VR hardware check

wadec22

2[H]4U
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Jul 26, 2005
Messages
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So I'm pretty sure I'm going to move forward purchasing a HTC Vive.

I haven't been pc gaming lately, so I know I'll need a new video card. Rest of specs:
i7 3770k
16gb
Asus p8Z77 deluxe mobo (has usb 3.0)
couple ssd drives

is my mobo/cpu/ram combo okay?

on the fence between the gtx 1070 & 1080. i've been reading the hardocp summaries - 1080 is better, just not sure if it's better enough for the coin. thoughts here?

thanks in advance guys.
 
3770k is still a great CPU, especially at 4.2. Grab one of those video cards and you'll be good to go.

I know benchmarks aren't the end all-be all but the 3770k blends in with the other top CPUS: PassMark CPU Benchmarks - Common CPUs
 
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You should have no issues. I have basically the same setup with a 980Ti and it runs great :)
 
Fairly big gap between the 1070 and 1080 in terms of VR performance. I would go for the 1080, but make the 1070 the absolute bottom choice for "Premium VR" gaming.

14731899227csxJgOz0Q_6_2.png
 
I've done VR on both a 1070 and a 1080...I never spend this much on video cards, but I went for the 1080 and have zero regrets. Should tell you something. ;)

That said, if you can't swing the 1080, the 1070 provides a pretty good VR experience overall.
 
Seconded for the 1080, assuming you can budget it in. I've had my Vive for a while now and can confirm that the 1080 is a fantastic choice.

Also, Kyle - I know you guys have no plans to do rundown of overclocked GFX VR performance, but can you comment on it on a personal level? I've got my Strix (most of the time I run a single card for VR) up to ~2100 Mhz and hardly notice a thing compared to stock clocks without some kind of benchmarking software.
Well, if your card is not already putting you into Reprojection at a particular IQ setting, overclocking really is not going to achieve anything considering you are still not asking the card to do more work.
 
I've done VR on both a 1070 and a 1080...I never spend this much on video cards, but I went for the 1080 and have zero regrets. Should tell you something. ;)

That said, if you can't swing the 1080, the 1070 provides a pretty good VR experience overall.
Agreed.
 
1080 it is. I can swing that if its worth it. Too bad Titan X is so pricey.

Pumped to get VR up and running.
 
fell victim to my frugality. saw the deal off jet.com for a gigabyte gtx1070 windforce for 357.00. figure I'll go to a 1080 down the road if I love the experience. hardware showing up this week. should be live next weekend.

PS - anyone using any of the 3d printed gun stocks or anything off ebay? makes sense....
 
fell victim to my frugality. saw the deal off jet.com for a gigabyte gtx1070 windforce for 357.00. figure I'll go to a 1080 down the road if I love the experience. hardware showing up this week. should be live next weekend.

PS - anyone using any of the 3d printed gun stocks or anything off ebay? makes sense....

1070 is a fine card. I'd wait for Volta rather than a 1080. I don't think the performance jump is enough personally to take the hit selling.

Should still be able to a set some super sampling (definitely do this in the steam config file). It helps you read everything with the headset on way easier.
 
Can I hijack this post?

Do you think my computer would handle VR consider that I will upgrade my graphic card to at minimum Radeon RX 480 or above.

* Intel Core i7-2600K
* Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
* Sapphire Radeon HD 6850
* G.SKILL Sniper Low Voltage Series (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
* CORSAIR Vengeance (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600

Note that my motherboard has only 2 USB 3.0 ports.
 
Can I hijack this post?

Do you think my computer would handle VR consider that I will upgrade my graphic card to at minimum Radeon RX 480 or above.

* Intel Core i7-2600K
* Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
* Sapphire Radeon HD 6850
* G.SKILL Sniper Low Voltage Series (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600
* CORSAIR Vengeance (2 x 8GB) DDR3 1600

Note that my motherboard has only 2 USB 3.0 ports.
Vive says all it needs is one USB 2 port. As for graphics card I would go more Nvidia way than AMD at this time for the Vive. 1070 minimum but if push comes to shove the 6GB 1060. I would think your rig would do fine but with a better graphics card of course.
 
Hijacking this post again. I ended up getting a RX 480 because I got a very decent deal on it. Seems like I am VR ready now. :)
rx480_zpsptimikxo.jpg
 
I ended up getting a RX 480 because I got a very decent deal on it. Seems like I am VR ready now. :)

I guess you didn't read any of the [H] VR performance reviews. I'd recommend against it in your case. Ignorance is bliss.
 
I guess you didn't read any of the [H] VR performance reviews. I'd recommend against it in your case. Ignorance is bliss.

Well as long as the title using unity engine, he is fine, just don't try to run UE4 titles.
 
Hijacking this post again. I ended up getting a RX 480 because I got a very decent deal on it. Seems like I am VR ready now. :)
rx480_zpsptimikxo.jpg


My VR experience was a puke fest with the R9 290. I bought a GTX 1060 and my nausea issues are all gone. If you spent so much on a VR headset, then why skimp on the graphics card?
 
My VR experience was a puke fest with the R9 290. I bought a GTX 1060 and my nausea issues are all gone. If you spent so much on a VR headset, then why skimp on the graphics card?

I was thinking the same thing. Ideally you want some super sampling... Which a 1070 can give you.

Spend 800+250 vs 800+400... 1050 vs 1200, just do it right to begin with.
 
Even the 1060 works great in VR in my experience so far. I was able to play elite dangerous on VR high smooth as butter and don't believe it was in reproduction. On the R9 290, the stars, ships, and planets were all jittering on rotation and the input lag was making it an absolute pike fest. I am betting those are characteristics of it being in reprojection. I didn't test for it so it was just an educated observation.


A used 980ti for just $20-30 more than a 8gb RX 480 would have been even better than the 1070.
 
Even the 1060 works great in VR in my experience so far. I was able to play elite dangerous on VR high smooth as butter and don't believe it was in reproduction. On the R9 290, the stars, ships, and planets were all jittering on rotation and the input lag was making it an absolute pike fest. I am betting those are characteristics of it being in reprojection. I didn't test for it so it was just an educated observation.


A used 980ti for just $20-30 more than a 8gb RX 480 would have been even better than the 1070.
The 1070 or Pascal has some very potent VR enhancements that I see will be used in the major VR game engines. Plus if ID software fine tunes VR for Doom and Quake I am confident you will see that support in there.
 
My VR experience was a puke fest with the R9 290. I bought a GTX 1060 and my nausea issues are all gone. If you spent so much on a VR headset, then why skimp on the graphics card?

I changed from an AMD Fury to a GTX 980 from my HTPC and though some experiences were the same, I got a better/smoother/more consistent experience with the 980 in several games. AMD have dropped the ball on VR it seems. At least for now with the early access games.
 
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