Is X-Series worth it for VR?

[richardjb]

Hi, can anyone advise

I was given a Rift S and don't have a PC to use it with - having decided to build one, and after a little research, id like to know whether there is any benefit of x-series+X299 mobo versus i9 9900k + X390 mobo.

From what I can tell, the x299 will give me more PCIe lanes (possible SLI'ing benefit?) and more cores with the x-series, but are there any/many VR applications that need or even make use SLI/increased cores

Rich

 

[stephenb]

Very few VR titles make use of SLI or Nvlink. Off the top of my head there was the Nvidia game works demo which they knocked up to showcase their various VR specific technologies and a couple of commercial titles - The Climb being one I think? You're better off getting the single most powerful GPU you can afford if you are after the best possible experience, which if you shopping for 9900k/ks it sounds like you are.

 

[richardjb]

Very few VR titles make use of SLI or Nvlink. Off the top of my head there was the Nvidia game works demo which they knocked up to showcase their various VR specific technologies and a couple of commercial titles - The Climb being one I think? You're better off getting the single most powerful GPU you can afford if you are after the best possible experience, which if you shopping for 9900k/ks it sounds like you are.

Thanks, so it sounds like im heading in the right direction with 11GB 2080ti and that a decision between intel CPUs is less important, esp now having read the VR Sticky Page on CPU. (..apols)
I notice you use AMD3900x would you consider Intel in the future, if not why (Im not an intel sales rep, just curious)

 

[stephenb]

^ having recently upgraded from a i7 4930k I won't be looking at any new CPU's in the near future .

I did consider the 9900ks but ultimately decided that the 3900x would hopefully have more longevity and that the current performance was close enough not to matter to me. I also fancied giving the other side a chance.

I only play racing games on my CV1, got a full rig, and so far so good. Got a PSVR for everything else. Will be looking at new Gpu and headset once the Nvidia 3xxx series arrives.

 

[Demon]

Agreed on the motherboard, I see that as secondary at the moment.. I think when SLI is prevalent on VR games (and in one way you think with two render targets, it would be the perfect use case!) I'd consider a chipset change, but currently I would invest more in the CPU/GPU.

CPU Wise, my experience coming from an [email protected] to a Ryzen 2700X was quite profound in VR, a lot of sim racing games particularly had a nice jump in FPS, and since then I found a second hand 3900x which has yielded another improvment, so I'd be looking at 9900k/ks or 3900x.
GPU Wise, as mentioned by stephenb, the NVidia 3000 series are out this year, so I'd personally wait for those, even if buying second hand because I would expect a slew of 2080ti's to come on the second hand market.

I've done quite well from 2nd hand CPU/GPU's, my last two GPUs (980ti and Titan Xp) I still have and both have been excellent for VR, although with modern higher res VR headsets and more demanding games there is an element of tweaking video settings to get a rock solid 90fps, so I was thinking of upgrading the Titan Xp, however even the 2080ti whilst a good 20% to maybe even 40% in some cases faster, it still isn't going to allow max'ing everything out, so I'm seeing what the 3000 series brings to the table.