In this fast-paced technological revolution era, VR is one of the most common topics. As they are more affordable now, people think more than ever to jump into VR.
But whether you want to play VR games or make a living out of developing applications for VR, you need a powerful machine, i.e., a PC. So, what is your motive? Do you want to buy one but don’t know if your PC can handle it?
Don’t worry. To find out more, keep reading.
So, can laptops run VR?
In this article, I’ll take you a ride with me. We’ll explore VRs, PC specifications, and a bunch of areas from where all of your questions will be answered.
Let’s hop in, shall we?
Can You Use a VR on a Laptop?
When VR was totally new in the technological field, VR manufacturers were focused on desktop computers. As most gamers play games on the desktop, it was inevitable.
But over the years, laptops have started to be less expensive, and people are more going for laptops. That’s why laptops are becoming a VR option as well.
But knowing this much wouldn’t be enough for you to buy the minimalist laptop to play with VR, and it would help if you considered some things before jumping to get a laptop.
Do you know about cybersickness? What is it, and what does cause cybersickness?
If you do know what it is, move forward, but I recommend you go through the topic if you don’t.
Here’s a complete guide on how to Fix VR Black Screen.
What is cybersickness?
Cybersickness is known as a form of motion sickness that occurs in the absence of physical motion. The symptoms are basically nausea, oculomotor issues, and general disorientation. Cybersickness occurs due to virtual reality, augmented reality, i.e., extended reality environments.
When you put your VR headset on, you move your head by playing a game. There is latency when you move your head, and you may feel sick. So, you have to ensure your laptop is good enough latency-free performance to avoid cybersickness.
So, you can use a VR on a laptop, but the laptop should contain a good graphic card, fantastic cooling, and amazing read and write speed.
How to Know if My Laptop Can Run VR?
Most mobile phone companies provide a recommended hardware configuration for VR gaming from where the VR developers can target the hardware and ensure the consistent FPS is met.
So, checking the configuration out is enough to ensure if your laptop can run which VR or not. There are 3 components that ensure if your laptop can run VR and which ones. The three components that determine if a computer is VR-ready depend on the processor, graphic video card, and random access memory.
Though the recommended specifications provided by each company are relatively similar, there is a developed table in which you will get the minimum requirement of a laptop spec you should follow to play either an Oculus or a Vive.
| Video Card | Nvidia Ge-Force GTX980, 1050 Ti (Oculus Asynchronous), 1060, 1070, or 1080. RTX 2060, 2070, 2080. |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6300HQ processor |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM or greater |
| VRAM | 4GB |
| Video Output | HDMI 1.4 |
| USB Ports | Two USB 3.0 ports |
| Display | 1920×1080 |
| OS | Windows 10 |
If your laptop satisfies the above requirements, you will play with your VR on your laptop.
Check our separate post for Fix PSVR Headset flickering.
Can you use Oculus on a laptop?
Yes, you can use Oculus on a laptop if the video card is minimum Nvidia Ge-Force GTX980, 1050 Ti, 1060, 1070, or 1080, RTX 2060, 2070, 2080, the processor is Intel Core i5-6300HQ, 8 GB RAM or greater, 4GB VRAM, HDMI 1.4 as a video output, two USB 3.0 ports, 1920×1080 display, and Windows 10 OS.
So, you need to do is make sure your laptop meets the minimum requirements of playing with an Oculus. Even if someone asks you, “Can the Vive run on a laptop?” show them the minimum requirement chart, and they can sure enough if their laptop is compatible with running Vive.
How to Check if the PC is VR Ready: Oculus?
You can check the minimum requirement chart I made here and understand if your PC is VR Ready or not with the Oculus.
| Specifications | Oculus Rift S | Oculus Rift CV1 | Oculus Quest | Oculus Quest 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Video Card | NVIDIA GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater | NVIDIA GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater | NVIDIA GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater | NVIDIA GTX 1060, AMD Radeon RX 480 or greater |
| CPU | Intel i5-4590, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater | Intel i5-4590, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater | Intel i5-4590, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater | Intel i5-4590, AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM or greater | 8 GB RAM or greater | More than 8 GB | More than 8 GB |
| Video Output | DisplayPort | Compitable HDMI 1.3 video output. | USB C | USB C |
| USB Ports | 1x USB | 3x USB 3.0 ports plus 1x USB 2.0 port | 1x USB | USB 3.0 |
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
The Best VR-ready Laptops in 2022
As you already know, laptops can run VR. You might be wondering thinking which is the best VR-ready laptop in 2022.
There is a saying, “The more molasses, the more sweetness”. So, when you want to find out the best VR laptops, you will end up finding the hi-spec and expensive laptops.
I have made a list where you can take a quick look and learn the specification of 5 laptops.
1. Alienware m17 R4
Alienware is considered the best VR-ready laptop on the market right now. Let’s take a look at it’s specifications.
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9
RAM: 16GB/32GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
Display: 17.3 inches (1080p/4K)
Check out our separate post on how to Focus VR Headset.
2. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is known for being the longest-lasting VR-ready laptop. Here’s a short glimpse of the specifications.
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 or RTX 2060 Max-Q
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7-4800HS, Ryzen 9-4900HS
RAM: 8GB/16GB
Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD
Display: 14 inches (1080p)
3. Acer Predator Triton 300 SE
People called Acer Predator Triton 300 SE is the best budget VR-ready laptop in the tech market. Here is a short specification about this laptop.
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
CPU: Intel Core i7-11375H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches (1080p/144Hz)
But, before that, do check our latest post on the Watch 3D Movies on Gear VR.
4. Alienware m15 R4
This laptop is considered Alienware’s most thin and powerful 15-inch gaming laptop ever. Here’s a short specification of this laptop:
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9
RAM: 8GB/16GB/32GB
Storage: 256GB/1TB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches (1080p/4K)
5. MSI GS66 Stealth
This is a 2021 laptop that still is considered one of the best ones to buy when you want the best VR-ready laptops. Here is a quick specification you can look at.
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
CPU: Intel Core i7/Core i9
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD
Display: 15.6 inches (1080p)
The major thing you should worry about when picking a VR-ready laptop out is what kind of specifications it has. You should be mindful of the laptop’s display, keyboard, and size, as you won’t play games all the time, and you have to perform other tasks too.
You can check this post, how Watch Anime in VR.
Conclusion
Laptops can run VR, whether it’s an Oculus or Vive, and all you have to do is make sure your laptop satisfies the minimum requirement of playing with VR. But if you want to buy a new laptop to use VR, you should consider many things before buying.
Moreover, if you have additional inquiries, comment below.
