[Tutorial] Oculus Rift DK2 Optimizations

[Saftle]

Basically, there are quite a few things that need to be tweaked to get the experience right for most games, in regards to Vsync, Judder, FPS, etc. Also, games like Half-life 2, and Estranged require a lot of getting used to for people like me that aren't acclimated to VR. Basically you're moving forward, and your ears aren't registering movement = Sick. This takes time to get used to.

Here are few things to help with the optimization for all games using the Oculus Rift DK2:

• Install the newest DK2 runtime.
  
• Update the DK2's firmware to 2.11 (or whatever is the most current), if you haven't already, and then restart the PC.
  
• Set your Rift as the primary monitor.
  
• Using the Nvidia or ATI control panel, set it so that Vsync is always enabled, and the preferred refresh rate of the Rift to "highest".
  
• Due to a possible bug in the runtime, lower the other display's resolution to a resolution that allows 75hz. Currently if the monitor only supports 60hz, the Rift sometimes uses 60hz as well.
  
• Make sure that the Rift is on the left of your other display (also a potential bug)
  
• Disable Aero using Bilago's Service manager, to decrease judder: http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/2c6qqc/updated_unofficial_oculus_service_manager_by/

For source games, you want a few launch options set. To set launch options, right click on the game in Steam, go to properties, and then click on "Set Launch Options". Add the following launch options:

-freq 75 -refresh 75 -refreshrate 75

In game, you want to open the console and set the following:

fps_max 75

There are also ways to tweak the movement speed. Here are a few reddit threads discussing how to change these settings for source games:

http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/1igbic/halflife_2_natural_movement_speed_tutorial
http://www.reddit.com/r/oculus/comments/2duckc/some_hl2_recommendations/

If you are still experiencing judder issues, Oculus is working on a new driver to help with this. It can however also be a problem with your computer not keeping up. Try and lower the graphics until you notice that moving your head left and right, doesn't create any sort of judder effect.

I hope this helps.

[rogermorse]

I still have a bit of judder. Less than in other demos, but there still is which makes me not want to play the game in VR. I tried all the console commands and also put the detail to lowest (my machine should render something like 800fps with those details). Note: -fps_max 75 gives me an error 'can't change max fps while playing, disconnect from server or switch to spectator'. I tried both while playing and in the main menu.

I tried also with FRAPS to check the framerate but I can't see the number in the oculus. I mean to see if it was actually running at 75 or 60. Also tried both 75hz and 60hz from the windows display properties.

[Saftle]

That was a typo on my end. Try "fps_max 75" rather than "-fps_max 75". I'll get back to you once I figure out an easy way to display the FPS and hz.

[manglehands]

Type in "net_graph 1" in the console to check fps. That's what I use for HL2. Alternately " net_graph 0" will turn it off.

[shak59]

Yeah these kind of games just don't work well with DK2 because of motion sickness. Shame because it would be really fun!

[Saftle]

Originally posted by shak59:

Yeah these kind of games just don't work well with DK2 because of motion sickness. Shame because it would be really fun!

90% of people don't get sick with the Rift. It's only the 10% that need to first get used to it. So your statement saying "it doesn't work with the DK2" is way off. Like I said in the first paragraph, you have to acclimate yourself first.

[N o i r]

The Rift should now be at the left of the primary monitor? This is new for me - AFAIK, setting the rift as primary, updating firmware, disabling Aero and setting the relevant launch options should be enough.

I still get a ton of judder with the DK2, the game is pretty much unplayable.

[Saftle]

Originally posted by N o i r:

The Rift should now be at the left of the primary monitor? This is new for me - AFAIK, setting the rift as primary, updating firmware, disabling Aero and setting the relevant launch options should be enough.

I still get a ton of judder with the DK2, the game is pretty much unplayable.

I'm not getting any judder at all. Are you having similar issues with HL2?

[N o i r]

HL2 is as buttery as the Oculus World Demo.

[CookPassBabtridge]

If this is using HL2 as the base game, it may also be important to make sure you have opted into the HL2 beta (as well as the steam VR beta OFC). I got horrible judder with HL2 until I realised I hadn't opted in the HL2 beta.

[Mr.T]

This game scared the LIVING C*AP out of me in the RIFT. I'm still shaking!

[EviLorD]

I can not get the game to work correctly on my Rift DK2. It comes up on the rift but it is in regular mode (not in vr mode). when I go to the video settings it tells me it can not detect a VR DEVICE. I dont know what I am doing wrong. I have it set at the left monitor and the main display. any ideas??

[LS3 11VETTE GS]

same issue, did you ever get it to work?

[OblivionZone]

Does not work for me with Estranged act 1, same as ^^ those 2 ppl

Edit: I remembered a useful program that has a free version called 'Display Fusion' which I used when Win7 was new, it saves monitor settings and forces each one into your choice or rez/refresh etc, this solved all my issues and I can now use all my DK2 games.
I use a TV/Monitor and the rift now all with no issues.
I wont post a link but google it and you will find it :)

[Maestro]

nothing works. it simply cannot detect my vr in options for some weird reason. I think its the sma efor all HL2 based games. I use alienware 17, windows 8.1, latest Runtime, latest windows update. Have no clue what to do

Edit: Ive finally manage to make Steam VR work. x64 has to be forced to start with steam. So need to go to services in oculus folder and launch it manually. But after I have installed SteamVR, estranged crashes when i try to go to options. If I uninstall SteamVR, options menu works perfectly well. vr_activate doesnt work due to "activate from options first"

[scofthe7seas]

Originally posted by LS3 11VETTE GS:

same issue, did you ever get it to work?

I haven't messed around with this much, but on the quake 2 DK2 mod, I had the same problem. It turned out that teamviewer mirror drivers were hijacking the display. I don't remember exactly how I fixed it, but I had to reset the display drivers (for the monitor itself) to default.