Game Ports or USB for Steering Wheels?

I have a fairly high spec PC:

p4, 2.54Ghz
512MB RAM
GF4 4600Ti

All pretty much top spec stuff, and it plays GP4 at a perfectly adequate 26fps with almost all graphics options on.

However, I've seen posts from ppl with lower spec kit getting much higher frame rates with similar graphics options, so I naturally feel Frame Rate Envy.

I wonder whether my wheel is making the difference - I have a MS Sidewinder FF Wheel, but its about 4 years old (made to last those things!!) and works through the joystick port.

I would like to know if this makes any difference, and whether a USB wheel would be any faster. Also, is there such a thing as an adapter I could by to run my wheel via USB, if this would help.

Any opinions welcomed!

Ali

USB, game ports are history and much harder to use on newer PC's



Beta tester for;
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If you find out if there is an adaptor could you please let me know, as I'm in the same situation, except, my new PC hasn't even got a joystick port, therefore i have to stick with the keyboard

Chris

One question - did you turn off FSAA in your nvidia display setup? On default it was on FSAA 2x on my system and when I turned it off I gained 10 fps. This is not related to the topic of game devices (I would recommend USB as well), but it's worth looking at.



Post Edited (05-19-03 17:02)

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REHAB IS FOR QUITTERS

i agree with Vader on all accounts

and try looking on Amazon for one, or e-bay, they have loads of weird and whacky stuff



Sim

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All Hail The New York Giants - Winners of Superbowl XXI, XXV and XLII!

"I'd love to know what goes on in that crazy head of yours sometimes, Sim..." - Locke Cole

Thanks for the tip people - had a look and found what I'm after on good old Maplin's web site - www.maplin.co.uk

The item code is UA22Y - Analogue to USB converter - comes to about £10 inc p & p.

I have one on order - will let you know when it arrives.

Cheers,

Ali

USB steering wheels are so much better than the other ones. I had the older sidewinder one and got a usd one and it was so much better

@ chrisschild

If you find out if there is an adaptor could you please let me know

I'm letting you know! I'm not sure if they're available to buy on their own though... but they do exist!

An USB converter?
I've someone but it's for use with gamecontroler who has two drivers
one for USB, and one for game port.
I try it on my old MS FFWheel but no result.

Sorry for my english! (french)

Well, the adaptor arrived today *cheers*
but it doesn't seem to work *boos*

I reconnected my wheel to the usb adapter, rebooted, went into control panel/game controllers with fingers crossed, but no matter what I do, I can't get it to calibrate or detect any kind of movement from the wheel.

Anyone have any suggestions, or do i send it back to where it came from?

Ali

I think you may have got the wrong adapter. Check out Maplins - ZP13P - USB to Gameport adapter. Maybe phone them up to see if they know whether it will work.

CeeGee

Sorry guy but it never works!

Game port don't work like USB (1 or 2)

We have 2 different adress, IRQ, ..........
Your wheel must have a special driver and a different output device.

Microsoft is very strong in marketing....
Sorry but you have to buy another wheel perhaps with another logo?!!!

i used to have a thrustmaster modena 360. it had a gameport and an usb-adapter(+ usb-driver).

sensation of speed in gp4 was a lot faster with usb.

greetings, jp

Yeah, I had one of those Ferrari wheels, build quality was shite. 2 went back so I switched to the Sidewinder.

I had to use the Ferrari on a gameport at first coz of me old Mobo and I can tell you it was crap.

Same with my gamepad on FIFA, every so often it refuses to respond to any keypresses so I have to reboot, then it's OK.

Obviously, going to buy a USB pad!