The Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback offers everything that beginners and advanced users need for 200 euros.
Scope of supply and equipment
What does a good steering wheel have to bring for simulation fans, so that it can be enjoyed? First of all, we think of a precise steering and high-quality pedals, so that best times in games depend only on the driving skills. And then we need crisp force feedback effects so that curbs, ground waves, and other stretches such as smoothness can be noticeable and the player can adjust his actions sensibly. What else? The price! If you do not want to pursue professional ambitions, but still want to experience the high degree of realism in current racing simulations like Project Cars or Dirt Rally, the price should not be higher than the average, playable PC or the current console! Br>
Steering, Force feedback and compatibility
The market for good PC steering wheels is manageable. Profits from Logitech or Fanatec for around 400 euros conquered the favor of the simulation fans and (far) there are hardly any good alternatives with few exceptions. Either the pedals can break through when it gets a bit hotter, or the motors that provide the force feedback effects will falter and give way too quickly if the player has to steer a bit harder at high speeds. This gap wants to stuff Thrustmaster with the TMX. Is this possible with a convincing steering wheel? Here you can read our impressions from the test.
Conclusion
In addition to the plastic steering wheel, the carton contains the pedals (with gas and brake), drivers and instructions. The contents of the packaging therefore offer the most necessary and the essential devices make a very well processed and stable impression. The steering wheel provides a rough rubber surface that provides a secure grip, as well as the screw mechanism of the steering wheel base and the rubberized feet of the pedals. The packaging already shows that the TMX is designed for Xbox One and Windows. On the PS4 stirs itself after connecting nothing. While the Xbox One does not complain and works directly with the TMX, a driver installation is required under Windows, after connecting the steering wheel via USB to the PC and the mains cable to the socket and the pedals with a separate cable on the steering wheel. The steering wheel is then available in the settings for the USB game controller.
In Windows 10, in addition to two axes and a control cross 13, well-reachable buttons are available in games and the menu offers a taste for the force feedback forces. These provide neat strength and do not move the steering wheel out of its position - very well! Simulation fans could interfere with the missing clutch pedal or the non-existing shift knob. After all, the latter (model: TH8A) can be retrofitted and the official Thrustmaster pedals with clutch, brake and throttle (model: T3PA) is compatible with TMX. However, if you take advantage of these extras, you can quickly land in regions where Logitech or Fanatec offer the higher-quality steering wheels. Tags would be leather and metal as materials as well as stronger force feedback engines.
However, not every game supports a clutch pedal and the switching of individual gears. If you want to enjoy simulations and live with gas, brakes and (large) jacks for sequential speeding, the thrustmaster TMX is very well served at a price of 200 euros. Current games such as Project Cars recognize the TMX easily after setting up in Windows, the steering is very precise and gets through the maximum impact of 900 degrees a high degree of realism. For more action-packed games, it is advisable to place the impact up to 270 degrees. This works smoothly in the driver (menu for USB game controller) by slider. At the limits of the steering angle, the engines provide a quasi-stop, but it could be a bit harder.
The force feedback effects also convince. Crashes in games like Need for Speed: Shift get the necessary force and the lawn over dirt roads in Dirt 3 looks as if you were actually in the hard-sprung rallying car. The steering always reacts precisely and resistances are different and very noticeable depending on the situation. On the just mentioned titles you see: Compatibility is given not only to new, but also to older game titles. Restrictions can not be found in various test games - top!
Thrustmaster offers the TMX an attractively priced and well-engineered steering wheel. For half the cost of professional equipment you do not have a clutch pedal, a joystick and high-quality materials. However, there is a precise input device that simulates force feedback effects well and is characterized by high compatibility. For this purpose, the adjustable steering angle makes it ideal for a wide range of racing genres from the arcade racer to the sophisticated simulation.
Who still clutch and gear knob missing, should weigh the costs and perhaps rather to Logitech and Co. grasp. Who is the budget for a steering wheel with 200 euros at the pain threshold and who can live with the given features, we can recommend the TMX only warmly. It actually offers everything the typical racing player expects from a good steering wheel - at a very good price!
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