rec.autos.simulators

I guess my question is: Is this normal?? What kind of hit are other FF users
experiencing? Is it my wheel?

I did notice that racing games that used canned effects (hitting curb or
wall, pavement, grass, etc...) only loose FPS when the FF is activated. I
don't have Nascar 4 (one Nascar game is enough for me) so I can't compare.
Right now, I'm debating disabling the FF because I prefer smoother
framerates than FF effects. Although, I do like the way they are implemented
in NH and GP3 (shit game but nice FF). It helps give you a great sensation
of the car pulling and such.

Thanks,

Michael M

256 MB RAM
GeForce 2 GTS 32MB
ASUS P2B rev. 1.02 (BIOS 1013 beta 7)
Win98 SE

It's a known problemn with that wheel.

Everyone uses the iForce hardware chip in their wheels and the iForce
drivers EXCEPT Microsoft.  Best analogy I can make is between a
hardware modem and a WinModem.  Instead of the iForce dedicated
processor receiving simple, abbreviated commands to drive the motor
and provide the force feedback, the MS FF wheel requires the main CPU
to perform all of the necessary calculations and send far more complex
data streams to the wheel's drive circuitry.

I suspect that the MS design decisions were due to arrogance ("We can
do it just as well.") and the dislike of paying royalties to another
company for technology when they can't steal it.  (perhaps they've
been caught enough times to know not to try anymore... Naahhh! <g>)

Bottom line.  The MS FF wheel will put a far heavier burden (by about
100:1) on your CPU than any other FF wheel available today.

Regards,
Brett C. Cammack

(remove the DOTs from my return address to reply privately)

Well, a few reasons.

1 - Wheel has a small profile and it was the only one that fit on my desk. I
tried to buy the Act Labs, the Logitech and the Thrustmaster. All were too
big or wouldn't clamp down on my desk.

2 - Very handy quick release mechanism.

3 - Most reviews seemed favourable and the wheel had a nice feel.

4 - $45 CAN rebate.

Oh well, I guess I'm stuck with it. But considering the grief I went in
finding a wheel that would fit on my stupid corner desk, I'm happy with it.
I guess in a few games I'll just have to turn off the FF. The irony is I
thought CPU usage would decrease by having a USB controller as opposed to my
old gameport joystick. Heh heh.

Thanks,

Michael M

Supposd to, obviously not though. I took back the MS FF2 joystick for
the same reason.

I've got the gameport version as well and always wondered what people
were talking about with the performance hit.  Good to hear there is a
difference between the two, since if I were buying now, I would have
picked up the USB version for convenience if nothing else.

-John