Greatest Graphics Card for VR

0
42


A GPU Information to Digital Actuality
Up to date: Jan 27, 2023 8:23 am

VR headsets must be paired with pretty highly effective computer systems if you wish to entry their full mind-bending potential, however no {hardware} element is as necessary to immersive VR as your graphics card.
Everybody prefers good graphics and speedy body charges for run-of-the-mill laptop gaming, but it surely’s not at all times a giant deal in case your GPU is underperforming. It’s irritating and maybe you’ll lose a recreation or two, however that’s about it. In VR, an underperforming GPU can completely break the expertise. Issues like display tearing, ghosting, or judder don’t destroy the phantasm, they’ll trigger complications, dizziness, disorientation, and nausea.

Our High Picks

01

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 24GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio 24G

02

Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

03

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

How We Select
At WePC, we’ve been ready for the VR revolution with as a lot anticipation as you, having been fully obsessive about the final idea since Nintendo’s Digital Boy failed to seek out mainstream success. Now we’re lastly witnessing some promising steps ahead within the digital discipline, there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t surprise what {hardware} we will use to push the know-how ahead.
Deciding which is the perfect graphics card for VR is definitely simpler than you’d assume as a result of the perfect one for the job is at all times going to be probably the most superior card accessible. We acknowledge this, however we’re additionally devoted to offering you with a little bit of selection, so we’ve put a few of our different GPU favorites to the take a look at as properly.
Issues to Think about
Earlier than we dive into some in-depth opinions, let’s run over a few of the key components that make a GPU a top quality alternative for some superior VR experiences.
Decision and Frames Per Second
Most trendy VR headsets, whether or not they’re made by Oculus, HTV, Sony, or Google, run in a 2160 x 1200 pixel decision with a 90Hz refresh fee OLED show. Which means for VR video games to be performed the way in which they’re supposed, your graphics card must be pushing no less than 90fps. The truth is, it’s greatest if it averages out a lot greater than that to forestall lows ever falling beneath the 90fps threshold.
Ray Tracing
Ray tracing is a real-time rendering course of that creates hauntingly actual lighting results in video games, so in order for you your digital actuality to be as actual as technologically potential, a GPU with {hardware} ray tracing capabilities is the one method to go.
It’s necessary to notice, nonetheless, that enabling ray tracing can have an antagonistic impact on frames per second, so that you’ll want a extremely succesful GPU to drag it off easily. It actually received’t be price utilizing software program ray tracing with older GPUs in VR, because the drop in high quality could be too drastic.
Structure
GPU structure is made up of an unlimited variety of cores. Usually talking the extra cores the higher the GPU efficiency, however that’s not at all times the case. With every new era of structure, particular person core efficiency is enhanced, so fewer are required to realize the identical objective. That mentioned, newer structure doesn’t at all times equate to raised efficiency.
From household to household, there’s at all times a little bit little bit of overlap within the GPU market, which means that the perfect of a earlier era are higher for gaming than the entry-level and generally mid-range GPUs of the subsequent. For VR, newer architectures are typically greatest, however by no means low cost these champions of the earlier era.
VRAM
Normal gaming in VR doesn’t essentially want an enormous VRAM capability as a result of VR shows have moderately low resolutions in comparison with desktop displays, however having no less than 4GB will guarantee textural elements are optimized.
Then again, for those who’re going to try to render a picture sharper than that of the VR set’s native decision, also referred to as supersampling, You’ll want a a lot bigger and quicker VRAM.

01
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 24GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio 24G

Clock Pace
1785MHz Enhance Clock (OC)

VRAM
24GB GDDR6X

Thermal Design
TRI FROZR Cooling Answer

24GB GDDR6 VRAM reminiscence
Tri-fan cooled
Greatest multitasker there’s
Can deal with 8K gaming
Won’t ever fall near 90fps in VR
{Hardware} ray tracing (82 cores)
Audio Ray Tracing
Variable-rate shading

This can be a BIG graphics card

The RTX 3090 is the perfect of the perfect when it comes to graphics efficiency, and the MSI Trio X is without doubt one of the most spectacular iterations at present accessible. With three FROZR 2 followers whirring away, regardless of the excessive 370-watt PSU draw, this card runs good and funky.
Not solely is that this able to deal with VR resolutions, with the 24GB GDDR6 VRAM reminiscence configuration, however you too can even run your favourite video games in 8K! Which means your VR body charges won’t ever drop under that 90ps minimal, even at this GPU’s lowest fee.
The truth is, it will in all probability common out within the 250fps zone in 1080p on extremely settings, usually breaking the 300fps mark and even common past 100fps in 4K resolutions. So, if you wish to strive your hand at supersampling, this GPU is the complete bundle.
The fantastic thing about this card doesn’t simply relaxation within the spectacular specs, it’s the particular skills threaded into the structure resembling variable-rate shading that focuses element the place you want it most, {hardware} ray tracing, and accelerated RT VR audio that actually makes it the perfect of the perfect for digital actuality.

02
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Excessive Efficiency
4K Gaming

Structure
RDNA 2 Structure with {Hardware} Raytracing

Reminiscence Dimension
16 GB

RDNA 2 options {hardware} ray tracing (80 cores)
Tri-fan cooling system prevents overheating and throttling
Spectacular base and increase clock speeds
16GB GDDR6 VRAM
AMD Constancy FX boosts show brilliance
Radeon Anti-Lag tech eliminates lag
Tremendous quick in decrease resolutions
Barely extra inexpensive
Infinity cache provides enhanced effectivity

Not fairly pretty much as good for intensive parallel inventive workflows

The Radeon RX 6900 XT is the primary listed premium VR-ready AMD graphics card, brimming with specs that completely exceed really helpful Oculus and HTC necessities. For those who’re actually obsessed with VR, this card is phenomenal.
Very similar to Nvidia is experimenting with hyper-realism with varied applied sciences, AMD too is making some huge strides. Initially, of their RDNA 2 6000-Sequence structure, they’ve lastly cracked {hardware} ray tracing and even put their very own spin on it with AMD Constancy FX Luminance Preserving Mapping that reinforces coloration high quality and total definition.
Clearly, with a 16GB GDDR6 reminiscence sort it received’t be fairly as quick because the 3090 in superior resolutions or for inventive workflows. Nevertheless, resulting from some extremely snappy clock speeds, it’ll generally fractionally outperform the RTX card in decrease resolutions, making it excellent for VR.
One other particular characteristic that lends itself to breathtaking VR experiences is the Radeon Anti-Lag system that limits a CPUs processing if it will get too far forward of the GPU, so lag is a factor of the previous!

03
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDDR6X Graphics Card

Reminiscence Dimension
10 GB

Graphics RAM Sort
GDDR6

Video Output Interface
DisplayPort, HDMI

Superb worth
2nd gen {hardware} ray tracing (68 cores)
Variable-rate shading
RT VR audio
Tremendous spectacular body charges
TUF military-grade elements
Glorious warmth sink
State-of-the-art triple-fan cooling system
third gen Tensor cores with AI capabilities

Solely 10GB of VRAM (however that’s greater than sufficient for VR)

For those who just like the sound of the 3090 however you merely can’t convey your self to empty your financial savings account, this Asus TUF RTX 3080 card is certainly extra up your avenue. Contemplating the 3080 is a single increment down from the 3090, the worth drop is nothing wanting miraculous.
Clearly, the 3080 has fewer of all specs, however you continue to get 2nd era {hardware} ray tracing, superior variable-rate shading, RT VR acoustics, and AI capabilities. Truthfully, it solely ever actually averages between 10-15fps lower than the 3090, and it nonetheless averages past the 100fps threshold in 4K gaming, even with the vastly decreased 10GB GDDR6X reminiscence buffer.
Asus has gone all out to make this the perfect 3080 card in the marketplace. Crafted with military-grade, TUF elements through an Auto-Excessive manufacturing course of!
We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out the cooling system too. With every of the three followers that includes twin ball bearings, variable rotation, and computerized 55° shutdown, to not point out the Max Contact heatsink, this GPU is at all times primed and prepared for optimum efficiency.

04
XFX RX 6800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

XFX RX 6800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Reminiscence Pace
2000 MHz

Video Output Interface
HDMI

Graphics RAM Sort
GDDR6

{Hardware} ray tracing (72 cores)
Stable body fee efficiency in excessive resolutions
Built-in AMD Constancy FX
Pretty first rate worth
AMD Freesync reduces probabilities of display tear
Radeon Anti-Lag protocol
Nice XFX enclosure and triple-fan cooling system
16GB GDDR6 VRAM

Not fairly as quick as our high picks

The RX 6800 XT is the subsequent step down from our quantity two choose, the 6900 XT. Constructed from the bottom up utilizing state-of-the-art RDNA 2 microarchitecture, it has insane potential for VR purposes, and though it’s a less expensive card, it’s nonetheless brimming with epic AMD know-how.
Due to 72 RT cores the 6800 XT provides you beautiful {hardware} ray tracing with out having to fret about body charges drooping under the 90 and even 100fps mark. In normal 1080p gaming situations, it averages slightly below 240fps and holds out simply past 100fps in 4K, so put together to be blown away once you don the headset.
You too can anticipate all the identical RDNA 2 skills that we spoke of within the 3900 XT evaluation, together with AMD Constancy FX, Radeon Anti-Lag protocols, and AMD Freesync know-how that fully eliminates the prospect of display tear – a particular boon for VR gaming.
It’s not simply the AMD tech that’s particular on this case, nonetheless, the work XFX has finished is spectacular. From the high-quality shroud design, right down to the super-quiet custom-build tri-fan axial construction.

05

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card

Video Reminiscence
8GB GDDR6

Reminiscence Interface
256-bit

Output
DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4a) / HDMI 2.1 x 1

Digital most decision
7680 x 4320

Nice Value
Greater than enough fps for VR resolutions
Superior MSI FROZR 2 fan system
Nice for 1080p and 1440p gaming
{Hardware} ray tracing (38 cores)
RT VR audio capabilities
AI Tensor core deep studying

The MSI RTX 3060 Ti is designed to excel in 1080p and 1440p resolutions at excessive settings, and at a push, it may be thought of an entry-level 4K GPU so long as the settings are sufficiently dropped out.
In comparison with the opposite playing cards on our listing, it’s not precisely an fps powerhouse, however in comparison with, say, the RTX 20-Sequence, or the Radeon 5000-Sequence, it’s nonetheless a dominant GPU greater than able to silky clean VR rendering. It could drop just under the specified 90fps zone throughout difficult VR titles resembling No Man’s Sky, however for probably the most half, it performs very properly.
After all, it does solely have that 8GB of GDDR6 reminiscence, however the minimal reminiscence requirement for contemporary VR, as set out by Oculus, is just 4GB, so whereas a bigger reminiscence could be higher and provides your GPU a bit extra versatility, 8GB is okay for VR.
As implausible because the MSI tri-fan FROZR thermals are, producing the perfect benchmark cooling efficiency of just about another card design within the 3060 Ti’s class, it does hitch up the worth fairly a bit, and you could possibly put that additional money in direction of a 3070. That mentioned, VR goes to pose extra of a problem to this card than its superiors, so the cooling system does repay.

Gaming has at all times been heading in some type in direction of full-blown digital actuality. Even when we’re not donning the headset, we’re continuously on the hunt for higher realism from our graphics, thinner bezels that actually shut the hole between our world and the worlds set out by our video games, and spatial sound techniques that take our senses on a wild trip. In need of some system that lets us scent our recreation’s surroundings (that’s our concept, you’ll be able to’t steal it), VR has at all times been the logical conclusion.
It’s possible you’ll not have the funds or the dedication to fork out for absolutely the high of the road GPU and we don’t blame you as a result of it holds a fairly hefty price ticket, however now that VR has captured the creativeness of the gaming neighborhood at massive, tech goes to maneuver fairly quick. One of the simplest ways to organize for that is to set your self up with a top quality, future-proof GPU, and any of the GPUs on this listing are objectively superb selections.