Upgrading, G2 or Valve Index (or something else)?

Abil Midena · Jan 29, 2021

Of course

1) Enable WMR Motion Vector Reprojection.

C:\Steam\steamapps\common\MixedRealityVRDriver\resources\settings\default.vrsettings (or whichever drive your Steam library is located)

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation
//     motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection
//     auto         = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate
//     disabled     = turn off motion reprojection
//
// Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection
        "motionReprojectionMode" : "disabled",

Set that to :

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation
//     motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection
//     auto         = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate
//     disabled     = turn off motion reprojection
//
// Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection
        "motionReprojectionMode" : "auto",

...

Good info Heavy, as I just got my G2 today.
I don't use Steam to start ED. I use the FD launcher for ED, so I don't need to change the "motionreprojectionmode" setting, right?
Or, I do need to change it for the other games I have in steam that are VR, and it won't mess up ED via the FD launcher?

Thanks.

allincall · Jan 29, 2021

HeavyGroovez said:
Of course

1) Enable WMR Motion Vector Reprojection.

C:\Steam\steamapps\common\MixedRealityVRDriver\resources\settings\default.vrsettings (or whichever drive your Steam library is located)

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation // motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection // auto = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate // disabled = turn off motion reprojection // // Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection "motionReprojectionMode" : "disabled",

Set that to :

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation // motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection // auto = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate // disabled = turn off motion reprojection // // Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection "motionReprojectionMode" : "auto",

2) Setup WMR.

In Windows Mixed Reality Settings (accessible through the triple dot in the bottom left hand corner of WMR Portal start screen)

Under the Headset Display options set the following :

Experience Options : Best Visual Quality
Resolution : 4320 x 2160 (best quality)
Framerate : 90hz
Input switching : Manually switch using the Windows logo key + Y

3) Now we have all the basics sorted we can go into Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and set the render target (accessible through the Graphics tab in Settings which can be accessed through the 3 lines icon in the top left of SteamVR for WMR)

Resolution Per Eye : 3164 x 3096 (100%)

4) Finally we can go into Elites graphic options...

Use custom settings (do not use a preset they are garbage) and turn everything up to Ultra

Disable Anti Aliasing
Set Supersampling to 1.0
Set HMD Quality to 1.0

This will get you started for trading, mining and general flying around.

If you want to do some combat in asteroid fields you will need to change the refresh rate to 60hz in WMR settings as even with reprojection its not a fluid experience with the pipeline setup at this render target.

Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to type all that out. It's perfect!

Just connected my G2 and WMR popped up and started running the setup and then it won't recognize em. No matter what usb port i use.
Heard there was some issues with x570 boards so now it's time to scan the web for any workarounds or something.

But yeah thanks again for that reply, will be awesome to have once i can get em to work!

Made my day \o/

Edit: Seems i have the same issue as OP did

Front light won't even light up! Not the cable here tho, cant possibly push it in more

Edit2: Now it's working \o/ \o/ found a usb port that it liked better i guess!

HeavyGroovez · Jan 29, 2021

Abil Midena said:
Good info Heavy, as I just got my G2 today.
I don't use Steam to start ED. I use the FD launcher for ED, so I don't need to change the "motionreprojectionmode" setting, right?
Or, I do need to change it for the other games I have in steam that are VR, and it won't mess up ED via the FD launcher?

Thanks.

Its just a Mixed Reality config setting so it applies to everything.

It wont mess anything up though, you can launch ED via the launcher regardless of this setting (thats how i launch)

You definitely need to set it to auto before you start playing Elite if you want to play at 90hz.

If you are playing at 60hz and have a 3080/3090 (even a 2080Ti) you can leave it disabled but i find its best to set it to auto for Elite.

For other games i disable it as i can target 90hz and make frametime with my 3090.

Abil Midena · Jan 30, 2021

My G2 is working fine. No issues setting it up, and I used Heavy's settings, except for the projection mode setting...may need that for ED though. I played Subnautica for 3 hours and had no issues once I got it to run (needed Nexus Mod since Subnautica not well set up for VR). It looked really cool and more 3D/depth than I expected, and I can see why some folks claim 'once you VR, you can't go back'.

VR StarLightPL · Jan 30, 2021

HeavyGroovez said:
(Lots of useful tips)

This really should be pinned somewhere, is that good. Thanks for the time taken to write it. Maybe @Alec Turner can add it to the best of forum thread

allincall · Jan 31, 2021

HeavyGroovez said:
.

After trying those settings for two days, i was kinda disappointed in the overall experience. Felt it was very blurry and stuff was jittering. GPU was only at 70% load as well so i changed the HMD qual in ED to 1.5 and wow now its just perfect. Not even sure exactly what it does, i guess it's some kind of ss? Anyway, the fps took a big hit when doing combat in asteroid belts.

Still playable tho but are there any settings you'd recommend turning down to still keep HMD qual at 1.5 but get some better frames?

HeavyGroovez · Jan 31, 2021

allincall said:
After trying those settings for two days, i was kinda disappointed in the overall experience. Felt it was very blurry and stuff was jittering. GPU was only at 70% load as well so i changed the HMD qual in ED to 1.5 and wow now its just perfect. Not even sure exactly what it does, i guess it's some kind of ss? Anyway, the fps took a big hit when doing combat in asteroid belts.

Still playable tho but are there any settings you'd recommend turning down to still keep HMD qual at 1.5 but get some better frames?

Yeah, HMD Quality is a multiplier for the frame buffer size. So with WMR for SteamVR at 100% and HMD quality at 1.5 you would be looking at a per eye frame buffer of roughly 4600 x 4500 being presented to the WMR compositor for distortion before being scaled to native and rendered.

Given that the native physical resolution of the G2 is roughly 2100 x 2100 that is equivalent to more than 2.0x super sampling. So it will most definitely look amazing but your GPU has to shade over 20 million pixels per eye !

The best thing you can do to get it running smoother in the asteroid fields is to use the 60hz mode in WMR. This will increase your frametime budget by over 30% and give your GPU a fighting chance of presenting the frame before the v-sync.

allincall · Jan 31, 2021

HeavyGroovez said:
Yeah, HMD Quality is a multiplier for the frame buffer size. So with WMR for SteamVR at 100% and HMD quality at 1.5 you would be looking at a per eye frame buffer of roughly 4600 x 4500 being presented to the WMR compositor for distortion before being scaled to native and rendered.

Given that the native physical resolution of the G2 is roughly 2100 x 2100 that is equivalent to more than 2.0x super sampling. So it will most definitely look amazing but your GPU has to shade over 20 million pixels per eye !

The best thing you can do to get it running smoother in the asteroid fields is to use the 60hz mode in WMR. This will increase your frametime budget by over 30% and give your GPU a fighting chance of presenting the frame before the v-sync.

Sounds great! I'll give that a try. Yeah the card is doing work now

Still keeping it < 70c but it's at full load all the time. Looks beautiful now! Thanks again for your input

AirBear · Feb 1, 2021

I couldn't find some of the settings you mentioned, my menus were slightly different. The biggest issue is in ED game/options/graphics. I found the "custom" setting under quality but none of the others you mentioned?

Edit, ED won't run in VR, the G2 goes blank when the game starts. Going to reverse the changes and hope it works. I have the ED Profiler, maybe I should just stick with that.

AirBear · Feb 3, 2021

Reversed the changes and got the game working OK in VR again. I'm happy with it except I'd really like the "sweet spot" to be wider and lower. I have to tilt my head up at times. When docked at a starbase I can see the radar display clearly but the Starpoint info on the left and the Systems/Engine/Weps power indicators on the right are blurry unless I look directly at them. Then they are laser sharp. Not sure if any headsets do a better job with this, or if there are settings on the WMR/SteamVR/ED that can change that.

HP tech support called me back for a followup today. I was impressed they did this. I explained about seeing the USB/DP cable's "tick mark" on a video and realizing mine wasn't plugged all the way in despite my best efforts. I have the feeling those tech support guys haven't had a chance to put hands on the G2. The tech asked me what video it was so I gave him the YouTube link. I have a feeling he's going to share it with the other techs. Now their customer support was non-existent with 2 hours spent on hold. That turned out to be lucky for me since I would have RMA'd a perfectly good headset. But still 2 hours is unacceptable and I'll think twice before buying HP again.

Overall the G2 is doing well. With all settings on automatic I'm getting pretty good framerate and clairity. Sometimes I'll get a momentary pause every 10 seconds or so but it's not an issue yet. I've done a lot of mining and the display does fine there.

AirBear · Feb 3, 2021

Again, thanks for posting this. My Squadron Commander showed me how to get into the ED in game settings you mentioned (he always plays with a Valve Index). In VR you have to Win+Y so you can bring the mouse cursor over and click the "+". One or two of the settings didn't show up on WMR or SteamVR but it doesn't seem to matter. The visuals look great! I tried it out tonight. Did some cargo runs to nearby systems then went mining in icy rings for over 2 hours. Very smooth. Even the text seems to look different but very sharp.

HeavyGroovez said:
Of course

1) Enable WMR Motion Vector Reprojection.

C:\Steam\steamapps\common\MixedRealityVRDriver\resources\settings\default.vrsettings (or whichever drive your Steam library is located)

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation // motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection // auto = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate // disabled = turn off motion reprojection // // Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection "motionReprojectionMode" : "disabled",

Set that to :

Code:

// Motion reprojection doubles framerate through motion vector extrapolation // motionvector = force application to always run at half framerate with motion vector reprojection // auto = automatically use motion reprojection when the application can not maintain native framerate // disabled = turn off motion reprojection // // Comment out or remove this line to use the SteamVR settings for controlling motion reprojection "motionReprojectionMode" : "auto",

2) Setup WMR.

In Windows Mixed Reality Settings (accessible through the triple dot in the bottom left hand corner of WMR Portal start screen)

Under the Headset Display options set the following :

Experience Options : Best Visual Quality
Resolution : 4320 x 2160 (best quality)
Framerate : 90hz
Input switching : Manually switch using the Windows logo key + Y

3) Now we have all the basics sorted we can go into Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and set the render target (accessible through the Graphics tab in Settings which can be accessed through the 3 lines icon in the top left of SteamVR for WMR)

Resolution Per Eye : 3164 x 3096 (100%)

4) Finally we can go into Elites graphic options...

Use custom settings (do not use a preset they are garbage) and turn everything up to Ultra

Disable Anti Aliasing
Set Supersampling to 1.0
Set HMD Quality to 1.0

This will get you started for trading, mining and general flying around.

If you want to do some combat in asteroid fields you will need to change the refresh rate to 60hz in WMR settings as even with reprojection its not a fluid experience with the pipeline setup at this render target.