Which spec to VR PC ?

biuro74

biuro74

biuro74

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17 Feb 2009
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Hi,

I have to build a rig, which will be VR only. There's no budget, but obviously common sense plays a role as usual.

So I've started to refresh my knowledge, looks like I'll try Vive Pro, due to highest quality.
Question 1 is - does it require something else ? I'm in the middle of searching VR info process, so haven't finished digging yet, and still have some info "holes". Probably will fill them up soon, but it's always better to confirm. Additional hardware - I mean some pads/controllers, some wireless boxes (I imagine VR device will be lacking of cables, otherwise there's no point to buy cabled model = I'm in doubt now because some PC cases like Antec P110 have been recommended to VR due to front video port placement, but hey - I don't want to have cables) etc. I will look manufacturer's site tomorrow to see, what they sell as additional options (if any) - but it's good to know what is worth to get, and what is not really.

Question number two is graphic card, of course. I'm aware of RTX freshness, and my personal choice would be between 1080Ti and 2080. Frankly, 2080 efficiency dissapoints in terms of pairing it to 1080Ti, so I treat 2080 as 1080Ti counterpart + newer RT/tensors technology. I'm not sure however, if 150 pounds is worth spending *now* just for waiting for new patches in games, or quite new games versions. It's like 8600 GT with "new" DX10 when released ;-) I have no objections with purchasing 1080Ti now, and - when it's necessary in the future - change it to RTX 2080 only because some game does have new raytraced effects :)
More personally - I'd be ready to propose two 1080s in SLI - but from what I read since some time, SLI becomes unwanted technology for nVidia, as long as they priced xx70/xx80/xx80Ti cards as they priced. In other words - SLI doesn't work now as worked years ago (when cards positioning on the market was more end-user friendly), and with VR it's even worse. Pity and shame, but it's topic for another discussion. Someone against 1080Ti for VR ?

Question 3 - CPU. Yes, since Intel released 6-cores 1151 CPUs and changed i3-i5-i7 "core properties", it's real question for me. From what I read, testers use i7 for VR only "because to have the best processor to avoid some unnecessary and unpredictable bottlenecks". My question is - normally I'd suggest i3-8350K, maybe oc-ed a bit - what is reason to put "new" i5 here (6c/6t), or "new" i7 (6c/12t) ? Is it more like futureproof security, or VR games bacame more CPU-bounded before I noticed it ? :)

Rig will be used for unknown bunch of VR games, probably few most popular. Nothing else completely.

Thank you guys for any suggestions.
 
1. Vive Pro is just a waste of money at this point. Grab a Rift or WMR (be aware of the controller tracking issues) and wait for next gen, or consider the Pimax with a 2080/Ti.


2. The RTX series should be a better choice over time for VR due to hardware foveated rendering features. Though this is not day 1 ready. Avoid SLI when possible.

3. AMD is not doing too badly against Intel at higher resolutions, so I wouldn't write them off. Again it's down to budget.

I currently use a 3770k @ 4.5, 1080Ti FTW3 and the Rift with supersampling between 1.6x and 2. I am waiting to see what Ryzen on 7nm performs like, before my next upgrade.
 
if you don't have a budget then definitely get a 2080ti and a Vive Pro.

that is the best set up available right now. Vive and Rift max out with a 1080 so there's not a lot of benefit from pairing those HMDs with a ti.

wireless is great but the tech doesn't have enough bandwidth for the latest gen HMDs - if you want to be on the bleeding edge you have to learn to love the cable

as far as i can tell SLI is a waste of time in VR unless you really are an expert and know what you are doing and the game supports it
 
I'm saying that in most games with a vive or rift a 1080 can run them on max quality wigth SS @ 2.0. fall out 4 is probably the only game i couldn't run at max on my 1080 with Vive.

Vive Pro does use the extra horse power that comes with a 1080ti
 
biuro74 said:
Hi,

I have to build a rig, which will be VR only. There's no budget, but obviously common sense plays a role as usual.

So I've started to refresh my knowledge, looks like I'll try Vive Pro, due to highest quality.
Question 1 is - does it require something else ? I'm in the middle of searching VR info process, so haven't finished digging yet, and still have some info "holes". Probably will fill them up soon, but it's always better to confirm. Additional hardware - I mean some pads/controllers, some wireless boxes (I imagine VR device will be lacking of cables, otherwise there's no point to buy cabled model = I'm in doubt now because some PC cases like Antec P110 have been recommended to VR due to front video port placement, but hey - I don't want to have cables) etc. I will look manufacturer's site tomorrow to see, what they sell as additional options (if any) - but it's good to know what is worth to get, and what is not really.

Question number two is graphic card, of course. I'm aware of RTX freshness, and my personal choice would be between 1080Ti and 2080. Frankly, 2080 efficiency dissapoints in terms of pairing it to 1080Ti, so I treat 2080 as 1080Ti counterpart + newer RT/tensors technology. I'm not sure however, if 150 pounds is worth spending *now* just for waiting for new patches in games, or quite new games versions. It's like 8600 GT with "new" DX10 when released ;-) I have no objections with purchasing 1080Ti now, and - when it's necessary in the future - change it to RTX 2080 only because some game does have new raytraced effects :)
More personally - I'd be ready to propose two 1080s in SLI - but from what I read since some time, SLI becomes unwanted technology for nVidia, as long as they priced xx70/xx80/xx80Ti cards as they priced. In other words - SLI doesn't work now as worked years ago (when cards positioning on the market was more end-user friendly), and with VR it's even worse. Pity and shame, but it's topic for another discussion. Someone against 1080Ti for VR ?

Question 3 - CPU. Yes, since Intel released 6-cores 1151 CPUs and changed i3-i5-i7 "core properties", it's real question for me. From what I read, testers use i7 for VR only "because to have the best processor to avoid some unnecessary and unpredictable bottlenecks". My question is - normally I'd suggest i3-8350K, maybe oc-ed a bit - what is reason to put "new" i5 here (6c/6t), or "new" i7 (6c/12t) ? Is it more like futureproof security, or VR games bacame more CPU-bounded before I noticed it ? :)

Rig will be used for unknown bunch of VR games, probably few most popular. Nothing else completely.

Thank you guys for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

Don't buy anything yet, come back during the first week of October. The reason is that Oculus are having their Connect conference on the 26th so we might find out what headset they are planning to bring and what sort of time frame.
 
all current INTEL CPUs are affected by the spectre and meltdown bugs, so buying a new CPU is painful these days.

the performance could actually get worse from out of the box as new patches are implemented and new bugs discovered.
 
Thank you guys for replies.
Frankly, this HMD I'm asking for is planned to be a part of bigger project for virtual rooms for booking (as a service). Quality of HMD itself is most important, both in terms of spec as well as durability and wireless connection, which is a must. Cables are good for me (personally), but not for customers in that case. Apparently looks like this is specific period of time, when GeForce 2000 cards are released, and Oculus is going to announce something (but VR market is being developed quickly, and probably will accelerate), but there's always a progression in tech parts, so choice must be done some day :) Few days can be waited, and then will see - but from what I can see here, Vive Pro and 1080Ti is good for a beginng - and as said, if DX RT brings some fresh flavour to VR software, 2080s can be purchased any time.
Have you got maybe some practical experience with VR rooms (like caveats, warnings, donts etc - like not too many VR rooms in defined area due to signal interference) ?
 
biuro74 said:
Thank you guys for replies.
Frankly, this HMD I'm asking for is planned to be a part of bigger project for virtual rooms for booking (as a service). Quality of HMD itself is most important, both in terms of spec as well as durability and wireless connection, which is a must. Cables are good for me (personally), but not for customers in that case. Apparently looks like this is specific period of time, when GeForce 2000 cards are released, and Oculus is going to announce something (but VR market is being developed quickly, and probably will accelerate), but there's always a progression in tech parts, so choice must be done some day :) Few days can be waited, and then will see - but from what I can see here, Vive Pro and 1080Ti is good for a beginng - and as said, if DX RT brings some fresh flavour to VR software, 2080s can be purchased any time.
Have you got maybe some practical experience with VR rooms (like caveats, warnings, donts etc - like not too many VR rooms in defined area due to signal interference) ?
Click to expand...
If you need it for large rooms ie the player will be moving around then you need the vive as the rift headset is more for players sitting when in game if you want a mobile pc then use this https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-...-vr-backpack-pc-9s7-1t2111-009-lt-251-ms.html with the vive headset
 
I'm not sure what you've seen, but I can assure you that Rift does standing/roomscale moving around stuff just fine :)
Like I said, for the OP's requirements, the lighthouse system is probably the better way to go, as it can offer a bigger area and no trailing USB cables on the sensors.
 
Resistance said:
From what I seen its used more when seated and the vive is for moving around a room in a standing position
Click to expand...

There are few games that'll really allow you to "move around". The best experience can be had if you have the room to swing your arms in any direction without being at risk of hitting everything, and while it's true that the Rift may not offer the best 360 degree tracking out of the box with only 2 sensors, you can put them in opposite corner which can help avoid any of the occlusion of the controllers, or you can add a 3rd sensor to avoid pretty much any occlusion.
 
Shiari said:
There are few games that'll really allow you to "move around". The best experience can be had if you have the room to swing your arms in any direction without being at risk of hitting everything, and while it's true that the Rift may not offer the best 360 degree tracking out of the box with only 2 sensors, you can put them in opposite corner which can help avoid any of the occlusion of the controllers, or you can add a 3rd sensor to avoid pretty much any occlusion.
Click to expand...
Good to know as I was getting the rift soon but was not sure what one was best for sitting and standing games
 
The Rift will scale up just as well, you just need a 3rd sensor. The Rift's controllers are way better as well.

Most of the VR games are designed for standing as you can move around a bit and also duck etc.
 
Resistance said:
From what I seen its used more when seated and the vive is for moving around a room in a standing position
Click to expand...

The Rift with 3 or 4 sensors handles a room scale setup of around ~4.5m square. The Vive with 2 version 1 lighthouse handles ~5m square. I'm sure I read that the 2.0 lighthouse will cover ~50m. Most people will choose the Rift as it has enough area coverage for normal home use, but more importantly, it has the Touch controllers.

Not sure what the maximum coverage is with the Rift setup, but it does support up to 6 sensors. The idea that the Rift is usually used for just seated experiences is somewhat out dated. From May 23rd, 2017 - https://uploadvr.com/oculus-v1-15-update-adds-full-room-scale-support/
 
Wrinkly said:
Not sure what the maximum coverage is with the Rift setup, but it does support up to 6 sensors.
Click to expand...

Not recommended though ... more than 3 sensors isn't recommended nor really needed (with 3 sensors in the right places it becomes pretty difficult to occlude anything with your body.
 
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