fanatec v2 vs thrusmaster tx

  • Thread starter Thread starter helios321
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helios321

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Already bought my thrustmaster TX but thinking of upgrading the pedals getting a shifter, and maybe replacing steering wheel with a real world wheel. It seems that the Fanatec pedals are better than the tp3a pedals and the steering wheels are better too. I play alot on Xbox One and have assetto corsa. It seems I have two options: 1. Buy the adapters which cost $40 and use fanatec pedals and a wheel adapter to replace the tx steering wheel now or; 2. Wait until fanatec releases a wheel base/wheel rim for the X box one and sell/give away my thrustmaster tx when that happens and use fanatec stuff.

I would like to know what you guys think, and in particular whehter the fanatec wheel base v2 is much better than the Thrustmaster TX wheel base.

thanks,
 
Obviously the CSWv2 is better. It's priced significantly higher and is without doubt a better wheel.

Three useful comments:
1. Latest info is that Fanatec is trying to get the "coming soon" Xbox One wheel rim for the CSWv2 to also support PC. If not you'd need to buy two wheel rims for the CSWv2. This is wait and see.
2. We don't yet have confirmation that a Fanatec shifter will work together with the "coming soon" Fanatec Xbox One wheel rim for the CSWv2 in combination within the Xbox One, or whether both sequential and H-shifting will be supported. We do know that a Thrustmaster TH8A works in both modes with the TX when plugged in to the wheelbase directly. This is also wait and see.
3. A CPX adapter to use Fanatec pedals on the TX will probably have a delivery time of months, because the guy who builds them only has limited spare time in which to do so. Then again, the T3PA set is not even released in many countries around the world (including mine).


And one final comment: We know the TX is underutilized in Forza compared to what it can do on the PC. We have no clue yet how awesome a Fanatec CSWv2 with Xbox One rim will perform in Forza or other Xbox One sims. Remember that Xbox One uses a revised XID control system to talk to peripherals, not the HID FFB standard used on PC. It might be hugely underwhelming.... hard to tell.
 
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Since I owned both of these wheels, only recently sold my TX last week, the CSW v2 is the best non-direct drive wheel available in my opinion, not just in force but precision also. However, we still don't know when the Xbox One rims are supposed to arrive, and as @skazz stated we don't know yet if the Fanatec shifters will be compatible with Xbox One, but I think that's probably a safe bet. The TX is a nice wheel, the stock pedals are not great but serviceable. I used a set of T500RS pedals with mine and also CSR Elites, I prefer the Elites just a bit more but they will require a CPX adapter and I don't know what happened to Basher since it seems he's been slow producing for a few months now. Since I no longer need my CPX adapter, I may be up to selling it soon.

The cheapest route is the TX, CSR Elites and CPX Adapter, if you can't get a CPX Adapter, get a set of used T500RS pedals which generally go for about $200 on the forums and eBay. The Fanatec CSW v2 with CSR Elite pedals would be by overall preference though but that's a good bit more money and you will have to wait for the CSW v2 about 2-3 months if you haven't already ordered one.
 
Thanks for the replies. The problem with the TX is also the steering wheel which I feel is too small, and the GTE rim is basically the same size. The fanatec steering wheels seem alot better. I'm in no rush to upgrade now, i'm just trying to decide if i should stick with TX and go for adapters or switch to fanatec. Also do you guys know if the thrustmaster Th8a shifter compares to do fanatec clubshift shifter?
 
You can buy the GT rim from the T500 and use it on a TX/T300 but you lose the paddle shifters unless you buy the static paddle kit from Thrustmaster. All of the buttons will function properly.
 
There is also a new wheel adapter which lets you take the GTE rim buttons and replace the rim with a standard after-market one. There are a bunch of videos on YouTube showing how it works out.
 
helios321
Thanks for the replies. The problem with the TX is also the steering wheel which I feel is too small, and the GTE rim is basically the same size. The fanatec steering wheels seem alot better. I'm in no rush to upgrade now, i'm just trying to decide if i should stick with TX and go for adapters or switch to fanatec. Also do you guys know if the thrustmaster Th8a shifter compares to do fanatec clubshift shifter?
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don't know about the clubsport, but the th8a shifter is a very good one. precise, strong and nice to see.
 
I had the thrustmaster tx and got rid of it in November, the overall cheap feel and size of the wheel is what made my decision. I have a full fanatec clubsport package on order
 
SASKCHAUCH
I had the thrustmaster tx and got rid of it in November, the overall cheap feel and size of the wheel is what made my decision. I have a full fanatec clubsport package on order
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cool when do you expect the package to arrive? when it arrives can you tell us how you would compare it to the TX please
 
I'm on the fence between the CSW-V2 and the TX. After reading this, I'm heavily leaning towards the CSW despite the price. I have little doubt that Fanatec will have a less expensive Xbone compatible wheel rim by the time I'm ready to order.

Judging by the comparisons of the TX on the Xbone and on a PC, the CSW will definitely be underutilized on the Xbone. Sigh. I guess Ill have to live with it, until I finish my PC.
 
The price is SO different it's almost not even a fair comparison. That said (as a TM owner, who does own some Fanatec gear, but not a CSW) I do believe with the TX you get "comparable" performance for a much lower price... BUT if you have the extra scratch and the inclination to spend it, the CSW is ultimately better.

For me personally, if I was looking at spending $600 on a base + $400 on a rim + taxes and shipping tho, I don't know if I would bother to stop at the CSWv2... I'd probably just go all the way to the Accuforce wheel. That won't get you playing Forza tho I suppose!

The TX plus upgraded pedals and rim can cost you less than just the CSWv2 base.
 
You can get more powerful DIY servo motor wheels for the cost of a CSW V2. Won´t have xbox one compability but you will never get the best ffb out of consoles anyway. To weak processors to waste that much resources on updating ffb effects fast enough. Plus the limited tweaking possible.

If the CSW V2 would hold up 3x as long as a TX I would buy it and be happy ever after. Don´t just look at the initial investment look at how long you expect to be able to use it. I guess nobody really know how well the CSW V2 holds up against the TX yet. The last round was won by Thrustmaster though. T500RS vs CSW V1 I think we can say that :)
 
I wouldn't bet on anything Fanatec outlasting ANYTHING. :lol:

Not a dig, just you know, how it is.
 
Gunstar
I wouldn't bet on anything Fanatec outlasting ANYTHING. :lol:

Not a dig, just you know, how it is.
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More like "how it was" really. The consensus was pretty much that the motors were the glaring issue the whole time, and they finally changed to a completely new one.

@Dopplegagger - It's simple, if those are your two open options, and you can afford a CSW V2, buy it. It will be much better. Dropping console would bring in the Accuforce though, and @Gunstar is spot on with the rationale there.
 
Much better not sure. There is not much internal resistance in the TX so in that area it can´t be much better. The precision also seem fine can´t be much better there. The torque should be better if they don´t lie to much with the torque numbers so there it may be much better.

Durability we have no idea if its much better or worse.
Choice of materials industrial grade plastic is very durable so not sure the CSW V2 is much better.
Choice of rims yes here Fanatec rims approach the quality of rims you can put in real cars so there yes think much better :D But you can easy put real life rims that is a bit cheaper on the TX with an adapter that is expensive for what it´s but 40 USD and if you don´t invest in the universal hub the CSW V2 rims is not at all better nor cheaper.
 
LeMansAid
More like "how it was" really. The consensus was pretty much that the motors were the glaring issue the whole time, and they finally changed to a completely new one.
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You may be right about the v2... I haven't heard any horror stories yet. BUT it was def more than just the motors on the v1... I have been witness to several problems including motor failure, ribbon cable failure, QR failure, PSU failure... to Fanatec's credit tho, it seems like they have stepped up each and every time and handled the issue!

There are more TM complaints out there these days, although I've never had any issues personally... (knock on wood)
 
Gunstar
You may be right about the v2... I haven't heard any horror stories yet. BUT it was def more than just the motors on the v1... I have been witness to several problems including motor failure, ribbon cable failure, QR failure, PSU failure... to Fanatec's credit tho, it seems like they have stepped up each and every time and handled the issue!

There are more TM complaints out there these days, although I've never had any issues personally... (knock on wood)
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Still not trouble free as I can read
http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/csw-v2-base-problem.102767/
 
Have both. The TX with csp v2 and cpx is good. But now upgraded to full fanatic gear including shifter.
Awesome set up.
Nothing wrong with the TX though, it served a purpose till the V2 base arrived.
There is only one winner for me(if you have the money). Toy vrs realism!!!!

The TX is a spare now, until I decide to sell.
 
I may be the exception proving the rule, but I didn't find the CSW V1 or V2 a significant improvement over the TX. Although the included TX rim is very toyish, it's button arrangement is actually excellent, and the rim is quite responsive.

Obviously, TX build quality and aesthetics can't begin to match either CSW iteration, but IMO, FFB and steering feel are excellent. Of course, excepting the new (and counter intuitive) DRI setting, I found the CSW V1 and V2 FFB and steering feel very similar, and was underwhelmed by the latter, especially given early user reviews.

I guess I bought into the hype, and was expecting a radically different steering experience.

Thankfully, the same hype enabled me to sell my V2 on eBay for $1050, allowing me to confirm my Accuforce order (the tab was open for two days in anticipation).

I'm obviously hoping the AF hype is as justified as it seems.

That said, I only bought a TX after my CSW V1 steering hub came apart a few weeks ago, and as of yesterday, no longer powers on, so I'm not sure Thrustmaster QC is any better than Fanatec's. Then again, I've owned a CSR Elite, CSP V1 and V2, a CS shifter, two CSW V1s and a CSW V2, without any problems prior to the steering hub issue discussed above. Others haven't been as lucky, but Fanatec customer service has supposedly improved, if not their product durability.

Thankfully, Amazon sent me a new TX by next day air, obviating the need to deal with Thrustmaster customer service, which I had been dreading. Moreover, I didn't even have to send the broken TX back before receiving a replacement!

Long story short, the TX feels as good as any wheel I've owned, but I can certainly understand the CSW V2's appeal. The latter will certainly look nicer, likely last longer, and the TX pedals are pretty useless (although a $10 mod supposedly increases their utility by orders of magnitude), which diminishes into the TX's value somewhat. Ironically, while highlighting their modular ecosystem, Thrustmaster packages the TX with an unpopular (though useful) wheel rim and pedals, instead of emulating Fanatec and selling ecosystem elements a la carte.

Of course, if you're willing to spend $1000+ to build the ultimate CSW V2, you should seriously consider a Direct Drive wheel. Perhaps shockingly, the Accuforce may turn out to be the best value of all three at $1750 (if you also require Sim Commander 4, otherwise its $1660).

Best of luck with whichever wheel you choose, and don't forget, a quality set of pedals may be the most impacting upgrade available short of moving to direct drive.

Henk
 
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thank you for your opinion whaletail you have been very helpful. I've decided to stay with the TX i realise im too lazy to sell it and its such a waste not to use for for some time. the question for me now is which pedals to upgrade to the new tp3a pro ones or just the normal ones.
 

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