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We’ve listed here a selection of the most commonly asked questions for the Oculus Rift VR headset. Keep checking back because we’re always updating and adding more questions. Make sure you also check out our in-depth guide, full review and the best prices for the headset.
What is the Oculus Rift?
The Oculus Rift is one of the most advanced virtual reality headsets currently available. Owned by Facebook, Oculus successfully crowdfunded millions of dollars to create a device that has set the standard for VR for this generation.
How Does the Oculus Rift Work?
The Oculus Rift is a headset that covers the user’s eyes and displays digital content delivered through a wired connection to a PC or laptop. Two screens, one for each eye, display images that two lenses focus on, creating a stereoscopic 3D image. Sensors on the headset track the user’s head movements and controllers are used to track hand movements. These actions are then translated to the virtual world the wearer can see.
What is the Oculus Rift Compatible With?
Only PC owners can currently use the Oculus Rift headset. It requires Windows 7 or greater, as well as a powerful graphics card. It is not compatible with Xbox One, PS4, or Nintendo Switch. Currently, users cannot use the Rift with Apple Mac devices, but support for this is said to be upcoming.
What Games Does Oculus Rift Have?
There are many games that take advantage of the Oculus Rift’s hardware and touch controller. These are available on the Oculus Store. Some games are free, while others are paid. Some of the best free games include Dead and Buried and Robo Recall. Top premium games include Superhot VR and Beat Saber.
What Is Oculus Rift Sensor?
The Oculus Rift comes with two sensors in the box. These track the headset and controller movements when the device is being used. An additional sensor can be added (sold separately) which gives full room-scale tracking, meaning the user can walk around a virtual space.
What Is Oculus Rift Runtime (Battery Life)?
It takes around three hours to charge the battery on the Oculus Rift. That will give you about two hours’ worth of gaming time, or 2.5 hours of watching video.
What Is Oculus Rift Extended Mode?
The Extended Mode on the Rift means that your PC or laptop treats the device as an additional monitor. This setting was the default at launch but has since been changed. It can still be activated, however, and means that your computer’s display is mirrored or extended on the Rift.
What Is Oculus Rift Room Scale?
Room-scale tracking means that your movements are captured in 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF). This method of sensing allows head, hand and directional movements to be translated into the digital space. It requires an additional Oculus Sensor in order to work.
Will Oculus Rift Work On My PC?
The requirements for the Oculus Rift to work are quite high, meaning you’ll need a powerful PC in order to run it. You will need an NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD R9 290 graphics card (equivalent or greater), an Intel i5-4590 or equivalent CPU, 8GB or more of RAM, an HDMI 1.3 video output, and three USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port. Your computer must also run Windows 7 or higher. Many users report that the Rift will work with a GTX 960 graphics card, provided the rest of the PC specs are high enough.
Will Oculus Rift Work With Steam Games?
Steam’s VR platform is officially supported by the HTC Vive. However, most VR games available on the service will now work with the Oculus Rift too. It should be noted there have been some reports of compatibility issues with the device.
Will Oculus Rift Work With USB 2.0?
Despite the requirements stating that USB 3.0 connections are required, results have shown that USB 2.0 ports will work just as well with the headset and controllers.
Will Oculus Rift Work on a Laptop?
Yes, provided the specs of the laptop are high enough, it’s possible to connect the Oculus Rift. However, you will need a powerful graphics card. Although a desktop requires a GTX 970, the mobile GTX 970M will not be powerful enough. Instead, consider an NVIDIA 10 series card instead.
When Will the Oculus Rift 2 Launch?
There are no firm details on the next consumer version of the Oculus Rift. A prototype of the Oculus Rift 2, known as the ‘Half Dome,’ is currently in development.
Can Oculus Rift Be Used As a Monitor?
Thanks to the Rift Core 2.0 update, the Oculus Rift can create a virtual desktop that you can explore and adjust to your heart’s content. This effectively means that you can use the Oculus Rift as a monitor.
Can Oculus Rift Be Used With Glasses?
The short answer is yes, you can use your glasses with the Oculus Rift. However, it does depend a little bit on the size of said glasses. The space between the Oculus’ lenses and your eyes is fixed, meaning that larger frames may not fit.
Can Oculus Rift Play HTC Vive Games?
For the most part, yes you can play HTC Vive games on the Oculus Rift. Steam VR will often advise whether a product is a Vive exclusive, but even in these instances, users have reported some overlap. A range of popular titles are available on both devices.
Can Oculus Rift Play 3D Movies?
Yes, there are a variety of 3D movies available to watch on the Oculus Rift. The Oculus Video app allows users to purchase 3D movies from studios Lionsgate and Fox.
Can Oculus Rift Be Used With MacBook Pro?
Currently, it is not possible to use the Oculus Rift with Apple MacBook devices. Both companies have promised support for this, but at the time of writing, this has not been released.
Why Buy Oculus Rift?
If you’re looking to try out high-end virtual reality, the Oculus Rift is one of the best and most affordable options. The hardware is excellent, as we pointed out in our review, and many of the games are fun and immersive.
Is Oculus Rift Wireless?
No, presently the device must be directly connected to a PC or laptop using HDMI and USB cables. However, wireless transmitters and devices are in the works, including the Oculus Santa Cruz headset.
Is Oculus Rift 3D?
Yes, it’s possible to both explore 3D worlds and watch 3D movies using the Oculus Rift headset.
Is Oculus Rift 4k?
No, the headset features two panels of 1,080 x 1,200-pixel resolution, one for each eye. This is a combined resolution of 2,160 x 1,200 pixels. 4K requires 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.
How to Connect Oculus Rift to PC
Oculus recommends that you first update your graphics card drivers. Next, remove the protective film from the lenses and sensors and plug your HDMI cable from the headset to the graphics card port. Then, connect the USB 3.0 ports from your headset and sensors into your PC. You will then need to calibrate your sensors.
How to Clean Oculus Rift Lenses
On the Oculus website, they recommend using a dry optical lens micro-fibre cloth to clean the lenses. Do not use liquid or chemical cleaners, and make gentle circular motions to wipe the lenses.
How to Clean Oculus Rift
Use a dry cloth to clean the casing of the headset, and use an anti-bacterial wipe for the straps and face guard.
How to Buy Oculus Rift Games
Games for the device can be purchased via the Oculus Store, as well as the Steam VR platform. Some are free to download, while others will require payment. Games are stored on your PC or laptop and can be launched through the app.
