Upgradeability

[MA_Goblin]

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out if Oculus has built the CV1 to be upgradeable to accommodate new screens and electronics when available or if it's a "throw away" when CV2 is released.

 

It's a bit to pricey in my mind not to be upgradeable but Oculus support didn't answer my question :)

[NeilWillis]

Were any of the other peripherals you have bought over the years upgradable to the same spec as a successor?

 

I would be very very surprised if there is any possibility of it EVER happening - but maybe I am just a pessimist. I just think the possibility of selling more units, will always make business sense rather than selling cheaper updating kits. Software is a different matter, and who is to say that CV2 will be along any time soon anyway?

 

It could be argued that with today's anti-waste ethic, recycling and upgrading means it would make much more sense, but of course the makers can simply argue that if the CV1 still works, it shouldn't be considered scrap just because a newer model is available.

[VR-Hunter]

Check Oculus Rift CV1 teardown. https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Oculus+Rift+CV1+Teardown/60612

 

As you can see it is pretty impossible to upgrade.

[trigen]

Razer OSVR is upgradable for now and who knows, it might stay that way for the consumer version. Would keep an eye on it

[MA_Goblin]

Was afraid of that :)

I will wait for CV2 then. No hurry, the drawbacks will perhaps be ironed out by the next generation. Perhaps StarVR is also a player by then.

[cichlidfan]

StarVR won't be a player until a whole new generation of PC hardware comes around.

[Vivoune]

The costliest and most in need of upgrade part of any HMDs are the screens, that's what anyone will want to upgrade once some higher rez screens are available, they'll cost quite a bit of money.

 

I think that selling a CV1 (OR or a Vive) on the second hand market and buying a CV2 once available will cost you about as much money as buying a CV1 now and upgrading it with better screens later.

[wormeaten]

StarVR won't be a player until a whole new generation of PC hardware comes around.

 

It is more software issue than hardware. There is already DX12 which offer some technical advanced options like GPU per eye in VR so SLI/CF will kick ass in DX12 so 2x R9 390 will do better VR performances than new single GTX 1080.

 

I believe ED will switch to DX12 in next two years (similar like DX9 to DX11) anyway.

 

Also there is some other technologies on development right now like that less rendering on peripheral and eye tracking which will made possible to high rendering only on focus point even if change view only by your eye move not only with your head moving like it is right now.

 

4K screen are already here and in year or two will be more standard on mobile phones what will make it more affordable for VR use as well. Even if you run 1080p resolution on 4K screen because of more than 800PPI picture details and sharpens will be better than it is now and SDE will be reduced on pure hardware advantages not with films which will blur picture to blur SDE grills (CV1 have 456PPI, Star VR have around 530PPI already and 2560x1440 resolution per eye).

 

All this new stuff will make near future of VR much more promising than it is look right now. Even with already existing hardware and in that two years we could expect some GTX 1180 and R9 590 with new GPU technology.

 

Imagine full limitless immersion with 4K per eye. Mind blowing and it is just around the corner. Only question is how much are game developers ready for it?

Edited May 21, 2016 by wormeaten

[cichlidfan]

I believe ED will switch to DX12 in next two years (similar like DX9 to DX11) anyway.

 

DX11 was out for about six years before ED converted to it. :music_whistling:

[wormeaten]

DX11 was out for about six years before ED converted to it. :music_whistling:

 

Yes true but DX12 is more oriented in better hardware utilization than DX11vs9.

 

In essence DCS is based on old LockOn engine polished and slightly optimized to DX9 and now DX11.

 

How long we got multicore CPU and SLI/CF tehnology for GPU and even today there is no much game which is fully have benefits from it. DX12 is game changer here it will give opportunity to do that by its self. So it will benefit for ED/DCS in that case. They will finaly be able to do somethings much more easier than it was with DX9 to DX11. And in last 6 years ED was more working on DCS World in general then on switching to DX11 what was actually secondary objective.

 

Now when DCS World is established as it was with cooperating studios who works on modules most ED attention will be focused on game engine it self.

They build dissent amount of modules but future of DCS is to get new players to it not creating new modules for players which already got most of it. This could be only achieved with increasing players base in general and for that you need increase technical level of game it self otherwise you will soon be out of market.

 

ED is small studio comparing it with rest of the gaming studios in general and they don't have that much financial resources as major players to invest few hundred thousand dollars in new engine so only way is to adopt new possibilities from DX12 to significantly revive old engine and keep pace in gaming industries. Right now ED have sort of monopoly in serious modern air simulations but already there is crew of people who working on new simulation based on Outerra engine. If ED will not be ready for such competition could be Game Over in DCS.

 

That is why I believe ED will switch on DX12 in next two years. There is too much on stake not to do that.

[MA_Goblin]

I agree with you JAR, still I will wait a while :)