Hey guys, im just after some advice before i buy, im aiming towards getting a 5K PLUS VR Headset as its the cheapest and im trying to save as much as I can here based on specifically what I want to do with it.
Im not really into the vr gaming part, i just want the headset to watch movies and 3D vids/docos etc, I have a PC already with windows 10 (i literally updated from windows 7 to 10 after this post lol)
- What bare minimum hardware do i need to buy for this goal? obviously the 5K headset, but do i need the base stations at all if I dont intend to do gaming?
- Id still like to have a controller to browse websites and interact with menus for settings etc, would I need to buy 2 controllers or will 1 be enough? and do the controllers need the base stations to work at all? lol im such a noob
In the past ive used my dads samsung gearvr to stream movies direct from “skybox”, so as long as this rig can do similar (or maybe better with a direct cable to my pc video library) ill be happy 
any and all help much appreciated guys 
jennifer
If all you’re wanting to do is watch movies I’m really not sure that I’d recommend any of the pimax headsets as it’s a lot of kit to buy just for that use case especially if you want a controller. I’d probably get an HP reverb (or preorder the G2) or just stick with your gearvr as the main advantage of PCVR is the 6DOF for games and experiences other than movie watching.
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the gearvr used to work fine but my phone is like 3yrs old now and it overheats after like 1hr tops, and wont stay charged either, i need a tethered power solution that wont overheat or die mid movie lol
I also may end up vr gaming in future so i dont mind paying a little more for this headset, kind of like future proofing for later
Also as far as i can see the g2 needs windows 10 for WMR? im on 7 and dont wish to upgrade
Hmm, yes the requirement to stay on windows 7 certainly limits you. I’m not sure that any of the major PC headsets support windows 7 very well anymore. You might also consider an Oculus Quest… that will play all the same apps as the gearvr plus a lot more and doesn’t overheat at all. You can also tether it to your PC as well as run it standalone.
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So even the other brands dont support w7 much anymore even to just watch movies? odd
Yeah im also considering the quest, oculus rift s, vive etc etc, once i have the answers to my questions above i know what my options are and overall costs 
does the 5k need windows 10?
The 5K would need base stations and at least one controller, but they aren’t sold separately so you’re talking a minimum of $700+ $300+280 = $1280 just for the 5K+ kit and for movies it really isn’t much better than the $400 quest so you can see why I recommend that instead. If you’re spending that much, you may as well get the 8K+ which would be a good bit better than the 5K+ for movies, but still, it’s not worth all that cost unless money is of no object to you.
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yeah i see your point
I guess im just after a mid to high resolution, the less screendoor effect the better, FOV and refresh rate not a big deal as long as its better than the gearvr lol, and works on win7 
does it need the base stations even when not gaming? that seems strange (update: and the staff chat help on pimax’s own site just told me I dont need base stations to watch movies :/, now im really confused lol)
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You might want to consider the Pimax Artisan as well.
At least 1 base station is required for “relative” movement (left/right, up/down, forward/back), otherwise the headset is limited to angular movement (tilting your head in various direction). You don’t need a base station for watching movies, but it will make the experience feel more natural.
The nicest thing (to me) when watching movies on my 8K in VR is that you can make the virtual screen very large, like a 3+m video projection system. For maximum clarity, you’d need an 8KX (which I’m buying, in part, to watch movies).
I’m not sure about the Win7 requirement. Refresh rate is less important for watching movies, but if it’s a cinema movie (originally shot at 24 fps) you should set the headset refresh rate to 72Hz, so that each frame is shown for exactly the same amount of time (24*3 = 72).
You don’t necessarily need a controller. It depends on the VR app. I mostly use “Simple VR Video Player” which does NOT need a VR controller, since I don’t actually own one. (Simple VR player is available on Steam.) As for hardware, watching movies is much less demanding than gaming, so you likely don’t need to upgrade your system or graphics card (unless it is very old).
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thanks for the info
yeah Artisan is also on my radar, and also yeah id want some kind of head tracking just like gearvr, which i think uses the phones own built in gyro or something which I assume the headsets dont have, hence the base stations need.
I guess i would like at least 1 controller to use like a wand to point and choose options etc (maybe geavr’s controller in compatible with 5K? lol not sure)
Nah my pc rig is pretty beefy i have a gtx 970, though it does say to have a 1070 or higher apparently, does that apply to gaming or movie watching?
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I know some people have used a 980Ti, but I’m not sure about a 970. Movie watching is about the least demanding use of VR, so it’s possible it would work OK. My largest concern is what version the DisplayPort is. You need enough bandwidth to support two 1440p screens at a reasonable framerate. If the 970 DisplayPort spec matches the 980Ti spec, you should be OK.
hmmm a quick google seems to reflect that it should be okay, ill look more into it before buying though just to be sure
Ive also been speaking to the pimax help chat box person, they said I dont actually need any base station/controllers to just watch movies, apparently i can just have the headset and use it with mouse and keyboard… but im assuming that means no head tracking? as in the vr movie theater will stay locked to my head movements? which would be nauseating lol
For that use with your hardware our Artisan headset would be an option. You could also get a Samsung Odyssey Plus, it’s very good for movie watching and IMHO for that use much better than a Quest or the relatively expensive G2. I’m not sure about the availability of the O+ but I’m sure there are still some out there.
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Yeah i looked into the odyssey plus, sadly you require windows 10 no exceptions
I saw them last black Friday briefly for just $249.
the Oculus Quest seems to be one of the better options in terms of not needing to worry about base stations/controllers, and it works on windows 7 as far as i can tell
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This is true though it’s a stand-alone headset so a bit of a different animal than an O+ for example. I have a Quest and like it, very neat for social games with friends etc. Spec wise it’s low’ish but it will give you a nice taste of VR and especially social experiences.
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Cool
Can you plug the quest into your pc and play movies that way? or use streaming apps or whatever else lol
And as long as it can be plugged in for constant power while being used then thats great too
Currently im tossing up between:
Pimax 5Kplus. (only use built in headtracking gyro but have no basestations or controllers, only use mouse/keyboard) 2560x1440 per eye. 200 fov, 144hz.
Oculus Quest. sensors built in, 2 controllers. 1440Ă—1600 per eye. 95 Fov i think, 72hz
Roughly work out to be the same price though.
but it seems so many not compatible with windows 7… i may have to bite the bullet and upgrade to 10 grrr, but i then can get the newer stuff like the G2 or HMD etc, anyways cheers guys! really appreciate all the help
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Not quite. There is rotational tracking, but not positional tracking. The VR movie theater screen will be in front, when you are looking straight ahead, but when you turn your head the screen will be to the side (just like real life).
What a base station provides is translational motion, moving front to back, left to right, up and down. It’s like your shoulders are pinned to the seat and you can only turn your head. Without a BS, if you lean forward, the screen moves a little further away.
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If It is for watching movies, I’d suggest the Cinera Edge as well.
It has dual 2.5K micro-OLED and Dolby Digital®
38 pixels per degree, and it is 3Dof
Good for streaming media, 3D and Blu-ray
It is on Kickstarter now
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