Want to Go iRacing? Here's How to Get Started on Any Budget (2024)

Curious about jumping into iRacing? You might not know how to take your first step down the path of becoming a digital F1 champion. Truth be told: We didn’t know either, but that got us thinking about the different ways you can approach racing from the comfort of your own kitchen. Or whatever room you want—we don’t judge.

Let’s get some of the up-front costs out of the way: Before you even get started on iRacing, you’re going to need a good internet connection and access to the game. Obviously, you at least have the internet (if you’re reading this!), so that cost is already baked into your monthly bills. The game, on the other hand, probably isn’t. Unlike other video games that you buy once and spread that cost over the months or years spent enjoying them, iRacing is a subscription-based service. There are different plans to accommodate different needs.

With that in order, let’s look at various technology setups to get you racing:

Budget Build

Everyone wants a big, expensive rig to play video games. Not everyone can afford it. Even if you can afford to drop big bucks on a gaming setup, you might not want to afford it. With that in mind, we went over the specs on iRacing and figured out the most cost-effective way for you to get on a digital track.

You’re going to need a somewhat decent computer to run the game. According to the requirements on iRacing.com, that means running at least Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. You can use a Mac, but figure that out on your own. You’ll want at least 8 GB of RAM, a graphics card with at least 2 GB of memory and a 4 core CPU.

That’s why we’re looking at the HP Pavilion Power Gaming Tower. It gives you enough power to make the magic happen with iRacing and offers some space for upgrading down the line. It’s on the more affordable side of gaming computers, so don’t expect it to be your be-all-end-all computer.

As for a racing wheel? Well, you could borrow your neighbor’s Xbox 360, Xbox One, or PS4 controller. If you don’t have a cool neighbor, picking up an Xbox controller is still pretty darn affordable. It’s not as much fun as racing with a wheel and pedal, but it does save you a chunk of money. If you want to step up to a budget wheel, you’re probably looking at a low-level Thrustmaster like the T150 RS.

Serious (Home) Gamer

OK, now that you’ve walked through the valley of frugality, let’s get more pricey. While the budget setup should be good enough, you might be looking for something more. Of course, you’re also not trying to mortgage your house to race around a digital version of Sebring, either.

That means you’re going to basically use a similar setup to that above, but with upgrades everywhere. Moving away from whatever terrible desk you might have used to mount your wheel or even just from your couch if you were using a controller—and onto a more appropriate rig like the one below—is a sound move. Not only will it better hold your wheel and pedals, while also giving you some adjustability and more control, you also will feel more like you’re in a car. Of course, at this still relatively low price point, you’re not going to get too fancy with a rig, so don’t expect any motion—you’ll have to look below for that.

As for steering wheels, we’re big fans of the Thrustmaster TS-XW for our Xbox One. We can only imagine that its PC-only cousin, the Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer, is just as good. The only downside: It’s a workout. The force feedback is so aggressive that you’re going to feel it in your arms with an extended play. You could step up to a direct-drive wheel for even more money, but this Thrustmaster gives you plenty of feedback.

As far as monitors go: If you’re going to get serious about iRacing, you’re probably going to want to jump into a triple monitor set up. You can also opt to go the VR route if you can handle it. But the easiest route is to just jump in front of a single, high-refresh-rate monitor. That means it’s probably worth stepping up to a monitor with either a 144- or 240-hertz refresh rate. And, since you want to show off a little, spending a cool $1000 on this huge monitor from Samsung might be an interesting addition to your rig. Though, for the price of this single monitor, you could probably step up to a three-monitor system.

Your PC? Well, if you’ve got more money: You get more power. This wild rig from iBuyPower should handle your gaming needs for iRacing without breaking much of a sweat.

Budget? You Have a Budget?

You knew we’d get here eventually. Like anything, the only logical end to a gaming rig is to spend as much money as humanly possible without having to add on a wing to your home. That said, it could mean that your kid’s college fund becomes a racing rig.

With all that in mind, it’s hard to beat the rigs coming out of CXC Simulations. Sure, you could probably find a better simulator. Unfortunately, it’s probably at an automaker’s racing facilities, and it cost more than all of the homes on your street. The CXC Motion Pro II gives you as close to the experience of being in a race car as you can have without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. You get the motion that helps your inner ear adjust to your driving.

You can snag one new from CXC Simulations, or you can find older ones on the good ol’ eBay for a significant discount.

Whatever you choose for your iRacing rig, the most important thing is to have fun. And you can always upgrade as time and money allows.