Thrustmaster TX Servo Base

Our rating : 9.2/10

Sim-racing has been around for a long time. In fact, it was flight simulation that set the ball rolling for sim-racing in the 90s, notably with a major industry player: Thrustmaster. Originally founded to develop and manufacture flight simulation peripherals (joystick and company), the company quickly turned to sim-racing to diversify its product catalog, and this decision has paid off.

Today, Thrustmaster is one of the top sim-racing peripherals companies, with a fan base that swears by the brand’s products. From pedals to officially licensed steering wheels Sparco and FerrariThrustmaster has a wide range of peripherals, from bases and handbrakes to shifters and flight simulation equipment.

Mainly active in the entry- and mid-range sim-racing peripherals segment, Thrustmaster has developed and mastered certain technologies, notably that of belt-driven bases. Let’s face it: almost all TM bases are belt-driven, except, from memory, the T818 which is Direct Drive. Among the various bases offered by the company, we have the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base which is one of the most popular on Xbox. In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to this device, tell you about its strengths and weaknesses, and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• Brushless motor with 2-belt drive
• Maximum torque 3.9 nm
• 900° rotation angle
• Motor-integrated magnetic sensor
• Official Microsoft license base
• Weight 4.54 kg
• Compatible with PC and Xbox

Design

With the exception of the T818, Thrustmaster bases are virtually all the same. They’re big, which is perfectly normal for a Brushless motor with 2 belts inside. Otherwise, the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is sober, with a dark grey coat tending towards black. At the front, you have the driveshaft and the brand’s QR, with buttons too, ventilation slots and logo.

All in all, it’s a nice-looking, simple device that will work with any sim-racing setup. Personally, I like the design of the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base and honestly, it’s not too different from the manufacturer’s other bases.

Customized assembly

The TX Racing Wheel Servo Base uses Thrustmaster’s proven clamp mounting system to hold it perfectly in place on a table or desk. It’s really solid, easy to install and very practical.

You can also mount this base on a chassis or steering wheel support, thanks to the M6 screw slots at the bottom of the base. The TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is perfect for desks or steering wheel supports, as it’s not all that powerful in terms of motor torque (3.9 nm).

Whichever method you choose for mounting the TX Racing Wheel Servo Baseis very easy and won’t take up much of your time.

Manufacturing and finishing

Since the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is an entry/mid-range base, with a 100% plastic finish for the device casing. Admittedly, it’s not premium, as is the case with Fanatec or Moza (use of metal), but it’s still pretty well done.

The plastic is textured, well-cut and suitably assembled too. I didn’t notice any manufacturing defects throughout the base, nor any sharp edges. Even if this sim-racing peripheral isn’t expensive, Thrustmaster has gone to the trouble of making it well and presenting it well too. It’s not on the same level as a TS-XW or a T818, but it’s still well done in absolute terms.

Getting to know the base

On the scale, the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base weighs in at just over 4.5 kilos, which isn’t very heavy considering that the most popular Direct Drive bases are easily twice that weight.

As the toy takes up a lot of space, it’s easy to hold. Personally, I wasn’t afraid of dropping it when installing it on my setup, unlike Fanatec or Simagic, with their really small, heavy bases.

Here, the grip is good, but the ergonomics aren’t top-notch, given that the buttons are positioned just behind the steering wheel. And QR isn’t exactly user-friendly either. It’s pretty solid when a steering wheel is attached, but to swap wheels, you’ll need to be armed with a screwdriver and a lot of patience to carry out this operation, which is supposed to be quick and effortless because it’s called “Quick Release”! But for the price (see below), I’m not going to complain too much.

Otherwise, you’ve got USB for a pedalboard and a shifter/handbrake, and that’s that. As far as wheels are concerned, you have all those available in the Thrustmaster product catalog, leaving you with a wide range of choices.

Sensations during play

First of all, you need to know that the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is a base that’s rather old on the market, having been around for 8 years. It wouldn’t be fair to compare it with a Logitech G923 for example. But the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is a good base for those looking for a reliable, high-quality device.

The force feedback is well proportioned, and you won’t get the jerks you still see on some competitor bases. The sensations transmitted behind the wheel are clear and precise, and the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is very communicative about vibrators, collisions, grip changes and so on. I think it’s an excellent basis for getting started in sim-racing, and even competing with it.

However, the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base has its shortcomings, especially with fairly old technology. For a start, the engine is noisy, especially when you change course abruptly. Then, when you turn the steering wheel gently, you can feel that it’s a belt drive: the gears are felt one by one. Finally, the rotation angle is only 900°, and the cooling system is noisy when you ask too much of the engine.

Compatibility

The TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is officially licensed by Microsoft and will therefore work with both Xbox One consoles and PCs. Well, it’s still limited on consoles, but on computers it’s pretty pal. As for the peripherals sold by Thrustmaster, the sim-racing manufacturer’s entire catalog is compatible with the TX Racing Wheel Servo BaseThe TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is the ideal solution for all your wheel, crankset, shifter and handbrake needs.

As far as sim-racing titles are concerned, you have all those available on the market, fromAsseto Corsa à Forzaas well as F1. It’s really comprehensive, and you’ll have no trouble finding what you’re looking for.

Value for money

Priced at €230, this base is relatively inexpensive when you consider that it’s well made, provides a good feel and is compatible with the entire Thrustmaster product catalog.

Its value for money is good, considering the competition it faces, notably from Logitech. It is true that these two competitors ( TX and G920 ) share the same force feedback system (same motor technology, at least), but Thrustmaster is far superior in terms of feel and sensation.

My verdict

Frankly, the TX Racing Wheel Servo Base is a good starting point for sim-racing, and even for amateur/semi-pro competitions on Xbox One and PC. Force feedback is good and reliable, and the engine communicates a lot with the rider. The build quality is decent to good, and the design is quite successful.

Admittedly, the double-belt brushless motor is old and the price is still a hair high compared to what Logitech. Nevertheless, the two competing bases are clearly not in the same segment, and Thrustmaster easily wins the match in terms of feel and in-game sensation. On Xbox One, I highly recommend this base to the G920.