Hi

Just trying to get an idea into trying VR for both MSFS and DCS, I don't have a clue about it, but would like some recommnedations on headset etc. Will my PC be suitable (Specs are AMD 5900x3d RX6800GPU  MSI X570 Pro M/B, 32gb DDR4 Ram 3600 and approx 4tb of storage with NvMe drives.

What i don't understand is some stating they don't need connecting to a PC? Surely it needs the processing power of a decent GPU? Cost will be a factor, i certainly wont be able to afford the top of the range, but any recommendations from the lower to mid range headsets would be ideal.

Thanks in advance.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by Car147

If you can get a Quest 2 at a good price still, I'd suggest that plus the link cable to connect it to the GPU. You are right, that's necessary. You only don't need to do that for very simple games that run purely on the headset. For MSFS and DCS the cable connection is basically required. There is some WiFi option as well, but that's not sufficient as far as I can tell from my tests with a friends Quest2.

Newer and more expensive headsets have higher resolution, but also need more GPU power. So you need to decide how much you are willing to spend. I have a Rift S (quest 2 predecessor) and I still use it with a 2000 series Nvidia GPU. That's great most of the time, only thing is you have to move your head closer to smaller gauges to be able to read them in the cockpit. Bigger GPU and a headset with a higher resolution will solve that, but that's costly obviously.

Thanks @rka for the detailed info.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by Car147

If you want to get a Quest 2, you should get it right now, as the price will increase by $100 on Aug 1st. You will also need to get a USB cable (3rd gen) to link it with your PC unless you have very very good and fast Wi-Fi. You don't need to get the expensive official link cable - any 3rd gen USB-C cable will do. The official link cable is very good build quality and very durable, but unless you also plan to do workout on the floor in VR you won't need an extra durable cable just for a seated VR game as MSFS.

An RX6800 will be fine for VR.

If you want some testimonials about the Quest 2 and the Reverb G2 there was a recent thread here: 

 

Thanks @JacquesBrel I did see they are going up soon by $100, so i have ordered one a few minutes ago.

I agree with @JacquesBrel you don't need the original link cable. My friend had issues with the cheapest one he bought though and ended up sending it back for a better one, so maybe you shouldn't choose the cheapest one and see that you can send it back if necessary.

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by rka

I ordered one for £17, so hope it will be ok. I am on full fibre and 5ghz wireless which i would hope may be  a second option.The original cable is just Wow! £89 GBp, it must be gold plated lol

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by Car147

I picked up a 
KIWI design USB C to USB C Link...

it was £26 but excellent. They also do a elite strap £48 , essential to get a better strap the one that comes with it is not very comfortable at all 

Edited July 28, 20223 yr by Bozdog

I  use  vr  for  dcs(with voice attack  a  must if using  vr)   since  there  is  no  map  and  other  things  to look at other  than inside the  cockpit,  and  i use  tr  for  the  other  sims

Edited July 29, 20223 yr by pete_auau

Well it arrived today and all i can say is "Wow" sat in the cockpit of the PMDG 737 and it feels like your really in there. I am still at the stage of slowly finding my way through this new system, both with MSFS and DCS and getting the settings right for the likes of zooming in on a instrument etc. Getting there slowly, but i am so glad i have given this a go. I just cannot believe how realistic it is.

And whilst you cannot get the same level of clarity as a 4k monitor, it easily surpasses it just with the immersion.

Thanks to all that have given their  help and advice.

18 hours ago, Car147 said:

 

And whilst you cannot get the same level of clarity as a 4k monitor, it easily surpasses it just with the immersion.

 

Not meaning too pis.s on your parade but as soon as the novelty wears off, and you start to get used to VR. You will start missing the clarity from your 4k screen, but unfortunently you already expirienced VR and theres no going back. Happend too me, and it made me a little bit sad... I really regret not waiting for th 3rd gen HMDs. Good luck anyway:)

3 hours ago, Kaboki said:

Not meaning too pis.s on your parade but as soon as the novelty wears off, and you start to get used to VR. You will start missing the clarity from your 4k screen, but unfortunently you already expirienced VR and theres no going back. Happend too me, and it made me a little bit sad... I really regret not waiting for th 3rd gen HMDs. Good luck anyway:)

Although I can certainly notice the clarity difference between the monitor and VR headset I'm certainly not missing it. You can't beat being placed IN the cockpit 🙂

Mark

 

On 7/28/2022 at 12:22 PM, Car147 said:

Hi

Just trying to get an idea into trying VR for both MSFS and DCS, I don't have a clue about it, but would like some recommnedations on headset etc. Will my PC be suitable (Specs are AMD 5900x3d RX6800GPU  MSI X570 Pro M/B, 32gb DDR4 Ram 3600 and approx 4tb of storage with NvMe drives.

What i don't understand is some stating they don't need connecting to a PC? Surely it needs the processing power of a decent GPU? Cost will be a factor, i certainly wont be able to afford the top of the range, but any recommendations from the lower to mid range headsets would be ideal.

Thanks in advance.

I have both the Quest 2 and Reverb G2 , both running on a 5700 XT.

Get the Reverb G2, far superior than the Quest for the visuals, otherwise you will have to dial back on the settings for the sim.

I have retired the Quest, ok for the games but not DCS or FS2020.

Also recommend installing the Open XR toolkit for the G2.

Agree, the G2 is better, though the Quest 2 can be almost as clear if you can get the horizontal distance between your eyes and the lens adjusted farther away.
You need a special headset for that, and I haven't found it yet. Basically, the problem a lot of people have with the Quest 2 is not just IP distance (that's part of it), but it's also the distance from the lens. If you hold the Q2 in front of your eyes slightly, suddenly it looks a lot clearer. Actually, even the G2 is slightly too close to my eyes for my face shape, but not as bad as the Q2. Before returning the Q2, add the eye glass attachment to increase the eye to lens distance, though it does help, it still wasn't enough for my face shape. 

If I can find the correct headset, I am pretty sure the Q2 can be pretty close the G2 in clarity, but it always have a bit more SDE regardless.

They made these VR lenses too close on purpose I assume probably because peoples faces are different shapes, so they averaged it, but what we really need on these headsets is a way to adjust the lens to eye distance, not just the other stuff.

 

Edited August 15, 20223 yr by Alpine Scenery

On 7/31/2022 at 11:20 AM, Kaboki said:

Not meaning too pis.s on your parade but as soon as the novelty wears off, and you start to get used to VR. You will start missing the clarity from your 4k screen, but unfortunently you already expirienced VR and theres no going back. Happend too me, and it made me a little bit sad... I really regret not waiting for th 3rd gen HMDs. Good luck anyway:)

Well its a weird thing, with decent PR imagery (not reference level) but I mean good enough, to me VR looks better because it shapes the mountains in 3D, and you notice the defects less.

Try flying out of Queenstown, New Zealand in both VR and a regular monitor, VR looks better because the hills look weird in 2D mode.
It isn't always the case, but regardless, 2D is kind of dead for me at this point.

I take off and land in VR, and will do the longer part of a flight in 2D.
The best of both worlds IMO.