Buying VR used?

End Creditz

End Creditz

End Creditz

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I'm after a used VR headset, that can handle my glasses (maybe get prescriptions for the headset at a later date) with a budget of £100 at a push. I'll be using it with a PC, I don't own a Playstation, and really just want to get a feel for it all now before investing a months rent in something more recent.

So which of the older units would now be considered an absolute bargain second hand? I'm wanting to game, sword n scorcery type first person, Skyrim VR, and some flight/racing sim stuff.


Edt: The budget has a little bit of movement, but after beginning this deep dive into what's available, what's end of life, what other upgrades I need around the home, this PC etc. I'm going for a something in something out methodology. So I'm now open to considering a monthly (0% interest) option. I've not pulled the trigger on anything yet, I've seen a HTC Vive (whole kit) for £100, and plenty of Quest 2, and a box of Rift headsets at £35 a pop :rolleyes:

I've checked out the Reverb 2, Pico stuff, but it's looking like the Quest 3 (not the S) will be the winner (even seen one of those for £120 (128gb) no controllers). Just doing the math, and working out what stuff I should really fix and sell to fund it :D
 
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LostCorpse said:
a quest 3 128gb would be my first suggestion - better lens's
followed but quest 2 - but my understanding is the lenses aren as good. is around the price point you want.
Click to expand...


Would a quest 3 be overall preferred to that of the Pico 4, no advantages to that Pico model..? I have some memories of their announcement of the Pico 4, being hopeful that it would be a decent contender for the Q3, guessing not.
 
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i havent used a Pico 4 but they are using the same lens as a quest 3.

the software eco system is more well established in Meta and has better growth potential but it wont really be a consern in this instance give what you want to do.

for straight up PCVR either should work, and both have Virtual Desktop the main tool most people use, it can support ethernet instead of just wifi.
with Meta you get Meta Link / SteamLink / Virtual Desktop / ALVR and a few others.
im not so sure on Pico.

the down side to meta... is their software updates dont get the love they need before deployment.
so depending on how you setup (i.ee headset in isolation with PC) or on your public internet will deend if software update quality is an issue.

Pico 4 is respectable by all accounts though.

Edit to add, one other reason i suggest thestandalone headset is it then has a 2nd life as a home theater
 
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End Creditz said:
I'm after a used VR headset, that can handle my glasses (maybe get prescriptions for the headset at a later date) with a budget of £100 at a push. I'll be using it with a PC, I don't own a Playstation, and really just want to get a feel for it all now before investing a months rent in something more recent.

So which of the older units would now be considered an absolute bargain second hand? I'm wanting to game, sword n scorcery type first person, Skyrim VR, and some flight/racing sim stuff.
Click to expand...

A second hand Rift S would be your best bet, it would give you a feel for VR without having to invest any money in anything other than the headset. Another Option might be a Reverb G2, if you can find one for £100 or under.

Can I ask what Graphic card and CPU does your computer have?
 
i think 1st question is wired vs wireless. both have merits in there on way.

standalone : more flexible, portable. most games and content still supported. battery life span maybe degraded but a portable powerbank resolves that. no wires... mobile theater, mixed. life space from new approax 5-8 years (quest 1 5years) (quest 2 still supported 5years, but getting ropy). pick up and go. wiress connectivity option or wired with various ways.

wired : longer lasting, no battery in headset typially. should be supported for a long time 10+ years from original release so 2029 (at least for a rift S). no -> less compression over wireless, dedicated PCVR limited play area, harder to move.

one other option is renting a headset or borrowing from some one.

thats my brief out line, not sure if others agree with my flawed assesment.
 
melmac said:
A second hand Rift S would be your best bet, it would give you a feel for VR without having to invest any money in anything other than the headset. Another Option might be a Reverb G2, if you can find one for £100 or under.

Can I ask what Graphic card and CPU does your computer have?
Click to expand...
RTX 2070 Super 8GB Auros, with an 5900X cpu, and 64gb ram if useful.

Also, thanks to everyone for the replies, I'm genuinely grateful, all useful, and I read them all multiple times.
 
LostCorpse said:
i think 1st question is wired vs wireless. both have merits in there on way.

standalone : more flexible, portable. most games and content still supported. battery life span maybe degraded but a portable powerbank resolves that. no wires... mobile theater, mixed. life space from new approax 5-8 years (quest 1 5years) (quest 2 still supported 5years, but getting ropy). pick up and go. wiress connectivity option or wired with various ways.

wired : longer lasting, no battery in headset typially. should be supported for a long time 10+ years from original release so 2029 (at least for a rift S). no -> less compression over wireless, dedicated PCVR limited play area, harder to move.

one other option is renting a headset or borrowing from some one.

thats my brief out line, not sure if others agree with my flawed assesment.
Click to expand...
From where I'm sitting, just dipping my toes back into the water after what must be 35yrs since my first real go at VR when it arrived at the Trocadero, sit down battlemech game was amazing, and it feels like we've hit a pretty sweet spot for budget, but still good, used units. I love your breakdown, it's reminded me of what I need to consider for basically a first timer.
 
End Creditz said:
RTX 2070 Super 8GB Auros, with an 5900X cpu, and 64gb ram if useful.
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With that setup, you are much better off to stick to a wired Headset.

Although LostCorpse makes some good points, I don't think you should worry about wireless right now. For PCVR, wireless headsets are harder to run, a bit more complicated to setup and usually require spending money to get right.

You said in your opening post that you wanted to get a feel for it without spending too much money. I still think the Rift S is the headset that will give you the best VR experience within the confines of your budget and computer power. After you try it out and it leaves you wanting more, you know that the newer headsets are much better, have wireless PCVR options and you can play games on them without connecting to a PC at all.
 
End Creditz said:
RTX 2070 Super 8GB Auros, with an 5900X cpu, and 64gb ram if useful.

Also, thanks to everyone for the replies, I'm genuinely grateful, all useful, and I read them all multiple times.
Click to expand...

I'm going to contradict @melmac (not for the first time ;) ) ... but i had almost that exact system when I first got my Quest 2, and it was quite easy to get running nicely, and I can't remember any major issues. HL Alyx blew me away, but it was also nice to try beat saber, and other meta stuff.. as well as easily show others what VR can do..

So for me.. i'd say get a Quest 2, I never had any issues connecting to the PC and playing PC games, but was also nice not to have to..

I also think wireless is a game changer.. especially for the standing up games..
 
to give some perspective ive been VR gaming in a i5 4th gen with 2cpu core 2 hyper threade, 16gb ram and a Nvidia 1650 LP 4GB GPU.
it was playing half life Alyx and some of the other titles with out to much issue using Virtual Desktop.

so your current spec is much better than mine. admittedly i was playing on low settings.


there isnt really a right or wrong anwser i feel, just personal expirence.
BUUTTT Melmac is wrong. plain and simple, nothing to do witht he fact he up set me, didnt send me flowers or chocolate or appologies for what he did.. or DID NOT DO! ;)

there are enough free wireless streaming apps you should be able to get a feel at least with out purchasing anything.

i could say just as easily get a new quest 3, try it for a few weeks and resell if it doesnt work out with little money lost.
or buy and return in the 30day window of trying it, money back.

Sims have differant requirements to general tiles, to productivity, to media, to games, to social media/vrchat.

you kind of need to work out whats imporant to you.

do you know any one at all that might have VR and be willing to loan you a set up or for you to try theres?

one other thought is if you wear glasses. while not a big issue, not every headset will support glasses wearing, also depends on the facal interface. this shouldnt effect you now but when you get say a big screen beyound or pymax it can make a difference.
to that end when was the last time you got your eyes tested? and check your IPD
 
LostCorpse said:
one other thought is if you wear glasses. while not a big issue, not every headset will support glasses wearing, also depends on the facal interface. this shouldnt effect you now but when you get say a big screen beyound or pymax it can make a difference.
to that end when was the last time you got your eyes tested? and check your IPD
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I'm due an eye-test pretty soon. Long term goal of getting replacement lenses for my eyes :cry:

I'm fully down the rabbit hole after starting this thread. It's gotten me considering many options, which means more research, and this forum is as always a treasure trove of useful information.
 
As the OP wanted to buy a headset for £100 at a push, I'm not sure how easy that would be to get a Quest 2, 3 or Pico 4, including controllers etc. ..?
A Rift S has been mentioned, doesn't that seem the only reasonable choice, if the maximum budget is going to be £100..?
Unless you can find something being sold privately, I have not noticed, granted not looked that much, to see what better than a Rift S could be bought with that budget.
As a PCVR headset, not sure how decent it is for those wearing glasses.

I would not know what type of VR gaming experience could be expected, positive or not, with such a device.


seems decent, for what it offers.
 
Unseul said:
You can get quest 2 second hand on Facebook for around £100 with a bit of haggling/looking.

Might not have accessories etc, and probably just the 64gb ones, but it's doable.
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That is good to know. Must be a strong consideration at that price.
I just looked at eBay and CEX, not thinking about Facebook.
The Rift S seems very doable at the OPs budget.
 
End Creditz said:
I'm due an eye-test pretty soon. Long term goal of getting replacement lenses for my eyes :cry:

I'm fully down the rabbit hole after starting this thread. It's gotten me considering many options, which means more research, and this forum is as always a treasure trove of useful information.
Click to expand...

Just to add to the rabbit hole. Is your PC connected to the router in your house by network cable or is it wireless? And how far away from your PC is the main router in the house? Is it one room over, two rooms, downstairs etc?
 
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