Why would a fixed function hardware scaler be better than a fully reprogrammable one with far more resources? The GPU will do as well as we make it with scaling, and if we just forget about it and run the lens warp pass at full resolution that’s already bound to be better than the headset scaling.
Ya I’m right there with… Why would we want to use hardware upscaling?
That’s simple: To run with one display port. But that’s literally counter to why the 8K-X exists; it’s the no compromise full resolution model. We’re paying for it in delay and additional weight as we’ll need double cables; adding further weight and power to have scalers and muxes that we won’t use makes very little sense. The upgrade that would be worth consideration is if a receiver chip with DSC becomes available.
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Honestly hoping to keep the 8K (even if it involves paying for it) and stash the 8K X unless Pimax gives an option to utilize 2560x1440 upscaled to 3840x2160.
Upscaling can be a performance demanding task. It needs edge and gradient detection, which can get quite complicated really fast. Using a hardware scaler, the GPU performance has not to be used.
Why optionally running the 8K X with a single DP would be advantagous?
-Not having to feel the weight of the extra cable in games that can’t run in 24K (and there are many)
-Better compatibility with the wireless module.I doubt there will be a special wireless module with 2DP, because it is unlikely that it will support native 24K. I think 2*QHD is the maximum achievable at the moment(which is still 3 times more than the TPCast can do).
The weight of some multiplexers and a scaler chip won’t matter. That’s just a 1% in weight gain.
I also think for 200$ extra, just for a second input, we can expect that is better or at least the same in every aspect. Not having a hardware scaler, not being able to use it with a single DP makes it worse than the 8K in these regards.
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I am excited to see the new prototype for the 8K but at the same time I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that we have yet to see any demo (or even a a set date) of them demoing the 8K-X. Some may argue that it could be not made yet, however, on the kickstarter they mention:
"“Based on our tests, no obvious difference in VR gaming experiences between 8K and 8K-X”
Which makes it fair to assume that they do in-fact have a working prototype of the 8K-X. I’d really like to see. Please demo. @PiMAX
They said they tried it with the pimax 4k, so just one panel.
You wouldn’t happen to have a link to that post? I’d be interested in reading / seeing that.
It was I think a post by @PimaxVR just when we learned that the Pimax 8k wouldnt support native resolution, Let me see if I can find it for you …
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Thanks! Will read on my lunch break today.
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Well nothing special. I asked the same question you did, how do they even know there’s not much difference ? His answer was that they have an internal ‘4k plus’ prototype which they used to compare.
Hi Guys, i was told by some other Kickstarter User in the Comments that the 8K X doesn’t even need a Upscaler.
Quote: SteamVR natively scales. So you can tell SteamVR to use a “.25 or .5” scale factor and it will use all the pixels of the 8K X but will only have to output 1080p or 1440p instead of 4k without the need for a hardware upscaler chip. While leaving you the flexibility to use native for big screen or light games which are not hardware intensive.
Can somebody confirm this is really possible and what are the Implications are? Is this also working for every SteamVR Game?
thanks 
LOL. If the Pimax can’t scale up, then why have SteamVR output 1080p or 1440p ? The whole idea is that without a scaler it NEEDS to output 4k.
I’m presuming it does software upscaling for that. It works on the vive. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t work on the X
So, his statement is false? As far as i understand him the GPU will definitly output 2x4k but internally only rendered it with e.g. 1440p and upscaled to 4k.
Does this work on every SteamVR Game? Or does the Game have to support it / have it in its settings?
hmmm … hold on though. Maybe he is onto something …
Then what the hell are we backing the 8K X for “if” this is indeed the case?
This can’t be accurate but Pimax did warn us all, LOL.
Hmm.
I’m not sure how super/under sampling in SteamVR really works. He MIGHT be right actually. If it works like this: factor 3x, means games renders 3x original size, then factor .25 would indeed cause the game to render like 1080p which steam would then sample up to 4k. It actually might work like that, I’m not sure though.
I will look into this later today, bit busy right now.
Either way, the pimax software driver could easily though this, even if SteamVR doesnt. It just needs to zoom the pic before sending it to the HMD, double each horizontal and vertical pixel and done. I doubt this would cause a lot of latency. So a software scaler instead of a hardware one, that’s ALWAYS possible.