Pimax 4K

[Thad]

Salutations pilots,

 

 I have been looking into the Pimax 4K VR headset. It looks very good performance wise and at a reasonable price.

 

I am considering taking the VR plunge!

 

I have found Youtube videos with Warthunder, Elite Dangerous and auto racing sims using it. Can anyone point me to other flight simulators or our beloved IL2 Stumovik using the Pimax 4K VR headset? Thanks.

Edited September 16, 2017 by Thad

[Avyx]

I wonder how Pimax 4k VR is, compared to VIVE / Rift

[TG-55Panthercules]

Check out the VR sub-forum (here: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/forum/109-virtual-reality-and-vr-controllers/ ) and particularly this thread:  https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/29121-grendels-pimax-4k/

 

Lots of info about VR in general, the Pimax in particular, and some comparisons between the Pimax, Vive, Rift, etc.

[blitze]

Pimax 4k, single lcd 4k screen offering 110 DOV but only able to upscale 1440p input and 1080p. Benefit though is no screen door compared to competition.

 

Only has giro based head tracking which does not offer 6 degrees tracking like other headsets but can be used with 3rd party solutions to help in that area.

 

Benefits of Pimax is a company pushing the tech with good customer response but they are continually developing. Their software has been lacking in the past from my understanding but they are resolving issues and continually developing.

 

Soon their next headset is going kick starter which is the Pimax 8k. It will be a dual 4k screen headset with 200 degrees of view and full 6 degrees of motin tracking plus controllers.

 

Release is slated for December with lighthouses and controllers in February.

 

A company to watch and keep an eye on. Check out their forums for more.

[Thad]

The 8K sounds very promising.

[ICDP]

I would hold off on any VR purchases until the new Windows mixed reality headsets are released in around one month (17 Oct).  It has been confirmed they will have Steam VR compatability.  They are 1440x1440, 6 DoF and the Dell and Lenovo ones are 110 degree FOV.  They will also be cheaper because they use inside out tracking rather than lighthouses.

 

I had a Rift CV1 until it broke, immersion is imense but poor IQ is a massive issue.  Rather than jump straight at another rift, I decided to wait for VR to move to the next level, or at least one that has acceptable IQ.

 

Edited September 17, 2017 by ICDP

[Thad]

Yea, probably a good idea to check out the upcoming Windows mixed reality headsets. 1440x1440 with 6dof sounds attractive.

[Avyx]

I was ready to buy either the VIVE or Rift, but i better wait.

[Thad]

Both HP ($329.99) and Acer ($299.99) are working on their own dev kits (as well as ASUS and Dell) that share essentially the exact same Windows VR technical specifications. According to the product listings they each feature:

• Both lenses are 1440 x 1440 bringing the full resolution to 2880×1440 combined,
• 2.89” diagonal display size (x2),
• Two cameras embedded on the front for inside-out positional tracking,
• 95-degree horizontal field of view,
• Up to 90Hz refresh rate,
• Front-hinged display, similar to the PSVR,
• Built in mic and audio jack for headphones,
• Single cable with HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity points,
• Four meter-long cable.   
• The biggest strength of the Windows VR platform though is perhaps the mere fact that it doesn’t require a bunch of third-party programs to work. You plug it in with a USB and HDMI connector and you’re good to go. It runs off of Windows itself and that’s it. No cameras, no trackers, no Steam, no Oculus Home. It’s just Windows in VR. There’s something really appealing about that simplicity.

Edited September 17, 2017 by Thad

[ICDP]

 

Both HP ($329.99) and Acer ($299.99) are working on their own dev kits (as well as ASUS and Dell) that share essentially the exact same Windows VR technical specifications. According to the product listings they each feature:

• Both lenses are 1440 x 1440 bringing the full resolution to 2880×1440 combined,
• 2.89” diagonal display size (x2),
• Two cameras embedded on the front for inside-out positional tracking,
• 95-degree horizontal field of view,
• Up to 90Hz refresh rate,
• Front-hinged display, similar to the PSVR,
• Built in mic and audio jack for headphones,
• Single cable with HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity points,
• Four meter-long cable.   
• The biggest strength of the Windows VR platform though is perhaps the mere fact that it doesn’t require a bunch of third-party programs to work. You plug it in with a USB and HDMI connector and you’re good to go. It runs off of Windows itself and that’s it. No cameras, no trackers, no Steam, no Oculus Home. It’s just Windows in VR. There’s something really appealing about that simplicity.

 

 

Having read the specs of the different versions, the Dell and Lenovo ones offer 110-degree FOV.  So I would not consider the HP or Acer with 95-degree at it would be a large disadvantage.

 

Other things worth bearing in mind is the need for HDMI 2.0 to get full 90Hz refresh.  It's possible a HDMI 2.0 to DP converter might work.

Edited September 17, 2017 by ICDP

[dburne]

I look forward to hearing reports from users on how these " mixed reality" devices work out for what we do with flight sims.

 

In the meantime I myself am still going to wait and see what next generation from Oculus and HTC brings. 

[Thad]

Dburne is wise.

[chiliwili69]

Fenris indicated here that the inside-out tracking technique was not fast enough for the requirements of combat flight sims:

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/31215-pipmax-8k-5k-vr-headsets-coming-kickstarter-month/?p=510870

[Thad]

Pimax made it! 

They reached their kickstarter goal of $200,000 in 1 hour and 13 mins!