Pico 4, best bang for the buck. Or at least a very good price/performance ratio

[jonfog]

Hi!

I just thought I should share my experience on my new Pico.

So I owned the HP Reverb G1, and G2. Tried the Varjo Aero and owns a now dead Pimax 8KX. After a year my Pimax suddenly died. Assuming that there would be a long wait before it would be fixed, I started looking at other headsets.

And happened to notice the Pico 4. It's "cheap" and has no fresnel lenses. The FOV is on par with the HP's and Varjo (missing the FOV of a Pimax).
The clarity is obviously not as good as the Varjo, but better than a Pimax and generally better than the HP (which has a very small sweet spot).

What is suspicious is that it only has a USB C connector, no DP interface to your graphics card.
What you need is the "Virtual Desktop App" and a USB-C to ethernet adapter (preferably powered).

All this works very well. I have a RTX 4080 Graphics Card and a somewhat old Intel 10600 CPU.
Without trying to do any optimization I get around 45 fps in A10C Caucasus Free Flight. 

 

A Pico 4 (128 GB) goes for around 430 €, the desktop app 20€ and a USB-C to ethernet adapter 30-50€.
So all in all around 500€!

Ok Happy Holidays and maybe Santa will bring you something cool...

[5ephir0th]

Well, i have a Quest 2 and bought some days ago the Pico 4 and i think in the next days i will return the Pico one.

First, I have VD on both but on Quest i never use it for DCS because i get MUCH better image quality on Link over USB than AirLink or VD at the max quality but on Pico USB streaming it’s a mess, the image quality is no near to Quest USB which can look really well.

It would have been easier if Pico put a DP port on it like the Neo 3 Link but…

[Mr_sukebe]

Yep, a Neo 4 stripped down, DP port and OpenXR support and I’d order one

[Peedee]

12 hours ago, 5ephir0th said:

Well, i have a Quest 2 and bought some days ago the Pico 4 and i think in the next days i will return the Pico one.

First, I have VD on both but on Quest i never use it for DCS because i get MUCH better image quality on Link over USB than AirLink or VD at the max quality but on Pico USB streaming it’s a mess, the image quality is no near to Quest USB which can look really well.

It would have been easier if Pico put a DP port on it like the Neo 3 Link but…

Dont use USB link stream with Pico 4. I think most people in the pico4 community know that. USB streaming to Pico4 is flawed/broken, and has been like that since release.
Pico4 works perfectly with virtual desktop, and for me Pico4 looks way better in than Quest 2 even when the Quest2 is using usb link. 

[jonfog]

Yeah I did try the PIco Sreaming Asisstant, but it's like a 1:gen HTC. Now I have an old Ethernet switch where I connect my computer and the USB-C Ethernet adapter that goes to the Pico. It makes it go to a clarity that's almost as good as a HP G2 but with a much larger sweet spot. I have never spent so little time to make a VR headset work!

[5ephir0th]

27 minutes ago, Peedee said:

Dont use USB link stream with Pico 4. I think most people in the pico4 community know that. USB streaming to Pico4 is flawed/broken, and has been like that since release.
Pico4 works perfectly with virtual desktop, and for me Pico4 looks way better in than Quest 2 even when the Quest2 is using usb link. 

Nah, no way, at similars resolutions, even on godlike and 150mbps at VD there’s no near the USB Link at 350mbps, let not talk at 500mbps or 900mbps, compression issues are still very visible on VD.

It’s a shame, Pico 4 is absolutely great against Quest 2, I don’t know how they messed with the most easier way of streaming

[RealDCSpilot]

9 hours ago, 5ephir0th said:

compression issues are still very visible on VD

Can't relate to that on my end. I actually have much better image quality and performance with VD over Wifi than on my already sold Valve Index. The only minor compression issue i see is some color banding in the sky.
Just for info, Pico's Streaming Assistant will also get a big update soon. There is already some info about the next version being in beta.

Edited December 22, 2022 by RealDCSpilot

[5ephir0th]

2 hours ago, RealDCSpilot said:

Can't relate to that on my end. I actually have much better image quality and performance with VD over Wifi than on my already sold Valve Index. The only minor compression issue i see is some color banding in the sky.
Just for info, Pico's Streaming Assistant will also get a big update soon. There is already some info about the next version being in beta.

 

I have already installed the new beta of the assistant (plenty of test on the last days with Pico, I want to have all the info before decide to return it)

Wireless work way better but unafortunaly wired doesn’t work, so waiting for the official release

[propeler]

My Pico arrived. I do not know how image looks like in G1/G2/8kx, but I can compare with Pimax Artisan. It is day and night. DCS + Virtual Desktop + 150MB. On Ultra(even not god mod) text on MFDs in F16 are easily readable. I do not see any compression artifacts.  Definitely need to print new facial interface with slim profile. Original facial interface is weird. FOV with original interface is just not on par. 

But! I've checked how FOV looks like when to remove face mask and put lenses closer to the eyes. WOW! I was impressed. FOV becomes closer to something in between Atisan's small and medium settings. And picture is clear at 90% of all the FOV as for me. I was very impressed. I think with custom facial interface it would be unbeatable option for the money.

[RealDCSpilot]

@propeler Yeah, check this:

 

[propeler]

It is on kickstarter yet)) I plan to print something like this https://www.printables.com/model/316629-pico-4-increased-fov-facial-interface-gasket