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I was recently considering to get a VR visor soon.
One to use with my PC and admittedly its MAIN use would be to play HL Alyx in the way it's intented to be played, with everything else coming just as a bonus on top.

Now, since at this point I'm FAR from being up to date about the options available, my question would be:

what are currently the "state of the art" options for VR goggles that don't come with unnecessarily expensive "intergated hardware"?

To be perfectly clear I genuinely couldn't give less of a fuck of using this stuff detached from my PC. I just want to know about the best lens and screen I could get for the lowest price point.

For reference, I was keeping an eye on the Meta's Quest 3 (but I'd frankly prefer to eat cardboard rather than to give money to META, if there were other options) and I'm kinda curious to check what the upcoming Steam Frame will turn out to be, but if there are other noteworthy options I'm open to suggestions.
 
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Whatever you end up buying try your best to get one that's wireless. Having that shit hanging behind you can be quite immersion breaking.
 
Wireless and having enough room to walk in with the headset goes a long way for immersion and comfortability.

Beat Saber is so much fun!

I used my Oculus Quest wireless with PC via a WiFi router. Easy to set up and low lag.

Image quality takes a bit of a hit as the image is streamed from the PC.
 
Have you tried VR before? Even tho the more modern tech and certain settings helps with motion sickness, some people still can't handle it. Make sure you can before you make a big investment in it. Some people even get migraines from it, while others eventually adjust.
 
Steam Frame looks to be the new hotness unless they really screw up something about it. It's the first time I've been truly hyped for game hardware in quite a while.
 
You should wait for PSVR3.

Seriously though, VR is kinda dead, unless two things happen, it's backed up by a major platform holders content creation and its backed up by that platform holders gaming service. So only if new games built by Sony or MS, then those games are Day 1 on Gamepass or PS+ Premium. Otherwise, I don't see it thriving even if it survives barely.
 
Consider VR also for media consumption. It's great for watching stuff too.

Look into a cheap quest 2 or a more expensive quest 3. Dip your toe with the quest 2 and pirate that bitch
 
I would not ignore the Quest 3 standalone option. Very convenient for several non demanding games and the Quest exclusives like Batman. Give META your money only where they deserve...
 
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Have you tried VR before? Even tho the more modern tech and certain settings helps with motion sickness, some people still can't handle it.
Yeah, I was so disappointed when I tried my first free movement game and got nausea immediately. I haven't really pushed through to try to develop VR legs in a serious way though, the few times I tried I noticed no improvements. Maybe I should give up and start to use teleportation.

I had tons of fun with games in which you don't move in-game though, so I'm not complaining.
 
If you only get it to play Alyx, buy something used from craigslist or ebay, play Alyx, then resell it again. In that case, something with an okay resell value would be recommended, like Quest 2 or Quest 3.
Not worth getting something new for VR, or waiting for the Frame. VR is deader than dead.
 
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Seriously though, VR is kinda dead, unless two things happen, it's backed up by a major platform holders content creation and its backed up by that platform holders gaming service. So only if new games built by Sony or MS,
I don't care. I'm not here to argue the future mainstream appeal of VR. That's not what the thread is about.

I'm obviously asking because I made peace with the idea of being reasonably satisfied/interested with what's the currently offering.
I couldn't care less of what MS or Sony are going to do with it.
 
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I think the best bang for the buck would probably be the PSVR2 with the PC adapter. It's OLED and definitely quite usable.

Yes, you have the cable behind your back, but for me that didn't really matter. It's not like I actually run or spin around with that thing on. Just standing and slight movements and turns like looking to the left or right is the most I do while playing.

You could get a PSVR2 for around 300 to 350 euros for some time, don't know what the price is right now. Used ones are even cheaper.

For the adapter I bought a 20€ clone from Ali-Express, which just works like the original one.

So all in all, yeah, you can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a single VR experience, but I'd say just for Alyx, the PSVR2 plus adapter is sufficient.
 
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I was recently considering to get a VR visor soon.
One to use with my PC and admittedly its MAIN use would be to play HL Alyx in the way it's intented to be played, with everything else coming just as a bonus on top.

Now, since at this point I'm FAR from being up to date about the options available, my question would be:

what are currently the "state of the art" options for VR goggles that don't come with unnecessarily expensive "intergated hardware"?

To be perfectly clear I genuinely couldn't give less of a fuck of using this stuff detached from my PC. I just want to know about the best lens and screen I could get for the lowest price point.

For reference, I was keeping an eye on the Meta's Quest 3 (but I'd frankly prefer to eat cardboard rather than to give money to META, if there were other options) and I'm kinda curious to check what the upcoming Steam Frame will turn out to be, but if there are other noteworthy options I'm open to suggestions.
Sonic The Hedgehog No GIF by Mashed

vr is dead.
 
I don't care. I'm not here to argue the future mainstream appeal of VR. That's not what the thread is about.

I'm obviously asking because I made peace with the idea of being reasonably satisfied/interested with what's the currently offering.
I couldn't care less of what MS or Sony are going to do with it.
well in that case wait for a steam frame
 
Wait for Steam Frame at this point.
would like to trade my Quest 3 but I would need to rebuy the games I still play. Beat Saber and Walkabout mini golf are mainstays.

What's the going rate for a used quest3?
 
The market is dying or dead.
Depends what you are into I guess. Most sim guys (racing/flying) I know are swearing they never want to go back from VR. Must be some awesome experience. I have never tried it myself.

But yeah, if op only wants to experience Alyx (which shall be pure magic as well)....than maybe the frame might be a bit overload. And its not said yet, when this thing comes out and even if it comes out there seems to be lots of people who want one....so I would consider additional waiting time again.
 
Depends what you are into I guess. Most sim guys (racing/flying) I know are swearing they never want to go back from VR. Must be some awesome experience. I have never tried it myself.

But yeah, if op only wants to experience Alyx (which shall be pure magic as well)....than maybe the frame might be a bit overload. And its not said yet, when this thing comes out and even if it comes out there seems to be lots of people who want one....so I would consider additional waiting time again.
The latest Gran Turismo was nice in VR. Also didn't induce much motion sickness.
 
As a quest 3 user I say wait for the steam frame because its alot better for wireless play
I have so many connectivity issues with my router that forced me to go wired and its uncomfortable af
 
Depends what you are into I guess. Most sim guys (racing/flying) I know are swearing they never want to go back from VR. Must be some awesome experience. I have never tried it myself.

But yeah, if op only wants to experience Alyx (which shall be pure magic as well)....than maybe the frame might be a bit overload. And its not said yet, when this thing comes out and even if it comes out there seems to be lots of people who want one....so I would consider additional waiting time again.
Can confirm. Once I tried playing Elite Dangerous in VR, I knew there was no going back for me. The ability to track enemy ships by looking around during a dogfight is incredible. The spatial awareness VR provides is invaluable.
 
About 3000 headsets are available from various brands, about 20 games to play and most of them came out during the craze.
As some one who loves my VR, it's been slim pickings.

I'd wait on Steam Frame as even if that is too expensive the price for you, the Index will drop as people sell them for the frame, myself included.
 
At this point might as well wait for Steam Frame and then decide. There are some really high end devices from Pimax and others but they are all $$$.

So wait for the Frame and decide if it makes sense vs Quest 3 at that juncture. Anything else that's good will be much more expensive… although we don't really know the cost for the Frame either.
 
Can confirm. Once I tried playing Elite Dangerous in VR, I knew there was no going back for me. The ability to track enemy ships by looking around during a dogfight is incredible. The spatial awareness VR provides is invaluable.
Yeah, Elite Dangerous shall be awesome as well. I am a big fan of TrackIR which I am using in nearly every sim-like game. Its just way easier to find my beer and my joint with that setup. :messenger_winking_tongue:
 
Pimax crystal light is best bang for your buck right now. 2880x2880 per eye is where its at. Glass aspheric lenses are great, I like them more than pancake. No glare, light loss or reflections. Fairly comfortable and can be used with glasses without discomfort. (no need for prescription inserts). Cable is no problem if you are sitting down. You need 5090 to drive it properly at 90/120, but 5080/4090 will do I guess. After 6 headsets Iam finally happy with this one.
Forget about frame or Q3. That is low res stuff (think of 720p).
 
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was gonna say "get a steam frame" but then i actually read the OP.

yeah anything Pimax makes is your best bet so far. I've seen some of the specs on them and they sound like pure heaven disregarding the actual weight and size of the headsets themselves.
although i could never use one of those headsets, they're about as big as people stereotype VR to be. I hope we can get that FOV/resolution in a much smaller form factor later down the line.
 
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