The post Best RTX 3080 PC deals in July 2022 appeared first on Game News.
]]>The cheapest RTX 3080 PC deal we’ve been able to find is the Alienware Aurora R10 for only $1,672.98 (was $1,790) (opens in new tab). This is one of the cheapest RTX 3080 PCs that we’ve seen in some time, featuring a Ryzen 9 CPU, whereas Ryzen 7s are far more common in this price range. In the UK, we’ve found the Vibox VII-47 for £1,774.95 (was £1,900) (opens in new tab) that comes with a 12th gen i7 CPU and 32GB RAM.
For those interested in portable power, we’re also rounding up the best RTX 3080 laptop deals as well. We’re seeing some of the more competitive rates on some of the best gaming laptops that money can buy, so don’t delay if you’ve had your eye on a portable powerhouse. Alternatively, hunt for GPUs for less with the best cheap graphics card deals, too.
(opens in new tab)Save on Alienware RTX 3080 PCs at Dell (opens in new tab)
Fortunately, you can save some cash on our favorite gaming PC featuring the RTX 3080 (both Intel and Ryzen configurations). It’s a great way to get into high-end PC gaming with the reliable build quality and a small enough form factor for desks and home entertainment system setups.
Best RTX 3080 PC deals in July 2022
RTX 3080 PC deals – US
Alienware Aurora R10 | $1,672.98 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
This is one of the cheapest RTX 3080 PCs that we’ve ever seen, as this Ryzen 7-powered PC comes in at well under the $1,700 mark. Simply put, we don’t see many machines selling at this price. Features: AMD Ryzen 7 5800, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
CLX SET | $2,330 $1,899.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Save $430 – The CLX SET machine is outstanding value for money at just over the $2,000 mark. It’s worth remembering that CLX is one of the higher-end boutique brands with a price tag to match, so this discount is certainly appreciated. Features: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 240GB SSD + 2TB HDD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Acer Predator Orion 5000 | $2,300 $2,099.99 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
Save $200 – This is a stellar rate on the latest Acer Predator Orion 5000 machine at a very competitive price. You’re getting amazing build quality of this machine, as well as the latest 12th Gen i7 processor, DDR5 memory, and a superfast Gen 4.0 drive. Features: Intel Core i7-12700, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
CUK Continuum Micro Gamer | $2,200 $2,099.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $100 – This is the cheapest price that we’re able to verify on the CUK Continuum Micro Gamer, and an overall stellar offer for the high-end machine of this spec. You’re getting double the RAM than what is seen at this rate. Features: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2TB HDD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme | $2,299.99 at Best Buy
(opens in new tab)Though not a deal, the biggest strength of this CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme build is the addition of the super powerful Ryzen 9 5900X processor. We rarely see this processor in rigs of this price range. Features: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
ABS Legend (RTX 3080 Ti) | $3,900 $3,229.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $670 – As far as RTX 3080 Ti builds go, this is one of the better ones we’ve found online from a reputable brand. Considering how powerful this PC is, this is a great rate with the discount factored in. Features: Intel Core i9-11900KF, RTX 3080 Ti, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD.
UK RTX 3080 PC deals
Vibox VII-47 | £1,900 £1,774.95 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
This is an exceptional rate for the Vibox VII-47 and a great machine all round for the money. We think this RTX 3080 is certainly worthy of your time and attention. Features: Intel Core i7-12700F, RTX 3080, 32GB RAM, 480GB SSD + 2TB HDD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
HP Omen 30L | £1,944 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Although this isn’t strictly an RTX 3080 PC deal, the sub-£1,950 price point makes this HP Omen 30L configuration a very tempting value-for-money offer in 2022. You’re getting powerful components inside, too, including the 5000 series AMD Ryzen CPU. Features: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD + 2TB HDD.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
OcUK Gaming Gallium | £2,500 £1,999.99 at Overclockers UK (opens in new tab)
Save £500 – This is the starting price for the OcUK Gaming Gallium build which comes shipped with respectable hardware as standard. You have the option to spec the build to order at an additional cost should you desire a faster CPU, more RAM, etc. Features: AMD Ryzen 5 5600x, RTX 3080, 16GB RAM, 500GB NVMe SSD.
And if you’re looking to try your luck with individual components, these are the best prices available on the RTX 30 series in all its various forms.
Graphics card stock
RTX 3050 prices | RTX 3060 prices | RTX 3060 Ti prices | RTX 3070 prices | RTX 3070 Ti prices| RTX 3080 prices | RTX 3080 Ti prices | RTX 3090 prices | RTX 3090 Ti prices
Laptop deals and stock
RTX 3050 laptop | RTX 3060 laptop | RTX 3070 laptop | RTX 3080 laptop
PC deals and stock
RTX 3060 PC | RTX 3070 PC | RTX 3090 PC
Upgrade the rest of your setup with the best gaming chairs, best gaming desks, and best gaming monitors.
The post Best RTX 3080 PC deals in July 2022 appeared first on Game News.
]]>The post The MSI MAG Trident S 5M is trying something different in the PC gaming space appeared first on Game News.
]]>That’s right, there’s no option available that includes a discrete graphics card, such as the RTX 3060 or RTX 3070. Instead, the MSI MAG Trident S 5M is relying solely on the popular AMD Ryzen 5700G APU. MSI appears to have high hopes for the system, with a press release (opens in new tab) claiming that it “reimagines the gaming experience”. That’s a bold claim for sure, so here’s what we can discern from the news on what could be a new wave of graphics card-less gaming PCs following in its wake.
Is the MSI MAG Trident S 5M a console replacement?
While the MSI MAG Trident S 5M may be a similar size and weight to the likes of the Xbox Series One X, at least from what we can see, the ideology of this system is entirely different. The Trident S 5M isn’t going to replace your PS5 or Xbox Series X games – rather, it’s more occupied with delivering a powerful streaming box to your living room. Think of this machine as a beefed-up Nvidia Shield TV or Apple TV streaming box running traditional PC hardware inside. That’s the best outlook we have on this machine, and we’ll get into why below.
MSI MAG Trident S 5M: hardware
The MSI MAG Trident S 5M is being marketed primarily as a “machine dedicated to cloud gaming and mobile gaming”, so MSI reports. This manta opens up a fair amount of possibilities as to what a gaming PC made for the living room can be in 2022, and could succeed where others have failed should the price be right. Unfortunately, that’s the one thing we don’t have official word on yet.
From what we could find on the MAG Trident S 5M’s pricing online, German retailer Computer Universe (opens in new tab) is selling a configuration for €808 (that’s roughly $890). This is a little on the steep side in our opinion. We’ve seen many cheap gaming PCs at this price point that are running dedicated graphics cards, such as the RTX 3050, which are more capable (at least on paper).
However, we’ll cast a verdict once official US pricing is officially unveiled.
What we do know are the MAG Trident S 5M’s specs, which are more than respectable. From what the official press release tells us, there will be three versions of the entry-level system available at launch running a different SOC (system on chip). The Ryzen 5000G Series has the honor in this case, and that’s significant because of advancements made in terms of the Accelerated Processing Unit – think of them as a combination of both graphics and central processing working together in tandem. Options range from the Ryzen 3 5300G, the Ryzen 5 5600G, or the Ryzen 7 5700G, which will no doubt scale in performance and price in ascending order.
Deep diving into the MAG Trident S 5M’s hardware also reveals a few interesting things about its power potential. For a start, there’s support for 2x NVMe SSDs, as well as 1x SATA III SSD. Moreover, each unit will be fitted with a dual-channel DDR4 RAM kit clocked at 3200 Mhz, which isn’t too bad either.
The two outliers to our eyes, however, especially as far as a PC marketed for the living room goes, are in the low PSU (120w adapter) and Wi-Fi 5. Ideally, Wi-Fi 6 would have made for far stronger, and more stable, wireless performance, especially in a box living near your TV without the need for Ethernet. While a huge amount of power is not strictly required, a little more under the hood would mean the integrated graphics processor could be pushed that little bit further as well.
What does the MAG Trident S 5M mean for cloud gaming?
We touched upon the MAG Trident S 5M running Wi-Fi 5, instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6, and that’s our only major point of concern for a system with a core focus on cloud gaming. If you’re wanting to stream titles from Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, or other services, then one thing is paramount above all – you’re going to need a great internet connection.
Wi-Fi 6 has been the standard inside many of the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops since its inception in 2019. Really, widespread adoption of 802.11ax support 802.11ax wouldn’t have taken off until 2020, which makes the AG Trident S 5M’s reliance on older tech questionable.
In terms of comparing Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6, there’s a maximum throughput of 9.6 Gbps with Wi-Fi 6 compared to Wi-Fi 5’s 3.5 Gbps. That’s quite the substance speed difference, and while unlikely to be leagues apart in real-world game streaming potential, you’re always going to want more bandwidth to reduce the likes of lagging, ghosting, and input delay in-game.
Still, as long as you’ve got a stable internet connection of around 35 MB/s or higher then you’re not going to run into many problems when streaming in Full HD from popular streaming services. We would always recommend being plugged in if possible, just to prevent any interference with the signal.
How good are Ryzen 5000 Series APUs for gaming?
Let’s say you want to forgo the likes of cloud gaming or running Android games on your TV, as MSI’s advertising advises. Just how competent are the likes of the Ryzen 7 5800G (the highest spec available) for running PC games natively? The performance may surprise you.
While you’re unlikely to be blown away with the benchmarks from a raw numbers perspective, the figures are decently competent in some graphically demanding titles. For instance, we’ve seen benchmarks (opens in new tab) cranking out playable figures in the likes of Grand Theft Auto V at 1080p (with a 65 FPS average) as well as Doom Eternal (running at 48 FPS average). You’re unlikely to crank sliders higher than medium (game dependant of course), but the fact that frame rates of 30+ are playable in visually impressive games is still certainly commendable.
Finalize your setup in style with the best gaming desks and best gaming chairs. Want to upgrade your gear, on the other hand? You can replace your old deck and pointer with the best gaming keyboards and best gaming mouse on the market.
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]]>The post CyberpowerPC announces Kinetic Series cases that feature moving vents for maximum airflow appeared first on Game News.
]]>The Kinetic Series has been described by the brand as the first of its kind intelligent airflow system designed to meld both form and function. The visual design is striking with its triangular Art Deco geometry and color scheme, especially when the front vents are opened up revealing the case fans behind. Now the best gaming PCs can rep some stellar style.
No release date or price point has been confirmed at the time of writing, however, there is a ‘coming soon’ listing available on the company’s website (opens in new tab), which, presumably, will provide price and pre-order dates later down the line. We currently also do not know whether these cases will be sold in standalone format alongside the option for prebuilt machines.
There’s a brief video in order to see the Kinetic Series in action and it truly is a sight to behold from a mechanical point of view. So many moving parts in tandem offer a unique solution to effective airflow and proper heat dissipation.
Even some of the best PC cases struggle with keeping internal temperatures down at the best of times, so it remains to be seen if this motorized, adaptive solution is as practical in action as it is pretty to look at.
There’s also the question of if the closed vent design will reduce fan noise and dust intake when the fans are going in full force under a heavy workload. Variable fan speeds and a front mesh filter keep the dust out will expel heat, so it will be interesting to see if taking an automatic, machine-controlled approach can offer superior performance as well as impressive looks, too.
While the CyberPowerPC Kinetic Series may not be released yet, there are plenty more gaming PC cases to choose from for your new year’s build.
After a stylish setup to go with a futuristic rig? Then the best gaming chairs and best gaming desks can go a long way to helping you realize your cutting-edge battlestation this year.
The post CyberpowerPC announces Kinetic Series cases that feature moving vents for maximum airflow appeared first on Game News.
]]>The post Get the lowest ever prices on 10th-gen i7 processors this Prime Day appeared first on Game News.
]]>If you’ve been holding out on putting your new battle station together or were seeking a good time to drag your current rig into the next generation, now could be the perfect moment to do just that.
- Intel Core i7-10700KF:
$361$239 at Amazon (opens in new tab) - See all the current discounts on processors Intel (opens in new tab) | Ryzen (opens in new tab)
- See all the Amazon Prime Day deals USA (opens in new tab) | UK (opens in new tab)
Typically, even the most demanding of modern PC games releasing in 2021 won’t get anywhere close to taking advantage of the cores and threads that this processor uses. Rest assured though, you’re in safe hands with either option if you want to futureproof your machine for years to come. If you’re new to building and want to get up to date on components, we have two helpful guides on the best CPU for gaming and the best graphics cards for gaming to get you started.
While not on the bleeding edge as it was upon release in summer 2020, don’t make the mistake of counting this powerful chipset out; it is still very much at the higher end for PC gaming even a year after its inception and can be found in some of the best gaming PCs available right now.
The best price ever seen on 10th gen i7 chipsets
Intel Core i7-10700KF | $361 $239 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $122: It’s widely been considered the standard for high-end PC gaming – and computing in general – because of its consistently quick performance and cost-to-power ratio. For the money, you’re getting an 8-core (16 threads) overclockable processor that, when fully unlocked, can run at speeds of up to 5.1GHz. In summary, it has all the gaming grunt you could want, and enough left over to juice in the tank to tackle whatever you throw at it – just remember to pair it with a good graphics card!
- See more gaming processor deals at Amazon US (opens in new tab) | Amazon UK (opens in new tab)
If you’re interested in more great tech offers today, we have handy roundups for the best Prime Day laptop deals, as well as our picks for some great Prime Day TV deals should you want to go big-screen with your new setup.
The post Get the lowest ever prices on 10th-gen i7 processors this Prime Day appeared first on Game News.
]]>The post Alienware Aurora R10 gaming PC prices and deals – get a Ryzen behemoth for less appeared first on Game News.
]]>If you’re a fan of Team Red’s components as well as premium gaming machines then the Alienware Aurora R10 gaming PC is very worthy of your consideration. These PCs will incorporate the very latest in graphics cards and processors, and really are some of the best Alienware gaming PCs we’ve ever seen. They will always have at least an AMD processor, and then you can choose your configuration to have one of the same company’s graphics cards, or go for one of Nvidia’s latest and greatest instead.
You can find the quick link below to the R10 listings at Dell below, and there’s some more info on the machines below to inform your decision and choice.
Kitted out with the latest additions to the best CPU for gaming – one of AMD’s 5000 CPUs is inside every model on offer – and best graphics cards – from the top-of-the-line RTX cards from Nvidia to the RRX 6800 XT from AMD – the R10 is a quality range of gaming PC from Alienware, and one that deviates pleasantly from those that used to only harbor Intel processors along with Nvidia GPUs.
Combining any choice of these components means the R10 is a blinder in performance and shaves a bit of premium off the price given AMD’s value offerings. And while the aesthetic is still that distinctive shape and form – an acquired taste for many – there’s no doubting the performance and power they pack. While the stock of all the graphics cards has been really poor since their respective releases, these R10 models are always in stock (seemingly) and allow you that route to next-gen PC gaming. And even if you can’t stretch to a new shiny RTX card or RX 6800 card, but want to upgrade, or are after a ‘lower powered’ machine for someone or for something as well as gaming, then there are cheaper options available too – and you’ll still get that Alienware premier quality.
If you’ve ever owned an Alienware PC then you’ll likely be aware of the quality on offer – they really are some of the top contenders for best gaming PC and we put them top of that list, on the whole. While the target is usually to try and find a cheap Alienware laptop or PC, machines like the Alienware Aurora R10 gaming PC – and the new Alienware Aurora R12 gaming PC – are equally worthy of attention and offer great performance that can be tinkered with down the line. You can read more in our Alienware Aurora R10 review (though this unit did not feature this latest generation of components).
Below are the very latest prices our price-finding tech can pull from the internet, and underneath that is the lineup in a bit more detail.
Buy RTX 30-series Ryzen-powered Alienware gaming PCs now
Alienware Aurora R10 – RTX 3080 build | from $2714 at Dell (opens in new tab)
Probably the most attractive of the bunch given the demand and desire for the RTX 3080 card, this configuration is hot stuff. And if you really want to go large, then the RTX 3090 builds start at a sizeable $4,723.59 (opens in new tab)…..
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Alienware Aurora R10 – RX 6800 XT build | from $2077 at Dell (opens in new tab)
Sticking to an all Team Red configuration thanks to that RX 6800 XT graphics card, this build will bag you AMD’s new generation of graphics and gaming, and the starting price point is pretty decent given those shiny, beastly components within.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Alienware Aurora R10 – RTX 3060 Ti build | from $1783 at Dell (opens in new tab)
Offering some excellent value and still getting you into Nvidia’s new generation of graphics card performance and features, this RTX 3060 Ti build will appeal to those who can’t stretch massively but want to sneak into the new-gen from Team Green, while also retaining that AMD processor. Nice.
View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Alienware Aurora R10 – RX 5300 build | from $1058 at Dell (opens in new tab)
And bringing up the rear, so to speak, is this neat and tidy RX 5300 configuration. Still offering that Alienware quality, these machines will be a truly excellent starting point for someone’s first (premium) gaming PC. If you were after an entry-level Nvidia build then there is a 1660 Super configuration that starts at $1087 (opens in new tab).
And, just as a last public service announcement, if you’re trying to buy one of the recently released graphics cards – or a machine powered by one – then these pages are going to be of interest:
Graphics card stock
RTX 3060 prices | RTX 3060 Ti prices | RTX 3070 prices | RTX 3080 prices | RTX 3090 prices | Buy AMD RX 6900 XT | Buy RX 6800
Laptop deals and stock
RTX 3060 laptops | RTX 3070 laptops | RTX 3080 laptops
PC deals and stock
RTX 3060 PC | RTX 3070 PC | RTX 3080 PC | RTX 3090 PC
If you prefer your gaming machines portable then you’ll need to check out our guides to Alienware gaming laptops, the best gaming laptops, and the best Razer laptops going.
The post Alienware Aurora R10 gaming PC prices and deals – get a Ryzen behemoth for less appeared first on Game News.
]]>The post How to use your PS4 controller with your PC appeared first on Game News.
]]>Being able to use your DualShock 4 on a PC means you can have that familiar feel in your hands when playing across multiple platforms, and with so many modern PC games actively incorporating gamepads’ controls, the DS4 can really become one of the best PC controllers money can buy, or that anyone can use.
If you’re in the market for a new DualShock 4 controller or need an extra one or two for a bit of couch co-op, be sure to check out our guide to the best deals on PS4 controllers, as well as essential PS4 accessories at the best prices.
If the Xbox One is your console of choice, you can read more about how to use an Xbox One controller with PC (opens in new tab), and peruse the best deals on Xbox One controllers (opens in new tab) right here.
Connect a PS4 controller to PC using Bluetooth and a wireless adapter
For a plug-and-play solution, grabbing yourself the official Sony Wireless Adaptor (opens in new tab) is the best way forward. Simply plug the adaptor into a USB port in your PC and turn on your DualShock 4 controller by pressing the home button. The two devices will detect one another after a few seconds and you’ll be good to go.
Play Steam games with a PS4 controller
Since Steam added native DualShock 4 support (opens in new tab), this method is another nice and easy solution for playing the contents of your Steam library with your PS4 controller without a whole lot of faff. Boot up Steam, make sure it’s up to date, plug your PS4 controller into your PC and you’re away. You’ll be able to use the controller in Big Picture Mode, and games in your library will display DualShock 4 inputs.
If you have any issues with specific titles using this solution, you should try out method number three which should resolve any problems.
Download DS4Windows to use a PS4 controller on PC
This solution requires a third-party software in order to work, so head on over to the DS4Windows site (opens in new tab) and make sure you have the most up-to-date version. Extract both files – DS4Windows and DS4Update – and launch DS4Windows to run the installer. You’ll be presented with a pop-up window that will give you instructions on how to install the driver.
Now, you’ll need to connect your Dualshock 4 controller via micro USB or a Bluetooth dongle – the latter will require pairing. As soon as it’s plugged into your PC, the controller will be ready to use. Press and hold the home button to turn it on and away you go.
Using DS4Windows lets you customise your Dualshock 4 experience on PC to a significant degree. You can use the touchpad as a mouse, set the lightbar to change to reflect battery power , or turn it off completely, and even set and switch between profiles that you can configure for your controller. If you prefer to fine tune your peripherals, DS4Windows is for you. If you want to plug and play, the official wireless dongle is the best way to connect your PS4 controller to your PC.
Troubleshooting
If you run into issues with DS4Windows, your first port of call should be to access the settings tab and check the Hide DS4 box. This is necessary when a game already supports the controller, making DS4Windows superfluous. Which is when you might run into problems.
The second file you extracted from the DS4Windows download will also come in handy if you run into issues. DS4Update is responsible for keeping DS4Windows up to date, so be sure to run it at intervals to make sure you have the latest version, and if you experience any hiccups.
The post How to use your PS4 controller with your PC appeared first on Game News.
]]>The post Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive Pro vs. PlayStation VR – how to choose the best VR headset and get the best price appeared first on Game News.
]]>It’s a burgeoning field encompassing some pretty complex technology, so choosing the best VR headset for you can be tricky. Price is always going to be a major consideration, of course, so when debating the ‘big three’ the PSVR automatically has a leg up, coming in at half or less than the price of its main competition. But price isn’t the end all, be all, certainly – performance, comfort, and library are also huge considerations that shouldn’t be overlooked. We’ve gone through and broken down the strengths of each of the top three platforms and explained who each is best suited for and why, in an effort to make sure you get your hands on the very best VR headset for you (or the lucky gamer on your shopping list) this holiday season.
Of course, to power PlayStation’s headset, you’ll need a PS4, so check out the best PS4 bundle (opens in new tab) deals happening right now. And both the Vive and the Rift require a solid gaming rig, so also stop by our best gaming PC (opens in new tab) roundup to find something to power your excursion into these ever-expanding digital realms.
- Find the best graphics cards for PC gaming (opens in new tab) to upgrade your rig for VR
- Or read out guide on how to build a gaming PC (opens in new tab) that’s VR ready
- Or get a PlayStation Pro bundle deal (opens in new tab) for your new PSVR headset
Oculus Rift
The Rift was the headset that spearheaded the modern virtual reality renaissance. Way back when it was a Kickstarter project that was more promise than substance, the Rift ignited imaginations with visions of a virtual future and demonstrated that consumer-scale VR was possible. Through a slew of prototypes and iterations, huge injections of investment capital and an eventual $2 billion buyout by Facebook, the Rift has become the best destination for serious gaming in VR for those of us without infinite disposable income.
While the early prototypes and first retail versions of the Rift were notably lacking in terms of motion tracking and room scale capabilities, those weaknesses have been fully patched up in the latest iteration of the hardware, and the price has continued to drop. The Rift now comes with room scale functionality and a pair of its excellent touch controllers (easily the best VR controllers available) in its vanilla package, and at less than $400. It also has a massive and constantly expanding library of great games, ranging from multiplayer standouts like Echo Arena to sprawling single-player experiences like Skyrim VR. While Oculus has gone out of its way to say that they’re against exclusivity in VR titles and want VR to be as open and democratic as possible, there are still some excellent games that are only available on their headset, like Insomniac’s Edge of Nowhere or the fantasy action adventure Chronos.
The Rift is midway between the Vive Pro and PSVR in terms of price point (and still $100 cheaper than even the base Vive), but offers a crisp 2160 x 1200 resolution, great roomscale (upgradable to proper 360 degree scale with the purchase of a third sensor) and, most importantly for VR, a 90Hz refresh rate. It’s excellent, proven hardware that’s come out of a long process of tweaking and refinement, and it has the advantage of being attached to PC hardware, meaning the performance ceiling is incredibly high.
While the release of the Oculus Go means there’s a less expensive, more mainstream option available in the Oculus family, the library of games is significantly less impressive than its big brother headset. For gamers, the Go is much more likely to be a novelty that gets played with once or twice around the holidays and then ends up consigned to a dusty closet. Its being heavily marketed as a virtual screen room device and, while the standalone facet of its design is really attractive, gamers are better off waiting to see where the Oculus Quest falls in terms of design and performance. We’ll keep you updated as more news about the Quest emerges (and whether there’s any chance of it unseating the Rift at the top of the VR hill). Watch this space.
The HTC Vive Pro
Earlier this year, HTC provided an upscale, much improved new model of its Vive headset, the Vive Pro, and created an elite niche for users looking for the very best in virtual reality and willing to pay a significant premium to experience it. If you can afford it, there’s no question that the the Vive Pro is the best current option for top-shelf VR, though you’ll pay nearly double the price of the Rift (and the vanilla Vive looks like a tough sell at a hundred dollars more than Oculus offering).
So what does your nearly $800 get you? The refresh rate remains at a blistering 90hz, like the vanilla Vive and the Rift, but the resolution of the Pro’s stereo screens has been upped to 2880 x 1600. The Vive Pro also takes advantage of HTC’s superior Lighthouse room scale technology. While finding places to mount the sensors high on your walls can be a bit more difficult than with the Rift, whose sensors can sit on any flat surface (and can be angled so that height isn’t a concern), Lighthouse tracking is second to none and the Pro allows for a larger play space. HTC also sells a separate wireless adapter for Vive, which does away with one of the most annoying aspects of room scale, the constant danger of getting tangled up with or tripping over the headsets cables.
The Vive Pro is hands down the best HMD currently available, and while the improvements are certainly noticeable, they’re not revolutionary. Whether they’re worth an additional $400 outlay largely comes down to your budget, and how much you want to be an early adopter of cutting edge VR tech.
PlayStation VR
Sony’s foray into virtual reality is the most mainstream approach and is priced appropriately. The PlayStation VR HMD only displays at 1920×1080 resolution, which in VR is a fairly significant (though not devastating) downgrade, but it also boasts the fastest refresh rate of the three major headsets at 120hz. This isn’t the headset for tech snobs or those looking for the bleeding edge of virtual reality technology; PSVR is a play to get virtual reality into more homes and introduce it to the console base, loosening the PC technocracy’s stranglehold. Take a look at the best PlayStation VR bundle (opens in new tab) deals here, if you want to know more.
The major appeal of PSVR is the price and accessibility. Not only is the headset itself the cheapest of the big three, but it’s attached to the PS4, an affordable console even the pro version of which can be had for less than the price a mid-range gaming PC. Plus, PSVR is far and away the easiest of the three options to set up, another critical spoke in the wheel of its mainstream strategy. The only major stumbling block is that Sony’s HMD relies on its aging PlayStation camera and Move Controllers, which means room scale is less impressive and tracking is less accurate than the competition (and the Move controllers are definitely in last place in terms of comfortable grip and ease of use).
That said, PSVR has a great library of games, including some really impressive exclusives like Resident Evil 7 and recent hits like AstroBot: Rescue Mission and Tetris Effect. If you already own a PS4, have an aging PC that’s less than ideal for the demands of virtual reality, or want to experience VR but don’t have a ton of extra cash, it’s a great choice that will give you a ‘full blown’ virtual experience at a wallet-friendly price. And Sony seems committed to supporting it going forward, having already released an updated model with some welcome design and performance improvements.
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The post Oculus Rift vs. HTC Vive Pro vs. PlayStation VR – how to choose the best VR headset and get the best price appeared first on Game News.
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