Hardware / Wheels

Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel

discussed in 5,048 posts, 1998-2010 · overall tone mixed

Posts per month

Key threads

Arguments over Microsoft versus Logitech force-feedback wheels 1999-12-12 · 42 posts
A gift-buyer's question about the Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel set off a long argument. Shumi and others said the Microsoft wheel was imprecise and hurt frame rates, while Douglas Ellison and other owners reported no problems. Act Labs's Raymond Chow promoted the Force RS, and the exchanges grew increasingly personal.
Microsoft force feedback wheel mounting and NASCAR 2 support 1998-11-06 · 45 posts
Discussion of mounting the Microsoft force feedback wheel led to a dispute over whether it works with DOS-based NASCAR Racing 2. Some ran it fine in a Windows DOS box while others could not, and Papyrus's Randy Cassidy explained how digital devices emulate analog port-201 reads. Calibration jitter and soundcard compatibility were suggested as causes.
Microsoft and Saitek force feedback wheel comparisons 1998-10-19 · 31 posts
A user asked for force-feedback wheel reviews. The Microsoft wheel drew mixed reports on its light sliding pedals, though gas and brake could be split in software, while the Saitek R4 was widely criticised for build quality. Saitek's Mark Starrett answered questions about DOS support and assembly and defended the product against complaints.
MS Force Feedback wheel drivers on Windows XP 2002-02-02 · 27 posts
Dan Dickerson warned against installing the Sidewinder software for his USB MS Force Feedback wheel on XP. Others reported it working fine when installed first without schemes, while the gameport version was not officially supported by Microsoft on XP. Split-axis pedal support remained unreliable, and Dan later found his brake pedal again had no modulation.
Microsoft or Logitech force feedback wheel? 2000-03-03 · 21 posts
A UK buyer asked for a straight answer between the Microsoft and Logitech force feedback wheels. Replies praised Microsoft's pedals but noted its CPU and frame-rate hit in GPL, while others preferred Logitech's smoother feel or recommended ACT Labs and Guillemot. He bought the Logitech after a narrow vote.
Microsoft force feedback wheel versus Logitech Momo 2003-09-28 · 36 posts
Sven asked whether to replace a worn Microsoft Force Feedback wheel with a Logitech Momo. Most said the Momo wheel was far better, but its short-travel pedals were widely criticised; Larry returned his Momo for that reason. Jone Tytlandsvik offered his adapter for using Microsoft pedals with the Momo wheel, and posters clarified the difference between the red Momo Force and black Momo Racing.
Microsoft force-feedback wheel overloads CPU in GP3 2000-07-29 · 22 posts
A user found that enabling force feedback with a Microsoft wheel pushed GP3's processor occupancy to 250 to 300 percent. Posters noted the Microsoft wheel was known to use far more CPU than the Logitech wheel, and a fix was found by installing DirectX 7a, though this exposed GP3's left-pulling force-feedback problem.
Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel profiler crash on XP 2006-07-15 · 38 posts
Don Burnette's Sidewinder Force Feedback USB wheel software crashed when he opened the macro recorder tab under XP. GaryP and others suggested reinstalls and even sent a fresh copy of the CD, but Larry said it was a known problem caused by a Windows update, with no fix, though copying existing profiles still worked. GaryP offered to build profiles for him.
Microsoft SideWinder FF Wheel under Windows 2000 2001-07-11 · 21 posts
A user asked whether the USB SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel works in Windows 2000. Experiences varied: the 4.0 software and later 4.5 driver worked for some, but the older 3.02 profiler could not be installed. One poster noted that installing Colin McRae Rally 2 overwrites a DLL and breaks the wheel in Windows 98.
Which force feedback wheel to buy? 1999-09-08 · 26 posts
A Norwegian poster asked which force feedback wheel to buy. Recommendations split between Logitech, Microsoft and ACT Labs, with everyone warning against Thrustmaster's force feedback wheel; owners debated strength versus subtlety of effects and pedal quality. Most said the Logitech was best for GPL, and he ordered one.
Newcomer asks which sims and wheel to buy 2000-06-19 · 43 posts
John Kozak, new to PC racing, asked which wheel and games to start with. Most recommended forgiving titles such as Sports Car GT, NFS Porsche Unleashed, NASCAR Racing 3, Viper Racing, Re-Volt, Colin McRae Rally and F1 2000 with aids, and several warned him away from GPL for now. Wheel advice compared the Logitech, Microsoft and Act Labs force-feedback wheels, especially their pedals and shift paddles; he ordered the Microsoft wheel.
User impressions of Microsoft's force feedback wheel 1998-10-19 · 21 posts
A prospective buyer asked about Microsoft's Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel. Responses praised the optical wheel but criticised the pedals, and noted that games of the time, including F1RS and Monaco GP, used force feedback weakly while Monster Truck Madness 2 and Viper Racing used it better.
Which force feedback wheel to buy for GPL 1999-05-13 · 20 posts
With force feedback expected in the GPL patch, Mark Stahl asked which FF wheel to buy while keeping his CH pedals. Papyrus's Randy Cassidy explained that GPL would map all DirectInput controllers up to 16 axes and 16 buttons, so separate wheels and pedals could be combined without rewiring. Owners compared the Logitech, Microsoft, ACT Labs and Saitek wheels, discussing optical versus potentiometer sensors.
Setting up a second-hand Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel 2005-07-31 · 23 posts
A user bought a used Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel and was delighted with it, but found the pedals sharing a single combined axis. Advice was that Windows XP's own controller panel lacks split axes. Posters said he needed the hard-to-find Sidewinder software version 4.0 to turn off combined axes, and should avoid installing drivers for the gameport version.
Act Labs Force RS or Logitech MOMO? 2002-08-25 · 22 posts
Todd Walker asked which wheel to buy. Some recommended the MOMO's wheel but warned about its pedals, while Larry championed the durable USB Microsoft Force Feedback Wheel, which Walker bought. GTX_SlotCar argued its optical encoders give lower resolution, which Larry dismissed.

Busiest threads

Arguments over Microsoft versus Logitech force-feedback wheels (29 posts about it)
Microsoft force feedback wheel mounting and NASCAR 2 support (21 posts about it)
Microsoft and Saitek force feedback wheel comparisons (18 posts about it)
Microsoft wheel (14 posts about it)
MS Force Feedback wheel drivers on Windows XP (14 posts about it)
Microsoft or Logitech force feedback wheel? (14 posts about it)
Re Alison Hines Comments - Logitech v MSFF (14 posts about it)
OT: Trying to reinstall my MS SW FF Pro wheel. Problems. (13 posts about it)
Microsoft force feedback wheel versus Logitech Momo (13 posts about it)
Microsoft force-feedback wheel overloads CPU in GP3 (13 posts about it)
MSFF: which is better? USB or Gameport connector? (13 posts about it)
MS Force Feedback Wheel (13 posts about it)
GPL: MSFF Sadness:-((((((((( (13 posts about it)
Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel profiler crash on XP (12 posts about it)
GPL: MSFF Wheel - no force feedback (12 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed it was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Year	Posts	Positive	Negative	Tone
1998	435	145	58	positive (+0.31)
1999	1,416	448	203	positive (+0.25)
2000	1,244	271	290	mixed (+0.01)
2001	743	154	165	mixed (+0.01)
2002	536	167	91	mixed (+0.20)
2003	331	104	53	positive (+0.23)
2004	139	44	17	positive (+0.35)
2005	91	31	12	positive (+0.32)
2006	77	32	8	positive (+0.40)
2007	23	10	6	positive (+0.22)
2008	5	4	0	very positive (+1.20)
2009	6	2	1	positive (+0.33)
2010	2	0	1	negative (-0.50)