The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[Seroto]

To add to the "neither" comments: I had a series of 3 X55s, all of which developed faults - different faults each time. After that, I had to threaten and demand a refund for a long time (including legal action under EU law), before they paid up, 9 months after my first purchase.

So I strongly recommend avoiding the X55. I don't have any experience of the X52, but after the terrible customer service I received, it would certainly be a risk.

I now have a Thrustmaster Warthog with CH pedals - expensive: but certainly worth it, without doubt. They're a far better "feeling", and haver been trouble-free.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Hello good people of the forums! I approached thee today regarding a question i have and although yours truly know'eth it has been answered time and time again i require newer info.

Therefore, my good people of the forums i beseeched thee, should i get the X55 or X52 and why and bla bla and etc etc....

DISCUSS!... please?

Hi


I tried both, both good sticks, some prefer the X52, some the 55. The throttle is better on the 55, but it is stiff when you 1st get it, it loosens up with time.

but the reason the X55 wins it for me is it has more buttons.

build quality can be a bit sketchy. touch wood i got lucky and its ok (tho mine does not work properly in usb2. i need to use usb3 or i get ghost keypresses

The thrusmaster 'Hog' is undoubtedly better built but with no stick yaw that rules it out for me, and it is way more pricy (you can get the X55 for £125 delivered if you get lucky)

 

[hadberz]

I have had the X55 for over a year with zero issues. I did have to buy a Rosewell powered USB 3 card due to my motherboard (AMD 990FX) not being able to supply enough juice to the setup (button ghosting). The software has worked great for me as well.

 

[nazartp]

OK, I had Logitech 3D Pro (2 of those) , have currently X55 and my son has X52. Logitechs (both of them) died on us after about a month of active gaming in Elite. X55 that I have now is working just fine after 8 months of less active gaming. My son broke into his X52 and so far it is alive.

So - avoid Logitech. It is neither precise nor durable.

Judging by the comments from the people here they had spotty experience with Saitek products, I, on the other had, cannot complain. X55 seems to me better suited for Elite just due to the placement of the buttons and switches - you do not need to take your hand off the stick ever.

CH Products are excellent, but not sure if anyone mentioned, you will need a set of pedals to go with the HOTAS - the stick does not have a twist. The number of buttons and switches is less than on X55. I would suggest running Powergrid on a cheap android tablet to augment your control setup.

 

[smiths121]

Hi All,

I have an X-52 pro, and would take it over an X-55, so that when I look down in the cockpit the pilot is moving the stick the same as me.

I know, know patheticreason - but as a leftie I had to learn to fly right handed to use the X-52! Obviously a good enough reason for me.

Simon

 

[M. Grey]

Same here, adds to the immersion. One of the reasons I got me some pedals too.

 

[Thasarion]

I don't use either of them. I have a Thrustmaster T-flight HOTAS, and it has yet to get any issues. I have been slamming it everywhere while in some ridiculous combat scenario, and I have dropped it on multiple occasions. It has far fewer buttons, but it has the perfect amount for me. Best part, it's cheap. I got it new for about $90 USD. I have used it ever since I got in a viper, which took me a few weeks while I figured out what to do. I am now flying a high-grade FDL with an A rated cobra in reserve to give you some sense on how long I had it. I was turned away from the X52/55 by the countless reports of them breaking.

 

[Ian Skippy]

I'd suggest ignoring any and all reasons except one: how does it feel? The X52 and X55 are not for the same handsize IMHO, and a stick that is too big or small will be useless no matter the rest. FWIW: I use a logitech Extreme 3D pro with a thrustmaster T-flight throttle.

 

[smiths121]

Now you are showing off

I am going to have to watch the pilots feet tonight now, if I see any hint of pedal use, well Amazon will be happy!

Simon

Same here, adds to the immersion. One of the reasons I got me some pedals too.

 

[Fian]

I have the x52 pro, no problems with it, love the stick. I do like that it is the same stick as you see in game and i also like that you can change the colour of the button LEDs, so that I have set the FAOFF button to glow red and the reverse toggle to amber. Also kind of cool the way teh "extend hardpoints" toggle switches from greed to red when you flip the safety cap off. lots of functionality and it has been great for me.

Having said all that i have read enough posts in this forum from people who had quality control issues to realise i probably got lucky in getting a snag free stick. I did find the throttle detent sticky and did the throttle mod reference above. Much prefer the throttle now.

 

[M. Grey]

Now you are showing off

I am going to have to watch the pilots feet tonight now, if I see any hint of pedal use, well Amazon will be happy!

Simon

Pssst...even got me some tabi socks...

But not only do the pedals look good, they handle really nice, once you get used to it. I used the Z-axis of the pedals for yaw, left/right toe brake for down/up thrusters.
Gad the Saitek combar rudder pedals but had to replace them because they malfunctioned after five month. Got me CH Pro Pedals instead and these work better for me.

 

[vinnybags]

I've been on the X-52 Pro since the Elite was released. It's been absolutely perfect in regard to the keymap ability. My only gripe is that the mouse. It tends to wander on its own from time to time. Seems to be from an extra sensitive contact, and its axis control.. strictly up,down,left,right.. diagonal control just not do-able.
Otherwise, I find the fact that there are no petals better as a space sim. I find a new style control with thrusters that a plane is unable to do and find stick rudder control a better option in a dog fight. ...But this is all just my opinion. I will say that transitioning to flight without petals is a step...

 

[M. Grey]

... strictly up,down,left,right.. diagonal control just not do-able...

You need to change the coolies in the saitek software from 4-way hat to 8-way hat. You can do this with every coolie though it's only needed/useful for the thruster hat.
How to setup linky

 

[Y0URD34D]

I have a X-55, the 4/8-way hats do become 'soft', as of no more input feedback, the throttle is a bit hard/very resistant to movement the first few weeks, and the whole setup requires a powered USB-hub, because its so power-hungry. Also expect driver issues.
Exept for this, I like the RHINO very much, gives you unparalled feeling for what you are doing and more than enough buttons for everything.
Greetings,
Y0URD34D

 

[beneuto]

I don't use a powered hub for the X55 - plugged straight into the motherboard USB slots.

Only problem I had with it was when trying to play Tomb Raider (not with the Joystick, but it was still plugged in) some of the controls didn't work until I unplugged the joystick and throttle.

 

[CMDR Regulas]

Don't bother with the X52 pro, build quality is rubbish , pinky trigger failed in the first week followed by the throttle activating different buttons at random when you move it and won't go back to zero throttle so the ship won't come to a stop unless you unplug it and plug it back in. worst purchase i have ever made.
THRUSTMASTER HOTAS WARTHOG!!!

 

[Mendelt]

None, CH products. It will last you longer than the game

CH Products are nice but have their own quality issues. Search for CH Products fighterstick centering problem. You might be lucky you might not be. I went back to using my X55 stick.

 

[Kvas]

Hmm... so far im leaning towards the side of the CH fighterstick and CH pro throttle.. probably gonna get it later

I don't have a fighterstick but... It will be probalby better quality, It is a different technology though, it's on potentiometers instead of Hall effect (magnetic) like on Thrustmaster. Hall is said to have better precission. CH products make controllers for heavy industry etc, its plastic outside but all buttons and internals are from what I read quality pieces, reviewers say its smooth, thrustmaster aint that bad but gives a bit of resistance. Fighterstick have more and better situated buttons, Thrustmaster only have 1x 4hat, 3 buttons on top, trigger and 12 buttons but 6 of them are hard to reach due to being on the other side of the stick. I had mine thrustmasters for 6 months and both are in perfect condition, I use a bit of bike grease with teflon and they are pretty smooth. Whats good about Thrustmaser is pretty good drivers, basically you can use software for its MUCH more expensive Warthog.

If you buy Fighterstick it will not only cost you more for the stick itself but you will have to buy pedals as well, as it doesnt have yaw axis (twist), My recomendation would be to buy T16000m and CH throttle. you can always upgrade later when you get the money for good pedals and stick.

 

[Fost]

One small tip with CH products: The (slightly cheaper) Combatstick is actually a bit more usable in E D then the fighterstick as the thumb button is actually a fire button rather than a hat so it's way better for a secondary fire button.

 

[newman1702]

I had bad experiences with Saitek sticks way, way back in the day when space sims weren't considered a niche genre. I remember both myself and a friend tried them out as they looked pretty impressive, but they always had these quirks and weren't exactly long lasting. In contrast, even cheap Thrustmasters will last you for years, to say nothing of CH products. I see that many years later, I was right to steer clear of Saitek products - they really need to do something about that QA.

At the moment, I'm using a Logitech G940. It's a great stick with some quirks of it's own; however, it's the only HOTAS that comes with pedals and has force feedback (the latter can cause minor issues sometimes, but I'm still hoping FD implement force feedback support). So far I've had this stick for a few years and - knock on wood - it's worked pretty well so far.

If I suddenly found myself in need of a new stick I'd probably get a Thrustmaster Warthog and a separate set of pedals. Pricey, yes, but that thing is so gorgeous it's fun just looking at it Never used CH products, I'd have to have them shipped to my country, for some reason local stores don't sell them so no experience with them. I know their users swear by them, and I'm sure they're very good, I'm just not sure why they never invested a bit into designing them so they don't look like they time traveled back from the Commodore 64 era. Nostalgia aside, pretty much all competition has better looking products - though I'd certainly go for CH over any Saitek's fancy but easily broken toys.