Which of these Budget Joysticks would you choose?

[rapp25]

Hey guys,

I'm getting really fed up with the loose center and huge dead zone required to play AH on with my Saitek cyborg Evo. Even with a pretty high dead zone the sticks axis can shake and often spike leading to unwanted movements. I've come up with these 3 sticks so far in my price range $50 approx:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-PS3-compatible/dp/B001DMUCAC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725575&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saitek-Cyborg-X-Stick-PC/dp/B001EYU1VO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725575&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaster-Flight-Stick-x-Pc-Market/dp/B000U1OOH4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262726220&sr=1-2

I'm kinda tempted to go for the cyborg as of this moment as ive heard it has better insides with its newish ownership. But the hotas looks interesting whilst the t. flight stick x a risk. Your feedback is welcome guys.

[Dragon]

I like the cyborg, but have no experience with any of the sticks listed.  We use 2 X52's in the house and, for the most part, like Saitek.

[71313]

check eBay for a used x45 or x52

[Spikes]

Neither.
http://saitek.com/uk/prod/st290pro.htm

[gyrene81]

I have the Cyborg X stick...it's pretty good...not stellar like a stick/throttle setup would be. The thing is light...no matter how tight you set the screws the grip feels lose on the stick...the buttons are fast...it is a bit quirky at times but not uncontrollable.

[stran]

I have the cyborg x. A budget joystick is just that. If youre not happy with your current stick then spend some money and get a real upgrade.

[rapp25]

I'm gonna go with the Cyborg X guys. Thanks for the replies.

[lulu]

 

i will try thrustmaster t16000m.

on youtube u can find some joystick reviews.

 

[38ruk]

I just got a T1600m for 28 bucks shipped on buy.com. Figured it was so cheap that if i didn't like it I could throw it away. lol

[H4rdpoint]

Saitek works amazing for me, Cyborg-X improved my accuracy and made the game 10 times more enjoyable. 

[rapp25]

Well guys after using the stick for maybe 1 month or so AH only and I would say normal or average usage the z-rotation is playing up or yuou could simply call itrudder spiking. It now wont allow itself to be installed correctly so I am gonna rma this and maybe try that hotas unless Im stuck with another one of thse.

I found the cyborg X a bit uncomfortable even with the elaborate adjustments. It did help my aim somewhat though as it was prescise but just a bit cheap overall.

[ink]

Ya I recently picked up the cyborg X, The 52 had massive center play, That is gone now, I am still using the 52's throttle, I am using the throttle on the cyborg as RPM and brakes, the stick is OK at best, but way better then the worn out 52 I had.
 when I can afford it I am picking up the CH fighter stick.

[skopro]

i would suggest trying the t.16000m or go with something older like a Microsoft precision 2 .. i have one and have used it everyday extensively since 2004, still going strong and it doesn't spike at all, have 2 more in storage if anything happens   

[Krusty]

I've got a precision pro and it shows some of the loose center behavior he said he hated about his current stick.

To be fair, though, it's not so much a sensor issue, as the mechanism that moves the stick around (no pots on my stick, all optical -- but the motion isn't the best)


EDIT: I'd advocate the stick in general, but I wanted to say it's probably not for this person, since he was griping about the one major flaw in the stick.

[Krusty]

Small edit note: I actually have a "Sidewinder 3D Pro Plus", not a Sidewinder Precision Pro. Some Sidewinders (USB capable ones) have pots in them, mine does not. Apparently there's a lot more variation than I thought. I've been doing some reading on it, and it's enlightening.