Those are rather lofty requirements for that budget. Be ready to spend more... Answer from Nannam86 on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/simracing › recommendations for a brand new sim racing setup?
r/simracing on Reddit: Recommendations for a brand new Sim Racing setup?
March 26, 2023 -
I have recently decided to take the plunge into the sim racing world after finally saving enough money to buy a rig. I tried looking at the buyers guide, but it seems it hasnt been updated in a while (and the wheel guide is still under construction).
I am looking to play mainly AC, F1 (League Racing) and also (finally) get into iRacing. I am not looking for a full manual setup with a stick + handbrake e.t.c.
I was wondering if people had any specific recommendations for a setup within a budget of $2k USD? I was thinking:
DD Wheel Base (~15 Nm seems like the sweet spot)
F1-Style Racing Wheel (something like the MOZA GS GT Wheel, or similar)
Load Cell Pedals
Racing seat/Cockpit
Although this is my first step into the field of sim racing, I have done racing IRL before, and hence I am hoping for a setup which is more for intermediate-advanced driving experience. I would like to buy something which doesnt leave me having to upgrade a year or so down the line.
If my budget is too low for the setup I am gunning for, how much more would you say I should save up? Thanks in advance for the help!
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Those are rather lofty requirements for that budget. Be ready to spend more...
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You will not be able to do what you want to on that budget. Bet bet I would say is the following; Asetek la prima base/wheel bundle £850 (upgradable down the line to get the torque you want) GTOmega prime light and seat £550 (probably the best bang for the buck cockpit/seat that will handle 15nm down the line) Najam simtec pedals - £200 Cheap sturdy, again you aren't throwing to much away if you want to upgrade down the line. PC - £1000-1500 (upper mid range, may be more expensive now with the GPU shortage) Monitor £300-1200 each All in that puts you around £3-4000 before reaching the steam storefront, or adding nice to haves like a wireless keyboard, keyboard tray, or must have a like a cup holder. I would suggest going for a gear that can be upgraded, like the csl DD (5nm - 8nm) or the asetek stuff where you can go from 12 - 18. That way you don't have to pay the price for the full upgraded base. The PC is the killer here, because there isn't really many options out there that will cut your price significantly, unless you are willing to compromise significantly, and the software is only going to get more demanding.
Sim Racing Setups
simracingsetup.com › sim racing product guides › 4 recommended setups to start sim racing with any budget 2026
4 Sim Racing Setups To Start Sim Racing With Any Budget 2026
1 week ago - We also utilise more arcade-style ... sim racing starter package includes an entry-level racing wheel such as the Logitech G923 and an affordable sim rig such as the Playseat Challenge....
Videos
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My UPDATED Sim Racing Room (2025 Setup Tour) - YouTube
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10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying a Sim Racing Setup - YouTube
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My Ultimate F1 25 Racing Sim Gaming Setup! - YouTube
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Best Budget Sim Racing Setups Under $500 (Wheels + Pedals Ranked) ...
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What budget should I set for a good racing simulator?
The budget of your racing simulator depends on how powerful/expensive your wheel and pedal combo is, how much physical space you can dedicate to sim racing and how seriously you take your sim racing. Running a $300 Logitech setup for casual arcade racing in a small apartment? A $200 folding rig is probably best. Do you have an $800-plus Fanatec direct drive setup that you use for weekly iRacing? Spending a similar amount to lock that powerful wheel down is a worthwhile investment.
cnet.com
cnet.com › cars › racing games › best sim racing cockpit you can buy in 2026
These Are the Best Sim Racing Cockpits for PC, Console Gaming
What makes a good sim racing cockpit?
A good racing cockpit should be sturdy enough to support you and your wheel and pedal combo. This is particularly important with force-feedback wheels and high-quality pedal boxes, which transmit loads of torque and foot pressure upon their mounting points. You'll also want to make sure that the ergonomics work well for your body type.
cnet.com
cnet.com › cars › racing games › best sim racing cockpit you can buy in 2026
These Are the Best Sim Racing Cockpits for PC, Console Gaming
What should I look for in a sim racing wheel?
Case material, machining, weight, tactile feel, and the encoders all contribute to the realism and feel of a sim racing wheel. Additionally, the ergonomics of the wheel are critical to enabling an enjoyable SIM racing experience.
cnet.com
cnet.com › cars › racing games › best sim racing cockpit you can buy in 2026
These Are the Best Sim Racing Cockpits for PC, Console Gaming
Fanatec
fanatec.com › explorer › games › gaming tips › what is the best setup to get started in sim racing?
What is the best setup to get started in sim racing? | Fanatec
November 12, 2024 - If you prefer a more immersive setup, the Formula Cockpit offers a sleek racing seat design that enhances the overall experience while keeping you comfortably in position during races.
SIMRACINGCOCKPIT
simracingcockpit.gg › home › how to guides for sim racers
Your first Sim Racing Setup: Our Ultimate Beginner's guide
September 24, 2020 - Best beginner sims and games include Assetto Corsa, Gran Turismo 7, Forza Motorsport, iRacing and Automobilista 2. An RTX 4060-based Gaming PC is a great starting point for sim racing, with enough horsepower to last for years.
Arzopa
arzopa.com › blogs › guide › car-racing-game-setup-for-laptop
Ultimate Car Racing Game Setup for Laptop: Your Comprehensive Guide – Arzopa
September 9, 2024 - Are you a car racing enthusiast looking to set up the ultimate gaming experience on your laptop? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the essential components, top racing games, and tips to help you create a realistic and immersive car racing setup tailored to your laptop.
CNET
cnet.com › cars › racing games › best sim racing cockpit you can buy in 2026
These Are the Best Sim Racing Cockpits for PC, Console Gaming
March 4, 2025 - A good racing rig may not be worth the investment for more casual players interested primarily in arcade racers. The budget of your racing simulator depends on how powerful/expensive your wheel and pedal combo is, how much physical space you can dedicate to sim racing and how seriously you take your sim racing. Running a $300 Logitech setup for casual arcade racing in a small apartment? A $200 folding rig is probably best.
Pinterest
pinterest.com › josecevasco › game-racing-setup
29 Game racing setup ideas
Race Car Gaming Chair · Racing Gaming Chair · Best Airplane Games · World Atlas Map · Flight Simulator Cockpit · Airplane Games · Custom Gaming Steering Wheel · Diy Racing Wheel · Ps4 Steering Wheel Setup · G29 Wheel · Racing Steering Wheel 3d Print · Ps4 Steering Wheel And Pedals · Steering Wheel For Controller ·
No Money Motorsports
nomoneymotorsports.com › 2020 › 05 › 26 › the-cheapest-racing-simulator-gaming-setup-out-there
The CHEAPEST Racing Simulator (Gaming) setup: What you need and how much you need to spend – No Money Motorsports
November 24, 2022 - Gran Turismo Sport doesn’t have any local tracks to me, so that (and PlayStation) was out for me. My Decision? I purchased Assetto Corsa and downloaded my local tracks. I also purchased a few months on iRacing with a promo, mostly so I can mess around on NJMP Thunderbolt and jump into a friend’s league… I ended up running iRacing a handful of times before letting my subscription lapse. Two years into Sim-Racing, we have a thriving group of friends who race weekly in Assetto Corsa. Some people are fine playing racing games with a console controller.
SimRacingSetup
simracingsetup.com › homepage
🏎️ The Best F1 Setups | F1 25 Setups | SimRacingSetup.com
August 5, 2025 - The Best Sim Racing Setups For F1 25, iRacing, ACC & LMU. At Sim Racing Setups you will find the very best car setups for F1 25 and ACC.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/simracing › what should i get for a racing setup?
r/simracing on Reddit: What should I get for a racing setup?
May 15, 2023 -
I am very familiar with PC terms but honestly, the whole setup part just doesn't make sense to me. What should I make a list of? I know a couple of obvious stuff like a wheel, pedal, and cockpit but other than that I am pretty lost I won't lie. I don't know what is good for its price and what is beginner-friendly. I know what I want for a monitor and my PC setup can definitely handle any game thrown at it regardless of resolution but I don't know what to buy. Lastly is there a website like pcpartpicker for racing sims? I don't plan on making a DIY cockpit and I don't know what a good budget for all of this would be.
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Establish a realistic budget. Things in this hobby vary WILDLY in price. You can get a serviceable set of pedals for $150 or you can pay $2600 for ONE pedal. You can get a wheelbase that costs $200 or spend $2.5k for only a wheelbase with no wheel, so your budget will determine most of what you choose. To my knowledge, no repository of sim equipment, especially with the boom in companies and products entering the space within the last 2-3 years.
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Binge YouTube for a month… make a budget and list
Reddit
reddit.com › r/gaming › what’s the best racing game + set up with wheel, shifter, and pedals to run on pc?
r/gaming on Reddit: What’s the best racing game + set up with wheel, shifter, and pedals to run on PC?
September 28, 2021 - Fanatec DD2 and accesories, rig, super ultrawide monitor, PC to get good FPS on that, etc. Game easy, iRacing, and Assetto Corsa / Assetto Corsa Competizione for GT3, but at competitive level you only have iRacing.
Team-BHP
team-bhp.com › news › how i got into sim-racing: equipment, games & my home setup
How I got into sim-racing: Equipment, games & my home setup | Team-BHP
March 7, 2024 - The full versions can be had by donating to the devs, and they open up the game to thousands of high-quality cars, tracks, weather conditions and even skins (you can have a GTA skin too). Even though AC was released in 2014, it is one of the best simulation software. RaceRoom is another excellent simulator, available with limited free content.
PC Gamer
pcgamer.com › hardware › controllers › steering wheels
Best PC racing wheels in 2026: my favorite direct drive and budget steering wheels for sim racing | PC Gamer
June 5, 2025 - The best budget racing wheel is the Thrustmaster T128, a hybrid drive wheel with superb paddle shifters and a good amount of responsive grunt, along with plenty of wheel-mounted buttons for all your in-game controls. Generally, cheaper setups tend to have gear-driven systems, and the quality of that system can vary somewhat.
Asetek
asetek.com › home › guides › guide: how to build the ultimate sim racing setup
Sim Racing Setup: How to Build the Ultimate Setup - Asetek Simsports
March 18, 2025 - While consoles offer a plug-and-play experience, they have some limitations in terms of game selection and hardware compatibility. For serious sim racers, a high-performance PC is the best option to fully enjoy advanced racing simulators.
SIMRACINGCOCKPIT
simracingcockpit.gg › home › gaming pcs
The Best Sim Racing / Gaming PCs: Buyer’s Guide
August 21, 2023 - MAIRA for iRacing: Marvin’s Awesome iRacing App Transforms Force Feedback · Pimax Crystal Super and Light Settings Guide: A Complete Guide Sorted by GPU · Best Thrustmaster Wheel Mods: Buyer’s Guide · Best Logitech G29 Wheel Mods: Acelith’s Game-Changing Upgrades · Sim Racer Builds Setup on CNC Machine: Wheelbase, Pedals, Shifter, and More ·
mygizzmo
mygizzmo.com › blogs › mygizzmo › how-to-build-the-ultimate-racing-game-setup-at-home
How to Build the Ultimate Racing Game Setup at Home – mygizzmo
February 18, 2025 - Investing in a force feedback racing wheel like the Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 Spider, a sturdy wheel stand, and high-quality accessories can transform your gameplay into an immersive and thrilling experience.
Road & Track
roadandtrack.com › car culture › car accessories › best sim racing setups for 2025
Best Sim Racing Setup for 2025, Gamer Picks
December 11, 2024 - PCs are typically more powerful than consoles and offer more options for games and software, equipment setups, and hardware customizations. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It will depend on whether you play on a PC or console and even which console you choose. Some options for cars, tracks, and gameplay are only available in certain games or on specific platforms. Some classic console racing games include Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Popular PC simulator options include Raceroom, iRacing, Assetto Corsa Competizione, Automobilista 2, and rFactor 2.
Gear Patrol
gearpatrol.com › cars › a34028967 › best-home-racing-simulator
We Tried the Best Home Simulator Setup for iRacing’s Wildly Realistic Racing Software | Gear Patrol
August 26, 2022 - “You have to have the things that make it feel like a real race car. That might not be important to gamers, since they’re used to controllers, but it’s important to real drivers.” · Wilson uses a Fanatec wheel (which starts at $299 and goes up to $649) which uses a direct drive feedback mounting base (those can run you anywhere from $349 to $1,499, though some bundle options exist). That direct-drive motor does afford the best sensation, valuable to a pro — though perhaps overkill for a noob like myself, so I opted for a Thrustmaster TX Leather Edition wheel and pedal set ($470).
Fanatec
fanatec.com › explorer › games › gaming tips › best sim setup for gt racing
Best Sim Setup for GT Racing | Fanatec
October 8, 2025 - The best solution here is the ClubSport GT Cockpit - designed by sim racers, for sim racers. The key features are: Infinite adjustments to perfectly tailor the driving position; Structural rigidity to eliminate flex and ensure precise feedback; ...
Car and Driver
caranddriver.com › home › parts, gear, tools, and accessories › best sim racing setups of 2025
Building the Best Sim Racing Setup - Car and Driver
April 3, 2023 - It features up to 25nm of torque and an incredibly realistic force feedback system that makes it a favorite amongst professional e-sport racers and professional drivers alike. As you can tell from the product image though, it doesn't come with a rim, which leads us to our next recommendation. ... The Simucube Valo GT-23 Wheel is a perfect pairing for the 2 Pro Wheel Base. It's made of milled and anodized aluminum and is covered with Alcantara. Its array of buttons, dials, and joysticks allow for in-game customization to get just the experience you're looking for, and its integrated magnetic paddle shifters are sure to bring a track-like experience to your sim racing setup.