I’m a sim racer and amateur racer with a passion for Motorsport, good racecraft and the technical and setup aspect of sim racing.
Featured Image: Logitech G923
Late to the party might be the understatement of the year for this post, but the idea got stuck in my mind and I couldn’t shake it. I’ve never reviewed Logitech’s Classic G923.
Having worked on a range of “beginner” equipment just recently (notably, the Moza R5 and R3), I strongly felt like I’ve been doing my friends at Logitech a bit of a disservice. I’ve never tested or covered the Logitech G29 / G920 or G923 on the site.
I’ve gone for their last gear driven unit (of course), the Logitech G923. While the hardware is fundamentally similar to the predecessors (differing only on compatibility with XBOX and Playstation), the G923 also has a simple haptic feature called “TrueForce technology”, which can deliver feedback of upto 4000Hz (4KHz). Trueforce handles the vibrational effects (I call them Haptics).
With it, you get a bit of feedback from bumpy road surfaces and so on. Trueforce offers “Kinesthetic effects” too; so you can sort of feel tyre grip levels, crashes, and general g-forces in the higher speed corders and under rotation under braking. Sort of.
So, today I’m taking a look at my brand new, eBay aquisition – my G923:
When you think “entry level” hardware, Logitech’s “G series” steering wheels are always front of mind. So many famous sim racing professionals started with this wheelbase, because of just how prolific this series is, it’s looked upon fondly.
And no, you don’t have to own a high end rig to win championships, a G923 will do just fine.
G923 vs G29/G920
Logitech G29 and G920 wheels have been go-to options for years, providing a taste of (mild: ~2Nm) force feedback without breaking the bank. But the G923 is the better wheel – and the one to choose, in my opinion.
The headline feature of the G923 is undoubtedly TrueForce. This Logitech technology aims to provide more nuanced force feedback signals to the driver by tapping directly into a game’s physics and audio APIs. In supported games, you’ll feel everything from the rumble of an engine to the texture of the road surface. The sensation won’t exactly be earth shattering, but youll get the message.
Visually, the G923 sports a more grown up design across its Xbox and PlayStation versions. Gone are the colourful buttons of the G29, replaced by a sleeker, all-black aesthetic. The build quality feels a step above its predecessors, with an obvious wight to the wheel and a generally premium feel to the faux-leather surround on the rim.
Perhaps the most significant physical upgrade comes in the form of the brake pedal. Logitech has introduced a progressive spring, addressing one of the main criticisms of the G29/G920 pedals. This provides a more realistic braking experience, allowing for better modulation and control.
I thought the brake pedal felt surprisingly good – weighty, resistant and frankly, a pedal that punches well above its price point. The pedals are quite a strong part of this package, a point that I’ll come to in a moment.
After my experience with the Moza gear (and my trusty Fanatec CSL DD) I was eager to see how this wheel stacks up. I’ve spent a fair bit of time G923 through its paces (and so has my Son!), using it for a bit of fun and the occasional iRacing Mazda Cup race.
Installation: Setting Up the G923
Installing the G923 with its integrated desk clamp is very easy (easier than the Fanatec and Moza, I might add!) – the clamp brackets and tighteners are built into the chassis. Clamping to the desk takes a minute, and if your desk is a little too thick, there are some removable feet that give you plenty of extra room to get a good fit.
The pedal unit (which I haven’t really mentioned yet) is surprisingly heavy – heavier in fact than Moza’s SR-P lite pedals and the base CSL pedals that come with the Fanatec CSL DD. This is good for floor mounting, as the base doesn’t tip or move when you apply force to a pedal.
The pedals have a unique RS232 style plug, which has to connect to the wheelbase. If you were planning to update the wheelbase, but felt like keeping the pedals, you can convert the G923 pedals to USB with this handy adapter from Leo Bodnar.
While we’re on the subject of installation, I did notice that the wheelbase can be fitted to a wheeldeck on a rig, there are 4 M5 threaded boltholes on the base of the unit. As we’re running on a budget – a rig like this one would do just fine:
I list far nicer cockpits on our cockpit buyer’s guide, with more serious items starting at around the $400 mark. I talk about “upgrade path” all the time, so a cockpit like the Sim-Lab GT1 Evo would give you a very solid base upon which you can pick and choose updates over time, without buying a new cockpit. Still – if you want to get going for very little investment, it’s more than possible to build a good starter simulator on a budget.
The G923 needs software installing in Windows to get the proper drivers installed. It’s called GHUB and you can download it here.
Click install and the software will quickly detected Logitech peripherals you’d got plugged in by USB:
The latest version of GHUB appears to be keep the G923 firmware up to date, and obviously there’s PRO wheelbase support (which I hope to check out a later date).
I skipped all the community signup call to action links and didn’t bother with the privacy policy; and got straight to this screen:
Game Compatibility and Performance
As of writing, the list of TrueForce-compatible games is still relatively small, including sim racing titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione, and iRacing. In these games, the G923 tries its best to add a little extra detail, although TrueForce effects aren’t terrible – they’re not super useful either. A bit primative.
In non-TrueForce titles, the G923 performs admirably. In popular games like Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7, and F1 23, the wheel provides a responsive and enjoyable experience. The force feedback might not be as nuanced as in TrueForce-enabled games, but it’s still a step up from the G29/G920.
It’s worth noting that console users may notice slightly less detailed force feedback compared to PC users, which is common across most wheel systems. Despite this, the G923 still offers a significant improvement over controller play on both Xbox and PlayStation.
Customisation and Features
The G923 retains the level of simple customisation options that Logitech wheels are known for. The button layout is largely unchanged from the G29/G920, which means it’s applicable across different racing platforms and, takes no time at all to come to terms with. The 24-point selection dial is particularly useful for on-the-fly adjustments in supported games – think: brake bias, or scrolling through iRacing’s black box.
One of the standout features with the G923 is the dual-clutch system. While not new to the G923, it’s worth highlighting for its usefulness in race starts. When set up correctly, it allows for consistently quick launches, which can be a real advantage to a competitive race start. That feature is particularly impressive given the G923’s price point, as it’s typically found on much more expensive wheels.
The RPM LEDs across the top of the wheel face are another returning feature that adds to overall utility of the wheel. Any help nailing the optimimum shift point is fine by me!
Who is the G923 intended for?
It would be easy to say that this is a beginner’s wheel. But the truth is, a lot of pro sim racers grew up with these Logitech wheels and some still have them today. And those guys are pretty quick. The price is accessible indeed and provides an opportunity to test the water before fully submersing yourself into sim racing.
For those already owning a G29 or G920, the decision to upgrade is less clear-cut. I wouldn’t bother. If you justify the cost, to me it depends on your budget and how much you value the haptic feedback and improved brake pedal.
Personally, I wouldn’t upgrade to a G923 from a G29 or G920 – instead, take a look at our beginner’s guide which will help you put together an upgraded simulator.
As for the feeling; For newcomers to sim racing or for drivers thinking about upgrading from early / entry level wheelbases, the G923 is a good budget buy. Don’t expect to be blown away by the 2.2Nm of force feedback, but the wheel faithfully represents track detail and enough information about the car’s handling for you to enjoy driving.
The slightly torquier Moza R3 is probably the better buy, although it is twice the price. And if money can be stretched a little further, I’m still bullish on the Fanatec CSL DD.
Topic: Sim Racing Wheels