Graphics Card for DK2

CMDR Flaxton

C
Guys,

Having tried a DK2 for the first time last weekend at EliteMeet, I was blown away by the added immersion the DK2 provides. I was under the impression that the consumer version was coming out this summer (June/July) but it looks like it may have been pushed back to possibly next year now. I really want to get in on the whole Oculus Rift / ED experience though as I am primarily an explorer and seeing this in VR is just amazing...

Before I place an order, could I just check that my graphics card is sufficient to run the DK2 as I really want the experience to be as good already seen.
I have a Nvidia GTX650 ti card which I get a stable 75fps out in the black and 40+ in stations and areas of action, this is at a resolution of 1680X1050 which is the maximum my current monitor can handle. My CPU is an 8 core AMD which is watercooled and 8gb of ram, so really the pinch point on my system is the graphics card.

I will be on a budget so shelling out for a new Graphics card on top of the DK2 may push my purchase back a while haha.

Also if there are any hints/tips as to the best place to obtain a Rift from that would also be helpful.

Many thanks in advance,
CMDR Flaxton
 

[VR] Mad Mike

[VR] Mad Mike
it is to some extent subjective.

Some users on here have comparatively low end GPUs and are happy with the performance..... Me I can only comment for my experiences. I had a GTX670 heavily overclocked and it was playable on low detail on DK2.

I have since gotten a GTX980 and on full bubble but shadows on medium it is way better however.

looking at new cards I would consider the GTX960 to be a minimim spec for Elite in VR, though ideally I would be looking at a GTX970 (with a view to SLIing for CV1).

I know very little about AMD CPUs so no idea if that is holding you back at all... and others will be able to help if you are considering an AMD GPU.

2nd hand wise a GTX680 / GTX770 would be the minimum nvidia card I personally would consider... but again, I would expect to be running on low detail (maybe with a few bits pushed up a bit)

this is just my view, I know others on here strongly disagree and think a GTX980 for DK2 is overkill..

PS if you are based in the UK I believe a member of AVforums has his DK2 on the classifieds right now. it is cheaper than new, and he is a reliable person. Just bear in mind you get no support from oculus unless you buy new directly from them.... it may be worth the extra cash for the piece of mind if you are set on getting a DK2 (which is another discussion in itself)
 
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Pate

P
I had GTX 750Ti, with which I got around 120fps playing on a monitor.

Tried to use that with DK2, and after about half an hour I was ready to throw up.

Realized 750Ti just does not cut it, purchased GTX 970, and have been happily flying my space ship ever since.

I would say that if you reach a minimum of 150fps when playing on a monitor, then your GPU might be good enough to run DK2 without judder.
 
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CMDR Flaxton

C
Thanks Mad Mike,

The DK2 running at the weekend was on a GTX970 I believe, so was sort of expecting that a new graphics card was on the cards as well as it would be nice to run at above the minimum settings.

I am considering the DK2 as I can no longer find any reliable reference to a release date for the consumer version, I was sure I saw somewhere it was summer 2015, but posts vary wildly and there is nothing I can find on the OR website.

I am based in the UK, so will take a look on the forums just in case there is a saving to be had.

Many thanks again,
CMDR Flaxton
 

djbordie

D
get a used DK2 for a few months till release is firm, then sell on ebay and you should recoup what you payed.
the 970 is the minimum in my opinion, and worth the extra $100 on the 960, as the vram alone is needed.

the 970 and 960 are almost the same speed, missing a few cuda and the vram...which is important.

2 970s should do you well for cv1 and future use. So 1 970 for now is ideal for the $$

2 960s is a waste in my opinion...
 

nickq

N
Oh dear I just googled Elitemeet, time to search the forum instead.
I'd love to try DK2 somewhere before I convince the wife I need it...
 

CMDR Holycow

CMDR Holycow
CMDR Flaxton said:
I was under the impression that the consumer version was coming out this summer (June/July) but it looks like it may have been pushed back to possibly next year now.
Click to expand...

CMDR Flaxton said:
I am considering the DK2 as I can no longer find any reliable reference to a release date for the consumer version, I was sure I saw somewhere it was summer 2015
Click to expand...

There has never been a release date for CV1. The only official word from oculus was from late 2014, and the words were "it's many months away.. not YEARS... but many months". That's it. It was never said nor hinted it would be released even in 2015, let alone half way through it. My take, was somewhere in 2016. Now that valve actually HAS a release date mentioned for their HMD, my guess is we will see one from oculus soon. Best guess would be some time in early 2016.

But it doesn't matter... it will be out when it's out. The take-away is, is that it is far enough away that a DK2 is TOTALLY worth the price, right now. You will still get 10 to 16 months of use out of it before CV1 gets here. Heck, it would be worth it just for THREE months of use, the experience is so awesome. You can always sell the DK2 later after CV1 gets here. It will only be fore $150 or so, but so what.

Oh yeah.. video card... my standard issue GTX970 just barely plays the game. I still have to stay completely far away from high population systems, like lhs 3447 or lave... as long as I am out in other systems, I can play between low and medium settings. A pair of 970s in SLI will probably play the CV1 "ok".. not great. Don't buy a card today and expect it to be good-to-go for CV1, get a card today that will just get you by, and save cash for the next architecture to be released, and buy a kick-butt card after CV1 comes out.

Without knowing anything about future optimizations, it's important to note that all else being equal, the CV1 will likely take double the graphic horsepower to run at 90, then the DK2 to run at 75.
 
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djbordie

D
go for a single 980...full 4gb ram
and easily clocked to 1600mhz.

so if you had sli it would be more than enough HP for 1440p x2 and some aliasing for the cv1/vive
 

SlackR

Banned
SlackR
I have two 980s in SLi and am still craving more performance! The truth is, you get addicted to getting the best out of what you have which is part of the charm of a Dev kit. That being said you'd be foolish to go less than a 970 if you want any kind of future proofing. I am now on my third dev kit which arrived in the UK yesterday, one week after ordering, so buying from directly from oculus is the smart play.
Enjoy! :)
 

jumbobreakfast

J
SlackR said:
I have two 980s in SLi and am still craving more performance!
Click to expand...

Which is a good reason not to spend too much money on a GPU now unless you can easily afford it. We don't know what the consumer VR requirements are going to be.

I have a standard 780 and ed plays fine on medium settings.
 

SlackR

Banned
SlackR
jumbobreakfast said:
Which is a good reason not to spend too much money on a GPU now unless you can easily afford it. We don't know what the consumer VR requirements are going to be.

I have a standard 780 and ed plays fine on medium settings.
Click to expand...

You are right about spending only what you can afford, but tech heads always want to push and push. Experience wise, I couldn't be happier. My frustration comes from being able to imagine what lies five or ten years from now!
:)
 

djbordie

D
SlackR said:
You are right about spending only what you can afford, but tech heads always want to push and push. Experience wise, I couldn't be happier. My frustration comes from being able to imagine what lies five or ten years from now!
:)
Click to expand...

i was trying to wrap my head around the cost of a titan X, then i saw the performance vs a 980...
wow if people think the 970 - 980 gap is not enough the titan x isnt even that impressive over a 980.

nevermind dual 980s.

the core clock on the titan X is less than the stock performance of my 980...never mind when its OC'd to 1600 mhz!
:D:D:D is that!

but i guess titan x is for those who need 12gb vram single card...

aka Dual 980s is the best atm and pretty reasonable for future VR

or maybe 3 way or 4 way 980s....hrmmmm
we need a better f'in hmd already! this screen door is killing me
 
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SlackR

Banned
SlackR
djbordie said:
i was trying to wrap my head around the cost of a titan X, then i saw the performance vs a 980...
wow if people think the 970 - 980 gap is not enough the titan x isnt even that impressive over a 980.

nevermind dual 980s.

the core clock on the titan X is less than the stock performance of my 980...never mind when its OC'd to 1600 mhz!
:D:D:D is that!

but i guess titan x is for those who need 12gb vram single card...

aka Dual 980s is the best atm and pretty reasonable for future VR

or maybe 3 way or 4 way 980s....hrmmmm
we need a better f'in hmd already! this screen door is killing me
Click to expand...

My hunch is that NVIDIA VR fans will snap up the 980 ti when it launches in the next couple of months, unless AMD pull a rabbit out of the VR hat with their next offering.
 
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