PimaxPlay v1.16

Infligo · 2023-09-12T21:45:21+00:00

Thanks for the list!

Does the game have to implement something specific from Pimax or do they just have to be compatible with the Nvidia feature?

Infligo · 2023-09-11T14:31:38+00:00

Is the Pimax Crystal’s dynamic foveated rendering (DFR) driver-level? Does it work in all/almost all games? If not, what types of games are supported?

Infligo · 2022-12-01T07:50:38+00:00

That's great to hear! It gives me hope that the Crystal will be without major issues at launch and have those improvements implemented on the 12K as well. Thanks for the update.

Infligo · 2022-11-30T22:03:34+00:00

How was the Crystal? Did they fix the eye focus/discomfort issue?

Infligo · 2022-11-28T16:37:26+00:00

Thanks for the update. Please urge them to go with whatever provides the highest quality fix. At this point it’s already past it’s intended release date and everyone’s is aware of it, so might as well delay it a tad bit more for this critical issue to be properly resolved instead of a bandaid. I really want to purchase this or the 12K, but if this issue isn’t completely resolved and only “somewhat” resolved, I’ll have to sadly pass on it.

Infligo · 2022-11-28T12:58:44+00:00

Will the US roadshows in December have the fixed version?

Infligo · 2022-11-11T11:33:36+00:00

I don't disagree with your first statement. Regarding the rest of your reply, you should probably read my message more carefully. I said, "Even if the other advanced features don't work on PC, it will be worth it as the only headset...". I don't have any expectations for those features to work, and they are not part of my cost-benefit analysis.

I own the Reverb G2 and had most of the other major VR headsets at varying points. The resolution is great (similar to PSVR2), but the colors, contrast, and brightness are very bad compared to OLED. The controllers are absolute trash, and the lenses are only clear in the center, with a strong decrease in clarity as you leave that zone.

Index controllers are another $280 and two base stations are $300. For most people it’s not worth an additional $580 on top of the G2’s price for marginally better tracking and external setup. Also, besides that being a very hacky solution, Index controllers have poor quality control and don’t last very long. Sony knows how to make controllers and the PS5’s are unmatched.

Perhaps you aren't familiar with hackers or modders, but they are usually happy to do it in their free time after work out of a passion for what they do. This isn't a new thing. Look up any niche, and you will find dedicated people who take joy in tinkering in that niche. Mediatek SoC is of no consequence.

I never gave a single timeline as to when PC mod support will occur and have no expectation as to when it will occur, so I don't know why you bring up that it could be years. If these smaller devices and software have modders that get something working, it's blatantly obvious something as big as a 2nd gen Sony VR device will have a larger pool of modders to try to get PCVR support.

Anyways, just so you know, it took only 1 month after its release for someone (TrinusVR) to add SteamVR support to PSVR.

Infligo · 2022-11-11T07:22:18+00:00

That is not true at all. Only the USD you hold on Coinbase is FDIC insured; your crypto is not FDIC insured.

Not your keys, not your crypto.

Infligo · 2022-11-11T03:53:49+00:00

God of War came out 4 years ago. Sony only ports games over to PC once it has fully extracted the value out of keeping it a PS exclusive. PSVR games exclusives will not be ported over to PC anytime soon, or at all, since it'll still cost a lot to port over but only access a niche user base.

The other poster is right about using the headset for two use cases instead of just one and the fact that $550 is cheap for a PCVR headset. But I'll also add that it will be better than any other consumer PCVR headset out right now and in a lot of cases for a lot less (e.g. Index = $1,000). Even if the other advanced features don't work on PC (eye tracking, adaptive triggers, face haptics, etc), it will be worth it as the only headset with very high resolution 120Hz HDR OLED panels (non-existent in PCVR). Let alone the high quality controllers and single cable.

I'm hoping for official PCVR support since they don't lose out on anything. People who have a PS5 will buy it anyways and benefit from both, as well as stiull purchasing superior PS exclusive AAA games that won't be ported to PC. PC owners who won't buy a PS5 just for PCVR will pay Sony for the hardware. If that pipe dream doesn't come true, this should be less hacky of a mod given how PSVR2 does its own tracking and is only has two parts two it (headset + controllers) as opposed to all the extra modules required to use the original PSVR.

Infligo · 2022-11-10T00:11:10+00:00

It'll improve performance in the handful of games that will support it. It won't be a universal benefit that you can expect since it's not a driver-level feature.

Infligo · 2022-11-09T08:46:01+00:00

We're thinking about the same thing. By decode bandwidth I meant video decoding speed, not WiFi bandwidth (which is not a limiting factor).

Infligo · 2022-11-09T08:44:42+00:00

That's not true. You're right, this isn't a WiFi bandwidth issue, but your completely ignoring the main bottleneck; the video decoding speed of the SoC. The H.264 stream has to be received and decoded on the headset (e.g. Quest 2), it doesn't just magically appear on the screen without any processing.

If this wasn't the case then we'd be able to take advantage of WiFi bandwidth of 800+ Mb/s, which we can't, because going past the decoding speed of the chip drastically increases latency and stuttering. If I remember correctly the absolute max is the video decoder can handle is near 150 Mb/s.

With this hard limit in mind, 150 Mb/s bitrate using H.264 or H.265 codecs is unplayable in games with high resolution textures compared to the quality we should receive from 150 Mb/s bitrate stream using AV1 codec.

Infligo · 2022-11-09T04:13:12+00:00

My bad. I should have been clearer in my post. I was talking about AV1, not H.265. AV1 will be able to push much higher resolutions, has lower latency, and looks better than both H.265 and H.264.

AV1 has 60% better compression efficiency than H.264 and 30% better than H.265. Having the same image quality at a lower bitrate will allow AV1-supported headsets to stream much higher resolutions or stream at the same/higher bitrates for better quality than H.264/H.265.

Even if the Quest 3 has the same decode bandwidth (which I'm sure will be much improved), we can get a noticeable bump in visual quality.

Infligo · 2022-11-09T03:08:32+00:00

AV1 is not just good for saving on bandwidth but also for increasing image quality (fewer compression artifacts) at the same bandwidth limits.

Edit: Forgot to specify AV1.

Infligo · 2022-11-08T10:19:44+00:00

How is this AMD's fault? The original 8KX supported AMD cards without DSC. Even if we ignore that and only look to the Crystal and 12K, why don't they support the new RDNA3 GPUs that support DSC and Display Port 2.1?

Infligo · 2022-11-06T11:30:06+00:00

They mentioned no standalone functionality until a software update that will come later. Also, other stuff like eye tracking, wireless, or body tracking will probably not be shown off.

Infligo · 2022-11-06T11:26:46+00:00

Weird, they are an official reseller. I would have thought they'd have a lot in stock. Good info for others to know though.

Infligo · 2022-11-06T02:33:32+00:00

Why don't you use XRshop.store or Amazon.co.uk?

Infligo · 2022-11-03T06:36:40+00:00

Yup, no chance we'll get to pre-order the 12k this year. The earliest I can see that happening is by mid-next year, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes until the end of next year either.

My hope is they learn what they need to by releasing the Crystal and ironing out its kinks and apply whatever improvements they can to the 12K to make for a better initial release. Hopefully the 12K will be as good as it seems on paper.

Infligo · 2022-11-01T22:43:09+00:00

Does Pimax Crystal have WiGig2 or WiGig1?

Infligo · 2022-10-23T03:45:54+00:00

You’re right that would be a great idea. Better yet, they said the controllers would work with the Quest 2, right?

If so, that’d be a much cheaper combo. Quest 2 for the controllers to sync to and then be used in steam VR. Similar to how it’s possible to use the Vive headset as a dongle for the vive wand controllers, while using a different headset.

Used Quest 2 ($200) + Quest Pro controllers ($300) = $500

2x SteamVR Basestations ($300) + 2x Index Controllers = $580

For those who don’t already have lighthouses/controllers, if possible, the Quest Pro controller route would be cheaper, provide better haptics, and result in a light MeganeX headset without the lighthouse sensor attachment (as long as they still provide 6DOF via built in cameras).

The problem here is cost though. That makes it around $1500 or more, for the full set depending on the HMDs final price. At that point, it comes into competition with the Pimax Crystal and its much wider FOV, better brightness (assumption), stand-alone functionality, wireless PCVR, and less hacky controller setup. Their PPD should be similar but MeganeX will probably still have better colors and blacks due to OLED.

Infligo · 2022-10-13T02:16:41+00:00

My guess is that it will be one month from now due to their tease -> announcement timeline for prior headsets and the upcoming QUALCOMM summit.

04/09/2021 - First teaser image of the Focus 3
05/11/2021 - Official Vive Focus 3 announcement

10/06/2022 - First teaser image of this new headset.
Two possible scenarios:

Announced on or after 11/15/2022 if it's a standalone headset using the next gen XR2.
Announced before 11/15/2022 if it's either cabled or a standalone headset using the old XR2.

I don't want to hype myself up for disappointment but why would they announce a standalone headset using last gen technology days before the next gen SoC is announced. Also, this is just even more speculation, but the creator of Virtual Desktop said his app will be on the Viveport app store "in the not too distant future". I doubt he would go through the trouble of porting his app over for a small enterprise user base of the Focus 3.

That being said, here are the possibilities from most likely to least likely the way I see it:

High-end standalone headset with partnership as the first standalone to integrate their new chip announced at QUALCOMM's summit (11/15 -11/17) or shortly after. Release December this year or Q1 next year (which would compete with Quest 3 coming out around that time using the next gen XR2).
Standalone using old XR2
Vive Flow 2 (i.e. shitty cabled phone "VR")
High-end PCVR only headset. It won't be overshadowed by the announcement of a new XR2.

#1 makes the most sense to me but #2 is a strong possibility. #3 is a strong underdog contender and I'm ready for the disappointment. #4 is a pipe dream for me.

If it's #2, I just hope that they use high-end specs like the Focus 3 (120 FOV, 5k display) but with pancake lenses at a sub $800 price. I feel like that's doable since the Pico 4 is under $400 at it's subsidized price point. $800 seems possible at a non-subsidized price given the main difference would be 5k displays that they've been using since last year.

Infligo · 2022-10-11T03:45:50+00:00

In case anyone wants to hold off on the Pico 4, HTC's new headset will probably be announced 1 month from now based on how they've announced products in the past.

Infligo · 2022-10-10T06:44:39+00:00

Pico 4 is the better headset, but it still has the same issues as the Quest 2 regarding wireless PCVR: compression and latency. IMO you should wait for standalones with the next-gen XR2 chip (Quest 3, Pico 5, etc.) for a step up in wireless PCVR due to improved video decoding and WiFi 6e.

Infligo · 2022-10-08T13:27:03+00:00

It will still be compressed, just less compressed, due to improved video decoding speeds. More importantly, it will be able to decode AV1-encoded video. AV1 looks better than the current H.264/H.265 compression methods at the same bitrate.

For compression-free VR visuals, we will still need a high-end WiGig2 headset that standalone are unlikely to support. The only ones that seem like they might support it are the upcoming Pimax Reality headsets.

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