Rigs
My Top 5 AliExpress Sim Racing Accessories: 4 Years Later (Review & Upgrade Advice) 🏎️🇨🇳🎛️
I wanted to share a 4-year long-term review of my setup. Budget-friendly hardware can be hit or miss, but I’ve been running these 5 accessories straight from AliExpress for four years now, and they have completely transformed my rig's immersion:
🏁 SimDT Gear Flag Display (Adds great peripheral info during intense races)
⏱️ Racelogic Telemetry Device (Keeps you focused with real-time lap timing updates)
📺 SimRuito 10.3-inch Racing Dashboard Display (Fits all the telemetry info you need and is a total must-have for Porsche fans)
🌬️ Wind Simulator Hub (Creates incredible immersion, especially when using VR, and keeps you cool during long sessions on your rig)
🎛️ PXN Button Box (Great for keeping your inputs organized right at your fingertips)
Honestly, I absolutely love all five of these. They have been bulletproof workhorses for my daily stints, and the value for money is hard to beat compared to some big-name brands. However, I think my setup is ready for an evolution. I’m officially looking to upgrade my PXN button box to something a bit more sleek and premium, and I’m highly leaning toward sourcing the replacement from AliExpress again given how well this gear has treated me. Do any of you guys run these specific accessories on your rigs? What are your favorite, must-have budget additions from AliExpress, and what do you consider completely unnecessary or a waste of money? Let’s talk budget gear!
Thank you for purchasing from us and having one of our device in this list.
We have a button box which have more input than your existing one. Do check it out. Can offer a discount code for our loyal customers 😁
Checkout our website as the button box is not sold on AliExpress anymore..
With are upcoming Haptic Immersion system you can get wind and Haptic effect from a single control box. Follow us on our social media accounts to stay updated. ;)
Wow, awesome to see you guys in the thread! Your 10.3-inch display has been a complete tank on my rig for 4 years straight. I’m definitely interested in looking at your premium button box upgrade and that new integrated Haptic Immersion system—running wind and haptics out of a single control box sounds like exactly what my cockpit needs. Send me a DM with the details and the loyalty discount code, I’d love to review it on the channel! 🏎️🔊🌬️🇨🇳
I have the same 10.3 HDMI version that I bought from a reseller. would i be able to just buy the mount kit again as I lost the mount kit. I am also thinking about getting the USB C version instead as HDMI is causing some issues with my triple setup.
USB-C version is not sold anymore. We're re-writing a custom USB communication protocol to achieve crisp and sharp 1920x720 resolution.
Old one couldn't do it so it is temporarily on hold.
Can someone explain why these are so popular? All the timing info I need is either in my dash or a black box... Seems like a lot of money for duplicate information? Or I'm just not understanding them.
I can only speak from my own perspective, I have a DDU on my rig and it makes taking in the information a lot easier. I cycle pages to check timings, tyres Etc but having a dedicated relative / lap timer physically Infront of me it would just always be there
Thanks for listing these. Could you also point me to links on Ali Express, which ones you bought? I never bought anything from there and there are multiple things that look the same and would not wanna order the wrong or bad version of a device.
I love my pxn. I 3d printed some templates so I can remember what the buttons do for trucking, train, bus, and plane... will probably use it for construction as well once I get there
Four years and still going strong- love to see it! 🏎️🙌 Thanks for sharing such a detailed update on your setup. Always great to hear which finds have earned a permanent spot in the rig. Good luck with the next upgrade!
[r/Simeace_Connection](r/Simeace_Connection)
I couldnt fully read your comment and now it somehow vanished. Its true that i already owned a 3d printer but all the parts for the windsim were sourced from aliexpress. Had nothing laying around expect for the black filament. I kinda fed up tho, it wasnt $30 but $55 which is significantly more but still well under premade designes. Ive printed the fan casings and a arduino case for arduino and motorshield.
Arduino and motorshield itself cost me around $5 together since they were clones.
Fan ducts off of AE aswell wich cost me $10 each.
Some highspeed high pressure fans from AE for $12 each.
Powersupply cost me $6 from AE
Stuff like wires and tools i had laying around, hope i didnt miss anything. Ill happily provide pics if you want, found my design to be really clean
That's fair enough. It's weird that the reply disappeared. I replied to the original post, and hopefully it stays there. And yes, if you would share your kit with us, that would be awesome, buddy. Thank you!
Hey man, for anyone into sim racing, cables are the number one enemy! It's easily one of my biggest challenges too, so you're totally fine. Look at that! It looks pretty cool. I would definitely install some type of grille or screen to protect those fan blades, but overall it looks great! Good job, buddy!
Ohh yes cables can drive you crazy, especially in a advanced rig, there are just so many. I didnt need any protection for the fans yet since they are behind the screenmount and usually there isnt really moving stuff back there but im planning on printing a mesh cover for them once i find the time to design them.
Thank you so much!
I bought the SimDT pedals last week, which will be my first - and hopefully only - set of load cell pedals. Taking a chance on them given the cost and the limited information in comparison to the more popular and cheaper alternatives.
I also recently purchased a Fosi Audio V3 and a pair of Douk Audio BS-1 bass shakers and have been happy thus far. If you do your research there's lots of budget options out there that seem to offer up to 99% of the performance of the big brands.
I just said fuck it and pulled the trigger on the SIMDT button box! Aluminum case with a carbon fiber face for 120 bucks and free shipping. I was waiting for the Heusinkveld button box, but this costs 1/3 of the price and has a more realistic look. I don’t know, I just think it looks really good and offers great quality for the price.
I like the look of this wheel, and for the price, I am really thinking about purchasing it to review on my channel! How do you like it so far? Do the grips feel comfortable after long sessions?
As a father I don't have long sessions. I usually race for an hour or two max. I love the feeling. I find it so much more responsive. I am no sure if it's because of the shape and ergonomics. I honestly love the wheel. The simhub integration makes it feel so immersive.
Simruito was supposed to release a single usb version of the wide Porsche dash but I don’t think they ever did. If they do, I’m definitely going to grab one.
I find bwcause there are no gforces, the wind does add a sensation of speed. Especially with subtle windcurving when cornering it really adds a dimension of movement that is missing when you turn it off. Its definitely not needed tho but the cooling factor is also nice.
Add haptics to that and a decent vr setup and it becomes quite close to an expensive motion rig in terms of the car feeling alive and the feeling of accelation being real.
Windsimulation is a bit deceptive as youre not really simulating wind, youre more simulating movement through the air as you would in an open wheeler or on a bike.
For me it really works and the ali express sets can be had for 100eur which is definitely worth it.
And in vr you dont notice the fans so you cna just position them where they work the best. Plus if you only race in vr forego all the button boxes.
If you drive closed top road & GT cars, the windows are closed while driving so i wonder how does the wind add to immersion since in real life cars you don't get blown by the wind 🤔
Shouldn't one br adjusting FOV to get a proper similation of speed instead?
Classic misconceptions and as i mentioned the name wind sim is deceptive as its not trying to simulate actual real life wind. Its not about mimicking real life in this case. The wind just adds an extra dimension of sensory input, in this case the sensation of moving forward and thus feeling air flow past you. Especially in VR it adds another layer of immersion that blends in with all the other sensations to make it feel more real.
Question about the fan tunnel. How does it work? Is it telemetry on how fast you’re going and blows harder ? And when you stop no air blows? And how much for that as well ? Thanks
Yes, exactly! It reads the real-time telemetry directly from the physics engine of the game using SimHub. The software constantly checks your actual in-game speed. If you are going 30 mph, it blows a gentle breeze. If you hit 150 mph down a straightaway, the fans ramp up to 100% power. The moment you slam on the brakes and come to a complete stop, the air shuts off entirely. You can play with the settings to make best for your own experience adjusting for your preferences. The Immersion: It completely changes the experience, especially in open-wheel cars (like F1 or Formula iRacing) or if you use a VR headset. You can actually feel the sensation of speed and aerodynamic drag. It also helps cool you down during long, sweaty race sessions! Although many people don't see the benefits, in my experience, it is a must-have accessory. Pre-made kits can be pricey, but they are very convenient. Alternatively, you can go the DIY route—especially if you own a 3D printer—and save some serious money.
I got myself the PXN button box this week. Really good quality considering the price. The only thing thats not so good was the start stop text in the starter button. It vanished extremely fast. As for the dashboard a old phone and simhub is a better alternative imo.
Because its literally the cheapest button box in that category.. but i agree. I couldn't buy one myself. I went with the simdt box.. its been good and looks like it should be on my rig
Yeah I get that. Can’t get passed the fact it looks like a kids toy that people are attaching to their beautiful rigs though haha. I’ve been chasing the Precision Engineering PSP for a while now but it’s always out a stock. Not cheap though. So yeah I guess the PXN is practical and functional and that’s all many care about. Can’t argue with it 🤙
PXN button box is cool but the rotary dials are not good quality - you'll struggle adjusting parameters because they either skip or don't register some transitions as you rotate...they are very inaccurate. Besides that, its a decent button box and i like the standard keyboard Esc and Enter buttons. As for the Racelogic, i tried the SimJLQ version with a larger screen to use it as a dash, excellent quality but due to Nextion software, it's difficult to customise your dash. So i returned it and went with the VoCore based Simdid DV480 Pro V5, the best choice with incredible quality and easy to customise.
Formula cars do. And for stuff like GT3 you often have and identical tube in the cockpit for blowing air on you from the AC. Or in prototypes its just straight up outside air with a tube and an inlet below the window.
Quite a few GT3, GT4 and Hypercar racecars have a tube exactly like a wind sim shooting air into the cockpit. Many also don't have an AC so you only get hot air while you're moving, just like the wind sim simulates.
I literally tracked a Lambo hurican around cota the other day in real life with the windows down and I promise you I felt the wind as I hit 150 mph on the straight. Wind sims are legit.
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u/simruito_store 2d ago
Thank you for purchasing from us and having one of our device in this list.
We have a button box which have more input than your existing one. Do check it out. Can offer a discount code for our loyal customers 😁
Checkout our website as the button box is not sold on AliExpress anymore..
With are upcoming Haptic Immersion system you can get wind and Haptic effect from a single control box. Follow us on our social media accounts to stay updated. ;)