Simagic Alpha Mini: Why It's probably the BEST Direct Drive for Most Sim Racers!
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- Today we are looking at the Simagic Alpha Mini Direct Drive - definitely the best Direct Drive I've tested in the Midrange!
Deutsche Version: • Simagic Alpha Mini: Da...
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0:00 Intro and Disclaimer
0:40 Price and Quality
1:00 Mounting Options
2:28 Servo Motor Specs
4:04 Quick Release
6:25 SimPro Software
8:14 How Does It Feel?
10:10 Overheating Tests
14:10 Competition
15:55 Little Asetek QR Section
17:02 Which one to buy
17:49 Verdict
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You actually now can buy the Asetek La Prima base for 749€ - thanks to everyone pointing it out, when I wrote the script you couldn't.
At that price I think it's also a very nice option!
Standalone
www.asetek.com/simsports/product/la-prima-direct-drive-wheelbase-12nm/
Bundles with QR
www.asetek.com/simsports/product/la-prima-wheelbase-and-quick-release-bundle/
alpha mini base is $539.00 sim motion usa. bundled with gts leather rim $869.00 us
Do you know what size the la prima shaft is and any recommendations on a hub that could fit the moza qr on it? The TK version of the Asetek is only $499 at a Mircocenter in my town and I want to run the moza wheel on it.
Yes, it's the same size as the Simucube one: 24mm@@Filmgeek23
Dan could you please share your iracing FFB settings that you used? I use the Simagic Alpha and can't seem to get it right despite having used it for a year in my current settings
@@Filmgeek23 bro you can add many wheel to the Asetek you just have to buy their universal qr for 150$ also having used the asetek honestly can’t beat it at 499
I have had my Alpha Mini for 2 years . Well built and never had a problem except with the early software which is much better now . I have had the temperature of the unit up to 60 degrees having used it for six hour sessions regularly ( in a hot summer ) but have never noticed any drop off in power/torque . I have the Simagic 300mm GT4 wheel which is perfect with this base . I also have a cheap 350mm "deep dish" wheel for drifting , no button box or paddles on it to keep it light and the Alpha Mini handles that just fine . I have just ordered the 300mm GTS wheel which should cover most other scenarios . I also have the P1000i Pedals with haptics and they are great . After 2 years of constant use my GT4 wheel is still in perfect condition too ( not the Alcantara version ) . I have confidence in all my Simagic kit and think it is a great ecosystem that is built to last . I feel I have spent well .
@@TKD142 I only use the 35cm for drifting and older 60-70s cars like E-type Jags. Open wheelers I use the GT4 rim and I am getting the GTS wheel for rally , street cars and everything else . I would say if you get a 35cm wheel just make sure its lighter rather than heavy as it can have a damping effect on the FFB . Personaly if I had to choose only one it would be the 30cm .
@@TKD142 I am using the Simagic GT1 (leather edition) for rallying. It is 350mm in diameter, but it works great for it. That is my subjective opinion. :)
Completely agree. Have had my alpha mini with a gtc wheel for nearly that long, and a GTS + FX wheel much more recently, and I feel confident in how I spent my money, not a single issue with anything and even the alcantara on my gtc is holding up super well.
@@thebigcat8312 check out the GT NEO!
What's crazy is its even better now then ever. They just get better and better.
Hi Dan, great review as usual. It looks like you got the Alpha mini V1 rather than the current V3. AFAIK the V1 came with a different power supply which allowed it to reach the higher torque values. The V3 only reaches 10nm as advertised, so you might need to add a disclaimer here.
Wow 😃
Love the testing man 💪
You are such an asset to the community bro 💪
Great review! You’re becoming one of the best sim racing reviewers on CZcams, mixed in with the dry sense of humour, make these videos really watchable until the end. Having an actual OEM engineer review these products is refreshing and you put the technical aspects into a more basic dialogue so that less technically minded viewers can understand…
Thank you very much 😊
So glad you went above and beyond and tested performance when heat soaked. I can help answer the longer term performance for this base, after 2 years using it regularly it still works perfectly with no issues and the software has been improving very well, its in a very good state now.
New to sim racing. Love your content Dan. I bought a Simagic Alpha and been running it for two weeks. It felt good but not great. Tried your settings and it completely transformed my experience. I now LOVE my alpha. Thanks for the helpful video. Keep up the great work!
I've been using a mini with the FX wheel for the last year, and have been really impressed by the quality. It's also nice to hear it stacks up well against the competition, as it has a pretty complete ecosystem that I feel even more optimistic about diving into
I just ordered the Simagic Alpha Mini & GT Neo wheel, cant wait! For all the reviews I've seen so far, it seems a great and suitable combo for me! Thanks for the video
I just ordered the Simagic Alpha Mini & GT Neo wheel. Thanks in part to this informative video. Thanks, Dan.
If you have got V3, it is not 13nm anymore but just 10nm.
@@peterenis4752 source of this info?
@@carsonpoland Guy that own the V1 and V3 side by side in one room. He feel like V3 is having significantly less torque.
I've had one for just over a year and I absolutely adore it- I love the form factor and mounting options are as good as it gets.
Good stuff Dan. I think Simagic has a great offering. I got the VRS b/c of the value to NM price point, however considered the Simagic as well.
This is my first DD base and I've been using it pretty much everyday since I got it early last year. Definitely recommended and a bang for the buck! Would love to see more settings specifically suited for iRacing :)
Great review and what I needed to proceed with an order for the Alpha Mini.
Oh cool, thanks for showcasing it Dan. I've had one for awhile paired with the GT4 wheel and run it on iRacing and ACC - I love it!
I might eventually pick one of these up. The cleverness of the electrical part of the quick release really impressed me (and the rest of the wheel seems good too). Also, I subscribed the moment you started giving pizza tips.
Some of the best reviews on CZcams!!
Really glad to see you looking at the Simagic gear, I've been running the Alpha U with the GT4 wheel for awhile and I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on that setup. Their build quality is unrivaled at the price point and they have a fantastic ecosystem.
I´m using the Simagic Alpha Mini with the GT4 Wheel for a year now. Never had a problem or overheating. It just doing it what it should. Thx for the review. Enjoyed it, cos Moza stuff is know everywhere :)
Great review Dan. I've owned the Simagic mini and the Ultimate, and I agree with your points. I've since switched to the Simucube 2 Pro, but I think Simagic's ecosystem is a great value proposition. This is a great time to be a sim racer with all the options we now have for our rigs.
The simucube 2 is quite noticeably better than the simagic? If you were quick before, did the improvements of the simucube 2 help with gaining another 2-3 tenths?
@@S2GUnit The SC2 pro is definitely smoother compared to the Simagic units, especially when you turn the shafts. However, I don’t think it translates into better lap times. I prefer the Simucube UI as well, but imo the Ultimate is almost just as good as the SC2 pro. The question comes down to whether you’re willing to pay a bit extra for the small differences.
I’ve been running a Simagic Alpha Ultimate for about a year now and it’s been an awesome base. At first I was a little skeptical about going with them but after watching some reviews like RaceBeyondMatter and his comparison to the Simucube 2 I took a chance and I don’t regret it. They have some nice wheel rims, shifters, and pedals too.
My favorite base right now is the simagice umtimate. I own the dd+ and the alpha I got to use the ultimate and like it more then both with the extra details. Thank god they ahve done updates its so so good now and they are on there 3rd revision which mamy dont know. So the bases and software now is better then it was a year ago.
Have had a first Edition Alpha mini since first release , brought on pre order with a leap of faith. absolutely justified itself and i feel no need to upgrade , been faultless after 1000’s of hours use .
Very nice Dan! Love the approach to measuring torque degradation!
Thanks Dan, great review. Gives me confidence that I made the right choice switching to Simagic.
Thanks for this content Dan! After this I was in search of this base and finally buy it (with the fx whell as you recommend). Being my first upgrade from a G29 for sure will be great. Thanks again!
Oh this will be an insane upgrade - hope you'll have tons of fun :)
Hello Dan,
nice video with what I consider an objective test.
I have a Mini with GTS Wheel since last Saturday and am fully satisfied with what Simagic offers me for my money.
A plus point compared to MOZA, in the software you can set whether, for example, the button that is used as a pit limiter also flashes when it is activated.
I still have to make all my settings for the simulations, but I am already very satisfied and the strength of the base is perfectly adequate for the GTS Wheel with 30cm diameter, at least for me.
I for one can recommend this combination with a clear conscience to anyone who comes from a "Belt Driven Base" like me.
Have fun and always a hand width of fuel in the tank 😉
great review! I've been running a Fanatec CSL Elite PS4 since mid 2020 and I'm definitely looking for a decent mid range DD as my next upgrade. I'm enjoying all the competition between wheelbase providers now!
I had the csl elite and went to the simagic alpha mini - amazing upgrade
It’s a great to hear Dan’s opinion of the Mini, since he has quite a bit of experience with other DD bases. I’ve had my Mini for several months and I’m quite happy with it. My first DD was the Moza R9. It was okay, but I could feel more cogging with it compared to the Mini. One thing I’ve noticed is that some reviews show the base with a Mini DIN power connector, but my unit has a barrel connector. I prefer the barrel connector, which seems like a stronger connector. The stronger connector could make a difference for someone who table mounts this base and it’s getting constantly unplugged and plugged back in. The base is marketed as a good option for desk mounting, so I think this is a valid point. They also have the best designed table clamp I’ve ever seen.
I'm thinking about buying the R9, here in my region it's much cheaper than the mini. Is the FFB difference too big between them?
Been using this for about 2 years now, its been very nice (apart from the software, which is getting better). The GT4 wheel with double clutches is nice but there are options for any type of racing. I have no regrets and wouldnt change it unless i went to a 20nm type base with an X29. Great review!
Great review Dan!
Proud owner of the Alpha Mini and FX wheel. Personally I think the built quality and performance of Simagic Is second to none at It´s price range.
This video made me pull the trigger on a Alpha wheel base with a set of P1000 pedals. Looking forward to trying this out!
How do you like so far? Is it good? The pedals worth buying?
Absolutely!! @@cemi_8945
ive had this for a year now and its still amazing
Nice review, any idea when will you be able to test the alpha (15mn) ? Looking forward por the p1000 review as well! You are the man !🇧🇷
I have had alpha mini with GT4 wheel for almost a year. I have been extremely happy with it. I agree that mini feels stronger than R12, I had chance to try R12 and mini at the same time. In my opinion mini ffb feels smoother and it was faster with high forces and overall felt stronger. I really like simagic simple design on their products, but I would love to see some new steering wheels to come out. This was nice review and i completly agree on the stuff you said on the video.
Excellent honest review.
Had my Alpha Mini since may and came away from the Fanatec CSL DD and it’s night and day compared to their stuff in terms of build quality and performance. I agree with the power being stronger than 10nm more on the 12/13nm like you said. Very impressed with my Simagic base and GTC wheel
well this just confirmed to me to buy the simagic alpha ultimate, great video
Wheel rotation speed gives me the impression of slowing down the return of the wheel to the center, this is very good, oscillations are eliminated and details are not lost, lower values of inertia and damper can be used, then from the tests carried out on the discord group simagic, lowering the wheel return value to low levels results in lower latency, we are now testing the firmware that brings the base to 1000 hz, personally I am very satisfied with this product, thanks Dan for this review, I would say the best I have seen.
I have the alpha ultimate. From other reviews I’ve heard the alpha U has superior FFB and detail to the mini or standard alpha. The improved slew rate of the alpha U puts it directly in line with the SC2 pro. From subjective testing the torque also surpasses the claimed rating of 23nm feeling more like the 25 of the simucube. Where I live in Canada Simagic is the only reasonable option. An alpha U is $1280 compared to SC2 pro at $2100. Here in Canada Simagic is even a lot cheaper than Fanatec or Moza. Moza R21 is $1750 and a DD2 is comes to a whopping $2700 after taxes, and import fees.
Nice review Dan
Good job as always super informative and no bs. For the heat just put a 120mm fan problem solved.
@DanSuzuki been loving your settings for the alpha. But have one question I can’t figure out. Everything feels great except when I’m trying to catch a slide initially turning the wheel quickly to counter steer feels good. But when coming back the other direction. Direction of the corner. The wheel feels very stiff. Like allot of resistance. Any idea what setting can be adjusted to make it easier to turn back. I’ve tried a few settings but haven’t found anything that makes a difference. Thanks bud
Great review as always. Love the heat soak tests. Did you do them for the r12 too? That definitely suffers from it.
Unfortunately not, probably will try to do that though!
Great Video, as always! When people ask me what I would recommend in terms of DD in a pricing range like that, I always say "take a look at Simagic, I think their DDs are quite good", because I read about their motors being somewhat similar to SimuCube, VRS and Asetek.
I also wonder why Simagic isn't that popular... I considered Simagic myself, but I went crazy last year when I decided to put the money for a Simucube 2 Pro on the table and then opted for Asetek when they announced their stuff... and I don't regret it, although I prefer the very simple design of the Simucube bases, they easily look like they were stolen from a CNC machine, hehe. But I like that, it makes me feel more confident than devices with a more "designed" look... but I have to say, my Asetek gear is still mint and still performs great. So I can confirm: as long as you don't have bad luck and getting a faulty device, all those DD manufacturers are a great option, you just have to plan how you want to expand your peripherals in terms of pedals and more importantly in terms of wheels.
I'm almost on the same page with Asetek, I only opted for the Invicta, because I like the QR and the possibility to stay in one eco system or easily use other pedals or wheels. But I also am not the biggest fan of the looks of the wheelbase. The steering wheels... I kind of was not hyped about the forte wheel as long as I only saw it in videos or on pictures, but once I unboxed it, I thought "Huh... actually it looks quite nice seeing it for real". It's not visually stunning or anything like that, the design is very unique, but on the other hand that applies to many wheels on the market.
But I already knew, that I would swap the wheel at some point as soon as the universal QR was availlable. I already did that swap and I was thinking about how to connect the wheel... thought about getting an adapter or making a fitting cable myself, since the original coiled cable of the wheel has two 6 pin Lumberg plugs and a small hub with it's own power unit and an on/off-button transferring the USB signal to the PC. I am using the 200mm shaft of the Asetek QR, so hiding a cable inside that would be easy... however I am currently using the original cable with it's hub, and I don't mind the cable dangling (winding it around the shaft isn't a good option since I can't really bolt the connection hub closer than appr. 30 centimeters). I will try that at some point though, simply making another cable with one Lumberg plug and an USB plug, and then testing how the internal USB hub of the Invicta base can handle the display of my wheel.
That's what I love about the hobby, you can adapt anything the way you want with an open system like by Asetek, Simagic, Simucube, and I even think Moza and Cammus... so Sim Racing has come quite far... and I enjoy this, it revived my love for PC using... and let's face it: Simracing is Gaming, only on a mature level were you need patience, a certain amount of discipline and the will to fail and learn.
What wheel do you use now? It's usually quite simple to actually route the USB inside the shaft and then connect it internally on the steering wheel.
@@DanSuzuki Yep, will try that in the near future by making a short Lumberg cable and then soldering it onto the small PCB of the QR... first I thought about making a Lumberg to USB-plug cable, but firstly I probably won't use the QR on another wheel and secondly if I would I could 'unsolder' the cable again and reattach the original one.
Errrm stupid me bought the Grid Porsche 911 RSR Replica Wheel, haha
Oh, that one probably won't work with the asetek stuff since it needs a power injector @@tobiwankentobi1982
I've had my mini for more than a year and couldn't be more pleased with it. Coming from an old Fanatec belt wheel that I had to be careful not to overstress in certain conditions, this is night and day difference. I mostly run 100% torque and then turn the FF down in game and I have to decrease it quite a lot for things like rallying, but even when I run pretty much the strongest setup without clipping I have barely felt the base getting lukewarm. There have been zero issues with the base and the GTS wheel, the support from the simagic guys on discord was always top notch, the software is pretty good, all in all I can't praise this enough. I was hesitant dropping 1k on a base and wheel, but it's well worth the money.
Great review, vielen dank!
lol the Ooni plug!! Love it!
Next!! asetek la prima :) Thanks for the honest review.
Hi Dan, I currently use a Microsoft sidewinder force feedback from 2001 or 2002. I build a pokornyi GTE wheel and I’m looking for a wheelbase and pedals. I’m looking at the P1000 pedals with the Alpha Ultimate or the VRS Directforce wheelbase and pedals. What is your opinion?
Thanks for this video. You help me with my choice 😉
If was same price would choose Asetek. But £749 are not £600. My brother has the alpha mini and is an amazing wheel, the feeling of being higher than 10Nm is real (and I have a Simucube). Also played rally with a simagic wheel (a different one of the one in the review) and no issues with the base moving the wheel, actually Dirt Rally 2.0 feels like the base is in estheroids Great base.
Really enjoyed the review, the part of checking the heat issues is a excellent point.
Truth be told, I wanted to get the Simagic Alpha Mini at first, but Simagic's availability problems in my area (Like the entire lineup is out of stock lol) led me to buy the Moza R12 + KS Wheel instead. I guess I'm not missing much here now that I have it, but it's nice to know why Simagic is so highly sought after. I sincerely hope Asetek succeeds and branch out to Asia and America as well. I feel Asetek's Non-proprietary route will pay dividends in the long run if it can allow aftermarket steering wheels to flourish.
Good review. Apart from strength, what other advantage do you think Simucube holds?
People who have tested both the Simagic Mini and other DD wheels, all said it feels much stronger than 10nm. I think people in iRacing forums then measured the torque, and it was well above 10nm. Thinking was, (IIRC), that Simagic released 15nm version first, then they polished and improved manufacturing, and when they released Mini, they couldn't, for Marketing reasons, say 13.5 nm, so they said it was 10nm. And it's a perfect delineation between models: 10, 15, and 23nm. I don't know if that is true, but I can see the logic behind.
Yeah it's more like 13, 18 and 27
It also has to be related to what torque works best without clipping.
That was with the older power cable though
Yeah it’s definitely more than 10 for sure. Sometimes if I’m off-roading and I’m not careful. It’ll rip the wheel right out of my hand and smack my thumb. It sucks but it’s an amazing wheelbase
so? how do you know the difference in torque is a different cable?@@Miguel-th3wx
If I want to use the Alpha Mini with the F-Core I would have to get the Simagic Wheel Side QR in 70mm right? And ist it possible to mount an extension on Alpha Mini Shaft?
Could you share your ideal settings for the Mini?? Best review on youtube btw, i've watched it like 3 times waiting for mine at the end of the month😂
@DanSuzuki Interesting that they provided you with earlier versions of the hardware. You have V1 base with 4pin power connector, different electronics (afair stm32 in V1 and some generic replacement in V2) and a bit different motor with V2 having some power regen tech. For GTC wheel the difference I believe is mostly cosmetic, there's a recess on the back right upper corner that is not there anymore. Thx for the review.
Also saw that they provided him with the earlier version of the wheelbase. Good review though, have been running my mini with the FX wheel for a year now and have no complaints or issues.
Until someone with the two versions do some testing, this question will remain (V1 vs V2). The fact that Simagic stays silent about this (and sent the older version for review) signals to me that the newer version is weaker.
@@eggnoc might be so (motor housing is bigger), but i think they've leveled the differences in the latest firmwares anyway. So if V1 had any headroom above the specified Nm, it is most likely limited now. Still strange that they sent V1... Boosted Media got V2 afaik.
Just bought a mini on your recommendation
What wheel are you going with
GTS Leather for now.
@@JaredPaul01
I have noticed your reviews getting better over the last ~6-8 mo. [very thorough but not too much highly detailed info that I'm not really interested in (your earlier ones had a tad too much/ too long / less relevant info to me IMO) and not too long (Boosted Media's reviews are way too long, so is SRG but his are organized more consistently so I can skip around w/o missing info I want, even w/o time stamps. Off the top of my head, Laurence Dusoswa's may be among the best w/ time stamps)]
Also this is the best of any Simagic review that I've seen😁
One question that you didn't cover: how is your impression of their costumer service? (BM's wasn't so good but he said that was primarily a problem w/ a specific employee of theirs)
Great video nice work ! I’m just discovered you yesterday and I’m rocking your channel ahaha, I just wanted to clarify that we can actually buy the la prima base alone now and it cost ~760 but I think the fact you can upgrade it later may be worth paying more no ?
Oh I just notice your comment mb but I like your work so I keep it up 😁
I've noticed with the SC2 Pro that the base gets hot when using the full 25 Nm, but not if using similar overall torque with 'just' 22 Nm maximum, so setting up the base for full torque and adjusting it ingame might be not the best solution. And I had already an RMA with the SC2 Pro, so it did some extra-miles to Ireland and back which took almost a month (I've only sent it to the local store). Where do those Simagic-bases end up if they fail?
Great video, have you tried the moza r9 possibly? Curious to see how youd compare the two
I am waiting the U in a day but i cant wait for your review
Been using a mini version for months and I cant complain a thing
Hi Dan, Having understood a GSI formula pro elite, you have to say that it works like a 15nm simagic Alpha, or precise but forced. Thank you
Hi Dan , I currently have a T300, I do a lot of endurance championships on RF2 at quite a high level and I am very hesitant between the Alpha and the Alpha Mini, do you think that the 240€ difference would be worth it trouble for my use?
When I Upgrade from the fanatec wheelbase 2.5, will I have noticeable better FFB? I dont think that I need more nm, the fanatec is very strong, too, but will I have more Details, or more direct connection feel? I am beginne, only driving for fun, not perfect lap Times, so I raise up all fx effects very high so i permanent have forces in the wheel.
Great review as always. How are the game preset in the Simpro Manager?
Fantastic video! Very informative.
I'm looking at both the Simagic Mini and the Asetek La Prima. Will there be a review of the Asetek La prima?
Thank you!
If Asetek sends me one ... yes :D
@@DanSuzuki Okay, I thought the wheel base you show in the video was the La Prima, and it is the Forte.
I hope Asetek sends you a La Prima wheel base soon!
@@DanSuzuki kann dir meine La Prima Wheelbase leihen 🤣
I’m new to sim racing and recently got a SC2 Pro. I Love it and I’m glad I bought it, but in reality the Alpha Mini probably would’ve been enough for me.
Looks like a great wheelbase! Just FYI SimXperience released the Accuforce V2 "Complete Kit" in 2017 with a NRG style quick release so Simagic wasn't actually the first, but they did get the wireless steering wheels going years before SimX did. I actually had multiple NRG branded quick releases on multiple wheels that clicked right onto the AF V2 QR. Honestly all sim manufacturers should adopt this method at this point.
The Accuforce V1 released in 2015 also had an NRG quick release and was wireless.
@@GoezTo11 the V1 was wireless? I wonder why the switched up the for the V2. i loved my V2 my biggest complaint by far was having a cable. That and the loud control box fan.
@@DanDiMaggio I believe that they had reliability issues iirc. I had a V2. I didn't mind the fan when driving or the cable. I have a VRS now which I can leave on without hearing a fan when not driving which is nice. Both my current wheels are wired (Grid MPX, Turn BP2 with 330mm wheel).
@@GoezTo11 ive heard really good stuff about VRS. Im currently using a CSL DD w/ boost kit. And while its down on power from the V2, it's so much smoother and dead silent. So far I haven't missed the additional power. We'll see in time if that changes but for now Im super happy with it!
nice review dan!
is there any reason why you use inertia to 100%?
I did hear alpha mini v3 is not 13nm anymore, but just 10nm. What was the one you have got?
Hatte das Ding. Quietschte nach 1 Woche. Ging sofort zurück. Danach Simucube Pro geholt. Nun ist Ruhe.
1:08 can i use my moza official desktop clamp to mount it ?
somebody who knows please answer
For a Playseat Trophy is there any point getting a wheel base that has more Nm? Or should I get the Alpha Mini?
It is worth noting that you have the first revision of the Alpha Mini. I can tell because there is no gap behind the shaft, whereas you can see a small gap in the newer one. The led also turns on on the new one when you rotate the shaft with the base turned off. The new revision is much more power efficient and never overheats on my end
Every direct drive gets warm/hot if you use it on full power, you can’t defy physics, but it’s also completely normal and nothing to worry about and far far far away from overheating (these servo motors are usually rated for 130C+)
How do you know it's more power efficient ?
@@gster109 Simagic added power regeneration to the new revisions of the Alpha Mini - it's basically like the regenerative braking in electric cars, that's why the LED can light up if you just rotate it and it's not plugged in. The first revision can't do that. From what I've read, this can increase efficiency of direct drive motors by 10-15%.
@@fups1 That's amazing, thanks for the information. Do you know what the efficiency boost is good for? Heat reduction?
How does the Alpha mini compare to the Alpha and Alpha U? I’m getting my first sim set up and not sure which to get. I don’t want to feel like I have to upgrade in a year’s time…
Please do a Simagic Alpha, DD+ and the VRS comparison if you can. I’d really like to know
Beware this is not the latest version of the Alpha Mini (the shape is different). The newer ones are Alpha Mini v3 and they're weaker. I replaced my Moza R9 and it almost has the same power. They probably dropped the peak force to 10nm.
@dansuzuki can you confirm which version of the alpha mini you have in this review?
@@justindlai At 10:37 it's supposed to have the version info but it's not there. That's weird because even v1 ones have that.
Also I wouldn't rely on this torque measurement method much. They measure the force at the steering limit but what matters most is how much force can the games send without clipping. It is possible the motor can produce 13nm but the driver only allows games to send 10nm peak.
What matters more is his comment at 2:33 that says Alpha Mini feels stronger than Moza R12 and this is not the case for me.
There is also a possibility that I have a lucky R9 which can go above 9nm. There are people who complain about R9 heating issues but I never had such problem, it barely gets warm, probably less warm than mini.
Thanks for doing the good work of informing the fans about the new v3
Also the original mini power supplies were 252w, now people are reporting 216w.
Been shopping for DD while I wait for my thrustmaster TS-PC to die. Been having a hard time deciding between Asetek and Simagic alpha mini, but I agree that the Alpha mini just looks better so that's probably what I'll end up getting
IMO Asetek la prima bundle is really unbeatable in price (since it's upgradable too!).
That said I really love the look of the Simagic FX wheel, everything about that is perfect. And I agree with Dan, the industrial look is what I prefer too, much like the simucube.
Asetek La Prima or Simagic Alpha mini or Fanatec Clubsport dd or maybe even possibly moza r12????? what one is gonna be the best base in that price range?
Do you think vrs WB is more like equal to the simucube?
And is it better than the simagic in term of the feeling of the details of the FB
In fact, I am thinking of buying DD and I am confused what to buy
Should I buy cheapest dd now like cammus lp8 or moza r9 and wait like two years for the simucube 3
Or I should buy the alpha mini and see if i need more or not
Or just buy the VRS DD if it’s like the simucube and better than the simagic
But there isn’t many reviews for the VRS
3:30 I don’t feel any magnetic cogging at all when turning my new Simucube 2 Pro (currently unplugged).. Just now tried it again out of curiosity. Just upgraded this week from a fanatec CSL, where the cogging is very pronounced when its powered off.
yeah it's very very minimal, almost impossible to feel
Great content as usual. Would you prefer alpha or the mini?
Alpha of course, more headroom is always better
im sorry, but my alpha mini heats up after not even 1 hour of formula 1 on assetto corsa. of course, minimal effects in the software, lowered feedback detail(the old suspension setting), but maximum power and max torque. ingame settings, as higher power as possible without the base clipping at all, and it just gets piping hot after 45 minutes, but i always stopped before the 2 hour mark, so i never got it to go into the torque reduction mode. Should i be concerned because my base heats up way past 50 C in half of the time it took you?
No, it’s normal that direct drives heat up
Thanks great review Dan . Have you tried the Alpha 15nm, I'd love to know if there is any reason to go for the alpha as with the mini hitting 13nm does the medium hit like 17 or is it really a choice between the mini or the ultimate?
I measured the Mini at 20nm
There is a video on YT of a person measuring peak torque on the Alpha, it was 18.7Nm.
Hey Dan I got an Alpha base, I am confused on how to get the most out of the wheel base ffb wise in iracing, can you help me out? Should I be setting my max torque to 15NM in Simpro manager? Then what should I set the NM to in iracing? Should I be setting it to 15 NM in iracing too if I want to get that amount of torque out of it? I got confused when you said you set it to 34 NM of torque. Any help would be nice to understand how to utilize this wheel base the best! thank you!
Always set it to 100% strength in the base software and then adjust strength to your liking ingame.
34 Nm in iRacing means that the simulated steering rack needs to reach 34 Nm to map this to the full 100% FFB on the base. The higher the number, the weaker the FFB - it's a bit weird on iRacing 😅
@@DanSuzuki Thank you that helps!
Im going to invest into this Brand
Great review! Instant subscribe and bell for notifications.
Question for you or anyone that knows and cares to respond. I’m coming from Fanatec for nearly 2 decades now.
I want to move on now that I’m 95% PC / 5% console. Which of the top 3 brands (Simagic, Simucube or Asetek) are the most compatible with PC racing games?
I love all racing games. Even arcade games like Dirt 5. Fanatec works with almost every game. I’m looking for a brand that works with the widest range next to them.
Simagics ecosystem looks fantastic so I’m leaning towards them but I hear Asetek has the fastest slew rate and fine detail. Not a fan of the way their gear looks though.
They all will work equally fine with every game on PC :) Slew Rate is more of a marketing thing - it's not insanely important.
What quick release are you using on the X29 in this video?
I used a NRG QR I had from Cammus and then attached the Simlab Xero Play to that 😅
Hi Dan, thanks a lot for your test! Not sure why my base gets hotter, but I measured with ACC not iRacing. At 85% force in ACC with settings in SimPro Manager at 10nm/100%, my laser thermometer said 65°. It was summer and it was 32° in the room.
In iRacing there are a couple of settings for the FF strenght. I'm new to iRacing. Which one of the two was set to 34nm? Thanks a lot.
Oh at 85% you are probably clipping all the time on ACC... I really wouldn't go much over 65-70% in ACC.
My measurements were done at a room temperature of around 22c.
For iRacing: set Wheel Force to 12Nm (I think that's more accurate) and then the Strength or Max Force (click the word Strength to get the Nm setting) to 34Nm
@@DanSuzuki Thank so much! You should have 1M subscribers! In fact with time I scaled back to using the wheel at 70%. 🙏
@@DanSuzukiIn a Formula 1600 (just starting on iRacing) it is so light and so light and so light...it's like having a feather in your hand...I can use it at 25...
Anf btw, something happened with firmware 182, the base runs much cooler, by a lot.
sold! Dan can you recomend a decent non expensive aftermarket wheel? Thanks
depends on your taste, but for GT the simagic GT neo is hard to beat at less than $300.
How do you like that GSI x-29 ? I couldn't decide between the Ascher f28-sc v2 and the GSI and went with the latter.
for the SC2
I love it, has everything you need for an affordable price. But I also work for GSI and have quite an impact on product development - so I obviously like what we are doing :P
will you test the alpha aswell?
Can you use this with fanatec wheels?
I'm using the Alpha Mini wheelbase with FX Pro wheel
Thinking about upgrading to Alpha or Ultimate
I'm a bit confused.
10 Nm vs 15 ( Alpha ) vs 23 Nm
I'm okay with 10 Nm.
What is actually the difference between the Mini and the Ultimate, except for the Nm??
For example, if Ultimate is set at 10 Nm and Mini as well, 10 Nm, do they feel the same?
Has the Ultimate more " power " vibrations, etc, vs the Mini, when both are set at 10 Nm?
What about the noise / heat ?! Does the big brother, Ultimate, generate more noise/ heat, vs Alpha Mini?
Any advices are welcome, thank you in advance
I hope to get my hands on the Ultimate in the future ... it should feel a bit more "responsive" due to the faster motor.
I have updated from an Alpha mini to an Alpha Ultimate and it has been a huge improvement in force feedback detail, you have a lot of more room to raise feedback detail and strength without the base clips in fbb detail, and the base NEVER NEVER NEVER get hot
I also now use the Ultimate - it's a great base. While I still think the SC2 Pro is the king - the Simagic is super super close, I probably might just leave it on the rig after the review since the QR is excellet and I also like how the base looks (super important, I know 😅😅). I don't think there is a "huge improvement" to the Mini ... the Mini already is excellent - but obviously you will feel way more FFB if you did operate the Mini close to clipping. I run my Ultimate at around 80% strength or so (100% in the simagic software and then 80% ingame) and it gets slightly warm - but that's nothing concerning, EVERY direct drive will get warm!@@diegoperez3278
What do you think about the Asetek La Prima Base? The base is more expensive than the alpha mini when you buy only the base. But in a bundle with the formel wheel the price is lower.
If it feels like the Forte - just with less power - then it’s also a great option. The wheel is also great and if you like the look - go for it I would say 😊
@@DanSuzuki Okay yes I like the Asetek wheel since I had it in my hands at the Expo. Thank you for the quick answer 🙂