3 VR-Ready PC Builds for 2018 (Affordable, Mid-Range, & High-End)

Looking for a VR-ready gaming PC? In this guide, we’ve listed three 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 either the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive. You’ll find both of those 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 RAM
• OS: Windows 7/8/10

In reality, the requirements to run the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive 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 three different gaming PC options you have that will handle either the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive.

Quick-Look: Three PC Builds for VR Gaming

Below is a quick look table that highlights the main specs of the three VR-ready gaming 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	Intel Core i3-8100 GTX 1050 Ti 4GB 8GB DDR4 RAM 500W PSU	SEE PRICE » PRE-BUILT »
MID-RANGE		$700 Gaming PC	Intel Core i3-8100 RX 580 8GB 16GB DDR4 RAM 240GB SSD	SEE PRICE » PRE-BUILT »
HIGH-END		$1,000 Gaming PC	Intel Core i5-8400 GTX 1070 Ti 16GB DDR4 RAM 240GB SSD	SEE PRICE » PRE-BUILT »

*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 Budget $500 VR-Ready Gaming PC

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 a quad-core Intel Core i3-8100 processor, a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, and 8GB of RAM, this $500 gaming PC will meet the requirements of the Oculus Rift.

It does fall a bit short on the HTC Vive’s minimum GPU requirement (a GTX 1060), but from what I have read on forums, users have been able to run the Vive with a GTX 1050 Ti. Still, I probably wouldn’t chance it and would opt for the Rift instead if all you can afford is a system with a 1050 Ti in it.

Along with the GTX 1050 Ti, this build also comes with a 1TB hard drive, a 500W power supply, 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 This $500 VR PC Build

Grand Total: $470-$530

*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here for current pricing.
**Price includes the components that make up the tower only. Windows 10 is included in the list, but will cost extra—and you will definitely need an operating system one way or another.

PRICE ON AMAZON »

SHOP PRE-BUILTS   »

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 the same processor that is found in the $500 build (the quad-core Intel Core i3-8100), but it has an upgraded graphics card (an RX 580 8GB), twice the memory, a 240GB SSD, and a larger power supply (550W).

The RX 580 8GB is powerful enough to easily meet the requirements of both the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. And, for standard gaming, the RX 580 is powerful enough to max-out any game you throw at it on a 1080P monitor. It will also pair well with a 144Hz FreeSync 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 This $700 VR PC Build

Grand Total: $670-$730

*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here for current pricing.
**Price includes the components that make up the tower only. Windows 10 is included in the list, but will cost extra—and you will definitely need an operating system one way or another.

PRICE ON AMAZON »

SHOP PRE-BUILTS »

$1,000 PC for High-End and VR-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 will allow you to play games on a higher resolution monitor, too, then this $1,000 gaming PC might be a better option for you.

This build comes with a six-core Intel Core i5-8400 processor, a GTX 1070 Ti graphics card, 16GB of RAM, a 240GB SSD, a 1TB secondary hard drive, and a nice-looking mid tower case.

In terms of VR-gaming performance, this system easily exceeds the requirements for both the Rift and the Vive. For standard gaming, this system will allow you to easily max out games on a 1080P monitor and it will allow you to play games on a 1440P 144Hz monitor or a 4K monitor. For the best experience, make sure that you pair this sytem with a G-Sync monitor in order to take advantage of NVIDIA’s variable refresh rate technology for an incredibly experience.)

Ultimately, if you have the extra money and you want a system 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 (at least, of the options listed in this post.)

Part List for This $1,000 VR PC Build

Grand Total: $970-$1,030

*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here for current pricing.
**Price includes the components that make up the tower only. Windows 10 is included in the list, but will cost extra—and you will definitely need an operating system one way or another.

PRICE ON AMAZON »

SHOP PRE-BUILTS »

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)