I'm considering moving into VR but am a total newbie where it is concerned.

Just wondering if there is anyone in my city using VR in flight sims who would consider having a conversation.

Thanks for any consideration. I'm a guy in my 70s, retired pilot, whose been simming since the 1980s and still hasn't dabbled in VR.

Hi Db, I'm in Australia, so I can't visit you, but I am in my late 60s (as are a lot of people here), so I was just as bewildered as you are. Fortunately, it's not that complicated, but will require a bit of reading.

The kind of advice you get here begins with two things: what HMD have you got (or are getting), and which operating system have you got.

I've got Windows 11, and I've got a Reverb G2, a Quest 3S and a Pimax CL. They're all a bit different, but similar, and each depend on installing their own device driver.

I'm on Win11 with a 7800x3d, 5070ti, 64gigs ram, an okay machine. The meta Quest 3 pimax light are interesting. Steam has a new VR headset coming this year. Here in Winnipeg seems to be the desert when looking for VR. I was into an electronic store Sunday and the alleged VR expert knew even less than me. Was trying to push the 3s and didn't even know the meta quest 3 existed. I'm in no hurry. Price will be a factor.

Your 7800x3d and 5070ti will be plenty strong enough for any of the current sims. Computer parts have become much stronger in recent years.

The Pimax CL was pretty expensive for me here in Australia but has higher specs compared to the Quest and Reverb which were cheaper. Both the Quest 3S and the Reverb G2 have Fresnel lenses so are a little blurry on the edges.

I live in a small town so computer parts are a long way away, so I order everything online, pay a little freight, and wait a few days.

You system setup is not bad.  I am currently using Q3 and the experience is not bad, as long as your settings are in the high and with some ultra settings, and setting some environments to low.

I am currently using Virtual Desktop for the wireless connection.  Using AUTO FPS will help with the VRAM issue.  No sure with SU4 now, but i was able to use Frame Generation before in VR with usercfg. 

I do have rolling cache set at 110GB on a different drive.

As for the frame rate in VR, i can achieve close to 75 to 80FPS, with about 85ish latency to 90s using detailed airports with inibuilds A350, PMDG 777 and BravoAirspace 787, ...however, FBW A380 is still heavy on my machine.

My setup is a i9 14900KF, 9070 XT with 64GB....i am in Toronto BTW

 

22 hours ago, dbw1 said:

I'm considering moving into VR but am a total newbie where it is concerned.

questions to ask yourself to make a good purchase:

how much are you prepared to spend?

for MSFS/MSFS2024 mostly or also for Augmented Reality and Steam games (then perhaps Quest 3)?

Quest 3 requires a Meta account and acceptance of all kind of cookies, not my choice. and additional Virtual Desktop software ($$) and setup hassle, extra WiFi 7 router etc. etc.

I would suggest to wait for the Steam Frame VR, release expected early 2026. should be easier to set up (comes with its own WiFi USB dongle) and has Foveated Rendering and Foveated Streaming for near lossless transmission from PC. it is wireless only, just like the Quest 3. for High end: I have a wired-only Pimax Crystal Light and use it nearly exclusively for MSFS2024. Wireless in Quest 3 means less picture quality than Display-port wired headsets.

A factor that is usually ignored when making a purchase decision: build quality and long term comfort. you might want to look into 3rd party comfort head straps, default are usually bad, especially the Quest 3.

I would also suggest to check user comments on Amazon for various headsets. They know what they are talking about because they own the respective product and are not youtubers that get sponsored by their suppliers.

If you wear glasses, you should also get specific lens inserts, specifically for the headset you end up buying. like these:

https://vroptician.com/

4 hours ago, turbomax said:

it is wireless only, just like the Quest 3.

I tried wireless on my Quest 3S but the frame rates were pretty poor, so I bought the Meta high speed USB C cable for about $120 AUD. It works great. You'll need to install the Quest Link app but it's free and easy to work with.

27 minutes ago, Highmike said:

the Meta high speed USB C cable for about $120 AUD

and then you need to still purchase Virtual desktop? a cable for 120 $? I ordered one from Amazon for just $ 22 with an additional socket for simultaneous charging, sounds like Meta tries to recover their losses on the Quest 3 via the addons.

----------------------------

INIU Link Cable 5 Meters USB 3.0 to USB C Link Cable with Meta Oculus Quest 3s, Quest 3 2 1, Quest Pro, Pico 4, PC Steam VR Accessories, High Speed Data Transfer, VR Headset Cable

https://www.amazon.com/-/en/Meters-Oculus-Accessories-Transfer-Headset/dp/B0FZRYX5YD?th=1

---------------------------------

I have not yet set up my Quest 3 for MSFS 2024.  if you use that USB C link cable, do you still need virtual desktop?

Edited January 7Jan 7 by turbomax

No, I never used Virtual Desktop. The Quest Link app is all you need for the cable to work. At first I thought you needed to use SteamVR but more experience showed me that the Quest app runs the driver and works on its own.

The only complication is pretty easy; you have to boot the app from inside the Quest, ie connect the cable, put the HMD on and select PC link from the Quick Menu on the system task bar.

Actually, the PC link button is automatically offered when you put the Quest on with the cable connected, but I think you have to navigate to the button first time you connect it.

23 hours ago, turbomax said:

questions to ask yourself to make a good purchase:

how much are you prepared to spend?

Unless you already have it, also consider the cost, approximately 600 USD, for the Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo. It is awesome in VR when you feel with your hands what you see in your headset, especially with airliners like the Boeings.

On 1/6/2026 at 4:47 PM, dbw1 said:

I'm a guy in my 70s, retired pilot,

somewhat unrelated, but since they are recommending yokes and throttles etc, don't leave your VR  hangar without rudder pedals. back now to VR please.

Edited January 8Jan 8 by turbomax

28 minutes ago, turbomax said:

somewhat unrelated, but since they are recommending yokes and throttles etc, don't leave your VR  hangar without rudder pedals. back now to VR please.

I have the warthog with the pendulum pedals.

 Hi .Meta Quest 3 not an S version or you have more money than  Pimax You will need  to purchased virtual desktop application which will connect you to Wi-Fi .I'm using Wi FI no others option and works flawless .If you are going to use Meta Quest 3 turn on virtual desktop application and you will see name of your computer on the monitor ,click connect .You have to set up one of the buttons on the yoke or ... using setting in MS2024 to switch from monitor to VR .I suggest to go very simple not to play with options, Just virtual desktop and with your right pointer of Meta on  click on the icon .To use VR you will need at least Nvidia 5080 and components ,use Intel ,my suggestion .I'm  very old guy and wasn't to difficult. One  more thing, its a very wise to move to VR .Using monitors its awful experience even if you invest 25 thousand dollars in over panels etc. If you are planning to fly airlines Fenix Airbus 320 or PMGD for FS2024 Boeing are the best technically and for performance. This is my flight ,I used to drive tractor trailer from Ottawa to West Coast through Winnipeg MB ,I love the specific for this climate  province trees and flora in general. Greetings from Poland .Video with AI co pilot Amanda 

 

I have 7800x3d, 5070ti (16 gigs vram), 64 gigs ram, m.2 drives powering currently a 49" MSI monitor. Works very well.

On my shortlist are the meta quest 3(not the s), pimax crystal light and lastly the still to be released the new Steam VR offering. I'd sure like to be able to try them out first but here in Wpg that's not an option.

I'm not young either. 73 this spring. Retired pilot. What I miss most about the flying is what I got to see out the front window and my thought is a VR setup might be a great thing. 

On 1/11/2026 at 2:46 PM, dbw1 said:

What I miss most about the flying is what I got to see out the front window and my thought is a VR setup might be a great thing. 

VR in MSFS2024 (or MSFS2020, for that matter) certainly meets that expectation.

One further question - how good is your internet connection?  If it's fast and can run a 5Gbps wireless signal, then all of the above suggestions (such as Virtual Desktop/Quest 3 cableless, etc) are open to you.   If it's a bit shaky, then you will need to opt for, either a link cable option on the Quest 3  (I personally find that the low-cost Virtual Desktop non-cable set up works better than the Quest Link with a cable) or opt for a cable-only product such as the Pimax Crystal Light.

I own - and use - both the Quest 3 and the Pimax Crystal Light.

Edited January 14Jan 14 by AJZip2