Many companies came up with new unique products to appeal to gamers, and few of them survived. One of these unique products is virtual reality, which is still not as popular as it should be, but it is getting accessible every day to the general masses. Naturally, the next step after 3D games is to immerse in games, and VR helps do just that. When someone purchases a VR headset, whether it is expensive or cheap, the next question that most users will ask is, what are the minimum requirements for using VR on a PC? Fact: Virtual Reality or VR is the future of gaming. It is becoming accessible every year as the prices of VR sets start to decrease. If you are one of such people, wondering which graphics card you should have at the least for VR? You, my friend, are at the right place. With the help of this article, you will know exactly which graphics card to get. So, without any ado, let us get to the graphics card sufficient for VR gaming.
Best Graphics Card For VR Gaming – Comparison Chart
A Quick Look At The Best Graphics Card For VR:
Best Graphics Card For VR
#1- MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X
First, we have the MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X. I can rant all day about GPU shortage and how new variants of the RTX 30 series GPUs keep dropping. But I do not want to turn the article itself into a lament of the current market situation of the graphics cards.
Clock Speed: 1770 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores: 4864 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 600W Power Consumption: 220W+ Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort v1.4a / 1x HDMI 2.1 Dimensions: 10.9 x 5.1 x 2.0 Inch
VR ready graphics card. Faster boost clock speed than the reference graphics card. It can connect up to 4 displays on a single unit. Outstanding 1080p and 1440p gaming performance. Power-efficient GPU.
Lower VRAM than the 3060. 6-pin + 8-pin power connectors.
The RTX 3060 Ti is a beast, and trade blows with the RTX 2080 Ti, though it is still slower but destroys 2080 by a convincing margin and barely falls short to the RX 6700 XT. The Gaming X features 8 GB GDDR6 memory, a 12 percent increase in CUDA Cores, and MSI’s TRI FROZR 8 technology for outstanding cooling performance. MSI looks really proud of its FROZR technology, and when put under stress, it does an exceptional job of keeping the GPU under the 65 degrees Celsius mark. Decent cooling performance out of the Gaming X. It comes out with a fast boost clock speed out-of-the-box with a whopping 1770 MHz, 6 percent faster than the Nvidia boost clock speeds. MSI recommends using a 600 watts power supply. VR-wise, the MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X is more than ready, and when paired with a decent VR headset, it delivers the best possible virtual reality experience.
#2- PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
I would not be surprised if you might never heard about PowerColor graphics cards before. PowerColor manufactures AMD Radeon graphics cards only, ranging from affordable cards to high-end gaming GPUS. The MSI RTX 3060 Ti Gaming X is a gaming beast that is ready for any demanding process that is thrown at it, whether it is related to pure gaming or virtual reality. It features an attractive design with two fans built on the company’s latest FROZR technology. The temps and the gaming performance are outstanding. You could be gaming in VR without touching 70 degrees Celsius, only if your PC has decent airflow that can make this all possible. If you are coming from an older GPU, you can have great expectations from this GPU, and it will not let you down.
Clock Speed: 2340MHz Boost Clock / 2105 MHz Game Clock Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6 Stream Processors: 5120 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 900W Power Consumption: 270W To 300W Power Connectors: 3x 8-Pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.41 / 1x HDMI 2.1 Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.3 x 2.4 Inch
VR-ready with Radeon VR Ready Premium solutions. Bulky heatsink for super impressive cooling performance. High-end GPU ideal for 4K gaming at 60 fps. HDMI 2.1 port supports up to 8K HDR gaming. Mind-blowing boost clock speeds up to 2340 MHz.
Bulky card can be prone to GPU sag. Design might not be for everyone.
The Red Devil RX 6900 XT is a high-end graphics card ready to take you on a journey of the rapture of joy in VR. It might not be the prettiest in terms of looks and aesthetics in the market and has probably one of the bulkiest heat sinks. This bulkiness might be a turn-off and have trouble fitting in most cases, and not to forget GPU sag if it does not have bracket support. This Navi 21 GPU is a gaming beast capable of giving Nvidia’s magnum opus, i.e., the RTX 3090, a tough time while offering mind-blowing cost per frame and performance per watt ratios. The card is already excellent for 4K gaming, and since the standard resolution of most of the VR Headsets is 1080p, prepare for an out-of-the-world VR experience
#3- ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ti AMP Holo
The RTX 3080 Ti is a beast that goes toe-to-toe against Nvidia’s king of the hill RTX 3090 while being cheaper. It is one of the pretty-looking versions of the 3080 TIs in the market. It does come with a faster boost clock speed out-of-the-box, but a mere 45 MHz increase is not something to get excited over. PowerColor calls their top-tier 6900 XT variant a Red Devil and is a devil indeed when it comes to gaming and cooling performance. It is built to deliver, and boy, it does, crushing every competing GPU along its path. Be it VR gaming at maxed-out graphics or running a game at 4K resolution at a 60-fps frame rate. While the reference 6900 XT comes with an exceptional boost clock speed up to 2250 MHz, the 6900 XT Red Devil goes even further, up to a whopping 2340 MHz after overclocking. Here is the bulky heatsink comes into play. It helps in cooling the GPU at the listed crazy boost clock. If this GPU is not ideal for VR, giving this little devil might be worth a shot.
Clock Speed: 1710 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 12GB GDDR6X CUDA Cores: 10240 Memory Bit: 384-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 750W Power Consumption: 350W+ Power Connectors: 2 x Dual 6-pin to 8-pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a / 1x HDMI 2.1 Dimensions: 12.5 x 5.2 x 2.5 Inch
Impressive cooling solution. Ample RGB lighting on top and backplate. Attractive design. Amazing VR performance. Independent fan control for improved cooling.
Costs almost as much as RTX 3090. Minimal factory overclock.
The card comes at a premium price, and you may find it costing more than an RTX 3090, which does not make any sense whatsoever. It is one of the best performing GPUs in benchmarks. Naturally, at 1080p and 1440p, the GPU breaks no sweat and delivers over 90 fps in demanding games, peaking up to 150 fps in less demanding titles, like Call of Duty: Warzone and Days Gone. We are more interested in the VR performance of this graphics card, and it performs probably as per expectations. In Half-Life: Alyx, it delivered over 90 fps at maxed-out setting, and if it handles Alyx this good, you can imagine the rest. But what about cooling performance? Well, the temperatures are pretty decent. We are looking at 70 degrees maximum temps in Metro Exodus 1440p maxed out graphics. Under FurMark Stress Test, the GPU peaked at 69 degrees, depicting its mighty cooling prowess.
#4- GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC
If you are looking for a budget-friendly, excellent valve GPU for 1080p or 1440p gaming, that can handle VR gaming just as fine, look no further as we have the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC. Featuring a familiar Gigabyte design but is still attractive. If you want one of the best VR experiences without any compromises and 3090 or 6900XT is out of your reach, look no further as we have ZOTAC RTX 3080 Ti that will cover your 6. It is a premium card by every means, and I will only suggest getting this GPU if you have no issues spending a fortune on a graphics card. It is hard to get a GPU at an acceptable price tag these days. Interestingly, despite having an expensive price tag, these GPUs are still out of stock, so if you somehow managed to find one in stock, you should hurry before you are too late, that is, if you are chill with spending a huge lump of money on a graphics card.
Clock Speed: 1740 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores: 4864 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 600W Power Consumption: 250W+ Power Connectors: 1x 8-Pin Ports: 2x DisplayPort 1.4a / 2x HDMI 2.1 Dimensions: 11.1 x 4.6 x 1.6 Inch
Attractive, bulky design for exceptional cooling performance. Better performance than the RTX 2080. Dual BIOS. Fans stop at idle to increase the life-span of the fans. VR ready and perfect value graphics card for VR. Faster boost overclock out-of-the-box.
Can get noisy under high stress. Triple-fans design might not fit in compact cases.
It features a triple-fan design WindForce cooler, RGB lit LOGO, and a custom-built PCB designed for nothing but sheer performance. Performance-wise, it can replace the RTX 2080. Yep, you read that right, the RTX 2080. It shares the same GA104 GPU underneath the attractive front plate with a boost clock speed of 1770 MHz, which is 6 percent faster than the reference 3060 TI. In games like Metro Exodus, we are looking at 3 percent more performance than the 2080 and almost 41 percent performance uplift compared to the RTX 2060 at 1080p, and the same trend was observed at 1440p and 4K. The RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC is rated for a whopping 250 watts of power consumption, over 56 percent increase than the RTX 2060 and 108 percent more than the GTX 1660 Ti. Overall, it is a well-rounded graphics card with mind-blowing value, if you manage to find one at MSRP. You might be wondering what about the VR performance. The VR performance of this GPU can be summarized in two words, “It Performs!”.
#5- ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo
Next, we have the RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo by Zotac, the company’s fastest version of the RTX 3070 Ti. The RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo features Nvidia’s GA104 GPU, cooled by Zotac’s custom-built triple-fan cooler. The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro is a gaming beast released to replace the RTX 2060 and the RTX 2070 but ends up replacing the RTX 2080. It does not have killer aesthetics, and you might find several better-looking GPUs. However, the design is still successful. It is designed to perform and is one of the best compared to multiple available variants of the RTX 3060 TI. It is faster than the reference 3060 Ti out-of-the-box. It also has more headroom for overclocking, which can be extremely helpful for having the best VR experiences, without spending a fortune.
Clock Speed: 1830 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6X CUDA Cores: 6144 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 750W Power Consumption: 310W+ Power Connectors: 2x 8-Pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a / 1x HDMI 2.1 Dimensions: 12.5 x 4.8 x 2.3 Inch
Amazing and reliable build quality. Impressive 4K performance. One of the best looking RTX 3070 TIs in the market. Support 8K resolution thanks for HDMI 2.1. Superb VR performance.
Oddly placed power connectors might be upsetting.
It is packed with features and support technologies like DLSS and ray-tracing. In gaming, the card is a beast at 1080p and 1440p, which is more than capable of 4K gaming at 60 fps. However, the card is marketed for 1440p, so up to that resolution, you will be more than delighted with the performance of this GPU. VR-wise, it is VR-ready, and all you need is to buy the card, plug it in your system, connect the VR headset, launch your desired game, and you will be good to go. The hardest part in the above sequence is getting the graphics card at an acceptable price tag.
#6- XFX AMD Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX
XFX is an American manufacturer of PSUs, motherboards, and graphics cards, which sound more Chinese than American, to me at least. It is one of the few names, that many people might have never heard before, which makes sense, as it is not long since the company started manufacturing GPUs. Zotac might not be the first brand that comes to mind when people decide to build a new system. Zotac’s graphics cards still have their own charm. One of the charming graphics cards manufactured by Zotac is the Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti AMP Holo featuring the GA104 GPU with Zotac custom IceStorm 2.0 cooler. Except for the bizarre power connector slots in the middle, everything about this GPU screams performance and aesthetics, and honestly, the design has won my heart. If you can find it and are satisfied with the price, you will not be disappointed, especially with VR.
Clock Speed: 1366MHz True Clock / 1386MHz Boost OC+ Video Memory: 8GB DDR5 Stream Processors: 2304 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0 Recommended PSU: 500W Power Consumption: 250W Power Connectors: 1x 8-Pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.0b / 1x DL-DVI-D Dimensions: 10.63 x 4.88 x 1.57 Inch
Solid GPU for running games at 1080 and 60 fps. VR ready out-of-the-box. 8 GB DDR5 memory is rare for cards targeting 1080p resolution.
Design might be a huge turn off for people looking for decent aesthetics. Bulky than competing cards.
XFX used to manufacture Nvidia GPUs but eventually started manufacturing AMD GPUs. With a brief introduction, we have the RX 580 GTS XXX Edition graphics card. Before that, you might be wondering why RX 580, isn’t it too slow for VR? The reason you are finding an RX 580 is because of the awful GPU shortage and surreal prices. It is harder to get hands-on decent GPUs. If you are planning for a decent VR experience, and want a graphics card for your rig urgently, the RX 580 GTS XXX is a sufficient GPU that will fulfill your VR requirements just fine. It has the most average looks for a graphics card, but we are more interested in VR and performance than anything else. One of the best things about this beast is the 8 GB VRAM that is rare for a card targeted for 1080p performance.
#7- GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC
Moving on, we have another graphics card by Gigabyte, the RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC, featuring the TU102 GPU and custom-build PCB and Gigabyte’s successful WindForce cooler, not the best, but it is still respect-worthy. AMD found massive success with their RX 500 series of graphics cards, and RX 580 is one of the most popular and sold cards for people on a tight budget. It is a decent GPU if the target is 1080p gaming at 60 fps in most titles. Realistically speaking, you have more chances of finding this GPU with a minimal price hike than the graphics card released in the past two years. It is a decent 1080p choice and is VR-ready.
Clock Speed: 1665 MHz OC Mode Video Memory: 11GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores: 4352 Memory Bit: 352-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0 Recommended PSU: 750W Power Consumption: 300W-400W Power Connectors: 2x 8-Pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.0b / 1x USB Type-C Dimensions: 11.2 x 4.5 x 1.9 Inch
Recommended for 4K gaming and Virtual Reality. Competent gaming performance at variable resolutions. Attractive, classic design. Impressive cooling performance. Up to 4 years of warranty.
Bigger in size, can run hotter without proper airflow. Little to no RGB might not work for everyone.
The results from the benchmarks showed truly that how capable the RTX 2080 Ti is. 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively, we are looking at impressive results. However, the AMD Radeon RX 6700XT, RTX 3070, and above, managed to gain a lead over the former fastest GPU. The GPU is overkill for 1080p unless it is paired, with a high-refresh-rate monitor. It is excellent for 1440p and 4K gaming, and since VR is anything but 1440p and 4K gaming for most headsets, the card is more than loaded for virtual reality. The acoustics and cooling performance of this GPU is already impressive, and if you manage to get your hands on this, do not think twice about whether you should purchase it or not. Get it before others do.
#8- Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 5700 XT
Compared to Nvidia Founders Edition GPUs, AMD does not have the best record of building reference cards that can make the company proud and can recommend people in the best light. The Gigabyte RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC is the company custom version of the RTX 2080 Ti built on the Gigabyte’s WindForce cooler and custom-built PCB for an unparallel VR experience. Consider the GPU as the missing ingredient missing from your recipe in creating the best gaming PC for VR. The GPU is not the best when it comes to overclocking despite having OC in its name. I mean, if we are looking at a 15-20 MHz increase in boost clock compared to the reference card. We are looking at a 1 or 2 percent performance increase with the factor tweaked overclock, but if you are familiar with overclocking, you can push the card to its limits and get exceptional results.
Clock Speed: 1670 MHz Base Clock / 1925 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 Stream Processors: 2560 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 4.0 Recommended PSU: 650W Power Consumption: 241W+ Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin / 1x 6-pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.0b Dimensions: 10 x 5.3 x 1.8 Inch
Dual BIOS. Compact design built to fit in most cases. Jaw dropping boost clocks up to 1925 MHz, 13 percent more than the RTX 3090. User friendly, clean TriXX software for having maximum control over the GPU. Better than the reference RX 5700 XT at a little to no price increase.
Power hungry GPU compared to competing GPUs. Red and black color scheme might not be for every system.
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is no different. It featured a blower-style design with a single fan that did not age well, and eventually, AMD stopped producing reference GPU and stuck with AIB partners’ designs. The Radeon Pulse RX 5700 XT is Sapphire’s attempt to fix all of the issues that were ailed with the reference 5700 XT and did an amazing job with it. At the MSRP, suggested by AMD, this GPU is brilliant. It goes toe-to-toe with the RTX 2070 and has over 10 percent performance uplift compared to the RTX 2060 Super. With the Pulse RX 5700 XT, we have the same PCB paired with Sapphire’s custom-built cooler on the top. It features a plastic shroud, then a metallic one but it still earns a decent score in terms of aesthetics, from me at least. There is nothing much to say about gaming performance, it performs as per expectation, and if you can get this GPU closer to its MSRP, you are in for a treat. Whether it is gaming or VR gaming, you will not be disappointed, that is for sure.
#9- ZOTAC GAMING GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
Before anything, I want to share my honest thoughts here, the GTX 1660 Ti is one of the best choices for an amazing 1080p experience and is a super underrated graphics card, in my opinion. Not only it offers excellent 1080p gaming performance, but it also comes with a highly affordable price tag. AMD struggled with the manufacturing of their reference cards is not an exaggeration to say that. Especially with the blower-style coolers that are not ideal for powerful GPUs like the RX 5700 XT. Sapphire did fix the issues that plagued the reference GPU and made it one of the best GPUs that you can get for VR, as well as 1080p or 1440p gaming. It features a staggering boost clock speed up to 1925 MHz, the RTX 3090 has 1700 MHz boost clock speed in reference. With the 8 GB GDDR6 memory, the Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT is ready for a fluid VR experience.
Clock Speed: 1770 MHz Video Memory: 6GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores: 15356 Memory Bit: 192-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0 Recommended PSU: 450W Power Consumption: 120W+ Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.0b Dimensions: 6.83 x 4.38 x 1.39 Inch
Miniature, compact design will fit in almost every PC. Highly impressive cooling performance. Excellent for 1080p gaming at 60 fps. 4K and VR ready out-of-the-box. Built on same Turing architecture as the RTX 2000 line up of GPUs.
Not ideal for 4K gaming. No lighting.
Even during the GPU shortage, its price is not as elevated as the rest of the graphics cards released in the last two or three years. Zotac has its own versions of the GTX 1660 Ti. One of the best things about this GPU is it can fit any system. So, for people with compact builds looking for a GPU ready for VR, Zotac GTX 1660 Ti has got your back. Underneath the dual-fan plastic shroud, we have the TU116 GPU built on the same architecture as the RTX 2000 series of graphics cards minus the ray-tracing components and DLSS. Other than that, at its 100 percent, we are looking at 60+ fps in most games. Temperature-wise, the numbers are pretty impressive as it ran cooler than the ASUS Phoenix GTX 1660 Ti and managed to stay around the 75 degrees Celsius mark, highly impressive for a card this compact.
#10- ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mini
Lastly, I have another miniature beast for you to recommend, which is none other than the RTX 2070 Super Mini by Zotac. Virtual reality is not very demanding and requires a mediocre power system i.e., compact builds. The Zotac GTX 1660 Ti is a mini-beast that packs a huge punch. It offers unmatched value for 1080p gaming even during the GPU shortage and price hike. It is a well-rounded graphics card that will cover your needs if you are looking for VR gaming with maxed-out graphics settings. It is a shame that this Nvidia did not make it DLSS and ray-tracing capable. If it had DLSS, I would have recommended this GPU to everyone, who is looking to build a budget-oriented build. That being said, I still recommend the GTX 1660 Ti due to its outstanding value and gaming performance.
Clock Speed: 1770 MHz Boost Clock Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 CUDA Cores: 2560 Memory Bit: 256-Bit Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0 Recommended PSU: 650W Power Consumption: 215W+ Power Connectors: 1×6-pin & 1x 8-pin Ports: 3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1x HDMI 2.0 Dimensions: 8.25 x 4.96 x 1.61 Inch
Super compact size, built to fit in over 95 percent of PCs. Killer gaming performance at 1440p and 4K. Terrific price to performance ratio. Ready for a fluid VR experience out-of-the-box. Excellent acoustic performance.
Lack of RGB lighting. The GPU can easily be prone to thermal throttling and stuttering without proper airflow.
Now, if you have a compact PC and are not interested in overclocking and other shenanigans, get this GPU. The reason is, powerful GPUs like the RTX 2070 Super with this size are super rare. Performance-wise it is an excellent GPU for 1080p, 1440p, and a decent card for 4K that has the ray-tracing and DLSS technologies support as a bonus. But, you should keep one thing in mind, due to its smaller size, it is not ideal for overclocking and should have decent room for airflow. Without proper airflow, there will be heat issues, and the GPU will be prone to thermal throttling at higher temps that will result in a lower frame rate than usual and game stuttering.
Buying The Best Graphics Card For VR
Resolution, FPS & Video RAM
Virtual reality is the future of gaming undoubtedly, but it will take a few more years as there are little to no titles that would urge people to purchase VR except for a few titles. There is another hurdle in the way, and that is price. The RTX 2070 Super Mini by Zotac is a job well done. It packs so much power under 8.3 inches. The card is more than capable of a butter-smooth gaming experience, whether it is with a VR Headset or a high-end monitor. It is built for compact systems, but it can run with any setup, be it Standard-ITX or Micro-ITX. It supports VR and is ready out-of-the-box, no need for configuration, just plug, play, install supported driver, and bam! That is it, you are all set to embark on a pleasant VR journey. Fact: Any PC with decent specifications that can run the latest games at 60 fps is compatible and can run VR. Sure they cost way less than when they were revealed to the public a few years ago, but realistically speaking, any decent headset still costs a lot for the majority of the gamers. That being said, the general resolution of most VR headsets is around 1920×1080. Many graphics cards manufactured in the last three to four years are more than capable of running most games at 1080p at a 60 fps frame rate. VR Headsets have generally high refresh rates like 90 Hz, and unless you have a GPU five years older or more, you are good to go as the entry-level GPUs like the RX 580 and 1660 Ti can deliver 60+ fps frame rate at 1080p in most games. Lastly, for VRAM or video memory buffer, you do not need a lot of it. The least amount of VRAM that you will come across while finding a capable 1080p GPU is 6GB which is sufficient for gaming at that resolution. However, if you plan to play games separately at 1440p or 4K, you might want to get at least 8 GB of VRAM. As a plus, you can always go for GDDR6 memory at the very least.
VR Graphics Cards – Is It Worth It To Buy An Expensive Card?
Price is a highly important factor for people that are looking to purchase a graphics card. 2020, 2021, and 2023 are the worst years when it comes to GPU prices due to the global chip shortage and the ever-increasing demand for GPUs due to mining and the recently released RTX 3000 series of GPUs. VR gaming is a relatively fresh topic, and more and the demand for VR Headsets is increasing slowly due to them being available at a reachable price. Naturally, people that are new to VR and are interested in getting a GPU that can play games fluidly in VR, would ask whether they should get a high-end, expensive GPU? Fact: VR technology is revolutionary and can be used in any field of life, especially biology, where simulations can be used to practice surgery and so much more. My honest answer to this question is no. You do not need an expensive GPU to run games in VR due to the limited resolution. The majority of the VR headsets have a resolution of 1080p, and even an entry-level 1080p graphics card from the last three years is capable enough for a fluid VR experience, at least in VR games. However, you can spend your heart’s desire and get the fastest and the most expensive GPU for your rig. In such cases, not only the GPU will be VR-ready, but you will also be able to run games at 4K and 60 fps. Recommended Readings:Best AMD RX 5700 XT Graphics Cards – (Reviewed & Updated)Nvidia RTX 3080 vs. RTX 2080 Ti – (Benchmarks, Results & Comparison)Best RTX 2080 Super Graphics Cards – [2023 Updated & Rated]
What Type of GPU You Should Pick? (The Basics)
In my honest opinion, GPUs that are capable of running most games at 1080p and over 60 fps are an ideal GPU that you should look for. Unlike 4K gaming, you do not need the most expensive and powerful GPU to enjoy VR games. Below are some headsets that you can get for the best VR experience. Oculus Rift & Rift S Minimum Requirements: Below are the minimum system requirements for Oculus Rift and Rift S VR headsets:
CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, FX 4350 or higher Memory: 8 GB or higher OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB 3.0 port GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050Ti / AMD RX 470 or higher
Valve Index Minimum Requirements: Below are the minimum system requirements for Valve Index headset:
CPU: Intel Core i3-3240 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200, FX 8350 equivalent or higher Memory: 8 GB or higher OS: Microsoft Windows 10, SteamOS, Linux Ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB 3.0 port GPU: Nvidia GTX 970 / AMD RX9 480 or higher
Vive, Vive Pro & Vive Cosmos Minimum Requirements: The minimum system requirements for HTC Vive, Vive Pro, and Vive Cosmos are given down below:
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590/AMD FX 8350 equivalent or higher Memory: 8 GB or higher OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB 3.0 port GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 / AMD R9 480 or higher
VR is getting accessible more than ever, and many companies are getting interested in developing, budget-friendly VR sets for the general masses. As of now, they are anything but budget-friendly, and let us be real here, the majority of the gamers will still not be able to afford VR sets not until a few years. Since the tech is getting affordable in the upcoming years, it will urge game developers to develop titles like Half-Life: Alyx, then I can freely say, we are ready for VR. For people that are looking for a GPU for VR as well as gaming, this is the right place. With the help of this article, I am confident anyone will be able to find the right graphics card in no time. The future of gaming is bright, and not to forget augmented reality, which allows you to have content in front of your eyes and can be accessed anywhere, though we are still at least five years early.
Question 1: What graphics card do I need for VR?
Any graphics card having at least 6 GB GDDR5 (GDDR6 is recommended) memory and is capable of running games at 1080 and 60+ fps is sufficient for VR. As odd as it may sound, you do not need a high-end and expensive graphics card for VR.
Question 2: Is a GTX 1080 Good for VR?
Yes, the GTX 1080 is a high-end GPU, especially for VR. It is a high-end graphics card built on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture that still holds its ground against its predecessors. It is one of the least power-hungry, high-end GPUs.
Question 3: What VR game has the best graphics?
There are not many titles that were developed for VR only, out of the few titles, Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx is easily the winner. It is Valve’s take on the next-gen VR experience that nobody has ever experienced before. With a roughly 11-hour campaign, it is loaded with fun yet outstanding physical mechanics and top-not graphics.
Question 4: How do I know if my PC is VR Ready?
If your system has a dual-core processor with hyperthreading, 8GB of RAM, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x USB 3.0 port, and a GPU with at least 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, your system is more than ready for VR. You can check for your desired VR headset specifications to check, whether your system is VR ready or not.
Question 5: Is the 3070 VR Ready?
Yes, the RTX 3070 is VR-ready out-of-the-box. All you need to do is purchase the RTX 3070, plug it into your system, install the latest drivers, and bam! Your PC is VR-ready. The hardest part in all of this is getting the RTX 3070 at an acceptable price.
Question 6: What are the minimum specs for VR?
After checking out the system recommendations by popular VR headset manufacturers, you will need at least:
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590/AMD FX 8350 equivalent or higher Memory: 8 GB or higher OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB 3.0 port GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 / AMD R9 480 or higher
Question 7: How much RAM does VR need?
It is recommended to have at least 8 GBs of memory for a pleasant, stutter-free VR experience. However, games are getting beautiful and graphic intensive, so for peace of mind, you can get at least 16 GB of memory.
Question 8: Is VR CPU or GPU intensive?
VR relies more on GPU than CPU because the GPU has to render two different displays are high resolutions that are combined to give the optimal VR experience. For a fluid VR gaming experience, it is recommended to choose a GPU from the last two or three years at max. Otherwise, low fps may cause headaches or nausea.
Question 9: What is VR Ready?
VR ready means that the PC or the GPU is fast enough to launch games in VR at a consistent frame rate. You will find “VR ready” mostly on GPUs, which means all you have to do is install your GPU into your PC and plug the VR set and launch the VR game.
Question 10: Can RTX 3060 do VR?
Yes, the RTX 3060 is an excellent choice for VR and gaming at 1080p or 1440p at 60+ fps. As it is the most recent series of GPU, it has by far the best GPU architecture that is more than ready for VR and high-resolution gaming.
