inexpensive way to get into VR?

I've been playing both DCS and elite dangerous for Awhile and have only heard good things about VR with them. As a high school student, I don't get much income so I can't afford the more expensive models. Any recommendations for budget headsets that will work with elite and DCS?

thanks

Edit: rift S or Samsung odyssey +?

Yeah most bang for buck for VR currently would be the Rift S.

It is a great headset as well.

Check around on the internet. There was Lenovo Explorer without controllers for 100$ new. Maybe you can find some also with controllers was 200$. That is best gen1 WMR if we not counting SO. 1440x1440.

Second best choice is SO+ for 300$ still good option.

Other options are 400$ Rift-S and higher all this if we talk only about new HMD other choice is to buy some used one.

About GPU your minimum and cheapest option is RX 5700XT. it is 400$ GPU with performance in pair with 500$ RTX 2070S with possible potential benefit with new RDNA architecture using RIS (Radeon Image Sharpening) and Scaling to increase performance to Nvidia competitor.

Don't get me wrong Nvidia 2080ti is the best choice but most expensive. We are now talking about best buy and cheapest options to get decent and satisfying results in VR.

Used Odyssey or Odyssey plus is probably the best bang for your buck. Same resolution as Rift S but half the cost or less.

Check around on the internet. There was Lenovo Explorer without controllers for 100$ new. Maybe you can find some also with controllers was 200$. That is best gen1 WMR if we not counting SO. 1440x1440.

Second best choice is SO+ for 300$ still good option.

Other options are 400$ Rift-S and higher all this if we talk only about new HMD other choice is to buy some used one.

 

About GPU your minimum and cheapest option is RX 5700XT. it is 400$ GPU with performance in pair with 500$ RTX 2070S with possible potential benefit with new RDNA architecture using RIS (Radeon Image Sharpening) and Scaling to increase performance to Nvidia competitor.

Don't get me wrong Nvidia 2080ti is the best choice but most expensive. We are now talking about best buy and cheapest options to get decent and satisfying results in VR.

I'm building a PC with a ryzen 5 1600, 16 gb of 3200 ram and an rx 570, would that work for the f14?

Not for vr ! ( I hope you dropped a "0" on the 570)

Used Odyssey or Odyssey plus is probably the best bang for your buck. Same resolution as Rift S but half the cost or less.

Plus AMOLED displays instead of LCD!

I agree - Odyssey or + would be a good bet if you're on a tight budget - and they've been available at low prices new, recently. Just have to find one ;)

edit: just had a look and it seems the + is back up to normal price - but they are regularly reduced, so if you're not in a hurry may be worth waiting. Before going for Rift S, make sure your IPD is within a few mm of the default 63.5mm

Plus AMOLED displays instead of LCD!

Whith pentile matrix (2 blue sub-pixels and 2 red sub-pixels for 3 green sub-pixels) which means less details clarity than full RGB LCD displays (3 RGB sub-pixels per pixel).:smilewink:

Honestly, my Rift S colors are good enough and I don't miss a single thing from CV1, not even OLED colors.

Whith pentile matrix (2 blue sub-pixels and 2 red sub-pixels for 3 green sub-pixels) which means less details clarity than full RGB LCD displays (3 RGB sub-pixels per pixel).:smilewink:

 

Honestly, my Rift S colors are good enough and I don't miss a single thing from CV1, not even OLED colors.

Same here. Can't go back to CV 1.

Gents , the question is moot if the OP plans on using a 570 ...

Really? I don't know my way around AMD graphics cards any more, but from the comparison articles I've seen across the 'net, the RX570 is on a par with the GTX 1060 - and that is perfectly capable of running DCS World in VR - I know, because up till a couple of months ago, it's what I was using.

.. Any recommendations for budget headsets that will work with elite and DCS?

On my case, I chose a second hand Oculus Rift CV1 .. it was half the price of a brand new unit, and has worked fine.

Keep in mind that you also need a powerful GPU to drive the VR headset, my GTX-970 (also second hand) is at the minimum for VR.

I'm building a PC with a ryzen 5 1600, 16 gb of 3200 rams and an RX 570, would that work for the f14?

Don't if you planing for VR! This is just for 40-60 FPS on 1920x1080 monitor medium to high details.

VR, forget about it. VR is tricky stuff and depends on individual experience. Same set up with two people could have the total opposite experience.

About that Ryzen 5 1600 and 3200MHz RAM, also everything above 2733MHz on Ryzen second gen is pointless, no real benefit from higher speed so this first gen 1600 is in the best case the same. RX 570 is not bad but it is low range GPU under 200$.

For your best option is to skip this rig and continuing to save some more money.

Try to get minimum to MSI Tomahawk B450 and Ryzen5 3600, 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz CL 14 or minimum CL 16 RAM, some Nvme SSD and minimum RX5700XT. This is minimum for VR and it is just around 300$ more than that outdated first gen Ryzen 1600 but it is twice performances.

This will not bottleneck your possible upgrade, even 2080Ti is working fine on this MB and CPU. You will be ready for the future with this rig only possible expansion to 32GB RAM with additional 2x8 3200MHz and upgraded GPU. With such rig, you are ready for a minimum next 5 years with minor upgrades.

This what you are building is not real upgrade and in the year you will be in the same situation as you are now. Think about it before you buy this.

On my case, I chose a second hand Oculus Rift CV1 .. it was half the price of a brand new unit, and has worked fine.

 

Keep in mind that you also need a powerful GPU to drive the VR headset, my GTX-970 (also second hand) is at the minimum for VR.

That is exactly what I meant could get a completely wrong impression about VR and get desapointed. GTX 1060 or RX570 is the similar performances but for jus low level of details experience which could disappoint you in VR.

I'm not saying it is not possible but in this case, is better to continue to save this additional 300$ before upgread.

Rudel, I'm respecting your opinion and experience but I will personally do as I say.

... in this case, is better to continue to save this additional 300$ before upgread.

Rudel, I'm respecting your opinion and experience but I will personally do as I say.

Thanks for your politeness, but the thread subject is "inexpensive way to get into VR" .. continuing to save $$$ isnt really providing an answer to the OP.

Of course, a more expensive VR set and GPU will give a better experience ... but does that means that spending lots of money is the only way to enjoy VR?

... I dont share that view, as a used set will give the same experience that the top spenders got just two years ago .. it was a nice experience then, and it sure is still nice today ... not top of the line experience? of course, but experience nonetheless.

I would go after a second hand motherboard, memory, and GPU on eBay to save money. There are so many people upgrading to the new Ryzen platform that there is a lot of good equipment out there. Many of them combos if you want a first gen Ryzen CPU.

I kept my MB but sold my memory and CPU on eBay just the other day. Got a little better than half of retail cost.

Really? I don't know my way around AMD graphics cards any more, but from the comparison articles I've seen across the 'net, the RX570 is on a par with the GTX 1060 - and that is perfectly capable of running DCS World in VR - I know, because up till a couple of months ago, it's what I was using.

Your point is well taken , but the 570 , though comparable , does not quite match the 1060's performance , which in any case no one is happy with in VR with DCS . . Everyone who has one is looking to upgrade .

The performance issues are exacerbated by the suggestions of the Rift s and Odyssey , which have higher pixel counts .

A used 1070 at about $225 , or a new 5700 at $350 would be much better choices Imo . I would consider a 1660 ti as well . At about $250+new , it smokes the 570 .

Sent Pm