Is my PC ready for VR? (2024)

It’s well known that gaming PCs for VR come with some high requirements. In addition to bringing us a new way of interaction and gaming experience, the development of VR devices has further boosted the demand for high-performance PC. There may be countless articles that have told you that VR requires an  RTX 2070 or higher graphics card, and there are even many PC on the market with the "VR Ready" logo, but the definition of "VR Ready" varies from one manufacturer to another manufacturer. The definition of "VR Ready" is different. Therefore, let’s answer the question that “Is my PC ready for VR?”.

Also read: Pre-built VR-ready gaming PCs and Best GPU for VR

Before we answer this question, we need to know what ‘VR ready’ is. VR stands for Virtual Reality, which is a simulated experience that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. VR technology typically involves a headset that displays a 3D image or video and may also include additional equipment such as controllers or sensors.

When we say a device is "VR ready," it means that it meets the minimum requirements to run VR applications or games smoothly. These requirements can vary depending on the specific VR headset or application but generally include a powerful graphics card, a fast processor, and enough RAM to handle the demands of running a VR environment.

The first one to introduce the concept of VR Ready was the game studio Valve, which launched the SteamVR Performance Test program on the Steam platform to help users quickly determine whether their computer configuration needs to be upgraded. There was a classic line on Steam's website, which was “Is your PC VR Ready?”.

Then NVIDIA and AMD launched their own VR Ready programs, and various PC manufacturers created VR Ready PC models (including corresponding desktops and laptops).

Here, we are introducing to you what makes a VR ready. There are three important components that determine whether a computer is VR-ready: processor (CPU), graphic card (GPU), and random access memory (RAM). Let’s walk through each one of them.

CPU

The CPU is the brain of the computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. In order to run VR applications smoothly, you'll need a CPU that is fast and powerful enough to handle the demands of rendering 3D graphics and processing input from controllers or sensors.

Some popular CPUs for VR include the Intel Core i5 and i7 series, as well as the AMD Ryzen series. It's important to note that the specific CPU you need will depend on the VR headset or application you plan to use, so be sure to check the recommended specifications before making a purchase.

GPU for VR

The GPU is responsible for rendering 3D graphics and displaying them on your VR headset. This is one of the most important components of VR, as it can have a significant impact on the quality and smoothness of the VR experience.

Some popular GPUs for VR include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX series and the AMD Radeon series. Again, the specific GPU you need will depend on the VR headset or application you plan to use, so be sure to check the recommended specifications.

RAM

RAM is used to temporarily store data that the CPU needs to access quickly. In the context of VR, having enough RAM is important for ensuring that the computer can handle the demands of running a VR environment without slowing down or crashing.

Most VR applications will require at least 8GB of RAM, although some may require more. It's generally a good idea to have at least 16GB of RAM if you plan to use VR regularly.

Check the menu setting

To find out the specs of your GPU, CPU, or RAM, you can check the system settings on your PC device. The Mac system is not recommended for a VR experience, so we are not mentioning it in the following. Here are the steps to do so on different operating systems:

Windows

1. Click on the Start menu and select "Settings."

2. Click on "System."

3. Click on "About."

4. Under "Device specifications," you can find information about your processor and RAM.

5. Under "Display," you can find information about your graphics card.

Linux

1. Open a terminal window.

2. Type "lshw -short" and press Enter.

3. This will display a list of hardware components on your system, including your CPU, RAM, and graphics card.

Once you have found out the specs of your system, you can compare them to the minimum requirements of the VR headset or application you plan to use. If your system meets or exceeds these requirements, then it is VR ready and should be able to run VR applications or games smoothly.

Download the SteamVR Performance Test

To ensure that your system is VR ready, you can download the SteamVR Performance Test. This test will evaluate your system's performance and provide a score that indicates whether your system is capable of running VR applications or games smoothly.

To download the SteamVR Performance Test, follow these steps:

1. Open the Steam application on your computer.

2. In the search bar, type "SteamVR Performance Test" and press Enter.

3. Click on the "SteamVR Performance Test" result.

4. Click on the "Download" button to download and install the test.

Once the test is installed, you can run it to evaluate your system's performance. The test will display a score that indicates whether your system is VR ready or not. If your system meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for VR, then it should be able to run VR applications or games smoothly.

Other tools

To check if your system is VR ready, you can download and run the SteamVR Performance Test as previously mentioned. However, if you are specifically looking to check the compatibility of your system with the Oculus Rift or HTC VIVE, you can download the official compatibility tools from their respective websites.

For the Oculus Rift, you can download the Oculus Rift Compatibility Tool from the official website. This tool will scan your system and provide a report on whether your system meets the recommended or minimum specifications for running the Oculus Rift.

For the HTC VIVE, you can download the SteamVR Performance Test as mentioned earlier, or you can download the official HTC VIVE Test Tool from the Steam store. This tool will also evaluate your system's performance and provide a report on whether your system meets the recommended or minimum specifications for running the HTC VIVE.

It's important to note that while these tools can provide a good indication of whether your system is VR ready, they are not foolproof. It's always a good idea to check the specific requirements of the VR headset or application you plan to use to ensure that your system meets or exceeds those requirements.

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