We’re still waiting to get a look at Microsoft’s upcoming VR hardware but the company has revealed (officially) the specs needed to run their Windows 10 virtual reality gear. The signs are promising, meaning that a lot of PCs will support virtual reality without needing high-end GPUs.
Additional graphics hardware will of course be recommended, with some games and applications requiring them, but the basic functions will only need a notebook-spec Core i5 processor, DX12-capable integrated graphics, and 8GB of RAM. That’s according to the recommended minimum specs for Microsoft’s Windows 10 hardware.
- CPU: Intel Mobile Core i5 (e.g. 7200U) Dual-Core with Hyperthreading equivalent
- GPU: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 620 (GT2) equivalent or greater DX12 API Capable GPU
- RAM: 8GB+ Dual Channel required for integrated Graphics
- HDMI: HDMI 1.4 with 2880×1440 @ 60 Hz or HDMI 2.0 or DP 1.3+ with 2880×1440 @ 90 Hz
- HDD:100GB+ SSD (Preferred) / HDD
- USB: USB 3.0 Type-A or USB 3.1 Type-C Port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories
The minimum spec is a little higher than was initially thought, doubling the RAM requirement we were expecting. VR from the company is on the way in a hurry, though.
Developers are expected to be able to start mucking around with Window 10 VR hardware from February 2017 ahead of retail launches. Microsoft’s going to be partnering up with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to release physical headsets. That’ll be happening once software developers have had some time with the dev units. We expect to see a lot more from this direction in the new year. Stay tuned.
Source: The Verge