Which headset and is my spec enough?

magpie1966 · 9 Dec 2021 at 10:14

I have been mulling over going into VR for quite sometime, but availability was a problem a year or so ago.

First availability as IU would like to treat myself for christmas

My pc ,
i7 7700k , 32gb ram, 2080ti, 2gb Nvme.

games,
sitty down games as I know i'm daft and will end up smashing the light off the ceiling lol.
War thunder, Skyrim etc,

budget.
no budget limit really within reason

Thanks in advice for your support

Tykey · 9 Dec 2021 at 11:37

Budget "none"? Do u mean any amount is ok or zero? You won't get much for £0! If u mean any amount then varjo aero is the best. If u don't want to/can't spend that much then it comes down to 2 trusted and really good headsets, quest 2 and hp reverb g2. Both have their pluses/minuses like the g2 having a better display whereas the q2 is so versatile, cheaper, and having slightly better tracking. The g2 tracking has its critics (i found it ok) and q2 requires a facebook account. Both are fantastic overall.

If you'll be playing seated games like driving/flying sims the g2 is probably more suited. If you'll be playing room scale games (doesn't sound like you intend to) then quest 2 is probably more suited. Quest 2 can be used without wires too which can really add to the experience, depending on the game.

I see you have a i7 7700k, same as me. Despite what people may think or say, it still does the job for vr. The 2080ti should be ok too, note the g2 does require slightly more pc power to drive with it being higher res.

magpie1966 · 9 Dec 2021 at 21:59

Thank you for the response. as for the i7700k , its going nowhere right now, I have the money. but monitor is king and I play 4k. when i see a monitor i think is good, then boom. until then vr for fun

bigmike20vt · 10 Dec 2021 at 00:26

I pretty much echo tyke above (I have a Q2 and a G2)

For me if I could only pick one it would be the quest 2 but given you are mostly interested in seated then I too think the G2 edges it make sure you get the upgraded one which just came out in the UK today (system active selling it, be careful as I think HP still selling the old one). This may make the tracking as good as the quest.

The index may also be worth a look too. I doubt it tho. One of the strengths of that is the knuckles controllers which you won't really use for seated. It does have a nice fov as well and the best tracking but those external blocks just seem so obsolete now imo esp if seated is your thing.

PS for me some generes are dead for me now outside of VR. Shame really as I would have loved Forza horizon 6 years ago (I DID love Forza horizon 6 years ago). But a car game not in VR is literally and figuratively just flat now. Flight cockpit games are the same for me too.

magpie1966 · 10 Dec 2021 at 16:06

Thanks for your replies guys, it does help , I think i will go g2 then, and be careful which version they try to sell me. Got it

BigBANGtheory · 14 Dec 2021 at 09:23

Frustratingly all HMDs have their strengths and weaknesses, G2 has very good central clarity at a sensible price best suited to sims but its FoV, controllers and tracking are below the Index and VP2 vs Quest2 which is easily the best value

bigmike20vt · 14 Dec 2021 at 09:37

BigBANGtheory said:
Frustratingly all HMDs have their strengths and weaknesses, G2 has very good central clarity at a sensible price best suited to sims but its FoV, controllers and tracking are below the Index and VP2 vs Quest2 which is easily the best value

hopefully the new revision of the G2 will get the tracking sorted at least..... also its new faceplate will give a bump to the FOV. the supplied faceplate with the original G2 is so wasteful. i have modded mine to really make the max use of the FOV.... dont get me wrong it still isnt fantastic in the FOV department, but its larger than the Quest 2 and i would say is ok...

So that just leaves the controllers which are still a poor persons oculus touch... but they are servicable. imo if the G2 revision 2 does all it is meant to, i think it will be very hard to justify any of the current crop of VR headsets other than the quest 2 and the reverb G2 revision 2.

the index will still have slightly better tracking, a slightly better FOV and slightly more ambitious controllers (not sure if it does controller free tracking like the quest 2 however?).... but imo it just seems so last gen with its bulky light house bricks and is so damn expensive.

In all bar some very specific edge cases the oculus quest 2 tracking is fantastic, and it is so simple to set up... and if you want to pick edge cases, the inside out tracking has its own set of advantages over the outside in tracking of the index.

Ravenger · 14 Dec 2021 at 09:53

If the G2 had better tracking and controllers I'd have no problems getting one and using instead of the Index.
Unfortunately, even with better tracking the controllers are still poor as they have awful battery life and no capacitive touch.

BigBANGtheory · 14 Dec 2021 at 21:47

bigmike20vt said:
hopefully the new revision of the G2 will get the tracking sorted at least..... also its new faceplate will give a bump to the FOV. the supplied faceplate with the original G2 is so wasteful. i have modded mine to really make the max use of the FOV.... dont get me wrong it still isnt fantastic in the FOV department, but its larger than the Quest 2 and i would say is ok...

So that just leaves the controllers which are still a poor persons oculus touch... but they are servicable. imo if the G2 revision 2 does all it is meant to, i think it will be very hard to justify any of the current crop of VR headsets other than the quest 2 and the reverb G2 revision 2.

the index will still have slightly better tracking, a slightly better FOV and slightly more ambitious controllers (not sure if it does controller free tracking like the quest 2 however?).... but imo it just seems so last gen with its bulky light house bricks and is so damn expensive.

In all bar some very specific edge cases the oculus quest 2 tracking is fantastic, and it is so simple to set up... and if you want to pick edge cases, the inside out tracking has its own set of advantages over the outside in tracking of the index.

Much better tracking, much better controllers unfortunately.

Look I wish like the next person there was an all in, do everything headset in 2021 for a sensible price but its not the reality unfortunately. It will come though...