Peedee

Ok, just to add to my other post. I think what I know what is going on here... maybe. You have had the Reverb G2 used on this same computer? Then you probably have the G2 sticky resolution bug when using the Crystal! What that bug means is that the max resolution you get on your Crystal is the same as what is for the G2. And that is EVEN if you set your value for resolution higher in Pimax Play own app! And that value for max resolution is way too low if you want your edge to edge clarity on your Crystal. To adjust for distortion you have to run the Crystal at higher resolution than the native of its panel. But it won´t happen because of that bug. I had this bug when I first got my Crystal, and I remember now that some of my opinions the first day I had it (before I learned about this bug) was somewhat similar to yours - except for the colors that are way better on the Crystal. The Bug is hidden inside a line in a VR settings file for SteamVR. And you have to delete that line or make the resolution value in that line way higher what is written there to get the correct adjustments for distortions and get better overall clarity also towards the edges. Here is something I wrote in another forum: I think you also can just delete that line. Try it, and your distortions and visual beyond the center should improve.

I really hope that no one who is considering the Pimax Crystal and has the hardware to run it decently takes the above post too seriously. The problem with threads/postings like this is that the thread starter, we all, me included - I have to admit, can say "well- this is MY PERSONAL impression.." and then no one can really criticise what is written. Because it is ones personal opinion. So, what can I say to this? Nothing really. Inside me - my heads goes "kaboom" and tries desperatly to understand something as silly as this. The overall visuals on the Crystal is miles beyond the Quest 3. Crystal pretty blurrry towards the the edge of the field of view? Well, that has to be the very, very edge of the view that it blurs out a bit. But come on, my eye muscles hurt when trying to look that hard toward the eges - it becomes more natural to move your head just a tiny bit anyway, also in real life. The colors of the Crystal are way more vibrant than the Reverb G2. One of the impressing things about the Crystal are the colors! What are you.... ---- I don´t get it.. I... I don´t know where to start really. Fish-eye look to the visuals on the Crystal? Sure it is not Crystal Meth you got ? Quest 3 is good for the money, except it is the most uncomfortable headset to wear unless you buy the extra headstrap thingie. Then it is ok. I got the Reverb G2, Quest 2, Quest 3, Pico 4, Pimax 8KX and Pimax Crystal here. The Reverb G2 and the Pimax 8KX I don´t use reguraly anymore I have to admit. Also the Quest 2 - I should sell it probably now that I have the Quest 3 and Pico 4. For car games and simulators I use the Pimax Crystal. It´s truly fantastic. For games where I have to move around and stream wireless from PC with Virtual Desktop, I use the Pico 4. It has pan cake lenses like the Quest 3, Field of view is good too, but it is not as heavy, and certainly not as front heavy, as the Quest 3. For stand alone gaming, not connected to the PC in any way, I use the Quest 3. Each of these headsets have their strenghts and weakness. But one thing is for sure, the Quest 3 is certainly NOT the king of PCVR! And much of what you say about the Crystal is just... well, I am repeating myself I know... but I can not understand it... I can understand criticising the weight or comfort - though for me it sits perfectly on my head and don´t feel heavy for my use (car games and simulators). And the use of battery for PCVR with the Crystal - that is one thing I understand people don´t like. This here--- you got to have a faulty headset, faulty eyes or faulty something Does it fit so poorly pn your head that it impacts the visuals?? Not sure what is going on... The edge to edge clarity of the G2 is pretty bad - I think because of the fresnell lenses, on the Crystal it is actually pretty good because of its lenses. Not perfect. But good. But comparing the the Crystal with the G2 when it comes to this feature... nah brother... they are not close. Well, then, it is your personal initial reaction so--- maybe I shouldn´t post my opinion about your opinion because that is a bit silly too, I know. Sorry I am silly person so I am posting it.. Hope it works out for you, get it sorted somehow, get a replacement headset (sounds faulty) or... sell it, and keep your Quest 3, and be happy. That is the most important thing. I am in a lucky situation and find use of all my headsets (well, not the G2 and Pimax 8KX anymore) like explained above. Keep flying - what ever headset you prefer

This app/openXR layer thingie to increase the sharpness has been discussed before. I know. But, the increase in sharpness is very good. If installed correctly.But it expires on March 15, so check it out before it´s too late... Hopefully with enough interest they will continue supporting it or extend the time period. For me it is working perfectly. The increase in sharpness, especially in the distance is now something "I can not live without" - which makes me a bit worried because, like I said, the free license for the program/app expires on March 15. And I haven´t seen any information about how to extend it or purchase a license. The Pimax Crystal is very sharp already, but this... wow. Pressing the delete key switch back and forth between having it active or inactive and the difference is big. I booted up DCS for the first time today for some weeks and had forgotten about the difference this app makes. I have nothing to do with the company making this app. But I highly recommend testing it out. It´s free until March 15 at least. No idea what happens after that. See more info here: https://almalence.com/topic/digital-lens/ and https://almalence.com/almalence-digital-lens-openxr-layer-setup-for-pimax-crystal/ There are instructions there on how to use it with SteamVR/OpenXR. Don´t follow those, find the PimaxXR/OpenXR instructions on the same page instead.

Good that you got rid of SteamVR But nope, text is supposed to be sharp with Quadviews, just like everything else you are looking at - if everything is done correctly. And I mean everything! The instructions for Quadviews are very detailed and every step has to be done exactly as instructed to make it work correctly. And some guys miss one step, or add something or misunderstand something- and voila it’s not working like it should. I know because I was struggling a bit myself. And PawlaczGMD too over my post here too probably has missed or forgotten a step since he has some artifacts. He says: This is not normal. Not sure why he has this problem. But it sounds like he has forgotten to turn off a setting or two inside DCS own graphics settings. Don’t remember exactly which graphic settings that are not compatible with Quadviews, but it’s noted inside the Quadviews instructions somewhere. It’s a common error And easy to miss, and it causes artifacts. Ok, now you’re rid of SteamVr. Next step is to do Quadviews correctly. It can be a pain at first, but once it’s done it will be worthwhile. And when tweaked correctly- set and forget I am amazed what I can experience inside my Crystal headset - and how easy it is after I had it all done correctly. No reason for me here to repeat the Quadviews instructions- you find them over at the homepage for the app. But follow them exactly, do every step in the right sequence, and it will work. I thought I had done that, but I was wrong of course, got disappointed by the experience. Tried again- reading more carefully and it worked - without artifacts too. Tweaking Quadviews… that’s another thing. Different opinions. I suggest going for the default/recommended first, and experiment from there.

Sorry to hear your issues with it. Hope I dont makes things feeling worse for you when I say it is very easy for me to get it working - and without SteamVR. There must be something that you have missed in the instructions on how to do this. But hard to tell what it is from what you are writing. You are correct - there is now no need for Open composite amymore. It's been quite a while since that was needed. This is what I do to play in VR with the crystal. (0). Pimax Play starts during Windows 11 start up. And I have it configured as I like from before, so I don't have to do anything there. I have i set at 72hz btw, enabled eye tracking (but not foveated rendering as that is done by Quadview). Anyway don't let this confuse you, once you have it set up like you want, it is launched when windows starts and forget..unless I want to recalibrate eye tracking which sometimes I do. 1. I press the button on my VR headset to turn it on 2. I click my DCS shortcut on my Desktop. And DCS starts. In VR. With no SteamVR running. My shortcut is like this: "C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin-mt\DCS.exe" So you see, I am using the Beta version. And I don't need to write anything special in the shortcut. This is because inside DCS options menu I have the setting "Use VR" ticked. That is all there is to do for me after I have booted up my PC. You mention OpenXR and PimaxXR. And yes, before launching DCS you have to start the program PimaxXR and make sure that in the top where it says "Select active OpenXR runtime" - make sure PimaxXR is ticked and NOT SteamVR. IF you for some reason has this value changed to SteamVR (maybe some other game suggest it or reccomend it, or ... somehow it happens), then you have to open PimaxXR program and make sure that it is correctly ticked in use PimaxXR again before launching DCS the next time. You really don't need OpenXR Toolkit installed or other stuff installed at all to make it work. You get your OpenXR support either through PimaxXR - when the tickbox is set correctly in the PimaxXR program - or SteamVR - which is what is happening for you now for some reason. OpenXR toolkit is just to tweak stuff further. I use in addition to Pimax Play (needed) and PimaxXR (needed and set correctly) a program called QuadViews (not needed) which enhances the performance, great fps without seeing loss of quality. And that is a story by itself. But once dialed in, it is there and you can forget it. But try to get DCS with Pimax VR headset to work before doing any other steps. Like I said, once set, boot PC, turn on headset, double click DCS icon. But make sure PimaxXR program has set itself to use PimaxXR.

What?? Don´t like the way it looks? It´s so beautiful! Well so far I like everything about the Viper, not just the speed and acccleration. But then again, F16 sims is something I´ve been playing since the really first ones came out in the 80´s. Falcon (all of them), Digital Integrations F16 sim... I even tried the real one the Norwegian Airforce used in the beginning of the 2000´s (just once for one hour though - still an incredible experience back then). So, it´s some "welcome home" feeling and nostalgia in there I gotta admit.

That is certainly an interesting take, both from you and the real world F-18 pilot.

You´re absolutely right. Could be that the reason I like the A-10c so much is that it is limited to the ground attack role. And that kept me focused on just that. Carrier landings... yes, I guess I have to come back to the F-18 later

Is it just me that find the F-18 a little bit "boring"? I mean, this is just compared to the A-10C and F-16. It´s a matter of taste, I know. And they are very different airplanes. But, I tried to like it, I even bought the Winwing Take off panel, the UFC/hud control thingies, the 3 mfd panels, all nicely setup on my desk.. Thrustmaster F-18 stick mounted on a Virpil base with 20cm extender... (wow - the precision I get with that is just insane btw!). I have spend most time in the A-10C. But I wanted something faster, something for shooting down other planes too. So I got all the Winwing stuff and... nope.... I don´t mean to come out as a troll - this being the F-18 part of the forum and all. But... nah... argh... wanted to like it. Really did. I have jumped to the F-16 for now. Find it fun to fly, but my 1998 Falcon 4 patch 1.08 flying and fighting skills (which was the last time I really spend many hours in a F-16 sim) doesn´t really cut it Much to learn. Maybe I´ll come back to the F-18 later. Hate to sell all this nice stuff or just let it rest there on my desk. I probably didn´t spend enough time in it. "Patience, my young padawan" isn´t something that I live by. I´m 54 and hasn´t got time for that

That´s sad to hear. I was hoping you would figure it out. A few things to mention - probably nothing to do with your case. But...just in case... As we know the Crystal runs "natively" at a rather high resolution, I think 4300x5100 something - too correct for all distoritions and such. Going somewhat lower than that, you will still get a very good picture. In DCS I run mine at 3800x4497 - set by OpenXR Toolkit Override resolution function. Or is it 4000xsomething?? Don´t remember what I use right now. Anyway... Going way lower and it impacts the picture quality clearly, and I would say more so first towards the edges. It becomes more visible there first for me anyway. I also have a Reverb G2, that I had used on this same computer sometime before I installed my Pimax Software and starting using the Crystal. And - I was not very impressed by the Crystal. Seemed better, somewhat crispier picture...the colors were better anyway, but... not worth the money. This was in the beginning, and the software/games I used was run through SteamVR. And that was were my problems were - but I didn´t know. But - if you have had the G2 on the same system before, and SteamVR is running - the highest/maximum resolution rendered will be decided by a numer in a settings file from SteamVR. And that resolution is just above 3200x3200. Now, that low resoution clearly impacted the experience of the Crystal. Known as the G2 resolution bug... You can set your resolution as high as you want in either Pimax Play or SteamVR settings menu. But - you only get 3200x3200 ish no matter what. Solution - enter that settings file and delete that line or set the value as something way higher than you´ll ever use with the Crystal. You can check if you're being capped by looking at the value of "maxRecommendedResolution" in the C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\config\steamvr.vrsettings file. Anway, this is probably not what happened to you, because most likely you didn´t use SteamVR at all when playing DCS. PimaxXR is the way to go, and that is not affected by that "bug". But I wanted to just mention this in this thread in case some others have that problem - or if they play some games using SteamVR. Project Cars 2 for example...I heard about this bug just by coincidence and was so happy I did. For a afternoon just after I got it I was really concerned there was something wrong with my Crystal. But it was just a number in a settings file. I´m afraid Varjos next headset is not meant for the consumer market, but maybe it will come a down graded consumer version some time later just like with Varjo Aero. Varjo XR4 - since they are hinting the nr 4 in the pictures I´ve seen. We´ll find out later today. But - I am hoping for something exciting from Varjo Enjoy flying in your Quest Pro! Hope Pimax don´t give you any trouble for returning it

This is what I don´t understand Shouldn´t be like this. I don´t have to tilt my head That is a big win for me with the Crystal. Nope, havent´t tried the Quest Pro, but from everything I´ve read the lenses are execellent I want the design and weight of Big Screen Beyond, inside out tracking, the panels of Pimax Crystal, and lens quality of the Quest Pro Aaand the FOV of the 8KX One day....

Sorry to hear that things didn´t work out for you with the Crystal. But to me what you are writing does not at all make ANY sense! No, I´m not saying you are not experiencing the things you write - but I just can´t understand why, what is going on? If anyone asked me about differences between G2 and Crystal - I´d say (among other things of course) that the FOV is noticebly better, the edge to edge clarity is way way better, in the Crystal everything is clear, you DON´T (sorry the shouting, hehe) have to look down with your head to see the instruments clearly - just move your eyes - and that fact together with an execellent vertical field of view makes it perfect for flight sims. Earlier I wrote that it was really at the very outer edges that it lost some clarity, and by that I meant REALLY at VERY (sorry shouting again ) Outer edges. Not meaning, "yeah if you look down at the instrument panels it is not sharp". Because they are sharp. I meant so far down that it is unnatural to look so far down without tilting your head ever slightly also in real life. So all instruments are clear for me, just moving my eyes. A big selling point above all my other headsets.. So, what could be going on... bad headset lenses, Pimax quality control gone wrong (missing)? Or did I get a golden sample?? Hmmm, anyway, sorry to hear you can´t get it to work. I think it is an execellent headset of course. Still got my G2, Quest 2, Pimax 8KX and Pico 4 here. Not sold them yet, but stopped using them. Except for Pico 4 for using stand alone mode which can be fun My biggest complaint about the Crystal is the battery. Just silly with this headset. Well well. After using this since the beginning of September, it seems that the face padding has softened up a bit, so the comfort has improved a bit too. A bit front heavy still, but when I get strap/padding at the back of my head low enough it balances OK. Heard there are 3rd party solutions for it as well.

I wouldn’t judge the quality of the edge to clarity with Quadview running. That being said, it is not as sharp at the extreme edges as it is in the center. But I would still call it very good edge to edge clarity. It is really at the very outer edges that it's not perfect. If Quest Pro is also perfect that far toward the edges, then hats off for Meta using so good lenses. And I would never dream of putting my G2 into this comparison because that falls off just outside the very center

That´s sad to hear. I´m not sure how a firmware update would fix these kind of problems. I mean - if it was a "firmware error" then more of us would have gotten it, right? Hmmm. Seems more like you have been very unlucky.( but at least you share the boat with Karl Goslinger of Youtube He´s the most unlucky VR Youtube influencer ever - Pimax (probably) hand picked and send him two fubar headsets for him to test). More seriously, I think you actually have been very unlucky. Unless there´s something wrong with your Displayport and/or USB connections, either hardware or drivers. But you probably have ruled that out through your conctact with Pimax. It´s a very nice headset. Hope you sort out your problems

Yes, Smart smoothing is probably somewhat bugged still, but it works if you lock frame rate at half speed with PimaxXR. BUT I get stutters in 72hz, like every 10 seconds or so. In between there it is smooth and clear. In 90hz and 120 less stutters, and actually playable. I need either native frame rate smooth or smart smoothing. I can't stand the judder I get when not having that. I know a lot people don’t mind it, but I think it is terrible. People are different EDIT: for Smart smoothing to work, you need to turn off Prefer Framerate Over Latency. I see it is on in PimaxXR in the first post.

The original USB hub coming with the headset I put in a drawer pretty much straight away… didn’t work. So I used another powered USB hub I had from before. And, I’m pretty sure the battery didn’t charge in the headset cause I never saw an indicator light for charging. The headset did work, but the battery drained fast, like in 2 hours or so. Today I bought a new powered USB hub, giving a max 15w out according to specs. Now I can see the yellow indicator light for charging is lit on the headset when I am not using it, so hopefully it is charging, and hopefully won’t drain the battery so fast either while I am flying. The old USB I had that worked but drained battery fast, gave a max of 10w out, what specs for the original Pimax is I don’t know, never used it anyway cause it didn’t work.

Hmm…. I got just a little bit of occasional stuttering with 120hz, locked at 60 and smart smoothing. Not much, but I went back to 72hz native again - meaning no smart smoothing. Haven’t had time to fly for some days, but will try again with 60 and smart smoothing perhaps later today. Maybe do the Hags On / Hags off dance….again… See what is best. Still, I don’t think there’s a way to get rid of the ghosting of nearby airplanes when they are passing you fast.

I wrote my original post to tell people how smart smoothing was working now, after the update. As it was broken before. I probably didn’t make this Crystal clear (aaa… see what I did there,,, muuhahah) in my first post. But anyway, my post was about how smart smoothing was working at different panel updates speeds/hz. Aaaand at 72 hz - smart smoothing stutters. Not everybody has a I9 13900K or better and a RTX 4090 and can run the Crystal at either 72 or 90hz native. Before the 72hz update I ran DCS in native 90hz mode, no smart smoothing, but stilll 90 fps and smooth… but with lower graphic fidelity. Thanks to Quad views Now with the 72hz update I run DCS in 72hz mode in higher resolution. No smart smoothing of course since I don’t need it. And it looks incredible. Seriously - I didn’t dream about VR looking so good just a year ago We’re lucky

Great review! I almost ordered the Varjo Aero, but ended up with the Pimax Crystal instead. Which I am happy with. When Varjo releases their next consumer headset I will consider them again. From everything I have read the comfort of the Varjo is much better than the Crystal, and probably the overall quality too Hope their next headset improves the vertical FOV a bit But as I understand from those owning it, one gets used to it. Enjoy!

Smart smoothing was broken I think, but after yesterdays update, both Crystal headset firmware and Pimax Play app, it seems to be working. But not perfect. I tried smart smoothing with headset refresh rate at 72, 90 and 120 hz, meaning I only needed 36, 45 or 60 fps respectivly to make it work. Now, to make it work I had to apply Smart Smoothing in Pimax Play app menus (of course! ), and also in PimaxXR app I also had to tick the box for "Lock to half frame rate (compulsive smoothing). Or else the framerate would be all over the place, breaking the function it seemed. Prefer frame rate over latency off in PimaxXR, and Turbo mode turned off with Quadviews companion app. (Or one can edit the settings file for Quadview if one wants). Never tested with any of those two on because I´ve read that smart smoothing doesn´t work with them. All my nvidia driver settings is at default, except for I have turned on "Use maximum power" - or whatever it is called. You know which one I guess. I tried singelplayer, with F16, the Caucasus Map and Marianas Map, selecting Instant Action mission on both - the free "Free Flight" mission.Now here´s what I found: 72hz - worked, but too much stutter. Framerate counter from OpenXR toolkit stayed on 36/37 fps, so it should have been smoother. And it kind of was smooth, but there were a too noticeble amount of stutter. I won´t use Smart smoothing in DCS with Crystal running at 72hz unless some one comes up with an idea to make it work better. 90hz - worked ok. Occasional stutters, but If I couldn´t get 72 native fps on my system (like I can), I could have used this! "Lower end" systems might want to try this! Yes, there were some ghosting if another plane passed near you, but - yeah - It reminded me how my Reverb G2 used to handle this and my Pico 4. 120hz - As above.

I was very against DLAA when 2.9 came out. But I think there were som bugs somewhere, also with Quadviews or something, because back then everything became a blurry mess. But not now. Before I was so used to no antialiasing - which gave me lots of shimmer of course. But today I tried without DLAA and I couldn´t stand the shimmer. So, hard to give up DLAA now. I have now decided to keep DLAA. With the extra sharpening suggested by threadstarter j9murphy (found in his settings in the first post), I think it is clear enough. I pushed Peripheral Quads from 5 to 10%, and now it is hard to see that theres degrading outside of my focus. I really have to "look" for it, and even then it´s hard to see. 5% became too low, even with DLAA. So, 72hz - well staying with that one! For now at least. I used to run the Pimax Crystal resolution at 3800x4497 (I use OpenXR Toolkit to change to that resolution from the resolution Pimax Play set for me) - The Balanced resolution in Pimax Play was too low, and the one higher than that in Pimax menus became too high. So used OpenXR toolkit to set something in between. And I set in focus area to 100% in Quadviews companion app. But now with the 72hz mode, I have increased the Quadviews in focus setting to 110% - which equals a resolution of 4180x4946 I think when calculated from the set resolution at 3800x4497. Anyway - even more sharp center area

I tried the 72hz mode now. Works great!! I don’t notice any flicker and it’s smooth “enough”

Tried DLAA. Works good against the shimmering Lost some sharpness though. Will do some more testing.

Interesting I tried Peripheral Resolution 5% in Quadview companions app (and the rest of the settings). But, man, that was brutal… way too noticeable what was going on outside where my eyes were focused. Increased it to 15, and it became tolerable. I don’t use DLAA though.

The 72hz function is not out yet for us “normal people» on the Crystal. But before I got the Crystal I used 72hz on my Pico 4 in DCS. Worked great. Very fluid and I could keep good graphics settings