Virtual reality helmet for PC. Computer requirements for Oculus Rift

What are the system requirements for normal operation VR helmet?

You’ve decided to buy a brand new VR headset, you’ve saved up some money, but will your computer be able to handle it? Three main representatives of the industry: , and recommended system requirements vary significantly. In this article you will find out how much Your PC must be powerful so that the experience of immersion in virtual reality is not overshadowed by lags and friezes.

System requirements for HTC Vive

There are several system requirements options to consider when considering HTC Vive. Firstly, minimum requirements is something you absolutely need to get your Vive running properly. Secondly, recommended requirements- to get the most out of your Vive. Now, When did Vive become available on Mac?, it’s worth considering the recommended specifications for this platform as well.

The SteamVR Compatibility Tool is available for download on Steam. Use it to check if your PC is ready to run Vive.

Download SteamVR Performance Test from Steam

Of course, you may have more powerful hardware than what is listed here, but these are the specifications recommended by HTC.

CPU
Video card
RAM: 4 GB or more
Video output: HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2
USB: one USB 2.0
OS: Windows 7 or later

Minimum PC specs for HTC Vive

These are the minimum specs your PC needs to run proper operation Vive. The only thing that really differs from what is recommended is the graphics card. Mainly thanks to asynchronous reprojection- technology implemented in Steam VR, which provides a smoother VR experience with less powerful hardware.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 (equivalent or better)
Video card: NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 (equivalent or better)
RAM: 4 GB or more
Video output: one HDMI 1.4 or one DisplayPort 1.2
USB: one USB 2.0
OS: Windows 7 or later

Minimum Mac specs for HTC Vive

HTC Vive and Steam VR come to Mac and many new iMac interfaces high class will have support right out of the box, thanks to a powerful GPU Radeon Pro 560 with 4 GB VRAM. The rest of the specs remain almost the same as the PC; you still need minimum 4 GB random access memory And powerful processor that anyone has new iMac. However, you will need to purchase Thunderbolt 3 adapter, To have required ports to connect.

Don't forget it's new MacBook Pro supports external GPU, making it even more suitable for VR headsets.

System requirements for Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift has two technologies - Asynchronous Spacewarp And Asynchronous Timewarp, which help reduce the load on your computer. For this reason, the minimum system Rift requirements slightly lower than competitors.

Oculus has a great one compatibility tool, which will scan your computer and show you whether you have enough power to run Rift.

Download the Rift Compatibility Tool

These are the requirements for hardware, which Oculus recommends For best experience in Rift. If you have better processor, graphics card and more RAM, then there will be even less FPS drops during active moments.

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (equivalent or better)
Video card: NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 (equivalent or better)
RAM: 8 GB or more
Video output: HDMI 1.3
USB: three USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0
OS: Windows 7 or later

Minimum PC specs for Oculus Rift

Because of Asynchronous Spacewarp And timewarp, Oculus Rift has a significantly lower set minimum requirements to the iron.

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or AMD FX 4350 (equivalent or better)
Video card: NVIDIA GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 290 (equivalent or better)
RAM: 8 GB or more
Video output: HDMI 1.3
USB: one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0
OS: Windows 7 or later

System requirements for Windows Mixed Reality

Equipment needed to start Windows Mixed Reality. Please note that they are slightly different from what Rift and Vive require.

CPU: Intel Mobile Core i5 (eg 7200U) Dual-Core with Hyperthreading equivalent
GPU: integrated graphics Intel processor® HD Graphics 620 (GT2) or higher DX12 API
RAM: 8 GB + dual channel required for integrated graphics
HDMI: HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 for 60Hz displays
HDMI: HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 for graphic displays 90 Hz
HDD: 100 GB + SSD (preferred) / HDD
USB: USB 3.0 Type-A or USB 3.1 Type-C port with alternative mode DisplayPort
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories

Before buying glasses, it is common to ask yourself whether they will fit your hardware. Initially they were not made public because... Only the VR developer version was available, but Oculus VR has prepared a commercial model and you can check out the computer requirements for yourself.

CPU

When analyzing your processor, you should focus on Intel Core i5-4590. For comfortable use points virtual reality Oculus Rift it must meet or exceed its characteristics.

Intel Core i5-4590- this is 4 nuclear processor with the ability to process 4 streams of information. Frequency of this processor is 3.3 GHz. However, when overclocked, it can reach a frequency of 3.7 GHz.

There should be RAM no less than 8GB, because the device uses 2 simultaneously supplied images.

Video card

The most in demand PC element for Oculus Rift is the video card. This is due to the fact that the graphics accelerator will have to work “for two”. You need to focus on the video card NVIDIA GTX 970, well, or on similar map AMD 290 from the main competitor NVIDIA. It would be desirable, of course, for the video card to be even more powerful, but it all depends on your graphics settings and the game itself.

Connection

To connect to a computer you also need to have 2 USB 3.0 connectors and an interface with HDMI 1.3.

operating system

Oculus Rift glasses will only work in the operating room Windows system, and on version 7 SP1 and higher. The company wanted to adapt the glasses for OS X and Linux, but soon suspended these developments. But since on this moment Windows is the only OS that can safely be called a gaming OS, and this decision is completely justified.

The company claims that it wants to create the highest quality product possible, even if it works only on one platform and operating system.

In order for a computer to meet the PC requirements for Oculus Rift, you need to spend on this brainchild over 900 dollars. And together with the glasses, the declared price of which is 600 US dollars, we get a figure of 1,500 US dollars.

VR (virtual reality) devices have entered the lives of gamers and ordinary users quite recently, many have not yet had time to try this new technology due to the high cost of equipment. Main detail the entire system - helmet total immersion into virtual reality. You can find many variants of this product on the market with at different prices.

What is a virtual reality helmet for a computer?

This device is an intermediate link between a person and a non-existent world into which the user can be transported. A PC helmet mainly affects vision and hearing, immersing a person in a certain atmosphere. To do this, use headphones that fit tightly to the head and protect the user as much as possible from external noise. To interact with vision, there are two screens inside the helmet (like lenses in binoculars), which “collect” the whole picture. The device receives a video signal from the computer.

It is necessary to distinguish a VR helmet for PC from video glasses and augmented reality glasses. The latter have little to do with the present virtual environment. The way they work is that you see the world around you through the lenses, and a computer image is drawn on top of the glasses based on real objects. There was a rumored product under Google name Glasses, which was recalled at the last minute before being sold due to complaints of headaches when using them.

Video glasses can be called the “little brother” of helmets. They also use a stereoscopic effect and a 3D image. As a rule, it is achieved required result by dividing the image from the display using a system of diopters and lenses. The device is designed for watching movies and videos with attractions, but the glasses do not provide complete immersion in virtual reality.

Universal VR helmet for PC

This is one of the device options that is designed not only for watching videos, but also for use in games. Few of the world's manufacturers would develop models exclusively for one direction, so most modern models PC helmets are universal, for example:

OSVR;
AntVR Kit;
HTC Vive;
Samsung Gear.

Separately, it should be said about Oculus Rift, because the developers called its functionality useful not only for gamers and movie buffs, but also for the field of education and the military. The creators are trying to implement the most universal version of a VR device that could be used for any purpose. This is one of the reasons why this product received the most powerful PR campaign due to which it is on everyone's lips.

Gaming helmet

This category includes devices that are designed to interact with set-top boxes and computers. The most popular helmet for games is Sony Morpheus, it can only be connected to the PS4 console (PlayStation 4). The main difference between a universal and a gaming helmet is the level of detail and response speed, which affects the comfort with which the user will play. For example, the gaming category of helmets must have an ideal interaction speed, which is not required when watching movies.

How does a virtual reality headset work?

the main task virtual reality helmet for PC – to create a feeling of the user’s presence inside the game. To transmit the image, two OLED displays are used, which are located a few centimeters from the human eyes. An image with a small offset is transmitted through a cord from a computer or set-top box to the screens. Image-bending lenses are installed in front of the displays, combining the image and creating a three-dimensional effect.

The body of the PC helmet has built-in sensors (accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope) that track turns, head movement in space and immediately shift the image in the lenses. A tracker with infrared LEDs is installed separately in the room; it should be located opposite the person, recording his position in space. This is important in games where the user has the ability to move in space. For control, special or universal joysticks are used.

How to choose a virtual helmet for PC

If you decide to buy a virtual reality headset for PC in an online store, you should carefully consider the moment of choice. The purchase cannot be called inexpensive; these technologies have just entered the market and are stable high price. Until recently, PC helmets could only be ordered from America, but this year they hit the shelves in the CIS countries. What you should pay attention to when choosing a product from the catalog:

Sound quality. A VR headset puts an emphasis on visuals, but when delivering terrible 2D audio that is no different from regular speakers, the virtual reality experience will be severely spoiled. The Avegant Glyph models, which many publications call a “personal home theater,” are considered the best in this regard. This device initially combines headphones and a helmet into one single device. Good simulation different sources Sound is also provided by the Sony Morpheus gadget. The developers claim that their headphones can recognize up to 60 sound points.
Viewing angle, picture quality. The higher this indicator, the more comfortable the picture will be in a virtual reality environment. Many manufacturers claim that their devices will have a viewing angle of 100 degrees, but during tests values of 90 degrees were noted. The quality of the picture is affected by the resolution of the screens. For example, 1080p from Ocuclus Rift will clearly outperform the AntVR Kit model, which has 720p quality.
Motion sensors, weight. Very important indicator for gamers, without them the device simply will not be able to track the movement of the player’s head or movement in space. There are devices on the market that do not have an accelerometer and a gyroscope. Virtual reality will not adapt to your movements and there will be no sense of presence within the environment. The weight of the product matters, because sitting for a long time with 1-2 kg on your head will be difficult even for a trained athlete. Such constant impact on the cervical spine can have a negative impact on human health.

Price for virtual reality helmet for PC

The first thing that interests everyone who is interested in VR technologies is how much does a virtual reality helmet cost? Much depends on the manufacturer’s brand, the technologies the model uses, and the functionality of the device. If desired, a person can create his own virtual reality glasses using a smartphone with a diagonal of 4 to 6 inches instead of a computer. If you want to play comfortably on your computer, then pay attention to the following flagships in this industry:

This option has a very powerful advertising campaign; developers have been working with prototypes of the device for several years, which indicates the production of content for the gadget (there will be something to play). It is currently compatible with popular shooters: DOOM, Team Fortress 2 and several other games. The price of a virtual reality helmet is 39,000 rubles. Specifications of this device:

resolution – 960x1080;
viewing angle – 110 degrees;
refresh rate – 75 Hz;
response – 2-3 seconds;
weight – 440 g.

This gadget is designed to work with PS4; the console and its gamepads are used to control and transmit images. The first game that announced support for this helmet was the space flight simulator EVE: Valkyrie. The system has excellent headphones that perceive up to 60 sound sources. The price of the virtual reality helmet has not yet been announced by the manufacturer. The device has the following characteristics:

resolution – 1920x1080;
screen size – 5.7 inches;
viewing angle – 100 degrees;
screen refresh rate – pseudo 120 Hz (60 Hz + reprojection system).

This is a product from Chinese manufacturer, who promised that he would become the “killer” of the Oculus Rift. The parameters of the device are really in no way inferior to this popular virtual reality helmet. However, the first tests of the device showed that what is written on the box is very different from what is obtained in the end. The price of a virtual reality helmet is 17,500 rubles, which greatly pleased many people who were planning to buy a device for themselves. The manufacturer declares the following parameters:

resolution – 1920x1080;
weight – 380 g;
viewing angle – 100 degrees.

Another product with powerful advertising campaign. main feature This option has a screen refresh rate of 90 frames per second. The helmet is distributed immediately with controllers; the manufacturer indicates that it can be used not only for games, but also with content from partners: Google, HBO, Lionsgate. Very high accuracy head movement tracking, which is guaranteed by a high-quality accelerometer, gyroscope and laser sensor. You can buy a helmet for 52,000 rubles. Main characteristics:

screen refresh rate – 90 frames per second;
resolution – 1200x1080;
viewing angle – 110 degrees.

Video: 3D helmet from the best manufacturers

Released in 2013, the Oculus Rift DK2 helmet is an improved second version in the line Development Kit from Oculus VR.

Advantage of Oculus Rift DK2 over other Oculus models

Among the advantages that Oculus Rift Development Kit2 has, it is worth paying attention to the following:

High screen resolution - FullHD;
Increased image brightness due to the use AMOLED matrices instead of LCD;
Quick setup of equipment, including cameras.

Others significant advantages before models from the same series no. But there is whole line disadvantages, because of which the helmet cannot be called an ideal option for video game lovers. These include:

Its viewing angle has been reduced by 10 degrees (100 instead of 110 for DK1);
Increased weight 380 to 440 grams.

The review compiled for the Oculus Rift DK2 model should continue with the main additions for the helmet - a second set of lenses and a special software, already built into some games or created in the form of third-party drivers.
Additional optics provide nearsighted and farsighted people with a clear picture, allowing the helmet to be used without glasses. Although if you have contact lenses, there is no need to use those that came with the Oculus Rift. They will not be useful for users with high visual acuity.

Instructions for using Oculus Rift DK2

Before connecting the Oculus Rift DK2 to a computer or laptop, it is recommended to remove the option in the device manager automatic shutdown power supply for USB ports. This will keep the camera and headset from turning off to save power. It is advisable when the device is already connected to the PC.
The included manual for the Oculus Rift DK2 contains 11 steps where all necessary information to connect them - but in English.
Instructions for connecting the Oculus Rift dk2 helmet to a PC can be divided into 3 sections:

Connection to a computer;
Installation of the application (software/software);
Settings.

Connecting to a computer

Users who for some reason cannot familiarize themselves with such information should read the brief instructions:

Connecting the helmet to a computer via HDMI or USB connectors. The cables are located along the top strap that holds the helmet on your head. If there is an interface on the video card high definition the helmet is connected through it, in the absence - through standard ports USB 2.0 or 3.0.
Connecting the camera to the Oculus Rift DK2 helmet. The device is placed on the top of the helmet and connected to them using special fasteners and cables. If the camera is connected, the LED indicator on the helmet lights up.
- The orange color of the indicator indicates that the headset camera is connected, but there is no video signal being received.
- Blue color means the video signal has arrived.
The last step is to download and install the Oculus Rift DK2 driver; there are no control programs included with the helmet. Depending on the operating system, the helmet is detected automatically or requires manual installation software.

Installing the application

To start setting up the Oculus Rift DK2, you need to follow these simple instructions:

Download software part from the official developer website (https://developer.oculusvr.com).
In the subsection for downloading software there are 7 files:
- Oculus Runtime for Mac OS- installation program for Mac OS
- Oculus SDK for Mac OS - SDK for Mac OS
- Oculus Unity Tuscany Demo - demo of the Tuscany estate on Unity for Mac OS
- Oculus Runtime for Windows- installation program for Windows
- Oculus SDK for Windows - SDK for Windows
- Oculus Unity Tuscany Demo - demo of the Tuscany estate on Unity for Windows
- Unity 4 Pro Integration - program for integrating Unity 4 Pro
For example, the Oculus Runtime for Windows, Oculus SDK for Windows, and Oculus Unity Tuscany Demo applications are suitable for Windows OS. Here you can also find applications that are no longer suitable for the player, but only for the content developer - for example, Oculus SDK.
The downloaded Oculus Runtime file contains 2 folders. One folder OculusConfigTool with the configuration application and the second with the demo.

Important! As a result of installing Oculus Runtime, there is a possibility that an issue may occur when launching OVRService_x86 or x64.
Then the OculusConfigTool application does not recognize the helmet and Oculus setup Rift DK2 is not possible.
Solution to the problem! Close the OculusConfigTool application and manually launch OVRService at: C:\Program Files (x64)\Oculus\Service\) and restart OculusConfigTool.

Settings

After launching the application intended for configuration, the user adjusts the boundaries of the field of view and the clarity of the picture. In addition, when setting the parameters, you should change the default image orientation from landscape to portrait. Tune external camera not required.

Oculus Rift DK2 Specifications

In the list of characteristics of the Oculus Rift DK2 provided by the manufacturer, you can find the following information:

Screen resolution: (960x1080 for each eye)
Screen type: AMOLED;
Resolution 1080×1920;
There are 960 x 1080 pixels per eye;
Screen diagonal: 5.7 inches;
Number of pixels per inch – 386;
Screen format – FullHD;
Viewing angle: 100 degrees;
Sensors: Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer;
Connectors: HDMI and USB;
Platforms: PC ( Personal computers Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux);
Motion tracking: External camera;
Head movement tracker: 1000Hz;
Weight: 440 gr.
Pixel change speed: 2 to 3 ms;
The image changing frequency is 75 Hz.

For orientation in space, the helmet is equipped with sensors and infrared LEDs. The price at the beginning of sales started at $350, including shipping costs.
The edges of the glasses have a special soft coating that reduces their pressure on the user's face. Meshes for ventilation of optics are also located here - their presence eliminates such problems as fogging. In general, appearance The DK2 isn't too different from most other helmets.
Wide and high-quality lenses provide a clear image, but also have a drawback. The clarity of the optics decreases from the center to the edges - because of this, there is a feeling that objects located on the side are blurry.
The high image quality of the Oculus Rift Development Kit2 is accompanied by good sound. It is made as three-dimensional as the picture produced by the glasses. With the help of the received sound effects The helmet user can easily determine the direction of the noise source, which makes immersion in the virtual world even more complete.

System requirements for the Oculus Rift DK2 helmet

The personal computer to which the helmet will be connected must meet the minimum system requirements of Oculus Rift DK2:

Minimum system requirements for Oculus Rift:

Video card – NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti / AMD Radeon RX 470 or NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 290;
Processor – Intel i3-6100 / AMD FX4350;
RAM – at least 8GB;

The minimum requirements will allow you to work, but do not guarantee the absence of freezing and image distortion. It is advisable to choose a PC with more than 8 GB of RAM and video cards with 2–4 GB GDDR3 or GDDR5.

The Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 virtual reality headset supports the following operating systems:

Windows 7 all x64-bit versions except Starter with SP1 installed
Windows 8 x64-bit (preferably Windows 8.1 x64-bit)
Windows 10 - this OS has only recently become possible for using this headset.

The process of setting up and installing Oculus Rift DK2 for Windows 10 raises many questions but differs little from similar actions user on a computer with a different operating system.

What's included in the Oculus Rift DK2 package

The helmet is equipped with a camera, which is used for better perception of the surrounding space when using the device. With its help, you can keep the device on your head while moving around the room.
The complete box contains:

Virtual helmet Oculus reality Rift Development Kit2;
Lenses for nearsighted and farsighted people;
Cloth for wiping lenses;
Camera and USB cable for connecting with helmet;
Quick Start Guide (in English);
DVI/HDMI adapter;
Universal power supply.

Content and games for Oculus Rift DK2

One of the first questions that a buyer has is what games there are for the Oculus Rift DK2, how to set them up and where to download them. Due to the fact that the helmet has been on sale for several years, dozens of free demo programs and paid game applications can be found and downloaded on the Internet.
The total number of games for Oculus Rift DK2 reaches several dozen. Among them are simulations, RPGs, puzzles, space battles, adventures and horror films. Applications are also being released for those who are interested in playing and working at the same time - for example, Architectural Project will allow you to design the interior of an apartment, store or office in the virtual world.

Summarizing

Compared with previous version The Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 helmet looks more advanced and comfortable. The buyer of the gadget gets an excellent opportunity for games and virtual travel at a relatively low price. However, some shortcomings of the device do not allow us to include best models. At the same time, the manufacturer promised that a new version will be even more advanced, and fulfilled its promises with the release of the consumer model Oculus Rift CV1.

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If, starting in June, you want to fully immerse yourself in virtual worlds, you need to upgrade your computer - or scrap it altogether. You won't get by with the "middle class" here. Oculus requires at least GeForce GTX 970 with 4 GB memory (or equivalent). The processor must be Intel Core i5-4590. You will also need at least two USB port 3.0. The second port is useful for connecting the Oculus Touch motion controller.

PCs ready for Oculus

In collaboration with brands Dell, Alienware and Asus company Oculus offers seven pre-built PCs that are available from online retailers like Amazon. In addition to the VR version of Lucky's Tale included with all Oculus headsets, pre-order customers will receive a game code for Eve: Valkyrie.

In addition, upon pre-order you will receive a coupon that can be exchanged for a discount in the manufacturer’s online stores. So dear gaming computer from Alienware becomes 14 thousand rubles cheaper.

Model	CPU	Video card	RAM	HDD	Price
Asus G11CD	Intel i5-6400	Nvidia GTX 970	DDR4 8 GB	1 TB	68 thousand rubles.
Asus ROG G20CB	Intel i5-6400	Nvidia GTX 970	DDR4 16 GB	512 GB SSD	97 thousand rubles.
Asus ROG G20CB	Intel i7-6700	Nvidia GTX 980	DDR4 16 GB	1 TB & 256 GB SSD	115 thousand rubles.
Alienware Are 51	Intel i7-5820K	Nvidia GTX 980	DDR4 16 GB	2 TB & 128 GB SSD	167 thousand rubles.
Alienware X51 R3	Intel i5-6400	Nvidia GTX 970	DDR4 8 GB	1 TB	72 thousand rubles.
Alienware X51 R3	Intel i5-6400	Nvidia GTX 970	DDR4 16 GB	256 GB SSD	93 thousand rubles.
Dell XPS 8900SE	Intel i5-6400	Nvidia GTX 970	DDR4 8 GB	1 TB	72 thousand rubles.

All-inclusive: When you purchase the glasses, you get a controller, microphone, and remote control.

More about our Oculus PC

The computer we assembled is technically similar to the Asus G11CD, which costs about 68 thousand rubles. However, there are some differences. These include several more strong processor Skylake generations, more powerful block power supplies manufactured by Enerma, and HDD one terabyte more.

In addition, our hybrid drive has 8 GB SSD storage, with which operating system will work very quickly. If you would like to install GeForce GTX 970 instead of the one shown in the final table graphics card manufactured by AMD, we recommend the Powercolor Radeon R9 390 with 8 GB of graphics memory, which costs about 26 thousand rubles.

The most expensive component of the final bill is, of course, the Oculus Rift itself. Currently, these virtual reality glasses cost about 60 thousand rubles. Will the result justify its price? We'll find out within a year.

Component	Component type	Price
Gainward GeForce GTX 970 Phantom 4 GB	Video card	26 thousand rubles.
Intel Core i5-6600	CPU	17 thousand rubles.
G.Skill Value Series 2 x 4 GB	RAM	3 thousand rubles.
Sharkoon T28, rot	Frame	5 thousand rubles.
Enermax EMP 600 AGT	power unit	4.5 thousand rubles.
Gigabyte GA-H110M-D2	Motherboard (LGA 1151 socket)	4 thousand rubles.
Seagate 2TB ST2000DX001	Hybrid hard drive	7 thousand rubles.
Windows 7, 64 bit	operating system	1.5 thousand rubles.
PC price: 68 thousand rubles.
	VR glasses	60 thousand rubles.
PC + Oculus Rift: 128 thousand rubles.