FANATEC GT DD Extreme Review | MASK | BLOG
I got FANATEC GT DD Extreme in 2024 April and have used it for 3 months. When playing Gran Turismo and PC simracing softwrare, I can feel clear difference between them.
In fact, there are a second and third review to follow this review.
I will translate its Japanese article into English. If you cannot wait, you can read the automatic translation below.
Summary
When you use with Playstation
Even if you are using GT DD Extreme on a Playstation, you should update the firmware first. A Windows PC is required for the firmware update. Apparently, the FFB is not good if you use it with the factory settings. Therefore, you should procure it by yourself or get down on your knees and ask someone you know who has a Windows PC to update the firmware for you before you use it.
When playing Gran Turismo, there was a clear difference between the GT DD PRO and the GT DD Extreme: with the GT DD PRO, the road surface feedback has a geared feel. It has a clattering feel. （Compared to the GT DD PRO, the GT DD Extreme does not have that gear feel, and the feedback is more sticky and throaty. I could feel the greater torque and the improved resolution of FFB. In Gran Turismo, the counter also hits faster. Therefore, even if the car tends to oversteer, the effect of the car automatically moving forward (self-steer) is strong and stable.
iRacing (PC simulator)
In 2024/4/13, it is running with Formula V2 steering. The color is slightly different, but it is basically the same as this combination that is available.
As far as iRacing is concerned, compared to GT DD PRO, the feeling of gearing (gaps in the road surface, clattering on the curb) is gone, just as it was in Gran Turismo.
In iRacing, I felt the benefit of the torque strength quite a bit in driving formula cars. In real F3 Suzuka circuit, the driver will feel the about 40Nm-maximum torque on the arms. So the real driver will feel 0–40 Nm FFB.
However, considering the simracing, GT DD PRO can only represent 8Nm, so it compresses that information into 0–8Nm. Therefore, the amount of information is 8/40 = 1/5. With GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+), the FFB is 15/40, which means that even small FFB is transmitted to my hand twice as much as with GT DD PRO, so the road surface condition is easily conveyed. I really felt this effect. (Maybe it’s the same with Formula Gran Turismo, but I think it’s basically mainly for GT cars, so I don’t think I can feel the difference as much as with iRacing’s Formula)
Unboxing the FANATEC GT DD Extreme
The box is 47 x 40 x 44 cm high. According to my past review of the GT DD PRO, the box was 41cm x 40.5cm x 38cm, so it looks a bit huge. the GT DD Extreme is supposed to have no pedals in it, but the box is huge for nothing.
Now, for some reason, I have 8 motors and 8 steering wheels for Steering controller in my room, so I also have boxes in myroom that I can sell at any time, but it is a big problem to have amount of boxes and products.
With the FANATEC GT DD Extreme, the GT DD PRO and Podium DD1 should no longer be needed, but still, as a box, two will only become one.
I also own a Formula V2 steering wheel and a BMW steering wheel, and once I finish the verification of the QR2 Lite that comes with the official Gran Turismo steering wheel that comes with GT DD Extreme, I will be able to let go of this Gran Turismo steering wheel as well. I am thinking that I can let go of the Gran Turismo steering wheel this time. The four-way key and the o,x, squre and △ buttons are very easy to use, though.
After I let go of it, I am thinking of installing the following Formula Rally steering wheel and FANATEC & Sparco collaboration Formula steering wheel to my Podium Hub, and porting the Advanced Paddle Module of Formula V2.
Let’s unbox!
When unboxing, it reads,
True champions emerge when they push themselves to the Extrme.
I hope FANATEC will improve its management and logistics soon to become a true champion, because they are “pushing” too hard to manage their inventory and logistics. It also took quite a while for this GT DD Extreme to arrive.
When I open the box, a sticker, which is included in every product, is enclosed along with the instruction manual.
For the instruction manual of GT DD Extreme, click the “Download” tab on the official GT DD Extreme page below to download the PDF file.
Please read it carefully before ordering. If you bought it without serching deeply, it would be a good idea to read it carefully until it arrives.
When the tier of the instruction manual is removed, the GT DD Extreme steering wheel appears.
This is back of the wheel.
And finally, the wheelbase. Once I took a video of it, I didn’t take a picture of it! so I put it back and reshot it, so the white vinyl was originally a bit cleaner.
And inside the box is an AC adapter, a power cable, a USB cable, and a nut to put in the groove of the Clubsport DD+.
As with the GT DD PRO, three or four nuts are slid into the bottom of the Clubsport DD+ to fix it from the bottom, or four nuts are inserted into the sides, two on each side, to fix it from the left and right.
On the left is the bottom of the Clubsport DD+. On the right is the side view.
Adapters for FANATEC GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+)
Thanks to the reason, I have a lot of adapters for Hancon, so I am pasting the name of the wheelbase.
I weighed that adapter. Including the cable on one side, it weighed about 1330 grams and had a capacity of 340W.
Note that the GT DD PRO weighs approximately 930g. The capacity was 180W.
Weight, size and installation of FANATEC Clubsport DD+ wheel base (motor)
The GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) weighed 8600g. The GT DD PRO weighed about 5070g. So the GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) is about 3 kg heavier.
This photo from the back shows the reason for its weight. The length of the motor is different. The width is probably the same. It was about 15.5~16cm. As for the length, the grooved part of the Clubsport DD+ was 12.5cm, while the grooved part of the GT DD PRO was 8cm. Incidentally, the part where the groove is dug is made of metal. The nuts used on the GT DD PRO can be used as they are.
In the previous stage of reviewing the GT DD Extreme, I had installed the GT DD PRO. Before I forgot the feeling of driving Gran Turismo with the GT DD PRO, I installed the GT DD Extreme. My cockpit for the race SIM provided three holes to fix the GT DD PRO.
For reference, I will post what distance to drill the holes. This is a template for drilling holes in Podium DD1/DD2, and the distance between the center and left/right holes is 39.2 cm. This should be basically the same for all FANATEC wheelbases, and I have been able to install CSW, GT DD PRO, Podium DD1, and GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+) with the same hole locations.
For the front and rear positions of the holes, it is required to fix them in three or four positions; in the case of three holes, it is safer to keep them in the depth direction as shown in the figure on the right, instead of in a horizontal row.
So, I was able to install it.
Clubsport DD+ Compatibility
This is the back side of the Clubsport DD+,
From left to right, you can plug in the RJ cables for shifter 1, shifter 2, pedals, and handbrake. Below that is the USB-Connect the Clubsport DD to your PC, PlayStation, or XBOX. The bottom right is for the power cable. The bottom left is the format for CAN, which will be available in the future. Instead of connecting the shifter, pedals, and handbrake all to this wheelbase with RJ cables, the wheelbase will be able to recognize all devices even if they are connected Clubsprot DD+ -> shifter -> handbrake -> pedals. In the future.
When used with a PC, the pedals, shifter, and handbrake can be connected directly to the PC via USB, but the Playstation or XBOX must be connected directly here. So, if you want to play on a Playstation or XBOX with a FANATEC wheelbase, you will need FANATEC pedals, shifters, and handbrakes.
About the steering wheel included with FANATEC GT DD Extreme
The material of the handle is described as “vegan leather”: it is not real animal leather, but artificial leather.
The diameter is 300 mm, the same diameter as the McLaren steering wheel shown below and various P1 steering wheels (V2/WRC/BMW steering wheel). The weight was 1300 grams.
The official Gran Turismo steering wheel includs with the GT DD PRO set is 280 mm and weighs 1042 g (QR1 Lite) and 1337 g (metal QR1).
The official GT DD Extreme Gran Turismo steering wheel uses the following carbon fiber reinforced plastic QR2Lite, which is lighter than the GT DD PRO steering wheel with metal QR1.
FANATEC steering wheel diameter and weight data ↓
FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering wheel controls
It has a total of five cross keys. All of them can be pushed in, and the lower left cross key is a rotary switch that can be rotated.
It has a plating-like texture compared to the GT DD PRO’s, which is a round plastic one. There is also an RGB LED ring around that stick that can be illuminated. You can also change the color as shown in the picture below.
There is also a horizontal LED light in the center that glows in conjunction with the number of rotations.
It is labeled FlagLED, and the “three” shaped ones on either side glow when a Flag appears during the game.
Also included in the center is a large 2.7-inch display.
I believe this is a display similar to the one used on the following Porsche steering wheels in the Podium series, the highest grade of FANATEC. I will verify what can be displayed on the center display at a later date.
This is supposed to be a display similar to the one used in the following Porsche steering wheel from the Podium series, the highest grade in the FANATEC line. We will verify what can be displayed on the center display at a later date.
In general, GT DD Extreme steering wheel has an improved texture compared to the GT DD PRO steering wheel, making Gran Turismo more comfortable to play. What follows is the steering wheel that comes with the GT DD PRO set if purchased. The only thing that glows is the LCD display in the center, and the four colorful rings are plastic rings that do not glow. The grips are rubber.
Rigidity of the GT DD Extreem Steering wheel
The BMW GT2V2 steering wheel has a metal framework. Compared to that, it deflects somewhat when pushed. The arms on the left, right and bottom grow gnarly from the center, but the upper part has no arms coming out from the center, so it is weak there.
FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering wheel with four paddle shifters
For the main large paddle it is 3 mm thick, black anodized aluminum. The GT DD PRO, which has a maximum torque of 8 Nm, is made of plastic, while the DD Extreme is made of aluminum, which gives it a better texture. In addition, it has a magnetic shifter, which seems to have a slightly longer stroke than the magnetic shifter that comes with the Clubsport steering wheel, but the click feeling is much improved compared to the steering wheel that comes with the GT DD PRO.
The small paddles also include two analog clutch paddles, left and right, with four switchable modes. (The GT DD PRO doesn’t have these.)
The analog paddles make it possible to operate the delicate clutch at the start of a race at hand, just like a real racing car.
It also has a mode that allows it to be used as a brake or throttle, so those who cannot prepare pedals due to space or other reasons, or those who have a limp can operate this steering wheel using only their hands. The steering wheel is different, but for reference only.
Currently, analog paddles are included with the McLaren Steering and the Advanced Paddle Module. So you can use them as gas pedal & brake, so if you want analog paddles, the GT DD Extreme is not a must.
Not many people will purchase this ultra-premium steering BMWM4GT3 steering wheel, but it also comes with analog paddles.
The standard quick release for FANATEC GT DD Extreme steering is QR2 Lite
The GT DD Extreme uses the following QR2 Lite: QR2 is also available in other standard metal models and QR2 PRO, which is made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
According to the official page, this QR2 Lite alone for GT DD Extreme steering will allow ClubSport DD+ to generate up to 15Nm.
Basically, FANATEC steering wheels are programmed in such a way that the high-torque mode, which generates more than 8Nm, is restricted unless a metal QR2 is installed.
Also, please note that some CSL steering wheels, such as the following WRC steering wheels, do not allow high-torque mode even if metal QR2 is installed. (To check, please refer to the “Special Notes” section of the official page of each steering wheel.)
The color of the power light on the FANATEC GT DD Extreme is important.
The mode changes according to the color of the power light. This can change modes with each press of the power button. It doesn’t work at all on the PlayStation! It may be the PC mode, which is red, and that may be the cause. You have to press the power button to change the mode to blue.
This is also described in the instruction manual (see “Downloads” tab in the link below).
Requires FANATEC pedals to play on PlayStation or XBOX
The GT DD Extreme does not come with pedals; if you are playing on a PC only, you can use pedals from any company as long as they are connected directly to your PC via USB. So when playing on a PC, I used the more maniacal Heusinkveld pedals.
However, to play on PlayStation or XBOX, the FANATEC pedals need to be connected directly to the wheel base (the part of the motor) with the included cable.
Currently, with FANATEC pedals, the three main types (CSL, V2, and V3) written below are the options.
If you are considering a serious PC racing SIM in the future, you should choose either the V2 or V3 pedal (including Inverted). Both have a 90 kg load cell capacity. The load cell of the cheapest upper CSL pedal is 60 kg, so it is quite different from those who know 90 kg. with the CSL pedal, if you brake forcefully at 60 kg, you are more likely to brake lock. If you have good control, you may be fast without CSL pedals and load cell pedals, but you may want to get V2 or V3.
If you are not familiar with this and are considering using PC SIM and Prestige together, please think you have been tricked and buy V2 or V3. It will work later. (But you need a reasonably solid cockpit.)
Below is my V2 pedals' Review
If you are on a budget, I think you will be more satisfied with the V3 or V3 Inverted because it looks cool with the machined look and the ability to fine-tune the angle and position of the pedal. (I think you’ll want to buy the option to change the weight of the gummy brakes, too.) Whether you go with the suspended Inverted is your choice. (The Inverted is more expensive and has an additional ¥12,900 damper compared to the bare V3.)
On the other hand, if you have a poor cockpit or think that Gran Turismo is your main focus for now, you may start with CSL pedals (without load cell). 2 pedals.
FANATEC shifter and handbrake may be added
If you enjoy driving a production car, you will probably want a shifter.
As already mentioned about pedals, when playing with PlayStation or XBOX, you need to install pedals, shifter, and handbrake directly to the wheel base (motor part) made by FANATEC.
So basically, you need to prepare pedals, shifters, and handbrakes made by FANATEC.
As already mentioned for pedals, when playing on PlayStation or XBOX, you need to install pedals, shifters, and handbrakes directly on the FANATEC wheelbase (motor part).
So basically, you need to prepare pedals, shifters, and handbrakes made by FANATEC.
Summary
When you use with Playstation
Even if you are using GT DD Extreme on a Playstation, you should update the firmware first. A Windows PC is required for the firmware update. Apparently, the FFB is not good if you use it with the factory settings. Therefore, you should procure it by yourself or get down on your knees and ask someone you know who has a Windows PC to update the firmware for you before you use it.
When playing Gran Turismo, there was a clear difference between the GT DD PRO and the GT DD Extreme: with the GT DD PRO, the road surface feedback has a geared feel. It has a clattering feel. （Compared to the GT DD PRO, the GT DD Extreme does not have that gear feel, and the feedback is more sticky and throaty. I could feel the greater torque and the improved resolution of FFB. In Gran Turismo, the counter also hits faster. Therefore, even if the car tends to oversteer, the effect of the car automatically moving forward (self-steer) is strong and stable.
iRacing (PC simulator)
In 2024/4/13, it is running with Formula V2 steering. The color is slightly different, but it is basically the same as this combination that is available.
As far as iRacing is concerned, compared to GT DD PRO, the feeling of gearing (gaps in the road surface, clattering on the curb) is gone, just as it was in Gran Turismo.
In iRacing, I felt the benefit of the torque strength quite a bit in driving formula cars. In real F3 Suzuka circuit, the driver will feel the about 40Nm-maximum torque on the arms. So the real driver will feel 0–40 Nm FFB.
However, considering the simracing, GT DD PRO can only represent 8Nm, so it compresses that information into 0–8Nm. Therefore, the amount of information is 8/40 = 1/5. With GT DD Extreme (Clubsport DD+), the FFB is 15/40, which means that even small FFB is transmitted to my hand twice as much as with GT DD PRO, so the road surface condition is easily conveyed. I really felt this effect. (Maybe it’s the same with Formula Gran Turismo, but I think it’s basically mainly for GT cars, so I don’t think I can feel the difference as much as with iRacing’s Formula)
For whom want to buy FANATEC GT DD Extreme
FANATEC will not ship until all items in your cart are in stock so I strongly recommend that you place separate orders for in-stock items and out-of-stock items.
Basically, compared to GT DD PRO, there was a clear difference between GT DD Extreme and GT DD PRO, so I think there is a performance difference in price. For those who may introduce a PC simulator in the future, it also has sufficient FFB expressiveness, so I think it can be used for a long time without shifting your attention to others.
Compared to GT DD PRO, the additional $600 or more difference is more than $1100 if pedals are included. Adults who want something better and can afford a little more in life can buy. For that person, I think around $1000 difference is a margin of error for a hunting machine that he/she may play with for hundreds of hours. Resale is also to be expected.
There is a press release that the CEO of FANATEC was recently removed at the request of the bank that financed the company and the management team was replaced. I do not have a MBA, nor do I know much about manufacturing and retailing or international accounting standards, so I do not know whether FANATEC will be able to survive in Germany without any problems, whether only the brand will survive, or worse, whether it will all disappear. In Japan, far away from Germany, I do not know. I think we have to consider the risk (supply and driver renewal), but personally, I believe that a brand that is so widely recognized and whose value has increased so much will probably remain.
Should a student with a regular part-time job or living on scholarship buy GT DD Extreme? If you were to say that. I’ll reply, “Even the GT DD PRO is a good enough handheld.” When I was a student, I was satisfied with a cheap $100 handheld controller. So, for me, even GT DD PRO is super high-end. (If you want to play Formula, 8Nm might be a little bit less…) I think it might be easier to get a sense of fulfillment by gradually getting a shifter, handbrake, and steering wheel for the money difference between the GT DD Extreme and the GT DD PRO. I think so.
