With over 30 years in the IT industry and PC's as well as the first sim obsession was way back in the 90s with Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix, I'm reasonably qualified to be offering value into this space.

This guide is more tailored towards folks using a setup that is capable of running the hardware and games, but not spending 1000's on the best of the best or weighing you down with tech, new hardware and having to rabbit hole into uber geek steering wheel concepts, reading dictionaries on the fps killers in GPU settings and getting misinformed by folks who don't check facts.

This guide will have you cutting through the BS, (cause I've done that for you ;-) ), and with a custom tweak here and there from my settings, you should be in awe of how your wheel, makes that grunty Porsche, (the newer one), "feel" like it's undulating with different forces at each wheel and giving you well good feedback to the wheel. Most immersive I've experienced on a budget setup..... thus this guide.

Next section is Hardware, where I will outline my setups and some pertinent information for the gear I'm using, as well as rationale and any tips worth knowing.

Running on Win11 and if you are any sort of gamer, things are switched on/off for optimisations for gaming... plenty of guides out there for all that.

CPU
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Static/Locked/Stable Overclock to 4.85GHz

RAM
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16GB 3600MHz Gaming RAM

Storage
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Running from NVMe Drive +1000 upwards read/write (not required but handy for load times)

GPU
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RTX 3060Ti 8GB no overclocking **** See important notes at the end ****

Monitor
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AOC 32" Curved 2K 144MHz DP/HDMI Display (seen as Q32G2WG4 in WIn11)

Steering Wheel
===============
Props to to developers for making the Gamepad feel so good on track, I wanted to get a better wheel than an old Mojo scabbed as part payment, doing a job years ago. Complete with a taped up chord etc..... Lol.
So it was time to get something new that could handle more nuances of more recent software techniques I suppose.

Got a budget, (on sale, clearance from a distributor), Wheel, plenty of buttons, Flaps, 3-pedals, and full 6 speed stick shifter, (push down for reverse into 6th), so it was def bang for buck in parts.

Speedmaster X5 FF is the name. A dual motor Gear based setup (dual motors may be doing the camber stuff on track as it feels good).

Speedmaster X5 FF[www.geniusnet.com]

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So that is the hardware.... Oh! The important thing at the end message..................

In the first release of ACC Evo, in the GPU settings there was a texture stream setting that had to be on High to get some action at first (Early Access type behaviour), so I setup all my optimisations on that. Recently due to bugs and borks I got used to, I set it to Medium and got +30-40fps Yaaay! with cannot see any diff in quality etc........ After I did that no bugs and borks.

What I think is going on? The high streaming setting was taking me over 8GB RAM when switching things around trying to optimise (would go onto track and bork fps to 20s until game restart,... stuff like that), so when I put to texture streaming setting to medium, then prob sat under the 8GB (quite honestly no drop in quality I could see), NOW!......... Here's the funny thing!!!!

After I did that, the setting has completely gone from GPU options... so maybe the Dev has settled on, "The Way", lolol, and once I changed from High to Medium (system would know my card is 8GB), then it says, "that'll do pig"...... Who knows!?! Remember still early access so with all the diff h/wares out there, things happen!

Onto the Next Bit!.............

This section is for anything I've done and Wheel dependent external software that needs to be factored in.

1) DLSS Swapper

When tinkering about a while back I got FPS increase and Looked Better!!!! Win win by using DLSS Swapper application to update the DLSS Texture Model versions for the game. This tool can be used for any game that is using DLSS and I've had good results in many titles.

Either more fps and /or better quality/looking.

2) Your steering wheel application settings either installed on PC or in my case a phone app that connects to wheel via bluetooth!

For me, I did not change anything much in the, (away from game), mobile app.

Things could be changed from Direct Input mode (Default) to Xinput mode. I found leaving this to default gave the best detection settings for the hardware in ACC, PCars2, AC, Automobilista and says you get better FFB nuances in that mode.

All I changed was the steering lock from 1080 to 900 which is recommended for the titles mentioned. There were other settings like wheel tension etc but I didn't play as FFB concepts are fairly new to my vocab.

If I were to have a go at F124 (soon), I will likely go into the mobile app and change the lock closer to the 420 or so that is recommended for F1 action...... so bear this stuff in mind.

The in-game Steering Lock should match the Driver App lock setting.

Test by being in the car with wheel in front and your wheel and it's wheel should be turning exactly the same, no drifting less or more.

So that's that bit. Next....... In Game stuff!!

Let's start with Display, get the game knowing what your system is, (think of it like that), ......what we want is above 60 at all times wherever possible, I try to ensure above 60 on a full grid (16 cars for me btw,.... more will negate these findings really), some say they don't mind, but I do, this is when the unpredictable happens and ye don't need lag and tear wen trying to tiptoe through a grid with a healthy right boot, and a tickling left one, avoiding all sorts of carnage..... Lolol!!

So ideally yer after that 72fps (1/2 my 144 monitor... more info to come), and that gives headroom for other stuff, like weather, AI shenanigans, etc to try and keep it above 60fps at all times!

So I am 2K Native, having a decent monitor really helps to unlock the potential of any GPU and Display Port is connection btw.

My monitor has the Freesync option enabled (although it says in manual, Gsync compatible also), when switched on in NVidia and allows me to do so fine! It def works as testing in older first person shooter titles I have seen it in action to minimise tearing and also the function when I pushed the res on an old game where it struggled to maintain 60 so the ACTUAL monitor function itself will lock to 1/2, (so it went to 30fps), and I was impressed by how 30fps was fine, although I am a 60 PC gamer all the way for long time. tmi???? but it;s worth explaining the concepts and how your hardware settings on the monitor itself can be very helpful.

So, get familiar with those monitor buttons and menus and setup your monitor for maximum gameplay setting. Stuff like:-.........

1) HDMI and Display Port modes,.... get decent cables and know what version HDMI/DP they are capable of, and on monitors, ensure any settings for HDMI/DP versions are using the highest..... if you change that and apply it, and you can still see stuff on the screen, your cable is all good!

2) Freesync/Gsync modes, get them on and any other helpful options. I'm not sure if mine had an extra setting to switch on to say 1/2 things when target isn't being met by a set margin, or if it did it automatically, but be aware this is MY little quirk which I imagine is controllable on newer monitors and it works for me and gives butter smooth at 72fps, 99% of time on track.

3) Any latency options you got, get them down so the panel is going as fast as it can latency wise without any issues....

I'm sure there are settings in new and more expensive monitors I have no idea of.... but you can bork your gaming experience with bad settings on you Monitor Hardware.

So.... Settings!!
====================

Win11 is running 2K Native at 144MHz for me (hardware starting point for system and game)

Resolution 2560x1440
FrameRate Limit 144 (to tell the game what it should be aiming for)
VSync ON

***** (for me as I am doing my H/W Monitor Setting 1/2 of 144 override. If I switch VSync OFF in my setup, when it is going between 60-100fps I get small tearing in some circumstances. So it's ON to hold at 72fps, making use of that Gsync/Montor falss to 1/2 144 as it knows it's getting nowhere near 144, which leads to butter smooth in action scenes (i.e. grid), and no tearing :-) ****

Full Screen ON
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Onto the Graphics Settings......

Okay Straight to it... with a few experiential notes when required:-

Graphics Settings
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DLSS = BALANCED
(had it on Quality, but found when Anisotropic Filtering and Ambient Occlusion were both on HIGH, I got unacceptable dips on certain tracks, so they on medium and BALANCED gives headroom.

*** found AF and AC to be quite hungry on HIGH ***

Multisampling Anti-Aliasing = 2X

Anisotropic Filtering MEDIUM

Level Of Detail = HIGH

Vehicle Level Of Detail = HIGH

Global Illumination Frequency = HIGH (been using for a while, nicer often corner windows flares :-) )

Ambient Occlusion = MEDIUM

Volumetrics = MEDIUM

Environment Reflection = MEDIUM

Car Reflection = MEDIUM

Shadows = HIGH

Screen Space Shadows = Full Resolution

Grass = LOW

Clouds Quality = LOW

Exposure = 0.0

Fidelty FX Contrast Adaptive Sharpening = 0%

Veil Type = NATURAL

Depth Of Field Quality = HIGH

MOTION BLUR = ALL OFF

Mirrors Mode = SINGLE

Mirrors Resolution = HIGH

Mirror LOD Quality = LOW

Mirrors View Distance = ULTRA

Optimised Rendering = ON

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Now remember I got that +30-40 fps hike when I told you about that Texture Streaming Option that I set from High to Medium?

Well most of what I would call, "sexy stuff", was either medium or low before I got it like this, and now I could keep SSS to Full Res, Shadows to High, even have on the sometimes killer Environmental and Car reflections to Medium, (had to be Low before), so compared to how it was looking before, pretty happy camper!!!

Now what about this racing stuff!!! Next up is getting that budget wheel, that sure feels strong enough to sprain yer wrist on a pile up at 100% Gain, a little more refined and in the sweet spot to feel the rolling golf course that is Donington Racetrack, under those wheels in in that Default Setup rolly-polly Porsche :-)
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Up Next, My Wheel Settings and then after that how to setup a quick race to get decent action and take advantage of all those lovely lighting techniques we've got switched on :-)

As stated previously this is my Wheel, Pedal and Shifter setup!

Genius SpeedMaster X5 FF
1080˚ Force Feedback Racing Wheel With 6+R Shifte

Speedmaster X5 FF[www.geniusnet.com]

In the Mobile App which connect via Bluetooth to the Wheel, default it Direct Mode and only change I made was to set the Steering Lock to 900.

Here is the In-Game Settings and for this particular wheel some important information!!

TrueForce Gain has to be enabled or there is no Kerb Vibrations so this wheel must be compatible, or at least can interpret the intended signals :-). If TrueForce Gain is Disabled not alot going on.

So TrueForce = 100% (we won't clip as the overall FFB Gain is not going to be hiked up high and there is a reason for this).

FFB Gain = 60%-65% (found that arm fatigue kicks in 70 75+, feels nice but on slow first gear corners doesn't lighten up enough, as well as possible TrueForce clipping and less "road feel" when 70+
60-65 allows for easier 1 handed hairpins with the TC off ;-) . There is a sweet spot for feeling the track undulations as well, go too low/light and your not getting enough road/suspension feel in the wheel.

It's a subjective one and cars can change things too I think, but keeping the TrueForce up gives kerbs and other stuff and having the FFB Gain not clipping and ripping your arms off gives more driving immersion for car on the road feel...... still tweaking myself tbh.

Having said that Damper action played with them but finally went all off, just like many of the guys with more expensive, serious wheel setups seem to do, and tbh, feels nicer, feel the track, bumps, kerbs, seem to be able to get out and into trouble easier... so all good...........

.... what I think is happening when you switch Damper stuff off in the game, is it falls back to whatever your Wheel App/Driver settings are setup for and those do well for me!

So that's it for FFB..... NEXT UP!!..... Now for that quick race setup for some action and immersion

Okay we go with Donington, as I was impressed by the track feel so it's probably new improved and groovy.... certainly feels like it!

5 Laps, A Dusk Race using the 24x multiplier, so we begin at 16:00 - 16:30 (if you want last lap in dark), 15 opponents, skill level up to you, I switch of Single Make for some car/colours variety.

This is a good experience for me and the Porsche 911 is annoying with the traction control on and a great fun handful with it off, and gives a good test for FFB in undulation track feel, why we are on Donington, keeping the throttle on after that kick on the U bend before the back straight, and taming the beast, you feel the car lighten up and if you r getting it right, digging in and then you're away, just like Porsche does, is the sorta stuff aaaaam taaalkin about!!! Lolol!!

This 24x Dusk to evening setup over 5 laps is also a good way to showcase the lighting, and the replay is nice. Getting that boost and being able to up some settings for shadows/reflection/volumetrics etc is looking good and passing the fps test in this race setup.

I also have the option to drop down to DLSS Performance (where I was running pre-texture change), so may be ready for that overhead that comes with multiplayer :-), and keep stable fps!

If the 911 is a little too much for you and you mowing the grass more often than not, get in the Maserati, it's faster and more planted and will let you feel Donington, just quicker :-) !

Well that's about it!

If anyone does actually read this, then hello and I'm much obliged, and I hope any of my information, experience with my setup, has helped you in some way.

It is good to be able to help anyone shave the hours off anyone's quest to get some joy out of sims and hardware that can do all sorts these days without spending millions.

It is why I blab-on a bit, to give rationale and touch on useful information that the average punter may or may not know or need reminded of.

This is by way of a full stop on getting the most out of AC Evo since I got it pretty early in early access and it is shaping up nicely.

Enjoy!