rec.autos.simulators

Is it possible that the frame rates can drop by using a force feedback
wheel?   Using a gamepad I run anywhere from 40-110 fps on a Duron 850
running 512 megs of ram and a geforce2 card.  But as soon as I install the
V4 wheel the frame rates drop to around 25-40.  Just wondering if the wheel
is the culprit.

TIA

  Very much so.  Depending on the drivers that a wheel uses AND how it sends
values to the computer,  a FF wheel can have very detrimental effects on
framerate.
  One of the programmers of NAscar Heat wrote a very informative letter
here, a couple of months ago.  Basically the usb 'rules' for wheels have a
very time-consuming process in them.  some companies like Logitech seem to
have found away around them, but other companies, if they follow the exact
method prescribe to access USB, will find the program having to wait for
results to be sent, checked and double checked before they are released via
the USB port.  (I am probably hopelessly simplifying and distorting his
post, but I hope that is the gist of his message)
  Some wheels like the microsoft units were very bad  early on, they heavily
impacted framerates when enabled.  But later versions or better drivers were
supposed to improve that.  Best advice...try and check out the wheels in
advance for the programs you use...not easy I know, or ask here for
specifics...there might be others who have your same setup.
  Good luck
dave henrie

Might not be all that complicated.  I remember when I first got my V4,
and installed that software that came with it (I think it assigns
profiles to games), it really crushed my framerate.  The proggy ran
in the background, residing in the tray.  Didn't realize it until I
exited out of it and then all was ok.  You don't need the program to
run, it has nothing to do with the operation of the wheel (unlike a
LWFF).  Otherwise, never had any trouble with this particular wheel
harming frame rates over 2 years of hard use.