The Best VR-Ready PCs for the Meta Quest 3
Last updated October 2023
The Meta Quest 3 is an amazing standalone headset, but in order to unlock its true potential, you’re going to need a VR-Ready PC that’s compatible with the Meta Quest 3 in order to play high end PCVR games.
What are the best computers for the Meta Quest 3? As someone who develops VR games and used to work at a VR park, here are some computers I’ve had good experiences with:
Do I Need a PC for the Meta Quest 3?
The Meta Quest 3 is a standalone headset that doesn’t require a PC to operate, however, in order to play SteamVR games like Half-Life: Alyx and Skyrim VR, you’ll need a powerful computer connected to your headset.
Is PCVR Worth it for the Meta Quest 3?
PCVR is worth it if you can afford a powerful PC that’s capable of running games on high settings and high render resolution. You’ll get access to a greater variety of games, at higher graphical settings which makes the experience more immersive. Some of the best games, such as Phasmophobia, No Man’s Sky and Half-Life: Alyx are only available on PCVR.
How To Connect A Quest 3 To Your Gaming PC
You’d be surprised to know that not a lot of Quest 2 owners are even aware that they can use their Quest 2 for PC VR. I’ve talked to dozens of users in my short time on VRChat about how they can connect their headsets for a better experience.
Here’s how:
- Oculus Link – Using any USB-C cable (or Oculus’ own) with your PC and the Oculus software program works wonders out of the box.
- Oculus Airlink – All you need with this is a stable wifi connection and the Oculus software on your PC, and you can play PCVR wirelessly.
- Virtual Desktop – Similar to Airlink, however, comes at the cost of about $20 and offers many more features.
What Kind of Computer do I Need for the Meta Quest 3?
You need a PC with a USB-C port to connect to your headset, and a powerful graphics card that’s capable of rendering two screens at once (one for each eye) at 72 Hz refresh rate or higher. The graphics card is the most important component to a VR-ready computer. For RAM, it’s extremely recommended you go for at least 16 GB. Whilst a good processor is nice, it isn’t necessary.
According to Meta, the official recommended specs for a Quest 2 on PCVR through Oculus Link are:
| Component | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel i5-4590/AMD Ryzen 5 1500X or greater |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD 400 Series or greater |
| Memory | 8+ GB RAM |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
Is Minimum PC Specs Good Enough?
In SteamVR; there’s a setting called “Render Resolution,” also known as supersampling. Essentially this allows you to change what resolution the game gets rendered at. This can greatly impact a game’s visuals, adding to the immersion while adding a little more stress to your system.
Some PCs are marketed as “VR-Ready” even though you’ll get a poor render resolution for them – I don’t recommend these at all.
What’s a Good Render Resolution for Meta Quest 3 VR?
- 130% render resolution is the “sweet spot” where the graphics start looking good
- 150% render resolution is ideal if your PC can handle it. Past this point is diminishing returns where you won’t see much gains for the amount of processing power required.
- 100% render resolution looks okay, but you’ll experience some artifacts in some games.
- Below 100% starts to look terrible.
Although a computer might pass the minimum specs for VR, I recommend you should aim for a computer than can render most games at 130% or more if you can afford it.
What Graphics Card do I Need for the Meta Quest 3?
Although it’s possible to run games using a weaker graphics card like the GTX 970, in order for the games to look good, you’ll need at least a 20-series graphics card (RTX 2070 and above recommended). This will achieve the sweet spot of 130% render resolution.
Suitable graphics cards for the Meta Quest 3:
- GTX 1080
- RTX 2060, 2070 and 2080
- RTX 3060, 3070, 3080, 3090
- RTX 4060, 4070, 4080, 4090
Avoid AMD graphics cards because AMD’s encoding isn’t very good, so performance can be poor if you’re using your Quest 3 through Quest Link.
In PCVR gaming, you can always tweak the settings to get a higher graphical output, and how high you want to go depends on how much you’re willing to spend. As someone who owns a 3080 graphics card, sometimes I even wished I had a 4090 so I can play Cyberpunk 2077 on higher settings.
However, to save you money, starting with an RTX 2070 is perfectly acceptable.
Best Overall: Skytech Gaming Nebula
The Skytech Gaming Nebula is the best PC for the Meta Quest 3, striking the perfect balance between cost, performance and value.
The Nvidia RTX 4070 is more than capable of rendering complex VR environments. Its architecture is specifically designed to handle real-time ray tracing and AI-driven features, making VR scenes look incredibly lifelike.
With the Intel i5 12400F at its core, the Nebula ensures smooth VR gameplay. This CPU can handle the intensive computational demands of VR, reducing the risk of lag or stutter that could break immersion.
The 16GB DDR4 3200MHZ RAM is optimal for multitasking and ensures that VR applications run smoothly without hitches. For VR, where stable frame rates are critical, this RAM size and speed strike a nice balance.
What you can expect: Cyberpunk 2077 looks amazing on this machine. It’s powerful enough to run any VR game currently out there on high rendering settings.
- Buy from Amazon
- Buy from Skytech Official Site (currently on sale)
Cheapest PC for Quest 3: STGAubron Gaming PC
- This computer is well-suited for a variety of tasks including gaming, study, home, business, photo and video editing, streaming, day trading, crypto trading, and more.
- This high-performance gaming PC is capable of running a wide range of popular games, including Fortnite, Call of Duty Warzone, Escape from Tarkov, GTA V, World of Warcraft, LOL, Valorant, Apex Legends, Roblox, Overwatch, CSGO, Battlefield V, Minecraft, Elden Ring, Rocket League, The Division 2, and Hogwarts Legacy with 60+ FPS
- System: Intel Core i7 up to 3.9GHz 4-Core | 16GB Memory | 512GB Solid State Drive | Genuine Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Connectivity: 2x USB 3.0 | 6x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 | 1x Serial | USB Wi-Fi | USB Bluetooth 5.0 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6G GDDR6 Video Card | HDMI | DisplayPort
- Special Feature: RGB BT Sound Bar | RGB Fan x 6 | RGB Mouse Pad | RGB Gaming Mouse & Keyboard | 1 Year parts & labor | Free lifetime tech support
This is the minimum specs I would personally recommend for a VR-Ready PC.. It’s rocking an RTX 2060, which can tackle most VR games on medium to high settings at 130% render resolution.
The only real downside to this is that the rest of this prebuilt is it might struggle to run future games on a decent render resolution, but for now it should be good.
Best Mid-Range Computer: Skytech Shiva Gaming Desktop
- INTEL Core i7 12700F 2.1GHz (4.9GHz Max Boost) CPU Processor | 1TB NVME SSD – Up to 30x Faster Than Traditional HDD | 240mm AIO
- NVIDIA Geforce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (Brand may vary) | 16GB DDR4 RAM 3200 Gaming Memory with Heat Spreader | Windows 11 Home 64-bit
- 802.11 AC | No Bloatware | Graphic output options include 1 x HDMI, and 1 x Display Port Guaranteed, Additional Ports may vary | USB Ports Including 2.0, 3.0, and 3.2 Gen1 Ports | HD Audio and Mic | Free Gaming Keyboard and Mouse
- 3 x RGB Fans | In Win 101 mATX Mid-Tower Gaming Case with Tempered Glass – White | 1 Year Warranty on Parts and Labor | Lifetime Free Technical Support | Assembled in the USA
- This powerful gaming PC is capable of running all your favorite games such as Call of Duty Warzone, Fornite, Escape from Tarkov, Grand Theft Auto V, Valorant, World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Apex Legends, Roblox, PLAYERUNKNOWN's Battlegrounds, Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Battlefield V, New World, Minecraft, Elden Ring, Rocket League, The Division 2, and more at Ultra settings, detailed 1440p Quad HD resolution, and smooth 60+ FPS gameplay.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, with its 12GB GDDR6 VRAM, is designed to handle the graphical demands of VR. You can run almost any game at 130% render resolution with this GPU.
Meanwhile the Intel Core i7 12700F is more than enough for a VR gaming rig. With a Max Boost of 4.9GHz, this CPU can manage complex VR simulations without breaking a sweat, ensuring a stutter-free VR experience.
What you can expect: Overall, you’ll be able to run every VR game, but some of the extremely intensive ones will require you to play on lower settings (e.g. Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator).
Best Mid-Range VR-Ready PC for Quest 3:
If you really want to slay any game in VR, this rig by ROG is for you. Rocking an RTX 3060 with 16GB ram, this is ideal for people who want to play:
- Flight Sims
- Racing Sims
- Everything on Ultra Graphics settings
This card will easily get you to 150% render resolution and 90-120fps in VR with no issues whatsoever.You could probably go higher than that, but it won’t be a noticeable effect.
Most Powerful PC for Quest 3: Skytech Eclipse
The Nvidia RTX 4090 is a top-tier graphics card – perfect for those who want to push VR to its limits.
It can easily handle whatever you throw at it, including 150% render resolution. A whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 5200MHz ensures ultra-fast data transfer and efficient multitasking. This not only supports the heavy loads of VR but also future-proofs the system for upcoming VR innovations.
How to play Oculus Link or PC VR games without a PC
“What if I don’t have enough money for a VR-Ready PC?”
If getting a VR-ready gaming desktop isn’t within your budget, you can always try Plutosphere.
Plutosphere is an up-and-coming cloud gaming service that allows you to play high-end PCVR games without needing a computer at all. It’s streamed straight to your headset, as long as you have a stable connection. You can check it out now while the service is in early access and see if it works for you!
FAQ
Laptops Vs. Desktops for VR
Some folks prefer the mobility that gaming laptops can provide or the price-to-performance ratio.
I am not one of those people.
Gaming laptops are usually pretty poor choices for dedicated gamers and are better off suited for the casual crowd. However, when it comes to VR, it’s even harder to recommend these.
Laptops always underperform in comparison to desktops within the same price range. Most laptop-grade hardware has to sacrifice performance for size, meaning that laptop GPUs and processors just can’t compare to their desktop siblings. A RTX 2070 on a laptop is going to be worse than an RTX 2070 on a PC. Plus, most laptops are difficult or impossible to upgrade, reducing their longevity.
Another important note is cooling. While gaming laptops might have decent cooling, they often get extremely loud and can sometimes overheat after extended gaming sessions, because the fans are typically drawing air from underneath the laptop. Desktops, on the other hand, offer much better cooling options and more cooling fans.
Regardless of the price point you may be shopping for; you can almost always find a desktop with much better hardware at the same price. Plus, they won’t sound like jet engines taking off.
If you really don’t have a choice, then you can choose a laptop from this list: best laptops for Oculus Quest 3.
What kind of computer do I need for Oculus Quest 3?
A powerful gaming computer with a good graphics card will work for the Oculus Quest 3. The difference between VR and flatscreen games is that:
- VR games need to be rendered in 2 screens (one for each eye). This essentially doubles the workload on your graphics card.
- The refresh rate in VR is generally higher than monitor refresh rates which are 60 Hz. In VR, it tends to be 72 – 120 Hz depending on the headset. The Quest 3 is capable of running on 72 Hz, 80 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz (depends on your settings). High refresh rates are much more important in VR than flatscreens, as they can reduce motion sickness.
What games can you play on Oculus Quest 3 without a PC?
In short, you’ll have access to Quest Store titles. You won’t be able to play Steam games like Half-Life: Alyx. For more information, read: What games can I play on the Quest 3?
Can you play Beat Saber on Oculus Quest without a PC?
Yes you can, since Beat Saber is on the official Oculus Quest Store. You can even add custom songs and mods to it.
Outro
When it comes to PCVR on a Quest 3, the minimum specs aren’t quite accurate. While you can get away with a weak, old card like the GTX 970 for a time, it will quickly hit its limit unless you’re only trying to play games on ultra-low.
Sticking with a mid to high-end GPUs can work wonders for your games and make your VR experience significantly better. Whether you’re ballin’ on a budget with a 2070 or soaring through the metaverse with a 3080, there’s a computer out there for your wallet.
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