What You Need to Set up Virtual Reality on PC or PS4
A virtual reality headset can be a pretty impressive Christmas present, but if you don’t have enough processing power to use it, consider it a very expensive paperweight. Depending on the system powering your headset, be it a PC or PS4, here’s how to get it ready for VR.
Got a PS4? Buy PlayStation VR Bundle
Every PlayStation 4 is VR ready, and the PlayStation 4 Pro offers a slightly better visual experience thanks to more powerful internals. Of course, they only support VR via Sony’s own PlayStation VR headset. However, you will need to buy the correct version, or else you will be missing a very important component.
If you own a PlayStation 4 console, whether it’s the original PlayStation 4, its updated, slimmer version, or the more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro, you can use the PlayStation VR headset. You will also need one additional piece of hardware, the PlayStation Camera, to track your headset and your movements.
If you want everything you need in one go, purchase the PlayStation VR Kit, which includes a PlayStation Camera along with the rest of your VR headset. Some kits also include PlayStation Move motion controllers, which replace your traditional DualShock 4 controller.
Got a computer? You may need new equipment
Unlike PlayStation VR, it can take more than buying a headset to get VR on your PC. Your computer must meet the minimum specs of your virtual reality headset, be it the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. You can run performance tests on your PC to check if your PC is VR ready. The recommended specs for each of the headsets listed below may be higher than you’d expect if you don’t feel like making any upgrades:
Oculus Rift Recommended System Requirements
Video card : NVIDIA GTX 1060 / AMD Radeon RX 480 or better
Alternative graphics card : NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290 or better
Processor : Intel i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or better
Memory : 8GB + RAM
Video Output : HDMI 1.3 compatible video output
USB ports : 3 USB 3.0 ports, plus 1 USB 2.0 port
OS : Windows 7 SP1 64 bit or newer
Recommended requirements for HTC Vive
Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce ™ GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon ™ RX 480 equivalent or better
CPU : Intel ™ Core ™ i5-4590 or AMD FX ™ 8350, equivalent or better
Memory : 4 GB RAM or more
Video Output : 1x HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 or newer
USB ports : 1x USB 2.0 port or newer
OS : Windows 7 SP1 or newer
This means that you might have to replace some parts of your PC, be it RAM or a new graphics card . If you are comfortable with removing parts from your computer , go for it. If not, you can always grab a bite to eat and replace your old PC with VR-enabled devices sold specifically for VR headsets. You can buy computers marked “ Oculus Ready ” from your own Oculus store, or search “VR-ready” PCs at Best Buy, Amazon, or wherever you shop . You can expect to pay around $ 700 for a low-cost PC that can handle VR, so maybe consider upgrading your own PC first.
Once you have the right hardware, there is one more thing you need: actual space. Follow the security camera placement guidelines that came with your HTC Vive or Oculus Rift , make sure you’re not throwing your hands at dangerous or sharp objects, and enjoy.