Quest 2 - My Initial Impressions

[VR andysonofbob]

However, on the Quest 2, using a Link cable, I just cant seem to get the same performance, I've twiddled with settings, dialled stuff down and the frame rate is still not as smooth as the Rift S, when in the ship, spinning on an axis with a planet in view, there are signs of a lag/delay, so I get this kinda phasing effect on the planet as it spins past. On the Rift, I don't get that at all.

I miss my Rift S too!

Have you tried running like-for-like (80Hz and slider nearly all the way to the left). The slider convieniently shown in He$$eeTant's post above!!!
The Rift S resolution is 2560x1440
The lowest setting for Q2 2784x1408, which is still higher than Rift S.

If you have the Oculus Debug tool running in the background and set to show performance too? It would be interested seeing what is going on there

 

[Elfino]

Your Quest 2 and link must be enabled. Then go to your Oculus home on the desktop in 2d (not with HMD on). Click on Devices then click the very top Oculus Quest and you should see a right hand side menu appear, scroll down that right hand pane and you should see Graphics Preferences click it

View attachment 202068

Thanks. I did it. Now I have to find workarounds to improve my resolution, or I will have to buy a new card or something . I have a list of possible improvements, not necessarily and directly related to VR, from a HOTAS, to a new computer screen... affordable and rational spendings.

Sorry for this, I know it's an offtopic, Is there a thread for this kind of topics? I'm also playing Beat Saber to be healthy. I don't know if I must buy FitXR or a game like In Death Unchained.

Well, back to the topic, I've been disconected for some years. No idea of the new mining system, carriers... I have to learn a lot of new mechanics.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

Sorry for this, I know it's an offtopic, Is there a thread for this kind of topics? I'm also playing Beat Saber to be healthy. I don't know if I must buy FitXR or a game like In Death Unchained.

Thrill of the Fight. That's a good work out. It's boxing. Even if you just use the various punch bags to exercise.
That said I prefer Pistol Whip, there is lots of ducking so it works your legs. It's also fun.

 

[Elfino]

Thrill of the Fight. That's a good work out. It's boxing. Even if you just use the various punch bags to exercise.
That said I prefer Pistol Whip, there is lots of ducking so it works your legs. It's also fun.

They have not discounts right now: https://odeals.net/platform/quest/discount?page=1 (I have that web in my favourites).

But I have to buy another one this Christmas. I'll finish sooner or later Beat Saber.

 

[GreenWarfare]

Figured this thread would fit my question best:

After a couple of years hiatus from ED, I'm thinking about coming back and (while at it) getting a Quest 2. However, the battery time worries me a bit. What's your experience when playing ED (or any other PCVR game, probably) via the Quest 2 link cable? How long can one play session last? I read something about 2 hours, which I guess would be OK if recharging would not take the same time...

 

[Elfino]

Figured this thread would fit my question best:

After a couple of years hiatus from ED, I'm thinking about coming back and (while at it) getting a Quest 2. However, the battery time worries me a bit. What's your experience when playing ED (or any other PCVR game, probably) via the Quest 2 link cable? How long can one play session last? I read something about 2 hours, which I guess would be OK if recharging would not take the same time...

It's enough for 2-3 sessions. You must consider that, especially at the beginning, you won't spend a lot of time with VR, as your brain must get used to it. After that you can buy a Chinese helmet or a backpack for a external battery that you can connect to your Quest 2.

 

[GreenWarfare]

It's enough for 2-3 sessions. You must consider that, especially at the beginning, you won't spend a lot of time with VR, as your brain must get used to it. After that you can buy a Chinese helmet or a backpack for a external battery that you can connect to your Quest 2.

Thanks for your answer. How long would you define "one session" when you say it lasts for 2-3 sessions?
Regarding the external battery, I think this is not an option since the Link cable and a possible external battery would use the same USB-C port on the Quest 2, wouldn't they?

 

[Elfino]

Thanks for your answer. How long would you define "one session" when you say it lasts for 2-3 sessions?
Regarding the external battery, I think this is not an option since the Link cable and a possible external battery would use the same USB-C port on the Quest 2, wouldn't they?

About 45 minutes.

As far as I know, USB-C provides energy to the Quest 2, so the speed or rate at which the battery drains is a lot lower. In fact you can recharge the Quest 2 by just connecting them to your PC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/jbs2qo

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/jbs2qo/can_the_quest_2_charge_while_playing_with_your_pc/

 

[GreenWarfare]

About 45 minutes.

As far as I know, USB-C provides energy to the Quest 2, so the speed or rate at which the battery drains is a lot lower. In fact you can recharge the Quest 2 by just connecting them to your PC.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/jbs2qo

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/jbs2qo/can_the_quest_2_charge_while_playing_with_your_pc/

I think we're talking at cross-purposes a bit. I'm aware that the sole battery lifetime is probably around 2h, which I think is what you are referring to. My question was what the on-time would be with the Quest 2 hooked up to the PC. I found similar posts than what you linked to, so indeed battery drain should be lower when connected to PC, but noone seems to give any hard number here - I had hoped guys in this forum probably would have some experience with this.

Are you all playing with Virtual Desktop, i.e. cable free?

 

[Elfino]

I think we're talking at cross-purposes a bit. I'm aware that the sole battery lifetime is probably around 2h, which I think is what you are referring to. My question was what the on-time would be with the Quest 2 hooked up to the PC. I found similar posts than what you linked to, so indeed battery drain should be lower when connected to PC, but noone seems to give any hard number here - I had hoped guys in this forum probably would have some experience with this.

Are you all playing with Virtual Desktop, i.e. cable free?

I play Elite with cable, because using a HOTAS or a Keyboard + Mouse you have to sit next to your computer and it has more advantages. I would use Virtual Desktop to see a legitimately downloaded video in the couch

I can't tell you the duration of Quest 2 conected to a PC. But it must last for hours and hours...

Anyway I would buy them if you never have had a VR device. It's something new, that blows your mind.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

Figured this thread would fit my question best:

After a couple of years hiatus from ED, I'm thinking about coming back and (while at it) getting a Quest 2. However, the battery time worries me a bit. What's your experience when playing ED (or any other PCVR game, probably) via the Quest 2 link cable? How long can one play session last? I read something about 2 hours, which I guess would be OK if recharging would not take the same time...

Via Link, you're good for about 5 hours.

I find I lose about 20% of battery after an hour, whilst plugged in. I have never gone anywhere near battery life.

In fact, when the misses has kicked me off whatever I am playing, so she can play her BeatSaber in standalone Quest 2, she has still had her fill before battery has run out. I think it has complained at her once of a low battery.

 

[Madrax573]

I think we're talking at cross-purposes a bit. I'm aware that the sole battery lifetime is probably around 2h, which I think is what you are referring to. My question was what the on-time would be with the Quest 2 hooked up to the PC. I found similar posts than what you linked to, so indeed battery drain should be lower when connected to PC, but noone seems to give any hard number here - I had hoped guys in this forum probably would have some experience with this.

Are you all playing with Virtual Desktop, i.e. cable free?

Not sure there is a final time. Andy above makes reference to about 20% loss per hour.
Myself found it to actually recharge my Q2 while playing ED.

I plugged it in at around 17% battery and when I'd had enough (not sure how long I was using it for tbh) it had 52% battery... vOv ymmv depending on how much power to have supplied to you particular port as the one I was using is a direct power supply to charge heavy usage items rather than just data flow with a bit of power supplemented etc.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

That's pretty cool.

I must do a proper test. Timing an hour. See what mine does after 2 or 3 30m intervals

Some people have said if you have a splitter cable so two USB into your pc to increase power coming into the headset it charges whilst playing.

 

[Madrax573]

That's pretty cool.

I must do a proper test. Timing an hour. See what mine does after 2 or 3 30m intervals

Some people have said if you have a splitter cable so two USB into your pc to increase power coming into the headset it charges whilst playing.

That is probably the case with mine as the port I was using is design to allow full power to the usb etc. I might try it on a 'normal' usb socket to see if there is any difference.

 

[Madrax573]

Quick update (if anyone is interested )

I got a replacement cable as mine wasn't registering as usb3.. New cable works fine so jumped onto ED and found I was getting all sorts of stuttering in game... I could look around the cockpit no problem but if the ship moved, juttering...
I swapped to the rift and it was smooth as silk... ...

Ok so I almost resigned myself to nicking the daughter's rift for ED then thought I'd give the wireless a go. So i got the VR desktop, enabled dev mode etc etc.

Jumped into ED and WOW! Super smooth and no juttering at all... And I wasn't even using an exclusive band on the router. My laptop was connected wirelessly, the wife and daughter were watching Netflix and it was still super smooth.... To say I'm one happy camper is a bit of an understatement now

 

[VR andysonofbob]

That's weird! Good weird but weird all the same.

What is Oculus reporting your USB cable's bandwidth in the test? Just wondering if it is a fault somewhere down the device's USB chain. Shouldn't the link be the method that works best instead of wireless

Edit
After testing, plugged using my MB's USB, it averages around 15% battery per hour. That's plenty good enough for me!

 

[Madrax573]

That's weird! Good weird but weird all the same.

What is Oculus reporting your USB cable's bandwidth in the test? Just wondering if it is a fault somewhere down the device's USB chain. Shouldn't the link be the method that works best instead of wireless

Edit
After testing, plugged using my MB's USB, it averages around 15% battery per hour. That's plenty good enough for me!

My link cable test comes in at 2.2 - 2.4 gbs usually with the new cable... It must be something to do video compression over the usb link I guess. It was also heating up the laptop a lot (nothing dangerous but I like to keep it's temps down if I can) and using Desktop VR temps are nice and comfortable as well

 

[VR andysonofbob]

My link cable test comes in at 2.2 - 2.4 gbs usually with the new cable... It must be something to do video compression over the usb link I guess. It was also heating up the laptop a lot (nothing dangerous but I like to keep it's temps down if I can) and using Desktop VR temps are nice and comfortable as well

Who knows??
If it running well wirelessly, could you still keep it plugged in for battery? Or is the freedom of being wireless too attractive to give up?
I have 5.1 for sim games and I think there is defo something about being untethered, even in sims. Hopefully, as more people get into untethered gaming, more VR games will accommodated physical speaker setups!

 

[Madrax573]

Who knows??
If it running well wirelessly, could you still keep it plugged in for battery? Or is the freedom of being wireless too attractive to give up?
I have 5.1 for sim games and I think there is defo something about being untethered, even in sims. Hopefully, as more people get into untethered gaming, more VR games will accommodated physical speaker setups!

I can keep it plugged in and just not connect the link and it works brilliantly so far

For ED and flight sims and what not where I'm just sitting anyways I'll just keep it plugged in for power etc but really been getting into the Echo VR arena thing which is so much fun!

 

[GreenWarfare]

So, after I received my Quest 2 and got it running, I thought I should also share my experience. Everything works flawlessly with the Oculus Link (not using the original cable) and playing ED in VR is a blast!

Regarding power, I did not take a lot of data, but for now it seems the Quest 2 is only consuming around 10% battery per hour when plugged in to a standard USB3.x port. I could not ask for more!