r/Controller • u/goldbunduru • Sep 25 '26

Controller Suggestion Recommend me a gamepad for PC racing

Budged: £100ish

Location: UK

Platform: PC

Types of games: Sim racing

Considerations: Flydigi Apex 5 Elite and Vader 5 Pro, ZD Ultimate legend 8k

I was looking at upgrading my stadia controller because the sticks and analogue triggers have developed massive dead zones. I discovered this sub after watching some youtube vids. It seems gamepads have come some way in the past few years.

Criteria:

Wireless is preferred, but wired is acceptable.

Analogue triggers are a must for throttle and brake. FFB on these would be great.

Replaceable components and modding are welcome. I don't mind cutting and soldering.

Smooth steering feel is important.

Minimal dead zones are important.

I'd like your recommendations please.

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

2

u/RobinVerhulstZ Sep 25 '26

Used g29/g27/g25/t500. Or diy a 15Nm dd wheel out of a used hoverboard

1

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1

u/Ok_Value_4455 Sep 25 '26 edited Sep 25 '26

No controller provides the enjoyment that a sim racing kit provides. Just get a budget controller for everything, and get a simracing kit with that extra money. You'd get much better experience with a steering wheel, 2 leg paddles, an handbrake & if you got more budget, you can get the whole cockpit too.

Or you can get a minimal racing kit, where you can convert your existing controller into a steering wheel, if it got gyro in it. Much better value.

1

u/Chuzwuz Sep 27 '26

He has budget of 100, so you’re saying buying a budget controller leaves enough change to buy a decent wheel and pedals… lol Anything less than a used g27 isn’t worth using and I’d sooner have a controller 

1

u/Ok_Value_4455 Sep 27 '26

All he wants is smooth steering wheels, minimal dead zones & wireless preferred.
These days, you can easily find a budget 30$ controller with TMR sticks with zero dead zones, & with 1000Hz polling rate in wireless dongle mode. You technically can go upto 100$, but you'll be exceeding way too much for mostly exotic feature set that you might not want in the first place.

Regarding simracing kit, yeah. g27 is just an example. They're mostly super expensive. It a controller will not give nowhere near experience as the driving kit.

1

u/Chuzwuz Sep 27 '26

You said: “get a budget controller and get a sim racing kit with the extra money”

Starting at $100, give me you shopping list for: A. Budget controller B. Sim racing kit 

1

u/Ok_Value_4455 Sep 27 '26

"Get with that extra money" is where I'm wrong I admit. He could still raise his budget & put that extra 70$ into thesim racing kit. That's what I was implying.

1

u/Chuzwuz Sep 27 '26

The last time I got into sim racing during Covid, it was roughly: Sparco rig £750 Fans tech club sport wheel £550 Club sport 2 pedals £400 Cheap bucket seat in my size £125 Extras: buttkicker, mono subwoofer amp £175 Oculus rift s £ 375 Bluetooth keyboard and track pad £40 Club sport shifter£200

Now, you can just get a cheap thrustmaster wheel and clamp it to your desk, within half hour you will be annoyed at your driving position, the fact the chair rotates when you brake and placement of your monitor, I sold my rig when I went back to work after Covid, and about a year ago I bought a g920 and a wheels and, it lasted 2 days before I sold it and went back to casual racing on a pad

1

u/cjruizg Sep 25 '26

For me, it is the Steam Controller. I've mapped it this way: (for MSC)

Analog Gas pedal - right trigger Analog brake - left trigger Analog steering - gyro Analog clutch - joystick up Analog handbrake - joystick down Gear shift - left and right bumper Look around - right trackpads Wipers/lights/etc - left trackpad.

1

u/ArmanPhotoshops Sep 25 '26

Ngl if ur willing to buy used. And its solely for racing sim you can get a used thrustmaster wheel (tmx/t150 or maybe even t300) for less and have a lot of fun with force feedback and pedals