Simucube 3 Ultimate Review Roundup: Is 35 Nm Worth It?
Source video: Dan Suzuki — Best Wheelbase Ever Made? … Or Just Too Expensive? Or Both? | Simucube 3 Ultimate Review.
Short answer
The Simucube 3 Ultimate is a technical reference rather than a value recommendation. Its 35 Nm IPM motor, individual calibration, low heat and five-year warranty target flagship PC cockpits. Most drivers will obtain more value from the Simucube 3 Pro, but the Ultimate offers unusual headroom and consistency when price is secondary.
Evidence and verification scope
This is an editorial analysis based on Dan Suzuki’s hands-on review, the current Simucube documentation and the live TFS product page. Driving impressions belong to Dan Suzuki. Prices, package contents and compatibility were rechecked on 30 July 2026.
Current product data
| Point | Verified current data |
|---|---|
| Price | €3,214.90 without Link; €3,389.80 with Link |
| Core specification | 35 Nm IPM motor; 23-bit absolute sensor; 13 kg; 135 × 135 × 323 mm |
| Connection and platform | Windows PC; Link Hub required; Link Quick Release sold separately |
What changes with the Simucube 3 Ultimate?
The Ultimate sits above the Simucube 3 Sport and Pro with a 35 Nm Direct Drive optimized IPM motor, a 23-bit absolute angle sensor and an individually calibrated control model. The point is not to drive at 35 Nm continuously. The reserve limits clipping, keeps strong peaks controlled and gives the electronics thermal margin.
| Item | Verified current data |
|---|---|
| Current TFS price | €3,214.90 without Link; €3,389.80 with Link |
| Motor and torque | Direct Drive optimized IPM motor, 35 Nm |
| Angle sensor | 23-bit absolute |
| Platform | PC only |
| Required ecosystem | Simucube Link Hub; Link Quick Release required for wheel mounting |
| Availability | Both TFS variants available at the time of checking |
Force feedback: detail without relying on violence
Dan’s central observation is composure. Tyre load, kerb detail and fast countersteer arrive without the grain or mechanical resistance sometimes associated with high-torque bases. He also reports that the housing stays cool in workloads that heat the Pro, with no thermal fade across long sessions.
What 35 Nm actually buys
Torque headroom matters when a profile uses sharp force feedback peaks or when a heavy wheel adds inertia. It does not mean every driver should run maximum torque. A sensible profile keeps steering effort safe while preserving transient detail above the normal operating range.
Link, Quick Release and total cost
One Simucube Link Hub is required. Owners of ActivePedals may already have one; otherwise select the With Link variant. The product listing separately states that the Link Quick Release is required for wheel mounting. Buyers should therefore budget beyond the base price and verify cockpit front/bottom mounting before checkout.
Ultimate versus Pro: diminishing returns
The Ultimate is the rational choice only when the last percentage of response, thermal consistency and build matters more than budget. For most rigs, the Simucube 3 Pro already provides ample torque. The source review reaches the same broad conclusion: the Ultimate may be the best drive experience, but it is deliberately not the value option.
Who should choose it?
Choose it for a flagship PC cockpit where the base must not be the limiting component: heavy GT wheels, high-force profiles, endurance use and repeated hardware testing. Choose the Pro tier if budget can improve the pedals, cockpit or display more meaningfully.
TFS verdict
The Simucube 3 Ultimate is credible as a technical reference, but its value lies in refinement rather than lap time. The strongest buying argument is not 35 Nm on the box; it is stable response, low heat and the absence of obvious compromises under load.
Simucube Link Quick Release for Simucube 3
What the price does and does not include
The Without Link variant does not include the Simucube Link Hub. The With Link variant adds the hub, but the wheel-side Link Quick Release remains a separate purchase in both cases. USB steering wheels can still operate as normal USB devices, but LightBridge is not a generic USB passthrough.
Front and bottom mounting are supported. At 13 kg and 35 Nm, the Ultimate belongs on a rigid aluminium-profile or equivalent cockpit; a light wheel deck can hide the refinement the buyer is paying for.
Practical setup priorities
- Budget the Link Hub and Link Quick Release before comparing totals.
- Check the 135 × 135 × 323 mm envelope and front-mount clearance.
- Start below the maximum torque and preserve safety margins.
- Use Tuner 3.0 profiles, changing one filter at a time.
- Evaluate clipping, heat and fatigue over a full stint rather than one lap.
Strengths and compromises
Strengths
- 35 Nm with substantial clipping headroom
- Cool, quiet IPM motor in the source test
- 23-bit absolute angle sensing and individual calibration
- Five-year warranty and industrial construction
Consider before buying
- €3,214.90 before the complete wheel connection
- Link Hub required and Link Quick Release separate
- PC only
- Diminishing returns over the Pro for most rigs
View the Simucube 3 Ultimate at TFS
Compare both Link variants and account for the required wheel-side connection.
https://thefrenchsimracer.com/en/products/simucube-3-ultimate
FAQ
Does anyone need 35 Nm for Sim Racing?
No. The headroom mainly prevents clipping and preserves peaks; maximum torque should be configured safely.
Is the Link Hub included?
Only the With Link variant includes it. One Link Hub can serve compatible Simucube devices.
Is a Quick Release included?
The current TFS listing states the Link Quick Release required for wheel mounting is sold separately.