Vive vs Rift: Help me decide what to buy!

[Soda Popinski]

By "noticeably smoother" what do you mean? Can you explain the difference?

Do you find the VIVE Experience the same regardless of the camera being enabled/disabled? HTC has suggested that the camera option takes some bandwidth from the USB connection, potentially affecting the tracking of the headset.

It's like the difference watching a 24fps film movie, and a high frame rate digital video. Unfortunately, most digital video you see is of low production quality. If you were lucky enough to see The Hobbit in HFR, it was silky smooth. A lot of people didn't like it in cinema, but it's much better for a VR experience.

Can anyone lucky enough to have both headsets please make this a more objective claim. Play the same scene with graphic loveliness set to eleven with both headsets and tell me what's the fps for them.

Unfortunately, I don't think the FPS rate takes into account Oculus' Async Time Warp. So, while the FPS appears to be stuttering, in the headset, you won't notice. This may change when I get the CV1, as it needs more fill-rate, due to 25% more resolution and 20% higher frame rate.

 

[bitstorm]

Well d-day is fast approaching.

Just got the finalizing email from Vive.

Do I cancel and wait for Oculus, or go with the Vive and cancel my August CV1 preorder. [blah] [1st world problems]

The thing is this will be running on my laptop for now with a 16GB 4790K + 8GB 980M card. Apparently this card is just a tad faster than a pure desktop 970 which means I'll actually be on the low end of acceptable.

My plan was to go Pascal when it comes out, but from what I can see Pascal ain't out till June sometime, which puts it a lot nearer Rift release time.

Does anyone have any experience with Vive on a 970, how is that?

 

[wstephenson]

It works for me.
970, 4770, 16GB.
I can only run on VR Low without seeing reprojection judder, but the experience of VR is worth it, I don't really pay attention to the pixels, the flashing textures or the lowered model detail vs what I can use in 'flat mode'. CQC is so much more fun, it feels almost criminally easy to aim now.

 

[ntsarb]

Have you enabled stand by mode in SteamVR settings?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Vive/comments/4dqad2/lighthouse_base_station_sleep_power_down/

Just found it. It works. Many Thanks!

 

[dutchy2000]

It works for me.
970, 4770, 16GB.
I can only run on VR Low without seeing reprojection judder, but the experience of VR is worth it, I don't really pay attention to the pixels, the flashing textures or the lowered model detail vs what I can use in 'flat mode'. CQC is so much more fun, it feels almost criminally easy to aim now.

Shhhh don't tell anyone, I might get some actual competition in CQC.

 

[jabokai]

The thing is this will be running on my laptop for now with a 16GB 4790K + 8GB 980M card. Apparently this card is just a tad faster than a pure desktop 970 which means I'll actually be on the low end of acceptable.

Pretty sure the 980M has a lower performance then a desktop 970 - you may want to check that out.

Also, I'm sure I've read of laptop issues - Optimus - whatever that is! It causes issues with latency or even HMDs not working through the laptop's HDMI.

Couple of things to investigate - you may well already have done so.

 

[bitstorm]

Pretty sure the 980M has a lower performance then a desktop 970 - you may want to check that out.

Also, I'm sure I've read of laptop issues - Optimus - whatever that is! It causes issues with latency or even HMDs not working through the laptop's HDMI.

Couple of things to investigate - you may well already have done so.

Yeah Optimus is another layer which does apparently cause issues in VR.

The 980m in this laptop does not have Optimus though it's some special variant with 8GB GDDR5! The whole laptop is a kind of desktop in a laptop affair, 7 heat pipes plus a desktop cpu 4790K.

Still it's not going to quite do it for VR.

Just trying to figure out if it will do till Pascal comes out, yes it seems to be just below a proper desktop 970, overclocked it equals it.

 

[UniMag]

Yeah Optimus is another layer which does apparently cause issues in VR.

The 980m in this laptop does not have Optimus though it's some special variant with 8GB GDDR5! The whole laptop is a kind of desktop in a laptop affair, 7 heat pipes plus a desktop cpu 4790K.

Still it's not going to quite do it for VR.

Just trying to figure out if it will do till Pascal comes out, yes it seems to be just below a proper desktop 970, overclocked it equals it.

Pity me who has dual 980M's in my non-Optimus laptop (with i7-4910MQ and 32gb RAM) and still not good enough due to lack of SLI support

Hopefully by the time the (CV1 -maybe?) is readily available SLI will be supported. If not I may have to switch to a powerful small form PC with Pascal if I'm still that bothered and can face taking a huge financial hit on the laptop and upgrade.

Oh well.

 

[bitstorm]

Pity me who has dual 980M's in my non-Optimus laptop (with i7-4910MQ and 32gb RAM) and still not good enough due to lack of SLI support

Hopefully by the time the (CV1 -maybe?) is readily available SLI will be supported. If not I may have to switch to a powerful small form PC with Pascal if I'm still that bothered and can face taking a huge financial hit on the laptop and upgrade.

Oh well.

Crikey.

And the thing is I think it will be a while till laptops get the decent gpus, so back to desktop.

I'm still thinking about a solution. I like gaming laptops, chilling out in the lounge > sat at a desk. I feel like I want a cheap non-gaming laptop with HDMI IN and run a HDMI cable from a high-powered desktop to it for non VR couch gaming.


edit: Another Vive vs Rift comparison, not sure if this one's been posted before (pt 2 of 4) : http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonev...ive-part-2-comfort-user-interface-and-vr-legs

 

[Lestenio]

Well d-day is fast approaching.

Just got the finalizing email from Vive.

Do I cancel and wait for Oculus, or go with the Vive and cancel my August CV1 preorder. [blah] [1st world problems]

Same boat as you. Ordered the Rift 30 mins after orders opened. Still waiting and the eta is June after the last delay.
ordered the Vive at the end of March, looks like it is about to ship.

I have bounced between which one to cancel for various reasons over the last few weeks. But the motion controllers are the clincher for me. Figured that they are basically the same thing anyway and for those absolutely must use a rift moments, I'll keep the dk2

 

[Arubeto]

Same boat as you. Ordered the Rift 30 mins after orders opened. Still waiting and the eta is June after the last delay.
ordered the Vive at the end of March, looks like it is about to ship.

I have bounced between which one to cancel for various reasons over the last few weeks. But the motion controllers are the clincher for me. Figured that they are basically the same thing anyway and for those absolutely must use a rift moments, I'll keep the dk2

I have more or less made up my mind and will stay with my Rift pre-order - even though it won't ship before the end of July (by which time I'll at least be able to buy a Pascal card, should my 970 turn out not to suffice). One thing is that I actually prefer the "Touch" design over that of the Vive controllers (I can enjoy "wand" gaming - like in the good ol' "Wii" times), but the "Touch" just seems ergonomically so well thought-out. I love the intention to make it feel as actually simulating your hands in VR, not just what you hold (guns, swords etc.).

And concerning the point that gave me such a headache when trying to decide between the two HMDs - the front-facing camera of the Vive - I am kind of disappointed with the apparent low resolution and quality of it. I will miss the "chaperone" sytem of the Vive, though, and will definitely have to do something about the nose gap of the Rift, but those issues I hope will be compensated by its lower weight and better wearing comfort.

 

[Wolfox]

Enjoy

[video=youtube;agrc2OmAEYg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agrc2OmAEYg[/video]

 

[shreddog]

And concerning the point that gave me such a headache when trying to decide between the two HMDs - the front-facing camera of the Vive - I am kind of disappointed with the apparent low resolution and quality of it..

Dude, it's good enough to see your keyboard, check your phone for messages, and to pick up your drinks, without removing your hmd. That's a big plus.
[video=youtube_share;vnciEkUDnhs]https://youtu.be/vnciEkUDnhs[/video]

 

[Mark D]

Enjoy

http://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/04/htc-vive-games-spotlight.html

 

[bitstorm]

CHap tested the Oculous Touch and compares to Vive, reckons Rift Touch not so good :

[video=youtube;krJ1_PBYJs0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJ1_PBYJs0[/video]

 

[Lurkstrober]

Originally Posted by wstephenson

It works for me.
970, 4770, 16GB.
I can only run on VR Low without seeing reprojection judder, but the experience of VR is worth it, I don't really pay attention to the pixels, the flashing textures or the lowered model detail vs what I can use in 'flat mode'. CQC is so much more fun, it feels almost criminally easy to aim now.

Shhhh don't tell anyone, I might get some actual competition in CQC.

Hmmm, now I know why you were cleaning up when I was playing against you on the weekend in Deathmatch! Seriously I was seeing you get 8 kills /0 death rounds. I was thinking 'he's got to be cheating somehow, no-one can be that good' but it's nice to know you just had a 'unfair' technological advantage ... and you might just be really good. Give me another month (late May-early June dispatch date for the CV1) and you might get that competition you're after )

 

[Magic Man]

Haven't pulled the plug yet (waiting for the 1080 cards to be announced) but was originally going to go with the Vive.

After reading the issues with the Vive and ED though, I've switched my future choice to the Rift for now.

Like the camera in the Vive, but will manage without it.
Like the room scale but can't really use it in my setup and it's always a future option with the Rift
The VR controllers don't really influence me since I can't see me playing such games but, again, always an option for the Rift.

Was initially sold on what I saw as a better tracking method with the Vive but, on second thoughts, I can see the lighthouse emitters possibly causing future issues in their current incarnation, i.e. no power switch, no remote power option, motorized, etc. etc. The Rift camera is a simpler, tried and tested method.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

that vid above.

some of his points sound really worrying, and could be damning HOWEVER some of his points are absolutely wrong - i can say this given i have a rift myself, which then makes me question how accurate his other points are.

for instance, rift is seated only..... no, half of the content that comes with the rift specifically states this is designed to be better via via standing.

I *hope* his issues regarding the touch controllers are just beta problems / poorly configured (though you would think they would be set up correctly in a controlled demop)... because if not then touch will be worthless imo.

if touch turns out to be rubbish i can live with it.... i will be replacing the headset as soon as the next gen come out anyway. untill then i will be limiting what i buy in the oculus store so i can keep my options open. I am not ready to get locked into either companies just yet.
The fantastic contraption guys however had rift touch set up doing full room and they said to all intents and purposes it was just as good as the vive, but in a limited room size, ie go above 4x4m i think it was and you have to go for the vive.... this is not an issue for me, with the best will in the world, outside of getting a gazebo and going in the garden i cant get bigger than 2.5 x 3m anyway.

screendoor effect.... ok i have not tried the production vive, however EVERY other post/review i have read state SDE is worse on the vive, but the Fresnel lens artifact issue - which can be negated by the devs - which is better in the vive did not get a mention.

 

[popuptoaster]

"Tested" did a Vive vs Oculus test after owning and using both for a month or so, basically it came down to the Vive being great for showing off VR but both guys in the vid said while they loved the Vive every time they had something cool running in it they wished they were running it in the Rift.

however they did point out that they were VERY happy with both and unless you were testing them back to back you were unlikely to really notice much difference.

 

[grammatonfeather]

I'm now a Vive convert.

Yes I'm aware of the differences with the lenses but both systems use Fresnel so both systems will have some lens reflections. It doesn't ruin gameplay on ED. Text is still markedly sharper with Vive than it was with ED on DK2.

Vive standing/room scale games are beyond belief. Absolutely stunning. The sense of being there is mind-blowing and way beyond any sense of presence I had on DK2.

Yes I know CV1 will eventually have touch but I don't want to wait and I love the Vive matrix cam.

There is nothing markedly better about CV1 that would make me say "I wish it was running on CV1". The image quality isn't significantly better to warrant that statement.