Is your PC VR-ready? Here are the minimum specs required

Virtual reality applications have become all the rage these days, blurring the lines between the real and virtual worlds. However, being a relatively nascent technology, there is sometimes some ambiguity regarding what sort of a laptop or desktop to buy, in order to access VR content.

VR applications are fairly intensive, both in terms of graphics processing as well as computing requirements. It is therefore important to purchase a system that meets certain minimum requirements to run them smoothly. If you’re wondering just what these requirements are, you came to the right place. Read on.

Minimum requirements specifications to run VR on your PC

1. Graphics Processing Units

When it comes to VR, Graphics Processing Units or GPUs, are of paramount importance. The GPU is what renders and delivers high-quality images and videos in real-time to a viewer. It is recommended that one invest in a system with at least an NVIDIA GTX 970 or the AMD R9 290 GPU.

Furthermore, one must ensure that their GPU has a minimum of 4GB of video memory (VRAM), although 8GB or more is ideal to handle more demanding VR applications. Additionally, the higher the number of cores and the higher the clock speeds the GPU can achieve, the smoother one’s experience is.

It is also important that one ensure their GPU is resistant to overheating, which generally occurs while running VR applications. It is therefore a good idea to invest in systems that have GPUs that are either liquid or fan-cooled.

2. Central Processing Units 

The Central Processing Unit or CPU is equally important to ensure a smooth VR experience. It is responsible for processing data and instructions given to the app. Ideally, one should invest in a system with a minimum of an Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X CPU.

VR applications generally require multi-core processors. Therefore, one should ideally ensure their system has at least a quad-core configuration, although hexa and octa-core CPUs can provide an even smoother experience. Generally, VR applications require a minimum of 8GB of RAM to run, although for a truly unhindered experience, 16GB of RAM is recommended.

Besides the above, there are also other minimum requirements to be met for a CPU to run VR applications smoothly and efficiently.

3. Storage 

One of these requirements is that of a Solid State Drive (SSD), as compared to a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), as the former is much faster and ensures smoother operation. Furthermore, bearing in mind how VR games are fairly heavy, one must consider investing in a system with an SSD with a minimum storage space of 256GB.

4. Display

When one refers to minimum required display resolutions for VR apps, this generally refers to the resolution of the display on a VR headset compatible with your PC. VR applications require headsets with a minumum display resolution of 1080 × 1200 pixels per eye, although the higher it is, the more immersive one’s experience is.