VR and GPU Discussion

[Flyboy-Pumpzy]

Hey everyone! I just have a few questions regarding the setup of a VR headset and the GPU requirement for great gameplay. I am getting an Oculus Quest 2 (Is this a good VR headset for flight simulator use?) in a few weeks, and I want to know how to prepare it and set it up for my PC so that I can start playing IL2 Sturmovik Great Battles in VR. Moving on to the GPU, I just wanted to know if a GTX 1660 will support IL2 Sturmovik Great Battles and make it an amazing and immersive gaming experience for my flight simulator. Thank you for anyone who answers my questions and I hope everyone is doing amazing and staying healthy!

[No601_Prangster]

The GTX1660 will be an the low end for VR so you will likely need to turn most setting down to low. More importantly you'll need a CPU capable of 4.2 GHz or higher to maintain a useful framerate.

[Mtnbiker1998]

a 1660 is a little on the low end, but I have a buddy in my group who flys with a 1060 and its playable, you'll likely be flying on low settings but with the 1660 having a bit extra horsepower, you should be good.

20 minutes ago, No601_Prangster said:

More importantly you'll need a CPU capable of 4.2 GHz or higher to maintain a useful framerate.

This is straight up not true. Any decently modern i5 or i7 will have no trouble as long as you aren't running any hugely complex missions or hosting servers. 

[=420=Syphen]

1660 will be underpowered. The Quest 2 needs a little more overhead then people expect due to the video compression over USB layer that is added ontop of your standard PCVR rendering. I'm sure you'll be able to turn the settings down enough to run semi decent but it may not look fantastic. 

[Flyboy-Pumpzy]

1 hour ago, =420=Syphen said:

1660 will be underpowered. The Quest 2 needs a little more overhead than people expect due to the video compression over USB layer that is added on top of your standard PCVR rendering. I'm sure you'll be able to turn the settings down enough to run semi decent, but it may not look fantastic. 

Should I upgrade my GPU? Do low settings look bad? I can upgrade my GPU to a 2070 at highest with my MOBO. Does a 2070 run well for VR IL2 Sturmovik? Thank you for answering! 

[Picchio]

4 hours ago, Flyboy-Pumpzy said:

Should I upgrade my GPU? Do low settings look bad? I can upgrade my GPU to a 2070 at highest with my MOBO. Does a 2070 run well for VR IL2 Sturmovik? Thank you for answering! 

 

At low settings it will certainly look a bit dated. I had used a 2070S for quite some time, coupled with a Valve Index and a 6600K. You shouldn't expect to be able to keep the highest graphics settings: clouds, shadows and view distance will have to be reduced. I'm assuming that for "great gameplay" you'll have a hard time tolerating a low (less than 45) framerate: I'm saying this because in air combat you find yourself in an environment that moves around you very quickly (aircraft, landscape). So, a few compromises will be necessary. I was able to achieve an acceptable experience balancing resolution (I was able to supersample just a bit from the Index's native resolution) and graphics quality.

To conclude, someone wiser than me often says that we can always become accustomed to things.

I hope I've been of some help!

Edited February 1, 2022 by Picchio

[Luftschiff]

5 hours ago, Flyboy-Pumpzy said:

Should I upgrade my GPU? Do low settings look bad? I can upgrade my GPU to a 2070 at highest with my MOBO. Does a 2070 run well for VR IL2 Sturmovik? Thank you for answering! 

 

A 2070 should definitely be fine for flying and runs well, won't look bad!

I'm on an OG quest and a 1070 and have a blast. A good CPU will help a lot too.

[Flyboy-Pumpzy]

6 hours ago, Luftschiff said:

 

A 2070 should definitely be fine for flying and runs well, won't look bad!

I'm on an OG quest and a 1070 and have a blast. A good CPU will help a lot too.

Would I be able to play on all high graphics quality? Thank you ?? 

[ITAF_Airone1989]

7 minutes ago, Flyboy-Pumpzy said:

Would I be able to play on all high graphics quality? Thank you ?? 

Almost if you play with 2d screen, absolutely not if you are looking for a VR.

I have the same card and most of the settings are close to medium

[Picchio]

1 minute ago, ITAF_Airone1989 said:

Almost if you play with 2d screen, absolutely not if you are looking for a VR.

I have the same card and most of the settings are close to medium

 

Airone is right - I will add that to have high settings you will have to drop the rendering resolution.

Edited February 1, 2022 by Picchio

[Luftschiff]

1 hour ago, Flyboy-Pumpzy said:

Would I be able to play on all high graphics quality? Thank you ?? 

 

You'll be able to play on high enough to be both pleased, wowed and competitive.
I run most things on high in VR on my 1070, with reflections and shadows and some other less noticeable things turned down a bit - but the quest's resolution is lower than that of the Q2 so you may have to fiddle a bit. The point is I'm pretty sure you'd be very pleased, on a 2070 but not so much on a 1660.

Edited February 1, 2022 by Luftschiff

[Drum]

If you can swing it, get a Reverb G2 instead of that Quest 2 because it will work and look better at it's native res (50% SteamVR setting) and come closer to what I would consider the "amazing and immersive VR experience" you're asking for.  People who upgraded from a Quest 2 to the Reverb G2 don't describe the Q2 as amazing, they do say that about the G2 though.

 

The Oculus uses it's own software which reduces the FPS performance and won't let you use the VRNeckSafer head turning mod which allows you to look to your six much easier.  These VR headsets have a sweet spot you need to look through in the center of the lens to keep from seeing the blurry image on the outer 50% area, so you'll have to learn to turn your head like an owl to see anything behind you in game unless you're really flexible or have a swivel chair.

 

My conscience is now clear after reading your request for an amazing experience...  2070+G2=?      1660+Q2=?

Edited February 1, 2022 by Drum

[=420=Syphen]

41 minutes ago, Drum said:

If you can swing it, get a Reverb G2 instead of that Quest 2 because it will work and look better at it's native res (50% SteamVR setting) and come closer to what I would consider the "amazing and immersive VR experience" you're asking for.  People who upgraded from a Quest 2 to the Reverb G2 don't describe the Q2 as amazing, they do say that about the G2 though.

 

The Oculus uses it's own software which reduces the FPS performance and won't let you use the VRNeckSafer head turning mod which allows you to look to your six much easier.  These VR headsets have a sweet spot you need to look through in the center of the lens to keep from seeing the blurry image on the outer 50% area, so you'll have to learn to turn your head like an owl to see anything behind you in game unless you're really flexible or have a swivel chair.

 

My conscience is now clear after reading your request for an amazing experience...  2070+G2=?      1660+Q2=?

 

I'd agree with this. I love the Quest 2. I use it for all room scale VR (contractors, Onward, alyx, bone works etc) but for IL2 and DCS, I swap to a Reverb G2. Better spotting and clarity. I loath the video compression artifacts, even with wired link or airlink maxed to 200mbps, it is still not as clear as the G2. 

 

But I still like both headsets, just for different uses. 

[Hinterseer]

On 2/1/2022 at 10:03 PM, Drum said:

The Oculus uses it's own software which reduces the FPS performance and won't let you use the VRNeckSafer head turning mod which allows you to look to your six much easier. 

 

I use the Ocules software and the VRNecksafer on my Q2 with no problems at all? (steam game)
running 90hz and 90 fps and high settings ingame.
(I7 @4.6 ghz - RTX 3060 TI)

The Ocules software is performing just the same as when i use OpenXR as active runtime.
(it can be changed in the Ocules software)

The G2 is surely better, but cost the dobbel up money.
and it is fore sure not twice as good as the Q2

 

On 2/1/2022 at 10:47 PM, =420=Syphen said:

I loath the video compression artifacts, even with wired link or airlink maxed to 200mbps

Thats not max? i run with 350 (mayby there is a max for airlink? i only use cabel - as the G2 does)
try dynamic bitrate and bump the offset up with maybe ~50 mbps
(settings in ocules debug tool - and dont use a cheap cable - use the original, it do outperform the 3 cheaper versions of cables i have tryed - all are usb 3.2 versions)

Using Q2 on airlink and compare it to a G2 with cable, is not fair (The made a new cable for the G2 just to fix performance)
airlink just sucks - like Wifi

But the video compression dont do any good for the picture i will agree with that
That its the downside of Q2 - transfering over USB and then the Q2 CPU has to decode the video that your PC GPU just have encoded.
Where a "real" VR HMD uses a displayport or etc.

The Q2 HMD is best for standalone games, that runs nativ on the HMD (the kids game )
But IMO it still a very nice entry headset for half the price compared to the G2
I have over 350 game hours in the Q2 HMD and many more to come, while waiting on 3 gen. HMD' s (and thats not the G2)

 

On 2/1/2022 at 3:32 AM, Flyboy-Pumpzy said:

Does a 2070 run well for VR IL2 Sturmovik?

Its close to the performance i get on the 3060ti
I wouldent go for Q2 VR on a 1660.
Your CPU matter all so.
The cable matter.
your connection and routing (ping) matters (the Q2 is all about low latency if you want to get good visuals)
Lots of IL-2 server can't provide that, when there is many people using it - i think its the game engine and not the server hardware, that are cousing that?

[Drum]

Thanks for the clarity, H_Hinterseer.  I got the FSR mod mixed up with VRNeckSafer mod, apologies to anyone who were messed up over that.