Asetek Forte vs. Invicta: Which Line Should You Choose?

At Asetek, above the entry-level Initium and La Prima lines, the high-end segment is split between Forte—in the middle of the lineup—and Invicta, which sits at the top. At full price, a complete Invicta configuration costs just over €820 more than its Forte equivalent. As a result, as soon as a gamer wants to build a serious setup from the Danish manufacturer, they wonder if the Invicta is really worth the extra cost.

In the complete setups sold by Asetek, only two parts change, since the brand uses the same steering wheel—the Forte Formula—in both. The base torque increases from 18 to 27 Nm, and the pedal system switches from a load-cell brake to a hydraulic pressure-sensing brake, the T.H.O.R.P. II.

For most drivers, the Forte line is more than enough, and the 27 Nm Invicta base model is rarely necessary. Its hydraulic base, on the other hand, is worth a closer look, especially since Asetek allows it to be mounted on a Forte base and the current discounted bundles change the equation.

Two parts are different; the rest is the same

Both bases use the same 22-bit encoder, capable of tracking approximately 4 million positions over a full rotation, and share the quick-release mechanism, the 400-watt power supply, the five-port USB-C hub located behind the base, and the RaceHub software. As for the pedal assembly, in both cases the brake can handle up to 180 kg on the plate, and the throttle uses the same 16-bit contactless Hall sensor.

All of the brand’s steering wheels can be mounted on both bases; the Invicta Formula requires an adapter, allowing you to customize your setup by mixing and matching the two product lines. Another thing they have in common is that both product lines work exclusively on PCs running Windows and are therefore not suitable for console gamers.

27 Nm—a margin that few drivers will ever push to the limit

On paper, the Invicta clearly dominates, with 27 Nm versus 18 and a torque slew rate of 9.4 Nm/ms versus 6.7. So it has more torque and delivers it faster, but with the same encoder, it isn’t any more precise. The extra torque mainly serves to delay clipping—that point where the base reaches its maximum and begins to clip the peaks of the signal sent by the game.

At 18 Nm, this point comes on rather late, and with the same settings, I doubt most drivers would notice a difference between the two bases while behind the wheel. In fact, Asetek recommends the Forte to those who are on the fence. The extra 9 Nm really benefits…