Do I need a quad core cpu for vr?

[Rockyjr1st]

So I've been Researching vr recently and I was wondering do I need a better cpu than I currently have

i5 650 dual core 4 threads 3.2 gHz

im planning on getting a GTX 1070 this Christmas as the prices will go down but from what I've seen you don't need a crazy good cpu for vr just a good gpu

[Br3tt96]

You really need a quad core. HTC Vive minimum cpu requirements are a i5-4590.

 

The i5-650 is 8 years old and on the slower side of life now

[Guest]

With that thing you wont be doing any vr.

As the cpu calculates your location in vr in realtime, you need a quad core for a pleasant experience, or for experience at all.

 

You can always try, but 99% your experience wont be pleasant/ it straight wont work. First gen i7s should be quite cheap, and should do the job.

[BrinkGG]

3 minutes ago, Rockyjr1st said:

So I've been Researching vr recently and I was wondering do I need a better cpu than I currently have

i5 650 dual core 4 threads 3.2 gHz

im planning on getting a GTX 1070 this Christmas as the prices will go down but from what I've seen you don't need a crazy good cpu for vr just a good gpu

You need a good CPU for VR... i5 650 is nowhere NEAR good enough for it. 

Minimum I would recommend is an i3 8100 or i5 6600. 

Why do you need a good CPU? well, your CPU has to handle all of the typical non-graphical computation for the game, plus location of positional tracking of your head and hands, location in 3D actors (movable models), etc. 

typically, a VR version of a game will be about 25% more CPU intensive then a standard 1440p version of the game. 

[Sakkura]

7 minutes ago, Brink2Three said:

You need a good CPU for VR... i5 650 is nowhere NEAR good enough for it. 

Minimum I would recommend is an i3 8100 or i5 6600. 

Why do you need a good CPU? well, your CPU has to handle all of the typical non-graphical computation for the game, plus location of positional tracking of your head and hands, location in 3D actors (movable models), etc. 

typically, a VR version of a game will be about 25% more CPU intensive then a standard 1440p version of the game. 

This is quite nonsensical. The positional tracking happens in any game, it's just a different input method in VR.

 

The only thing that really makes VR more CPU-intensive is that you need a minimum of 90FPS all the time (or nearly all the time). Other than that VR games actually even tend to be less CPU-intensive than non-VR games.

 

But a Core i5-650 is still very marginal for VR. It can be used, especially if overclocked, but it's not going to be a flawless experience.

 

15 minutes ago, Some Random Member said:

With that thing you wont be doing any vr.

As the cpu calculates your location in vr in realtime, you need a quad core for a pleasant experience, or for experience at all.

 

You can always try, but 99% your experience wont be pleasant/ it straight wont work. First gen i7s should be quite cheap, and should do the job.

All games calculate your location in real time, VR is nothing special.

 

16 minutes ago, Br3tt96 said:

You really need a quad core. HTC Vive minimum cpu requirements are a i5-4590.

 

The i5-650 is 8 years old and on the slower side of life now

Minimum requirement for an Oculus Rift is a Core i3-6100 though, so a dual core (with HT) can do it... but only just, and preferably on a newer one than the Core i5-650.

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, Sakkura said:

This is quite nonsensical. The positional tracking happens in any game, it's just a different input method in VR.

 

The only thing that really makes VR more CPU-intensive is that you need a minimum of 90FPS all the time (or nearly all the time). Other than that VR games actually even tend to be less CPU-intensive than non-VR games.

 

But a Core i5-650 is still very marginal for VR. It can be used, especially if overclocked, but it's not going to be a flawless experience.

 

All games calculate your location in real time, VR is nothing special.

 

Minimum requirement for an Oculus Rift is a Core i3-6100 though, so a dual core (with HT) can do it... but only just, and preferably on a newer one than the Core i5-650.

It is one thing to calculate the location of a fictional character, and calculating the position of a headset and 2 controllers from the input information of a lots of sensors 100 times a second. 

The dual core should do easier VR games, but heavier VR games with AI's i dont think so much, i would just get a first gen i5 or i7.

[Rockyjr1st]

Quote

 

Ok now that I know I need a better cpu would an and  ryzen 5 1400 work or a and ryzen 3 1200

[BrinkGG]

4 minutes ago, Sakkura said:

This is quite nonsensical. The positional tracking happens in any game, it's just a different input method in VR.

 

The only thing that really makes VR more CPU-intensive is that you need a minimum of 90FPS all the time (or nearly all the time). Other than that VR games actually even tend to be less CPU-intensive than non-VR games.

 

But a Core i5-650 is still very marginal for VR. It can be used, especially if overclocked, but it's not going to be a flawless experience.

I'm going to have to disagree here. Yes it is a different input method, but that new input method also requires more movement permission and 2 extra points that move in 3d space, and will often be in view. It's a lot harder. 

And yes, 90fps min is 1.5x the work (ish) for the CPU then typical 60fps for gaming. 

Overall, the OP should really upgrade if he wants to play VR games smoothly. 

 

Also, Oculus' recommendation for CPU is BS. They do a lot of "inbetweening" and scaling to allow lower end hardware to run VR, but the quality is just not great...

[BrinkGG]

2 minutes ago, Rockyjr1st said:

Ok now that I know I need a better cpu would an and  ryzen 5 1400 work or a and ryzen 3 1200

I would recommend the R5 1400 if you can afford it. certain VR games (like regular games) are more hardware intensive then others. 

[Rockyjr1st]

45 minutes ago, Brink2Three said:

I would recommend the R5 1400 if you can afford it. certain VR games (like regular games) are more hardware intensive then others. 

Thanks everyone for helping me out I'll be sure to invest in a good cpu for vr 

[Sakkura]

1 hour ago, Some Random Member said:

It is one thing to calculate the location of a fictional character, and calculating the position of a headset and 2 controllers from the input information of a lots of sensors 100 times a second. 

The dual core should do easier VR games, but heavier VR games with AI's i dont think so much, i would just get a first gen i5 or i7.

The extra computational workload is completely insignificant.

 

As for a first gen i5, that's what OP has...

1 hour ago, Brink2Three said:

I'm going to have to disagree here. Yes it is a different input method, but that new input method also requires more movement permission and 2 extra points that move in 3d space, and will often be in view. It's a lot harder. 

And yes, 90fps min is 1.5x the work (ish) for the CPU then typical 60fps for gaming. 

Overall, the OP should really upgrade if he wants to play VR games smoothly. 

 

Also, Oculus' recommendation for CPU is BS. They do a lot of "inbetweening" and scaling to allow lower end hardware to run VR, but the quality is just not great...

2 extra points is nothing.

 

90FPS is 50% more than 60FPS, thanks, that's really informative. But 144FPS is even more...

 

Also, Oculus' recommendation for CPU is very reasonable. They don't do scaling, only Valve has tried to lean on that. Oculus does ASW if the system misses warp repeatedly, but that's a good thing. ASW is far better than ATW or simpler reprojection modes.