Oculus Rift and monitors

[kmw]

I have not bought the rift yet, but I read these posts with interest as I would like to get one when the CV is finally released or reaches a good enough standard.

I would appreciate answers to some questions that I cannot find here:

1) I have triple monitors attached to my Sapphire HD7950 3GB card. - Where does the Rift attach? Is it via USB or through a port on the graphics card (which port?), or does it have it's own GPU?

2) If the game runs ok on my triple monitors, is this an indication that my system will cope ok with the Rift?

3) What is the relationship/connection between the monitors and the Rift? What I mean is, do you turn off the monitors when playing to channel power to the Rift, or do they all stay switched on? Does the Rift even need separate monitors to be there?

4)I know this has been talked about, but can an OR user please clarify, for someone who has never worn one, how the buttons and interfaces are seen and operated in the game while wearing the headset?

Thank you for any info on these

 

[cmdr awesome]

I have not bought the rift yet, but I read these posts with interest as I would like to get one when the CV is finally released or reaches a good enough standard.

I would appreciate answers to some questions that I cannot find here:

1) I have triple monitors attached to my Sapphire HD7950 3GB card. - Where does the Rift attach? Is it via USB or through a port on the graphics card (which port?), or does it have it's own GPU?

2) If the game runs ok on my triple monitors, is this an indication that my system will cope ok with the Rift?

3) What is the relationship/connection between the monitors and the Rift? What I mean is, do you turn off the monitors when playing to channel power to the Rift, or do they all stay switched on? Does the Rift even need separate monitors to be there?

4)I know this has been talked about, but can an OR user please clarify, for someone who has never worn one, how the buttons and interfaces are seen and operated in the game while wearing the headset?

Thank you for any info on these

1. HDMI port, plus a pair of USBs for the camera and the headset.
2. CV1 is anticipated to be 90Hz, 1440p. My nvidia GTX770 is very borderline with the DK2 which is 75Hx 1080p. SLI is usable but not currently recommended due to latency issues, nvidia have announced a 'VR SLI' driver tech that resolves this issue but when it arrives it might only work on the latest cards.
3. At the moment the best experience is with the rift in extended mode, where it appears to the OS as a monitor. The other option is Direct mode where it's treated like a separate peripheral but this seems to have performance issues atm. Switching off your other monitors may help performance but isn't necessary - best results are when the Rift is the primary monitor with nothing else plugged in, but that's quite a faff to setup every time.
4. Muscle memory - you can't see your controls. Decent HOTAS helps.

 

[kmw]

Thank you Cmdr Awesome, some useful info there.

Blimey, I already use 3 GPU ports for my monitors, so it might mean losing my triple viewing to use the hdmi port.
Plus, I already have at least 5 usb devices plugged in permanently for my various sims, so I hope another two won't start upsetting all my usb priorities.
Thanks again, it is good to start planning for it as I am unlikely to resist when it is released

 

[cmdr awesome]

Thank you Cmdr Awesome, some useful info there.

Blimey, I already use 3 GPU ports for my monitors, so it might mean losing my triple viewing to use the hdmi port.
Plus, I already have at least 5 usb devices plugged in permanently for my various sims, so I hope another two won't start upsetting all my usb priorities.
Thanks again, it is good to start planning for it as I am unlikely to resist when it is released

I'm not sure what you expected, but it definitely needs to be plugged in to work
You won't be looking at your regular screens while in the rift, so maybe get a hdmi switch?

 

[Adam Lusardi]

I think its still true that the Rift prefers USB 2.0 ports.
I use the DVI for the Rift not the HDMI there is a converter supplied in the kit.

 

[Serpentstar]

Yes, you need a USB 2.0. 3.0 messes with the timing.

What would REALLY be nice is if FD added Monitor 4 as a dropdown for when Direct mode didn't work. That is where mine ends up and I would rather not have to keep changing my primary monitor to something I can't see.

 

[kmw]

I'm not sure what you expected, but it definitely needs to be plugged in to work

Thank you, I did suspect it just might need to be plugged in, but it is kind of you to confirm it.
Not having owned one, I had no idea if it had a built in GPU of some kind, or plugs into my pc graphics card ports.
.

You won't be looking at your regular screens while in the rift, so maybe get a hdmi switch?

.
An hdmi switch is a good idea thanks.