Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PrimaX 4k Comparison

[dburne]

With the impending release of VR support for BoX, I am sure there are some folks in here contemplating getting their first VR headset and wondering maybe what the differences were between some of the names they keep hearing about. Or even just wondering what the heck is this VR thingy we are hearing so much about in here of late?

 

So with some time to kill as I anxiously await for VR support to drop for this great sim, I thought I would do some searching and see if I could find maybe some good info that might be helpful to those that have about decided to go ahead and get one of these but confused on what they should buy. After all no matter which one gets, it still represents a pretty good investment. Plus I learned a thing or two about these three headsets myself as well. Oculus, HTC, and PrimaX are the three we see keep being mentioned in here

Below is some good info on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PrimaX 4K.

 

Oculus Rift versus HTC Vive Spec Comparison

 

PrimaX 4K VR Headset Review

 

I would also encourage anyone looking at getting into VR, to check on the system requirements and insure their rig is up to the task. I am sure most in here probably are , flight simmers tend to run some rather beefy systems, but still good idea to check up on this as VR Headsets will certainly tax a system. I know Oculus has a good system compatibility checker anyone can download from their website.

 

I hope this info is helpful to someone looking at dipping their toes into the VR waters.

Edited April 11, 2017 by dburne

[Lensman1945]

Good stuff from Don.

I would just add...you can try an Oculus Rift Demo near you:

https://live.oculus.com/search/your-location

Well worth trying, to get what all the hype is about and great fun!

 

Dave

[Bando]

Very interesting read indeed.

Still haven't made up my mind.

Waiting for some in depth reviews of the fellow simmers here.

[coconut]

Tested on Rift vs Vive:

 

By the way it's "Pimax" without R.

[LonnyEnds]

Just a heads up to all that Pimax 4k is currently unplayable with 2.009. Severe distortion of image with head movement as per OR HDK2. 

[C6_lefuneste]

as per OR HDK2. 

as per OSVR HDK2

[sinned]

Ok, i couldnt wait further for more reviews. I ordered both rift and vive via amazon.

 

Later this week, i hope i received at least one of them..

 

I am so dying to try this.

[dburne]

I ordered both rift and vive via amazon.

 

Well that is certainly covering all bases!

 

 

[mga]

Ok, i couldnt wait further for more reviews. I ordered both rift and vive via amazon.

 

Later this week, i hope i received at least one of them..

 

I am so dying to try this.

 

Whoa, is that how you double the resolution?   But anyway, I would be interested in a comparison between the two of them with regards to BOS. 

[sinned]

Whoa, is that how you double the resolution? But anyway, I would be interested in a comparison between the two of them with regards to BOS.

Yes, i am not good at writing or expressing my thoughts but i will do a quick comparison after i have both units.

It looks like i will get oculus first-arriving on Wed.

 

I feel like a kid again-waiting for the day to open presents on xmas.

[Maxiku]

Hey Sinned - Any thoughts on them so far?

 

I bought into the Vive (I love the hand controllers - there are so many great games that use them) but never tried the Rift.

I'm being pressured into buying another VR set by one of my offspring, but don't have any real experience of the (significently cheaper than a Vive) Rift.

[sinned]

No thoughts on them so far.

When i ordered, rift read wed and vive sat. Excited that i am going to have them so soon.

 

Cum wed, i checked with concierge after work and nothing. checked amazon status and it reads Wed (April 26) and vive Sat (apr 29).

 

Lovely.

[dburne]

Hey Sinned - Any thoughts on them so far?

 

I bought into the Vive (I love the hand controllers - there are so many great games that use them) but never tried the Rift.

I'm being pressured into buying another VR set by one of my offspring, but don't have any real experience of the (significently cheaper than a Vive) Rift.

 

Fwiw,

 

Oculus does offer some awesome Touch Controllers , and also one gets some very good Touch supported games with them. The Oculus Store also has some pretty cool free apps as well.

 

Might be good to try it  for your offspring, then might have the best of both worlds.

[sinned]

Judging from tracking status from carrier, i may get the oculus first on Mon or Tue.

 

I am so excited.

[dburne]

Judging from tracking status from carrier, i may get the oculus first on Mon or Tue.

 

I am so excited.

 

 

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

[TP-Blackjack-]

Judging from tracking status from carrier, i may get the oculus first on Mon or Tue.

 

I am so excited.

You should be, flight sims will never be the same again for you, IL-2 BoX in VR is quite brilliant.

[sinned]

Got rift last night. I usually throw away boxes and packagings of peripherals but rift packaging is quite good. I am going to keep these.

 

VR is very impressive. The cockpit really comes alive and you would notice so many details that you didnt notice before.

 

Id'ing plane and ground targets are difficult. Very difficult. I think low resolution is the culprit.

 

I miss the the sharp crisp resolution of my previous 3 verical monitor set up but i can live with vr.

 

The immersion is superb. I had a bogey on my six and as my evasive manuevers heat up, I found myself phsysically looking over my shoulders left and right in sweat while trying to maintain my view also in front. Similar to those scenes in topgun..

As bogeys bullets and tracers are passing my canopy, I literally ducked, almost hitting my head against the desk...

 

VR should be made illegal.

 

Vive is arriving later this week, i am hoping for better resolution in vive.

Edited April 26, 2017 by sinned

[dburne]

Vive is arriving later this week, i am hoping for better resolution in vive.

 

The resolution is the same in both Rift and Vive.

 

Have you tried upping your Pixel Density ( SuperSampling) for the Rift yet?

While the resolution certainly will not be what you would get with your monitor setup, it does help a little  in clarity.

 

On my rig I can easily run higher PD settings, but the higher the harder spotting becomes. I have settled on 1.3 PD as the best balance for me.

I run on Ultra settings, with terrain distance  x4, and the following tweak for terrain:

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/23699-make-il-2-look-stunning-improved-ground-detail-and-visibilit/

 

The Pixel Density can be accessed through the Oculus SDK Debug Tool, however I use the Oculus Tray Tool developed by a user - ApollyonVR - where one can set it to start with Windows and assign a PD setting per game. Saves having to have the debug tool, launch it to make a change each time.

The Tray Tool is available here:

https://forums.oculus.com/community/discussion/47247/oculus-traytool-supersampling-profiles-hmd-disconnect-fixes-hopefully/p1

 

But yes current generation of VR is lacking in resolution compared to a good monitor. For myself though the immersion itself is so good I rarely think about the lower resolution.

Edited April 26, 2017 by dburne

[sinned]

Thanks dbourne. Really appreciate comprehensive guide.

 

I am also searching ways to reduce SDE.

 

Is SDE not noticeable to others?

 

Maybe i need to buy another pc.

[dburne]

Thanks dbourne. Really appreciate comprehensive guide.

 

I am also searching ways to reduce SDE.

 

Is SDE not noticeable to others?

 

Maybe i need to buy another pc.

 

Naw, it is the bane of first generation VR.

Nothing you can really do about it.

 

I notice it sometimes, and sometimes I do not, depending on the game I am playing and the colors of the environment.

For some reason I do not notice it as much in BoS as I do in some other games.

 

I guess I have gotten so used to it , it does not really bother me much at all.

[sinned]

Thanks dbourne and many other vr supporters for recommendations and reviews of BOS VR.

 

I probably kept my doubts about VR capabilities and would not have gone thru the buying online and waiting torture if it werent for the great reviews.

 

When I fly to target, I used to just press level flight ingress to and do something else away from pc. Now I am enjoying the 10 15 min ingress flight as i enjoy scenery, sky, cloud, sound, cockpit details and every and anything that I can see via VR.

 

I am very ready for my first carrier take off from Kaga or Yorktown.

 

Pls come Pacific.

Edited April 28, 2017 by sinned

[sinned]

Got vive. This thing is quite heavy compared to rift. I can get my laptop to reconize it but not my more powerful desktop.

 

Very strange. Usb 3 should do the trick?

 

Maybe reformat win7?

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

USB3 not required. Should really only need SteamVR from memory, but that was a year ago.

[sinned]

Yeah i have both 2 and 3.

 

Rift is my best gf now. Comtemplating if i should go thru hassle of windows refomat... feeling like vive is a liability - extra vr set now due to heat of the moment purchase..

 

Will keep trying

[SYN_Mike77]

I don't know much about VR but I came across this article on Acers' version in this article:  http://www.tomshardware.com/news/acer-mixed-reality-hmd-hands-on,34282.html  

 

How does this sound?  at $300.00 it might get even more people  (like me) into the VR world.

[DrReaper]

I have the Vive working. Came here looking for best graphics settings for IL2. All it all you can't beat the immersion VR gives you. I am still new to IL2 so I am trying to land different planes. So far I landed a single plane.

 

VR controls need a mention also... it is impossible to see your keyboard. I am trying voice attack. You control things with your voice. gear rases and lowers your gear. canopy is supposed to open/close the canopy but it fails most of the time. Still tweeking the software to make it work right. 

[dburne]

I have the Vive working. Came here looking for best graphics settings for IL2. All it all you can't beat the immersion VR gives you. I am still new to IL2 so I am trying to land different planes. So far I landed a single plane.

 

VR controls need a mention also... it is impossible to see your keyboard. I am trying voice attack. You control things with your voice. gear rases and lowers your gear. canopy is supposed to open/close the canopy but it fails most of the time. Still tweeking the software to make it work right. 

 

Welcome to the forums and this great sim!

For VR it is hard to beat a good HOTAS setup.

I have no problem flying in VR never needing to reach the keyboard , either in Il-2 or DCS. 

 

I have a Warthog stick and throttle, plus a CH Throttle Quadrant added for the extra axis and buttons as well.

 

I do plan on adding Voice Attack in the near future, mainly for ATC and AI commands.

 

And I agree, nothing I have ever seen compares to the immersion I now get in flight simming with my Oculus Rift.

I got it on Jan 15th and hooked it up the next day, have not done any gaming on my monitor since. 

I still have that "wow" factor every time I start a new flight.