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.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

GameStop has Valve Index full package for 600$

[BetaManChild]

Valve are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crooks with this headset. I have one which developed a bunch of dead pixels and i can't JUST replace the headset. They seem to never have it in stock, but plenty of full kits in stock. I don't trust Valve anymore. Don't buy. They just try to squeeze every penny they could out of their suckers-i mean customers. It's because of the index that i won't buy a steam deck. I also urge other people interested in the index to steer clear. better to just get some index controllers to work with an HTC headset.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You can get a new or refurbished Valve Index Headset from 3rd party such as GameStop and some others. To be honest, no VR on the market yet is reliable or quality made. It's all very cheap plastic junk. You have to take care it. Treat it like a diamond or a wine glass. Cinderella's glass slippers can take more abuse then most Headsets or VR products can.

[Crazycarpet]

If you saw how well VR stuff is taken care of at my place you would understand why I am so frustrated with the Valve Index. There is no reason for it to be breaking like it is, it's treated extremely carefully and stored well with no stress on any cables.

[Gracey Face]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Il Silvio:

Diposting pertama kali oleh 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

Assuming you haven't already bought one, don't buy an index. It's been outdated since it was released and it's even worse now. You can get headsets that are better in every way for cheaper (ie quests and Picos and pimaxes and such).

That being said, I have had my index since October of 2019 and other than the breakout part of the wire finally starting to wear out and an oddity about a year or so ago where parts of the screens went dimmer than the rest for no reason (but that gradually faded away after a couple of weeks of use) I have had no problems with the headset itself. The knuckles controllers are very fragile, but at the same time for a lot of people they're the best VR controllers you can get (I personally don't think they're that much better than anything else I have used).

The index IS fragile, all VR headsets are. It's a lot of miniaturised electronics in a product that gets shook, wiggled and thrown around while you play.

[ratcat]

Had mine for a couple of years now. One dead controller due to thumbstick drift which I tried to fix myself. Other than that they have been great!

[Crazycarpet]

It looks like Valve may be RMA'ing the broken controller. If they end up doing that that'd honestly be enough for me for the valve index to be 'worth it'.

[Sewer Cider]

Diposting pertama kali oleh 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.

Nope you are very very wrong!
3 tethers, 9 controllers and 3 base stations.
had one controller of a whole hour before the trigger broke. I use cable management and cable relief. I am a 53 Y.O. so not abusing anything ever. How would I misuse base stations? I use a mat to keep myself centered so no tugging on the cable at all. never once! I've had this garbage for 2.5 years and so far the cost of using it has been $160.00 a month. the potentiometer/thumb stick is being pushed to far to avoid breaking it with normal use and I have replaced this 50 degree potentiometer in 4 on my controllers with a 60 degree potentiometer and carved down the collier on the plastic to make it reach all corners of the range intended. Has lasted longer than anything else yet even though it is plastic like the original.

Index like all valve hardware is trash or pre-purchased landfill!

[Sewer Cider]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Crazycarpet:

It looks like Valve may be RMA'ing the broken controller. If they end up doing that that'd honestly be enough for me for the valve index to be 'worth it'.

Hold on cuz last time they replaced my broken controller with a broken controller. If fact 3 times they did this to me. They are evil, evil little turd suckers!

[Crazycarpet]

Lol! they asked me for my shipping information for an RMA and they've been now ghosting me for 2 days. Hopefully they get back to me.

[Sewer Cider]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Crazycarpet:

It looks like Valve may be RMA'ing the broken controller. If they end up doing that that'd honestly be enough for me for the valve index to be 'worth it'.

all the optional headsets you mention are crap when put beside the index experience. Stand alone mobile cpu VR is not ready and cables to these headsets are useless!

[Crazycarpet]

I am refering to using the Quest tethered. Undoubtedly without a powerful desktop it would be useless.

Visual quality, FOV mostly yeah hands down the Index wins... but most VR content isn't 'nice' anyways so aside from like Half Life Alyx I haven't found any games where I find it hugely better.

In terms of serviceability the Index has 0, no spare parts are even produced.... the Quest has many options, largely aftermarket, for cheap. Easy to service, lots of content explaining how to service....

The main problem I have with the index is they do not produce spare parts, it is not at all serviceable, has clear flaws that lead it to break over time, and all this for loads of money.

[Sewer Cider]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Crazycarpet:

I am refering to using the Quest tethered. Undoubtedly without a powerful desktop it would be useless.

Visual quality, FOV mostly yeah hands down the Index wins... but most VR content isn't 'nice' anyways so aside from like Half Life Alyx I haven't found any games where I find it hugely better.

In terms of serviceability the Index has 0, no spare parts are even produced.... the Quest has many options, largely aftermarket, for cheap. Easy to service, lots of content explaining how to service....

The main problem I have with the index is they do not produce spare parts, it is not at all serviceable, has clear flaws that lead it to break over time, and all this for loads of money.

Well actually there are spare parts it's just you gota know what they are and where to order them. The trigger is fixable if you are skilled at fixing small parts. The potentiometer is replaceable if you are skilled at repairing circuit boards (unsodering/resodering) I used all my spare parts from broken controllers to fix the ones I had replaced. Literally fixed with duct tape to keep the pressure plate on the hand grip! I ordered a new pair of controllers for selling my index along with a new tether. I will use the old ones until I can not get them fixed again, then I will sell it off with the new controllers and tether. Hopefully something good will come out before that happens. don't get me wrong. The index stuff is the best experience when it works. It's just it never does for very long considering the cost of it.

[8Beet]

I've had my hmd for years, and your issue is the first I've heard of it. Doubt it's a widespread problem at all. The HMD is a safe buy and should last anyone awhile. Sucks yours had a short.

[Crazycarpet]

There are not spare parts for the most important parts of the headset. Either way they replaced the broken controller on 2 day shipping so honestly it's a worthwhile headset. Not without problems though.