Pimax 4k headset with E:D
- Thread starter Kryzaach
- Start date
Nice review, I know a lot of people are simply struggling to get the Pimax 4k working correctly with ED, in fact I have a friend who can now get the image quality at it's highest settings but can not get the gyro's to work, any chance you can put a setup guide together for Pimax/Elite users, I think it would be really really helpful, (not getting a lot of help from the suppliers).
Kind regards
CMDR SOS4Biz
Sure thing, I'll summarise what I did to get it going when I get home!
Huh. I'm very intrigued. I'm still using a DK2, avoiding the CV1 because of the god-rays. (And honestly, I think 90Hz vs 60Hz is simply unnecessary.) Anyway... I never imagined trying to turn off the head tracking and relying only on the gyros. I may have to give that a try to simulate the removal of the head tracking. My gut says the head tracking is critical for me - but now hearing your description I'm wondering if it's ok without it. Hmm...
X-Terminator
Banned
"This reminds me of a DK1 but with 4k resolution" - only you're getting 1440 not 4k.
I have the CV1 and I do not get GOD-RAYS what so ever if BLOOM=OFF along with other obvious settings but AA must be FXAA to smooth cockpit lines. Do not get grease from fingers on your lens.
Screen door effect is only ever noticed when the game is loading on a black screen i.e. once at the Menu Screen you do not see it!
Although not even high resolution in CV1 you are mostly looking around which smoothes out any noticing of the Resolution.
About you not liking ORANGE HUD. Why use this colour when there are other custom colours to try out which you can even preview online with the app Edprofiler by Dr Kaii? Many other colours are far better than Orange like light Blue etc.
It does more than this so is worth trying.
http://www.drkaii.com/tools/edprofiler/
I got my CV1 second hand for £450 and Pimax 4k is available at £290 on ebay right now.
Reviewers mainly griped about it being incredibly slow and clunky in its own home screen. Has it got a built-in mic? Any issues with DTS in the headphones? Can you have the headphones on BOOST (I do) and can it still clearly pickup commands for VoiceAttack? Does it get hot? Does it get foggy (I use microfibre cloth but after 3days I am sweating less after I'm adjusting and have it quite loose fitted. Does it give clear vision when your eyes pan around the screen? CV1 can at times be slightly blurred unless you get the fit to align up better (more up than down for me).
Are you using ASW and why would it need Sync mode - is this what it sounds like and is V-Sync? You do not need this on at all for E
.
What settings are you using? My draw Distance is halfed and I must not use any Sampling. I selected Control+numpad 1 to stop ASW and think it's as smooth as I'll get it on my supposedly non-compatible system. I only get slight jitter upon arriving at Station & RES for about 10secs then it's smooth. Everyone seems to have this.
Finally about the looking up and putting your head through the seat...if you look at the pilot he sits forward unfortunately so you can try reseting the view with your head pressed back into the chair. Now when you play you'll find it will not look through the headrest
More info please and would you sell it to have a CV1 instead? I'm not convinced your comparison is anything to go by you see...
I have the CV1 and I do not get GOD-RAYS what so ever if BLOOM=OFF along with other obvious settings but AA must be FXAA to smooth cockpit lines. Do not get grease from fingers on your lens.
Screen door effect is only ever noticed when the game is loading on a black screen i.e. once at the Menu Screen you do not see it!
Although not even high resolution in CV1 you are mostly looking around which smoothes out any noticing of the Resolution.
About you not liking ORANGE HUD. Why use this colour when there are other custom colours to try out which you can even preview online with the app Edprofiler by Dr Kaii? Many other colours are far better than Orange like light Blue etc.
It does more than this so is worth trying.
http://www.drkaii.com/tools/edprofiler/
I got my CV1 second hand for £450 and Pimax 4k is available at £290 on ebay right now.
Reviewers mainly griped about it being incredibly slow and clunky in its own home screen. Has it got a built-in mic? Any issues with DTS in the headphones? Can you have the headphones on BOOST (I do) and can it still clearly pickup commands for VoiceAttack? Does it get hot? Does it get foggy (I use microfibre cloth but after 3days I am sweating less after I'm adjusting and have it quite loose fitted. Does it give clear vision when your eyes pan around the screen? CV1 can at times be slightly blurred unless you get the fit to align up better (more up than down for me).
Are you using ASW and why would it need Sync mode - is this what it sounds like and is V-Sync? You do not need this on at all for E
.What settings are you using? My draw Distance is halfed and I must not use any Sampling. I selected Control+numpad 1 to stop ASW and think it's as smooth as I'll get it on my supposedly non-compatible system. I only get slight jitter upon arriving at Station & RES for about 10secs then it's smooth. Everyone seems to have this.
Finally about the looking up and putting your head through the seat...if you look at the pilot he sits forward unfortunately so you can try reseting the view with your head pressed back into the chair. Now when you play you'll find it will not look through the headrest
More info please and would you sell it to have a CV1 instead? I'm not convinced your comparison is anything to go by you see...
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Much appreciated.
- - - Updated - - -
The 4k is split between the two eye pieces, it's a little annoying for them to say it's 4k the way they do, but it's partially true...lol
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This does indeed look intersting. I am not willing to sacrifize the tracking nor the Hz, but it is very nice to see more HMDs and specially that higher display screen work as intended. Great write up!
Lol. 90hz is not unnecessary, its the bare minimium for preventing motion sickness and tricking the users brain to believe its in the virtual space. Believe me, we will have higher refreshrate HMDs in the future. And for god rays, its not somehting I have though about in a while.
If you are intrigued and are still using a DK2, i would seriously look into the CV1. The CV1 is a consumer prodcut in every aspect, while the DK2 is a development kit in every aspect. It is way better in every way. Look for it 2nd hand.
Lol. 90hz is not unnecessary, its the bare minimium for preventing motion sickness and tricking the users brain to believe its in the virtual space. Believe me, we will have higher refreshrate HMDs in the future. And for god rays, its not somehting I have though about in a while.
If you are intrigued and are still using a DK2, i would seriously look into the CV1. The CV1 is a consumer prodcut in every aspect, while the DK2 is a development kit in every aspect. It is way better in every way. Look for it 2nd hand.
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The steps I followed to get this running were as follows:
1. Download the latest driver package off Mega, as per their thread at http://forum.pimaxvr.com/t/release-piplay-download/17
2. Installed package
3. Restarted computer
4. Loaded Piplay
5. Simultaneously plugged in HDMI to port 1 and USB to USB 3 port
6. Once detected, change pimax to direct mode
7. Updated firmware to latest (236)
8. Enabled 1440p support
8. Quit piplay
9. Reinstalled SteamVR
10. Calibrated SteamVR
11. Disabled SLI
12. Disabled Vsync
13. Loaded Elite.
I had not problem at all, too.
Just downloaded the drivers and installed them. Only issue I had was that the Pimax needs a native HDMI Connection, and first I connected it to a DisplayPort via adapter... But since then, everything's fine.
@Kryzaach:
My ED works in "Pimax" mode, and as far as I know, Pimax mode is needed for SteamVR...
@sos4biz:
So, I'd follow Kryzaach's instructions. But I'd try with "Pimax" mode first. At least that's my setting.
Furthermore, in the options (upper right Corner) check, that headtracking/gyroscope is enabled (= boxes not checked).
That's why I think, that it's not the absolute FPS value which is important but the FPS variation:
As long as you've got constant FPS permanently, +/-1 or +/-2, without stutter and judder, you won't notice anything bad. Independent from whether the FPS level is @30, @45, @60 or @90 FPS. Very low FPS variation towards "0" seems to be the key.
As soon as you've got permanently FPS drops up-down-up-down-up... you'll get stutter and judder, the whole immersion is broken, and might you end up dizzy and motion sick.
And I got quite sick with CV1... I think it comes because the Rift tries to force 90 FPS under any circumstances. As this doesn't work depending on the graphics settings, one gets constant drops up-down-up-down...
Anyway, with the Pimax running @30 FPS constantly in ED, I feel so comfortable; never thought I might feel so comfortable in VR due to my former bad experiences with DK2 and CV1.
Just downloaded the drivers and installed them. Only issue I had was that the Pimax needs a native HDMI Connection, and first I connected it to a DisplayPort via adapter... But since then, everything's fine.
@Kryzaach:
Are you sure... ?!?
My ED works in "Pimax" mode, and as far as I know, Pimax mode is needed for SteamVR...
@sos4biz:
So, I'd follow Kryzaach's instructions. But I'd try with "Pimax" mode first. At least that's my setting.
Furthermore, in the options (upper right Corner) check, that headtracking/gyroscope is enabled (= boxes not checked).
Hmm, from my experience, I won't agree. As I mentioned in my Pimax thread, I run ED with 30 FPS only, and everything runs so fine and smooth - it's very very far away from any motion sickness, way better than it was with CV1.
That's why I think, that it's not the absolute FPS value which is important but the FPS variation:
As long as you've got constant FPS permanently, +/-1 or +/-2, without stutter and judder, you won't notice anything bad. Independent from whether the FPS level is @30, @45, @60 or @90 FPS. Very low FPS variation towards "0" seems to be the key.
As soon as you've got permanently FPS drops up-down-up-down-up... you'll get stutter and judder, the whole immersion is broken, and might you end up dizzy and motion sick.
And I got quite sick with CV1... I think it comes because the Rift tries to force 90 FPS under any circumstances. As this doesn't work depending on the graphics settings, one gets constant drops up-down-up-down...
Anyway, with the Pimax running @30 FPS constantly in ED, I feel so comfortable; never thought I might feel so comfortable in VR due to my former bad experiences with DK2 and CV1.
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"This reminds me of a DK1 but with 4k resolution" - only you're getting 1440 not 4k.
I have the CV1 and I do not get GOD-RAYS what so ever if BLOOM=OFF along with other obvious settings but AA must be FXAA to smooth cockpit lines. Do not get grease from fingers on your lens.
Screen door effect is only ever noticed when the game is loading on a black screen i.e. once at the Menu Screen you do not see it!
Although not even high resolution in CV1 you are mostly looking around which smoothes out any noticing of the Resolution.
About you not liking ORANGE HUD. Why use this colour when there are other custom colours to try out which you can even preview online with the app Edprofiler by Dr Kaii? Many other colours are far better than Orange like light Blue etc.
It does more than this so is worth trying.
http://www.drkaii.com/tools/edprofiler/
I got my CV1 second hand for £450 and Pimax 4k is available at £290 on ebay right now.
Reviewers mainly griped about it being incredibly slow and clunky in its own home screen. Has it got a built-in mic? Any issues with DTS in the headphones? Can you have the headphones on BOOST (I do) and can it still clearly pickup commands for VoiceAttack? Does it get hot? Does it get foggy (I use microfibre cloth but after 3days I am sweating less after I'm adjusting and have it quite loose fitted. Does it give clear vision when your eyes pan around the screen? CV1 can at times be slightly blurred unless you get the fit to align up better (more up than down for me).
Are you using ASW and why would it need Sync mode - is this what it sounds like and is V-Sync? You do not need this on at all for E
What settings are you using? My draw Distance is halfed and I must not use any Sampling. I selected Control+numpad 1 to stop ASW and think it's as smooth as I'll get it on my supposedly non-compatible system. I only get slight jitter upon arriving at Station & RES for about 10secs then it's smooth. Everyone seems to have this.
Finally about the looking up and putting your head through the seat...if you look at the pilot he sits forward unfortunately so you can try reseting the view with your head pressed back into the chair. Now when you play you'll find it will not look through the headrest
More info please and would you sell it to have a CV1 instead? I'm not convinced your comparison is anything to go by you see...
Disabling Bloom was one of the first things I tried. The god rays in my headset are definitely hardware related, perhaps they used multiple fresnel makers and yout got a good one?
The screen door for me is constant. Text is always jarring because of it in the CV1 for me. I agree that the resolution in the CV1 is not so important, the display tech is impressively smooth.
For me(as i mentioned in the video) it's not the orange that's the problem, any colour assigned pops too brightly for me unless i choose brown or something. Brown HUDs are not very appealing.
It does not have a built in mic, which made recording that video a hassle, as I had to use my Astro A50 as a desk mic, you can even hear them power off towards the end of the video haha.
I did not notice any DTS issues, as far as Voice Attack goes, the headphones are well sealed, so I doubt that would stop voice attack from working.
I had to adjust the IPD up one mm from where I would normally have it(so 64 up from 63) to get rid of the blurring effects when looking around. IPD correction in this headset is software controlled and it seems to do a really good job.
The headset never feels like it's clamped to your face, so from that perspective, for me at least it feels more comfortable than both the CV1 and DK1.
Honestly didn't even check the ASW settings, v sync is off everywhere(forced off by the driver).
I'm using custom settings(Ultra with AA disabled, as i normally game at 4K on the Phillips BDM4065UC).
That's a really good tip with the pilot positioning, I'll have to try it.
A friend of mine is currently borrowing my CV1 and after experiencing the Pimax instead, I'm tempted to sell it to him like he's been asking.
I can't overstate just how much better this experience is with this headset.(for my preference that is of course)
I noticed that the youtube video is a little choppy. I was running the pimax at 59hz and the capture at 60hz, so maybe that has something to do with it.
When playing via the headset it's silky smooth.
![[VR] Mad Mike](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/27/27910.jpg?1553527108){kind=avatar}
I totally disagree with the 60hz... however DK2 is 75hz which may be why you are happy with it.
CV1 does have a noticable edge at 90hz but 75hz DK2 is so much better than 60. I loved my DK2....... CV1 is a step up tho (I agree the godrays suck in some instances however)
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I would like to see a computer that can handle an 8k resolution.
I have a DK2 but with my comp. I can't even reach a 60 Hz refresh and I don't feel any disconfort about that.
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Yeah this is correct. On a normal display (a tv or computer screen), you notice the drops the most. On my 165 hz monitor, i really notice the drops down to 120 fps when playing Overwatch. The fps drops are a very bad experience. However, when I had my old screen, I had no problems with playing on 60 hz constantly. So it's the fact that frame rates are dropping that is causing the disconnect.
To achieve VR presence I believe on a general basis that we need much higher refresh rate than 30 or 60. Just as our "eye to brain" neurons are super fast. We need to replicate that (and several other things) to achieve presence.
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![[HJ]-RedRaven](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/67/67389.jpg?1553527112){kind=avatar}
Nice review, thanks for picking one up and showing us!
Repped. Everyone rep this man, now!I'm hungry for the extra resolution, which I think is the major flaw so far for the Vive and Rift. But I like the translation tracking that the fully tracked headsets offer, so you can move side to side, forward or backwards and up and down too. I don't find it immersion breaking to sometimes clip, but in general I don't see it that often - maybe because I have a high-backed chair that tends to feel about the same as the CMDR chair you get in the ED ships. For me, I like being able to shift in the seat and see that reflected in the tracking, or peer over and round things.
I'm not sure if its fair to say the CV1 and Vive aren't really ready for consumers - they are marketed slightly differently, and the ability to fully track the headset is a major plus for immersion where simply rotating the viewpoint around a single point is not enough. I agree it probably is enough for ED though, so I can't fault you there
Using the PiMax 4K, you're not going to be able to play an experience like Longbow or Xortex in Valve's The Lab to the intended full effect, which requires that extra level of tracking. While simple, these demo/mini-games show other developers what is possible, where tracking the viewpoint becomes an important element of the gameplay.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/450390/
But for something like ED, perhaps DCS World, maybe even War Thunder etc, the massive added resolution might be just the ticket even with the lower native frame rate of 60fps.
And for consuming media, web browsing, watching movies, it will be superior to the Rift or Vive, simply down to the resolution. So for some users, the PiMax 4K will be the right choice.
Glad you found the headset that really does it for you. Cheers for taking the time to add the setup guide too. Would suggest opening a new thread, reserving 2-3 posts and posting your review, plus the setup guide in the one post (and the extra posts can stay empty/leaves room for future updates). Some pics and notes on adjustments etc, is the manual any good (is there a manual?) The mods will likely sticky it so other ED players using the PiMax can find it easily.
Hi Kryzaach
Thanks for the review - really appreciated.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop the £303 they are asking for one of these in the next month or two, as the wife wants to join me in the Asp exploring/surveying and I'm intrigued generally.
I have the CV1 already and whilst its fantastic compared to my triple screen setup, I am ready for more resolution, less SDE and less god rays. The only bit I'm unsure about is whether I can live without the horizontal/vertical displacement.
Maybe I'm fairly tolerant to VR nausea, but the "must have 90hz or go home"" stuff from Oculus does smell a bit like shilling for nVidia. I've had 2 episodes of nausea to date in VR, both were 5 hours plus into a session in ED and both were in the SRV going up and down 45deg+ slopes (a lot). Given I'm running 1 (or possibly 2) 780GTX's there's no way I'm getting 90hz normally.
Thanks for the review - really appreciated.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop the £303 they are asking for one of these in the next month or two, as the wife wants to join me in the Asp exploring/surveying and I'm intrigued generally.
I have the CV1 already and whilst its fantastic compared to my triple screen setup, I am ready for more resolution, less SDE and less god rays. The only bit I'm unsure about is whether I can live without the horizontal/vertical displacement.
Maybe I'm fairly tolerant to VR nausea, but the "must have 90hz or go home"" stuff from Oculus does smell a bit like shilling for nVidia. I've had 2 episodes of nausea to date in VR, both were 5 hours plus into a session in ED and both were in the SRV going up and down 45deg+ slopes (a lot). Given I'm running 1 (or possibly 2) 780GTX's there's no way I'm getting 90hz normally.
Thanks I will pass this on to my friend and see what he gets.
Agree the SRV can be a bit brutal at times... I love it.
Higher frame rates simply bring the viewer closer to the real human (analog) experience of vision. The less judder you see, the more 'real' and 'solid' the image will appear, with more perceived depth. Lower frame rates will tend to cause nausea earlier and in more people. Thus 'made for VR' experiences (including ED) tend towards lower-geometric detail so that higher frame rates are possible.
Be careful - the resolution spec is great for the PiMax 4K. I came from a 780GTX too, and while it was reasonably fluid for the Rift, on reduced settings and no supersampling, I'm pretty sure the PiMax 4K will make the poor 780 cry. A lot.
Rift/Vive - 2160x1200 (1080x1200 per eye) @90Hz = 233,280,000 pixels/sec rendered.
Pimax 4K - 3840×2160 (1920x1080 per eye) @ 60Hz = 497,664,000 pixels/sec rendered.
The indication is that you'll be needing more than double the Rift requirement. It'd be interesting to see how that translates into real-life performance.
Note the 780GTX will not do Interleaved/ASW, and ED will only use one GPU at present.
If you do get a PiMax, let us know how it runs!
Very true Red Raven regarding "4K" and the 780GTX, but that's all part of the master plan to make the case for a 1080ti
Very true Red Raven regarding "4K" and the 780GTX, but that's all part of the master plan to make the case for a 1080ti
Hehe, sneaky
Hi Kryzaach,
I might have missed it but did you tell us what your system specs are to hold this res@60Mhz on your HMD?
I love my Vive, and it's tracking, but I'd consider impulse buying a pimax for my steated games that use HOTAS/Steering wheel (as you mentioned, War Thunder, Elite, DCS and thinhs like PCars and maybe ETS2)
Thanks
I might have missed it but did you tell us what your system specs are to hold this res@60Mhz on your HMD?
I love my Vive, and it's tracking, but I'd consider impulse buying a pimax for my steated games that use HOTAS/Steering wheel (as you mentioned, War Thunder, Elite, DCS and thinhs like PCars and maybe ETS2)
Thanks