Tips for starting with PiMax4K wanted

[Highlander71]

I've bought a PiMax4K for use with Eliteangerous Horizons and I would like some tips before I dive into the installation and setup. My current VR setup uses an Oculus DK2, but I wanted to try and get away from the screen door effect the DK2 suffers from.

My current setup is Windows10 with a Frontier-bought Elite installation (so no Steam version), an NVidia GTX970 and a Saitek X-52 HOTAS. I know this setup is good for playing Elite, even in VR because I've been doing that for a good while already.

From reading the PiMax and Frontier forums, it seems as though I have to use a Steam version of Elite, but it might mess with my HOTAS configuration. From my first experiments with the PiMax it seemed as though the "Video" mode disconnected my PiMax headset and wouldn't be recognised anymore by PiPlay.

If anyone has a setup like mine, I would appreciate your setup tips.

Thanks!

 

[HummuH]

Can't help specifically with the Pimax 4K, but I run a Rift CV1. I alternate (no reason) between Steam and Oculus to launch Elite and there's never any issues with HOTAS bindings.

I run a 1070Ti after starting with a GTX970. I think you might find the 970 a bit light for the extra resolution on the Pimax, most of what I read has suggested a 1080Ti minimum to keep at 90fps constant.

I'd try it out first, no need to jump in and get a better GPU if you don't feel you need it, but I suspect you will.

 

[Highlander71]

Can't help specifically with the Pimax 4K, but I run a Rift CV1. I alternate (no reason) between Steam and Oculus to launch Elite and there's never any issues with HOTAS bindings.

I run a 1070Ti after starting with a GTX970. I think you might find the 970 a bit light for the extra resolution on the Pimax, most of what I read has suggested a 1080Ti minimum to keep at 90fps constant.

I'd try it out first, no need to jump in and get a better GPU if you don't feel you need it, but I suspect you will.

Thanks. I realise the 970 is low end, but I'm used to playing the DK2. I'll find a sweet spot.
I did read a few comments about Steam changing something causing HOTAS controllers not to work anymore, but they may have been older remarks. It's good to hear you don't have any problems.

 

[VR CobraCommander]

Hi,

I have a Pimax 4k which I got about a year ago.

First off, when downloading and installing the PiPlay software you may need to disable your antivirus software temporarily (I had to with AVG). It is OK after installation.

I couldn't get my Frontier bought copy of E to work with Steam VR. Non steam version of IL2 Sturmovik does work with Steam VR, so not sure why E doesn't.

I had been considering buying a second E account anyway, but this just made up my mind. So I bought a Steam version of E (there was a sale on at the time).
It worked fine with the Pimax 4k.

Now the strange part. After buying the Steam version, my Frontier version now also works on Steam VR !

As to your other questions. I have Windows 10, GTX1080Ti (recently upgraded from a GTX980Ti which also worked), and a Warthog HOTAS which had no problem with my bindings. Even though I installed the Steam E separately from the Frontier version I found that my settings and bindings are the same. If I change something in one it changes it for the other as well. Not a problem with me but others may prefer different settings for each version.
Only annoying thing I encountered is that if you have set a route in the Galaxy Map in one version, when you switch to the other version and then back, the plotted route will be gone.

Hope this has been helpful to you.

ps I like the Pimax, but I don't have any other VR unit, so I can't say whether it is better or worse than any other type.

 

[Highlander71]

Hi,

I have a Pimax 4k which I got about a year ago.

First off, when downloading and installing the PiPlay software you may need to disable your antivirus software temporarily (I had to with AVG). It is OK after installation.

I couldn't get my Frontier bought copy of E to work with Steam VR. Non steam version of IL2 Sturmovik does work with Steam VR, so not sure why E doesn't.

I had been considering buying a second E account anyway, but this just made up my mind. So I bought a Steam version of E (there was a sale on at the time).
It worked fine with the Pimax 4k.

Now the strange part. After buying the Steam version, my Frontier version now also works on Steam VR !

As to your other questions. I have Windows 10, GTX1080Ti (recently upgraded from a GTX980Ti which also worked), and a Warthog HOTAS which had no problem with my bindings. Even though I installed the Steam E separately from the Frontier version I found that my settings and bindings are the same. If I change something in one it changes it for the other as well. Not a problem with me but others may prefer different settings for each version.
Only annoying thing I encountered is that if you have set a route in the Galaxy Map in one version, when you switch to the other version and then back, the plotted route will be gone.

Hope this has been helpful to you.

ps I like the Pimax, but I don't have any other VR unit, so I can't say whether it is better or worse than any other type.

Thanks, that's really hopeful to hear.
I've been told that you can get a Steam Key from the Frontier store (which I've done today actually). This will make Elite Dangerous appear in Steam, which is enough apparently to run it with Steam VR.
Still all theory for me at this moment in time, but I'm going to fidget with things in the next few days hoping to get it all working.
One question is on my mind though and that is how you start Elite, from Steam? Or Elite's own launcher?

Thanks again!

 

[VR CobraCommander]

You can start Elite from either Steam or it's launcher.

From Steam you click on "play" from the game library. This opens another box from where you choose Elite, Horizons, or Elite in VR. Assuming you have chosen the VR option (another box with product keys may pop up, just click play, and that box has an option to "not show again") , then Steam VR will start at the same time as Elite.

Alternatively from Steam, first click on the VR icon which is on the top bar, right hand side, on the Steam page. This starts Steam VR. The "Play" option for Elite will now change to "Play in VR", which opens Elite straight into VR mode.

You can also open Elite direct from the launcher. I've found that Elite will then start in whatever mode you previously used.
Also, if it opens in VR it will work fine, but Steam VR opens in the background and keeps running (very GPU heavy) after you close Elite, and I have to use Task Manager to close it.
The way I've gotten round that is to create a shortcut for Steam VR, and then start Steam VR (which opens the VR box) before you start Elite from the launcher. That way, when you close Elite you can then close the VR box easily.

Hope that helps.

 

[Highlander71]

You can start Elite from either Steam or it's launcher.

From Steam you click on "play" from the game library. This opens another box from where you choose Elite, Horizons, or Elite in VR. Assuming you have chosen the VR option (another box with product keys may pop up, just click play, and that box has an option to "not show again") , then Steam VR will start at the same time as Elite.

Alternatively from Steam, first click on the VR icon which is on the top bar, right hand side, on the Steam page. This starts Steam VR. The "Play" option for Elite will now change to "Play in VR", which opens Elite straight into VR mode.

You can also open Elite direct from the launcher. I've found that Elite will then start in whatever mode you previously used.
Also, if it opens in VR it will work fine, but Steam VR opens in the background and keeps running (very GPU heavy) after you close Elite, and I have to use Task Manager to close it.
The way I've gotten round that is to create a shortcut for Steam VR, and then start Steam VR (which opens the VR box) before you start Elite from the launcher. That way, when you close Elite you can then close the VR box easily.

Hope that helps.

Wonderful, thanks. I've just had my first successful test. I added the Steam keys for Elite to my Steam account, but didn't install the game. I use Dr.Kaii's tool to setup Elite for VR and then just launched from the Frontier launcher. That starts the Oculus software, Steam VR and Elite in VR. It works, but I feel the Oculus software is a bit overkill. No idea why that starts.

But it worked at least. Thanks for your input, it's been really helpful.

 

[Red River]

I'm running PiTool .76 you could also try the newer but .9 didn't work for me...
I set Render quality 2(max) and SteamVR 100% with interleaved re projection off
my 1070 can handle all games on max settings far and it looks great too!

 

[VR CobraCommander]

Wonderful, thanks. I've just had my first successful test. I added the Steam keys for Elite to my Steam account, but didn't install the game. I use Dr.Kaii's tool to setup Elite for VR and then just launched from the Frontier launcher. That starts the Oculus software, Steam VR and Elite in VR. It works, but I feel the Oculus software is a bit overkill. No idea why that starts.

But it worked at least. Thanks for your input, it's been really helpful.

Glad to have been of help.

I hope the Pimax is meeting your expectations.

 

[Highlander71]

I'm running PiTool .76 you could also try the newer but .9 didn't work for me...
I set Render quality 2(max) and SteamVR 100% with interleaved re projection off
my 1070 can handle all games on max settings far and it looks great too!

PiTool...I haven't seen that yet. Is that a third party tool? Or did that come with the installation of PiPlay?

Glad to have been of help.

I hope the Pimax is meeting your expectations.

Oh man, it's performing a lot better than the DK2. I can run Elite at much higher settings when using the PiMax. Really happy with it so far!

 

[Red River]

you can download it from their official forum. it was made for new Pimaxies but works with 4k just as well...

 

[matemaster]

I have pimax 4K and I also have ED non steam version.
The non steam version was allways working for me. I just run steam VR first and then ED.
I also owned GTX970 it can run ED on pimax 4K but the quality is very poor... I upgraded to 1080 and the improvement in quality is astronomical.
Keep in mind that pimax 4K can do max 60hz so going above 60FPS makes no sense.

 

[Highlander71]

you can download it from their official forum. it was made for new Pimaxies but works with 4k just as well...

Thanks! I found the links.
For anyone reading this later, here's the link.
http://forum.pimaxvr.com/t/pitool-setting-suggestions/9312

I have pimax 4K and I also have ED non steam version.
The non steam version was allways working for me. I just run steam VR first and then ED.
I also owned GTX970 it can run ED on pimax 4K but the quality is very poor... I upgraded to 1080 and the improvement in quality is astronomical.
Keep in mind that pimax 4K can do max 60hz so going above 60FPS makes no sense.

Thanks for that info!
Coming off the DK2, the quality on the 970 is pretty good for me. But I'm sure the 1080 is going to be a lot better again.

 

[Highlander71]

PiMax4K installation tips

PiMax4K installation tips for Elite Dangerous

• General installation

Connect your PiMax4K to your computer. Recommended is to use an actual HDMI port on a graphics card. Not a port converter (DVI or DisplayPort to HDMI).


Remember that your PiMax4K has a sensor which detects whether your are actually wearing it. It will only turn on if you’re actually properly wearing it. The sensor is located on the part that sits between your eyebrows. Don’t think your headset isn’t working because you’re looking into it from a (short) distance, or the head strap is blocking the sensor and you’re seeing only black.


Install the PiPlay software. The latest version can be downloaded off the pimax forums (forum.pimaxvr.com). The latest version I found was 3.0.0.81. Right after installation the software detects the 3.0.0.85 update to which I haven’t found a direct download link.


The installation software is going to be part Chinese. It is recommended that you turn off your anti virus software and run the installation as Administrator.


Don’t kill the 3.0.0.81 PiPlay setup while installing the 3.0.0.85. Things will fail, just let the software do its thing.


After this your PiMax should be recognised by PiPlay. A blue LED on your PiMax says its HDMI and USB are connected. A green LED means that your headset is connected (USB is fine) but can’t be used (HDMI problem). A red LED means neither USB nor HDMI are connected.


I had a red LED after I’d tried to switch from PiMax mode to Video mode using the PiPlay software. I could see my desktop through the head set, but my right eye saw a rotated part and my left eye saw a different zoomed in and rotated part. I could not switch back to PiMax mode because the PiPlay software didn’t recognise my headset. For your information:

• PiPlay is for playing games
• Video is for watching movies

I had to uninstall PiPlay (there’s an uninstall program in the installation directory which defaults to C:\Program Files\PiPlay on Windows). But running that was not enough. I went into the service manager and made sure all PiMax and PiPlay services were stopped. Also, I went to my user profile directory:


C:\Users\[yourname]\AppData\Local\
C:\Users\[yourname]\AppData\Roaming\


and removed everything PiMax related there. Remember that the AppData may be hidden from view, but it’s definitely there.


I then removed everything else that looked like PiMax software in my Program Files and Program Files (x86) directories. I left the Dr.Pi software because I didn’t think that did any harm.


Next I went into my Device Manager and looked under Monitors. I removed all unused (greyed out) monitors there. Apparently by unplugging and replugging the headset a few times new false monitors may appear there.


After a restart of my PC and a re-install of the PiPlay software I could continue. I’m never touching the Video mode again!


PiPlay will also prompt you to do the magnetometer calibration. It will show a picture with a PiMax4K and some arrows indicating a figure of eight. Just move your headset around like it was on your head. Tilt and turn it as much as you can until PiMax says it’s done.


PiPlay detects your head movement using magnetometers. These are sensitive to the earth’s magnetic field. This may mean that in some play sessions you detect drift (your will no longer appear to be looking straight ahead in the game but to the left or right). This is an unfortunate but normal thing to happen and you may find yourself running the calibration more often than once.
Devices like the Oculus Rift or Vive use cameras for this purpose and do not rely on magnetism.

• Playing Elite Dangerous

I bought Elite Dangerous from the Frontier store. Not from Steam. PiPlay needs Elite Dangerous to exist in Steam. If you don’t want to purchase Elite again through Steam, you can go into the Frontier store and claim Steam keys for Elite (check under Partner Keys). I required Eliteangerous and Eliteangerous Horizons keys. There apparently also exist Eliteangerous Oculus keys, but I didn’t use those.


You can use the keys in Steam to add the game to your library. I did NOT install Elite in Steam, I just made it appear in my library. It has the little “Install” button in Steam but I am using my existing installation of Elite. This way I can just use all my bindings and (HOTAS) control methods I am used to.


You have to also install SteamVR, which is free. Look for it in the Steam store. Run it and do the room install.


In order to run Elite, I first start PiPlay and SteamVR and then just run Elite from the Frontier Launcher. If all goes well you can now play Elite Dangerous in VR.


When I start Elite Dangerous, my Oculus software also starts, because I used the Oculus DK2 before I had the PiMax4K. I assume that the Oculus software is not required to run but I haven’t tested with this yet.