Why High Torque (Nm) Matters in Sim Racing

When shopping for a sim racing Direct Drive Base, one of the most discussed specifications is torque, measured in Newton-meters (Nm). Does high Nm matter? The short answer is yes, but not for the reason most people think.

To understand why, it helps to use make a comparison to audio loudspeakers.

Nm refers to the torque (rotational force) a motor can produce. This translates to stronger resistance in corners, faster rotational acceleration, and more punchy vibration effects.

Buying a high torque Base is not about constantly running extreme forces. If your settings are wrong, this is exaggerated on a high torque base and you'll have an unrealistic and potentially uncontrollable experience. But set up correctly, and you'll enjoy better nuanced effects and fine details, not just heavier steering.

Imagine two audio systems:

Low-End Speakers

Cheap speakers with low wattage can sound acceptable at low volumes. But when you turn it up, the speakers begin to distort. The sound becomes muddy, details disappear, and everything feels compressed, or worse.

This is exactly what happens with a low Nm Base:

• Light steering forces feel fine
• Strong effects don't feel that different and therefore have no impact
• Details become lost or 'muddy'

High-End Speakers

Now imagine professional studio speakers. Even at moderate volume, they sound cleaner, tighter, and more detailed. Loud moments don’t cause distortion because the speakers have plenty of headroom.

A high Nm Base has similar advantages:

• Small forces (tire slip, road texture, weight transfer) feel precise
• Large forces are delivered effortlessly
• Dynamic range allows a cleaner picture of the force feedback signal to reach the driver's hands.

In music, dynamic range is the difference between the quietest and loudest sounds. In sim racing, it’s the difference between:

• Subtle tire scrub
• Progressive steering load
• Sudden oversteer snaps
• High-speed aerodynamic forces

A Fanatec Direct Drive Base can present the simulation's force feedback signal in a clean and dynamic manner. The more torque you choose, the more dynamic and clearer the information will be.

Professional sim racers and enthusiasts choose high Nm for the same reason audio engineers use powerful speakers:

• Greater detail resolution
• Consistent delivery
• Large dynamic range

And as with speakers and the headline wattage figure, the Nm value only tells part of the story. Not all speakers and Direct Drive Bases are built the same. Fine tuning the overall force feedback delivery is achieved through years of developing force feedback devices for sim racing.

Fanatec has been producing sim racing equipment for over 25 years, and this knowledge plays an important part in delivering product that feels good straight out of the box.