WARNING: Do not buy a valve index, they break.

[Crazycarpet]

Bought this just over 2 years ago and kept very good care of it. Proper cable management, a mount to hold it when I put it away... everything.

I was sitting on my computer working on Unity engine with SteamVR running when I heard a loud pop... it was from the index.

The headset must've shorted or something but now it is littered with dead pixels and unfortunately the warranty is up so Valve simply said 'tough luck'.

RECOMMENDATION: Maybe consider buying the index controllers (even they aren't that great) but definitely go with a cheaper headset, especially one with a wireless option.

[temps]

I had a great experience with my Valve Index so far, and Valve support for Index owners has been great at addressing the one hardware problem I had with it so I could keep playing at no cost to myself.

[Crazycarpet]

How long have you had your index for? And what hardware problem did you have?

[Master]

Originally posted by Crazycarpet:

How long have you had your index for? And what hardware problem did you have?

I'd be interested to hear as well, since I'm considering the purchase

[Nosada_Kage]

You are correct. When I first bought mine it needed to be replaced one month later due to "shimmer" in the screens. Now, barely 2 years later and I have clearly defined shadow boxes on each lens that I can't get rid of. Inferior product, not reliable.

[Crazycarpet]

Yeah, it sucks. Really cool product but just not made to last for the price... even worse not service-able.

I generally use the Quest 2 headset with the index controllers now.

[Raz]

got mine on Release day, had 1 buzzing lighthouse Steam sent me a new light house Free of charge) before I sent mine back. (I used the same box to send my old one back to them)

1 Controller (left) had drift in the thumb stick, Steam sent me a new one free of charge (did send mine back first this time)

Between myself and my 17 year old son we probably have about 2000 hrs on my Index.
So I will be buying the then next one when it comes out!

How ever my new $45.750 2023 Chevy Silverado 2500HD with less that 7000 miles is broke down and has a recall...
Wont be buying another chevy

[Crazycarpet]

Replacements under warranty are always great, just a shame when things break after warranty. That's good that you had a good experience with the index, but many people clearly do not.

At least your Chevy Silverado is servicable (unless you did something really really dumb) and can likely be fixed with parts worth only a few hundred dollars, the Valve Index on the other hand is not servicable.

On a side note if you would like I can beat both you and your son up in "Creed: Rise To Glory" if you'd like.

[dnrob7]

Sounds like you got unlucky there. My headset has been used like a crash helmet a few times. The family lil'uns have come over, run into walls and face planted hard while falling off my chair playing air car.
I've also dropped in on the floor from ceiling height a couple times by not getting it on the hook properly.
Headset seems well built to me but the controllers.. Now there's an issue. Way too easy to break.
I got right hand one replaced for free even though it was out of warranty, but the second one, I didn't even try. Had to fix it myself. Found the ribbon connection that had unplugged it's self by prying the thing open just enough to get a pair of tweezers in.
Since the plastic that anchors the top half to the handle had snapped, I had to scotch tape it together..
Before that I had tried superglue too.. The thing looks like it belongs in the bin but somehow still works just fine.

Can't even buy a new one. Valve just can't make enough of them. They need a serious redesign. The shape is fine but the materials are flimsy.

[Shrub]

Same noise as you OP and ever since that pop I've been getting ghosting on 120hz+ which is exactly what I bought the headset for...

returned it after a difficult back and forth just to have it shipped back to me exactly as is. My ol' faithful dead pixel mocking me in the bottom left corner... and still ghosting!

It happened a year after purchase and the support team wouldn't budge a second time until I could find someone else who'd let me use their GPU and report effects.

2 other GPU's have passed through this computer now and the effect is still there but it's been 3 years now and I'm just feeling defeated. Especially after replacing a faulty lighthouse just to turn on my headset now and see grey squares on both lenses.

I guess some headsets are destined to gory deaths then. Heart goes out to ya OP

Edit: I wanted to add because I remembered the experience more -

Every single response to my first reported ghosting issue was handled by a different support team member. It was actual madness. Randomly joining support members would miss information from the rest of the chain, leading to further confusion. Ugh.

[Crazycarpet]

That does seem to be how the support goes for the Index, thanks for sharing your experience.

It was a really cool headset but for the price it sure doesn't last and it is simply not servicable. Customer service was great while under the very brief 1 year warranty but that's not enough for a $1500 non-serviceable piece of hardware.

I know I won't be buying Valve/Steam hardware again, at least not unless the price is right.

[Crazycarpet]

Unfortunately I went to turn my controllers on today on the index and now the left controller won't turn on. Things perfectly fine physically, never been dropped or scuffed but it just suddenly broke. Beeps then just doesn't turn on. I've tried several chargers and computers.

Honestly I think the Valve Index hardware is good for about a year then all bets are off. Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

People say the same things about Mice also, and even ones I've had working flawlessly for more then 5+ years. If you take care of your stuff, it will last. Problem is people jerk things around and don't treat them with care. Same goes for things like game controllers.

[Crazycarpet]

Would be nice if that was the case but nope, my valve index is a whole is treated very well and carefully. My quest is also, the quest is just the better built headset.

[Soju]

i just bought a wire thinking it was my issue and it still doesnt work ;-;, no leds on at all

[Crazycarpet]

No, they just fail after a while. Does it work when it is wired directly to the computer? If it only connects while wired to the PC directly then you need a new controller, whatever bluetooth module they use in the controllers seems to just randomly fail. Maybe they overvolt it or something.