Thoughts on Le Mans Ultimate

I almost know the answer myself but is there a time trial mode in this game?

 

No, not atm.

 

Unfortunately, I'm rather disappointed with Le Mans. But mainly because of the FFB and physics. Unfortunately it is the same as rf2 and is not suitable for high real forces (10-12Nm). Explosive FFB rashes in many situations are an immersion killer for me and not acceptable for a new simulation. For me at the moment it can only be driven with compromises (significantly reduce forces and set a lot of filters on the base). In the end, as with any simulation, it's a matter of personal taste

 

If you are referring to FFB spikes / abrupt movements, there are ways to tame them. It's quite easy when using a SimuCube2 wheel but, I can't speak for users with other wheels. Worse case scenario requires controller-json editing but, haven't confirmed that with LMU.

I've been able to get LMU ffb very close to that of rF2 now. The racing in LMU has been quite intense and rewarding for me since it landed, and it helps pass the time while waiting for AMS2 updates.

 

Yes, I know that I can tame it with the Truedrive filters from SC2, but I cannot eliminate it and this results in other undesirable effects. Yes, unfortunately in the end it will only be via the JSON. It will be possible to find reasonable settings in the file if this option is available in the future. But it's not important to me because Le Mans doesn't offer me enough choice of cars. Too boring for me personally

 

It appears that the options to edit some json files may be limited in LMU. I have no issues using TrueDrive Slew Rate to limit bump / impact effects. rF2 requires extra filtering too, even more than LMU does.

I've read that despite player requests to bring back more audio settings, dev's responded with "it won't happen". It may be a one-size-fits-all approach to settings in order to simplify things in the UI, reduce overall complexity, troubleshooting and technical support issues.

When it comes to FFB options, we are probably spoiled rotten for AMS2 ffb.

 

Yes, I don't think there will be much more to come from the game developer on this matter. With Ams2, the physics and tire physics will improve even further, I am convinced. For me that also means constant improvement

 

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Has anyone tried this game with a modest setup?

I hear people saying left and right that this game is heavy on hardware and that you have to tweak a lot of options if you intend to play it on an average PC.
I'm really interested in buying it to play +30 cars endurace racing, but I'm worried about buying it and not being able to enjoy it because of my hardware.

I have an i5 7600K, GTX 1060 6GB, 16 GB RAM and an M2 SSD just for games. My resolution is 2560x1080 (1080p ultrawide).
I run AMS2 on a medium-low setting since in this game I want stable 60fps even with rain on night. But I bought ACC recently and I had a lot of trouble to make it working in stable 60fps. Even the low settings were not enough, had to tweak a bit more.

 

From what I see from the ATI Adrenaline Overlay, the game is heavy on RAM and VRAM.
RAM usage is always above 16GB (I got 32GB) and VRAM is often around 10GB, especially with a larger field if cars.
But, if you read the official forum, there are some people with low-end systems that report the game is running fine, while some high-end system users report problems. So I would recommend to try it!

 

I can't give a specific feedback with comparable prerequesites but there are a lot of options to balance visuals and performance.

According S397 infos:

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 10 or 11
• Processor: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD FX-8120
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: nVidia GeForce GTX 950 (4GB) or AMD Radeon RX 470
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
• Additional Notes: To run on minimal settings at 1080p

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10 or 11
• Processor: Intel Core i5-9600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB, Radeon RX 580 8GB
• DirectX: Version 11
• Storage: 30 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
• Additional Notes: To run on default settings at 1080p

Most exessive is when you run Le Mans with 62 cars, 61 ai. Online it's way less of a performance killer. From my experience it performs really well compared to ACC and also well to AMS2. I had some trouble with stutters in the beginning, but it seems that the hotfixes had some positive impact on how I can enjoy it and I changed 1 detail in the player file.

But as Siggi recommended, give it a try, reduce the grafic options and run Le Mans. Night and rain to see the game under heavy pressure and to figure out if you can play it under serious conditions.

 

Le Mans Ultimate runs essentially without issue and looks really good on my PC (see specs below). This should hardly be surprising given its, ahem, close kinship with rF2. Narrowing the scope of content to a single series and focusing their efforts within such constraints was the only way for Studio 397 to realistically salvage the best parts of rF2--as well as their parent company's reputation.

More importantly, Le Mans Ultimate has provided the opportunity to compare driving impressions between the latest iteration of Studio 397 content (i.e., LMU) with the same content available in AMS2. My verdict? Sorry trolls and fanatical, single-title fanboys: the comparison between sims is, in fact, favorable to both parties....

AMS2 V1.5.5.6
Logitech G25 w/GTEYE Spring Set
Default FFB profile with Reiza recommended LFB & Damping settings (i.e., 75/60/50).
All head movement sliders set to zero and legacy head movement engaged (re: no triples or VR, just a 27" single screen)

Note: I have used these 75/60/50 settings for a long, long time in AMS2, regardless of whether I use the Default or Default+ FFB profile. Reiza originally recommended 100 Gain back in V1.4; I settled on 75 long ago for my G25 based on the HUD FFB clipping graph. I opted for the Default FFB profile for this particular comparison, as it provided a driving feel the most similar to rF2 (at least with a gear-driven G25).

Le Mans Ultimate with Hotfix #4
Logitech G25 w/GTEYE Spring Set
In-game G25 profile loaded with all default values, with 2.5% minimum force added.
Head movement sliders all zeroed, except head physics at 10%; head vibration: Off

With these "as close as I can match them" in-game settings, either the Corvette C8.R or Porsche RSR GTE drive essentially the same--and acceptably so--across both sims at Spa, or Monza, or Le Mans. At the very least, the "AMS2 has simcade physics" is an utterly--utterly--DOA argument ... unless we describe essentially all modern sims as simcade. Moreover, this array of settings across sims arguably permits valid comparison of changes to identical car setups within AMS2 and LMU, although that will take a bit more additional testing before arriving at further conclusions.

 

I haven't had such issues with rF2/LMU on my 21nm base. I don't use any filters either, it's almost as raw as it gets. Only thing I adjust is the car specific FFB strength (rF2/LMU) and add just a bit of smoothing in game depending on car (on rF2) and it's great. Can't really agree on the claim that it wouldn't be suitable for higher force bases.

I agree, the FFB matter of taste but I also think it's about getting used to different FFB. I think Aris (ex-Kunos) said it correctly, that FFB is a bit like language and each one needs just drive a lot and learn/get used to it (without changing anything). For some, it might "click" immediately, but even if it doesn't, it might after driving enough.

FFB in LMU is not always exactly the same as in rF2 though, even the devs have aknowledged that there might be some issues after that come from either updated tires or from some other changes related to FFB they did for LMU. I personally find the GTE Ferrari especially quite dampened and numb. The devs have said that it might be lack of some initial tire scrub feeling at the center.

 

Not using filters in RF2 or LMU (original version) with high performance base is suicide. There are physical rules that apply in reality and, in my opinion, should also apply in a simulation. If you don't use filters you will end up with a spinning wheel (helicopter simulation is a different matter) or extreme FFB deflections. In real life, I don't buy a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for 400,000 euros so that the seller can then tell me... I'm sorry, but you can't take your hands off the steering wheel for a second and there are always bumps on the steering wheel. They would laugh at him and return the car immediately. Sorry, but I may have different requirements and expectations for a simulation than you. Sure, if you don't mind it and you enjoy it, it's okay, to each their own. As I said, I don't enjoy it, or rather I don't enjoy it anymore since I've been traveling with dd bases

 

Just 2 short questions:
1. How much does the complete LMU fill on the HD?
2. Does LMU use the goofy folder system from rF2 where all tracks and cars are downloaded twice to fill the workshop up with redundant files?

Possibility to save disk space by moving workshop folder

 

This is interesting for me. I use a Moza R9 Wheelbase and I don‘t have found a setting for AMS2, both within the base and the game, so that my wheel is not oscillating. I can‘t let go of the steering wheel while driving for a split second, it is going wild right away.
In LMU I don‘t have this problem, the wheel is not oscillating at all. It‘s the same in ACC by the way, I only have this problem in AMS2.

 

The more dynamic range (Nm) you have on a base, the worse the vibrations will be if you don't use filters in rf2 or Le Mans. The less power your base has, the better for rf2 and Le Mans. Or no FFB at all then rf2 and Le Mans have the advantage as I recommended to Bruno. In Ams2 I recommend you use Default (much better than Default+ because of vibrations) or a custom file to avoid this problem

 

I honestly don't have any such issues with rF2, no oscillations issues or too strong effects. It's raw for sure, but it's more gentle on my hands that AMS2 is usually with it's default/default+ FFB (and some customs too). I have zero filters wheelbase side.

So it's definitely then different with different bases or something is off with your configuration ... or we just experience these things differently. There is the setting to set you base nm there and the game scales the ffb to it. I have the FFB set at 100% in my wheelbase side, 50% in game (overal strenght) and car specific at 40-70%, so I'm definitely not using much of the max strength, but I there is still pretty good resistance and fidelity.

I have been driving hours on Sebring with the LMP2 for the few days without any issues with the FFB being too strong with that super bumpy track. Of course there is vibrations, especially on the the last/first sector part, buy I don't even notice it much (and need to feel the surface well there to stay alive lap after lap).

 

I dont have any oscilations in LMU. With a 15 nm base, using smooth filter both in base and ingame settings. The ffb is good. But in AMS2 the oscilations are heavy in any setting I try, and there is something true about the dinamic range but in AMS2, and is the fact that when you use high value in nm in your DD, the oscilations became heavier and brutal.
Thats not happens in LMU, rf2 or ACC. Also, in LFU the dinamic range scale correctly.