Is it recommended to replace my 5K steering wheel pots with a 100K pots?

[unclet]

I have been reading about connecting potentiometers to the gameport of my computer and everyone recommends to replace the 5K pots on my pedals with 100K ones.   No problem, but I am curious why this seems to be the "norm".

What does 100K pots do for me when hooking up to a computer?

Also, should everything I connect to the gameport which has a potentiometer be replaced with a 100K pots....like my steering wheel assembly as well?

I am not an engineer so I am curious.

Curious,
Thanks

[1UP]

I believe that the 100k pots are used ONLY if you are connecting your arcade controls directly to the gameport (i.e. making your own joystick cable with a 15-pin connector etc) because this is what Windows expects to get from a standard anolog stick.  Gameports are on the way out (and most PCs only have one of them) so it may be better to go with an USB compatible analog gamepad hack.  In this case, most gamepads will allow you to keep the original 5k pots, with hookup wires trailing to the connections where the gamepad pots used to be.

There are other advantages to using a gamepad (ability to use joystick OR mouse mode, additional inputs for buttons, etc).  You can find more info on doing this on my site at http://www.1uparcade.com/project-swyoke.html

[unclet]

Thanks for the information.   I might have to get a Star-Wars yoke now.  

What I am planning is creating a driving control panel addition to my existing Mame cabinet.  This addition will have a Pole Position steering wheel and 2-way shifter, a Spy Hunter steering wheel and a 4-speed shifter and 2 sets of virtua racing gas/brake pedals.    The first set of pedals will be single-axis and the second will be dual-axis.   Everything will be connected through the gameport (except the Pole Position steering wheel which will be a USB mouse hack).   I was going to use the directions stated at http://www.gunpowder.freeserve.co.uk/wheels/wiring.htm

It is funny though, since I was wondering how I could get a Star Wars yoke added into the mix and now I know how..... via USB through your example.

PS: Is there a way to connect my Spy Hunter steering pots wheel, 2 sets of gas/brake pedals and a 4-speed shiter (ie: 4 buttons) through USB?