Sim Lab P1X Ultimate Review: Thoughtful Design and Maximum Stability

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The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate is regarded by many sim racers as the absolute best when it comes to sim racing cockpits. An end station of sorts. Sim Lab has that reputation for a reason: the brand has long been known for superior build quality, clever simplicity and a well thought-out modular system that grows with you. But precisely with such status comes a critical question: does this new P1X Ultimate that promise actually come true?

I have been driving an older-generation Sim Lab P1X for years and know that cockpit inside out. Its stability is so high that many sim racers probably never reach the limit. The revamped P1X Ultimate opts not for small steps, but for maximum reserve. More material, more mass and, above all, more structural rest. Not to impress, but to remain neutral in all conditions. Whether you ride with a heavy direct drive wheelbase, hydraulic pedals or a motion setup: the basics must be immovable.

In this review, I look not only at what Sim Lab promises, but especially at what you notice in practice. When does the P1X Ultimate really add something? When is it mostly theoretical overkill? And when is the regular Sim Lab P1X cockpit - which I have previously extensivelyreviewd - perhaps more than enough already? Let's find out!

Independent and fair judgement

Sim Lab sent the P1X Ultimate for extensive testing. This review is based on my own experience and is independent of external influence. I think it is important to remain critical and honest, precisely because that helps manufacturers better tailor their products to what sim racers actually need. An objective and critical eye is what is needed.

What makes the P1X Ultimate different from the regular P1X?

To properly understand this review, context is essential. The standard Sim Lab P1X has been a benchmark for years. I have used that cockpit extensively with heavy hardware and never felt I was structurally lacking anything.

The Ultimate is not a replacement for the P1X, but rather a deepening one. Important to mention right away: you are not buying a ‘different riding experience’ here in the classic sense. You are buying security, toughness and durability.

This is a cockpit that you basically buy once and then forget about. The investment is higher, but in return you get a future-proof platform where you won't easily run into technical or structural limits.

The differences are not in design or philosophy, but in scale and capacity. The profiles, for example, are heavier and the structure is designed with a clear focus on torsional rigidity under extreme loads. Not only straight ahead, but also under lateral forces, such as short and sharp forces from multiple directions that then arise. You notice this especially with load-bearing 6DOF motion platforms, for example.

What does the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate cost?

The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate clearly positions itself in the high-end segment, and this is reflected in the price structure. The basic cockpit starts at €999. That gives you an extremely solid foundation, but in practice it rarely stops there.

If you opt for an integrated monitor solution, the price rises further. With a single integrated monitor mount, the total price comes to €1188, while the integrated Vario triple monitor mount brings the cockpit to €1298.

For a complete seating position, you should additionally consider additional costs. The Sim Lab Speed 1 seat costs €459. Its montage requires a bucket seat bracket and seat slider, together good for €78.

If you prefer to work with a freestanding monitor setup, Sim Lab also offers freestanding solutions. The single freestanding Vario monitor mount costs €279, while the freestanding Vario triple monitor mount is €429.

With that, the conclusion is inevitable: yes, the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate is a serious investment. And fair is fair, this amount comes on top of the cost of your sim racing hardware.

Total cost per configuration

To make it concrete, these are the total costs for two commonly chosen configurations, excluding sim racing hardware:

Single monitor setup (integrated):

• P1X Ultimate base: €999
• Integrated single monitor mount: €189
• Sim Lab Speed 1 chair: €459
• Seat brackets + seat slider: €78 
• Total: €1,725

Triple monitor setup (integrated):

• P1X Ultimate base: €999
• Integrated Vario triple monitor mount: €299
• Sim Lab Speed 1 chair: €459
• Seat brackets + seat slider: €78 
• Total: €1,835

If you choose a Freestanding Vario Monitor stand instead of an integrated solution, the total cost is €90 to €130 lower or higher, respectively, depending on single or triple.

Is the P1X Ultimate worth the money?

It depends entirely on your ambitions. If you are looking for a cockpit that you buy now and will still have no restrictions in five years' time, then the P1X Ultimate is worth the money. Not because it is more comfortable, but because it structurally holds nothing back.

For those riding with heavy direct drive wheelbases, load cell or hydraulic pedals and possible motion, this is a rational investment. If you use a lighter setup and have no expansion plans, the regular P1X offers a better price-performance ratio.

The P1X Ultimate is not an emotional purchase. It is a conscious choice for long-term security and peace of mind.

Configuration in three steps

You easily configure the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate based on your own hardware and preferences. The configuration process is straightforward and consists of three logical choices.

Step 1: choose your wheel mount

As standard, the P1X Ultimate comes with a front mount, compatible with, among others Simucube 2 Sport, Pro and Ultimate, as well as Simagic Alpha Mini and Alpha DD. If you use a Fanatec wheelbase or any other system, you choose a wheeldeck or Fanatec DD mount at no extra cost. That flexibility at no extra cost fits well with the modular nature of the P1X Ultimate and feels like an honest, forward-thinking approach.

Step 2: choose your monitor mount

You can extend the cockpit with an integrated single or triple monitor mount. In my setup, I use the Freestanding Vario single monitor mount for my MSI MPG 49” ultrawide, an option that costs an extra €279. Do you have a triple monitor setup? Then choose either the integrated Vario triple mount or the freestanding Vario Triple Monitor mount. What's nice: both systems are sturdy, well thought-out and easy to adjust or upgrade later. So you don't have to fix everything at once.

Step 3: choose your seat and attachment

A cockpit stands or falls with a good seat. In my current setup, I use a new and personalised Sim Lab Speed 1 fitted with SimRacingHub.nl branding. Again, I chose this seat, given my positive experience of my blue Speed 1 that I use in my P1X cockpit.

This chair offers a good balance between ergonomics, comfort and price. When putting it together, don't forget to include seat brackets and a seat slider. Prefer a different chair? Then also check out our top 5 sim racing seats.

Unboxing and first impression

Delivery of the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate was quick and hassle-free via DPD. The cockpit was delivered in several large boxes, including the P1X Ultimate itself, the external monitor mount, some accessories, the XP1 pedals AND my own custom branded ‘SimRacingHub.nl’ Sim Lab Speed 1 bucket seat!

When unpacking, you immediately notice how carefully everything is packed. Profiles are individually protected and all fasteners are logically sorted and labelled. Nothing rattles or slides. The first impression is familiar from my experience with Sim Lab and convincing: heavy, tightly finished profiles with a robust coating clearly designed for intensive use.

What's in the box?

The standard delivery of the P1X Ultimate includes:

• Aluminium profiles and fixing material
• Wheel deck mount or front/side mount
• Brackets for front-mounted wheelbases
• Adjustable pedal deck
• Side mounts for accessories
• Bolts for chairmontage
• Adjustable feet

Everything needed to build a complete cockpit is included. Depending on your setup, the P1X Ultimate can be expanded with the options below. This allows the cockpit to be completely modular, from basic rig to complete high-end sim racing cockpit.

• Integrated single monitor mount
• Integrated triple monitor mount
• Chair
• Seat brackets and seat slider

Sim Lab P1X Ultimate sim racing cockpit

Before we start building, let's briefly discuss the main features of the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate. The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate builds on more than a decade of experience with aluminium sim racing cockpits. The new P1X Ultimate has been developed as a benchmark within high-end sim racing. To me, it feels like the sum of everything Sim Lab has learned over the past few years. And you can tell by the details. This is clearly a cockpit created from use, not from a drawing board with sales targets.

While building and tuning, I continuously got the feeling that thought has been given to how people really use their rig. Not one fixed configuration, but numerous possible setups. That makes the P1X Ultimate a mature further development of a concept that has long proven itself.

Community-driven development

Sim Lab explicitly listened to feedback from the community when developing the P1X Ultimate. Whereas previous variants could sometimes be restrictive in mon1TP15Freedom, a conscious decision was made here to use fully slotted profiles and a classic upright design.

This translates directly into more flexibility when fitting accessories such as dashboards, button boxes, shifters and motion hardware. The cockpit adapts to your setup, and not the other way around.

The fully slotted profiles and upright design give noticeably more freedom than on the regular P1X. You no longer have to puzzle or make concessions when mounting accessories such as dashboards, button boxes, shifters or other hardware. The cockpit follows your choices, not the other way around. This gives you much more flexibility in building your dream setup. A good and thoughtful choice. Want maximum freedom without making concessions? Then opt for the P1X Ultimate.

Maximum flexibility and rigidity

The P1X Ultimate uses specially developed quad-slot aluminium profiles. With four slots per side, it allows maximum freedom for montage, positioning and fine adjustment. This design combines two key features: high structural rigidity even under heavy and prolonged loads and maximum practicality without additional adapters or customisation. For sim racers who regularly modify or expand their rig, this is a clear and tangible advantage.

Straight uprights for better compatibility

A deliberate design choice is the return of straight uprights. This classic layout was a common desire within the Sim Lab community.

The straight uprights ensure better compatibility with accessories, easier and more accurate alignment of handlebars, display and dashboards, and a calmer, more functional overall appearance. In practice, this works noticeably more pleasantly, especially with more complex and heavier setups.

Mon1TP15Easy

Although the P1X Ultimate is clearly aimed at the high-end segment, the montage is surprisingly accessible and simple. In doing so, Sim Lab has visibly learned from previous generations of cockpits. Thanks to pre-drilled holes, sandwich plates and optimised brackets, an extremely rigid construction is created without unnecessary searching or improvisation. The result is a cockpit that is technically sophisticated, but builds logically and predictably.

Flexible configuration

The P1X Ultimate offers multiple options for wheel montage, depending on your preference and hardware used. Think front mount, wheel deck or Fanatec DD mount. This flexibility makes the cockpit suitable for almost all common direct drive wheelbases, without locking you to one specific ecosystem.

Perfectly balanced in terms of design and finish

The cockpit comes in a black finish that perfectly matches the P1X Ultimate's character. The design is clean, functional and deliberately understated. No striking shapes or superfluous details, but a clear focus on calm and coherence. Precisely because of this, the cockpit looks timeless and professional in almost any sim room. This is a good example of ‘less is more’ in practice.

What makes the design extra strong for me are the subtle Sim Lab stickers. They are small, neatly placed and never dominant. Just enough to let the brand speak for itself without drawing attention to itself!

“The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate does not try to impress - it disappears completely into the background, leaving only peace, control and confidence. This cockpit is perfectly balanced in terms of design and functionality.”

It is roomy enough to accommodate taller riders, large pedal sets and motion extensions, while remaining compact enough to remain practical. Even in a smaller space, the P1X Ultimate does not feel bulky or overly present, but rather sleek and balanced, without taking up unnecessary floor space.

Adjustable rubber feet

One of the subtle but surprisingly valuable improvements of this new generation are the adjustable rubber feet. They literally give the cockpit a slightly ‘floating’ character and contribute greatly to the clean, modern look of the P1X Ultimate.

The feet are large in design and immediately feel solid. Adjustment is easy and precise, so the cockpit is not only perfectly level, but also feels solid and stable. This is one of those details you only really appreciate when you use it.

Because the cockpit is slightly elevated, getting in and out also becomes noticeably more pleasant. This may sound trivial, but in practice it makes a big difference. For me personally, this is one of the most beautiful and thoughtful details of the redesign.

It feels great to just quickly step into this cockpit for a short race or test stint. Something that is significantly more cumbersome and less obvious with my triple monitor setup. It is precisely these kinds of small design choices that make the P1X Ultimate not only technically strong, but also comfortable in daily use.

The building process of the P1X Ultimate

A Sim Lab P1X Ultimate is not a plug-and-play cockpit that you set up in an hour. This is a rig for which you have to consciously set aside time. Personally, I actually see that as a plus. The build itself is surprisingly pleasant and straightforward.

The process is clearly simplified compared to my older P1X and feels familiar if you've worked with Sim Lab before. Everything fits together logically, without frustration or improvisation, making the build satisfying rather than difficult.

Construction and montageprocess: part of the experience

For me, building your own sim racing cockpit is an essential part of the experience. It requires attention, precision and planning. During the build, I noticed again how well thought-out the system is. Everything fits, nothing feels forced and tolerances are high. At the same time, the size and weight of the profiles force you to work neatly. You see and feel small deviations immediately.

My advice is to build the frame completely loose first and only at a later stage fix everything permanently. Use a spirit level, check angles and take your time to align everything straight and symmetrically. Those who do so will be rewarded with a cockpit that feels like one solid whole.

The cockpit itself stands relatively quickly, but don't underestimate the montage. Most of the time wasted is not in building the frame, but in sorting and finding the right fasteners . You simply receive a lot of them. This makes sense with a modular system like this, but can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Also, don't underestimate how much time it takes - once the cockpit is in place - to assemble, connect and finish all the hardware.

What I personally really appreciate is the satisfaction of the building process. The moment when the frame stands, everything is tightly aligned and you realise that this will be the basis of your full setup, remains special. For me, this is as much a part of sim racing as the riding itself.

Finishing: high level with minor notes

Overall, the finish of the P1X Ultimate is at the level I am used to from Sim Lab: sleek, solid and professional. However, I did notice with the external monitor mount that the paintwork showed minor imperfections here and there, such as slight bumps and a few minimal dents.

Everything was well packed, so this kind of thing can happen in theory, but ideally it should not pass quality control. By the way, it is not disturbing and in daily use it is hardly noticeable.

Stoelmontage: the least fun, but known pain point

The part that causes the most frustration with me - and frankly with almost every rig I have ever built - is fitting the seat to the mounting brackets and seat slider. Again, with the P1X Ultimate, this constitutes the least enjoyable part of the process. Despite my experience, this remains a precise and time-consuming job, where small deviations are immediately noticeable. This is not so much due to Sim Lab, but to the nature of seat montage within aluminium profile cockpits.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate excels in absolute stability and modularity. Combined with motion and high-end hardware, this forms an extremely solid foundation that completely fades into the background while driving. The finish is high-quality and the platform is clearly built with maximum future-proofing in mind.

At the same time, this cockpit requires a hefty investment and is simply more than necessary for many sim racers. Minor imperfections in the finish may occur, but do little to detract from the overall look. This makes the P1X Ultimate primarily a rational choice for those who consciously opt for over-capacity and security.

My personal experience

I have been using the P1X Ultimate for a few months now in my new sim racing room. I'm pretty down-to-earth when it comes to hardware. I don't easily get carried away by specifications or marketing claims, especially when it comes to cockpits. In the end, only one thing counts: what do you notice while driving such a rig? This is precisely why the P1X Ultimate positively surprised me, not by spectacle, but by consistency, simplicity and stability.

What struck me from the start is the calmness this cockpit brings. While riding, it completely disappears into the background. Not once did I feel that the frame is moving along, absorbing anything or sending back feedback that shouldn't be there. That may sound logical on paper, but in practice it's rarer than many manufacturers suggest.

“Perhaps the greatest quality of this cockpit is that you forget about it. That sounds boring, but to me that's exactly what a high-end rig should do.”

I deliberately drove with high torque settings and firm brake pressure, precisely to see where the limit lies. I simply haven't found that limit (yet). Not in short, aggressive stints, but also not in longer sessions where heat, vibration and fatigue come into play. The cockpit continues to feel exactly the same, lap after lap. Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to test this cockpit with motion. This is something I will no doubt test in the future. I will share my experience accordingly.

What I personally find strong is that this stability does not feel forced or excessive. The P1X Ultimate does exactly what it is supposed to do and nothing more. That creates confidence. You dare to brake harder, steer sharper and drive more consistently, not because you are getting faster, but because you no longer have doubts or hear annoying creaks or squeaks.

At the same time, I also want to be honest here. Without motion and without extremely heavy hardware, the difference with the regular P1X is smaller in practice than some people might expect. The standard Sim Lab P1X Pro is already exceptionally good, as in my extended review can be read back. The added value of the Ultimate is mainly in reserve, security and future-proofing. That makes it a rational choice, not an emotional one.

Even outside driving, you notice that this is a mature product. Adjustments are retained, nothing works loose and no rattle or resonance develops over time. These are not spectacular features, but they are exactly the things that make the difference in the long run. And of course you have to retighten the bolts every now and then, but that's a piece of cake. You should do this especially in the first few weeks, because that's when everything ‘works’ a bit.

“You have to ask yourself whether you need this level of excess capacity - not whether it is impressive.”

If I have to be critical, the criticism is not in performance, but in necessity. This is not a cockpit that everyone needs. You have to honestly ask yourself if you actually use this level of excess capacity. If you do, then the P1X Ultimate is one of the most solid choices you can make. If you don't, then the regular P1X remains a particularly strong and perhaps more logical option that is certainly not much inferior to the Ultimate.

My experience in summary: the Sim Lab P1X Ultimate doesn't make sim racing more spectacular, but it does make it calmer, more consistent and more reliable. And the longer you drive, the more you come to appreciate that.

Conclusion Sim Lab P1X Ultimate

The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate won me over not by spectacle, but by maturity. Everything about this cockpit exudes control, calm and certainty. While driving, it disappears completely into the background: no flex, no side noises and no doubts about structural limits. What you feel comes straight from the simulator and the hardware - exactly as it should.

Objectively, this is an exceptionally well thought-out and high-quality cockpit. The unique, heavy-duty profiles form the technical basis, but it is the details that set the P1X Ultimate apart. The design is beautiful in its simplicity: sleek, functional and without unnecessary frills. The subtle Sim Lab branding, high-quality washers and consistent finish ensure that this cockpit not only impresses technically, but also visually.

The construction process underlines that same feeling. Everything feels logical, thoughtful and exactly as you would expect in this segment. You are not building a collection of parts, but a cohesive whole that exudes confidence, peace and quality. In terms of design, choice of materials and finish, the P1X Ultimate is undoubtedly among the absolute best of what is currently available.

“Every time I see the rig, it feels finished. No loose elements, no visual clutter. Everything is right - and that makes it surprisingly pleasant to look at.”

At the same time, you have to remain critical. For many sim racers, the P1X Ultimate is more than necessary. Without motion or extremely heavy hardware, the regular Sim Lab P1X already offers a very similar driving feel in practice. The added value of the Ultimate is not in speed or thrills, but in security, reserve and future-proofing.

What really sets this cockpit apart is its modularity. The P1X Ultimate grows effortlessly with your ambitions, hardware and riding style. That makes it not an impulsive upgrade, but a one-off investment you won't have to look back on for years.

“This is not a cockpit you buy to upgrade. This is a cockpit you buy to stop right there.”

With the revamped P1X Ultimate, Sim Lab has once again raised the bar - in a size and quality level that they basically created themselves. This cockpit proves once again why Sim Lab has been seen as the absolute benchmark within the high-end segment for years. And fair is fair: that is completely justified.

TL;DR

The Sim Lab P1X Ultimate combines unique, heavy-duty profiles with a sublime finish and a thoughtful, enjoyable build process. With extreme stability, full modularity and support for motion and high-end hardware, this is a cockpit you buy once and then never have to replace. For most sim racers, the regular P1X will suffice, but those looking for absolute security and maximum future-proofing will definitely be right with the Ultimate.

The final result

Curious about the final result? Check out my recent sim racing rig tour, where you can see both setups in detail and make a good comparison of the differences.

Frequently asked questions