GT5P wheel.

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

Guys, what wheels are compatible with GT5P? Can you buy an all-in-one wheel that does not need additional units for pedals and gear changing? I don't mind buying a seriously good wheel if such an all-in-one does exist but I'm really not sure what the market has to offer. I'm based in the UK so importing something that might be US market specific is not really viable.

I noticed the sticky thread covers wheels up to GT4 but nothing listed yet for GT5. Any advice?

 

[Famine]

All current wheels are GT5P-ready.

If you're after cheap, don't bother. If you're after inexpensive go for the Logitech Driving Force Pro. If you're after the best, go for the Logitech Driving Force G25.

 

[FMW]

Logitech G25 is by far the best of the mass market wheels.
It's the best built.
It has the best pedals.
It's the strongest.
It the most expensive of the bunch, but worth every penny. If price is a concern the second best the the new Logitech GT Pro DF with the new Red brake bias knob on the wheel. Note: it is the same mechanics as the tried and true DF PRO. It works great too

 

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

Guys,

It seems the Logitech always ship with pedals in the kit, leastways, that's what I saw in the product images at Logitech's website. Is it possible to use it as an all-in-one wheel without the pedals?

The second thing is how do you actually position the wheel? Is it something you support between your legs or is it dependent on something else like a bracket of some kind? Sorry for being so dumb but the last time I used anything more complex than a mouse was a basic joystick and that was years ago.

 

[Beerz]

At least the G25 is not lap-friendly, you really should secure it on a desk/table/etc.

As far as using it without the pedals, I don't think I understand. Are you saying using some buttons on the wheel to accelerate and brake instead of the pedals that come with wheel and have a great feeling and are very progressive and add style and add coolness to your driving as well as a much better control?

 

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

Beerz, that was the thing I had in mind, something with the buttons on the wheel if possible. As long as it's ergonomically usable that's fine with me. I'm only ever going to be an occasional user so having a full-on collection of components and gear is not something at the top of my list. Also, I have my PS3 in our lounge so mounting the wheel onto something is not really practical from the comfort of the sofa.

 

[deadlyz33]

Yes, it is sometimes hard to play a g25 in your living room. You need a high sturdy table which is hard to find. Maybe wheels arent for you. Either you can buy a premade cockpit (expensive) or you find a table or something u can use, but that takes time to set up.

 

[cam123]

I have DFP and DFEX, the DFP is definitely better but both are fun and both work with GT5P. BTW, the 2P battle is a blast with two
wheels.

 

[bevo]

G25 G25 G25

 

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

bevo, that's interesting. I notice in the GT5P game options that they refer to the Driving Force wheels but does that imply that only those two wheels are recommended? On Logitech's website the G25 seems to be the most expensive of the wheels but does that actually translate into better? I'm assuming the G25 is fully compatible with GT5P? I can explore this in more detail now as I'm going to relocate my PS3 to my study where I have a desk and the space to stow the wheel away when it's not needed. I could also kick the pedals away under the desk. Some additional questions come to mind:

1. Logitech's website does not show how these things connect. So how do they? Is it a wireless connection or is there a cable that routes through to the PS3.

2. Do the wheel, gear changer and pedals connect to each other using cables?

3. My study monitor is an HP2408 and that has an HDMI socket so there should be no problem running the PS3 through that. What I'm not sure about is if I would need too change any monitor settings to switch to HDMI or whether it detects it for you?

4. The Logitech site shows the gear changer is mounted to the right of the wheel. Can you get a UK style layout with the gear changer on the left?

5. Do you have to spend an age configuring things to get them to work? I'm well conversant with plug-and-pray technology but perhaps things have moved on now.

6. Are they as responsive as they look and you guys endorse? I'm only used to a joystick with a flight simulator and though I refined the sensitivity as best as I could it was only too easy to roll a 747 360 degrees which is something you'd be hard pressed to achieve in the real thing.

 

[DeadBert]

1. Connects to the PS3 via a USB cable so it plugs into the front of the console.

2. Yes they use wires to connect all the parts together.

3. Dont know about that monitor in particular but usually with HDMI all you have to do is select the correct input source on your monitor i.e. I have to use the 'Source' button on my remote to switch between AUX, DVI and HDMI

4. The shifter isnt attached to the wheel so you can place it wherever you want, left, right, high, low .... basically wherever you can mount it too and is comfortable.

5. Plug and play, fully compatible with PS3 so wire it up and start driving.

6. Yes. It is so much easier to drive smoothly with a wheel, and as smooth = fast you can watch your lap times tumble. Theres no delay between the wheel and what happens on screen, theres no dead zone in the steering or pedals. Once you race with a wheel you wont go back to a gamepad.

 

[3d85]

I'm thinking of getting a wheel for GT5. Never bought one before.
I'm assuming with all models the wheel is clamped onto something. But, I have nothing in front of my tv to fix it onto, what does everyone here do in that situation? Surely not everyone here has a really sturdy table directly infront of their tv....

 

[DeadBert]

Thats the downside to using a wheel i'm afraid. They really do need to be clamped onto something, using it on your lap just wouldnt work.

So you either need to look at one of the following options:

1. Go to you local hardware store, buy a few bits of wood and some nails and build something to attach the wheel to. Not ideal but if you have even basic DIY skills you can end up with a table that is the right height infront of your gaming seat.

2. Search for some sort of table that can be used to attach the wheel too. Might be difficult trying to find one that is the right height etc etc

3. Buy a cockpit. Expensive. Sometimes difficult to store, but gives you an answer to you problem.

Choice is yours really. When I bought my wheel I had the same dilema. Struggling to think of any other alternatives I can suggest

 

[3d85]

Yeah, it's a bit annoying. I expect I'll work something out =)
Thanks for the advice

 

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

DeadBert, many thanks for your excellent advice. One thing I did forget to mention is sound. My monitor does not have builtin speakers. Neither do I have a mini hifi I can use. My local Sony shop say they have a small footprint unit that has an optical-out (?) port and that costs about £250, say roughly $500. I'm not a hifi afficianado so something that makes a presentable noise will do just fine. I believe I have to use an optical port as it's hard to find units using other types of cable. I'm a bit dumb on these issues so maybe you could steer me through the murky backwaters of how I'd hook the PS3 up to get sound?

Another thing I thought of is that there are a number of really small footprint DAB radios which have the amplifier and speakers in one case. But, the Sony shop salesman tells me you'd never find a DAB radio with an optical port. I feel like I'm caught between the proverbial rock and the hard place. If you have anymore pearls of wisdom I'd like to read them.

 

[mcleeve]

I'm hoping to get a G25 in the next few weeks. Check out youtube as there's loads of videos on there showing you examples of users using the G25 - there is even one vid of a guy who's toe and healing etc - great.

Getting the 'ergonomics' right is very important, but one way to get it near right in your lounge (living room) is to clamp it on to -----wait for it -- 'an ironing board'. Honest, it really works well. As the ironing board is hight adjustable too, its' easy to get that perfect high - most tabels are just to high or too low. I've used it for months on GTHD, using my old wheel (Logitech GT Force) and loved every minute of it.

Ok everyone - you can stop laughing now - an ironing baord ain't too bad. Just try it!!!

 

[DeadBert]

It depends on what you want your sound system to do, how much you are willing to spend, what connectors you need and what you mean by small footprint.

I actually has my PS3 in my computer room the other day and found my computer speakers worked great with GT5. I have these:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/home_pc_speakers/devices/224&cl=us,en

This is just an example of what you could have. They'll be cheaper than what you were looking at from Sony (I paid ~£200) and probably sound alot better. They have an optical port, a coax digital port along with the usual analogue inputs. Most similar sets of PC speakers offer the same sort of functunality. The only thing is that this might not be what you call "small footprint". Sure the satellites are small but the sub is quite large and you'll need somewhere to place the rear speakers. On the plus side you're getting 5.1 sound, something that I find really brings the game to life so if you could squeeze it in it'd definately be worth it.

Or am I advising on something that is completely fit your requirements at all ?!?!?!

 

[CleanSkinNoAcne]

Or am I advising on something that is completely fit your requirements at all ?!?!?!

Not at all. I used to have a large-ish 5.1 system in my study. To those who know the UK most houses have a teeny third bedroom called a box room. You can just about get a small box into it. Mine, like many, is positioned above the stairs so a whole area behind the door is dead space because of the headroom. It was mainly for that reason that I dumped the 5.1 system we had. It was too big and there was not enough space to really have it. Where I need to aim at is a small bookshelf-size hifi. You've probably seen them elsewhere. Everything I need has to fit on my desk. My PC is on the floor and my desk currently has the monitor and printer on it. Allow for the PS3 and a small hifi and you can see it would be a bit too cramped. That's my problem though.

At least now I have a clearer idea of how to wire up my PS3. A lot of you seem to like the Logitech wheels but it's a pity the components don't chat to each other using Bluetooth rather than using cables. The Logitech speakers you linked are probably exceptionally good but again, they are just to busy for my small room. Mounting them on the wall is not something I like because I hate the sight of cables, no matter how well they are made neat.

I'm going to look at the G25 in two to three months time.

 

[3d85]

Got my first wheel now for GT5 (logitech driving force ex)
Is there a favourite setting people have here for it? I upped the force feedback to 8, which seems to be popular. How about the other settings?