Check out our guides on the top RTX 2080 laptops and RTX 2070 laptops for viable VR ready laptops. But, all-in-all, this $2,000 VR ready PC build will easily handle any virtual reality games and content out there and will serve as a high-end gaming computer for the foreseeable future. As a means of using your PC desktop inside of a VR headset, it is lightweight and straightforward, simply representing your monitor resolution (or multiple monitors if you have them) in a floating.
The best desktop PCs for VR include powerful hardware, allowing you to fully enjoy your VR experience. If you don't want to go through the hassle of building an entirely new PC to get there, we've rounded up some tremendous pre-built desktop PCs, like the Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 with AMD Ryzen 5000-series processors. It's built from the ground up with performance and unique design in mind, making it your best bet for an ultimate VR desktop.
Best Overall: Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
© Provided by Windows CentralThere are quite a few configuration options available for the Aurora Ryzen Edition, with a high-end model sporting up to an RTX 3090 GPU with 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, a Ryzen 9 5950X processor (CPU) with 16 cores, 128GB of HyperX FURY DDR4-3200MHz RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) coupled with a 2TB hard-disk drive (HDD). A Wi-Fi 6 adapter can be added for blazing wireless speeds, and you can even add water cooling with a 1,000W PSU. This is no doubt some serious overkill, even for a stellar VR experience, and a mid-range option is in your best interest.
Spending about $1,784 will get you a PC with Ryzen 7 5800 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 16GB of dual-channel HyperX DDR4-3200MHz RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. That's significantly cheaper than the high-end model, and you're still going to get a killer gaming machine that will be able to handle just about any VR experience. Of course, you can always jump up to an even more robust GPU for more power.
The hardware is all contained in a unique case available in two colors, and it still has a PSU swing arm to allow easy access for upgrades and tinkering. There's a boatload of ports for easy connectivity, including on the front are three USB-A 3.2, USB-C 3.2, and 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks. The rear has plenty more, including six USB-A 2.0, four USB-A 3.2, one USB-C 3.2, RJ45 Ethernet, and many audio inputs and outputs for setting up surround sound. Customizable lighting on the outside of the case accents the lines and gives you some extra style to boot. This PC is also among our picks for the overall best gaming desktop PC available today.
Pros:
- Powerful Ryzen configurations available
- Tool-less access
- Has the right ports for VR
- Programmable lighting
- Sturdy, unique chassis
Cons:
- Can find cheaper alternatives
Best Overall
Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
© Provided by Windows CentralStyle, power, and ports
There are plenty of configurations that will handle VR content, and no matter what you choose inside, it all comes in an attractive case.
Runner-up: HP OMEN 30L
© Provided by Windows CentralYou'll often pay more for the luxury of having your PC built for you, but in the case of HP's OMEN 30L, it's no doubt a close call. Configure up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10850K liquid-cooled CPU, 64GB of HyperX DDR4-3200MHz RAM, a 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD coupled with 6TB of HDD space, and a NVIDIA RTX 3090 GPU with 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM. That's some serious overkill performance.
If you'd rather go with AMD, get up to a Ryzen 9 5900X CPU, 64GB of DDR4 RAM, 4TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage, and NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU.
Everything is contained in a redesigned 30L tower with a white rhombus logo (gone is the red tribal mask) and a streamlined design with a brushed aluminum finish. It's quite fetching, and it's not nearly as over-the-top as the Alienware option we love, which is preferable for a lot of people. Add Wi-Fi 6 for a few dollars more, and take advantage of many ports for easy connectivity.
Have a look at our HP OMEN 30L review for way more information about this awesome pre-built PC.
Pros
- Optional Wi-Fi 6
- Powerful, varied hardware options
- Redesigned tower looks great
- Plenty of ports
- Reasonable price for what you're getting
Cons
- Can still find more affordable options
Runner-Up
HP OMEN 30L
© Provided by Windows CentralHigh-end performance without overspending
The redesigned HP OMEN 30L is a beautiful gaming PC packed with premium hardware for VR and otherwise.
Runner-Up: Lenovo Legion Tower 7i
© Provided by Windows CentralLenovo's Legion Tower 7i is a high-end pre-built PC that is absolutely dripping with RGB lighting. The 34L case, which has a tempered-glass side and grille front, includes liquid cooling, multiple case fans, and even a carrying handle for easy transportation. If you're looking for a pre-built with tons of style, this is what you want. And Lenovo has made it easy to upgrade in the future.
Add up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900K vPro CPU with 10 cores, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, 32GB of DDR4-2933MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD coupled with a 2TB HDD for ultimate performance. Introductory models start with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700K CPU, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and a NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super GPU.
Extra features include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 7.1 surround sound, and tons of ports, including USB-C 3.2, three USB-A 3.2, four USB-A 2.0, Ethernet, and six audio jacks. If you're looking for a high-end PC that's not totally priced at an unrealistic level, definitely give this one a second look.
Pros
- Powerful CPU and GPU
- Competitive price
- RGB-infused case
- Easy upgrades
- Tons of ports
Cons
- Nothing in the budget range
- Still running NVIDIA RTX 20-series
Runner-Up
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i
© Provided by Windows CentralTons of power and great looks
Dripping with RGB and packed with performance hardware, Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i gets the VR job done in style.
Great Value: iBUYPOWER Trace MR
© Provided by Windows CentralGaming PC prices, especially those for VR, can quickly get out of hand. If you're on a tight budget, something like iBUYPOWER's Trace MR delivers a lot of hardware for the asking price. While you can still find cheaper alternatives out there, the combination of performance and add-ons makes this PC a great value.
Inside is a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10400F CPU, an NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB HDD coupled with a 240GB SSD. That's some decent entry-level performance to get VR off the ground, plus it all comes in a fancy black case with glass paneling and RGB lighting. To add to the value, the PC includes a keyboard and mouse to help get you started.
Pros
- Great price for the hardware you're getting
- Plenty of storage
- Includes keyboard and mouse
- Fancy case with RGB lighting
Cons
- Hardware isn't customizable
Great Value
iBUYPOWER Trace MR
© Provided by Windows CentralLots of power at a reasonable price
It's not the absolute cheapest PC out there, but the complete package is overall a great value if you need an entry-level PC for VR.
Best Customization: MAINGEAR VYBE
© Windows Central Maingear VybeIf you're looking for a PC that comes built but feels like you built it, MAINGEAR's VYBE should satisfy. Several pre-configured performance stages are available, but there's also a custom build option that lets you design a PC from the ground up. Choose case and paint, Intel or AMD CPU, RGB lighting, GPU, motherboard, RAM, storage, cooling, PSU, and more. As long as the budget allows, you can keep adding hardware to create something that will crush anything you throw its way.
The builds are clean with proper cable management, and there's always the option for user upgrades in the future to keep the PC relevant. The case has a glass cutout on the side to show off hardware and any optional RGB lighting, and there are plenty of ports on the back for connecting all your accessories, including VR. For more information, have a look at our MAINGEAR VYBE review.
Pros
- Clean build
- Awesome case design
- Tons of configuration options
- Excellent performance
Cons
- Stock fans can be loud
- Wi-Fi doesn't come standard
Vr Desktop Steam
Best Customization
MAINGEAR VYBE
© Provided by Windows CentralA pre-built PC that feels like you built it
The Maingear Vybe offers a ton of customization with a relatively low starting price. If you want a custom PC, this is a great option.
Bottom line
When it comes to getting the best PC for VR, sometimes you don't want to build a new one from scratch. Luckily, there are plenty of pre-built PCs on the market that can handle the power of VR. You generally need a great gaming PC with a powerful GPU — like one from our roundup of the best graphics card options — a mid-range processor, at least 8GB of RAM, and enough ports to handle the headset and any sensors.
The Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 has plenty of VR-ready configuration options up for offer, all contained in a stylish chassis with enough ports for all your headsets and sensors. You get a sturdy warranty, and support is available if needed.
Www.vrdesktop.net App
There are some cheaper options available that will get VR off the ground, but we recommend a mid-range configuration for a much smoother experience. In any case, you'll be able to upgrade the PC to keep it relevant long into the future thanks to an easy-access case and unique PSU swing arm that leaves plenty of room for tinkering. It's all contained in a redesigned chassis that is sleek and undoubtedly unique. For more options, check out our collection of the best gaming desktop PCs.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Cale Hunt is a staff writer at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on PC, laptop, accessory coverage, and the emerging world of VR. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.
Daniel Rubino is the executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
Tired of taking your Oculus rift on and off to switch between VR games? Virtual Desktop is your perfect solution!
Virtual Desktop is an application developed by Guy Godin, which allows Oculus Rift user to see your desktop on a giant virtual screen by efficiently replicating your virtual reality desktop into the Oculus Rift DK1 and Dk2.
What can you do in a virtual desktop? You can do just about anything. The app conveniently enables seamless launch and resume of VR game. You can surf the web, watch movies, and even play non-VR games inside Virtual Desktop. The app also supports playback of 360° immersive videos.
You can run Virtual Desktop on Window 6 and 7, but Window 8 and 10 is recommended. You will need the latest Oculus 0.5x Runtime.
Best Windows Vr Apps
Once the app is installed, you can launch it and an icon will appear in the system tray. When you put on the Oculus Rift, you can see that the monitor is replicated and rendered at 75 frames-per-second. If you have a DK2 then you can look around the virtual reality desktop via the built-in positional tracking.
“I love the VR desktop app! That’s a huge useful feature that should be part of the experience.”
Vr Desktop Oculus 2 Free
-Chris A Taylor, Oculus
The best thing about this app is that it is free with the Oculus DK1 and DK2. You can download the Virtual Desktop on http://www.vrdesktop.net. But we really feel users should help out with the development effort by donating to Guy Godin.
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