If you’re new to sim-racing, you may be tempted to set up a complete setup with base, steering wheel and pedals to get started. These three peripherals are the minimum for any sim-racing setup, whether for amateurs, fans or pros. Finally, for the most experienced racers, there will certainly be other peripherals depending on the sim-racing titles. Rally drivers, for example, will have a handbrake, or even a shifter to boot. But that’s not the point.

A little research on the Internet will tell you that there are currently several players in the world of sim-racing, with brands that focus solely on this discipline. The most concrete example is the German peripheral manufacturer Fanatec, which we’ll be discussing in this article. But we also have brands that try to be all things to all people, such as Logitech, which makes both sim-racing and gaming peripherals, whether for PCs or consoles.

In this article, I’m going to tackle a problem that every sim-racer has faced in his or her life: which brand of peripherals to choose? To highlight this, I’ve chosen to compare Fanatec and Logitech, with the CSL DD and G29, which are flagship products from the two respective brands.

Fanatec and its CSL DD

Advantages :

• 5 or 8 nm Direct Drive base
• Excellent driving sensations
• Total immersion with precise, fluid force feedback
• A wide range of steering wheel options
• Compatible on virtually all platforms

Disadvantages :

• Slightly premium price compared to Logitech

Fanatec is certainly the best-known brand in sim-racing, and Direct Drive bases are the reason. It has to be said that over the years, the German manufacturer has built up an excellent reputation for releasing both premium, well-designed products with sim-racing in mind. In fact, BMW chose Fanatec to equip its GT4 cars with steering wheels, and this speaks volumes for the quality of the sim-racing peripherals manufacturer’s products.

With over 20 years’ experience in the game, the Fanatec brand has established itself as the Go-To in terms of sim-racing peripherals, whether for beginners, amateurs or professionals/racing drivers. The German manufacturer’s ecosystem is simply complete, with bases, steering wheels, cranksets, shifters and handbrakes, with high compatibility between them and extensive customization.

Let’s talk about the CSL DD, Fanatec’s entry-level Direct Drive base. This base represents the first step into the world of DD flywheels. The German manufacturer offers its base in two power levels: 5 and 8 nm, to accommodate as many racers as possible. The design is both minimalist and beautiful, with a metal shell and plastic covers. The CSL DD is dressed in black, with just the Fanatec logos. As far as I’m concerned, it’s very handsome, and this base will go well with all sim-racing setups.

The steering shaft features a QR system that allows all Fanatec steering wheels to attach to it, and that’s the beauty of the German manufacturer: all its sim-racing peripherals are compatible with each other, and you can customize your setup as you see fit.

Torque-wise, you’re in for a treat. The basis is powerful, whether in 5 or 8 nm of maximum torque. The sensations are there, whatever track you’re in front of. You’ll feel absolutely everything the car you’re driving does, and that’s the beauty of a Direct Drive base. Whether it’s changes in trajectory, loss of grip, vibrations or collisions, you’ll feel absolutely everything behind the wheel, just like in a real car. The base CSL DD is a well of sensations and pleasure, and few competitors do it better.

Let’s move on to the rest of the setup. As I said earlier, Fanatec is renowned for having a complete, highly compatible ecosystem. As a result, you can have a CSL DD with any steering wheel in the catalog, as well as any crankset or shifter. All Fanatec products will work together on all platforms.

But all these advantages come at a price, quite literally, and it’s a high one. Fanatec is a brand of premium sim-racing peripherals, and its products are rather expensive when you buy everything at once. For a setup with base, steering wheel and pedalboard, expect to pay no less than €550 if you take the peripherals individually. You can make some savings by taking the bundles offered by Fanatec, and these start at €500. Expensive, yes, but a guarantee of quality, immersion and realism.

If this summary has made your mouth water, you can read my complete my full review of the Fanatec CSL DD, by clicking here.

Logitech and its G29

Advantages :

• Very competitive prices
• Complete bundle with base, steering wheel and pedals
• Fairly good driving feel

Disadvantages :

• Gear-driven base
• Compatible only with Playstation, but an Xbox version (G920) is available

Logitech is a major player in the computer and console peripherals industry, with flagship products that have marked generations, notably mice and keyboards for gamers. But the manufacturer doesn’t stop there, and also touches the world of sim-racing with products that have also left their mark. I’m talking, of course, about the G29 and G920bundles, the most popular in the sim-racing world.

The popularity of these two bundles is mainly due to the fact that they are affordable and offer a fairly good driving feel. It has to be said that most sim-racers can’t afford a high-performance setup, and that’s what Logitech has focused on with its two bundles.

Nevertheless, the G29 remains an entry-level sim-racing device, with a fairly good driving feel. The base is gear-driven, with 2 motors. This is rather old technology, but Logitech has mastered it over the years. Sensation-wise, it’s not bad, but there are some driving “blurs” and a dead zone in the center. This is quite normal, given that this steering wheel is not Direct Drive, and also the maximum torque of the device is not exactly at the same level as that of the CSL DD.

As for the wheel, or steering wheel, it’s quite qualitative, with an aluminum structure and leather all around. The buttons are ergonomically well placed, which helps the driving experience. Just above the center, you’ll find a RevLED that lets you shift gears at the right moment, thanks to metal paddles too. For the price, frankly, it’s a very nice wheel, very well made.

As for in-game sensations, well… they’re pretty basic, but still provide the essentials. You won’t feel everything the car does, as you would on a DD base, but it’s much better to drive with a G29 than with a joystick. The pedals are decent, but nothing more. The force feedback system is provided by a spring and an end stop, which gives a little feel. Still, for the price, it’s not that bad.

At present, the G29 can be exchanged for a small hole in your finances of €250, which represents half of a setup at Fanatec.

To find out a little more about this steering wheel, you can read my full review of the Logitech G29 by clicking here.

Which one to choose?

The question now is which one to choose, and I know exactly what you mean. These two wheels are very different from each other, and here’s a short list to help you make your choice.

• Budget. I always start with the budget, as this is often the most important consideration when making a choice. For a Fanatec setup, you need at least €500, and the G29 comes in at half that. As a result, riders on a tight budget will turn to the Logitech bundle, and understandably so.
• Sensations. To put it simply: the CSL DD is way ahead of the G29 in terms of feel, even though Logitech’s steering wheel is pretty good. If you’re looking for total immersion, you’ll have to turn to Fanatec and its products.
• Availability. Fanatec peripherals are only available on the brand’s website, and are often out of stock. Logitech can be found just about everywhere, both in online stores and in stores.
• Compatibility. Fanatec steering wheels are generally compatible with all platforms, which is not the case at Logitech, where you have steering wheels for Playstation (G29) and Xbox (G920), even if the latter are identical on paper.

I hope this article has been useful to you, and if unfortunately it hasn’t, maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for by taking a look at my review of the best steering wheels for Sim Racing by clicking right here.