Upgraded from OG Pimax Crystal to Super 50PPD Standard

[oCMANo]

Was a preorder from October 2024, received my Super in July 2025.  Got the included DMAS and Top Head strap included.

Coming from an OG Crystal and RTX 4090. 

Was able to grab a MSI RTX 5090 Suprim Liquid at a “acceptable” price.

Have had the Super about a month now and gotten it pretty dialed in.  Many thanks again to TallyMouse https://youtu.be/Yt6MJMyte3Y?si=KRG3gW3H_uNdY1rn

Sticking on Pimax play 1.40.4 and not upgrading as 1.41 breaks mbuccia's Quad-Views-Foveated-1.1.3.  Should be fixed next update I think.

Getting very steady 90FPS, except in Marianas WW2, but mostly play on the Multiplayer WW2 4YA Overlord server.

 

The Good:

No more god damned battery!  One thing I hated about the OG Crystal was the battery.  There was no wireless functionality when I bought it, so the battery did nothing other than add weight to the back.  I’d get F1 neck with this headset and had to swap batteries if I did a long DCS session.

Build and materials feel much better than the OG Crystal.  HMD and straps feel more ‘solid’. 

Comfort.  HMD is lighter and you feel it.  From StudioForm Creative I ordered https://www.studioformcreative.com/product-page/pimax-crystal-crystal-light-new-v2-xl-large-face-pad-ultra-cush-17mm-pu-leath and it worked perfectly with my super.  With the top strap installed was able to remove the front to back strap.  I use a Steel Series headset with mic under the HMD (you’ll see why in The Ugly).

Visuals.  Took some tweaking based on Tally Mouse’s video but got it looking VERY sharp.  Compared to the OG, it’s like being near sighted and getting a good pair of glasses.  Distant items look WAY better now and small text is very easy to read.  In the OG it looked good but would be blurry and limited by the number of pixels for small or distant objects.

FOV.  Able to get 120 horizontal and 98 vertical with my super.  In the OG Crystal was getting 105 horizontal and 95 vertical.  There’s a FOV Large(lab) mode, which I tried.  Was able to test it up to 130 horizontal and 98 vertical, but in DCS was getting slight motion sickness and it felt ‘not right’   Did try it with the horizontal IPD -1.5 or -1.0, which helps but still got the uncomfortable feeling after a bit.  Try it yourself, but I am more than happy with 120 horizontal.

Brightness and Colors.  One immediate difference was the colors and brightness.  They are far less washed out than in the OG Crystal.  In fact, some have issues with over saturation, which is why the Tally Mouse’s video recommends 99 on Brightness.  For dark games like Skyrim VR there’s a big difference with the improved local dimming.  Don’t see as many ‘halos’ as I did with the OG Crystal.  Night flying in DCS is also much more immersive.

Eye Tracking.  Just as good or maybe a bit better than the OG Crystal.  Was a requirement for me to upgrade.  You definitely need Dynamic Quad Views for DCS. 

Performance.  Able to keep my 90FPS with my Super on a RTX 5090 and Tally Mouse’s settings. 

Pass Through.  Although not 100% reliable yet, the double tap passthrough view is nice. 

Optical Engine Options.  Don’t have any of the other optical engine cartridges, but having the ability to swap out for microOLED or a Wide FOV cartridge is very nice.  I plan on getting the microOLED when that’s available, even if it’s got lower FOV.

 

The Bad:

Price.  Yes I know it’s top tier HMD, but it’s expensive.  Worth coming from an OG Crystal?  For me getting rid of the battery was worth it, but the mura has me wondering if I should have suffered a bit longer.

Mura.  My OG Crystal had no mura.  One of the first things I noticed in my Super was the mura.  It wasn’t terrible, but when you come from something that didn’t have it, you’ll see it.  After tweaking and using the headset a while, I’ve gotten used to it.  It doesn’t bother me as much as at first, but it’s still there.   I do wonder if I’d waited and just kept using my OG for another year, then got the Super, would I have gotten a headset with mura?  I bet the manufacturing and mura in future headsets improve over time, so unless you’re in a rush, it might be worth considering a wait.

Pimax Play no Shutdown HMD.  Generally, don’t like leaving the headset powered on.  With the Super, there’s no option in Pimax Play to shut it down.  It just goes to sleep when Pimax Play is closed but is still powered.  So, I put the power plug on a strip that has a switch.  Hopefully the shutdown in Pimax Play comes back.

120 Refresh Rate gone.  OG Crystal had it, but not the Super.  This isn’t a big deal for me as I’d stuck with the 90 refresh rate, but if you care about the 120, Super’s only got 90 and 72.

 

The Ugly:

Microphone.  It’s bad.  Really bad.  I would not recommend using it with SRS.  People couldn’t understand me.  I don’t think it’ll improve with software.

DMAS.  Sound is better than the SMAS. That said, the volume to 100 and it still sounded pretty weak.  Read somewhere they might improve it with software, but not holding my breath.  My left speaker was very loose no matter what I tried (wasn’t the only person with this issue in the Pimax Super discord).  Right was nice and tight.  I went back to my Steel Series headset under the HMD for sound and mic.

Top Strap Screws.  You like making miniatures and using tweezers to hold things?  Well, you’ll love the Top Strap install.  You’ll deal with the smallest screws you’ve ever seen.  If you have large hands like me or have older hands with bad eyesight.  Good luck.  I was able to get it installed but it was a constant battle.

Tracking Issues.  This will probably get fixed overtime, or with them releasing a Lighthouse faceplate (hint hint).  Had occasional tracking lag, which is nauseating.  Doesn’t last long except for the time windows was downloading an update while I was in DCS.  Really created a lot of tracking lag during that. 

Settings:

Mostly the same as the Tally Mouse video.

DCS Settings:

Differenced from Tally Mouse

Upscaling: Using Balanced instead of Quality.  Adds a few more FPS, and honestly cannot spot the difference from Quality.

SSAO:  Make sure this is Off.  If you have Quad Views on, you'll see the box floating around your view when this is enabled.

SSLR: On.  Adds light reflections to water and objects.  Much more immersive.

Lens Effects:  Dirt+Flare.  Why?  Looking at the sun and sunlight looks SO much better with this on.  However, when looking around the sun you'll see the QV box a little. But it'll look so much better than with this off.  No noticeable FPS hits.

Gamma:  Bring this down to 1.6 or 1.8.  It really makes the light and dark contrast WAY better.

VR setting Mirror Eye Source:  So I have astigmatism in my left eye, so picking the right eye for this.  If you have astigmatism, set this to the 'good eye'.

 

QuadViews Companion

Focus Size between 20%-25%

Foveate Resolution no greater than 150%.  For extra FPS lower to 125%

Pimax Play Settings (version 1.41.2):

Using 100% brightness.  My headset didn't have color issues like some.

With the new Pimax play version 1.41.2 added a Sharpness Option under Games.  Use IT!!

Keep the QuadViews Companion and DCS In game options Sharpness OFF.

Edited August 25 by oCMANo
Updates for new Pimax Play version

[Dawgboy]

21 minutes ago, oCMANo said:

Was a preorder from October 2024, received my Super in July 2025.  Got the included DMAS and Top Head strap included.

 

Thanks!  Super rundown.  A couple of questions, and appreciate your insight:
- Did you have the 50PPD?  Ultrawide or standard 50PPD?

- What Steel Series headset did you use?  I'm not liking what I'm reading about the Pimax Super sound/mic options.

[oCMANo]

3 minutes ago, Dawgboy said:

Thanks!  Super rundown.  A couple of questions, and appreciate your insight:
- Did you have the 50PPD?  Ultrawide or standard 50PPD?

- What Steel Series headset did you use?  I'm not liking what I'm reading about the Pimax Super sound/mic options.

Good call.  Updated the title for 50PPD Standard.  Don't think anyone outside of Youtubers has gotten the UltraWide versions yet.

For the Head Set I'm using the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.  It's probably one of the best gaming headsets you can get honestly.  It's very pricey though.

[oCMANo]

Updated for the new Pimax Play option on Sharpness.

[Roadhouse]

I just received my Super 50PPd Ultrawide.

 

Honestly I can barely see any more FOV than my OG Crystal. I haven't measured it yet, and I guess its probably only 30 degrees more at best, but I was hoping it would be more noticeable. Clarity is much better, but I guess I was hoping for the old Pimax days of big FOV. 

On 8/6/2025 at 4:07 PM, oCMANo said:

 

 

I do not have this Large(Lab) FOV option in play. Maybe it was taken out of the latest version or maybe it isn't available for the Ultrawide engine? 

Otherwise still getting things tuned but overall I agree with everything oCMANo said. 

I had really gotten used to the smoothness of the OG at 120hz locked at 60. 4090 had no problem with that. I guess I need a 5090 and try to get it as stable as possible at 90 now? Half rate at 90 seems a little low regardless of rate stability. 

Edit: This thing DEFINITELY needs a lighthouse face plate. Unless I'm doing something wrong, the tracking is fine until it isn't. And then its terrible. 

 

Edited Thursday at 09:45 PM by Roadhouse
Tracking comment.

[Peedee]

10 hours ago, Roadhouse said:

I just received my Super 50PPd Ultrawide.

 

Honestly I can barely see any more FOV than my OG Crystal. I haven't measured it yet, and I guess its probably only 30 degrees more at best, but I was hoping it would be more noticeable. Clarity is much better, but I guess I was hoping for the old Pimax days of big FOV. 

I do not have this Large(Lab) FOV option in play. Maybe it was taken out of the latest version or maybe it isn't available for the Ultrawide engine? 

Otherwise still getting things tuned but overall I agree with everything oCMANo said. 

I had really gotten used to the smoothness of the OG at 120hz locked at 60. 4090 had no problem with that. I guess I need a 5090 and try to get it as stable as possible at 90 now? Half rate at 90 seems a little low regardless of rate stability. 

Edit: This thing DEFINITELY needs a lighthouse face plate. Unless I'm doing something wrong, the tracking is fine until it isn't. And then its terrible. 

 

I have RTX 5090 and I run my headset at 72hz in DCS. I'd rather use that than loose details or clarity and getting 90.

[Mordants]

21 minutes ago, Peedee said:

I have RTX 5090 and I run my headset at 72hz in DCS. I'd rather use that than loose details or clarity and getting 90.

I notice you have two systems, which if any do you prefer for DCS? Other than the fact you have a 5090 in one and the other is a 4090.

[Peedee]

15 minutes ago, Mordants said:

I notice you have two systems, which if any do you prefer for DCS? Other than the fact you have a 5090 in one and the other is a 4090.

The 5090 system. It has a better CPU and more RAM too. The 4090 system is not used these days as much, I keep it for now and it will probably end up as Christmas present for my son. But OG Crystal is a good fit for the 4090 system  

[Dawgboy]

3 hours ago, Peedee said:

I have RTX 5090 and I run my headset at 72hz in DCS. I'd rather use that than loose details or clarity and getting 90.

I do the same and focus on what my eyes/mind perceive without chasing numbers.  

[Marshallman]

6 hours ago, Peedee said:

I have RTX 5090 and I run my headset at 72hz in DCS. I'd rather use that than loose details or clarity and getting 90.

I have a 4090 and Im happy at the same 72Hz   Tried to get the 90 but just wasting my time.... Heres hoping the next release improves  it for all, if thats it for Pimax I am so disappointed for the overall cost of this unit.

Interesting that MSFS 2024 has resolved a lot of issues with the latest issue of SU4 Beta!!!

 

[Peedee]

21 hours ago, Marshallman said:

I have a 4090 and Im happy at the same 72Hz   Tried to get the 90 but just wasting my time.... Heres hoping the next release improves  it for all, if thats it for Pimax I am so disappointed for the overall cost of this unit.

Interesting that MSFS 2024 has resolved a lot of issues with the latest issue of SU4 Beta!!!

 

Nice that MSFS 2024 (beta 4) has gotten better in VR. But I find it real puzzling how he (and other youtubers) talk about butter smooth performance when they are getting framerates in the mid 30's - like in this video. That is just ridiculous. As long as you don't hit the refresh rate of the VR headsets refresh rate you get judder. Stable smoother judder now?? Perhaps. But it is still not butter smooth performance. I have flown MSFS 2020 since release, though it didn't get VR support before sometime later. And also MSFS 2024. I have used HP Reverb G2, Quest 2, Quest 3, Pico 4, Pimax 8KX, Pimax Crystal, Pimax Crystal Light, Pimax Super in both simulations. Three different PC setups during that time... And judder judder judder - most notable when looking out the sides or when in a turn. MSFS 2020 was way better than MSF2024. But still judder unless I tuned everything down until I hit 72 fps or 90 - depending on which refresh rate I had set for my headset. 

"You don't need that high of a frame rate in Microsoft flight simulation" I hear many of them (youtubers) say. Well, you do need 72 or 90.  And, I got that in MSFS 2020 with my OG Crystal with correct tuning, then no judder, no stutters. And also in MSFS 2024 Upate 3 (I am not using beta) - and eventually with the Super too - by tuning it correctly and sacrifice some resolution and graphical effects. I wish Pimax would fix Smart Smoothing. That would make it easier - just needing 36 or 45 fps...

Edited Saturday at 01:09 PM by Peedee

[Nedum]

For me, the biggest issue with DCS and VR is the EDGE Engine and the poor Core utilization.

In VR, 99 % of my time in DCS I am CPU limited. The EDGE Engine is unable to switch the workload, even if some of the Cores are idling.

I was switching from a 9800X3D to a 9950X3D 5 days ago. I was testing all the setting with Process Lasso.

At first, the 9950X3D was slower if I was only playing 2D. In VR, the 9950X3D was surprisingly as fast as the 9800X3D. The CPU frame times were lower. It felt smoother.

The reason why was, DCS was using both CCD of the 9950X3D. So I disabled the CCD1 without the 3D-Cache. And at this point, both CPUs are equal fast in 2D, but the 9950X3D was even faster in VR as before.

At the end, I've raised the FPS (or lowered the frame time), with disabling the CCD1 with the 3D-cache by 10% in 2D and 10+ % in VR. But that's not the interesting part. The interesting part is the CPU frame time is now 50% lower! The whole Gameplay is much smoother.

How the DCS World Engine is interacting with the Cores of each CPU is totally different.

On the 9800X3D DCS is using the 3., 5., 14. and 15. (15 is a virtual Core) Core.

On the 9950X3D DCS (@standard) is using the Core 1., 8., (CCD0) and Core 30 and 31 (CCD1, Core 31 is a virtual Core) 

If I am disabling CCD1 (without 3D-Cache), DCS is using Core 2 (virtual core) 14 and 15 (virtual core) the most. Core 1 is used a little bit by DCS.

 @ the end, it's all about the EDGE Engine, which is unable to use the Cores of "modern" CPU in a good way.

It's not PIMAX, it's not us, it's all about the DCS World Engine!

As long as a 5090 is limited 99 % of her time by a 16 core CPU, there is something strange going on with the Game-engine!

I hope we will get Vulcan support soon.

[Peedee]

1 hour ago, Nedum said:

For me, the biggest issue with DCS and VR is the EDGE Engine and the poor Core utilization.

In VR, 99 % of my time in DCS I am CPU limited. The EDGE Engine is unable to switch the workload, even if some of the Cores are idling.

I was switching from a 9800X3D to a 9950X3D 5 days ago. I was testing all the setting with Process Lasso.

At first, the 9950X3D was slower if I was only playing 2D. In VR, the 9950X3D was surprisingly as fast as the 9800X3D. The CPU frame times were lower. It felt smoother.

The reason why was, DCS was using both CCD of the 9950X3D. So I disabled the CCD1 without the 3D-Cache. And at this point, both CPUs are equal fast in 2D, but the 9950X3D was even faster in VR as before.

At the end, I've raised the FPS (or lowered the frame time), with disabling the CCD1 with the 3D-cache by 10% in 2D and 10+ % in VR. But that's not the interesting part. The interesting part is the CPU frame time is now 50% lower! The whole Gameplay is much smoother.

How the DCS World Engine is interacting with the Cores of each CPU is totally different.

On the 9800X3D DCS is using the 3., 5., 14. and 15. (15 is a virtual Core) Core.

On the 9950X3D DCS (@standard) is using the Core 1., 8., (CCD0) and Core 30 and 31 (CCD1, Core 31 is a virtual Core) 

If I am disabling CCD1 (without 3D-Cache), DCS is using Core 2 (virtual core) 14 and 15 (virtual core) the most. Core 1 is used a little bit by DCS.

 @ the end, it's all about the EDGE Engine, which is unable to use the Cores of "modern" CPU in a good way.

It's not PIMAX, it's not us, it's all about the DCS World Engine!

As long as a 5090 is limited 99 % of her time by a 16 core CPU, there is something strange going on with the Game-engine!

I hope we will get Vulcan support soon.

Interesting! I have the 9950X3D - but I am bit slow... so - Should I disable the CCD with the 3D cache? Or should I disable the faster frequency CCD without 3D cache? I don't have process lasso, but I believe I can do this in the bios. 

Would the 9950X3D also be faster in DCS VR if I just make sure DCS is running on the right CCD (by using process Lasso) and let other tasks, like Pimax services and chat programs, run on the other CCD?  Or does one CCD need to be switched off?

[Marshallman]

14 hours ago, Peedee said:

Interesting! I have the 9950X3D - but I am bit slow... so - Should I disable the CCD with the 3D cache? Or should I disable the faster frequency CCD without 3D cache? I don't have process lasso, but I believe I can do this in the bios. 

Would the 9950X3D also be faster in DCS VR if I just make sure DCS is running on the right CCD (by using process Lasso) and let other tasks, like Pimax services and chat programs, run on the other CCD?  Or does one CCD need to be switched off?

Can this be done in Task manager with Core priority??

Regards