Most companies have focused on VR helmets using Android as the operating system. Most often, the central component of such headsets is a smartphone. Occasionally there are devices with their own screen and built-in ARM-coprocessor.
A full virtual reality can be tested using Oculus Rift, HTC Vive or Sony PlayStation VR. Now this list has got Pimax 4K, which received the “Best VR” award at CES Asia 2016.
As Pimax was in the top echelon
Budget (twice cheaper than analogues) Pimax 4K consists of active virtual reality glasses and an audio system with the effect of 3D sound.
The resolution of Pimax is twice as high as that of competitors used for working with a PC. Two screens with a resolution of 1 920 × 2 160 create stereoscopic resolution of 4K format, updated 60 times per second.
This solves the main problems of devices of this kind:
- Improves the quality of the image (imperceptible grid of pixels).
- Reduces the negative effects associated with watching videos at close range.
- It is possible to play modern games in the highest possible resolution with support for high quality textures.
For positioning in the virtual space, the device has all the necessary internal sensors: a double gyroscope, a magnetometer, acceleration, distance, and illumination sensors.
There is not enough only an external tracking system to track the movements of the entire body. Pimax assumes work at the table in a static position.
Pimax 4K in operation: how and with what?
It is very difficult to objectively evaluate the device for immersion in virtual reality. Even the most advanced of them are still an experiment. Perception depends on one’s own physical condition.
Since the testing used non-compatible manipulators, and a mouse with a keyboard, the movement in real space was limited.
Despite the darker picture than in the Oculus Rift, the image quality of Pimax is amazing. Competitors have a noticeable pixel grid, low resolution underscores the shortcomings of textures and models. Chinese development offers a smooth, seamless image with excellent brightness and contrast.
Unfortunately, when you rotate the head (moving the look in the game), the insufficient refresh rate of the frames is affected: the objects leave a noticeable “trails” behind them.
There are a lot of VR-applications designed for a static position of the body, for example War Thunder. The game does not require special manipulators, Pimax and without them creates the effect of presence in the pilot’s seat.
In addition, War Thunder does not require the player to lean forward or backward. This Pimax without additional controllers can not.
The complete audio system sits perfectly on the head and perfectly conveys the direction of sound in the gaming environment. No worse than in multi-channel gaming headphones.
In addition to War Thunder, the testing involved:
- Half-Life 2: Update (improved textures and effects).
- Elite Dangerous (the best space simulator with VR support).
- Resident Evil 7.
There were no negative effects when using Pimax: no dizziness, no nausea. Playing hours is quite difficult because of the mass of the device. But, having got used, it is possible to disappear for some hours.
Convenience of design – at the level of the main competitors. Pimax 4K perfectly fits to the head and does not cause any inconvenience. Around the same, sit Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Design and hardware capabilities
The design of the Pimax 4K is similar to the analogs. For each eye – a separate screen with 42-millimeter aspheric lenses. Vision converts the picture into a single wide-angle (110 degrees) stereo image with a density of 806 PPI. This is almost twice as much as that of HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, which offers a total resolution of 2 160 × 1 200.
Pimax allows you to adjust the interpupillary (center-to-center) distance from 58 to 71 mm (standard range). Without setting, you will not be able to use a single headset for a long time. Within 5-15 minutes, the head begins to spin.
The body is large enough that it will be convenient even for those who wear glasses. Adherence and insulation are provided with a soft foam rubber gasket, and ventilation with an additional plastic insert between the gasket and the housing.
Outside there are three hardware mechanical buttons. One includes the device, the other two are used to change the volume in the complete headphones.
A pair of headphones with separate connection is attached to the headset. For maximum convenience, the developers abandoned the whole headband. Instead, it uses a soft system of straps with Velcro and pads on the back of the head.
According to the developers, Pimax 4K headphones output 5.1-channel sound. Of course, this is mostly achieved by software emulation, but there is still a 3D sound.
System requirements and hardware compatibility
Pimax 4K is connected with a cord, which on the end splits into a USB-plug and HDMI standard 1.4b.
The headset can only work with a computer running 64-bit Windows. For other operating systems, the companion application is not currently available.
General system requirements for VR
Video output 4K, and even with processing for stereoscreens – a time-consuming task. An integrated graphics card can only be used when playing back 360-degree photos and video panoramas.
To work correctly in native resolution, you will need:
- Processor Intel Core i5 and higher.
- Operative memory from 8 GB.
- Video card NVIDIA GTX960 / AMD R9 290 and higher with a memory capacity of 4-6 GB.
We used the i5-3570K processor, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM (10,600 Hz), and the MAXSUN GTX 1 060 (3 GB DDR5), which can be replaced with a version with 6 GB of RAM.
The most advantageous purchase by the “price-performance” ratio is a series of video cards NVIDIA 10xx (AMD Radeon video cards do not always work correctly in these applications). The processor should pay attention to Intel Pentium 37xx and Intel Core i5 / i7 6xxx, as well as new processors AMD Rizen.
Determine whether the existing system can be used for VR can be done using a test from Steam. With the caveat – it does not test the Pimax resolution, so the power reserve is useful.
Manipulators
Own manipulators in Pimax 4K there. Using Steam, you can work with the following input devices:
- Mouse and keyboard.
- Standard gamepads, joysticks, rudders, steering wheels.
- Gamepad Xbox One with the emulation of the controller HTC Vive.
- The sensors are Leap Motion.
- The management system Razer Hydra.
- The NOLO control system.
Traditional manipulators and gamepad Xbox does not require the presence of Steam. The rest use it and the corresponding driver.
Software
To connect Pimax you need the utility PiPlay – store applications with built-in drivers and a movie theater. Unfortunately, its content leaves much to be desired.
Therefore, to work with the headset will need to install the following software:
- Steam (only applications for HTC Vive).
- SteamVR.
- Java x64.
- PiPlay.
- Revive.
- LibOVRWrapper.
- OculusHome (required for Oculus Rift applications).
When Pimax 4K is connected, Steam will see it, and in PiPlay there will be content for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive: popular games, panoramas, videos.
With Virtual Desktop on Pimax, you can run any application in 3D, even the Windows desktop with AutoCAD. Where is more functional than a phone in a special headset.
Outcomes
Headsets of virtual reality, unlike smartphones, headphones and other gadgets, have not yet entered our everyday life. They are difficult to assess and recommend. Any of them is an opportunity to try new sensations. Nobody gives a guarantee that they like it.
But if you think about it, $ 300 (and so much today is Pimax 4K from an official dealer with a coupon LHPIMAX) for a new experience – it’s not so much.
Developers Pimax 4K went their own way and created a great device. Image quality, the ability to use any manipulators, compatibility with Steam made Pimax 4K an advantageous purchase for immersing in virtual reality.
