Absolute beginner has many questions

[AlanBeall 0]

Background info:  I have arthritis in my left hip and knee, so I can't use a clutch.  I have a budget of $1500.00.  I'm leaning toward a PS3 or PS4 because it doubles as BluRay.

 

1.  Are there any wheels and pedals that use automatic transmissions?  Or do the games determine that?

 

2.  Do paddle shifters require a clutch?

 

3.  What seat/cockpit would accommodate my fat rear end?  It has to have easy access.

 

4.  What should I look for in a single monitor mounted on cockpit?

 

5.  PS3 or PS4?

 

6.  Which racing games on PS3 or PS4?

 

7.  Advantage of pedals connected at the top or bottom?

 

8.  If I had PS3 or PS4 and AT&T Uverse Wifi, is that all I would need to race online, or would I need to hook up a computer, too?  I have a MacMini.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

[J.A.R.V.I.S. 282]

#1. The game determines that.

 

#2. No.

 

#3. I would say a DIY one. Go and see some websites to find some large seats This problem is very normal.

 

#4. Can you give some further explanation?

 

#5. PS3 has GT5 and GT6... PS4 hasn't got any good race sims yet. It will have some in the future though. Plus the PS3 is getting old... It's a 50 - 50 one.

 

#6. Gran Turismo 6/5 on PS3. PS4 I don't think there's any yet.

 

#7. No.

 

#8. Nope. No need for an extra computer. Just plug in the Ethernet cable and you're good to go

 

Hopefully this helps!

 

 

>Cheers!< J.A.R.V.I.S.

[Alphan 1]

Hi!

 

If you really want to get the best sim experience I think you should get a PC, there are so many budget systems that will run best sims out there. Then you can just get a Blu-ray drive etc. The choice is yours of course. Hope this helps.

 

Cheers.

[Gunstar 615]

Welcome Alan!

 

1.  Are there any wheels and pedals that use automatic transmissions?  Or do the games determine that? -- All in game. Any wheel will work fine, really most wheels don't even furnish a clutch and/or stick shift.

 

2.  Do paddle shifters require a clutch? - Not really, I guess real F1 cars do...

 

3.  What seat/cockpit would accommodate my fat rear end?  It has to have easy access. -- oButto oZone (about $400) or R3volution (about $900) are great for big guys, I have a oZone and it works great. It is a little LOW, so a platform might be a need/want.

 

4.  What should I look for in a single monitor mounted on cockpit? -- Ability to change the viewing height and distance to your liking. Different sized screens and people will have different needs. 

 

5.  PS3 or PS4? -- PS4 has no wheels or racing games really, PS3 has several. But honestly, unless you just really like Gran Turismo, I'd skip the console...

 

6.  Which racing games on PS3 or PS4? -- See previous answer. IF it HAS to be a console, PS3 has quite a few racers, among them the GT series, F1 series, NASCAR series, DIRT series... and the unit isn't very expansive these days.

 

7.  Advantage of pedals connected at the top or bottom? -- Bottom. I tried top mount and it was kinda cool. plus if you really need to use your leg rather than your ankle it might help, but when I went back to floor mount I found that I missed the stability. Really tho, go with what works for you.

 

8.  If I had PS3 or PS4 and AT&T Uverse Wifi, is that all I would need to race online, or would I need to hook up a computer, too?  I have a MacMini. -- AT&T should work fine, as long as you get decent speed, I'd be looking for better than 3/1 MBPS up/down.  As for the computer, I don't know why you'd NEED it for your console games, but there might even be some good racers on the Mac, although I don't know how much graphically it will support. Sometimes Macs are deceptively capable!

 

COUNTER QUESTION! What kinds of WHEELS have you been looking into?

[Chris Tataryn 4]

I'm going to Second/Third what Alphan and Dangerous said...

Unless you are really settled on Console racing, you should really consider a PC setup. These days there are countless cheap systems that will run everything you can throw at them.

Also, good ol' Craigslist has always been my honey pot for cheap systems. There's a lot of gamers out there who never stop upgrading, and they are constantly flipping their systems for new ones. 

Result is that you can get pretty pumped up rigs for not much at all. Certainly well within your budget. 

Also, a PC can be upgraded as needed, or as you get more into it. 

[stone775 173]

What these guy's are telling you is really the way to go. I use to console game and switched to PC only now. I would go with PC sims like "iracing" and in "Steam" and get Assetto Cosra it is going to be a Great sim when it is finished and you can it about 1/2 price Now @ $39.99 when it is done it gonna be around $79.99. Here is my base for my "Obutto" Ozone when I first got it made. I had to make a base so I could enter and exit easier as my Ol' body doesn't bend and move like it used to. The base is different now but I have not took any more pic's lately I just wanted to show you what you might want consider on this rig it is really very easy to be customized, and it is A LOT CHEAPER then its brother the R3v unit. Hope this helps you.

[AlanBeall 0]

Thank you so much, J.A.R.V.I.S., Alphan, Dangerous Dan, Chris and stone775.  This gives me a lot to explore.  The question about the monitor centers on how big should it be and which technology keeps up the best.  LED?

[Gunstar 615]

Yeah, LED is the way to go. Plasma TV's are getting tough to find and might be a lil' hot to sit so close to.

[Jason Dunnington 25]

Hey Alan for monitor and size since its single look into going big. I've just found some 51in 1080p plasma samsung for $650. it's running 600hz, but it's big and won't break the bank. I've done a lot of research before I bought my two plasma's the 42 I used for a year as my monitor but that was only 720p. Plasma's are actually better then lcd/led and they do last just as long. The only thing with a plasma is you can get a burn in effect but they have a "scrubber" that you can run when your out once a month and be set. My 42 never had a burn in issue, currently the tv in our bedroom. The 50 did after the kids pulled an all nighter and left it on pause when they past out. 

 

Also go with a PC, get one from Main PC ask for an ASUS motherboard with SSD cache, or look into building your own then your open for upgrades for years to come instead of buying another complete POS 

[Alphan 1]

Thank you so much, J.A.R.V.I.S., Alphan, Dangerous Dan, Chris and stone775.  This gives me a lot to explore.  The question about the monitor centers on how big should it be and which technology keeps up the best.  LED?

Hi Alan,

If it's going to be a tv, make sure to check a term called input lag. It is an important factor on TVs and can make the sims unplayable.

Cheers