The Sim-Lab P1X Pro and the Sim-Lab P1X Ultimate share almost the whole frame: 160x40 side rails of the same 1350 mm length, the same pedal deck, the same three wheelbase mounts and the same 1350 x 580 mm footprint. What changes how you use the cockpit is the pair of uprights that carry your wheelbase - angled on the Pro, straight and slotted along their whole length on the Ultimate. If you plan to bolt a dash, button box or other accessories to the uprights, that decides it. If you don't, both carry the same wheelbase and pedals.
Same frame, three different parts
Most of what you pay for is the same part on both cockpits: two 160x40 side rails of 1350 mm, the 450 mm wide pedal deck (160x40 + 80x40), the front mount, wheel deck and Fanatec DD mount variants, the 1350 x 580 mm footprint (680 mm at the widest point), 770 mm height and a 3-year warranty. Sim-Lab's assembly manuals show where they differ:
| P1X Pro | P1X Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Uprights, 120x40 | angled, 850 mm | straight, fully slotted, 800 mm |
| Upright sandwich plates | left and right part | 2 identical parts |
| Side mount, 80x40 | 650 mm + 320 mm angled | 580 mm + 320 mm |
Angled or straight uprights - the difference that decides
On the P1X Pro the two uprights are 850 mm long and angled. For the Pro, Sim-Lab replaced the universal corner brackets of the original P1X with bespoke sandwich plates and pre-drilled holes, and says assembly got much easier and quicker. The uprights sit between these plates - and on the Pro the left and right plate are different parts: the manual notes the plate is angled and fits only its own side.
The angle has a practical consequence. Move a dash or a button box up or down an angled upright and it also moves forward or back, so its distance to the steering wheel changes and you set it again. On a straight upright, height and reach are independent: you change one without touching the other.
That is what the P1X Ultimate changes. Its two 800 mm uprights are straight and slotted along their whole length, and the two upright sandwich plates are identical. Sim-Lab developed new quad-slot profiles for the Ultimate - four slots on each side - and says openly why: the community liked the P1X Pro but criticised some of its design choices, and many asked for the straight uprights back. The Ultimate manual puts it as the P1X workhorse combined with the design language of the P1X Pro.
So: little or nothing on the uprights, the Pro does the job. A dash, button box or other accessories you want to position freely, take the Ultimate.
Front mount, wheel deck or Fanatec DD mount - chosen by your wheelbase
Both cockpits come in three variants with identical mount parts, and the variant is chosen by your wheelbase, not by taste.
- Front mount holds the wheelbase by its front face, so nothing sits under the base. Sim-Lab says it gives the most leg room and rigidity for direct drive bases with front mounting holes, and names Simucube as the example. Sim-Lab lists the Simucube 3 Sport, Pro and Ultimate and its own DDS TorqueSync for it.
- Wheel deck holds the wheelbase from below and, in Sim-Lab's words, takes virtually any base. The Simagic Alpha EVO goes here - Sim-Lab lists it only for the wheel deck, not for the front mount.
- Fanatec DD mount is the third variant; the bases it takes are in the Compatibility tab of each cockpit.
Still choosing the wheelbase itself? Our guide How to Choose a Direct Drive Wheelbase covers torque, mounting and what the cockpit has to handle.
Pedal deck: 450 mm and three slot-nut sizes
The pedal deck is the same on both: a 160x40 and an 80x40 profile, 450 mm wide, with M5, M6 and M8 slot nuts in the kit for different pedal baseplates. Sim-Lab's pedal list for the P1X has 39 entries. Among them, from what we carry: the Heusinkveld Sprint and Ultimate+, the Simagic P1000, the Simagic P2000 on its baseplate, the Simucube ActivePedal and Sim-Lab's own XP1.
Seat and monitors: plan them with the order
The side mount for a shifter or handbrake is in the box. The seat, the seat brackets and a monitor mount are not.
Seat. The seat goes on the Sim-Lab bucket seat bracket set, also available with a seat slider. The Sparco Grid Q mounts this way.
Monitors. The Sim-Lab Integrated Vario Monitor Mount bolts directly to the cockpit profiles and takes VESA 75x75 and 100x100: one screen up to 43 inches (16:9 and 21:9) or 49 inches (32:9), or three screens up to 32 inches each. The Freestanding Vario stands on its own behind the rig.
Assembly: tools and feet
Both manuals list the same tools: 5 and 6 mm hex keys, a 24 mm wrench, a mallet and a tape measure. The four feet have a threaded ball-joint rod for levelling. Both manuals are linked in the Technical details tab of each cockpit - worth a look before ordering, the bill of materials shows every part.
Frequently asked questions
Is the P1X Ultimate stiffer than the P1X Pro?
Sim-Lab doesn't claim it. Both use 160x40 side rails of the same length, the same pedal deck and the same wheelbase mounts; the difference is the shape and slotting of the uprights.
Can the Simagic Alpha EVO go on the front mount?
No. Sim-Lab lists the Alpha EVO only for the wheel deck, so order the cockpit in the wheel deck variant.
Front mount or wheel deck for a Simucube 3?
Front mount. Sim-Lab lists the Simucube 3 Sport, Pro and Ultimate for both, but says the front mount gives the most leg room and rigidity for bases with front mounting holes, with Simucube as its own example.
Are seat brackets included?
No. The seat, the seat brackets and the optional seat slider are sold separately.
We are an official Sim-Lab reseller and handle warranty claims for you, including shipping to the service. Not sure which variant your wheelbase needs? Write to us before you order and we will confirm it.
What a Return Really Costs: the 14-Day Right of Withdrawal From the Other Side of the Counter