Greetings,
After using both here's my impressions of the two controllers and how they
compare to each other in actual gameplay. I went for lots of detail rather
than it's great or it's awful. Hope it helps someone.
Thrustmaster Warthog - $449.99
Heavy weight. Not going to move around much on a desk.
Mostly metal construction.
Designed for X-10 type atmospheric aircraft flight simulation.
Programmable lighting and controls.
Joystick and throttle action precise and smooth from day one.
Solid heavy to push buttons and controls.
Less controls versus the X-56.
Most hats are smaller and require more force than the X-56 to move.
No joystick yaw. Optional rudder pedals available.
Twice the physical throttle travel versus the X-56.
Metal joystick and center throttle sections always cold to the touch.
(Now I know why pilots wear gloves!)
Joystick
Fixed joystick tension. Can be modified out of warranty by the user.
1 x 8-way “point of view” hat
2 x 8-way hats
1 x 4-way hat with push button
1 x metal dual stage trigger
2 x push buttons
2 x pinkie push buttons
Throttle
1 x TRIM wheel
2 x push buttons
5 x 2-position switches (2 permanent)
2 x 3-position switches (1 momentary + 2 permanent)
2 x 3-position switches (3 permanent)
1 x throttle friction wheel - precise adjustment
Saitek X-56 - $249.99
Medium weight. Use kitchen shelf non-slip pads to keep in place on a desk.
Mostly plastic construction.
Designed for PC gaming and simulations.
Programmable lighting and controls.
Joystick and throttle action requires breaking in per excess grease lubrication
to become precise and smooth.
Lighter easy to push buttons and controls.
More controls versus the Warthog.
Hats are large and require less force than the Warthog to move.
Joystick yaw. Optional rudder pedals available.
Half the physical throttle travel versus the Warthog.
Plastic joystick and throttle always room temperature.
Joystick
Multiple springs for adjusting tension.
1 x 4/8 way selectable "point of view" hat
2 x 4/8 way selectable hats
1 x 4 way analog stick with push button
1 x plastic single stage trigger
2 x push buttons
2 x pinkie push buttons
Throttle
5 x TRIM wheels 2 with push buttons
3 x push buttons
1 x 2 position slide permanent
1 x 2 position slide spring centering
2 x 4 way hats
1 x 4 way analog stick with push button
7 x 2 position toggle with full spring centering
1 x 3 position mode switch (3 complete sets of controls)
1 x throttle friction wheel - poor adjustment per grease interference
Overall Impression
Programming the controls the X-56 toggle switches use 2 position momentary
with full spring return to center. This works nicely with ED looking for momentary
commands. A single switch can then have 2 commands as in push forward then
release for ship lights on/off and pull backward for cargo scoop deploy/retract.
Most Warthog toggle switches are 2/3 position permanent which is excellent for
aircraft controls as in 3 position flaps, 2 position landing gear and on/off controls
as in autopilot, APU. For ED they require some adaptation to be used as momentary
switches versus an always on state.
The Saitek X-56 is an exceptional design perfectly suited for ED with large
hats and easy to push controls. It out performs the Warthog in a pure gaming
design with many more programmable controls plus times three modes with a
minimum of additional keyboard/gamepad/mouse commands. It's main weakness
is durability and product reliability per wiring and spring issues starting with the
X-55 series. Power requirements often requires a powered USB hub versus direct
USB connection to the computer.
The Thrustmaster Warthog is also well designed with excellent durability and
reliability. It excels with solid engineering/components but at the cost of much
stiffer and harder to push controls, higher joystick resistance and twice the throttle
travel of the X-56. A player's hands and arms are going to get a workout. Still it is
an excellent choice and just requires more keyboard/mouse/gamepad commands to
complete the ED bindings.
Just one observation. You decide.
Regards
After using both here's my impressions of the two controllers and how they
compare to each other in actual gameplay. I went for lots of detail rather
than it's great or it's awful. Hope it helps someone.
Thrustmaster Warthog - $449.99
Heavy weight. Not going to move around much on a desk.
Mostly metal construction.
Designed for X-10 type atmospheric aircraft flight simulation.
Programmable lighting and controls.
Joystick and throttle action precise and smooth from day one.
Solid heavy to push buttons and controls.
Less controls versus the X-56.
Most hats are smaller and require more force than the X-56 to move.
No joystick yaw. Optional rudder pedals available.
Twice the physical throttle travel versus the X-56.
Metal joystick and center throttle sections always cold to the touch.
(Now I know why pilots wear gloves!)
Joystick
Fixed joystick tension. Can be modified out of warranty by the user.
1 x 8-way “point of view” hat
2 x 8-way hats
1 x 4-way hat with push button
1 x metal dual stage trigger
2 x push buttons
2 x pinkie push buttons
Throttle
1 x TRIM wheel
2 x push buttons
5 x 2-position switches (2 permanent)
2 x 3-position switches (1 momentary + 2 permanent)
2 x 3-position switches (3 permanent)
1 x throttle friction wheel - precise adjustment
Saitek X-56 - $249.99
Medium weight. Use kitchen shelf non-slip pads to keep in place on a desk.
Mostly plastic construction.
Designed for PC gaming and simulations.
Programmable lighting and controls.
Joystick and throttle action requires breaking in per excess grease lubrication
to become precise and smooth.
Lighter easy to push buttons and controls.
More controls versus the Warthog.
Hats are large and require less force than the Warthog to move.
Joystick yaw. Optional rudder pedals available.
Half the physical throttle travel versus the Warthog.
Plastic joystick and throttle always room temperature.
Joystick
Multiple springs for adjusting tension.
1 x 4/8 way selectable "point of view" hat
2 x 4/8 way selectable hats
1 x 4 way analog stick with push button
1 x plastic single stage trigger
2 x push buttons
2 x pinkie push buttons
Throttle
5 x TRIM wheels 2 with push buttons
3 x push buttons
1 x 2 position slide permanent
1 x 2 position slide spring centering
2 x 4 way hats
1 x 4 way analog stick with push button
7 x 2 position toggle with full spring centering
1 x 3 position mode switch (3 complete sets of controls)
1 x throttle friction wheel - poor adjustment per grease interference
Overall Impression
Programming the controls the X-56 toggle switches use 2 position momentary
with full spring return to center. This works nicely with ED looking for momentary
commands. A single switch can then have 2 commands as in push forward then
release for ship lights on/off and pull backward for cargo scoop deploy/retract.
Most Warthog toggle switches are 2/3 position permanent which is excellent for
aircraft controls as in 3 position flaps, 2 position landing gear and on/off controls
as in autopilot, APU. For ED they require some adaptation to be used as momentary
switches versus an always on state.
The Saitek X-56 is an exceptional design perfectly suited for ED with large
hats and easy to push controls. It out performs the Warthog in a pure gaming
design with many more programmable controls plus times three modes with a
minimum of additional keyboard/gamepad/mouse commands. It's main weakness
is durability and product reliability per wiring and spring issues starting with the
X-55 series. Power requirements often requires a powered USB hub versus direct
USB connection to the computer.
The Thrustmaster Warthog is also well designed with excellent durability and
reliability. It excels with solid engineering/components but at the cost of much
stiffer and harder to push controls, higher joystick resistance and twice the throttle
travel of the X-56. A player's hands and arms are going to get a workout. Still it is
an excellent choice and just requires more keyboard/mouse/gamepad commands to
complete the ED bindings.
Just one observation. You decide.
Regards
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