rec.autos.simulators

USB or serial for FF wheel - does it matter?

tom

USB or serial for FF wheel - does it matter?

by tom » Tue, 16 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Don't go through the trouble of getting a USB adapter.

It doesn't make a difference as far as forces go. They are exactly the
same on USB and serial. The only thing you get is a little bit less
system overhead (and, of course, the good feeling to use the latest and
greatest :-)

If you have it running fine on serial, then let it be that way. The next
system you have will have USB anyway, and then you'll be able to hook it
up there.

If you start getting other USB devices (maybe a mouse, or keyboard, or
speakers, or whatever gizmos you'd find), you can always upgrade at a
later date.

..tom


<kom..

USB or serial for FF wheel - does it matter?

by <kom.. » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Nope. The Sidewinders have a few members (Sidewinder Precision Pro, and
Sidewinder Freestyle Pro) which are dual gameport/USB. But that's about it.
I assume the standard gamepad will follow next, but it will take a *while*
(read probably never) until their FF products are adapted to gameport/USB.
They might as well just build an FF version anew.

A controller with a MIDI heart (that's what the Sidewinder FFs really are)
don't fit well into the picture of USB...

..tom


>Just got a MS Sidewinder joystick (non FF) and they have supplied a
>game->USB adaptor with it. Will this work for FF products? It says on it
>Sidewinder products only. Academic question as its not my joystick and
>i've only got a non USB Win 95 install, but just curious.

Michael E. Carve

USB or serial for FF wheel - does it matter?

by Michael E. Carve » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00


% Don't go through the trouble of getting a USB adapter.

% It doesn't make a difference as far as forces go. They are exactly the
% same on USB and serial. The only thing you get is a little bit less
% system overhead (and, of course, the good feeling to use the latest and
% greatest :-)

I think there is more than just a "little system overhead".  One of the
reasons Papryus did not include FF in GPL was the latency issue.  The
overhead of running through the serial port was too high.  Now whether
the drivers for a USB unit will be effecient enough is another can of
worms.

With that said, upgrading an old motherboard to USB is probably not
worth it as the overhead caused by the interface card maybe too high to
warrant any performance gains.  The only reason you should consider
upgrading an old MB to USB is if there is a product you want and it only
comes in USB flavors...

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Robert Gorml

USB or serial for FF wheel - does it matter?

by Robert Gorml » Sat, 20 Feb 1999 04:00:00

I've had some feedback from a Thrustmaster Formula Force GT user that
the beast was incompatible with a lot of games due to it being USB.  He
thought that the games where looking for a wheel on the gameport despite
what the W98 control panel had setup.

Any comments on this?  If the game runs under windows surely the
joystick will be found no matter where it's attached (serial, gameport
or USB)?

Thanks in advance,

Robert


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