, but then I'd need to switch to PC games (which I've been considering anyways) which would require a new PC. Or just keep this old 1st gen Xbox360 going a little while longer with an Elite, and then upgrade later with a SLI... but those two items the Elite and the SLI would be about the same price as a CSW. Damn, too many decisions, but what a great problem to have! Either way I probably won't buy the next Xbox, seems like they have too many restrictions on peripherals to bank on the CSW being compatable, so that would be a waste. PS4 or PC... more decisions!
 
lemansfanatic
I'm in the middle of a "should i buy a wheel for a console, or buy a console/cpu for a wheel?" decision right now... Buy the clubsport/T500 then i can have a shift light and all the goodies, but then I'd need to switch to PC games (which I've been considering anyways) which would require a new PC. Or just keep this old 1st gen Xbox360 going a little while longer with an Elite, and then upgrade later with a SLI... but those two items the Elite and the SLI would be about the same price as a CSW. Damn, too many decisions, but what a great problem to have! Either way I probably won't buy the next Xbox, seems like they have too many restrictions on peripherals to bank on the CSW being compatable, so that would be a waste. PS4 or PC... more decisions!
Click to expand...

I wish it wouldn't be a problem and could get both wheels. :dopey:
 
lemansfanatic
I'm in the middle of a "should i buy a wheel for a console, or buy a console/cpu for a wheel?" decision right now... Buy the clubsport/T500 then i can have a shift light and all the goodies, but then I'd need to switch to PC games (which I've been considering anyways) which would require a new PC. Or just keep this old 1st gen Xbox360 going a little while longer with an Elite, and then upgrade later with a SLI... but those two items the Elite and the SLI would be about the same price as a CSW. Damn, too many decisions, but what a great problem to have! Either way I probably won't buy the next Xbox, seems like they have too many restrictions on peripherals to bank on the CSW being compatable, so that would be a waste. PS4 or PC... more decisions!
Click to expand...

it's simple: if you at any point want to use the wheel on the xbox 360, get the CSR elite. if you do not at any point want to use the wheel on the xbox 360, get the CSW. if you're willing to spring a bit more for the CSR elite or CSW, the T500 should not be part of the discussion at this point.
 
Just wondering:

The CSW has the option to set Force and shock above 100%, does the CSR Elite have this option too in the settings menu?
 
Ya, if i can come up for the money for a CSW and a new PC, I don't care about using it on Xbox, the only reason I mentioned the t500 is because they come with the option the add on that Ferrari rim, which I think looks so cool even if it is plastic and has fake knobs, i like it!
 
lemansfanatic
So if i was to order today, it wouldn't be here until after Christmas right?
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Depending on what you are ordering? CSW won't be out until next year I reckon, and the Christmas pre-orders for the Elite are already closed. When they open again it's for getting a wheel after Christmas.
 
I just saw that after my post, the hairs just stood up on my neck as I said with a smile "I'm just going to buy it right now!" so I went right to the website and clicked on the CSR Elite tab, and it dissapeared! Boo, when's the post Christmas order opening up?
 

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