The Thrustmaster T500RS Thread

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tvman
Looking for some tips on adjusting the potentiometer on CSP.
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Let me add that I think Laguna Seca is a great track to calibrate the potentiometer since there are such varying levels of braking required. I may be partial since I spend so much time there in real life, but I think it fits the bill for brake calibration.
 
MisterStatic
I just read this thread about Vista specifically and rFactor having issues with joystick assignments when there were greater than 2 devices. I have Win 7 so it might not be a problem. It looks like there are fixes using GPLShift anyway. I should get the SST tomorrow or Friday so I will be trying it out with the G27 and CSPs soon enough. I'll let you know. And then to add the T500 to the mix in a couple weeks...

Get rFactor now. The graphics may be aging but the level of presence is still very high. It is by far the best sim racing value out there right now, especially with all the free mods. I am really hoping the quality of FFB I am feeling with the T500 in GT5 transfers to rFactor.

There is a must-have FFB mod for rFactor called RealFeel. It is excellent with a G27, I can only imagine how good a T500 would depict the forces if the drivers work out right...may take a new version of RealFeel...argggh! The more I think about it, the more I realize that I probably won't be happy with T500 PC implementation for several months. That is just my gut feeling.
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I hear you about the worries over PC implementation. Two points, however, comfort me: first, the T500 is a finely made product from what I hear / see. If Thurstmaster has taken such great care to design their product, it would be absurd for them not to create finely tuned PC drivers. Second, if the PC drivers are temporarily not up to spec for a few months, I can always just keep playing GT5 with my T500 as I still need a few months to finish leveling up in A and B-Spec.

In the long run, everything will work out. At least, that's what I"m hoping for.
 
Siefex
I hear you about the worries over PC implementation. Two points, however, comfort me: first, the T500 is a finely made product from what I hear / see. If Thurstmaster has taken such great care to design their product, it would be absurd for them not to create finely tuned PC drivers. Second, if the PC drivers are temporarily not up to spec for a few months, I can always just keep playing GT5 with my T500 as I still need a few months to finish leveling up in A and B-Spec.

In the long run, everything will work out. At least, that's what I"m hoping for.
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This is true. I have a TM HOTAS Warthog, and I can tell you that TM does support their high end PC products.

As fantastic as the wheel is, it is just disconcerting to buy a 600 dollar product with a black PS3 branding strip on the edge of the box and everything else on the box saying "Hey! Look at me! I am for a PS3!"
 
Thanks for your reviews RC45. Now I have a question...so with the two price points of the T500RS and GT2 Clubsport, which may seem hard. It sounds like you think that the GT2 has a better bang for your buck and that the added cost to the T500RS is not a worthwhile (for those who are cost conscious, but who is when people spend 10x the cost of a game for the accessory).

I have the GT3RSV2 and was playing on the DFGT, and even with the one month hiatus it took to get the GT3RSV2 replaced with a functional one, I feel the GT3RSV2 is amazing and wondering how much more could I get out of the T500RS.

But I just want to add to the ongoing commentary on wheels that, it's better to get any cheapie wheel than play on a controller.

RC45
I took the main pedal assembly apart similar to the way they showed them mounted on one of the cockpits.

Now I know the FaceBook crowd and othe TM-lovers will not like to read the following:

The entire main pedal structure feels sturdy and strong and solid - but once you take it apart you have to wonder where the TM folks found the poor industrial designer that designed their overall product - oh, wait, they didnt and cobbled it together out of old Citreon parts.

....

Guess which is which.. ;)
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RC45
Not sure ifd you understand how these software (and other projects) are accounted for/costed/billed/sub-contracted/worked intot he reveb=nue stream, but there is no incentive for example, EA to go back ot NFS Shift and code in special T500 support. However, there is incentive for Thrustmaster to build in backwards compatibility in the wheel, as after the early adopters throw money at this wheel, they are left with the more cost conscious buyers who MAY or MAY NOT buy this wheel, pending broader support.

Anyway, I woudl hate to get into backwards/forwards titfortat along the lines of the GT5/iRacing one, so how about we just pretend you win this round and I will let it go...?? ;)
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It's logic that there would be incentive though for the game devs and not necessarily EA, hence WHY Thrustmaster is giving out the SDK to certain game devs. Haha, that was an annoying bout of arguing I will try to avoid again, at least in this forum, I'm more than willing to logically debate w/ someone who again knows what they're talking about, not meaning any offense by that, either.
 
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RC45
The Fanatec stuff is tangibly awesome - when it works and if you can get it shipped ;)
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Haha, good luck getting one shipped. You have to wait until May at this point. Absolutely ridiculous. Fanatec would make so much more money if they could just nail down their distribution system. Luckily, Thrustmaster doesn't seem to have the same problem (at least not to the same degree as Fanatec).
 
The T500RS is tangibly awesome if overall assembly, build and parts quality are not important to you
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And by "overall assembly, build and parts quality," do you mean alloy screws and a cheap hex key, most noticeable to those inclined to disassemble the controller's pedal assembly (for whatever reasons)? Or is there something more?

And how many screws are we talking about, all told? In what sizes? My wheel is on the way (should be here by Monday) and I want to have sturdier, non-alloy replacements on hand; so I need to know if I should put aside $1 or $5 for my next trip to Ace.

Because if it only takes a few bucks in loose change to turn what is evidently the worst disaster in the history of structural integrity and build quality into the kind of sturdy piece of hardware one expects at such a price point, I for one am willing to take that leap!

Thanks in advance.
 
Jeff G
And by "overall assembly, build and parts quality," do you mean alloy screws and a cheap hex key, most noticeable to those inclined to disassemble the controller's pedal assembly (for whatever reasons)? Or is there something more?

Thanks in advance.
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It feels plenty solid assembled. Do not worry, it may have some cheap parts behind the curtain, but I am not looking.
 
Siefex
Haha, good luck getting one shipped. You have to wait until May at this point. Absolutely ridiculous. Fanatec would make so much more money if they could just nail down their distribution system. Luckily, Thrustmaster doesn't seem to have the same problem (at least not to the same degree as Fanatec).
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Thrustmaster doesn't have the same problem? Their GT5 wheel released after the holidays and months after GT5 itself.

Logitech has been sold out everywhere.

Fanatec sold out everywhere.

Suspect Thrustmaster isn't far behind.
 
Actually, I want to know what screws I'm going to need to replace, and what sizes they are, so I can have them here ready when the wheel arrives. I thought I made that clear.

This is a game controller, not part of an actual car, so I can live with the fact that it doesn't use upmarket metal or welds just so long as I can be sure of its structural integrity for long-term use. As a game controller.

Can anybody else here who has the wheel in hand provide that information? It shouldn't be that difficult -- nor require an answer that seems to be more about the answerer than it is about the questions asked.

Again, thanks in advance.
 
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So many faults with the T500 yet his comparison reports can find no faults with CSP or GT2.
Are those perfect, some moderation to other products would be good particulary when dismantling them.

Just a little over critical on minor issues at times and who cares what people on FB say.
$600, yeah like thats some golden price point that assures everything down to the nuts etc must be to engineering excellence.
I hope the card board box is also high quality as well.

As said this is a mass manufactured games controller.
Going by this thread youve spent more time talking about the wheel and taking it apart than you have used it.

Try maybe enjoying it
 
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Incremental improvement?

Mmmmmm, not according to some. You seem the most vocal to put it down and compare it so close to the (lets make a new wheel from our previous two) Fanatec GT2. I had hoped the GT2 be more than that and really its a rebranded 16 month old product.

If anything surely a G27 Vs GT2 would be more incremental than compared to the precision, power of the T500 RS?

Some seem waay more impressed.

Dismantle your CSP 2x or 3x times and see if the heads start to strip a little, mine certainly did but Istill slept okay and was able to cope.

Do CSP pedals fit on the T500?
 
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Why not ask on Thrustmaster's FaceBook page - seems reasonable to expect them to provide the info.
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Is there some problem with my asking here, where people have reported having the wheel in hand -- and have spent quite a bit of time detailing problems with the hex screws?

Either provide the info or not. If you don't -- if it's more thrilling for you to go on making the thread about you rather than the wheel -- perhaps someone else will. Then I'll have my answer, and I can go about getting ready.

This really needn't turn into some sort of drama: I'm just asking for the number, size, and types of screws that will need replacement.
 
Mr Latte
Incremental improvement?

Mmmmmm, not according to some. You seem the most vocal to put it down and compare it so close to the (lets make a new wheel from our previous two) Fanatec GT2. I had hoped the GT2 be more than that and really its a rebranded 16 month old product.

If anything surely a G27 Vs GT2 would be more incremental than compared to the precision, power of the T500 RS?

Some seem waay more impressed.

Dismantle your CSP 2x or 3x times and see if the heads start to strip a little, mine certainly did but Istill slept okay and was able to cope.

Do CSP pedals fit on the T500?
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Sorry to add here but I think RC45 is most disappointed by the pedals. I have to agree that they do seem "cheap" when put up against my CSPs. Like I said before, I believe they are better than my G27 pedals but not as nice as the CSPs. By no means are they a crappy set of pedals. The wheel however is solid and it is still growing on me. I don't see what could be criticized about the wheel. I am very happy I picked up a wheel this nice for under a grand.

As for CSP-T500 combo, we will see when the PC drivers come out. But as far as a PS3 setup with T500 and CSPs? I think you are more likely to get a GT2 CSE by the end of January:sly:
 
I have the number, size and part numbers of replacement screws, bolts and nuts right here at hand, but not wanting to weigh you down with "drama" will refrain from posting them.
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Wow. I had no idea I was speaking with a teenage girl.

Fine. Keep the info to yourself. Luxuriate in your petty little internet battles, if that's what gets you through your days. I don't have time for people like you.

If anyone else has the info and can post it here for those of us who might want to replace the hardware, it would be much appreciated. As I say, the wheel is coming early next week and I'd like to be ready to get it set up and mounted.

Thanks.
 
The same could be said for your rantings on FaceBook. I don't owe you a thing, why so sour now that I wouldn't graciously go and do your research for you? I am sure someone else will step up and do your homework though.

Gee, and here you thought slamming someone on the Interwebs would go by un-noticed.
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Seriously, dude, this is a forum on a site about a game. People give each other tips and such. In this thread, I've reported back additional info I found from Darin G, info I pulled from discussions on Thrustmaster's Facebook page, and told people where they might find product in stock based on my own searches. That is, I've been helpful -- or at least, I've tried to be.

You, on the other hand, have acted consistently and persistently like a petulant little child -- defensive one moment, proclaiming your uber-objectivity the next. You're self-aggrandizing, self-important, and undeservedly self-satisfied. But worse, you have changed course in your reviews so many times no one has any idea what you actually think of the wheel at this point, and even fewer (I'd venture to guess) much care.

I asked for some info about some screws, nuts, and bolts. But rather than simply not answer if you didn't want to help me out, you've made a giant production out of how you won't help, and how cruelly you've been treated on Facebook (where I linked to and repeated some of your reviews while noting I didn't much care for the way you seemed to be enjoying all the attention, and how you had a habit of making the whole thread all about you).

Having asked a simple question here -- and having now read your reaction -- I have to say that I feel more than validated.

Again, if you don't want to help, don't. I don't much care. Maybe someone else will.

-- That is, unless you consider this your thread. Which I wouldn't doubt, frankly, given the way you patrol it and feel the need to answer everyone about everything that's said, as if we're all waiting with bated breath for your next pronouncement.

Here's the deal: you're a dude who got the wheel early and has given his opinions on it. That's all.

And me? I'm a dude who is waiting for the wheel to arrive and wants to prepare some upgraded hardware, so I tried asking here for info. That's all.

But I'll happily go away if that's what you really need to happen to feel like you've made a difference in the world today.
 
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If you've got disagreements on Facebook, I suggest you both leave them there or take them to the PMs.
 

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