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Looking for a VR ready PC? In this guide, we’ve listed four different PC builds and pre-built systems for VR gaming with prices starting as low as $500.
With more and more VR games and VR experiences getting released, the number of gamers who are looking to experience virtual reality is rapdily increasing. However, if you are one of the many who wants to get into VR gaming, you’ll first need to ensure that your computer can meet the minimum requirements of the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive or the Valve Index. You’ll find their requirements below:
Oculus Rift Minimum Requirements
| CPU | Intel i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti or AMD RX 470 |
| RAM | 8GB of Memory |
| OS | Windows 10 |
HTC Vive Minimum Requirements
| CPU | Intel i5-4590 or AMD FX-8350 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 480 |
| RAM | 4GB of Memory |
| OS | Windows 7/8/10 |
Valve Index Minimum Requirements
| CPU | Dual Core w/Hyperthreading |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD RX 480 |
| RAM | 8GB of Memory |
| OS | Windows 10, SteamOS, Linux |
In reality, the requirements to run the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, and the Valve Index aren’t too bad. However, they are high enough to where gamers with older systems will need an upgrade before they can start using a VR headset. So, in this guide we’re going to list four different VR ready PC build options (as well as some similarly-performing pre-built options) you have that will handle either the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, or the Valve Index.
Table of Contents
2. FAQ: Preparing for VR Gaming
1. Quick-Look: Four VR Ready PC Builds
3. Affordable $500 VR PC Build
4. Mid-Range $700 VR Ready PC
5. High-End $1,000 PC for VR Gaming
6. Ultra $2,000 VR PC Build
7. More VR PC Build Options
FAQ: Questions to Ask Before You Build A VR PC
If you’re not sure what you need in order to start VR gaming, this FAQ section will answer some of the most common questions related to getting the hardware necessary to support today’s popular VR headsets.
1. Are all gaming PCs VR ready?
Most desktops that are marketed as being “gaming” desktops will meet the minimum requirements of the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift, and the Valve Index.
However, notevery PC that is dubbed a “gaming” PC, will meet the minimum requirements for VR and, therefore, you have to be careful that you don’t choose the wrong gaming PC. We’ve listed all of the requirements of the three most popular VR headsets above. Before you choose a gaming computer, make sure they meet or exceed those requirements.
2. What computer should I buy for VR gaming?
For VR gaming, you need a computer that is powerful enough to meet the minimum requirements of the VR headset you own or will purchase. You can either build your own VR-ready gaming PC—-and, we’ve provided part lists below to help you do so—or shop for a prebuilt desktop or custom gaming PC that will surpass those requirements.
3. How do I know if my PC is VR ready?
You will need to check what hardware is in your computer. Most importantly, you’ll need to know what processor, GPU/graphics card, operating system, and memory capacity your existing system has in it. Once you know your PC specs, you can compare them to the minimum required specs of the VR headset you want to get. If your system exceeds that headset’s minimum requirements, then your PC should be VR ready.
If you want help figuring out what hardware is in your computer, check out our guide How to Check Your PC Specs.
4. Can gaming laptops run VR?
Yes, if your gaming laptop is powerful enough to meet the minimum requirements of the VR headset you want to use, then it will be able to run VR games. Right now, laptops that have RTX 3080 GPUs or RTX 3070 GPUs (or higher) in them will work well for VR gaming.
5. How much RAM do I need for VR gaming?
The HTC Vive currently has the lowest minimum RAM requirement of 4GB of memory. If you want to run the Oculus Rift or the Valve Index, you’ll need at least 8GB of RAM. But, even though the HTC Vive calls for a minimum of 4GB of RAM, you’d be much better off going with 8GB of RAM just to be safe—and, even better by choosing 16GB over 8GB.
6. Do you need a PC for VR?
You donot need a PC for VR gaming. There are a handful of VR headset options that do not require a PC in order to run. These all-in-one VR headsets aren’t quite as powerful as the options that utilize a computer, but they are more convenient. The HTC Vive Focus, the Oculus Quest, and the Oculus Go are all solid all-in-one VR headsets.
For console gamers, the only option is Sony’s PlayStation VR headset. Unfortunately, if you have an Xbox, there isn’t a headset option for VR gaming.
Quick-Look: Four PC Builds for VR Gaming
Below is a quick look table that highlights the main specs of the three VR ready PC builds and pre-builts that we’ve outlined in this post. The links will take you to the overview of the build/system and what it is capable of, to where you can purchase the parts on Amazon, or to where you can find a similarly-performing pre-built computer. We do recommend that you build your own system so that you can maximize your budget, but if you don’t feel up for building your own computer, the pre-built systems we have linked to will perform similarly (but will cost more).
| NAME | SPECS | |||
BUDGET |  | $500 Gaming PC |
| |
MID-RANGE |  | $700 Gaming PC |
| |
HIGH-END |  | $1,000 Gaming PC |
| |
ULTRA |  | $2,000 Gaming PC |
|
*We try to update this guide on a regular basis, but due to the fact that component prices change on a daily basis, its possible that items will have gone out of stock and/or prices will have risen. So, if you see that the prices aren’t in line with the budget we have set, let us know in the comments section and we will give you an alternative option.
A $500 VR Ready PC Build
If you want to go the least expensive route to getting a new VR-ready gaming PC, this $500 build will do the trick. With an Intel Core i3-10100F processor, an RX 6500 XT graphics card, and 8GB of RAM, this $500 gaming PC will meet the requirements of the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, or the Valve Index.
However, while most of the core components in this build surpass the requirements for both headsets, the 8GB of RAM is the minimum requirement for both headsets, so if you can afford to bump up to the $700 system listed below, that might be the better route to take. If not, though, this build will at least get your feet in the door for VR gaming.
Also Read: Is 8GB RAM Enough for Gaming Right Now?
Along with the RX 6500 XT graphics card, this build also comes with a 500GB SSD, a 500W power supply (80 PLUS Gold rated), and a budget-friendly PC case. And, aside from VR-gaming, this build will also allow you to play any game on an affordable 1080P monitor on at least medium settings with acceptable framerates.
So, if you don’t have a ton to spend, but you want to get a new VR ready gaming PC to pair with the Oculus Rift, then the build below should do the trick.
Part List for $500 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-10100F | |
| MOBO | ASRock H510M | |
| GPU | MSI RX 6500 XT | |
| RAM | Patriot Viper 8GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Versa H17 | |
| PSU | EVGA 550W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $470-$530
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
10100F + RX 6500 XT Benchmark
Mid-Range $700 VR Gaming PC Build
For a couple hundred more than the $500 build listed above, you can land this mid-range $700 gaming PC. This build has an upgraded CPU, CPU and graphics card, and twice the memory.
The GTX 1660 Super GDDR6 GPU and the Intel Core i5-12400F CPU are powerful enough to easily meet the requirements of the Oculus Rift, the Valve Index, and the HTC Vive. And, for standard gaming, the GTX 1660 Super is strong enough to max-out any game you throw at it on a 1080P monitor. It will also pair well with a 144Hz monitor to give you an incredibly smooth in-game experience in standard gaming.
The bottom line is that for just $700 you can land yourself a really solid gaming PC build that will work well for VR-gaming and will serve as a powerful machine for standard gaming, too.
Part List for $700 PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-12400F | |
| MOBO | MSI H610M | |
| GPU | MSI GTX 1660 Super | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | Kingston A400 480GB | |
| CASE | Zalman S2 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $670-$730
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**You’ll need an operating system. Windows costs ~$100. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your desktop asking you to activate it.
12400F + GTX 1660 Super Benchmark
$1,000 PC for VR & High-End Gaming
If you have a larger budget to spend and you want to get a really powerful system that can not only handle VR-gaming, but that will also allow you to play games on a higher resolution monitor, then this $1,000 gaming PC might be a better option for you.
This build comes with an Intel Core i5-12400F processor, an RX 6700 XT graphics card, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a nice-looking mid tower case.
In terms of VR-gaming performance, this system easily exceeds the requirements for the Valve Index, the Rift, and the Vive. For standard gaming, this system will allow you to easily max out games on a 1080P monitor andit will allow you toplay games on a 1440P 144Hz monitor or a 4K monitor. For the best experience, make sure that you pair this sytem with a FreeSync monitor in order to take advantage of AMD’s variable refresh rate technology (helps provide incredibly smooth gameplay.)
At this price range you could also opt for an RTX 3060 laptop instead if you need more mobility. A laptop with an RTX 3060 in it won’t offer nearly as much performance as this PC build, but it should still allow you run VR games on it.
Ultimately, though, if you have about a thousand dollars to spend and you want a PC that will give you a lot more performance and open up the doors to higher resolution gaming, then this system would be your best bet.
Part List for $1,000 PC Build
| | |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-12400F | |
| MOBO | MSI H610M | |
| GPU | XFX RX 6700 XT | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | WD Black 1TB | |
| CASE | BitFenix Nova Mesh | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 650W | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $970-$1,030
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
12400F + RX 6700 XT Benchmark
$2,000 Ultra Gaming & VR PC Build
For those of you that have an unlimited budget and who don’t want to mess around, this $2,000 gaming PC build will not only far surpass the recommended requirements for running an HTC VIVE, a Valve Index, and an Oculus Rift, but it will also serve as a 4K gaming PC.
This build comes with an Intel Core i5-13600KF processor, a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, an RTX 4070 Ti graphics cards card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVME SSD.
Also Read: The Best SSDs for Gaming Right Now
This system also comes with an 850W power supply and a high-end case, too.
We’ve also linked to one of the best pre-built gaming PCs available, so if you don’t want to go through building the system on your own, the pre-built option is viable as well. And, in this price range, you also have the option of going with a high-end gaming laptop as well. Check out our guides on the top RTX 3080 laptops and RTX 3070 laptops for viable VR ready laptops.
But, all-in-all, this $2,000 VR ready PC build will easily handle any virtual reality games and content out there and will serve as a high-end gaming computer for the foreseeable future.
Part List for $2,000 PC Build
 |  | |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-13600KF | |
| AIO | Corsair H150i 360 | |
| MOBO | MSI PRO Z790-P | |
| GPU | PNY RTX 4070 Ti | |
| RAM | TEAMGROUP 16GB | |
| SSD | WD BLACK 1TB | |
| CASE | DeepCool CH560 | |
| PSU | Thermaltake 850W | |
| ODD | Use USB to Install O.S. | |
| OS | Windows |
Grand Total: $1,970-$2,030
*Prices on PC components change on a daily basis. Click here for the most up-to-date pricing.
**The ‘Grand Total’ price includes the parts that make up the computer only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows for free and it will work indefinitely without activating it with no problems—there will just be a watermark at the bottom left of your screen asking you to activate it.
RTX 4070 Ti Benchmark
Have A Different Budget? Check These Guides for More Options
The builds in this guide represent three options you have if you want to build a VR-ready gaming PC. If you have a different budget than is listed above, you might want to check out the two guides below to find a system that will better meet your needs:
- High-End Gaming PC Builds (Over $1,000)
- Budget Gaming PC Builds (Under $1,000)
