I’m considering getting back into the hobby of flight simming after being away for a few years.
I’ll need to buy a new PC and a VR headset to get started, but i wonder how good the newer headset has gotten. I tried X-Plane with an Oculus Rift (first generation) VR headset back in 2017/18 on a mid-range system with an Nvidia 2070 graphics card. I remember being amazed by the realism, but I struggled with low resolution and a lot of stuttering. This was, of course, due to the system specs, but I’m curious about how far VR has come with the improvements over the past few years.
I could read the instruments but had to lean in to see smaller text. I also remember that runways were hard to spot until I was close to the final approach because of the low resolution. How much better is the experience with the newer VR headsets today compared to the first-generation Oculus Rift?
And which headset is the “go-to” option today? My total budget for a VR headset is approximately $700.
Id say a lot of people start with the Quest 3 due to it’s price point and new user friendliness and then move up to something higher end. I’ve used a Rift S but i got a HP Reverb G2 maybe a year or so later. Decent headset but support is waning because Microsoft gotta be…microsoft.
Either way, You’ll need something beefy to run MSFS at higher resolutions while maintaining performance. I say as long as you’re getting a smooth experience and aren’t throwing up, your system is “good enough.” Typically the $2000-$3000 range of computers will be good enough for VR. Even then, you’ll may need to spend some time tweaking graphics settings and headset parameters and stuff to get a smooth experience. I’ve found once you’ve found settings you like, you typically don’t change. Far away objects appear small as they should, but due to the way the game works, they’ll be of lesser resolution until you get closer. There are plenty of guides out there on the internet regarding optimization of x headset for MSFS
Ultimately, it’s a mixed bag of who you talk to. Some say VR still needs to cook as a technology and others never want to play another pancake (2D) game again
For 700 you’re looking at a Quest3 at 499 or pimax crystal light 699/799/899.
You’ll need a 7800x3d together with a 4090 to really appreciate it. Or you’ll need to lower your resolution a bit with other less capable hardware. All in all it’ll be a hell of an upgrade coming from a rift…
Start with the quest3. It just simply works well all the time. Doesn’t need all the tweaking and babysitting the Pmax crystal needs. And to make this work, don’t sacrifice on the rig to drive the VR. Get the best rig you can afford. 12900k and 4080 at minimum. This is what I am playing on, and I am already waiting for the processor to die so I can go to the latest I9 and 4090. I’ve got a bit of an aggressive OC on this rig and running voltages on the high end of what is considered the safe margin, so I’ll give it a year or so until the CPU dies. But if you don’t want to mess with an OC to get really good VR results, then do a 13900k, 4080/4090 and 64 gigs of really good memory with a dedicated NVMe just for the sim and all its addons.
I have heard that there is an issue with the Quest 3 going back to December 2023 and still not yet (I think) resolved by Meta, which keeps some VR headsets in low rez mode after using the battery economy mode.
yup. I’d made my Rift CV1 last up until about 6 months ago and graduated to the Quest 3, via Virtual Desktop. I also upgraded my GPU from a GT1080ti to a 4080s and as you said, it was a hell of a difference.
However, if I delayed by a few weeks, I might have ended up going for the Pimax Crystal light instead, as that would probably have not cost too much more than the Q3 and all of the accessories that make it more useable.
I’ve never tried that battery saving mode out and now don’t intend to.
The Q3 does have its issues. One that affects me occasionally, is a loss of tracking, which appears to be more likely to occur during particularly sweaty sessions. Fortunately, so far, I have been able to get it working again, without too much trouble. Also, the UK doesn’t get too many periods of high ambient temperatures, so I can forego using VR when it’s particularly warm and that minimises the occurrences.
With the battery-life extending strap i have, I can get about 3 hours of use, but for rare longer flights, I just take a break, while in autopilot, and switch to 2d mode while the headset recharges a little. Pause at top of descent is a useful option.
Absolutely. It’s not solved.
My Quest 3 is still locked in low resolution mode…And I did not use the battery saver mode. I switched it on to confirm my problem and see that it changed nothing, that my headset was indeed already in low rez.
I’m waiting for a Pimax Crystal light because I don’t believe that Meta will solve the problem after more than 9 months. They asked people to contact helpdesk. The helpdesk sends mail asking to be patient…And you’re slowly waiting until the warranty period is over…Good strategy…
Can’t understand why this is still a ‘thing’ and hasn’t been sorted out by Meta yet. From a quick ‘google’ it seems to have been an ongoing issue for at least 7 months and is as yet without a solution. Yet headsets are still being sold without (as far as I can see anyway) any assurance that affected headsets will be replaced or fixed out of the guarantee period if the issue still remains unresolved.
This issue alone would prevent me from touching it with a 100 foot pole!
You’ll do good. Buy Virtual Desktop, use Ultra or Godlike mode(more like ultra for that card, you need to test it), SSW Always, 72hz and you’re good to go.
I have Pico4 with a 5800X3D and a 7900XTX.
I’ve decided to go with the Quest 3 for now. As for the PC, I’m definitely planning to invest in a high-end system. I’ve noticed that desktops with a 4090 GPU are priced around $700-$1,000 more than those with a 4080. I’m not entirely sure if the performance difference justifies such a significant price gap, so at the moment, I’m leaning towards the 4080.
Does anyone have any thoughts on Intel vs. AMD CPUs for MSFS? Which one tends to perform better? It seems like AMD might be the better choice for gaming. I’m currently considering the 7800X3D, but I’m open to switching if Intel offers better performance.
I don’t know tbh Baracus. I haven’t got the Q3 (only the Q2) so I have no user knowledge only reader info about it
It would be great though if they could come up with a solution though since this is the one I would ideally like to buy after I get my new PC in a couple of months. My intention would be to use it with the link cable I already have for the Q2 and use a high bit rate to reduce the effects of the compression I have heard about.
Yes, I’m in a similar situation. It seems (?) the best value headset but not for me atm because of this issue. The Pimax Crystal Light looks to me to be the next logical choice for me but that also seems to have its own drawbacks.
