Is The Fanatec CSL DD Boost Kit Worth It?

After reviewing the Fanatec CSL DD a few weeks ago, John takes a closer look at an optional add-on for this budget direct drive wheel base. Does another €149.95 make the extra 3Nm of torque worth the price? Watch and find out!


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#Traxion #Fanatec #CSLDD

[DouglasThompson]

It's almost like the CSL DD was designed to be used with an 8nm power supply, and Fanatec intentionally made a 5nm power supply that makes the user feel the wheelbase is slightly inadequate. But that's ok... the customer is getting a good deal. They can always "upgrade" to a CSL Elite Laptop power supply...lol

For 150.00...no biggie

Marketing geniuses.

[minibullet]

Just sitting here on my logitech g29 waiting for my November 8 pre order and watching hundreds of reviews lol

[forwhomthebelltolls]

Back in the 80's, I raced Formula Atlantic for a couple seasons in a Cosworth powered Ralt RT-5, and I purchased the Fanatec DD Pro for my PS5 and GT7 with the 5nM power supply combined with the CSL Elite Pedals V2. I can honestly say that although there is no Ralt RT-5 in GT7, the feel of the wheel and the pedals is really pretty fantastic and very close (not technology-wise but feeling-wise) to feeling like actual racing in a REAL Formula car. Pretty neat how technology has advanced over the past 40 odd

[oktc]

The CSL DD is in my opinion the best of the Fanatec DD wheelbases. The 8Nm version has the most precise feeling ffb Fanatec offers. For me the 8Nm is spot on, I've used more powerful units and ended only using half the available torque (approx), I've been lucky enough to have had some track experience in a couple of Lola's (no power steering) and the CSL DD 8Nm is the closest I've come to recreating that feeling. Unless your vehicle of choice is something very old I think the CSL DD 8Nm has got you covered, all at a very reasonable price. Wheel choice limitation maybe my only reservation, I use mine with the WRC wheel, (for track cars, i find a wheel i like and stick with it) chosen for it's light weight, it's a 300mm wheel about a kg. Heavier wheels or larger diameter may not feel quite the same (i don't know but I'd recommend trying before buying) One thing I would suggest changing on the CSL DD is the runout clamp on the shaft, a two piece, twin bolt version will work much better. I also have had excellent results with the QR1 Lite, unlike the more expensive aluminium QR1 there is zero wheel movement on the shaft. This is a rare product, one that Fanatec got absolutely spot on, bravo Fanatec.

[slatanek]

I have the CSL DD 5Nm. I have made my own PSU to get the 8Nm which works great and was easy and cheap to do. Coming from CSL Elite I'd say this:

The 5Nm will be enough for 90% of people. Especially if you're coming from gear/belt driven wheel you'll be pleased with the immediacy of the feedback and the ease with which you'll catch those slides you always thought you should be able to but wasn't allowed by the friction of gears/belts. For the price of 350 it's a real steal and you won't be disappointed.

Notice that all the opinions that say the 8Nm is a must or is transforming the wheel are coming mostly from people that already raced on stronger DD wheels, so their view is skewed IMO.

Yes the 8Nm is better. But it's like 15% better, not a game changer by any means.

My advice:
if you're on a budget get the 5Nm and enjoy it for what it is - you're not missing out. Down the line either get the Fanatec 180W PSU or get one of ebay and make your own PSU (it's easy and I have no electrical knowledge to speak of - google is your friend).
It's certainly the best wheel for the price by a country mile and frankly it being a DD there's no competition atm.

[billwiley]

Biggest advantage of the boost kit 8nm over the non boost kit 5nm is even if set at the exact same ffb level is the extra headroom to prevent clipping of the signal of the 8nm kit. Hence what is coming through the wheel to the driver will be a pure clean signal for the ffb.
At under $500 the CSL DD with the boost kit included is still the best overall deal currently for a DD wheelbase.

[valentinvsk]

Dude love ur review.i just tested the csl dd without boost kit so I had the same feeling in the corners.Glad to know boost kit fixes all those problems. :) Thanks.

[angryginger]

People always assume that any company bigger than a few guys in a garage has some evil motivation for everything they do. Like they did it this way just so they could screw people on power supplies. I really doubt that. A more likely scenario is that it was designed to be 8 Nm from the start, but they really wanted to hit that $350 price point because that puts them into direct competition with entry level offerings from Logitech and Thrustmaster. And it's also been a goal of theirs for years to make DD wheels affordable. I'd guess that the 5 Nm kit is being sold at a very slim margin (or even a loss) with the idea being that it gets people in the door. Once they are in the "ecosystem" Fanatec knows they will at least buy a rim (where they probably make most of their money) even if they don't end up getting the 8 Nm booster pack. So, no, the 8 Nm power supply is probably not worth $150, but it's not because they are trying to rip you off. They are just trying to balance that $350 offer on the books. They are a company, not a charity. They don't owe you anything. They owe their employees job security and a decent wage, and I'm sure a lot of their profits go toward R&D for future products. Nothing is free and Fanatec has done a lot of good for the sim racing community, so try not to be so cynical, ya salty basement dwellers!
(I say that with love and affection, as I am currently in my basement, "working" from home. Cheers!)

[andyaim]

The “boost kit” is exactly the same PSU as the Clubsport PSU with a ATX connector. Funny enough Fanatec were selling off all their Clubsport PSUs cheap just prior to the launch of the DD CSL. €40 I believe the price was. So yes it’s a rip off. I bought a used Clubsport PSU from eBay for £19 and put the 4 pin connector on it. Works a charm

[misterdog]

Nice detailed review, I went for the 5nm and happy with it indeed. I basically have the 'boost kit' laying here as it's the same power brick I used for my CSL elite but with a different connector. Will probably look for a 3rd party PSU along the line as spending 150 on an adapter feels a bit like being screwed.

[DazDaz]

Motors have a sweet spot and an 8Nm motor is unlikely to perform its best when it is capped at 5Nm.

[uglybluecouch]

I remember watching this a year ago when I was looking to upgrade from the g29. Looking back at this now I'm glad the review is so detailed and thorough because I LOVE playing assetto on my xbox with My fanatec setup. Kudos to you and your team!!

[fabiangonzalez-cortes]

It for sure sounds like the difference between reacting to what the wheel is telling you rather than just lifting from previous knowledge and muscle memory to get you through a mid-corner loss of traction. Just not sure if the value is there for the vast majority of people on a strict budget.

[williamgrimes]

Great answers to the questions I had. Thanks for the video

[mrmidnight]

Of course it’s not. The fact they’re charging $150 for a $10 power supply is an insult to their customers. I get the motor and wheel is budget but you don’t punish you’re customers on the back end cause you price your product competitive.

These shouldn’t be more than $40

[elitesennabubble]

the boost kit is way too expensive for a power supply that probably costs fanatec $20 to make

[zigzagbruno]

BEST REVIEW on this subject. Thanks for your great work!

[ACCLongy]

I've just received my Alpha mini. 10nm peak torque. They chucked in a power supply for free!

[YourDeletedComments]

Before even watching the video... my answer is yes it is worth it for a couple reasons. One, the CSL DD with the boost kit is in stock, I bought one two days ago and it will be here next week. The 5 nm version is out of stock with no date to be in stock again. Two, I have a Thrustmaster T500 wheel that does close to 5 nm already. I want an actual upgrade in power.

Also, there's a cheap chinese knock off boost kit selling on eBay for over $60. I would not trust one of those to power my shiny new DD wheel base so the extra money is worth it, although way over priced for a simple power brick.

[abjeh]

No one seems to comment on this, but my desk (I have a wife, no rig possible) may struggle to handle 8nm comfortably so have just gone for 5nm. It also uses less power, 180W for quite some time is quite a bit of power to pay for if you're on a budget. I know these things are not on everyone's mind, but for those with boring regular lives I'm hoping the 5nm is going to be aenough if a step up from a G29.