We agree that finding the ideal desktop compatible with your VR gaming can be challenging. That’s why our team delved into the market to find you the leading desktop for gaming.
VR gaming enables physical activity as you enjoy your traditional games. A quality computer can transform virtual reality gaming into a more engaging experience.
This post will walk you through some of the top VR gaming computers to ensure you get your money’s worth.
Winner
HP Omen
Among the best VR-ready PCs, HP’s Omen 30L PC packs some imposing components into a narrow and tasteful chassis that amplify its aesthetics. With ample storage and standardized parts, this gaming PC has the right specs to support all simulation games and gives you your money’s worth.
Runner Up
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme
Employing some of the best components in the market, the Xtreme VR gaming PC delivers high performance. Built-in WiFi connectivity provides fast frame rates and is among the top VR-ready PCs.
Also Great
Dell Alienware Aurora
The Dell Alienware Aurora is the most premium PC you can go for when it comes to VR gaming. Utilizing the Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU, this machine elevates your gaming experience. With a futuristic case that screams sophistication, you’ll want to display this PC.
Now that we’ve taken a brief look at PCs for VR in the market let’s dig deeper and discuss each one.
Best VR Gaming PCs - Top 5 Reviews
#1: Best Economical PC for VR Gaming - HP Omen 30L Review
The HP Omen 30L is a moderately slim beast capable of cramming some imposing components into a small and stylish chassis that showcases them. This machine, undoubtedly HP’s best gaming computer, is available in various variants that provide excellent value.
This VR-ready gaming PC is a dominant player thanks to the latest generation Intel i7-7700 processor. It also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM combined with an NVIDIA GTX 1070 card geared with 8GB of GDDR5 memory.
Moreover, it has enough ports to accommodate your VR headset and accessories, making it compatible with any virtual environment game.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy HP Omen
Processor: You may choose from a 10th generation Intel® CoreTM i9 processor2 or an AMD® RyzenTM 9 3900 processor. Your gaming experience is enhanced with NVIDIA GeForce 2080 or AMD Radeon 5700XT graphics.
Graphics Card: The cutting-edge NVIDIA TURING GPU, in conjunction with the latest GeForce RTX 2080 graphics adapter, provides up to six times the efficiency of previous cards. It also gives games the power of real-time visual tracing and AI.
Pricing: Costing you between $2,000 to $2,500, the HP Omen offers good value for the components included, particularly the GPU and processor.
- Fair value
- Subtle Design
- Easy swap components
- Glitch-free
- Fan noise
- Slow cooling
Best Economical PC for VR Gaming
The best economical PC for VR gaming is the HP Omen 30L. It is simple to upgrade with tool-less access and has optimization and customization features that allow you to make the most of your simulation gaming, and offers a variety of configuration options.
#2: Best High-Quality PC for VR Gaming - CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme Review
The CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme comes with a simplistic yet appealing design with RGB lights, a convenient, transparent side panel, and VR compatibility. This gaming system is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor.
There are numerous ports on the back for all of your components and VR headset. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 display card contains one DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI for dual-monitor setups.
Moreover, the ventilation ports on this virtual environment gaming computer expand and contract according to the computer’s internal temperatures. It also employs liquid cooling.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme
Processor: Supported by a 6-core 12-thread Intel i7-8700 processor with a central frequency of 3.20 GHz and boost circuits near 4.60 GHz, this has proved to be an excellent multitasking processor.
Graphics Card: This desktop employs a committed NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti display card with 8GB of VRAM, which allows for liquid-smooth graphics at 1440p and 1080p resolutions and high frame rates for a seamless VR experience.
Pricing: This VR build desktop will cost you within the fair range of $1,000 to $1,500, a great bargain for the menu of high-quality components its offers. PC gamers recognize CyberPower for its excellent value.
- Liquid cooling
- Fair price
- Easy upgrades
- Extensive ports
- Few spare card slots
- Bulky
Best High-Quality PC for VR Gaming
The best high-quality PC for VR gaming is CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme because it can assist most games at high settings while achieving productivity tasks with ease, fulfilling your VR requirements.
#3: Best Premium PC for VR Gaming - Dell Alienware Aurora Review
This VR-ready gaming PC comes with different features. These include:
- Intel Core i9-10900K processor
- 2TB SSD with 2TB HDD storage for archiving
- 64GB of RAM
- Nvidia RTX 3090
A fore-panel USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and three USB-A ports make it simple to attach VR headsets without having to dig around the back of the computer. At the rear, there are several USB ports, including a USB-C port and ten USB-A ports.
Additionally, we found that you can use off-the-shelf hardware to upgrade everything, including the PSU and motherboard, over time.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide to Buy Dell Alienware Aurora
Processor: The Alienware Aurora R11 is integrated with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 8-Core processor to provide long-lasting peak performance for a riveting experience.
Graphics Card: Engineered with the GeForce RTX 3080 10GB display card and AMD Radeon, Dell Alienware Aurora is geared to intelligently enhance details to achieve sharp-looking visuals.
Pricing: This PC may seem costly for many with its starting price range of $2,000 and can go up to $2,500, but for a high-performance premium PC like the Dell Alienware the price is justified in its high-end components.
- Futuristic Design
- Upgradeable
- Excellent CPU performance
- Top-end frame rates
- Expensive
- No RGB
Best Premium PC for VR Gaming
The best premium PC for VR gaming is the Dell Alienware Aurora. Carrying quality components in a sleek body, this computer delivers unmatched graphical power and performance power while facilitating you with a warranty and advanced CPU cooler.
#4: Best Expandable PC for VR Gaming - Lenovo Thinkstation P620
We were impressed that this PC aimed at maximizing the performance of an array of applications.
The Lenovo Thinkstation P620 is an ideal virtual environment gaming operating system. This is due to the fact that it comes with a Threadripper Pro processor. This is specially designed to handle the most demanding workloads
The P620 has enough ports to accommodate almost anyone. On the front, there are dual USB-C ports and USB-A ports, both of which support USB 3.2. The back has six additional USB-A ports, two of which support USB 2.0 and four of which support USB 3.2.
Moreover, this PC offers tool-free upgrades and there are handy levers around all essential components that allow you to swap them out effortlessly. A fixture for the 5.25-inch bays and PCIe slots is included, as are levers for the intake fan, power supply, and RAM covers.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Lenovo Thinkstation P620
Processor: The system is powered by a Threadripper 3995WX, a massive 64-core, 128-thread processor capable of boosting up to 4.2GHz.
The threadripper processor supports octa-channel memory rather than quad-channel memory. Moreover, this updated processor can use up to 2TB of ECC RAM.
Graphics Card: Utilizing the NVIDIA RTX A5000 24GB display card, this PC maximizes your experience with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, advanced shading, and deep learning for an ultimate gaming experience.
Pricing: Starting at $2,000 and going as high as $3,000, this PC may seem pricy to many. However, the price tag is justified as it is the first threadripper workstation in the market, not to mention its reliability and performance legitimize its price range.
- Three-year support
- Superb expandability
- Processor performance
- Upgradeable
- 10GB Ethernet
- Tool-free design
- Noisy
- Costly
Best Expandable PC for VR Gaming
The best expandable PC for VR gaming is the Lenovo Thinkstation P620. With extensive memory channels and an unmatched processor, this VR-ready gaming computer is undoubtedly among the most performant machines we’ve reviewed.
#5: Best Compact PC for VR Gaming - Zotac Magnus One
The compact case contains everything you need for a detailed desktop for virtual-simulation reality. Adding on, the power supply is also housed within the case and does not need to be connected separately.
Its Intel Core 10700 is a reasonably modern processor that performs its job well, as it can handle even the most demanding tasks with its 16 threads and eight cores.
The system also includes a Zotac GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. Due to the limited space, Zotac picked a SO-DIMM module for system memory, commonly found in laptops.
You may choose between a standard 2.5-inch model and an M.2 model for mass storage.
Two USB ports on the anterior panel and six in the back should be a breeze. On the front, there is one USB C and two USB 3.2 type-A ports, capable of 5Gbps, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Zotac Magnus One
Processor: The Intel Core i7-10700 processor has an octa-core architecture and a TDP of 65 watts. The foundation clock speed is 2.9 GHz, with a maximum boost speed of 4.8 GHz. The Core i7-10700 performs impressively in the Zotac Magnus One.
Graphics Card: Employing the NVIDIA RTX 3070 from Zotac’s in-house portfolio, the Zotac Magnus One delivers superb 3D performance. The system performed admirably in the test, proving compatible games can be enjoyed at 2160p as well.
Pricing: The most inexpensive computer from the roundup, the Zotac Magnus One starts at a humble price tag of $1,200 and goes up no more than $1,500. With such reasonable pricing and impressive performance, this desktop is quite the bargain.
- Compact Design
- Impressive Connectivity
- Extensive USB Ports
- Great CPU
- Noisy
- Slow cooling
Best Compact PC for VR Gaming
The best compact PC for VR gaming is the Zotac Magnus One. With top-notch graphics and CPU all housed in this compact design, this VR-ready PC proves you can enjoy an immersive VR experience at an affordable price.
Buyers’ Guide
Due to their similar features, it can be challenging to choose between the various virtual environment gaming computers available on the market.
Certain factors will assist you in selecting a suitable virtual environment gaming desktop. These factors are:
Pricing
VR is an expensive technology, with a headset alone costing $500-$800. If you have a comparatively new gaming computer, you can possibly get away with updating your display card and jumping right into the new era of gaming, but this will cost you several hundred bucks.
You’ll most certainly need a new one if you haven’t updated your PC in the last five or ten years.
Anyone on a budget, particularly humble gamers and tech enthusiasts, is put off by the prospect of spending $2000-$3000 on a new PC in addition to an already expensive VR headset.
Fortunately, there is a feasible solution. VR technology requires power in a few areas of a computer’s design.
With a little compromising and cost-cutting, you can get a completely new VR-ready PC for around $700-900. You’ll meet all the basics- don’t expect to run VR games at high specs.
GPU
For an incredible VR experience, you generally require a PC with a powerful GPU, a mid-range processor, enough ports to manage the headset, and any sensors, and at least 8GB of RAM.
The HP Omen 30L is possibly among the finest pcs for VR considering these factors.
User-Friendliness
User-friendliness is essential for almost any piece of technology or hardware you choose. When you narrow down your choice, make sure it is effortless to use.
You don’t want a complex piece of equipment that will take days to figure out how it functions. You want to invest in a VR-ready gaming PC that is self-explanatory and easy to run VR games right away.
To avoid wasting time learning the user manual, try shopping for your VR-stimulation gaming PC at tangible stores so you can experience your new investment first-hand.
Graphics Card
The graphics adapter is the most crucial component in any gaming PC. Graphics cards are the heart of what allows you to play VR ready games at high resolutions with as many graphical features as possible. They are also among the most expensive components available.
Look for the following:
- A card capable of playing at a minimum of 1080p resolution, with 4K resolution, an alternative depending on budget.
- The maximum amount of GPU RAM you can afford.
- The most potent GPU processor available.
AMD and Nvidia are two companies that provide display cards. Nvidia’s RTX 30-series currently offers the best display cards.
If money is no issue, the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is the most powerful graphics adapter, but when purchasing a gaming PC, you’re more likely to come across the RTX 3070 or 3060 range.
The RTX 30-series is usually the best choice to play games at 4K resolutions or with visual settings set to ultra-high.
If you’re on a strict budget, AMD’s RX 6000 Series is still worth considering. These cards are best suited for 1080p resolutions and slightly reduced graphic detail levels in simulation games.
Processor
Regarding PCs for VR, the two options are Intel and AMD. Currently, the most potent gaming processors vary depending on your budget. Like graphics cards, the higher the number, the stronger the processing power.
A processor, also known as a CPU, is the brain of your computer. It manages to interpret and carry out almost everything on your screen. Its cores and speed impact how fast it operates and completes activities.
Cores function similarly to processors within processors. Most CPUs have four to eight cores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can VR Be Used on Any Gaming PC?
Yes, if your gaming PC meets the minimum requirements of the VR headset you want to use, it can run compatible games.
Right now, PCs with RTX 3080 or RTX 3070 GPUs will work well for simulation gaming.
Is a Powerful CPU Required for VR?
Dedicated VR systems are typically best served by a CPU with a low core count and the highest possible processor speed.
Intel’s Core i7 11700K 8 Core offers a moderate number of cores with good per-core performance. Intel Core i5 and i7 chips are typically well-suited for VR workloads.
How Many Cores are Required for VR?
We recommend four. Quad-core processors have been utilized for a while, and most VR-ready games are designed to work with them. Few current games are designed to VR gamestake advantage of multiple cores.
Since six and eight-core centralized processing units are still uncommon, don’t anticipate games for more cores to be developed anytime soon.
Can VR-Ready Games be Played On a PC Without a Headset?
Yes, you can simply launch the game in Desktop Mode, eliminating the need for a headset. Here’s how you do it: enable the game in the Oculus Rift app. If the setup does not begin automatically, go to your Oculus Rift library and install the game from there.
Does Displaying VR on a Monitor Have an Impact on Performance?
Given that simulation gaming requires a relatively sophisticated GPU in the first place, additional monitors should have no discernible impact on your experience.
Although, depending on the content displayed on other monitors, shifting the focus away from your VR game could result in a performance drop.
Can a Gaming Laptop Handle Virtual Reality?
Gaming laptops almost always employ one of AMD’s H-series or Intel’s CPUs, which are more potent than the U-series silicon found in most thin non-gaming laptops and have at least four cores.
Any late-model Core i9, i7, or i5 processor, or a Ryzen 7 or 5 H-series chip, should suffice for virtual-simulation gaming.
Is Good Wi-Fi Needed for VR?
You must stream 12K footage to get HD-equivalent gaming. If we assume it has nine times the image data of 4K and no extra Wi-Fi bandwidth overhead, the FTC’s guidelines recommend a minimum connection speed of almost 225 Mbps—possibly more to be safe.
What Qualifies a Graphics Card as VR Ready?
A GPU capable of handling the demanding processes of visualizing virtual reality scenes is one of the key components required. NVIDIA and AMD Radeon RX are the current market leaders, and they’ve already begun labeling cards as “VR Ready” to assist consumers.
How Much Does a Good VR-Ready PC Cost?
Even for a superb gaming experience, this is unquestionably excessive, so a mid-range option is preferable.
Spending around $1,900 can get you a PC with a 7 5800 Ryzen-powered CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti GPU employing 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 512GB of memory, and a 16GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200MHz RAM.
Is Nvidia or AMD Better for Virtual Reality?
If you want to outperform the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT while also taking advantage of NVIDIA RTX features such as DLSS 2.0 and ray tracing when gaming on a standard PC, the RTX 2070 Super GPU by NVIDIA should be a great option.
The RTX 2070 Super is expensive but an excellent graphics adapter for virtual reality gaming.
Final Verdict
This brings us to the final verdict of our post for the best VR gaming PCs.
Ultimately, we decided on HP’s Omen 30L as our winner.
While the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme is great because of its brilliant components, it offers few spare card slots.
Whereas the Dell Alienware Aurora is a premium VR build gaming PC, it is far too costly for the average gamer.
This makes HP’s Omen 30L the optimal choice. It offers fair value, and the OGH features make this PC the best VR Ready PC on the market today. Its NVIDIA processor not only makes this machine a powerhouse, but the Network Booster functionality maximizes connectivity.
Which VR gaming PC do you prefer? Which one do you operate? Let us know in the comments section below.
