I think that virtual reality is the future of visual media, just as film and video games revolutionized entertainment decades ago. There is a growing marketplace for video games and other apps – I have a HTC Vive Cosmos headset, where I can shoot baddies, box opponents and watch lewd videos induced by a lack of a girlfriend. Buying a high quality computer, rather than buying a gaming console, allows the user to use VR (Virtual Reality) AND increase productivity, as I've been able to run a YouTube channel by editing videos on Davinci Resolve, which takes up considerable computing power.
When I was shopping for a VR-capable PC (Personal Computer), the only computers marketed as "VR capable" had a price tag starting at $3000. I figured I could get a decent computer for cheaper, so I enlisted the help of my local PC building store Dcomp. Here’s the build that I got made:
These components sounded formidably technical, so I did some research to help get my head around what they do. Here's a brief overview:
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor - a processer provides instructions and processing power for the computer to do its work. The more powerful the processor, the faster the tasks can be completed.
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB - this is the computer memory, which is used to store information for immediate use in a computer (in other words, it is on-hand information for the computer, such as information about the program being run, or the file being saved). For VR usage, this memory pairs well with the processor to handle the higher load. The heatspreader is made of pure aluminium for faster heat dissipation (which assists in the general function of the PC under strenuous load).
Seagate Barracuda 1TB - storage allows files to be downloaded, saved, and stored. It is a critical component for the functioning of a PC. VR programs and games have a higher storage usage, and hence 1TB ensures the requirement for storage is satisfied. This is a comfortable level of storage and can always be extended with external storage.
Thermaltake H200TG Snow RGB Case - this case holds the PC together.
Thermaltake Smart RGB 500x 80+ White - the power supply is a key component for the parts of the PC to function, and literally provides power to these components (such as the motherboard, graphics card).
Thermaltake Contact Silent 12 Cooler - considering the high load on the PC for VR, this cooler assists to dissipate the heat within the components.
Crucial P1 500GB NVMe M.2 SSD - Solid State Storage (SSD) is a faster alternative to conventional hard disk drives, and the primary benefit is that it doesn’t have any physical moving parts (it is all electronic).
Gigabyte B450M DS3H Motherboard - the motherboard is the backbone of a PC, and ties the function of all other components together (and allows them to talk to each other).
Gigabyte GTC 1650 Super Windforce OC 4G - a graphics card in a PC is the integrated circuit that generates the video signal sent to a computer display. It is usually located in the motherboard, but sometimes can be built into the display.
Tenda W322E Wireless N300 PCI-E Adaptor - this adaptor allows the computer to connect wirelessly to a network.
So there you have it – the components of my computer with an explanation of what they’re for. This build was made over three years ago and VR runs pretty well on it still. The industry has improved since I bought it as Mwave (in Australia) have PCs marketed as VR capable. You can use this helpful guide to double check that the specifications (ie components) of the computer you want to buy are compatible with the VR headset you might purchase.
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