Spec-ing Out a New System for DCS: F-16C in VR

[AirBeagle]

Hi Folks,

 

I've been away from the flight sim scene for some time (previously a F4:AF and DCS Black Shark enthusiast), and am looking to get back in with the upcoming DCS F-16 release and VR integration. Since my last foray nearly 10 years ago, however, I became a Mac person, so getting back in will involve purchasing hardware from the ground up -- a Windows machine, VR Headset, HOTAS, the works.

 

If you were starting from scratch, today, do you have system recommendations as far as computer specs, VR system, HOTAS, pedals, etc.? When it comes to price, I typically prefer to spend the extra money to get a system I'm happy with and that will last a bit longer as opposed to wishing I'd made a bigger investment down the road a short ways.

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

[RampantCoyote]

If you are looking for the best currently available *consumer-level* VR headset, your top options are the Pimax 5K+ and the Valve Index. (The HP Reverb has the best resolution, but other problems, but worth considering). The best "bang for the buck" headset is the Oculus Rift-S - good but not great, but around half the cost.

 

For an optimal PC for DCS, with an intent to play multiplayer, you will want a solid-state drive for the DCS install (to minimize load times and 'pauses' when it loads new terrain / object data), probably 32 gigs of RAM, and a fairly modern CPU with an emphasis on clock speed rather than # of cores, because DCS doesn't take great advantage of multiple cores.

 

Video cards... for VR, you really want NVidia (IMO) as a general rule, though that may change in the near future. For the higher-end headsets like the Pimax or Index, you will want at least a 1080Ti, or a newer RTX equivalent (probably a 2070 or better). If you go with the Rift-S, you can probably use something lower-end, but I suggest at least sticking with the GTX 10xx or RTX 20xx series.

 

For HOTAS, in the U.S. the Thrustmaster Warthog is king. In Europe, Virpil is a popular secondary option. Personally, I use the Thrustmaster TWCS and a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, which works okay as a budget option. I haven't experimented with much more. For VR, though, you definitely want a decent HOTAS setup. You can peek out under the headset for keyboard commands in a pinch, and a lot of the stuff you'll just click directly on, but when you are in the middle of a fight or landing, you want everything at your fingertips.

 

Anyway, GOOD LUCK! DCS in VR is *amazing*. I can't wait for that awesome bubble canopy visibility in the F-16!

[Smoked]

I just built my "dream" machine after my last one got fried in an electrical storm...

 

For me..

I-9 9900

ASUS MOB ROG Maximus XI formula

m.2 500 GB for my systems drive

M.2 1gb Gaming drive

EVGA RTX 2080 Ti FTW3

64 GB RAM

Water cooled on the CPU

 

FSSB R3 stick

cougar throttle

TM TPR pedals

 

HP reverb

Arctis 7 headset

 

I can send you my build sheet on it if you want... Just shoot me a PM...

[David OC]

Hi AirBeagle,

 

Welcome to the forum...

 

This is best posted and may get moved to the PC Hardware and Related Software section.

 

When it comes to getting a good experience in VR, you are going to have to spend some dollars on the best system you can afford.

 

What Smoked posted is basically the best you can get at the moment.

 

I'm still running the latest last gen with the 1080ti. About 30% less than the 2080ti, tho I'm only running the Rift CV1. VR is almost there..... I'm holding out on my next build until VR 2.0. The headsets now are sort of version 1.5, almost there in screen res.... HP reverb, 2,160 x 2,160 pixels per eye. Yes, rendered twice, that's why it takes a beast to run these at a decent fps. If you drop fps it doesn't feel the best.

 

I still use my monitor 80% of the time when playing online at 1440P and can hold (locked) 60 fps, with max settings on the largest most dynamic server online.

 

Also spent the money on getting myself a VKB gunfighter pro. VKB and Virpil are possibly the best all round consumer sticks in the market today. Not sure if there the best "right" one for the F-16. It will do me tho. The best / correct would be the FSSB R3 Smoked posted.

Edited August 21, 2019 by David OC

[AirBeagle]

Thank You

 

Thank you very much for the fantastic responses. Apologies, I somehow didn't see the PC Hardware forum previously (though I thought I looked specifically for it a few times). Make it a great day!

[JamesRothwell]

Welcome, I'm quite a casual DCS'er and not using VR but my comments would be, 32Gb of RAM is a must, I was until a few months ago using 16Gb and regulalry sitting with my RAM at max capacity, since I upgraded to 32Gb I am running about 18-22Gb usage depending on map and other specifics.

 

I went for the X56 Hotas because it was cheaper and I didn't need separate rudder pedals like on the Warthog, despite being a casual player I really regret this and wish I went with the Warthog.

 

1080Ti just about maintains 60fps at 4K, occasionally get some micro stutters though, waiting for whatever supersedes the 2080Ti to upgrade and a hopefully higher refresh rate 4k monitor too.

 

DCS doesn't scale across many cores too well so you'll need a CPU with a very fast single core performance, typically Intel is superior in this however the latest gen from AMD is very, very and would be better for you to have the extra cores if you want to stream also.

[csdigitaldesign]

Hi Folks,

 

I've been away from the flight sim scene for some time (previously a F4:AF and DCS Black Shark enthusiast), and am looking to get back in with the upcoming DCS F-16 release and VR integration. Since my last foray nearly 10 years ago, however, I became a Mac person, so getting back in will involve purchasing hardware from the ground up -- a Windows machine, VR Headset, HOTAS, the works.

 

If you were starting from scratch, today, do you have system recommendations as far as computer specs, VR system, HOTAS, pedals, etc.? When it comes to price, I typically prefer to spend the extra money to get a system I'm happy with and that will last a bit longer as opposed to wishing I'd made a bigger investment down the road a short ways.

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

 

LOL .. VR in DCS? right now? it's a joke. Patch on the 14th killed it. Instead of 45+ FPS on multiplayer now I"m getting 15fps. Yeah, I prefer my lunch in my stomach. I'm sure they will eventually fix it but who knows when.

 

My Specs: Rift CV1, RTX 2080, 32GB DDR4 RAM, i7 6700k Overclocked to 4.4Ghz, NVME SSD. Windows 10.

[Deano87]

LOL .. VR in DCS? right now? it's a joke. Patch on the 14th killed it. Instead of 45+ FPS on multiplayer now I"m getting 15fps. Yeah, I prefer my lunch in my stomach. I'm sure they will eventually fix it but who knows when.

 

My Specs: Rift CV1, RTX 2080, 32GB DDR4 RAM, i7 6700k Overclocked to 4.4Ghz, NVME SSD. Windows 10.

 

I'm not seeing this issue. :huh:

[Smoked]

LOL .. VR in DCS? right now? it's a joke. Patch on the 14th killed it. Instead of 45+ FPS on multiplayer now I"m getting 15fps. Yeah, I prefer my lunch in my stomach. I'm sure they will eventually fix it but who knows when.

 

My Specs: Rift CV1, RTX 2080, 32GB DDR4 RAM, i7 6700k Overclocked to 4.4Ghz, NVME SSD. Windows 10.

 

 

Mine is running good...

[javelina1]

LOL .. VR in DCS? right now? it's a joke. Patch on the 14th killed it. Instead of 45+ FPS on multiplayer now I"m getting 15fps. Yeah, I prefer my lunch in my stomach. I'm sure they will eventually fix it but who knows when.

 

My Specs: Rift CV1, RTX 2080, 32GB DDR4 RAM, i7 6700k Overclocked to 4.4Ghz, NVME SSD. Windows 10.

Mine is running great too... Flew a couple missions in the Turkey last night, running just fine.

[Burt]

So if DCS doesn’t take advantage of multi cores would the intel turbo boost technology be a good choice? Thx for the post it has great information.

[hansangb]

Hi Folks,

 

I've been away from the flight sim scene for some time (previously a F4:AF and DCS Black Shark enthusiast), and am looking to get back in with the upcoming DCS F-16 release and VR integration. Since my last foray nearly 10 years ago, however, I became a Mac person, so getting back in will involve purchasing hardware from the ground up -- a Windows machine, VR Headset, HOTAS, the works.

 

If you were starting from scratch, today, do you have system recommendations as far as computer specs, VR system, HOTAS, pedals, etc.? When it comes to price, I typically prefer to spend the extra money to get a system I'm happy with and that will last a bit longer as opposed to wishing I'd made a bigger investment down the road a short ways.

 

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

 

Check out the INPUT-OUTPUT VR subthread. There is a HP Reverb thread and I just posted my FA18 Instant Action with FPS/performance etc. My hardware is included.

 

But 2080Ti, fastest CPU you can afford, overclock to 5GH, 32GB of 3200MHz or faster RAM. SSD of 1GB, a beefy highly rated power supply.

 

And HP Reverb is currently the best VR in my opinion. Clarity is amazing. XTAL is supposed to be better, but it's about $5,000 to $6,000 so I'm thinking that's out of reach.

 

Do check out the VR subthread.

[Harlikwin]

I'm not seeing this issue. :huh:

 

I'm intermittently seeing it.

[Harlikwin]

So if DCS doesn’t take advantage of multi cores would the intel turbo boost technology be a good choice? Thx for the post it has great information.

 

Yup fastest proc you can get. Use GHZ and single core passmark scores to choose.