Looking for a VR ready 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 of Memory |
| 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 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 or the HTC Vive.
Table of Contents
1. Quick-Look: Four VR Ready PC Builds
2. Affordable $500 VR PC Build
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 |  |
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MID-RANGE |  |
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HIGH-END |  |
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ULTRA |  |
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*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 a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor, an RX 580 8GB graphics card, and 8GB of RAM, this $500 gaming PC will meet the requirements of the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive.
However, these specs will just meet the bare minimum requirements 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.
Along with the RX 580 graphics card, this build also comes with a 480GB SSD, a 600W 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.
$500 VR-Ready PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | |
| MOBO | ASRock B450M | |
| GPU | PowerColor RX 580 8GB | |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance 8GB | |
| SSD | ADATA 480GB | |
| CASE | Cougar MX330 | |
| PSU | EVGA 600W BR | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $470-$530
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**Price includes the components that make up the tower only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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 desktop asking you to activate it.
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 graphics card, twice the memory, and double the SSD storage capacity of the $500 build listed above.
The RX 590 8GB GPU and the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU are powerful enough to easily meet the requirements of both the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. And, for standard gaming, the RX 590 is strong 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.
$700 VR-Ready PC Build
| |  | |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | |
| MOBO | MSI B450-A PRO | |
| GPU | PowerColor RX 590 8GB | |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance 16GB | |
| SSD | PNY 960GB | |
| CASE | Cougar MX330 | |
| PSU | Corsair CX 650M | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
Grand Total: $670-$730
*Component prices fluctuate daily. Click here to check current pricing.
**Price includes the components that make up the tower only. You’ll need an operating system and Windows 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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 desktop asking you to activate it.
$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 a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor, an RTX 2060 SUPER graphics card, 16GB of RAM, a 960GB SSD, 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 (helps provide incredibly smooth gameplay.)
At this price range you could also opt for an RTX 2060 laptop instead if you need more mobility. A laptop with an RTX 2060 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.
$1,000 VR-Ready PC Build
|  |  |  |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | |
| MOBO | ASUS B450-Plus | |
| GPU | GIGABYTE RTX 2060S | |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance 16GB | |
| SSD | PNY 960GB | |
| CASE | Phanteks P400S | |
| PSU | Corsair CX 650M | |
| ODD | Install O.S. from USB | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
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 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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 desktop asking you to activate it.
$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 both an HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift, but it will also serve as a 4K gaming PC.
This build comes with a brand new Intel Core i7-9700K processor, a 280mm AIO liquid cooler, a new RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
This system also comes with an 850W power supply and a high-end full tower 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 2080 laptops and RTX 2070 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.
$2,000 VR-Ready PC Build
 |  |  |  |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-9700K | |
| AIO | EVGA CLC 280 | |
| MOBO | MSI MPG Z390 | |
| GPU | MSI RTX 2080 Ti | |
| RAM | Corsair Vengeance 16GB | |
| SSD | Samsung 1TB | |
| CASE | Thermaltake Core X71 | |
| PSU | EVGA G+ 850W | |
| ODD | Use USB to Install O.S. | |
| OS | Windows 10 |
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 10 costs ~$100 for an activation key. However, you can still install Windows 10 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 desktop asking you to activate it.
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:
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Hi Brent,
Nice article, I have learnt a lot, thanks.
Just wondering, I have an intel i5-6500, is this better than the Intel i5-4590 suggested for HTC Vive?
Yeah, the i5-6500 is better than the i5-4590, so you’re good there.
Hi Brent:
I would like to use your high-end build. My son and I will assemble. But if I manage to get the cash together for the RTX 2080ti how would that change your suggestions? I believe the GPU is physically larger, and perhaps needs more cooling as well as a higher demand PSU. Would that be correct?
My son says we don’t need the “ti” version. But I am hoping to purchase the pro grade HTC Vive. Ironically this unit costs (with all the extras) about as much as the rtx 2080ti. So buying the rtx 2080 (not 2080ti) you recommend here would be great if it could run the HTC Vive Pro. But no point in investing all that money unless the GPU can run the HTC Vive Pro at high settings.
I am also reading just today about AMD coming out with some major 7 nano offerings. But they seem to be targeting the 2070 rather than the 2080 as competition. Would you recommend waiting to see what AMD has to offer?
Sorry for so many questions. Been reading lots of reviews and have been thinking a lot about options.
Thanks for the recommendations! I’m doing the $2,000 build (actually closer to $2,500). What’s your opinion on BIOS controlled pump and fans or control via the EVGA CLC program? For the BIOS option, what headers are used to control the pump and the CPU fans?
Not the kind of fun I can afford to do often, but the build is a blast!
Thanks!
This is very helpful guide, but there is one problem. In your 1000$ config you have Win 10 on a DVD but you don’t have optical drive in a list.
You are now able to download Windows 10 though Microsoft’s Media creation tool and use the Key that came with your DVD. The key you enter when activating Windows 10 determines which version you will actually be using.
I have a quick question. I have been out of the computer scene for about 20 years and I’m going to build a new gaming system and I see there’s been a lot of changes and improvements my question is I’m building a gaming system something that will run VR do I have to run a hard drive if I go with a solid state drive
Hey Gary, thanks for reading and commenting!
Nope, you will not need a hard drive if you get an SSD. Both SSDs and HDDs serve the same purpose (mass storage), just different technology behind them.