The cost of experiencing virtual reality is going to be high, not just because VR headsets cost upwards of $600, but also because the computers needed to power those headsets are monster machines costing around $1,000.
However, many gamers already have machines that are worthy of the task, and now Valve has a tool that tests those machines to see if any upgrade need to be made before preorders start on Feb. 29.
The SteamVR Performance Test, announced today, is a step up from the Oculus Rift Compatibility Tool released earlier this year. Instead of just looking at the components hooked up to your computer and checking them against Oculus’ recommended specs, Valve’s software gets everything up and running to see if your system is “Capable” or “Ready.”
The test lasts two minutes and can tell users if they’re being held back by their graphics card or CPU. While Valve and HTC have kept quiet on the exact specs recommended for running the HTC Vive, the recommended requirements for the test software are pretty similar to Oculus’ needs (however, Valve’s software needs 4GB RAM compared to Oculus’ 8GB recommendation).
