The Importance of CPU Considerations for Virtual Reality Gaming

As you prepare to game in virtual reality on your home computer, it's essential to consider not only the powerful graphics card but also the central processing unit (CPU). While many people assume that any chip will suffice, a good CPU is crucial for smooth and immersive VR experiences. In this article, we'll explore the considerations you should take into account when choosing a CPU for your VR rig.

Check the Recommended Specifications

Before making a purchase, always check the recommended specifications on the VR headset manufacturer's website. This ensures that your CPU meets the minimum requirements for optimal performance. For example, Oculus recommends a 2014 vintage Core i5 4590 for their Rift S, which is their current PC-connected offering at the time of this writing.

However, simply paying attention to the recommended specification may not be enough. As VR headsets require more powerful hardware than standard gaming PCs, the listed CPU specs may not accurately represent the actual performance requirements. For instance, the Oculus Rift S has a 1440P display that runs at 80 Hertz, which is a baseline for virtual reality. Lower resolutions and frame rates in VR can break immersion, leading to motion sickness.

Consistent Frame Times Are Crucial

To ensure a smooth VR experience, it's not just about pushing out enough frames; you also need consistent frame times. This means each frame should be displayed on the screen for roughly the same amount of time. Inconsistent frame times can be caused by various factors, including a CPU that struggles to handle and schedule data sent to the graphics card.

The CPU has to give the GPU something else to work on once the GPU is done rendering a frame. If the GPU is spitting out tons of frames per second, as you would need for VR gaming, the CPU will have a harder time keeping up if it isn't up to scratch. Traditionally, rendering requests such as draw calls were single-threaded, but newer APIs like DirectX 12 allow them to be spread over multiple threads.

This can make a significant difference in VR performance, especially when streaming in VR or using PC encoding. In these scenarios, your CPU still needs dedicated cores to handle receiving encoded frames from the graphics card. Furthermore, handling VR head tracking is more taxing for your CPU than processing keyboard and mouse inputs with conventional games.

Modern Architecture Processors are Recommended

Given that six-core is a baseline for modern gaming rigs, especially as games become more complex and take advantage of multiple cores, we recommend an eight-core modern architecture processor for VR. A 10-core processor wouldn't hurt if you're streaming with CPU encoding. While these specifications may seem high-end, they offer the necessary performance and efficiency to provide a smooth and immersive VR experience.

Consider Alternative Options

If you don't want to worry about picking out the right CPU, consider checking out the Oculus Quest 2. This all-in-one VR system doesn't require a PC because it's equipped with advanced technology that provides blazing-fast performance, next-gen graphics, and 50% more pixels than the original Quest. Each panel has a sharp 1832 by 1920 resolution powered by the Snapdragon XR2 platform, making it 10% lighter than the original Quest.

The Oculus Quest 2 also features new touch controllers, a built-in IPD adjustment mechanism, and is backwards compatible with all Quest titles. You even get Plus which enables you to check your surroundings when stepping outside of the Guardian system. If you do want to use it with a PC, no problem – just use Oculus Link to connect to a computer and access PC VR games in the Rift library.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while it's tempting to assume that any CPU will suffice for virtual reality gaming, a good CPU is crucial for smooth performance and immersion. By checking recommended specifications, considering consistent frame times, and opting for modern architecture processors or alternative options like the Oculus Quest 2, you can ensure an optimal VR experience.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- You probably already knowthat if you wanna game in virtual realityon your home computer,you need a powerful enough graphics card.And you've been inundated with informationabout just how much moneyyou should invest in one.But what about the CPU?Are there any specialconsiderations you should takeinto account for your VR rig?Or can you just plop in any chipthat isn't bargain basementquality and be done with it?We're gonna answer that question todayand thank our friends at Oculusfor sponsoring thisvideo about this topic.Let's start with some simple advice.Check the recommended specson the VR headset manufacturers websiteand make sure that your CPU isat least up to that standard.But seeing that you mightfind yourself thinkingwell, the listed CPU, actuallyisn't all that high end.For example, Oculus only recommendsa 2014 vintage Core i5 4590for their Rift S which is theircurrent PC connected offering,at the time we shot this video.Unfortunately, that doesn't meanthat it's a good ideato only pay attentionto the recommended spec.You see the reason that VR headsetsneed powerful hardware isbecause you need to push more pixelsthan a standard gaming PC.For example, the aforementioned Rift Shas a 1440P display that runs at 80 Hertz.And while those specs might be a luxuryfor conventional gaming,it's more of a baselinefor virtual reality.This is because lower resolutionsand frame rates in VR,aren't just an annoyance,they can break immersionto the point where you'llactually get motion sickness.So if you thought stutteringin regular games was irritating,just wait until you're throwing upon your living room carpetbecause of slowdowns in a VR title.This also means thatthere's more to considerthan just making sure that your GPUis pushing out enough frames.You want to have good andconsistent frame times.Meaning each frame willbe displayed on the screenfor roughly the same amountof time for smooth animationswithout stutters and inconsistentframe times can be causedby a number of things.One of which is a CPU that can't keepup with handling and schedulingall the data that it sendsto your graphics card.You see the CPU has to givethe GPU something else to workon once the GPU isdone, rendering a frame.And if your GPU is spittingout tons of frames per second,like you would need to game in VR.The CPU is gonna have aharder time keeping upif it isn't up to scratch.Traditionally, rendering requests suchas draw calls were single-threaded.But newer APIs like DirectX 12allow draw calls to bespread over multiple threads.So unsurprisingly, itcan really help in VRto have a couple of extracores and a little more speedthan whatever the recommendedspecifications are.And this is especially true,if you are streaming in VR,even if you're using your graphics cardto encode your videostream, instead of the CPU,your CPU still needssome dedicated course to handlereceiving the encoded framesfrom the graphics card,especially when you considerthat the CPU alreadyhas to work a bit hardernot only due to the frametime issue we just discussedbut because it's more taxingfor your CPU to handle VR head trackingthan it is to simply process keyboardand mouse inputs with a conventional game.So given that six course is a baselinefor modern gaming rigs,especially as games arebecoming more and more complexand better at takingadvantage of multiple course.We'd say an eight coremodern architecture processorfor VR is probably a good betand a 10 core wouldn't hurt,if you're streaming with CPU encoding.You know what else wouldn't hurt,listening to today's sponsor bit.Thanks again to Oculus forsponsoring today's video.If you don't wanna worry aboutpicking out the right CPUthen check out the Oculus Quest 2,it doesn't need a PC,because it's Oculus is mostadvanced all-in-one VR systemand gives you blazing fast performance,next gen graphics, and 50% more pixelsthan the original Questeach panel has a sharp 1832by 1920 resolution powered bythe Snapdragon XR2 platform,all in a headset, thatmanages to be 10% lighterthan the original Quest.There's also new touch controllers,a built-in IPD adjustment mechanismand it's backwards compatiblewith all Quest titles,you even get passed through pluswhich enables you to checkyour surroundings wheneveryou step outside of the guardian system.And if you do want to use it with a PC,no problem, use Oculus linkto connect to a computerand access PC VR gamesin the Rift library.Pick up yours today,starting at just 299 USat the link below.Thanks for watching guys,you can like, dislikedepending on how you feel.Check out our other videosand comment with a suggestionif there's a future fast aspossible that you'd like to see,also don't forget tosubscribe, or I will come thereand I will tickle your feetuntil you do, but in a weird way\n"